"Hey! Are you planning to break into the Ministry of Magic?"
"Why did you suddenly decide to learn Occlumency?"
Just as Neville offered his suggestion, Fred and George's voices came from behind them.
The two of them draped an arm over each of Neville's shoulders. Fred leaned closer with a curious look. "Come on, tell us! What are you planning to do?"
"Are you breaking into the Ministry of Magic? Or raiding Gringotts? When are you doing it? We want in too!" George added, his eyes sparkling.
"We were just talking about Ron..." Neville said, recounting everything that had happened in Potions Class exactly as it had occurred.
As they talked, the group had already reached the Great Hall and taken their seats.
Hermione was the quickest to get into study mode. She expertly spread her notes beside her plate and began reviewing while eating lunch.
"That was pretty much it..." Neville took a sip of pumpkin juice to wet his throat, then turned to Ron. "Ron, is there anything else you want to add?"
"No..." Ron shrugged. He had instinctively started to turn and glance at the teachers' table, only to jerk his head back around.
"Can one of you check..." he asked in a low, shaken voice. "Is Snape in the Great Hall?"
Harry stood up and rather boldly looked around, carefully scanning the Great Hall. Only after confirming that Snape was nowhere to be seen did he sit back down and shake his head at Ron. "He's not in the Great Hall."
"Anyway, I have no idea why I was so unlucky today!" Ron grumbled, stabbing at the potatoes on his plate with his fork. "Snape actually singled me out!"
Fred stroked his chin as though pondering something. Somewhat absentmindedly, he agreed, "Oh... that does sound pretty