'Welcome back! '

Dazai took a step back before he looked around the room. Streamers were hung around the ceiling and colorful balloons were pooled up around the chairs. For all intents and purposes, the Gryffindor common room looked positively

festive.

He shot a bewildered gaze to Fred and George, who had their arms spread wide.

'What is this? '

'Aw, Snakey! ' Fred whined, 'It 's a welcome back party, obviously! '

'Yeah, didn 't you hear us shout

welcome back?

Want us to do it again? '

The yell still echoed in his ears. 'Absolutely not. ' He looked to Blaise, then back to their Gryffindor friends. Ron and Hermione stared back, sheepish. 'And that doesn 't answer my question. You can 't welcome me back since I didn 't go anywhere. '

'You 've been in the infirmary for a whole week now! I think that counts as being away. '

'Besides, ' Fred chimed in, a teasing lilt in his tone, 'Ronnie-kins here

really