The remainder of the break went as all breaks tend to; much to fast and filled with so much that one day just blurs into another. Between trying to refine their bending skills, meditation, and hanging out with Blaise and Neville, there was never a dull moment for them. So it came as a surprise when they woke up one morning and sensed a flurry of activity in the lower levels of the castle.

Heading out into the main common room Hadrian asked one of the other students what was going on. After being told that the other students would be returning that evening Hadrian excitedly ran back to the smaller common and informed Toph through her door.

Deciding that it was time for breakfast they headed down and sat with Neville and Blaise at the Slytherin table. Of course since the Gnat got out of the hospital wing they hardly got any piece at meal times. Sadly today was no different.

Halfway through the meal he reared his ugly head. "Well, well, well. Would you look at that guys. Looks like we have another trader in our mists." Ron sneered before continuing on, "you know Neville, its not good for you to be seen with these people, they're evil."

With an agitated sigh Neville grabbed Hadrian's forearm to stop him getting up and as a silent he'd handle it. Turning as he stood Neville asked, "who is evil Ron?"

Being as slow as he was, it took Ron a few moments to register what Neville had said and when it did finally sink in he sputtered in exasperation. With a gasp of air he said "The Slytherins Longbottom, Slytherins are evil. Every last one of them are no good. Everyone knows that, not even your memory is that bad or are you just that stupid?"

Choosing to ignore the stupid comment for the time being he spoke again. "No Ron, my memory is nowhere near as bad as your table manners. Actually if mymemory serves me correctly the main character traits of a Slytherin are ambition and cunning." Neville couldn't help but smirk at the enraged expression that was blooming on Ron's face. 'Ok maybe hang around Toph and Blaise is beginning to rub off on me.' he thought.

Letting out a low growl the young Weasley tried again to bully the mild mannered boy to his way of thinking. "You know, Longbottom, your a disgrace to your house hanging out with that lot."

"Obviously than, our opinions on what actions bring disgrace upon your house differ greatly. You see Ron, I honestly believe that I'm doing Gryffindor justice by putting his values to practice. I, Ron, am having the courage to put aside house rivalries to make friends regardless of house."

At this Ron saw red and did something incredibly stupid, he drew his wand. "You think your better than me Longbottom? At least my parents aren't drooling vegetables in a hospital bed." Ron spat while punctuating the sentence by slashing his wand in a threatening fashion.

Neville didn't even blink, in a move he had heard one of his housemates speak of, he grabbed the wrist holding the wand and twisted hard causing Ron to drop his wand. Then he balled his other hand into a fist and slammed it into Ron's elbow joint, effectively shattering it. With cold eyes that promised a painful death and a voice to match Neville spoke. "You ever raise a wand to me again or talk about my parents in such a manner again, it will be more than your arm."

Deciding now would be a good time to step out of the shadows, where he was observing the situation unfold. Humming in disapproval, which any of the upper year Slytherins could tell you meant he was in a good mood, Snape made himself known to everyone. With sarcasm coating his words he spoke with a twisted glee that only few would understand.

"150 points from Gryffindor and two months detention with Filch. Now as it seems that you do so love being at Madam Pomfrey's...tender mercies I suggest you make your way back to her."

Still not thinking clearly, but then again when does he ever, Ron started to try to shift the blame onto Neville. "But what about Longbottom..." was as far as he got before he got yelled at.

"25 more points from Gryffindor for back talk, Now go!" Snape yelled into Ron's face before taking a deep breath and turning on his wing men. With one of his patent pending glares he spoke, "you best believe that I will be speaking with your head of house. Expect further punishment."

With that, said wing men ran; twin puddles on the floor being the only evidence left to prove that they were even there. Scrunching up their noses in disgust Toph and Hadrian said, "that's disgusting." Up and down the table people who knew what they were talking about started laughing, those who didn't know where quickly informed so they as well could share in a laugh at the young Gryffindors' expense.

After taking a moment to banish the offending substance Professor Snape turned to Neville, "Mr. Longbottom, no matter how justified it was you still broke school rules by attacking a fellow student so that will be 50 points from Gryffindor and three weeks detention with me on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm. Further punishment pending your head of house."

Standing up straight he looked his most feared professor in the eye said, "I understand sir. May I be excused sir? I have no doubt that this will be brought to my Grandmother's attention and I would rather be the first to inform her of the events that have come to pass this morning."

Severus took a good look at the boy in front of him before nodding his head. With a quick goodbye to his friends at the table Neville ran off to write a letter to his grandmother. While she wouldn't be happy about it he hoped it would at least prevent a howler.

Meanwhile Snape had turned his attention back to they Slytherin table; more specificity to the two badgers that had made their way there. Pinching the bridge of his nose he failed to fight the compulsion to ask the obvious, maybe it was because he was able to take 225 points from Gryffindor either way it slipped out.

"What are you two doing here?"

Toph and Hadrian turned slightly toward his voice and simply stated "eating breakfast sir."

Successfully resisting the urge to cuff them behind the ears, he asked, "why didn't you two intervene? You both are normally very protective of your friends."

Pushing away the remainder of his waffle and eggs Hadrian turned around completely while Toph went back to eating leaving Hadrian to talk. 'Ok so maybe somethings haven't changed' Hadrian thought before answering. "Well sir, we can't fight all of our friends battles for them. They need to learn some things for themselves. Neville needed to to that, maybe he needed to prove something to himself either way it will get the Weasley boy to leave him alone. Besides he told me he would handle it, you where watching from the shadows sir surly you didn't miss that." He finished the last sentence with a smirk.

"5 points from Hufflepuff for cheek Mr. Bei Fong."

With that Snape shook his head and walked up to the head table to eat his own breakfast while the remaining snakes lost all sense of composure and let their jaws drop.

~*~ Scene Break ~*~

As Professor McGonagall walked into her office she knew that today just felt like it was going to be one of those days. Seeing the stack of tests that still needed to be graded by Monday she nodded her head and thought. 'Definitely going a bad day.'

Sitting at her desk she got started with the tedious task. She was in the middle of her fifth test when she was forced out of grading mode by a soft red flash, followed shortly by two more red flashes. Glancing up to the source, a large hourglass charmed to represent the one in the entry hall, Minerva McGonagall, renowned feline animagus lost three of her nine lives.

After rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating she ran over and grabbed the book next to the counter. Flipping to the center page she looked and saw that they had just lost 250 points and where now 102 points in the negative as indicated by the rubies turning black.

Going slightly pale she looked back into the book to find that the deductions where made by Snape. In truth she was slightly surprised to see this; normally he would never dock so many points at once for fear of being contested. So with one last sigh she returned to her desk to finish grading, resigning herself to the ensuing carpel tunnel; vowing to speak with her colleague when she was done.

~*~ A few hours later ~*~

Minerva stood calmly outside Snape's office waiting for him to answer his door. After what felt like an eternity in the cool, dank, and dark dungeon, Severus finally opened his door. With what most would assume as an air of indifference he led her she followed him deeper into his office she said, "I assume you know why I'm here."

Sighing softly he offered her a seat before going to one of the many cabinets adorning the office and pulled out his pensive. Placing it on his desk he answered. "Yes I do. Actually I was wondering when you would show up for an explanation."

With a small nod she said, "I'm waiting."

Without any further prompting Snape raised his wand to his temple pulling out a long silvery thread before depositing it into the liquid inside the basin. "I believe that seeing it for yourself would suffice?"

Nodding her head in agreement she touched the shimmering liquid and was pulled into the memory. Six minutes later she emerged feeling ashamed, resigned, and oddly enough proud. After a moment of deliberation she spoke.

"You can be assured that I will be informing the parents of those involved, as well as adding to Mr. Weasley's punishment. Though I must ask why you went so easy on Mr. Longbottom."

Without even having to think on it he answered. "Minerva I'm in charge of a lot of pure-blooded students in my house, there are laws in the Ministry stating that if a family's honor is slighted in anyway or on the receiving end of an unprovoked attack then the current head or heir can defend their honor and themselves in anyway they see fit. So add to the fact that Mr. Weasley drew his wand on the Longbottom heir after starting an argument of which there was no reason other to try to get his way; you now have the necessary conditions for Longbottom to start a feud with the house of Weasley. However while he was not out of line in the eyes of society, he did break a school rule and I punished him accordingly."

"I see." Was the only response she could come up with after all she had seen and told.

Standing she took her leave stating that she had letters to write, and she did. She also had semester grades to send to parents and guardians. Stepping out of his office she headed back to her office, making a quick detour to the infirmary to pick up an ointment for her hands from Poppy, as well as add to Mr. Weasley's punishment.

~*~ Later that Evening ~*~

Hundreds of students where flooding he entrance hall, most tired and hungry from their long ride; all excited to be back. As they filed in nobody could miss the four giant hourglasses that stood proudly displaying their respective house-points. Those in the Slytherin house where ecstatic, it looked like the house-cup would be theirs once again, while those of the Gryffindor house found themselves both shocked and confused to have lost so many points.

Hermione, being the brightest witch of her age for a reason, did a quick calculation in her head and soon realized that her house was down 375 points from when they had left for the train. Moving quickly into the Great Hall Hermione found Toph, Hadrian, and surprisingly Neville at the Hufflepuff table talking animatedly.

Sitting next to Neville, Hermione looked at them and smiled before saying. "Hey guys, not trying to be a buzz kill or anything but can someone please tell me why Gryffindor is down 375 points since the start of break?"

Neville trying to be a proper lord-in-training swallowed the juice in his mouth before answering her. "Well Hermione, Ron thought it would be a good idea to pick a fight with me this morning. First he drew his wand on me and then insulted my parents." Here he paused to take another sip of his drink before continuing.

"After that I broke his arm before he could fire off a spell. What I didn't know until just a moment ago was the Professor Snape saw the whole thing. I thought he had only seen the last part of it. But anyway he took a total of 175 points from Ron and 50 from myself. We also were given detention, but again I was let off a lot easier. The rest of the points were taken off by Professor McGonagall, 80 from Ron and 35 a piece from the two goons that follow him around everywhere."

Before she could say anything further Hadrian cut in, "Hermione, now is not the time for further details; too many people want answers and will not listen to reason if they don't like the answer. Speak with him in a more private setting later for more specific details. Trust me on this I learned the hard way." After that Hermione felt slightly chastised for her lack of tact on the subject and apologized before getting hugs from her friends and promises that it was fine. Looking at her meal she decided that dinner smelt wonderful after the long train ride; so she tucked in.

Later that evening everyone in Gryffindor was informed by Professor McGonagall as to why they were down so many points. Needless to say Ron, who wasn't popular to begin with, was now enemy of the house for loosing them so many points at once. And after Neville's side was told all of the upper years sided with him, this included, much to his surprise, all of the older Weasley boys.