Extraordinary (Sign it Series; BOOK 2)

Chapter 7

"Sounds like Harry's arrived." commented Fred, picking up his extendable ear from the side table. "Pity, he'll interfere with the reception. George, you want to say hello?"

George didn't answer, instead apparating with Fred a second behind him.

They left us! Maddy signed outraged, looking where the twins had just stood. Now we've got to take the stairs.

"We can't POP like the twins can, Maddy." Simon said, making his way to the door. "We'd have to take the stairs anyway."

Maddy rolled her eyes. It's called Apparition, Simon. Not POP!

"Same, difference," he said, turning and walking out the door. "You coming to introduce me to the famous Harry Potter or not?"

Maddy grumbled under her breath, but ran out of the room, striding down the steps, with Simon following behind her.

"Time is Galleons, little brother," they heard Fred saying as they opened the door. "Anyway, Harry, I think you'll interfere with the reception. Extendable Ears. We were about to try and hear what's going on downstairs."

Maddy clapped, and the whole room turned to face her and Simon, who had entered the room and closed the door behind them. You mean we as in me included?

Maddy's plait was resting on her right shoulder underneath her jacket's collar, and her foot was tapping impatiently on the floor.

"Maddy!" exclaimed Harry, staring at the younger girl. "I didn't know you'd be here." He frowned slightly, "It makes sense though, since Professor Lupin came to pick me up."

His eyes trailed to Simon, who was looking at the ground. "Who are you, exactly?"

Simon looked up, a twinkle in his sapphire eye. "Oh — er — I'm Simon. Nice to meet you finally. Everyone here speaks very highly of you." He held out his hand, and Harry hesitantly shook it. "You're probably wondering why I'm here. You see, my sister and I, quite like yourself, are orphans, and so the Order's letting us stay here until I start school. Dari, that's my sister, is gonna stay here after that, since the orphanage isn't really a good place for her to be alone. She's deaf, and there aren't many people who know sign language."

Harry nodded, "Well, it's nice to meet you, Simon."

The door opened, and Ginny and Darienne entered. Darienne made her way to her older brother, clutching onto his arm.

"Oh, hello, Harry!" Ginny smiled brightly. "I thought I heard your voice." Her glance scanned over Fred, George, Simon, and Maddy. "It's no go with the Extendable Ears, she's gone and put an Imperturbable Charm on the kitchen door."

"How d'you know?" asked George, looking considerably crestfallen.

"Tonks told me how to find out," Ginny told them. "You just chuck stuff at the door and if it can't make contact the door's been Imperturbed. Darienne and I have been flicking Dungbombs at it from the top of the stairs and they just soar away from it, so there's no way the Extendable Ears will be able to get under the gap.

Fred sighed, "Shame. I really fancied finding out what old Snape's been up to."

"Snape?" said Harry quickly. "Is he here?"

Simon frowned, "That's the teacher Maddy hates, right?"

Maddy nodded, her eyes conveying a glint of hatred.

"Yeah," said George, answering both Harry and Simon's question. He closed the door carefully, and sat down on one of the beds; Fred and Ginny followed. Maddy sat on Fred's lap, seeing as there wasn't much space on the bed, and Simon and Darienne sat on the flood in between the two beds. "Giving a report. Top secret."