of the darkness.

Charlie's friends were a cheery lot. They showed Harry, Hermione, and Amelia the harness they'd rigged up, so they could suspend Norbert between them. They all helped buckle Norbert safely into it and then Harry, Hermione, and Amelia shook hands with the others and thanked them very much.

At last, Norbert was going... going... gone.

They slipped back down the spiral staircase, their hearts as light as their hands, now that Norbert was off them. No more dragon -- Malfoy in detention -- what could spoil their happiness?

The answer to that was waiting at the foot of the stairs. As they stepped into the corridor, Filch's face loomed suddenly out of the darkness.

"Well, well, well," he whispered, "we are in trouble." They'd left the invisibility cloak on top of the tower.

"Fuck," cursed Amelia.

"Language!" Shouted Hermione.

"Oh shut up Captin Canda!" Amelia retorted.

"Girls that's enough," chuckled Harry awkwardly.