When Dumbledore arrive on the scene just over half an hour later, it was to find most of the school still fast asleep on the floor. He chuckled lightly before casting a sonorus on himself. "GOOD MORNING, STUDENTS!" he boomed cheerfully, whipping out his camera to capture their faces as they woke next to their former enemies, still covered in food, to the intimidating sight of their headmaster and most of their teachers (who were, as a rule, all early risers and had thus already made their way to their various rooms and cleaned up). Harry and Draco had both jumped to their feet, wand in hands, at the sudden noise. They now stood glaring at each other suspiciously. "Thats my wand you're holding, Potter." Sneered Malfoy, brandishing Harry's own wand at him, his imperious manner spoiled by the fact that his hair was entirely covered in pink icing (the one foodstuff that the cupids had not minded), and there was a large pile of baked beans sliding down the side of his face. Harry glared back for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Your hair!" He choked, tossing Draco's wand at the ground beneath his feet, unable to feel threatened by a boy who looked that ridiculous. Malfoy's hand flew up protectively. "You're one to talk- AHH!" His retort, which would undoubtedly had been properly scathing, descended into a high pitched scream upon the realization that the icing had congealed his hair to the point that he couldn't move it.
Two tables over, Ginny Weasley lay sprawled underneath Blaise Zabini, who hadn't so much a twitched at Dumbledore's announcement. She grimaced, using all her strength to try and roll him off her, but he merely snored and cuddled her closer. "Oh, for Merlin's sake, Zabini! Wake up!" She shouted. Millicent Bullistrode strolled by, scowling. "You should be thanking him. Its the only time he would ever willingly touch you." Ginny grimaced at her. "Trust me, I would be much happier if he never did." Cho Chang came running over, interrupting the mini glaring fest. "Ginny? Pansy is trapped under Ron, can you tell us how to wake him up?" Ginny smirked. "Only if someone will get Zabini off of me." Millicent sneered, but decided that rescuing her best friend was worth helping an enemy. "Fine." She bent next to his ear. "Quick! Someone has stolen Snuggles!" She whispered as low as possible. Due to sheer proximity, Ginny heard her. "Who-" she began, but stopped abruptly as Blaise shot off of her. "WHO STOLE-" Milli slapped a hand over his mouth. "I had to wake you up. We are in the great hall." Ginny smirked. "Snuggles? Really?" She mouthed at Millicent, whose glare was ruined by the half smile she couldn't hold back. Ginny leaped to her feet. "C'mon, lets go wake up my darling brother. Cho, show the way." Upon arrival, however, both girls broke down into laughter. Pansy wasn't so much trapped under Ron as by him. He had a death grip around her waist, holding her on top of his body as easily as if she were a teddy bear. She craned her head up at the laughter. "Milli! This is so not funny! He keeps calling me Hermione!" Although Millicent's look grew horrified, Ginny's grin widened and tears of laughter began pouring down her cheeks. Composing herself with effort, she knelt by Ron's head. "OH MY GOD! A SPIDER!" She shrieked. There was an instant explosion of movement as Ron leaped to his feet and hurled Pansy bodily through the air in one swift motion. Horrified, Ginny and Millicent watched as a screeching Pansy landed rather heavily on...sweet Merlin, was that Flitwick? Millicent's eyes widened. "I didn't see anything if you didn't." Ginny nodded instantly, and they both slipped away quietly from the obvious launching point.
On her way out the door, she stumbled across a blushing Neville trying valiantly to extricate himself from Luna. Sometime during the course of the night, her necklace had gotten tangled in his belt buckle, and they were having quite a lot of problems getting it undone. The necklace, that is, not his belt. Her face was trapped against his stomach, making it impossible for either of them to see how to untangle themselves. Ernie MacMillian, who had only recently began dating Luna, sat bouncing on his heels next to them, muttering anxiously every time Neville's hands accidentally brushed against Luna instead of the necklace. This was causing poor Neville more than a bit of distress, as he would instantly flinch backwards and apologize, losing whatever progress he had made. Ginny snorted quietly. "Neville, I'm really sorry." She muttered, reaching around Luna's head and deftly unbuckling Neville's belt, pulling it out off his belt loops in one quick motion. She handed the belt to Ernie as Neville gaped, his face turning an even darker crimson. Fred and George appeared suddenly over her shoulder. "We saw that" They chorused. "Ginevra Molly Weasley", Fred continued. "You did that way too easily." George continued. "Have you been taking lots of boys pants off?" They glowered. "Or just Neville's?" Fred suggested, as they both leaned menacingly in his direction. He shrieked and took off, ducking behind the entire Ravenclaw Quidditch team (who were known for an intense dislike of the twins). Ginny slapped them both neatly across the head. "Gits. You scared him. You don't even go here anymore!" They nodded. "We know!" They chanted simultaneously. Fred shrugged. "But you know us-" "Whenever there is mischief" "Whenever there is mayhem..." They bowed dramatically. "We are at your service," They chorused. "Is it true that Hermione and Snape started the battle because everyone found out about their secret engagement?" Behind George, a Ravenclaw drew in a sharp breath. "I did see her kiss him..." Fred and George's grins widened. "Oh! Lets go encourage the rumors!" they chanted, linking arms and skipping off merrily. Ginny shook her head wearily and began the long climb back to Gryffindor tower.
By the time Hermione and Snape made it back to the Great Hall, most of the students had headed back to their common room for clean clothes. Dumbledore saw them approaching and swiftly stopped them. "There you two are!" He beamed. They glanced at each other cautiously, ready to run at the slightest sign of betrayal. Dumbledore eyes twinkled at them merrily. "There is a school wide meeting at three o clock today in the Astronomy tower. I expect you shall both be there." With a dramatic flair of his robes, he swept off. Snape turned to her. "Oh no, this is bad. He is too cheerful. We need a plan." Hermione nodded. "I'll get Ron and meet you in the dungeons. Bring whomever in your house can think strategically."
Three o clock found the entirety of the Hogwarts student body standing nervously in the astronomy tower, waiting for Dumbledore. As soon as everyone was clean and showered, they reverted to their normal behavior, standing clustered according to House, with one rather noticeable exception. Hermione, Ron, Snape, and Blaise Zambini stood between the Gryffindors and Slytherins, eyeing the door suspiciously. Dumbledore chuckled and made himself visible, standing serenely at the podium. The students screamed, and Hermione and Snape actually threw themselves to the ground before they realized he wasn't planning on chucking any more magical creatures at them. Sheepishly, they stood. Dumbledore winked at them before turning on the rest of the students. "I am deeply disappointed in all of you," he intoned, as students visibly wilted. "You showed no respect for this wonderful school that serves as our home. You will all have the Great Hall cleaned by dinner tonight, with no wands." The Slytherins muttered, but did not object outright, while the other Houses accepted their punishment meekly. Dumbledore's eyes resumed their customary twinkle. "I was, however, delighted by the teamwork I saw last night. There were no House boundaries, and everyone was united. It disappoints me to see that you have all already forgotten this lesson." The students muttered and looked even more ashamed, but made no move towards the other Houses. "Therefore, as a reminder, I have made copies of all the pictures from last night." With a quick flick of his wand, an old fashioned muggle movie projector appeared and began playing a slide show.
The first photo was of Hermione and Professor Snape staring up at Dumbledore in shock and betrayal as a swarm of cupids dove towards them. Laughter rang through the room. Click. A snapshot of the Head Boy lobbing a piece of broccoli while yelling maniacally flashed up next. Click. McGonagall missing a cupid and instead covering the Creevy brothers in a thick stew. Click. Harry and Draco lay sleeping, using each other as a pillow. Click. Millicent Bullistrode shoving a crying Cho Chang under a table to avoid a particularly fat cupid's attack. Click. Ron pointing and yelling instructions at one of the G.A.S teams, while Pansy held off a cupid that had veered dangerously close. Click. Snape and Hermione, looking absolutely terrifying, together hurling an entire vat of gravy into a cupids face. Click. A tiny Ravenclaw summoning a book to hand Crabbe, who was lobbing them straight towards the thick of battle. Click. A Hufflepuff second year back to back with Theodore Nott, both armed with zucchini. Click. Three tiny Gryffindor first years working together to haul Goyle off the floor and get him under a table. Click. Click. Click. Click.
Dumbledore chuckled at the student's stunned faces as they saw proof of exactly how carried away they had gotten. Another flick of his wand and the images disappeared. "Now, I believe that you all have some cleaning to do before the night is over. There will be copies of the pictures hanging, well, every where. Feel free to take some, I've charmed them to multiply infinitely. " His sudden good humor vanished. "And remember, if you do not use this opportunity to work on inter-house cooperation, I will bring back the cupids until you do."