After the group returned to their dormitories, they gathered in George and Fred's room.
Ron picked up the cage, glanced at the two of them, and said:
"Has Scabbers passed out from hunger? Didn't you say he woke up? Why is he still sleeping?"
The five of them then took the cage to the door of Douglas's office.
But no matter how much they knocked, the door would not open.
Ron suggested going in through the small door in the classroom, but the others vetoed the idea.
They had only gone in that way last time because of the circumstances. If they barged in this time, the professor's punishment would be more than most people could bear.
George and Fred draped their arms around Harry's shoulders and said with grins:
"Looks like your maternal cousin abandoned you and went on holiday by himself..."
"Probably because you failed your Defense Against Dark Magic exam!"
Harry, meanwhile, looked at Scabbers in the cage. Ever since his food had been cut off, he had remained unconscious. If his little legs had not twitched now and then, Harry would have thought he had kicked the bucket.
"Are we just going to bring the cage along like this tomorrow?"
George and Fred shrugged and said:
"No choice. We tried before, and spells can't penetrate this cage at all."
"Too bad it isn't armor."
Ron said in surprise from beside them:
"Could this be another test from the professor? What do you think, Hermione?"
Hermione shook her head and said:
"I don't know. Let's leave it until tomorrow. I haven't finished my homework yet."
Ron rolled his eyes. He would not have asked if he had known.
George and Fred said theatrically:
"Good heavens, we only just finished our exams."
"And they were mock OWLs, too."