Here is the next chapter. Please enjoy it and read and review love Hannah xxx
The cool thing about Slytherins was that they knew how to say loads and leave a very strong impression without even opening their mouths once. The whole school had seen it and were genuinely shocked by not only what the Slytherins had done but what Dumbledore had said. In fairness no matter how he actually meant it; it had sounded an awful lot like he was judging Astrid himself for grieving too much or something. That's how most people saw it and most people thought they were wrong. They all felt guilty for thinking such bad things of him. I mean he'd hardly be targeting her would he? This question was on the minds of everyone that evening.
Ron himself was furious inside. He struggled enough with his guilt, grief and emotions as it was he really didn't need this. He didn't need to know some people had targeted Hermione for grieving too much like the headmaster said. To be entirely honest he didn't much care about her in that regard because he was too busy trying to figure out what the hell he himself thought and felt. It just wasn't fair. He was so in his own head with his own thoughts that when the Slytherins left he wondered what he'd missed. Had they been dismissed by Dumbledore? As he watched those around him he overheard someone saying they had elected to go something he didn't understand. If they wanted to go why not just say it!? It made no sense to him. He'd have told everyone he was leaving and then left in a dramatic fashion! It was utter madness to him at least.
Lavender, Demelza, Parvati, Padma, Seamus and Susan were shocked at the applause and warm welcome they got from the Slytherins as they were invited into the Snakes pit behind them. They were approached by Hazel Grimes one of the prefects who smiled at them.
"Thank you so much for standing with Astrid Black and by extension our entire house. This hasn't gone unnoticed. In Slytherin as you may well know we do things differently. I daresay no two houses do anything the same way. The point is we here in Slytherin vote on things and I am going to call for one now. Please remain quiet while I do this. Attention everyone I hereby call a vote to grant these fine people Slytherin immunity. Raise your wand and light it if you agree with me!" she said as everyone there did so shocking them all.
"Congratulations you guys. You took a stand with Slytherin against harm done to one of our own and we have voted to give you Slytherin immunity. Because our whole house has voted on it Professor Snape cannot say anything against it which he himself as a former Slytherin would be well aware! This means from now on you will always know the passwords to our house and may come in here any time you need a break from those others in the school who would seek to annoy you. Should you enter here no matter how often you like you won't be judged for it!" she said as the whole house once more cheered and clapped as Astrid cried at the kindness they were being shown. Where in the hell was this kindness for Harry Potter? Where was the whole of Gryffindor's concern for him? The truth is it hadn't existed. They just didn't care enough for him. Ron was loud enough to annoy most of them and Hermione nagged so much all the time that she probably scared everyone away who might have shown him concern.
The difference between Hufflepuff and Slytherin was that Slytherin showed loyalty as a house to those that they actually knew deserved it. Even if many members of the house supported someone not all of them would unless they could be sure the person deserved the kindness and support. They were never outright mean to someone unless they deserved it. They were all stunned into silence when a gong went off suddenly. Where was this sound coming from and why was it there? Even the Slytherins who had always been there looked shocked. Some prefect even said he didn't know why it had gone off at all or where the sound was even coming from.
Suddenly the whole house shook quite literally as Severus entered it and stood stock still not knowing himself what to do. He had never seen this before either. Was Hogwarts having an earthquake? He suddenly chuckled to himself as the magically raised wouldn't know what to do in this situation and the idea of them running around uselessly screaming made him laugh. Now that was a funny thought indeed. Suddenly a booming voice came from the now convulsing Bloody Baron whom no one had ever seen do that before.
Protocols of the sacred union of Saclay are at last in play. Salazar Slytherin has won his bet! He is the one who has united all of the houses through their good members alone. Twenty points from the other houses will now go to Slytherin as per their wager. From now on these members shall not be of Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Slytherin or Ravenclaw. They shall be of Hogwarts. The day of unity is among us lest us all now know it forever more. The new Hogwarts house of Hogwarts can be accessed using the portrait of the drunken maidens on the ground floor beside the great hall. Good day to you all and may your robes change to signify this change. You will be expected to room there now and Hogwarts stands with you all!
He said as everyone looked stunned. In the great hall people were shocked as the whole school shook and Slytherin was suddenly up sixty points. Dumbledore was furious. What in the hell did this all even mean? He could tell Severus had not awarded them the sixty points nor had he taken any away. In fact none of the staff had as they had all been in the hall with him. He was further stunned when a female ghost he'd never seen there before appeared before him holding a list which she then read aloud.
The union of Saclay is now at play. The union of Saclay so named so as not to draw unwanted attention. The union of Saclay is a bet between the four houses of Hogwarts which bet twenty points each that their house would be the one to unify all the houses. House Slytherin won his bet and so the house points go to him. Seamus Finnegan, Lavender Brown, Padma Patil, Gregory Goyle, Parvati Patil, Vincent Crabbe, Draco Malfoy, Susan Bones, Astrid Black, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott and Demelza Robins are the names of the new Hogwarts house students. They will now board together in the new house of Hogwarts called simply Hogwarts house. There will be no head of house and they are responsible for its care. In the new platinum hourglass is where their house points will now be stored. I am Hogwarts and it is with great shock that I thank formally the house of Slytherin for uniting the houses four as one! She said as Dumbledore was too stunned to do or say anything at this point.
Why couldn't it have been Gryffindor who had done that? He had never been more disappointed with his old house then he was now. The glory Gryffindor had spent years accruing through different acts was now going to go to Slytherin of all houses. If it had been any other house it would have been bad anyway but Slytherin house was a step too far for him. The other staff were very stunned by this information too as it truly did include members from all houses even if it was just one member from some of them. Astrid too was furious as those people were indeed all from other houses as Lady Hogwarts had said. Why was Slytherin all of a sudden hogging all the glory which usually went to her house? It was like it had been done to snub Gryffindor in its entirety for the hell of it or just because it could be. Man did she hate Astrid so much right now. Why was she never on the receiving end of anything educationally good these days? She'd studied harder than anyone else ever had and still nothing!
In Slytherin their robes had changed to contain a purple and golden trim which looked quite regal. Their crests were now replaced with a giant golden H behind which was an outline of the school and the animals of the four other houses. They left Slytherin and headed to check out their new dorms with shock and joy on their faces. They found the portrait as it was hard not to. It looked a bit garish but none the less fun. Draco was mildly turned off that he'd need to be accessing his new dorms via a portrait of drunken maidens as it was unbecoming but did it none the less. When they approached it, it told them the password was unity and opened for them. Once they were all inside the door closed and the place lit up. In front of them was a large staircase which went down. They climbed down and as they got to the bottom it got much lighter and they all gasped. They landed in a circular glass large room which was deep under the sea and deeper under it then the Slytherin common room had ever hoped to be. From here they could see all different types of exotic fish swimming overhead and it was simply gorgeous to look at.
The room was round and large and filled with couches, specialised areas for studying and a large cosy fireplace. There were six hallways which lead off from the main circle and each hallway had the name of a couple on them. When they walked down the hallway they entered large kind sized bedrooms with en suites attached. The rooms contained large king sized beds and a note which said that everything which happened behind the closed bedroom doors could not be heard by anyone in the common room which was a relief to them for sure. Their families would all be so proud of them.
