All characters etc are the property of JK Rowling only the plot is mine.

Harry hurried down the empty halls. He was going to be late. Swinging around a corner, he hopped on the moving staircase just as it was floating away. The staircase came to a halt somewhere between the third and second floor.

"Come on," Harry muttered under his breath, but the staircase didn't budge.

He glanced at the gray door where the staircase floated almost hidden in the wall. Maybe it was a shortcut. What did he have to loose? Late for potions was a fate worse then death. He waited for a moment to see if the staircase would move. It didn't. He reached out and pushed in the door. It swung open easily with a small squeak, cobwebs dropping like snow.

The hallway inside was ordinary enough - for Hogwarts - if a bit musty. Harry searched for a staircase leading down or maybe something that could transport him instantly to Potions. It might be the only way he was going to make it. The hallway stopped at a large room instead.

The room was empty except for a strange wooden box, kind of like a treasure chest without a top. A gold plate in front read: LOST. Please place in FOUND. Harry glanced inside and removed a small hourglass magnet. The hourglass held no sand just a sunny glow. Harry shook it and turned it over. Nothing. He tapped it with his wand. The hourglass dulled becoming a murky, clouded blue, but nothing else happened.

He looked around the room for a box labeled FOUND, but there wasn't one. In fact, he'd never seen one at Hogwarts. A clock he hadn't noticed before chimed, giving Harry a start. Potions! He shoved the hourglass into a pocket, he'd have to ask about the "found" box later.

The door Harry had come through was no longer there so he took the one at the opposite end. To his surprise he walked through it right into the dungeons. Harry wasn't sure how that was possible, but he wasn't going to stop and try to figure it out now.

"Too bad about the extra potions homework," Ron said as they hurried to their next class. "You weren't that late."

Harry glared in agreement at the extra potion's assignment sticking out of his book.

"Hey, weren't you wearing a white shirt this morning?" Ron asked stopping outside their classroom door.

"Maybe, I think so." He looked down at his purple shirt. "Who knows it was still pretty dark when we left for Hagrid's Class."

Ron raised an eyebrow, giving the shirt a wary glance.

"Watch out!" Hermione hauled Neville through the door. One of Neville's fingers hissed and spit, having been turned into a fairly mad snake.

"I'd like to turn Malfoy into a snake." Hermione said pulling Neville down the hall. "I think he'd get along quite well."

Ron laughed and headed into class. Harry took one last glance at his shirt and followed.