Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. I do, however, own the random species of reptiles that I create, as well as Parseltongue name translations.

Chapter 13: Aftermath

The four of them sat in Dumbledore's office, listening to their teachers argue about what to do with them.

"They should be expelled!" Mcgonagall was saying.

"That is up to me, is it not?" Snape retaliated.

"Unless Albus decides they should be!"

"And why would he do that? As far as I recall, they acted in defense of their fellow student, and displayed a great deal of skill and courage than most people, including your lions."

"Then that means they were put in the wrong house." Mcgonagall said triumphantly."

"You are incorrect, Minerva." Everyone stared at Dumbledore as he spoke for the first time that night. "It was a very calculated move that likely impressed most of the school."

Mcgonagall spluttered before saying, "What do you mean, Albus?"

"They left the Great Hall in front of the whole school, knowing there was a troll on the loose. They disregarded their personal safety to warn a friend that was not even in their house, but in fact in Ravenclaw. That sort of loyalty is what Hufflepuffs are known for, and admire. Am I correct?"

"When you put it that way," Mcgonagall was starting to sulk like Snape.

Viper paled. "We forgot to take one thing into account though." The teachers all looked over as he said this. Cobra and Python paled as well, before Viper said, "Common sense."

"He's gonna blow!" Python called as the three ran out of the room, followed by a ranting, angry Italian promising that no one would find the bodies.

"Do you know why I called you in here?" Severus addressed the four students that almost everyone in the school now called The Knot.

"Halloween?" the blond asked.

"Not entirely. I feel that you have inflicted appropriate punishment on each other."

"Is it about the week Solaris was missing?" The one with olive-skin asked.

"Now that you mention it, I was wondering about that, but no."

"Is this about what happened in Filch's office last week?" the blindfolded person asked.

"Again, no."

"You've finally gotten around to the last of the interviews you mentioned on the first night."

"Correct, Mr. Nott. You cannot possibly know how much work teachers have to grade."

"About seven weeks worth in one?" Cobra guessed.

"That was not an invitation."

"Sorry."

"Apology accepted. Now, as punishment for Filch's office, you will have to do some additional potion making for Madam Pomphrey."

The four nodded their heads.

Christmas was coming around, and Draco wasn't sure if he wanted to go home. His mother would want to see him, but his father would probably ignore him. Or worse, he would yell at him for 'associating with those lesser beings' and lock him in the East Wing of Malfoy Manor, where it would be freezing.

He groaned, and heard his friend ask, "Not looking forward to seeing your father?"

"Yeah, it's not going to end well."

Blaise said, "If I didn't have to go home, I'd mail my mother and say that I have to stay to finish establishing an alliance with another well known family."

"Why do you have to go home?" Draco asked.

"My mother's getting married again."

"Another victim for the Black Widow? I almost feel bad for the idiot."

Blaise thought for a moment before asking, "Have you told your father we're friends."

"Well, he knows that I'm friends with Cobra, and I've mentioned Python."

"Then say that you're finalising an alliance between you, me, and Theo if he stays."

Theo walked up then and said, "Where's Cobra?"

Hermione heard him, and told them, "I heard him say something about the third floor this morning."

The four paled when they realised what Solaris was going to do.

They managed to catch him before he went in.

Reminder of who's who:

Boa - Blaise
Viper - Draco
Python - Theo Nott
Cobra - Harry