A/N- Sorry again for the long wait. Once again, individual fanfics--and not to mention college--got in the way. But, once again, we're back. I hope that this next chapter is just as enjoyable as the others. By the way, if you're having trouble keeping track of who's who, look on our profile. There, we've got a character list. Thanks!

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Chapter 4- Clash of the Snapes

Jade arrived in the Great Hall, after a quick glance around, found that her father was not there and that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Mini were all gathered at one end of Gryffindor table. With a smirk or two thrown at some passing Slytherins, she walked over and sat down beside the four.

"Where have you been?" Mini asked, crossing her arms.

"Making some plans. I'll fill you in later," she said. Then, noticing the odd looks on the faces of the trio, she added, "Um, did I interrupt something?"

The four fifth years looked around, as if expecting someone or something to jump out at them. Finally, they all leaned in. Jade raised an eyebrow as Mini pulled her in and said, in a hushed voice, "We just saw Fudge go in to talk to Dumbledore."

"What?" Jade said loudly, pulling out of the huddle.

"Ssshh. He looked really angry. Totally ticked off," Mini whispered.

"What do you think they were talking about?" Hermione asked.

This must have meant that Jade was caught up. And that translated into the fact that they knew nothing else. The Slytherin smiled vindictively.

"Only one way to find out. Potter, I heard that you have a certain Invisibility Cloak?" Jade said, leaning in toward the Boy-Who-Lived.

"Harry just put it up. Don't make him get it back out again," Mini said, unimpressed by Jade's Slytherin moves.

Harry sighed. "But she's right, I hate to say. How else are we going to find out what's going on?"

"Well, if Mini doesn't want to use the Cloak…the real old fashioned way. Walk real quietly," Jade said.

"I'm not sure this is such a good idea," Hermione cautioned.

"Fine," Jade said, narrowing her eyes at the witch. "You can stay here and play lookout. Anyone else feeling squeamish?"

Ron, Harry, and Mini shook their heads as Hermione glared, her arms crossed and a huff escaping her lips.

"Fine. Which way did they go?" Jade asked, standing.

The other three followed suit.

"Out of here and down the corridor, I think," Ron offered.

"Let's go, then," Mini said, gesturing with both arms toward the doors of the Great Hall.

The group walked out of the Hall as if nothing was out of the ordinary and started up the corridor just the same, passing Kimmi as she negotiated with a First Year for the last leg of the chicken. However, as they neared a bend in it, they were forced to hide behind a large statue. The voices of two different people drifted over to them from around the corner.

"That's Grandmother!" Mini said in a strained voice.

Simultaneously, Ron, Harry, and Jade replied with, "Ssshhh!"

The group edged further behind the statue as the two people came around the corner. It was Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall.

"This isn't good, Albus. We've never had any of them disturb our community like this before. Well, maybe one of the younger ones...but never one so old.…" McGonagall was saying.

"Yes, I'm quite aware of that, Minerva. But look who has now entered into our world. We can expect certain changes just with that knowledge," Dumbledore replied, a sigh hidden under the serene tone of his voice.

McGonagall shook her head. "But why a Malfoy? Does this mean that they are in league with He-Who--"

Dumbledore gave her a stern look. She sighed.

"Fine. Voldemort?" she finished.

Dumbledore shrugged. "We can only guess."

The two professors continued down the corridor until they were both out of sight and earshot. The four eavesdroppers came out from their hiding spot. Jade stood before the turn, facing the three Gryffindors.

"What in the world did all that mean?" Ron asked.

"Heck if I know. For that matter, who are 'them'?" Mini asked.

"I have no clue. Maybe--" Jade began.

She stopped, put off by the surprised and slightly frightened look on her companions' faces. She raised her eyebrow.

"What?" she asked.

Suddenly noticing the dark shadow that had fallen over her, Jade gave a low groan of despair.

"Aren't you supposed to be meeting with me, Miss Snape?" Professor Snape hissed from behind her.

Jade turned and looked up at her father. Closing her eyes, she said, "Yes, sir."

Snape turned on his heels. Without so much as another word, he strode off, but Jade knew what he meant. With a small, forced smile aimed back at her compatriots, she followed. There were no stops this time until they reached his office in the dungeon. There, he sat down behind his desk, and she, in the chair in front of it.

Jade chose to speak first. "I'm sorry, Father. I got carried away."

"With a bunch of Gryffindors?" he asked.

Jade could feel a heat rise in her face. She gave a low growl.

"They're my friends! I don't care what House they're in! Besides, I didn't think that that was what this is about," she said, her voice rising a little.

Snape glared at her and grinded his teeth a bit.

"Silence, child," he said. "As it were, I brought you down here to discuss your meeting with that Gryffindor in the garden," he said.

"Oh!" Jade exclaimed, standing and putting her hands on the desk. "So that is what this is about? You're being stupid, Father. And you're letting simple prejudices rule you."

Snape raised an eyebrow at his daughter and, in a voice of surprising calm, he said, "Detention, Miss Snape. You will learn respect. You will spend it with me in the dungeons tomorrow night. Now go, the Ball should be over now. Go to your room."

Jade drummed her fingers on his desk for a moment, then whirled on her heels and strode from the room…slamming the door behind her as she went.

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End Notes: Sorry that it seemed that Jade dominated this chapter. It's just that the way this one was posted online, it just made it simpler to write it all from Jade's point of view. Well, please review!