DISCLAIMER: I wish I could say I owned Harry Potter. But I can't. Mostly because if I did, I'd probably get sued. So, all rights go to JK Rowling.

Soooo... Chapter Seven... Yeah... I've been writing it for hours, so you better enjoy. Haha, jokes, jokes.

CHAPTER #7 - Consequences

After they'd left, Verne and company I mean, McGonagall instructed me to stay in her office for she had to take care of a few 'pressing matters'. From this, I took away the fact that McGonagall had, if not fully believed, then at least accepted my version of events as she trusted me enough to leave me be alone in such central area of Hogwarts.

From the window high above me I could see dim light seeping through, meaning that morning had come. In a few hours, it would be all over the school that Rose Weasley of Gryffindor House had gone psychotic and assaulted her fellow roommate. Peachy.

I wasn't sure what I was to do now. I was, however, sure that my holiday plans were to be wholly delayed, if not entirely cancelled. Verne had warned McGonagall that I was not to be let off school grounds, and on that particular subject I doubted McGonagall would argue. When I'd first realized that fact, I'd been angry, then discouraged, and finally indifferent. There was absolutely nothing I could do about it, so I didn't feel the need to exert energy by distressing over it. I'd stay at Hogwarts for my winter break. Grandma Molly would send me my unsightly knitted scarf, Mum and Dad would contact me somehow every night, and everyone else I would see again when they came back from holidays. Between all that, I would have free time to scout through the extensive collections at the Hogwarts library and continue studying for my distantly upcoming O.W.L's. It wouldn't be so bad…

Yeah, right. It would be terrible! I'd be stuck here at Hogwarts, all alone, while every other student who was left behind would be scattering away from me, thinking I'd attack them in the middle of the night, too.

Before my frustrations could return to consume me, I laid my head back on McGonagall's desk, attempting to fall asleep as I had for the entire time she'd been gone. I'd failed, obviously, but the effort kept me calm. I'd already been here for hours, or so it seemed like, and the sleep which was not coming was indeed most welcome. I'd mostly spent my time examining the portraits of previous Headmasters/Headmistresses that were mounted on the wall opposite of me. I could've tried talking to them, but I knew well enough that they didn't speak to outsiders. Hence, me.

I groaned. By now, I was bored to tears. I almost wished that Verne was still here. At least he seemed like an eager conversationalist.

Yeah, this was going to be a long day.

When McGonagall came back in, I think I almost ran up to envelope her in the most grateful of hugs. Almost. What actually ended up happening was me standing up and standing there like a fool, gaping at her expectantly.

"Miss Weasley," She greeted me.

"Professor!"

I'd tried to control my excitement, I really had.

"Please seat yourself. We have a few matters we must discuss."

Most energetically, I popped back onto my seat. She marched around to the Headmistress's seat, and concentrated on me.

"After conversing with our staff and examining these current circumstances, we have decided that it would be of great prudency to temporarily remove you from the Gryffindor Tower," She began.

My eyes widened, but otherwise I refrained from demonstrating my opinion.

"You would provisionally be moved to the Staff Wing…"

The Staff Wing? But the Staff Wing was in the…

"I realize that residing in the Dungeons would dramatically change your schedule, and therefore I suppose it's a good thing you will have this entire break to get used to this living situation. This brings me to my next point. Miss Weasley, you will not be allowed to leave Hogwarts grounds for the holidays. I'm sorry, but—"

"I can't stay in the Dungeons!" I burst out.

Being accused of something I hadn't done? Fine. Not going back to the Weasley residence for break? Alright. But living in the Slytherin locality? That's where I drew the line. They might as well have told me that they were about to send me off to live with the dead Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets.

"Miss Weasley—"

"Professor," I rudely interrupt her. "I can't stay there. The Dungeons belong to the Slytherins. Gryffindor and Slytherin just don't get along. I can't stay there."

"I understand your concerns, Miss Weasley, but it's out of my hands. Until this is all sorted out, I cannot allow you to remain in your present living quarters for a variety of reasons."

Could they even do this? I'd never heard of someone being kicked out of their House's sleeping area.

"I'm sorry, Miss Weasley," McGonagall finished.

I would've probably been furious with McGonagall, had she not ardently defended me earlier today. I knew that she wasn't doing this because it was truly her decision, but it still hurt. I didn't want my friendly neighbours to be the Slytherins! I just wanted to stay in my own residential tower, where I'd stayed for the past five years. My family and friends, if I still had any left, would be so unbelievably far away from me. I'd be alone. Completely, utterly alone.

This made me want to bawl, so instead I said, "When can I move my belongings?"

I'd tried to say it in an even voice, but it'd faltered and consequently betrayed me.

McGonagall looked at me with blatant pity, and now I was pretty irritated.

"They've already been moved," She told me.

"Oh."

I waited a moment.

"Could I at least go up and tell the Potter-Weasley's that I've been repositioned?"

Now, McGonagall waited a moment. By the expression on her face, I knew she wasn't about to say that they'd prepared a going away party for me up there.

"It's long past noon, Miss Weasley. Your family has already left."

They'd…left?

"Also, once again, until this matter is sorted please avoid entering the Gryffindor common room."

I blinked. And then, I began to float in a sea of apathy because I was over caring. This entire situation just collectively…sucked.

I stood up.

"I guess I'll go make myself comfy in my new living area," I said bitterly.

McGonagall nodded.

"It's probably the best time. All students who remain should be at dinner in the Great Hall, so the halls are empty," She said.

I endeavored to say something along the lines of 'thank you', after all, despite everything, McGonagall had done a lot for me, but nothing came out so I spun around and stalked out.

It felt thoroughly wrong as I walked down the Grand Staircase. When I was going to my bed, I usually went up. Slytherins were the lowly ones, they deserved the Dungeons. Gryffindors did not.

When I reached the Dungeons, I felt noticeably colder. I passed the Potions classroom and the office of our Potions Master, Professor Disraeli. The Staff Wing was the furthest away from the entrance to the Dungeons, slightly past the Slytherin common room.

When I reached the Slytherin Dungeons, I stopped. I'd never seen what they looked like; I'd never had a reason to. All the classrooms I ever needed in the Dungeons were the first ones in this hall.

My father had always said that Slytherins were the worst of the worst. Mum and Uncle Harry were more lenient. Mum never agreed or disagreed with Dad's adamant statements, but Uncle Harry would now and again remind Dad of the man whose name Albus bore as his middle name. Sometimes that threw me off because from personal experience I knew that the average Slytherin was a mean-spirited, spiteful wizard or witch. Then come along Uncle Harry's stories of a brave Slytherin and I'd have to wonder… And then I'd come to the conclusion that I sided more with Dad than anyone. Sure, once upon a time there might have been a tolerable Slytherin, but that was probably a fluke. Surely this Severus Snape persona was meant to be in Hufflepuff or something.

I shook my head, blinking as I came to the realization of the fact that I'd been standing in front of the Slytherin Dungeons, gawking, for the past few minutes. I heard footsteps behind me, and realized how timely it was that I'd snapped out of my trance. I twisted my body away from the Slytherin entrance and sped off down the hall. Or, at least, that's what I wish I could say happened.

What proceeded to happen was highly differing and far more mortifying. I'd taken a couple of steps down the hall before I classically tripped over the uneven dungeon ground, and theatrically hit the floor.

And from behind me I heard the voice of the person I'd have least liked to have witnessed this scenario in which I looked like an uncoordinated fool.

"Weasley?" Malfoy chortled.

A/N ~ This is the part where I beg you guys for reviews. They make me happy. So please review. Haha, thaaanks. :P

-Anna B.