Author's Notes: Thank you my reviewers. You're all wonderful. To answer one of my reviewers questions, yes I am a girl...atleast, that's what I think you were asking. Anyway, I was wondering, how many of you are putting the pieces together. If you are at all famaliar with Romeo and Juliet, you should slowly but surely see who is filling the different roles, Prince Escalus, Tybalt, Paris, etc. Also, every character that I have written in has a purpose in this story, so don't write off any OC or minor character as not important.
"I don't see why they can't just stop all this nonsense." Remus Lupin the returning Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher sighed as he sipped his tea.
"I don't quite understand it either I must say." Replied Dumbledore sucking on a lemon drop. A few of the other heads in their picture frames nodded as well.
"It's so incredibly childish." Remus said with yet another sigh. "If they could just take the time to get to know each other they would realize that they aren't really all that different."
"I'd have to disagree with you there Remus my old friend. Slytherins and Gryffindors are quite different from each other."
"What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet."
"What's the difference between the houses? If the Slytherins were called Gryffindors and the Gryffindors were called Slytherins they would not be any different is what you're really trying to say Remus." Dumbledore replied.
"No." Remus argued, "What I'm really trying to say is that even though their name separates them and causes hate and fear, they really are the same people. They have the same passions and interests....take Quidditch for example."
"Ah you quoted incorrectly I fear...what you were looking for can be found in The Merchant of Venice." Dumbledore replied plopping another candy into his mouth.
"If you prick me, do I not bleed?" Remus asked with a small smile.
"Ah," Dumbledore said clasping his hands together, "The very one."
"I wish I could somehow stop all this fighting between the Houses. Why the other day I stopped what seemed like a massacre down by the lake. It was Ron Weasley, Seamus Finnegan and a bunch of fifth and third years, versus Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle and a bunch of fourth years. They were being absolutely brutal towards each other. It took me an age to talk some sense into Ron and separate the groups. And to think after all the house points that have been lost recently and all the detentions we've been giving out. You'd think they would stop! But no---"
Dumbledore held up a hand, "Remus," he interrupted, "Please. You're ranting."
"I'm sorry Headmaster." Replied the werewolf blushingly. He looked down at his wrist watch. "I'd best be going Albus, my break is almost over."
Remus stood up with a smile and as he walked out the room Dumbledore muttered under his breath, "Goodbye Benvolio."
Remus spun on his heel, "I beg your pardon?" he said somewhat confused.
"I said Goodbye and Bon-voyage." Albus said with a quick recovery. He grinned and left and Albus allowed himself a small smile. He had not been figured out...yet.
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Hermione Granger was positively fuming, "Are you lot EVER going to learn?" she yelled pacing back and forth in front of her fellow Gryffindors. "You already have two months worth of detentions and a thousand house points lost. Why would you honestly start a fight with the Slytherins?"
Seamus broke in, "But Hermione," he said reasonably, "They provoked us!"
"With what?" Hermione growled, "Ron's mum is a fat old bitty with a million babies? A bunch of nonsense with the world Mudblood and a good shag thrown in a few times?"
Dean gulped.
Ron stood up, "Well, we're sorry if the precious Head Girl isn't allowed to act on her feelings about the Slytherins, but there's no need to take that anger out on us." He started walking away.
"I just thought I'd let you all know that you will be receiving another months worth of detention for this little display of Gryffindor morale. Oh and fifty house points, each."
One of the third years fainted.
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Meanwhile, Draco was giving a similar speech to his Slytherins.
"I'm deeply ashamed of you all." He hissed icily, making the fourth years involved in the fight flinch, "We are Slytherins!" he said slamming his fist down onto the table. "We do not seek out to hurt others with violence."
"Well we're not Hufflepuffs." Crabbe grunted.
"How are we supposed to hurt people with violence?" asked Goyle scratching his head.
"We are Slytherins Dammit! We shouldn't have to use violence to intimidate our enemies! Our very presence in the same room as our enemy should make them feel weak and vulnerable. We should be able to make the bravest enemy cry with just a few words! We are Slytherins! Not Gryffindors. Our idea of a cunning plan is not, 'Okay everyone jump in on the count of three!' For the love of Merlin."
"Sorry Draco." One of the fourth years piped up.
"A Slytherin is never sorry!" Draco yelled, "A Slytherin never has anything to be sorry for! Do you hear me?"
"Sir. Yes. Sir!" yelled another fourth year.
"You all make me sick. After a thousand house points lost because of the Great Hall incident, you'd think that as loyal Slytherins you would act with some decorum and make an attempt to salvage the chances we have left at the house cup! The Head Girl," he paused for a second trying to put the tiniest hint of tenderness or admiration into the title, "And I have been working very hard together under Dumbledore's strict orders to bring back some sense of normalcy to Hogwarts since the raid. Have any of you helped at all? No!"
All the students Draco was yelling at were beginning to look a tad bored. "It wasn't just my mother and father that were captured, but yours as well Nott! And yours as well Crabbe! And how about you Velmont? Your mother writing to you and telling you about how cold and lonely her bed is now that your father is in Azkaban?"
They started to back away. "Slytherin house is at its lowest point right now, and you have all sunk it even lower. I'm disgusted with all of you. By the way you all have a months worth of detention and have lost us fifty points each. Now get out of my site."
They didn't need telling twice.
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That evening at dinner, Pavarti, Padma, and Lavender approached were Hermione was sitting with Harry, Ron, Ginny and Neville.
"Yoo-Hoo!" Pavarti called, "Herm-IE!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and looked towards them, "Yes?" she asked, somewhat shortly.
"Would you mind if we talked to you for a second, in private?" Padma asked.
"You don't mind if we borrow Hermie do you?" Lavender asked, pouting her bright pink glittery lips.
"Erm.." Harry muttered, trying to catch Hermione's eye to see if she needed to be rescued.
"Actually..." Neville said waving around what looked like a Potions essay as they pulled her out of the Hall.
Once they were on the other side of the doors they cornered her.
"Is he a good kisser?" Lavender shot first, before the onslaught could begin.
"Is his hair soft?"
"Does his breath smell nice?"
"Are his eyes really that icy grey up close?"
"Has he promised you he'll run away with you?"
"Are you pregnant with his love child?"
Hermione was looking from one to the other pretending to be as confused as she would have been, had this all not been an act.
"What in Merlin's name are you talking about?" she asked, hoping a blush would appear on her cheeks.
"You and Draco of course!" squealed Lavender.
"Me and Malfoy?" she asked stammering just enough, "That's absolutely preposterous."
"Oh come on now Hermione." Pavarti giggled, "Don't be ashamed about it. Every girl in Hogwarts has fancied Malfoy before; just the only girl that got him was that slut Pansy Parkinson."
"Malfoy and I aren't together!" Hermione exclaimed, "The very idea disgusts me! Now if you'll excuse me, I have very long essay for Potions due tomorrow that I want to cross reference in the Library."
"We're not done yet Hermione!" Padma bellowed as Hermione scuttled down the Halls.
As soon as the three girls were out of site Hermione could no longer hold in her giggles. It was just whole ridiculous, this whole charade. She snorted, Malfoy had been afraid it wouldn't work and no one would believe it. They hadn't even been seen together at the Masquerade Ball and already the school's biggest gossips thought she was pregnant with his love child.
She growled somewhat angrily at the thought of being considered that easy. Plus, if they had read Hogwarts, A History, they would know that in the year eighteen-seventy-five an anti-conception charm was placed on the whole school and on the grounds.
She paused, realizing that she was walking in the completely wrong direction for the Library and began laughing again. If her head wasn't working, at least the plan was!
Author's Notes: Thank you for reading, please review.