A/N: A nice, medium-sized chapter for you all. Read, enjoy, and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling does, the blessed lady.

"Status quo."

Snape rubbed his temples as the three boys replied in unison. Of course they were going to say that. Not disrupting the status quo was their excuse for everything. McGonagall simply shook her head.

"So Mr. Longbottom is another of your Sensers, then?"

Harry nodded.

"How is it that you and Longbottom went a entire double period without talking, Potter?"

Harry and Neville looked at each other in confusion. Harry's eyes widened.

"Plants don't have larynxes…"

Theo snorted, "Telepathy. Brilliant."

In an instant, Neville and Harry were forming links to Theo's mind. The Slytherin blinked when the deluge of information stopped.

'Ow… I don't need a migraine just yet, thank you.'

'I love how most of this is instinctual.'

'Absolutely.'

Snape eventually snapped, "Do you three intend to stare at each other all day?"

The boys grinned. Theo replied, "Sorry, Professors, we were just a bit lost in thought, is all."

McGonagall hadn't taught the Marauders for seven years for nothing. She knew the boys were hiding something. Their stances and that mischievous glint in their eyes definitely said so. Well, boys would be boys. Despite what Severus said, they really didn't need to keep the boys any longer.

"Very well. If there's nothing else, boys, enjoy your afternoon."

The three boys were only too glad to escape the piercing gazes of their teachers. They settled happily in the library around Harry's laptop. While Harry was typing a message to Sirius, Neville and Theo were sorting out their differences. Telepathically, of course.

'I guess Slytherin's not all bad.'

'We're not meant to be evil. Just ambitious.'

'You seem like an alright bloke.'

'I don't think we've ever actually spoken to each other before, have we?'

'No. Funny, isn't it?'

'No joke. But I'm glad.'

'Yeah, it'll be nice getting to know you… Theo.'

'Likewise… Nev.'

Harry chuckled to himself. Against all odds, things were looking up.

/Padfoot,

I found another Senser – Neville Longbottom. He and Theo are getting on pretty well.

We've formed a telepathic connection amongst the three of us.

Keep working on your assets. I'll handle mine come Christmas.

Best,

Lectus/

The weeks leading up to Christmas passed without event. Ron and Hermione drew further away from Harry and closer to each other. Harry, in turn, spent more time with Neville and Theo. The school noted that the three virtually stopped talking, except to their teachers, yet they seemed the best of friends.

The boys had a lot in common. They had all grown up without the love of a parent. Even Neville came from an emotionally abusive background. They could relate to each other very well, and their senses of humor were almost identical. Both Theo and Neville had taken to Sirius, once they got past the convicted felon business.

One day, Harry and Theo found themselves about Draco Malfoy. Neville was talking to Professor Sprout.

'He knows what it's like, you know. Lucius Malfoy is not a kind father.'

'His mother dotes on him, though. He's always had someone to turn to.'

'True. Even if his father beats him, his mother almost immediately heals the wounds.'

'I suppose he does understand, somewhat. He knows fear. But, he doesn't know desolation.'

'Like we do.'

'Exactly. He's more the type to expect everyone's sympathy because of what he's been through. He'll just lap it up.'

'As opposed to us, who turn a cynical eye onto everything.'

'You make that sound like a bad thing.'