AN: very late, I know. Writer's Block. But don't worry, thanks to SleepingBueaty, I now have all sorts of fun ideas to play with. So thank you Bueaty-chan couldn't have done this without you. Thank you to all the reviews, alerts, and favorites those mean a lot to me.

This chapter and the chapters after this are dedicated to SleepingBueaty.

Neah thoughts: "thoughts"

Allen thoughts: 'thoughts'

Regular thoughts: thoughts

Disclaimer: I don't own DGM.

Chapter 20

To say the silence was awkward would be the understatement of the millennium. Harry was currently sitting across from Malfoy in a corner of the library. His back was facing the room, which made him very uncomfortable, while Malfoy sat in front of him and a little off to the side so he could see the room and everyone in it. Harry gave a soft sigh and studied Malfoy for a moment. Unlike Harry, who was fidgeting slightly, Malfoy looked aggravatingly calm.

Harry sighed again without realizing it and jumped slightly when Malfoy spoke. "Would you stop sighing? It's getting annoying."

Harry gave the Slytherin a half-hearted glare and gave an overly loud sigh just to spite the other teen. Malfoy finally turned to look at him strait on and raised a pale eyebrow. Harry blushed slightly and looked away trying to resist the overwhelming urge to stick his tongue out at him.

Malfoy rolled his eyes and decided to drop it. "Alright, who do you think we'll have trouble with in your House?" he asked the lion.

Harry looked at him in surprise before a thoughtful look entered his expression. "Hermione definitely. Ron if he finds us not paying attention. Fred and George know this castle better than I do plus they know all the secret passageways. Ginny is someone we have to look out for as well. Seamus doesn't like me so he'll come after us just because he can. We don't really have to worry about Neville but don't underestimate him either. Everyone else won't search us out but they won't let a chance at us go either. You?"

Malfoy looked mildly surprised that Harry was willing to share that much information. "Well, Pansy might be a bit of a problem especially paired with Granger. Goyle's horrible with defense but he's good with offense. Crabbe is bad with spells in general. Zabini we'll have to be very careful with since he's been dying to show me up for a long time. So if we see him, stay close to me. And everyone else will take whatever chance they have to get at us."

Harry nodded and looked at the clock. "We should go the Great Hall." Malfoy nodded and they left the library being careful to keep an eye out for other pairs. They made it to the Great Hall with only one memorable incident where Malfoy had shoved Harry behind a statue while blocking an attack from a pairing and then sending a disarming spell of his own right back and managing to make the other team lose their block.

When they went inside the room, they hesitated slightly, giving each other awkward looks before going to their separate tables. Harry sat down in front of Hermione and Ron and glanced up at the Head table in time to see Umbridge lean over to talk to Allen.

"Hey guys, look," Harry said to his two best friends. "Umbridge looks mad. I wonder if Allen's in trouble for giving us this assignment."

"I hope not." Hermione worried.

***Exorcist POV***

Allen had the distinct displeasure of being the one to sit next to Umbridge.

"Ugh," Neah groaned softly. "Sitting next to that toad is one of the few drawbacks to being trapped inside your head."

Allen gave a soft grimace. 'Me and the others decided to take turns sitting next to her. It's unfortunately my turn today.'

"That doesn't make it better." Neah complained.

Before Allen could answer Umbridge leaned towards him coughing that annoying little cough, which made Neah growl with distaste.

Allen forced a slightly strained smile on his face, conscious of Lenalee who sat next to him giving him a sympathetic smile. "Yes, professor? Did you need something?"

'Please say no, please say no, please say no.' "As a matter of fact," 'damn' "I wanted to ask you about your little assignment with the Slytherins and Gryffindors."

Allen gave an inward sigh before asking. "What about it?"

She gave another little cough, which had Allen gritting his teeth, before explaining. "Don't you think that it's a teensy bit unorthodox?"

Allen gave a slow nod. "It's a little unorthodox maybe, but it will be good for them. At least this way they will be forced to work together and rely on each other. It'll help them bond."

Umbridge made a dismissive gesture. "A little bit of teenage rivalry. They'll grow out of it once they leave school."

Allen gave her a disbelieving look. "Really? So tell me, professor, have you grown out of your 'teenage rivalry'?" she gave a small twitch and her eyes slid away from his before flicking back. "Exactly my point."

The toad gave a dismissive titter. "A little bit of rivalry never hurt anyone."

"Yes, rivalry, would never hurt anyone but this soul deep hatred they have for each other concerns me." he turned his head to look her strait in the eyes. "And I'd rather not let it destroy them."

Umbridge blinked several times in shock before turning away. "Wow," Neah said. "You shocked the toad speechless."

Allen rolled his eyes slightly but didn't answer, to preoccupied in watching the wizard students. The Gryffindor and Slytherin tables were slightly more subdued than usual. He attributed that to the fact he gave them an impossible, to them, task: work together.

A smirk spread across his face. Well, he thought gleefully. At least this year will be interesting.

AN: well? What do you think? Review please!

PS: there is a poll on my profile that I really need you to answer. It's very important for my next story.