-scene break-

Draco stared, he'd never had cause to doubt his father, but to invite Potter... cousin or not, into their home for dinner by all that was sacred this was, well it was enough to make young Draco Malfoy more than a tidy bit nervous. It was Christmas, and Harry Potter did not strike Draco as the type to observe sacred days for stopping bloodshed, though maybe he observed the sacred guest... Draco hoped at least.

Hilariously enough Harry had had a conversation already about this same thing. It was an irony to be sure that he had been worried about the same thing. Still it was agreed by all that Lucius Malfoy was many things, but his father had at least drilled the old ways firmly into his head. Lucius would abide the rights of hospitality.

Harry eyed him, and Narcissa asked if he needed somewhere for his gloves, and coat, given how warm the manse was. Draco abruptly spoke up, "He's scarred mother, thats what the gloves are, they are hideous things. They say he burned the troll to death with the magic pulsing from them,"
"Draco," Narcissa exclaimed scandalized at her son's blutness. "that will be enough of your rumor mongering, I expect you to mind your tongue." She hissed quitely at him.

The rumor was one of several floating around Hogwarts. People had asked about the marks, but it'd been those he trusted he'd confided in. They were magic wounds, scars wrought by magic that would not heal, certainly not any time soon. "I do not care," He hissed sorely back, "And no the troll died another way, though yet by fire ."

"Harry," Daphne whispered turning slightly green, "I don't need to hear that story again," She could still smell the horendous odor that had permeated the bathroom and the hall. The reek of burned hair and meat. She flinched a bit, "Not again,"

After it had happened people had clamored to see the site of the fight. To see all the damage the troll had done to the bathroom. The teachers had to take shifts running students off away from the bathroom. Snape had hated it, and made that much known. Still Snape had warned the whole house to be wary, and used it as a lesson. The lions like fire he had said in an oddly poetic turn of phrase one night when he had addressed Slytherin. "The lions like fire," Draco echoed,

"What was that Draco?" His mother asked, Lucius and the Greengrass men were not yet here, they would be joining them later. Narcissa though was a stern woman all the same, stern enough to certainly keep Draco in line. There was just the hint of dangerous to her voice, and Harry remembered that this woman was a pureblood witch.

She was according to the Potter family tree in one of Charlus's old, yet self updating books a relative. Charlus Potter was Narcissa's father's uncle, which made them, Harry, and she, second cousins. It had been Dorea Potter nee Black's brother had sired three children. One of them had been Cygnus Black, who'd sired Narcissa, along with two other daughters, in turn. It was a complicated mess, he admitted freely when asked of it.

Daphne, her sister, and mother along with Harry, Draco, and Narcissa moved along and up the winding marble staircase to another room. The children were left to their own devices as the women went off to their own discussions. "So what do you like Draco?" Astoria asked, it seemed she was quite happy to be here. Harry grabbed a chair as Draco entertained the question, and Daphne followed suit snorting at her sister's antics.

"Its such a big house,"

This was true, and Harry wondered why it was in Wiltshire. As it was the Black Family Manor was in London. He knew because he'd checked, so too was the old Potter home, abandonned by his parents because James couldn't stomach living in the home where his mother had died. Harry had never known his grandmothers so that bothered him little. "It is,"

"If it wasn't so wet we could go tour the gardens," Malfoy commented, his mother had expressly forbid going out in the mud and rain. He was looking out towards the darkened skies that covered the family estate. It was a depressing December day, all rain, and fog spreading out as far as the eye could see.

Harry's castle was even worse, the skies were nearly as black as night when he left and the rain falling far heavier, but then it set on a different locale, different terrain, "It's supposed to rain the whole week," He admitted wistfully, well at least according to the muggle weather radar or whatever.

Draco lamented being not allowed to invite some of his friends after he'd loosened up. Daphne went on to talk about how Nott was sending letters out about the return to school. She also regretted not being able to bring Tracy along. The four continued chatting for the handful of hours until Lucius, and the Greengrass men arrived, and that was when Harry noticed.

Daphne's father had two of his brothers with him. He and his youngest brother looked nearly identical, save for age, and even that was not so different. The third though, he had the Greengrass features, but one eye was black, and his facial features, and build were different, it wasn't just the eye.

He asked Daphne later the question that was nagging at him, whether the blackened eye was a result of magic. It was, in the Greengrass home there was a picture when the three brothers were younger it was before Voldemort had truly become an issue.

Dinner though was a lavish affair. The Malfoy house elves had clearly outdone themselves, even the dinner conversation was pleasant. The Malfoys had laid food enough for twenty to be well fed, and yet they'd invited only seven, which together with them only half the number of what the food could have fed. It was odd enough that Snape hadn't been invited either, or perhaps the potions master had and simply hadn't been able to make it.

Still the adults talked, or more specifically they broached the issue of Rossier. He was supposed to the Death Eater responsible for more than one attack earlier in the year. In particular though he'd been responsible for the one against Diagon Alley. No one, not even Lucius seemed to know why exactly what Rosier's end game was.

-scene break-

Well on the plus side not only had Christmas dinner had been nice, but nothing bad had happened at the Malfoys. Afterwords he'd spent the rest of the evening at the Greengrass house, despite intentions to go back to the Potter house in London. He'd been asked about Godric's hollow over dinner that night, but really he had no plans to ever rebuild it.

He'd been switching back and forth between castle and London since then. Dozens of books from both bookstores, and the muggle library were all stacked around the old study. He still had no idea what was causing the aura around London, and were it not for the fact of the castle's state he would have considered avoiding the city totally. That dark aura looming over the city made him nervous, but maybe it was nothing. Maybe, but he doubted he was lucky enough for that to be the case, and then there was still the issue of the Death Eater faction under Rosier's control that issue also troubled him.

He'd exchanged letters with Katie on the subject of Rosier. Evan Rosier was supposedly dead, and his to for that matter. The Bells though were busy with the Hollidays, and other talks with wizards it seemed. Both the MacDougals, and the Jones had sent Katie's father multiple letters, and the exchange might well have been going on before break had started. Dumbledore too had come to visit once as well, which was particularly noteworthy for the Bell family. The Greengrass family had likewise been busy both the Carrows, and the Selwyn had come calling and Lucius had visited more than once.

Su had been less busy, certainly free enough to spend an afternoon or two looking through books. Still nearly the whole of them, save the Weasley twins, had been able to exchange gifts one evening. Harry had brewed coffee with his new press that evening as well. It'd taken a while to find one he liked, and he'd actually been growing impatient. Petunia hadn't appreciated him dropping in on mornings to nick coffee from their pot, even though Vernon hadn't given a shit, especially once Harry had actually brought coffee into the house. It'd been a minor high point in his interactions with his muggle kin.

Today though was finally clear, if still damp around the castle. The smell of roasting ham, and bacon was in the air from the fires down below. He knew it was only a temporary solution, and that he'd have to find another one. It'd been a stupid oversight not to consider food for the orks, and that was why he was peering through agriculture texts from the muggles right now. Potatos seemed the best idea, that and wheat.

The fire roared and flashed green, and Katie coughed as she and Daphne both stepped through. Su had beaten them here by several hours with a massive load of books, and food from her grandmother. "So I'm going to ask are they going to bother us?" She, Katie, meant the ork, it seemed the goblins only mildly creeped her out.

"Are you really reading a book on farming?" Daphne asked looking over his shoulder, that was right he hadn't told them, "this place is a mess," She added unnecessarily.

He knew that well enough, in truth the fields that had been here long long ago had long laid unusued and were overgrown. "Its something that needs to be done," He toyed with his pen, but as it was he wasn't making a whole lot of headway. "I should have done it months ago," Harry lammented.

"Don't worry about it," Su munched on another candy, and offered the bag to the new arrivals, and looked back at the book in front of her, "We should send an owl to Professor Sprout,"

Katie nodded, "Thats a good idea, and maybe Neville too, he's good with plants."

"Sprout sure," Frankly Harry doubted whether Neville new anything about crop planting, much less what he needed to know, of course he wasn't really sure what he needed to know "But enough of this," It was nice having company over.

Both Katie, and Harry had gotten letters from the Weasley twins about well what in the letters had been called Gryfindor business. In respect for that they both abridged the matter to leave certain things out. Well some things... "So anyway Ron is still going on about how Snape is trying to steal something of Nicolas Flammel and Dumbledore's, and Harry thinks its some kind of alchemic device, probably a weapon." That'd been Harry's assumption at least.

"Well I think its a weapon, I don't think Snape is trying to steal it," Snape was not the best teacher there was no denying that, but Dumbledore was vouching for him, and for the moment Harry had no cause to doubt that... for now.

The castle obviously needed work, but it was obvious that the yard had been getting patched up for at least some months. The interior was much the same, as it was clear a number of door frames had been removed. Still at least this little stretch was livable, well once you got past the plastic tarping and the other remodeling supplies.

Daphne poked the heavy rain proof tarp, "So whats..." She shrugged, "never mind," The Slytherin decided she really didn't care as Harry did odd stuff all the time, this was probably no different. It probably served some purpose she just didn't care one way or another what all this was for. A simple impervius charm or any other number of household charms would have repelled the rain water easily, so it was probably for something else. "So what about the library, you said that was intact right?"

"It is," Harry answered, well it wasn't intact, a lot of the wood was rotted, and there were a number of shelves that were broken, "Well enough that we can look around," The magic kept it mostly intact, "Its the best place to look around." At this point he really wasn't sure what exactly it was they were looking for, Nicholas Flammel was hundreds of years old, and there was no guarantee that the old library would have anything on him to begin with.

-scene break-

Snape sighed running his fingers along the worn book. It was an old school book, it'd taken him forever to find it. It had by some accursed set of coincidence ended up with the spare texts. That would have been a disaster waiting to happen. He'd considered giving it to Draco. He'd taken mere minutes to realize that his eleven year old godson would get it, so he'd decided to go the direct route. It was why he was writing things down. Draco didn't need the potions expertise in the book, but the spells would certainly help. At least it would be an extra layer of defense, and with the Selwyn hanging around Nott, well he hoped it would be enough. In all truth he would have preferred to wait until Draco was just a little bit older, but with the way things were between the houses it was better to act now.

"Sev?" Lucius stuck his head into the study, it took a minut to adjust the dark, "damn it," he grunted stepping in, "shed some more light in here." He complained looking around the darkened study. The only source of light at present was the glow light of the fire from the intricate fireplace. "Narcissa has the tea ready, thought you might join us? Whats that?"

The potionsmaster looked up at his friend, "I was just worried about Draco, thats all, thought this might help." He commented.

Lucius walked over, "You didn't say Draco was doing bad in potions,"
"He's not," He responded, which was true Draco was good at brewing, his preparation could use work but that was because he was young no doubt. "its the fighting at school that got me nervous."

Malfoy was silent for a moment, "Yes, thats true," He finally remarked," I've been thinking about that as well. It'd been easier if Potter had been in Slytherin,"
"Potter wasn't sorted at all, the headmaster just stuck him in Gryfindor."

Malfoy quirked an eyebrow, intrigued, "Ah bold, a move I didn't expect I'll admit, didn't even check to be honest," He admitted, "With Potter in Gryfindor though, it does mean trouble, I mean we're close in the blood than Greengrass, and she's learning that wandless fire, you said..."

"Redmond did bring it to me first," Snape responded, he had suspected that Harry Potter had been teaching Gryfindors. He'd brought it to Dumbledore, which hadn't had the result he wanted. For the headmaster just the fact that Harry was teaching had made Dumbledore positively estatic. The headmaster thought it was great news that he had an interest in teaching others, "I admit I was surprised. There is a Ravenclaw in the group to," The potions master paused for a couple of moments, "I think Davis stops by the sessions occassionally to." He added after a minute of looking back between the book in front of him and the spare parchment.

Lucius prodded him, "Well?" He asked, "We can teach Draco what we know, if you think Selwyn is the big issue for now, and I can keep talking to the Greengrass family, we should be closer I've always said." Just as his father had always urged before him, the old families needed to stick together he'd always been told.

"I'm going to give him a list tomorrow," Severus stated, "Its a late start as it is, we should have started after the alley fight," he sighed, "You saw that melted stone, the Weasley twins are learning to, it'll be a disaster, a complete distaster." He commented irritably, "No we should start with drilling Draco on shield spells, and defensive magic, and dodging, lots of dodging."
He tapped his chin thoughtfully, "Draco is still obsessed with quidditch, I still have my brother's old set of training bludgers, that should help." He commented, it'd be an easy way to teach him. Severus nodded, Lucius's brother... Lucius's half brother that was, was not a subject brought up often. To describe the man as bi polar would have been... understating the situation. Still all things considered Severus was not alone in that he would have preferred to deal with the man than whatever Rosier was planning.

"Do you think Rosier will get any bolder?" No body was sure who had instigated the November attacks, or why, it hadn't made any sense, it just hadn't. Raids on Muggles were common enough, sure but this had the flare of something more... it was like they were missing something
Lucius looked at him, "Talk is that he's as gay as a schoolgirl over all this," That was charming news, Severus couldn't possibly see what was cause to be happy over all of this, "they he's," Lucius paused and swallowed, "might of gone over the edge this time. This infighting in Slytherin has absolutely got to stop, you've got to put an end to it."

"Were that I could," He lamented, "Don't mistake me, all this at the school was a mess," Even now the Weasley brat was screaming of how he was the thief... him and not Quirrel. Damn it how he could figure who's catspaw the turban wearing bastard was, "The upper years won't care about what the first years will say, not the ones about to graduate. Potter has his claws in Greengrass, and Nott is palling around with Selwyn's boy."

Back in their years Selwyn had always been a pain, he was rash, and skilled, not immensely so, but he practiced like he had a complex, and that was why the man was such a pain. "All the more reason to get Draco friends with Potter," Lucius remarked, "It'll save a bit of trouble," He gave the potions master an annoyed look when the other snorted, "What?"

"Tch, I don't know Potter seems to expect some weird convoluted sense of honor, maybe Minerva is right," He shrugged, "Maybe someone did teach him, but its, always fire, and the gloves. Its like we're missing something." The Davis girl was easier to get answers out of, and he had corrorboration from Draco, and others too. Potter always asked that weird question... what was fire, and truth be told it was a haunting earworm.

He grabbed his shoulder, "Oh enough of this, Narcissa's waiting, come on. Lets go on before its gets cold."

-scene break-

King's Cross Station was busy the cold wet morning they made their way to the station to head back to Hogwarts. Christmas, and New Years too had been an enjoyable break from the school year, but it was time to go back to Hogwarts. Christmas has been a very nice affair, as far as things went, with gifts even. Harry was eleven, and one honestly rarely turned down free shit.

Platform 9 3/4s was busy just like the muggle side was, actually more so really. Daphne looked down at the muggle bag, it was shiny silvery soft material. "Whats in the bag?"

"Lunch," He answered, it wasn't like he had anything else to carry it in, it'd been an absolute pain to pack things in. What he really wanted was the ability to freely expand the interior size while keeping the bag the same size, that'd be so useful. "I'm going to eat lunch on the train," He'd been so busy this morning he'd largely skipped breakfast, with mind on other things. "and the feast will be nice too I suppose, where are the rest?"

Daphne shrugged, "I haven't seen Tracy all day, I mean Su I saw, she's off talking to that other Chinese Ravenclaw," She must have meant Chang, unless he'd somehow missed another, which was possible if they were an upper year. The fifth years and up was about were Harry stopped paying attention, and in reality it really dropped off at the fourth years, unless he'd been introduced more than once to them, so he shrugged. "I'm pretty sure she brought food though,"

"Oh good for her, more is better after all." He added, well technically they were still early, though everyone seemed to have had the same idea, given the crowd. "lets grab a compartment." Harry stated jerking his suitcase towards the train.
They ended up going nearly the length of the train, before finding a completely empty compartment, which was annoying, but they finally found one towards the end of the train. "So? I think we ought to go look for them,"

"Somebody is watching the compartment," Harry said, there was no way he was leaving his stuff unwatched. Daphne rolled her eyes, "You said you saw Su, maybe we can find Tracy, or Katie on the platform."

As it turned out Katie, and Tracy both ended up meeting up with Su, which had neatly cut out the need for searching for anyone, which was good because Harry hadn't felt like searching. It was also true that Su's grandmother had in fact given her granddaughter food to carry with her on the trainride to Hogwarts. It was a long wait until finally the train blew its whistle for the final time to signal it was time to roll out. "Got anymore letters from Ron?"

"No," and that was a plus, as far as Harry was considered. The red head would not shut up about Snape and how he was trying to steal whatever it was hidden at the school. That was thing Flammel was famous for making the Philosophere stone... and also something to do with dragon blood amongst other things. Well there was absolutely no way, in Harry opinion, the Philosopher's stone was at Hogwarts. It was also why he hadn't told Ron that was what Flammel was famous for, it would only cause Ron to no doubt get even more crazy. "I was hoping he'd drop all this."

"Are these dumplings?"

"Yes," Harry answered turning to Tracy, "So whats the latest with Nott?" There was a groan at the question, and Daphne and Tracy both shook their heads.

-scene break-

Professor McGonnagal was not happy about this. She thought that it was absurd to have to do this at all. Her house should have known better, but in all honesty, and it did not justify it, all the other houses were having the same problem. She'd paid two additional visits Potter. The first one had been the real issue. It had been just before Christ when she had been over to tell him to stop telling Ronald about Flammel. It had principally because the youngest Weasley boy was getting out of hand. "Welcome back, and as you classes will be be starting back tomorrow. I should expect your best behavior," She all but snarled, this shouldn't have been necessary in the first place, "I will not tolerate any more fire fights in the corridors."

"I consider that unnecessary discrimination," Fred... or maybe George spoke up abruptly.

She glared, and he went silent, as did his brother, whichever one it was, who had been opening his mouth to put in some witty remark, "Quiet you," She snapped, "This rampant fighting between the houses will go no further. I have a meeting with Dumbledore within the hour, and I will not have this house continue to start, or partake in these unwarranted fights. Now you will all go straight to your dorms, and go to sleep." there was a sizable amount of grumbling, even as the prefects started hearding people towards the stairs, and she walked away.

By the time she got to the staff meeting room she was already dreading tomorrow's transfiguration class, and for that matter the ones after it. The meeting room was already mostly settled, only a few teachers had yet to make it. Amongst those obviously Trelawyny had to make a grand dramatic interest, which Albus had actually encouraged, apparently the headmaster found it amusing. Once everyone was there though things quickly got underway.

"Welcome all," Albus remarked, "I am glad to see everyone here and in good health." he proclaimed to the assembled professors. "I know we all are tired, but we have much to discuss before we all turn in for the night. Now amongst those things, I would like to discuss lesson plans, ah Severus if you would," The potions master handed over a parchment, "this here is Severus's proposal," He briefly stopped to ask if it was the new revised one, or the one he had read before the new year. As it turned out, it was the new version, "Ah well I haven't read this version yet, but I am sure it has many good suggestions to take to heart." He declared, "In any event Severus has decided to change up his potions plan, given the resent tend towards explosions,"

McGonagal scowled at Trewlawny's silly prediction making skills. The explosions weren't just the first years, the Weasley twins had caused more than a few, "I have my own concerns, and while I am sure Severus has the right goal in mind I think we should be addressing this at the source." She ignored Snape's snort... in a very dignified manner one must be sure.

"I," It was Quirrel who spoke up, it was an amazing feat how his stammering had died down over the last month and a half, it still cropped up from time to time, but it was no where near as common as it had been. He paused. "I think this is a good idea, if we sit all the upper years down," He said nodding as he spoke. "Well I should think then that we might get somewhere."

Snape gave him, and his proposed idea for such a meeting the most irritated look possible, "I think that given the situation a tea party is absolutely insufficent." He snapped irritably, that wasn't actually what Quirrel had proposed, but as far as Snape was concerned it was close enough. They had been lucky today, most people were tired, and busy catching up, but the Hufflepuffs... the house of the badger had nearly started a fight. Sprout had not taken it well at all, and refused to even hear of the affair. Snape on the other hand saw as just another problem, sooner or later it was going to get to where they could just quietly clean it up. "We need to settle it," Once and for all, he wanted to add, but Dumbledore wouldn't hear of it if he suggested they round all the miserable little cretins up and locked them in a room to duel there problems. At this point though... that was legitimately he best idea... well besides the quitely poison them... nothing lethal obviously but just stick them in the hospital wing for a little over a week with food poisoning or something. Pomfrey would make sure they were ok, but that idea would have been even less ok with Dumbledore.

-scene break-

Harry groaned, Mcgonnagal had made them go to that damned lecture about responsibility and such, it had been Hufflepuff that had started the damned thing. McGonnagal was mad at them for some reason, she was the one who was a step from open insurection in Gryfindor. It was her fault to begin with, if she'd actually stick up for the house. That was the complaint going through the house, it was true Hermione might have a point that this was out of hand, and that yes McGonagal was trying to keep order... except the badgers had started it yesterdays... bastards, Harry sulked, he wasn't the only one amongst the First years or the house to be doing so.

"That will be enough, take your seats." McGonnagal was truly growing impatient, "today I know that many of you have other things on your mind. However," She announced, "Transfiguration is an important branch of magic, an important branch which requires concentration." It would have been nice if Dumbledore had made his suggestions earlier rather than the day before classes were scheduled to start back, but this was the best she could do on short notice. "To begin to educate you all on how important this skill of concerntration we will review what I consider a very important text when learning transfiguration."

What followed was arguably as bad as any normal day in Binn's history class, which was saying something. By the time the class let out, they couldn't get out fast enough, the homework writing was sure to be just as boring as well. It wasn't like it was going to get any easier either, Snape had also spent the first five minutes shouting at them to not even think about any kind of acting out, and if they were considering so much as a toe out of line they'd best get out now. No one was willing to try the ex death eater's patience on that issue... yet it'd probably be a few weeks before the Twins decided they wanted to have a go at it.

Flitwick was probably the sanest of the teachers though, which was a decided relief for everyone across all four houses. "Geez I thought that would never end," Dean declared as they all walked along the hall heading to the stairs. "And we've got potions tomorrow," There were a number of other groans.

Honestly Harry wasn't looking forward to it either. Potions just wasn't that interesting. Or at least was they ended up brewing in potions wasn't. Whenever he was out of the class he was too busy to consider brewing anything else. As he was thinking on that issue, Ron decided to start shouting at Herminone, which all things considered wasn't that unheard of for the two of them.

"I'm telling you Snape is up to something." Hermione just groaned in response, rolling her eyes, she wasn't the only one tired of hearing this, either. Harry looked at the red head, and walked off, he didn't want to hear it.

"Hey Potter, we need a word." Personally Harry would rather have to talk to Selwyn, but still he looked at the Hufflepuff. "You mind if maybe talk to some of the other Lions, you know for us."

He almost wished they had their wands out, but they didn't, "Why," He almost wished they'd start another fight... almost, and it didn't have anything to do with the Gryfindors who had followed after him.

"I mean if you just take us to Professor McGonagal that'd be fine" As it turned out Sprout was pushing for the Hufflepuffs to apologize for the... misunderstanding yesterday. It wasn't like yesterday had been that bad, he'd definitely heard that the infighting in Slytherin was worse. It did tell the Gryfindors that the Hufflepuffs must have liked Sprout more than Gryfindor liked McGongagal considering the badger head of house wasn't looming over them making them apologize, which given the mood in Gryfindor would have been what would have happened. Grudgingly Harry turned, Hufflepuff had started a shoving match in the hall on the first day back this whole week everyone had been sending them dirty looks, well aparently that was enough for Sprout to finally say enough was enough.

-scene break-

For the moment things were free floating with the Hufflepuffs. Naturally as with all the houses there were those who were disaffected, but for the moment they were back to the status quo. Well except that Ron had end up mentioning to Hermione, that Flammel was an alchemist, and well that had ended up narrowing the search down

Flitwick, the Ravenclaw head of house was well meaning, but it could be honestly said that his attempts to enliven the classroom enviroment through the use of charms just reminded people of just how things were. Of course this was also probably because Quirrel was taking the same approaching, they might even have been collaborating together to try and get the students to relax.

Just like Daphne despised being that little splash of emerald amongst the sea of crimson. Still for the most part the third week back had been a lot more sereen than the others, which was a distinct improvement. It also reflected some of the temporary rules put into place for now though most members of house didn't flount the don't travel without a partner. Officially the rule didn't insist on a member of ones own house, but in practice that was what it boiled down to when it came to walking the halls.

Today though wasn't much difference. Or rather it wouldn't have been if they weren't all marching down to go watch the quidditch match, that was why they were in such a big group. Well it was the reason because one they were playing Hufflepuff, and two Snape was the referee for the game, which meant everyone expected something bad to happen. As things went it wasn't an unfounded concern considering what had happened to Neville yesterday. Of course someone had quickly pointed out that, one Neville had been alone at the time, and two Neville was kind of an easy target even for first years. It had apparently been Malfoy, apparently he was in a foul mood about something or other, though there was no telling what exactly, though it was clear Malfoy hated the change up the school.

It was least a nice day out, the rain had cleared up, and it was at least semi dry. As it was the quidditch pitch was already packed with some people having gotten there early to get their preferred seats. "Well good luck," Harry commented to the twins, and Katie, as he eyed the swarm of Hufflepuffs.

"Its not right," Richard declared in an annoyed whisper, "We shouldn't have to worry about the puffs stabbing us in the back like this. Its Slytherin... uh no offense, uh its Snape, and those dark wankers we should have to worry about. Now though the bloody badgers have gotten snippy." He complained to a murmur of agreement amongst the other members of the house of the lion, "I mean really this is a mess." He hit his hand in his palm, "I mean it boys we really need to do something about this, get this air cleared, because McGonagal isn't going to do anything about all of this, she is still so keen on jumping down our throats."

As far as things went he was preaching to the choir as the expression went. "We've got a match to win Richard," George said straightening, "We're going to do that first,"

"Just keep an eye out make sure none of this gets out of hand." Fred added, "We should have this in the bag in no time at all." All they needed to do was beat Hufflepuff into the ground.

No big sweat as long as the crowd didn't star rioting it'd be an easy win, "Yeah lets go, win one for the real lions," George grunted jerking his head towards the lockers, "Come on," He said grinning as started walking. It certainly put the other Gryfindors in higher spirits.

On the field Snape groaned face palming at hearing the cheers start from the Gryfindors. He galnced at the mass of yellow ties, as the Hufflebuffs started shouting in response. Of all the time for Hooch to take some time away from the school.

-scene break-

helltanz notes: I believe this is one of the more fundamentally important setting building chapters, and focuses on other points of view in accordance with that.