Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or Harry Potter. All credit to JK Rowling and WB studios.
Neville was lost again. He'd been wandering the corridors for what seemed like hours. He'd taken a wrong turn somewhere after the second left turn down the corridor to the right of the entrance hall, or was it the left of the entrance hall and two right hand turns? He wasn't even sure anymore. That was the problem with Hogwarts - it was so big with so many staircases and corridors, it was easy to lose your bearings and get so turned around and muddled up!
He turned a corner and froze. A gang of a dozen or more Slytherins were sitting in a group opposite a blank stretch of stone wall. Neville's heart pounded in his chest and he tried to back away slowly, before they could see him.
"Longbottom - what are you doing down here?" A cold voice drawled.
"N-nothing." Neville stammered, turning around to go back the way he'd come.
"Now, now Draco, be nice." A friendlier voice said. "You're quite welcome to join us Mr Longbottom." Horace Slughorn said jovially, juggling a large box of crystallized pineapple and a tray piled high with cheese toasties.
Neville tried to stammer an excuse, but Slughorn wouldn't hear it.
"Nonsense my dear boy! Plenty to go round!" He exclaimed, as the tramping of feet sounded in the corridor. First came a group of Hufflepuffs led by Ernie MacMillan and Hannah Abbott carrying trays laden with snack food and bottles of butterbeer. Slughorn whipped out his wand and magicked up some tables for them. Next came Terry Boot and Cho Chang with a group of Ravenclaws, all carrying beanbags and big squishy pillows which they distributed among the assembled students. Last came the Patil twins, Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnigan leading a group of Gryffindors, all carrying a collection of old Muggle boardgames, wizard chess, gobstobes and exploding Snap.
Throughout the night the students mingled and snacked and played games together. While it was a little awkward at first, especially for the Slytherins who initially sat apart from everyone else and only watched, soon they were leading everyone in charades and truth or dare, all barriers of blood status and house pride forgotten in the fun of the night.
Though no one said a word about it the next day, and many Slytherins denied that any such thing ever took place, there was a renewed tolerance and harmony between all the houses for a while as all the stereotypes became less prominent in how the students saw each other. Why, Slytherins were actually alot of fun and the Ravenclaws knew quite a few jokes, even if they were a little too good at trivial pursuit. It was hilarious to watch the Gryffindors antics escalate during Truth or Dare, and those sweet Hufflepuffs joined in every game, continually pressing food and blankets on everyone, and quite surprisingly taking all the winnings in a thrilling game of poker! It's the quiet ones you have to watch after all...
