Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter (I wish!) or Draco or Slytherin or anything. I kinda own Julie and Emily. Kinda. I mean, no one else owns their characters, so why can't I? Unless I can't... Don't sue me.

I know it's been a while, but here's a new chapter! I'm not sure how long it's been, but more then a month I'm sure. Probably. I hope you had a good Christmas and Hanukkah, and tomorrow is New Years! 2013!

Anyway, here it is!

The corridor was empty when Julie and Emily apparated into it. Julie looked around wonderingly.

"Where are we?" she asked, staring out the window to the Quidditch Field. "I thought we were going back to Hogwarts."

"We did," Emily said, pointing down the hall to the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

"Oh, how clever!" Julie said, seeing the gargoyles. "We have to invite Dumbledore to your party. I nearly forgot."

Emily nodded. "We can't forget him! And we have to remember Snape and everybody else. We should get Hermione and Draco together!"

Julie giggled. "Of course! Let's go now."

"Password?" the gargoyles demanded when the two girls approached them.

"Fizzing Whizbee," Emily said calmly.

Julie screamed. "Where?" she exclaimed, grabbing Emily very hard and turning all around, terrified.

"It's candy," Emily explained. "Not a kind of bird."

Julie's face went blank. "But I think they mentioned them in Astronomy. That class with all the animals."

"Care of Magical Creatures," Emily said as they climbed onto the moving staircase. "You've never been to Care of Magical Creatures."

"Are you sure?" Julie asked, shrugging. "But remember that place we went with all the animals last year?"

"That was the zoo," Emily said. "And that was a toucan, not a Fizzing Whizbee."

"Was it really?" Julie looked as though a lot of questions in her mind had been cleared up.

Emily was about to answer when the door to Dumbledore's office opened.
"Come in," he called out cheerfully.

Emily and Julie came in. Emily sat down in front of Dumbledore's desk.

Julie froze, looking around. "Where can I sit?" she asked in a small voice.

Dumbledore let out an airy chuckle. "Right there," he said, pointing to the chair next to Emily.

Julie looked around. "Where?"

"There," Emily said, gesturing to the chair.

Julie looked down at the chair. "Oh," she said giggling, waving her hand. "How silly am I?"

Emily didn't answer the question as Julie sat down.

"Now," Julie said, still waving her hand about. "Are you coming to Emily's party, Dumbledore?"

"Oh, the party," Dumbledore said, remembering. "Yes, indeed. I got some new robes just for the occasion."

"Oh, how lovely!" Julie exclaimed leaping up ecstatically. "How perfectly wonderful! Let's go ask Snape now!"

"Professor Snape," Dumbledore corrected her.

Julie stopped, looking very confused. "But I'm not a Professor," she said, her face going very blank. "I don't think so."

"He said Professor Snape," Emily explained.

"But my name's Julie," Julie protested.

"He was talking about Snape," Emily tried again.

Julie paused for a moment, looking like she was trying to understand. After a moment, the color returned to her face. "Oh, I understand," she said, laughing. "Of course, let's go ask him now!"

As though nothing was strange about this conversation, she flounced out of the office. Emily shrugged at Dumbledore before following Julie out.

Snape was sitting inside the staffroom. Emily and Julie ran inside, slamming the door behind them.

"Don't slam the door," Snape said, not looking up from his papers.

Julie looked back at the door. "I don't know why not," she said reasonably. "It shut rather fast, didn't it?"

Snape just shook his head. "Yes, it did."

"Oh, then we've cleared that up?" Julie said, sitting down on the couch across from Snape. "Good! Now, are you coming to Emily's party?"

"I am a teacher," Snape said disgustedly. "Teachers do not participate in such tom foolery."

"But we don't tom fool," Julie protested. "Besides, nobody uses Shakespeare references anymore!"

Snape buried his face in his hands. "I'm not going, Miss Albiston."

"But why not, Mr. Snape?" Julie asked, looking around as though she was looking for a reason.

"Professor Snape," Snape said automatically.

"Does everybody think I'm a professor?" Julie said, the color going out of her face again. "But then, I must be! Snap's always right!"

"Snape," Snape roared.

"But I already told Dumbledore that I'm Julie," Julie said, looking almost close to tears. "Do people call me Snape behind my back?"

"No!" Snape stood up. "No, they don't, Miss Albiston!"

"You're sure?" Julie asked fearfully.

"Yes! I am not coming to your party Miss Albiston! Now please go!" Snape pointed to the door.

"That's not very nice," Julie said pitifully. "We only want you to come to the party."

"I'm not going," Snape repeated.

"But Potter will be there," Julie told him. "You could frame him for something. You always like to."

"I do not frame him," Snape insisted. "He is a distasteful boy who does bad things enough on his own."

"Why are you so mean to him?" Julie asked sadly. "He's so cute."

"I do not judge people by their attractiveness, Miss Albiston," Snape informed her. "Good day."

"Oh, isn't it!" Julie agreed, forgetting her argument about Harry. "It was lovely in Diagon Alley, too!"

Snape frowned, trying to understand how they had gone to Diagon Alley.

"Let's go," Emily said quickly, recognizing the look. "We'll expect you at my party, Snape."

And the two girls ran giggling out of the staffroom.

When they were safely in the Slytherin Common Room, the two girls stopped running.

"Now for Draco and Hermione," Emily said.

"Draco and Hermione? What about Draco and Hermione?" Julie smiled, looking about her, plainly not seeing what was so important about Draco and Hermione.

"We have to get them to go together," Emily explained.

"Go together?" Julie leapt up from the couch, looking astounded. "But they've only just met! It's much to early for marriage!"

Emily laughed. "Not marriage, I just mean we have to make them go together to the party!"

"What party?" Julie asked, now examining a bracelet she'd found in her dress.

"My birthday party."

"Your birthday party! Oh, Emily, we have to plan it!" Julie grabbed Emily's hand and started to run to the door.

"We already have, Julie," Emily said, pulling Julie back onto the couch.

Julie stopped moving for a moment, still smiling. Then she nodded. "Oh, yes, we have, haven't we?"

"Yes we have," Emily said, "now let's go get Draco."

Just at the moment, Draco entered the Common Room. He had barely time to shut the Common Room door before Julie grabbed his hand and pulled him to the center of the Common Room.

"You have to ask Hermione to the dance," Julie said simply.

Draco groaned, almost as though he had been expecting her to say that. "I'm not taking the mudblood to the dance."

"Draco!" Emily shoved Draco onto the couch. "Don't you ever use that word again! Hermione is a much better person then say, I don't know, you."

"Oh, come on," Draco said, rolling his eyes.

"Come on what?" Julie demanded. "Draco, you have to ask her."

"I'm not asking her," Draco said, starting to pull a book out of his schoolbag.

"Draco, you don't have a choice," Emily said firmly, snatching the book from Draco. "And to- Draco!"

"Yeah?" Draco was holding his hand out for the book.

"Draco, what is this?" Emily sounded stricken.

She handed the book to Julie, who read falteringly, "Dark Secrets for Dark People."

"But Draco," Julie said innocently, "you're not a dark person. You have blond hair and you aren't evil, either."

"I wouldn't assume anything too fast about the evil part," Emily said, tossing the book back to Draco. "Draco, this isn't going to help you."

"Shut up, would you?" Draco said, pointing at Julie.

Julie stepped back. "Don't point at me!" she exclaimed. "I didn't do anything!"

"And neither did I," Draco said warningly.

Julie leaned in close to Draco. "What's wrong with your eyes?" she asked. "Are you getting an ear infection?"

Draco appeared to be trying to laugh, to maybe change the subject, but Emily pursed her lips. "I suppose Draco is rather tired from all his hard work."

Draco coughed meaningfully.

Julie leaned in closer. "No, he's getting sick! I think he getting peh-monia!"

Emily smiled. "He's not getting pneumonia, but he is off color. Let's leave him alone."

Emily and Julie glanced at each and began to giggle. "Draco, what are you doing?" Emily said after a minute, turning to Draco, who was banging his head against his book.

"He's gone mental!" Julie cried fearfully. "Oh, Draco, speak to me!"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Forget it, Julie."

Julie frowned. "Maybe he isn't. Or maybe he's bipolar!"

Even Draco laughed this time. When they finally stopped, Emily stood up. "Draco, you are asking Hermione to the dance. Let's go now."

Hermione was sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room doing homework. Emily told the Fat Lady the password without faltering, and then they entered.

"Hermione!" Julie called warmly. She sprinted into the Common Room.

Hermione looked sick. "Yes, Julie?"

Julie took Draco's hand and dragged him into the Common Room.

"Draco has something to ask you."

Draco scowled. Emily slapped him.

"Now, go ahead Draco," Emily said firmly. "We'll wait back here."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but waited for Draco. He scowled even further, then said, "Will you go to Emily's party with me?"

Hermione looked surprised for a moment, then she looked back, saw Emily and Julie grinning, and then her surprise faded. "Oh," she said. "No."

"Hermione!" Emily cried. "You're spoiling this!"

Julie nodded. "This party is going to be dreadful!"

Emily smiled. "She means it's going to be wonderful."

"Uh huh," Julie smiled expectantly. "That's what I mean."

Hermione didn't like Julie in the slightest, but even she laughed. "Fine. But only to show-"

She stopped, but Julie hardly seemed to notice. "She likes Ron," she stated plainly. "Let's go, Draco."

Hermione turned scarlet, but nobody noticed. As Julie and Emily left, all the boys in the Common Room stared admirably after them.

The Great Hall was empty when Emily, Julie, and Draco entered it. Emily and Julie sat down at the house table, but Draco didn't.

"I have to get to class," he said, starting to leave. Emily jumped up and pulled him down.

"No you don't," she said. "You're busy."

"Yeah, I'm busy going to class," Draco said, trying to get up.

"No, you're busy talking to us," Emily said. "Why don't you tell Julie what you're trying to do this year?"

"Forget about it," Draco said, crossing his arms defiantly.

"Pretty please with sugar on top?" Julie asked sweetly.

Draco shook his head. "Forget about it, I said," he repeated.

"I don't ever forget anything," Julie said.

"Yeah, hardly," Draco said, watching Julie as she already began to stare into space.

Julie frowned. "What do you mean Draco?"

"Nothing," Draco said, turning away to hide his laughter.

"Draco!" Julie jumped up and stomped hard on Draco's foot.

Emily laughed, but Draco didn't. "Julie! I bet Snape won't like this!"

Julie turned white again. "Stop calling me Snape!" she wailed. "I'm not Snape!"

Draco glanced at Emily, who was shaking with silent laughter. "What?"

"People call me Snape!" Julie cried. "It's so mean! Why do people make fun of me?"

"I'd love to answer that question," Draco muttered.

Emily hit him. "Shut up, Julie, and listen to Draco."

Julie brightened. "Yes, listen to Draco, Draco!"

"What is he going to say?" Draco said, laughing again.

Emily kicked him. "Just tell Julie."

"Why don't you tell her, if you're so intent upon her knowing?" Draco demanded.

Emily shrugged. "Okay, then. Draco is going to-"

"I was kidding!" Draco exclaimed, hitting Emily this time.

"Don't hit girls," Emily said calmly. "Now, Draco is-"

"Why don't you stop?" Draco said through gritted teeth.

"Why don't you leave?" Emily said, annoyed.

Julie giggled. "Oh, this is so funny!" she exclaimed. "It's like watching Blues Clues!"

Draco paused. "You watch Blues Clues?"

"Of course!" Julie started to laugh hysterically. "It's so funny like about Blue and Steve and the pink dog and-"

Julie stopped for a minute, tears of laughter streaming down her cheeks.

"Do you think we should knock her out maybe?" Draco whispered to Emily.

Emily seemed to be enjoying it. "Let's give her a minute."

"Really?" Julie jumped up. "You can do that? Dumbledore said not to mess with time!"

Emily buried her face in her hands. "All right, now, why doesn't Draco tell his story now?"

"Oh, yes, of course. The story," Julie sat back down again quietly, turning intently to Draco. "I'm sorry to have interrupted you."

"You have no idea," Draco muttered. "You sort of interrupted my life, actually."

"What was that, Draco?" Julie asked. "I didn't hear."

"You weren't supposed to," Draco informed her.

Julie looked taken aback. "Oh. Well, why don't you just start talking?"

"Okay," Draco agreed. "La da da la la."

"I don't speak that language," Julie said. "Tell it in English."

"How about Vietnamese?" Draco suggested. "Da da da."

Emily hit Draco again. "Just go," she said.

Draco shook his head. "No, I don't think I-"

"Draco!" Emily jumped up and started hitting him. "I will tell Julie, so why don't you?"

"I guess because I don't feel like it," Draco said. "Or maybe because it's my business."

"But you don't have any business," Julie pointed out. "You're unemployed."

"I mean that it's for me to know."

"What's for you to know?" Julie said curiously. "Oh, wait, I know this one! Everything! That's what McGonagall always says!"

"I don't recall her ever saying that," Draco said thoughtfully.

"Then it must have been that inspirational speaker. You know, the one who kept saying that we had to fight?"

"I don't recall ever attending an inspirational speech," Draco said.

"That was what Voldemort said at that Death Eater meeting," Emily said. "Voldemort is not an inspirational speaker."

"Oh, of course not," Julie said, giggling. "He's like the opposite. An unspirational speaker!"

"What's an unspirational speaker?" Draco asked, looking at Julie like she was very stupid.

"An optimist," Julie said. "I'm not that stupid, Draco."

"Funny," Draco said, "because I could have sworn you meant pessimist."

"Voldemort is not a pessimist!" Julie cried indignantly. "How could you say that? He's so dark!"

"A pessimist is someone who is dark, Julie. An optimist is the light, happy person."

"Yes, that's true, isn't it?"

"Yes, yes, very true," Draco said, annoyed. "And it's also getting very late."

"It wouldn't be so late if you'd just say what you're doing," Emily said.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Forget it."

"Draco, please?" Julie tried again. "I beg you."

"I say no," Draco said.

And he stood up and left the Great Hall.

Did you like it? I hope so! That was kind of a long chapter, I know, but it's better then a short one, right? I hope so... Wait, I already hoped about something else. I guess there's nothing wrong with being full of hope, is there...?

I hope not...!

Linley =)