They Make It Safely, But Not Unnoticed

Harry and the girls quickly cleaned themselves up and dressed, and then, with instinct born from the odd form of telepathy they had developed, they scattered. Each arrived at the Great Hall nearly simultaneously from different directions, exchanging sheepish looks as they headed to their respective tables.

Ron approached Harry as the Boy-Who-Lived grabbed a couple of sausages to scarf down before food. "Oi! Mate! Where were you last night?"

Harry froze. "Uh, well, Hermione and I were just studying and I guess we ended up out past curfew, so we just decided to stay out. That way Draco and his goons couldn't catch us."

Harry was busy congratulating himself for an excellent lie when he realized he had talked a little too loud during his haste to explain.

"Staying out late with Ms.Granger huh? That'll be 10 points from Gryffindor from each of you and a detention," Draco said with a sneer, adding insult to injury with a stinging hex that made it rather uncomfortable for Harry to be sitting down.