No one was quite sure what caused the small group of Slytherins to camp outside the door to their common room, to begin with. On the first night, it was only three of them. Then it became ten, then twenty, until it seemed like the entire house was outside the doors. The amount of sleeping bags lining the corridors was frankly alarming.
On the third day, three Hufflepuffs discovered the reason for the camping. With open arms, they invited the Slytherins to stay in their common room until the problem was resolved. The offer was gladly accepted, and that was how many friendships were formed, and how many students learned how to transfigure bunk beds up the walls.
On the fourth day, the Ravenclaws attempted to forcibly unlock the door. So many spells and incantations, spat at the door with vitriol and frustrations, were fired at the door that day. None of them worked, none even cracking the entrance open.
On the fifth day, the Gryffindors attempted to ram the door open. Many bruised shoulders were treated my Madam Pomfrey that day. That didn't stop them from trying again, though nothing worked.
Still, the Slytherins slept in the Hufflepuff common room, finding comfort in the warm yellow colours, and slowly losing faith in their Head of House, recently appointed by Headmaster Longbottom.
On the sixth day, Professor Smythe was sent out of the front gates of Hogwarts with a furious Headmaster Longbottom standing in the courtyard, wand still sparking.
He turned around, eyes burning in fury, and said, "If this ever happens again, come to me immediately. I will never let any of you be hurt like this again, do you understand? The password resets for every house now have to come through me. I will always protect every single one of you."
And as he walked back inside, cloak flowing out behind him, all the students of every house silently thanked Merlin that their Headmaster was as kind and strong as he was.
For the greatest feat of Neville Longbottom as Headmaster was unifying the five houses, the discord between them now a long distant memory of decades passed.
A short one today, but everything I wanted to say was said. This one is close to my heart, and I really enjoyed writing it.
Until tomorrow,
Mariadoria