The line leading to Ravenclaw Tower wound its way up the spiral staircase, filled with the students' laughter and chatter.
They had not seen one another for several weeks, and their earlier little disagreements now seemed too trivial to mention. Every familiar face brought the joy of a long-awaited reunion.
At least for this moment, the atmosphere in Ravenclaw was exceptionally harmonious.
Of course, that harmony usually did not last three days... By tomorrow morning at the latest, new conflicts would break out.
Michael walked beside Wade at an unhurried pace.
In a voice only the two of them could hear, he said softly:
"Listen to what he said... He won't be taking over any specific duties."
He paused, a mocking curl at the corner of his mouth.
"Research and inspections."
Michael paused again.
"In other words... doesn't that mean he can show up anywhere, do whatever he thinks needs doing, and answer to no one?"
"Percy Weasley was always good at bureaucratic doublespeak. Now he's even better at it."
Wade said nothing. He turned and looked down through the railing.
Accompanied by Filch, Percy was heading toward his new office.
Perhaps because the fabric of his robes caught the light, even his retreating figure seemed full of vigor, making the hunched Filch beside him look even more like a Leprechaun.
Two seconds later, he turned a corner and vanished from Wade's sight.
Standing beside him, Michael had also seen that red-haired figure receding into the distance.
"Wade, don't let your feelings about the Twins blind you and get fooled by that act of his—'I'm just here for a look around, I won't cause any trouble for my old school.'"
There was none of Michael's usual frivolity in his voice. Instead, it carried a calm, almost sharp scrutiny.
"And don't