Disclaimer: The characters all belong to J. K. Rowling.
Author's Note: I may have already posted this, but if I didn't this is a diagram I made of Harry and everyone's new little home. The picture is divided in half. The top half is what it was like in his first year, the bottom half what it is like in this point in the story. Just take the spaces out of the URL. http:www. deviation/ 10622755/
The next chapter is nearly done and will be up by Thursday.
Reply:
Greyhawk, Jennyroseangel, Nutty AL, Me262, right-claw, Moses, Zesuit—Thanks so much for reviewing! In the interest of getting this chapter up as quickly as possible, I'm not doing individual replies right now.
Moses—I think I'll take you up on that beta reader offer. I'm a little too impatient to wait for a beta responses on this site since I post chapters as soon as they're finished, but I could use a Beta for my one of my stories on FictionAlley sends chapters back if they have too many grammar mistakes and AI don't' know what to do.
73: Convincing the Slytherins
When the lights in the common room went out, everyone hustled into their dormitories. Just as planned, the Slytherins were accosted by the rest of their new roommates.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"Get off! Get off!"
"I'm a Malfoy, you can't hold me like this!"
"Or what? You'll tell Dumbledore?" snorted Ron. Ron and Ernie held Malfoy's arms behind his back.
Terry was sitting on the fifth year Prefect, who was complaining loudly and asking just how much Terry ate for dinner.
Colin and a couple of Hufflepuffs had the seventh year Prefect pinned down.
Harry looked around, certain that none of the Slytherins would be able to move before he finished speaking. "We don't want to be here anymore than you do," Harry started.
The youngest Slytherin interrupted, "You aren't the one being squashed."
Harry ignored him. "We don't want to be here anymore than you three do. That's why we've come up with a plan to get out of here. Dumbledore stuck us all together in hopes that we would start working as a team and cooperating and ignoring House and bloodline differences."
"Some things just can't be ignored," the seventh said, trying to squirm away from the arms holding him.
One of the Hufflepuffs hit him and told him to shut up.
"No, you're right. It's pretty ridiculous. Being confined here like prisoners isn't going to make us bond. When we played Twister the other night, I thought Dumbledore might let us go. But he said that it didn't count, because there are four houses at this school, not just three. I don't propose we actually get along; that's just crazy. But what if we pretend to be getting along? If we act like we're getting along and can convince Dumbledore and the teachers that we really are, then we're as good as free. What do you think?"
"What would we have to do?" asked the seventh year cautiously, seeing that this may work after all.
"Not much. We call a cease in hostilities between the houses. For the time being no more insults, and participating in activities with the rest of us. That's all it should take. Just a little friendliness."
Malfoy scoffed, "You can't expected us to be nice to Mudbloods."
Ron kicked him in the shin.
"Another thing, the M-word has got to go. If Dumbledore or the teachers hear any of that, we're never getting out. Do you three agree to cooperate? It'll probably be our only choice if we don't want to spend the rest of term here."
"What about outside of here?" asked the seventh year.
"We can go back to showing how much we hate each other once we get out," Ron said reasonably.
"I meant, what about the students who aren't confined here? Dumbledore wants them to get along too, doesn't he? He won't let us go until the school is unified, not just the Prefects and Captains."
"That's right. I found a way to communicate with somebody on the outside. I can't go into detail about it now, but suffice it to say, if you'll tell me who needs to be talked to, I can get someone out there to start making them all pretend to get along. I just need to know who the leaders and voices of reason will be out there without the three of you. Do you agree to help?"
The seventh year Slytherin was the first to agree, "If it'll get me out of the company of all of you goody-goods I'll do whatever it takes."
The fifth year whispered to Malfoy. "I'm in if you're in."
Malfoy shot him a look of disgust. "You're willing to go through with this?"
"It's the only way will get out of here. Besides, this Ravenclaw is a lot heavier than he looks," he replied. "I'm in."
Malfoy looked around, knowing that if he dissented, even his house wasn't on his side anymore. "I'll do it. But don't make me touch any Mudbloods."
"Malfoy, just act like you're getting along with us and everything will be fine. And don't say that word. It won't matter how friendly anybody acts, if it looks like you guys still have that attitude and are saying that stuff, the teachers will know that we're just faking the whole thing," Harry explained. "Do you agree to cooperate?"
"I thought we were only pretending to cooperate," said the fifth year.
"Cooperating in pretending to cooperate," clarified Harry.
"I'll do it," Malfoy said, with gritted teeth.
"Good man. Now, which of you volunteers to match wits with Ron Weasley on the chessboard?"
"I'll do it," said the fifth year. "No shame if I lose; he's a year older than me."
"Good. Who wants to play Parcheesi?" Harry asked.
Colin, Terry, and Ernie volunteered.
"Which one of you wants to join?" Harry asked Draco and the seventh year.
"I guess I will," said the seventh year distastefully.
"And what about you, Malfoy?" asked Harry. "We've got Twister, Clue, a deck of cards, Monopoly, and probably a few other games out there."
Malfoy remained silent. He wanted no part of this.
"Tomorrow's Thursday. Maybe we should do those games earlier in the day, and then have a giant group Twister game afterwards," offered Terry.
"Great idea. Brilliant," Harry said to Terry. "Malfoy, either pick a game to play, or you'll be showing your inter-house unity by letting the girls from the other houses give you a makeover."
"You wouldn't," Draco said.
"Oh, I would. You obviously don't know me well enough," he said viciously. He changed to an innocent tone, "Hey, what do you mates think Malfoy would look like with red and gold eye shadow?"
"I think he'd look smashing," Ernie said maliciously. "They should curl his hair too."
"And tie ribbons in it," added Terry scathingly.
Malfoy struggled to get away. "You'll pay for this, all of you!"
"I'd like to see you try, Malfoy," snorted Ron.
"All you have to do is cooperate and we'll withhold the makeover," Harry said, seriously and with a touch of disappointment. A picture of Malfoy in red and gold eye shadow, with ribbons and curls could blackmail him for life.
"I'll take Monopoly, whatever that is," he finally said.
"Good. I'll play Monopoly. Anyone else interested? We can have six more players."
"There's only six of us left," pointed out the fifth year Ravenclaw.
"Oh, right. Then I guess we're all in. We play these games after dinner. During any free time before that, just act friendly. It won't kill you talk to the other three houses, understand?"
The Slytherins didn't really respond, but Harry chose to ignore that.
"Alright. Now, who will be the ideal people to talk to in Slytherin to get them cooperating outside of this place?"
The fifth and seventh year SlytherinPrefectslooked expectantly at Draco Malfoy.
"Zabini and Greengrass. If anyone can talk reason to the rest of the house, it's the two of them. And maybe that fourth year Blaire Venaver. She's very persuasive."
Harry scratched the names down on a piece of parchment to talk to Neville about them. "Thank you. I'll get the names out to my contact as soon as possible. You've been very helpful. Goodnight."
The boys restraining the Slytherins let them free and everyone was finally able to start getting ready for bed. Harry hoped things had gone as well for the girls. He took the mirror out of his trunk, wrapped in his pajamas, and brought it into the bathroom to try and contact Neville before he got in the shower. Neville didn't answer and Harry and Harry gloomily stuck the mirror under his pillow after his shower. Maybe he'd have better luck the next day.