2 | CONFESSIONS° HARRY POTTER

16 | THE ATTACK

"We need to see Professor Moody," said Hermione. "We need to find out whether he found Mr. Crouch."

"If he had the Marauder's Map on him, it would've been easy," said Harry. Iris perked up at the mention of the map her parents and their friends had made.

"Unless Crouch was already outside the grounds," said Ron, "because it only shows up to the boundaries, doesn't—"

"Shh!" Iris said suddenly.

She could hear that somebody was climbing the steps up to the Owlery. They heard two voices arguing, coming closer and closer.

"—that's blackmail, that is, we could get into a lot of trouble forthat —"

"— we've tried being polite; it's time to play dirty, like him. He wouldn't like the Ministry of Magic knowing what he did —"

"I'm telling you, if you put that in writing, it's blackmail!"

"Yeah, and you won't be complaining if we get a nice fat payoff, will you?"

Those voices sound awfully familiar, Iris thought.

The Owlery door banged open. Fred and George came over the threshold, then froze at the sight of Iris, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"What're you doing here?" Ron and Fred said at the same time.

"Sending a letter," said Harry and George in unison.

"What, at this time?" Hermione and Fred said.

Fred grinned. "Fine — we won't ask you what you're doing, if you don't ask us," he said. He was holding a sealed envelope in his hands. Iris glanced at it, but Fred, whether accidentally or on purpose she wasn't sure, shifted his hand so that the name on it was covered. Her eyes narrowed at Fred and he squirmed uncomfortably at her intense stare. "Well, don't let us hold you up," Fred said, making a mock bow and pointing at the door. Ron didn't move.

"Who're you blackmailing?" Ron asked. The grin vanished from Fred's face. Harry saw George half glance at Fred, before smiling at Ron.

"Don't be stupid, I was only joking," he said easily.

"Didn't sound like that," said Ron.

Fred and George looked at each other. Then Fred said abruptly, "I've told you before, Ron, keep your nose out if you like it the shape it is. Can't see why you would, but —"

"It's my business if you're blackmailing someone," said Ron. "George's right, you could end up in serious trouble for that."

"Told you, I was joking," said George. He walked over to Fred, pulled the letter out of his hands, and began attaching it to the leg of the nearest barn owl. "You're starting to sound a bit like our dearolder brother, you are, Ron. Carry on like this and you'll be made a prefect."

"No, I won't!" said Ron hotly.

George carried the barn owl over to the window and it took off.George turned around and grinned at Ron. "Well, stop telling people what to do then. See you later."

He and Fred left the Owlery.

Harry, Iris, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another.

"You don't think they know something about all this, do you?"Hermione whispered.

"About Crouch and everything?" Iris asked.

"No," said Harry. "If it was something that serious, they'd tell someone. They'd tell Dumbledore."

Ron, however, was looking uncomfortable.

"What's the matter?" Hermione asked him.

"Well . . ." said Ron slowly, "I dunno if they would. They're . . .they're obsessed with making money lately, I noticed it when I was hanging around with them —when— you know—"