"Guess my dance moves can't be reined in," Percy jokes and elbows Lionel in the side. Lionel jerks, snapping to attention like someone who's been far, far away. On the little muggle radio, Bob Dylan's "The Man In Me" starts to play.

"Here." Percy offers Lionel his brush. "We'll cover it up with something better."

"Yeah? What're you thinking?"

"I dunno. Maybe a sign. Or a Bigfoot." Percy shrugs. "Maybe 'Lionel Qualls for Homecoming King' in huge letters." Lionel laughs.

"Yeah, yeah, okay." He takes the brush from Percy's outstretched hand. "But just wait 'til you see what your campaign did to the Quidditch pitch."

Just behind Percy and Lionel, in the upside down V of a metal ladder, a curtain appears. It hangs loose, swinging lazily in the wind, ready to whisk away the interlopers whenever they are.