It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 18

Straining their ears, they could hear a footstep and then a slight creak of a floorboard, then total silence; presumably the three coming up the stairs had frozen at the sound.  Everyone seemed to be holding their breath. Then there was another shuffling footstep in the hallway and they all gave a sigh of relief.

 * * *

Dobby sat up and his ears swiveled. Climbing out of his makeshift bed he padded silently over to the bedroom door when he stood, listening intently. 

"What is it, Dobby?"  Ron propped himself up on one elbow, rubbing his eyes.

Dobby came over to the edge of Ron's bed and whispered, "Mr. Wheezy, sir . . .  Master Sirius and Professor Snape and Mister Lupin is sneaking up the stairs . . . they is trying to be quiet, but they is not very good at it."  Just then, his ears twitched around and he walked over to the wall and stood very still, then he pointed. "Missy Narcissa is using the hidden stairs, too, with . . ." he listened carefully, "Missy Tonks, Missy Ginny, Miss Hermione, Missy Luna and Miss Emma.  They is being very quiet.  Dobby thinks they is sneaking around watching where Master Sirius and his friends is going."

"Or what they're up to, more likely." Grabbing his wand as he swung his long legs out from under the covers  Ron whispered, " 'Silencio'! ", even as he reached over to shake Harry's shoulder. "Harry!," he hissed.  "Wake up!"

"Wha . .what's wrong?  Ron?" Harry sat up half way, reaching for his glasses and wand. "Lumos."

"Your godfather and our two favorite professors are up to something out in the hall and the girls are sneaking up on them, using a hidden staircase." Ron grinned

"What's going on?" Neville sat up, looking around, as Dan also rolled over to hear what all the fuss was about. 

Rupert sat up, rubbing his eyes."'What the bloody hell  . . . "

"Sirius, Remus and Snape are out in the hall," Ron repeated for their benefit.  "Dobby heard them.  I did a silencing charm, so I could wake you lot up.  Now be quiet so I can drop it for Dobby to listen."  Ron waved his wand and Dobby put his ear to the door again.

"They is heading to the other bedroom, where Mister Wheezy's brothers and Mister Tom and Master Draco is sleeping," he informed them quietly.

The boys exchanged looks and then slid quietly out of their beds and gathered around the door.

"You don't think they're trying to pull a prank on Fred and George?" Dan asked. "Do you?"

Harry, Ron and Neville swung their gazes around to stare at Dan, disbelief written on each face.

Rupert snickered and got a poke from Ron. "Ow!" He rubbed the spot. "I just thought it was funny that they are that foolish to try, is all."

"Shhhh!"  Neville cautioned, as Dobby held up a finger.  He turned around and the boys leaned in close to hear.

"They is going to try and sneak in and  . . . . "

WHOOSH! THUD!

"AHHHHHHHH!" "UMPH!" "WHAT  THE BLOODY HELL!!!"  "OUCH!"  "GET YOUR ELBOW OUT OF MY EAR,  BLACK!"  "OW!"

The boys and Dobby burst out of their bedroom just as the girls, Narcissa and Tonks emerged from the storage room, to behold Remus, Severus and Sirius suspended in midair in what appeared to be a cargo net, hanging, swinging, from the ceiling.  Fred, George, Draco and Tom came flying out of their bedroom to join the crowd gawking at the three struggling "Marauders", trapped, and 'caught' in the act, so to speak.  Laughter rang in the hall and they were soon joined by Molly and Minerva, who whooped delightedly at the sight of the discomforted pranksters.