Although the stairs in the castle provided ample cardiovascular exercise, the quartet deemed that activity not adequately well-rounded to suit their physical needs. A four-person game of football quickly attracted an audience, and teams were soon filled with knowledgeable muggleborns. As news spread of a sport which resembled an earth-bound version of Quidditch, enough students were interested to set up a round-robin tournament which would last until the chill north winds discouraged all but the most rabid of fans.

However, they found few takers in their early morning runs, and that time became theirs alone, an opportunity to ease off the public manners and allow them to relax and discuss matters which had come up between meetings.

"Now that Professor Snape has helped with getting the room set up, we should begin scheduling house meetings," Neville suggested as he stretched before they began the lake route. He preferred that one over the Quidditch pitch trail, as there was something calming about mist over the dark water, undisturbed until the giant squid ventured topside.

"They've come along some," Draco put in, twisting his torso, "but I think we ought to hold off on inviting the Slytherins until we're almost through the seating charts. Once they're familiar with you guys, they should be more at ease."

Harry was slipping in a few crunches. "Doesn't matter how long we wait, Weasley will still be an arse."

"Don't be so pessimistic," Hermione scolded. "Why, he only spat food twice at dinner last night."

Draco paused. "Fancy him, do you?" He laughed when her eyes narrowed dangerously and placed both hands in the air. "Just kidding, okay?"

Neville halted another potential argument. "So, Hufflepuff it is."

Hermione, bent double to touch her toes, added, "Ravenclaw can be second. We've proven ourselves academically enough that they respect us." As she gripped her ankles, something caught her eyes through her legs. "Why is Hagrid heading to the castle so early in the morning?"

They all turned to stare at the big man treading along with a huge bag hefted over his shoulder. His massive boarhound was leaping onto its hind legs, trying to nip the sack.

"Maybe taking his meat for breakfast to the elves for cooking?" Draco cracked.

"That's a mystery for another time." Harry moved from flat on the ground to his feet in a smooth leap. "Last one to the halfway point has to help Hermione with the wording for Binns' petition!"


"I have called you two to my office to discuss a situation that, I feel, is just short of pandering." Albus Dumbledore looked over his glasses at two heads of house.

McGonagall exchanged a knowing glance with Snape then snapped, "Well, get on with it, Albus. You may have nothing to do of an evening, but we who actually work in a classroom have lesson plans to devise and essays to grade."

"Does she speak for you as well, Severus?" When the potions master nodded, he commented, "Then it surprises me that you have volunteered to be the sponsor for," he lifted a parchment, "First Year Common Study and Meeting Room."

Snape brushed a minuscule piece of lint from his black robes. "The additional duties should not overwhelm me, Albus. I will acquaint the students with the castle elves, who will be ecstatic to clean those abandoned rooms and locate discarded furnishings. On meeting nights, I will only need to make an appearance at the beginning and end of the session; the house ghosts have agreed to rotate monitoring duties."

"What boggles my mind," McGonagall leaned forward, "is that this is a perfect example of cooperation between students of all backgrounds. You blather on about this at every opening and closing feast, yet when a request supporting that very thing is set before you, you act the obstructionist."

"Now, Minerva, you know I hold such ideals close to my heart. It is the actual individuals who have requested this space and activity which concerns me."

The Scotswoman snorted. "Nay, your crooked nose has been placed even more out of joint because someone other than the sainted Albus Dumbledore has come up with a practical way to implement those ideals."

"Is it Mr. Potter or Mr. Malfoy who particularly disturbs your peace, Headmaster," Snape drawled, "or the fact that the two are working together?"

Taken aback at the accuracy of the thrust, Dumbledore backstepped. "As I indicated earlier, it is the idea that we are giving precedence to these individuals because of a spurious title which they claim."

"For shame, Albus, for shame!" McGonagall rose to her full height. "Those honours are real, yet the children sport no conceited airs towards either their fellow students or professors. As Deputy Head, it is within my remit to approve any extracurricular activities, and I will support this one all the way to the School Board."

"Mr. Malfoy's father still heads that, does he not, Minerva?" Snape asked silkily as he stood as well.

She nodded abruptly then pointed at the headmaster. "Allow the school to run without your petty tantrums. Who knows, you might even learn something yourself!"

A few moments after the two departed, Dumbledore turned to the phoenix on the stand behind him. "That was most impolite, don't you think, Fawkes?"


As Draco carefully sifted soil into the pot Hermione held, he raised an eyebrow and commented, "You missed lunch today."

"I had to take care of a last-minute detail before tonight's meeting."

"Hermione," he sighed, "you have a folder of tasks, colour-coded for importance. How the hell could anything have slipped your mind?"

She sniffed. "Language. And, obviously it didn't, since I took care of it."

He carefully laid aside the sieve. "Okay, I'll bite. What was it?"

"I just laid down some rune stones in the corners to ward off a particular poltergeist."

"Peeves?" he almost squealed, shooting Professor Sprout an apologetic look for the echo in the greenhouse. "Why? He's great fun."

"As you possess a Y chromosome, it is only logical that you would think so, but I'm not running the risk of him disrupting our meetings."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," he admitted.

"You can enjoy his raspberries and dung bombs in other parts of the castle until I come up with a more permanent way to manage his misbehavior."

"Salazar, Mione, he's a 'geist. Misbehavior is his modus operandi. Wait," he paled to an almost albino complexion, "you aren't planning to exorcise him?"

"Don't be ridiculous; that would be akin to murder. Even if he's not living, he is still a part of Hogwarts lore. No, I'm looking into a paranormal upgrade to his little bag of tricks."


Whether it was the cooperative personality of Hufflepuffs or the ample refreshments provided by the elves, no one could deny that the first house meeting was going along swimmingly.

Even Zacharias Smith unbent enough to enjoy himself. "I say," he leaned across and spoke to Hermione, "have you Claws determined what that 'painful death' bit is that the headmaster rambled on about at the opening feast?"

"I'm afraid that my house immediately dove into class research." She sighed, "While they appreciate knowledge, they focus on their schoolwork and rarely venture onto tangents."

"Tangents? I'm not sure what that–"

"The term is from a form of advanced mathematics," Justin broke in, "although I believe she is using it metaphorically."

Hermione nodded. "I am certain we shall come across something similar when we take arithmancy. Myself, I'm halfway inclined to suspect a murderous staircase to be the culprit. One almost made me late to History of Magic the other day."

"As if Professor Binns would notice!" Harry called from across the room. Hufflepuff House was totally behind their plan to request a new professor in that subject.

Wrinkling her nose at the one who interrupted, she returned her attention to those nearest her. "Have you Badgers come up with any theory?"

"Well," Hannah Abbott began then shared a look with Susan Bones.

The other girl spoke, "My father gave me his old copy of 'Hogwarts: A History' and we searched through it."

"Some think it could be the legendary Chamber of Secrets, but I believe if Slytherin had anything to do with it, it would be in the dungeons."

Draco leaned over Hannah's chair. "Did I hear my illustrious house founder's name spoken?"

Hermione sighed when she noticed that the others regarded him warily. So much enmity to overcome! "We were discussing the 'painful death' and rejected Salazar's chamber as being to what Headmaster Dumbledore referred."

Leaning over to grab a handful of Maltesers®, he agreed. "You're right; Gryffs and Claws like heights. Say," he slipped into the seat next to Susan, "have you figured out a way to get into the kitchens yet? The older Snakes know but won't tell, making it some sort of initiation rite to prove we're cunning."

"Wouldn't asking us be cheating?" Susan wondered.

Draco grinned at her. "Remember, Slytherins care about the endgame, not rules which get in their way."

"I noticed you quoting the rules the last time we duelled," Neville pointed out dryly.

"I still contend that it was a foul!"

"Duelling? Professor Quirrell hasn't got past theory in our class."

"We use blades." Harry had brought his coterie over to join the larger group. "Did you ask Professor Flitwick today?"

"Yes," Hermione replied primly, "and he would like us to perform a few sample matches at the initial meeting. Justin," she turned, "Neville told me your background. I assume you've fenced before?"

"I've had a few lessons…"

"Excellent!" Draco rubbed his palms together. "We can always use some new victims–ah, opponents."

Neville snorted. "Don't let him scare you off. He has good skills but can be easily distracted."

"I resent that remark!"

"You mean, 'resemble'," Harry snarked.

When Severus Snape showed up to disband the gathering, he was both surprised and pleased that he was met with full-throated laughter.


"Wait, Harry," Steadman held him back after the next Saturday meeting. "I thought I'd let you know that I finally wrested your father's cloak out of the old man's hands."

He grinned. "How many threatening letters did it take?"

"It doesn't matter." He waved away the effort. "Of course, without the contents of your mother's safe deposit box we would never have known it existed."

"I'm not sure about that, sir," he disagreed. "Every meal that he attends he stares at me. With such a disappointed expression." He pulled his face into a reasonable facsimile. "He knows that he's not supposed to communicate with me without you present, but I think he might have been holding onto this as a bribe of sorts."

"Possibly, but mox-nix now. Just in case, I won't place it into your keeping at this time. Honestly, I cannot think of any reason why your father had it with him while at school."

Harry's jaw set. "Probably part of his gang's nasty pranking. But if I have a good reason, maybe I could borrow it?"

"It's your property." He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Make a fair case and you may have it."