A/N: I am an outspoken advocate against bullying and abuse in all forms. It was very important to me that those issues were dealt with in this story. While many of the issues the characters had to deal with (even in canon) were 'magically based', they are still issues dealt with every single day by children and adults alike. That is why I chose the song and lyrics I did for this chapter. If you haven't heard the song, please go listen. I hope you enjoy the rest of the fic. After this there is only one more chapter and an epilogue.

Chapter 25
Push me and I'll push back (Make it stop - September's children by Rise Against)

The week at Malfoy Manor had been wonderful. It had also done as intended and brought together the majority of the staff. Draco never thought he would be allying with Neville Longbottom, Susan Bones, or the Patil twins but he had, they all had. Hells, Pansy was bringing a whole new meaning to the word. He couldn't fault her either, not after seeing just how witty Padma could be. Parvati seemed to have grown up as well, though he rather thought she and Lovegood would get along rather nicely. Apparently, when the women had girls night Daphne had admitted that she and Neville had a bit of a thing going before they had all taken up residence in the hospital wing.

But, today was the final staff meeting before the students arrived later and he was curious as to what the final staff member's name would be. They had talked it over again and again with no success. Even Gin hadn't been able to wring it out of Severus. His mum had that look in her eyes that told him she knew who it was, but that she was having far too much fun listening to them try and puzzle it out to give in and tell all.

The three of them had visited Gringotts and at their insistence added Gin to their vaults on her birthday. She had simply shook her head and not tried to argue. They may not have taken the steps of marriage or formal bonding…yet…but she was theirs and they were hers. Soon, once they had a chance to settle in and get used to this newest routine they would discuss it.

"We're here," she whispered, coming to a stop outside the staffroom door.

"Might as well get it over with," Blaise quipped, pushing open the door.

"Aunt Andromeda?" Draco hoped he wasn't standing there gaping like a fish, but he sure felt like it. He leaned on Blaise, simply staring.

His aunt and his mother certainly felt his reaction was amusing if their laughter was anything to go by. Even Blaise and Gin were snickering.

"Hello, Andromeda. Please excuse Draco, he hasn't had enough coffee yet today," Gin quipped.

Shaking his head, he stepped forward. "I have no idea what to say." He glanced at his mum. "You knew about this?"

"I did indeed. Where do you think I have been disappearing off to when you three are…busy?" She was smirking at him! "Andie and Tonks are both simply wonderful. I wish we had not lost touch."

He pulled out a chair and dropped into it since Blaise had already pulled out a chair for Gin. He snickered when he was handed a cup of coffee a moment later. "Okay, so the full staff is here…"

Severus sneered at him. "Drink your coffee, Draco. We will be set on by a group of heathens that will put you lot to shame soon enough, you will need it."

Blaise snickered. "I think we are all going to need Firewhiskey before the feast ends."

Draco sipped his coffee and biting back a snicker. Why Albus had thought they could do this was beyond him. He was, however, damn certain that he would do his best to live up to expectations. He sat back, slipping his free hand into Blaise's and leaning on Gin. The glare Severus levelled him with only amused him.

"I will also be assisting Cissy," Andromeda pointed out impishly. "I wonder how the first years will take both of us."

Neville snorted. "Poppy will have her hands full of shaking and scared firsties."

"Neville!" Daphne swatted at him playfully. "Take that back!"

"Oh no, I think having a bit of fear for all of us will do them good."

Draco nearly spit coffee as it was Susan of all people that had made the little declaration.

"Oh gods, we have worn off on you!" Pansy cried delightedly.

"Not as much as you have on Padma."

Draco watched as Charlie, Theo, Blaise, and Gin all burst out laughing. He swore Severus had an eye twitch forming. He looked ready to hex them all.

"Too true," Padma said smoothly, winking at Pansy. "I am positively delighted with the situation."

"Oh dear Merlin," Poppy whispered, covering her mouth with her hand and watching them wide-eyed.

"You get used to it," Parvati said, patting Poppy's hand soothingly. "I have every confidence that they will behave in front of the students."

"Oh, that is more of a challenge accepted sort of thing," Asteria said warningly.

Draco just shook his head and stayed out of it. He knew that it would degenerate into teasing and harassing one another and given that Severus was sporting a serious eye twitch, he was not going to get hexed. He would watch and get Blaise or Gin out of the line of fire if hexes were thrown though. It was just too damn funny. He sat back, crossing his legs at the ankles and prepared to enjoy the show.

"Aww, Dad, you look positively green," Gin teased. "Is it something we said?"

"Cease this at once!"

"Oh, Sev darling, do stop."

Draco ducked his head and tried not to laugh aloud at his mum's amused and yet haughty expression as she took her fiancé to task. That wasn't something he wanted to think about, though he was pleased for them. It was simply far easier to put things like that in the 'do not even think about it' part of his mind. He sat up a moment later when she continued speaking.

"Now, I have set up my classroom to pair students of different houses. What have the rest of you decided?"

"We will," Blaise answered for the three of them. "We also decided to set them projects that they will have to work together on. I do believe that others are thinking along the same lines?"

Theo smirked. "Neville, Asteria, and I have just finished the last of our plans as well. We, as some of you know, have decided that working together to integrate some of the classwork will not only help the students, but foster a sense of school wide unity as well."

Charlie spoke up next. "I am going to attempt to start up inter-house teams to play for a new Cup. My goal is to not only have House teams, but to allow those who don't want to or don't make the cut for their house teams a chance to play as well."

Draco grinned at him, lifting his mug in a supportive gesture. It was a damn good idea and it just might help them. He knew that the houses would likely always be more loyal to their own, but stopping the outright hatred was necessary. He was finding that he rather liked Charlie now that it was clear that Gin's health and well-being was the man's first priority. He made sure to give them all a wide berth and had yet to approach her. It seemed to be working in his favour.

"I think I am speaking for all of us when I say that bullying will not be tolerated." Gin didn't stand, but he knew she had everyone's attention. "I have worked closely with Poppy and Tonks the last few weeks to set up protocol to follow should any student face harassment…from anyone."

Draco knew she had spent hours with his cousin and Poppy in an attempt to protect the children as none of them had been protected. He and Blaise had been concerned that it would bring back her nightmares. Instead, it seemed to give her even more confidence.

"I will be handling the sorting," Padma said softly, though there was strength in her tone. "I will not, with all due respect to Minerva, be disparaging any House as I explain to the students. In fact, I have changed the wording a bit to better foster a sense of school unity."

"It is going to be great," Pansy said confidently. "Plus, it means we can hand out detentions from the moment they all enter the Great Hall should any of them feel that bullying behaviour will be tolerated."

"None of us had a fair shot, I don't think," Susan interjected. "If it wasn't because I was a Hufflepuff, it was because I was a half-blood or a girl. I know some of you were hated just for your family name or house or political affiliations. We will stand together and stop as much as we can. I do believe any students that wish to carry on with bigoted attitudes will find themselves on the wrong side of my temper!"

Draco decided now was a good time to finally speak up. "All of our tempers, Susan. None of us will stand idly by while any student or staff is harassed. Now, if there is nothing else?"

Severus sneered at him, looking far too pleased with himself for it to be anything good. "Oh but there is."

Narrowing his eyes, Draco braced for the worst.

"Our esteemed Minster and Head Auror will be arriving for the Feast. They will be awarding your Order of Merlin's."

Draco just sighed. At least they didn't have to travel to London.

"That also means that there will be a small contingency of the press as well."

Draco buried his face in his hand. "Oh, bloody fucking brilliant, Severus."

"Oh, please," Andromeda drawled, sounding far more like his mum than Draco expected. "It will just give Nymphadora a reason to arrest them if they cause problems."

"Ohh, that will be something to see," Gin said cheekily. "She said she is feeling a mite protective of what family she has left. I wonder what colour her hair will be tonight."

"None of you will be harassed." Severus had that 'angry, one wrong word away from hexing everyone' face on again.

"Are we done?" Theo asked shortly. "I think I speak for all of us when I say we want to have a nice, relaxing day before the heathens and bastards of the press descend."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Yes, all of you go before I am in need of a Firewhiskey."

-gbdbgd-

"Oh come on." Blaise rolled his eyes and leaned against the doorframe. "You two look stunningly gorgeous as always, no need to mess with perfection."

Gin blew him a kiss and Draco just huffed.

He was being honest and they knew it otherwise they would have complained more. They had decided to start as they meant to go on and had dressed in what he and Draco liked to call business casual robes left open to reveal their boots, trousers, and jumpers. None of them were unarmed either, not with unknowns being on the grounds. They had all left their hair down as well, though that was more for the shock factor than anything.

Pansy's voice filtered up the stairs. "Come on, you three! We are going to be late!"

"If I promise to behead anyone that annoys you, will that hurry you up?" Theo called a moment later.

Blaise snickered. "I think he means it."

Gin raced over, kissing him quickly and ran down the stairs, "No beheading at the Feast, Theo! Asteria, you will have to watch him close."

Draco snickered and crossed the room, holding out his hand. "We should go before she takes them all to task."

Blaise took his hand and they all but ran down the stairs together. "The students will not know what to think of us in any way, shape, or form. I am rather looking forward to it."

"Oh, so am I," Draco assured him.

-dbgdbg-

Theo watched apprehensively as the students began arriving. Just to the left of the staff table a second smaller table had been set up for the press. Tonks and Kingsley were sitting with Severus and Narcissa at the centre of the staff table. All the players were moving into position and he still wasn't certain that he liked it. They had all been through too much to have some nosy idiot reporter asking stupid questions.

"If I may," said idiot reporter was saying to Gin, "ask you a few questions before the Feast and ceremony."

It was only Asteria's hand on his arm that kept him from telling the idiot to go the fuck away. He didn't like the look in the man's eyes and he could tell that no one else did either. They had been asked to do this by one of the three that had kept them safe and allowed them to find some semblance of happiness though and that meant something to them.

"That all depends on the manner of your questions," Gin replied smoothly, though Theo wondered if the man knew that she was using that tone that warned of imminent hexing.

Grinning gleefully, the reporter stared out with, "So, Miss Weasley, what is the true story of why you separated from your family?"

"Oh gods, he is going to die," Theo muttered.

Asteria leaned in, her hand on his arm to keep him in place. Her voice was barely loud enough for him to hear. "I want to gut him, but we can't."

"It seems you are ill-informed, I have been Ginevra Snape for nigh on a year now. If all you wish to do is fan flames under old stories long explained than you should go now."

"How does a group of rag-tag children and alleged Death Eaters plan on running this school? What did you do to Albus Dumbledore to force him to agree to this?"

Theo watched angrily as Gin all but sat on Draco and Blaise to keep them from killing the bastard. A flash of bright purple alerted him to Tonks' appearance. Oh, well, she looked livid. He was enjoying the fear on the reporter's face more than he likely should, but the fucking bastard deserved it.

"Slander will not be tolerated! You are very close to being escorted out!" Tonks snarled.

"We welcomed you with the understanding that you would not be causing this sort of trouble."

Severus had entered the fray. To Theo's way of thinking the odds of the reporter living five minutes longer had just decreased dramatically. They had all figured on some sort of bullshit like this, but to do so blatantly! It was downright insulting.

"I have every right to ask the questions which the public wants the answers to!"

"You do not have any right to slander good people, fervent supporters of Albus Dumbledore," Blaise drawled in that 'I want to fucking kill you now' tone he had perfected over the years. It had been known to have his fellow Slytherins running for cover.

"How do we know? Just an hour ago I spoke with The Boy Who Lived and he had much to say on the subject!"

Theo was horrified. Those idiots were awake and had already talked to the press!

"I did not know," Tonks all but screamed, looking as livid as he felt. "I will find out what the bloody hell is going on though!"

"You do that," he said, speaking for the whole group. In fact, he seemed to be the only one not struck speechless currently. "If they show up here and start shit we will defend ourselves."

Tonks' 'meep'ed and drug the reporter off to where Kingsley was sitting. He scanned the room very carefully, not willing to be caught off guard should the ickle heroes decide to make an appearance. He didn't miss Gin, Draco, and Blaise whispering softly to one another, but all he could tell was that they were angry not what they were actually saying.

Asteria laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. "Just one day. Is it too much to ask?"

He couldn't have agreed more.