Okay, I know, shame on me for putting THE ENTIRE SECOND HALF OF THE SCHOOL YEAR in this chapter.
But, it's okay! There's not a lot that happens anyways. And I did make the chapter pretty long for you guys!
*other useless intro stuff...*
I do not own Harry Potter. That honor belongs to JKR.
With the end of the break arriving and the hustle of getting ready for classes, Nellie was able to busy herself until Hermione returned.
"Christmas was great this year!" Hermione smiled, thinking over the past week while unpacking her trunks. "What about you, Nellie?"
"I had a great time. But I am happy that school is resuming soon. I was getting lazy and fat with all the chocolates my father gave me," Nellie laughed, pointing at the two stacks by her bed, one with chocolates, and the other with empty wrappers.
"I'm excited for school to begin again too," Hermione smiled.
As classes started up, Nellie indulged herself back into the school work. She had little difficulty finishing the homework, but she still wanted to make sure she would pass her exams.
Days passed, turning into weeks. The closer the final exams got, the more frantic Nellie became. She stressed daily, balancing her attempt for patience towards Harry and Ron, and her worries for the finals. Nellie didn't have a moment to breathe unnecessarily, let alone relax.
One night through finals week Nellie found herself unable to sleep, and proceeded to walking about the Gryffindor tower. She stumbled upon a surprise on the front step.
Neville was in a full body bind.
Reversing the spell, she watched as Neville gasped for breath and sighed.
"Neville? What happened?"
"Hermione….spell…they've left the tower," Neville replied slowly. Nellie thought back to a week ago, when Hermione told her about Fluffy and the Sorcerer's Stone. Immediately she ran for the door, feeling her arm being tugged back as she ran.
"Wha-Neville!" Nellie tried to release her arm from his restrain.
"Nellie, you could get in trouble. Or even worse, hurt!"
"Neville, then that's for me to worry about. Leave me to do as I want." Nellie replied crossly, running out of the tower.
Reaching the third floor- the forbidden floor, she saw the three headed dog from before. Luckily, this time the dog was fast asleep on the floor. Nellie silently made her way to a suspicious looking door by the beast. Peering in, she fell, down and trapped in a large plant.
Recognizing the plant fairly quickly, Nellie calmed herself and stood still until she fell down below. After what felt like hours of walking through already accomplished 'riddles' she found herself at a large life-sized wizard's chess board. Nellie could see someone lying down on the ground.
"Ron?" Nellie gasped. Her 'bully' was laying crumpled to the floor, covered in cuts and bruises.
"Ron, get up!" Nellie shouted, grabbing his collar. No response. Nellie looked up as a figure walked in her direction, calming down when she realized it was Hermione.
"Nellie? What are you doing here?"
"What happened to Ron?" Nellie asked quietly.
"Nellie, what are you doing here." Hermione repeated, more sternly this time. This time, Nellie stood up and faced Hermione.
"Because I know why you're here. You think my father is going to steal that Sorcerer's stone, don't you?"
"No, Harry does," Hermione replied, helping Ron up.
"So why did you tag along? I thought you told me you wouldn't accuse him if you weren't positive it was him." Nellie stared at Hermione with cold eyes.
"Nellie, are you positive it isn't him?" Nellie looked back in shock.
"So you do think it was him. I am positive it's not, I saw him in his class room ten minutes ago when I was coming here!"
"But if it isn't your father, then who has solved all these puzzles?"
"I thought you had."
"We solved some, but others were solved for us!"
Both girls looked frantic. Through the corner of her eye, Nellie could see Ron beginning to wake.
"Blimey, I'm sore all over…Nellie? What are you doing here?"
"I have my own reasons," Nellie replied defensively. "Are you alright?"
"Like you would care," Ron muttered, "If you really were Snape's kid you would have no emotion."
"Ron!" Hermione delivered a strong slap to his face. All three froze when hearing heavy footsteps.
"What are you three doing out of bed? Nellie? Why are you out of bed at this hour?"
Everyone looked at Professor Snape in surprise.
"Why are you here, dad?"
"Potter…" Snape muttered. "Where is Potter?"
Hermione pointed to the hall she had come from. Snape ran off in that direction, paused, and looked back.
"Miss Granger, take Mr. Weasley to the hospital wing. Nellie, bed. Now."
Both girls nodded and walked out. To their surprise, the plant that had once attacked them was gone. Nellie let Hermoine climb on her shoulders to get out, and in return, Hermione pulled both up. Nellie proceeded towards the Gryffindor, but Hermione stopped her.
"Nellie, I'm sorry. I accused your father again, and he was innocent."
"It's alright. I guess my father hasn't made the best impression on you all," Nellie managed a smile before turning back to the tower.
Days later, Nellie and other girls moped as the School Year was ending. Most boys, however, were thrilled and discussing their break plans. Nellie walked alongside Hermione to visit Harry and Ron one day.
"How are you feeling, Harry?" Harry jumped at hearing Hermione's voice.
"It's so good to see you-Nellie?"
"Nellie came to visit with me, Harry. If you have a problem with that then keep it to yourself."
"Harry, are you alright?" Nellie asked, ignoring the conversation the two had just had.
"I'm fine. Just want to get out of here."
"Harry, Nellie has something to tell you," Hermione chanted, looking at Nellie with a smile.
"Harry, I know you thought my father was going to steal the stone. I think you ought to know that it was my father who saved your life," Nellie said, looking at Harry, still wondering why he looked so familiar to her.
"Wha-Snape saved my life?"
"Yes. He came running in when we were helping Ron out, and went looking for you. I think you owe Nellie an apology."
"I'm…..sorry Nellie. We may not be friends, but I suppose I shouldn't have been so mean to you."
"It's okay, Harry, I forgive you," Nellie smiled.
Ron apologized to Nellie as well, but not as enthusiastically.
As everyone sat for their final feast at Hogwarts, Nellie and the trio waited for Professor Dumbledore announced the results of the House Points, with Slytherin in the lead. Draco looked over at Nellie with arrogance in his countenance.
"However," the headmaster continued, "recent events must be taken into account."
Everyone at the Gryffindor table looked with deep interest.
"First - to Mr. Ronald Weasley. For the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Everyone cheered as Ron turned red in the face.
"Second - to Miss Hermione Granger... For the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Hermione hid her face behind her robes.
"Third - to Mr. Harry Potter..." said Dumbledore. "For pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house another fifty points."
Nellie counted the changes mentally. "We're still ten points below Slytherin," she muttered.
"And finally, It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom, as well as Miss Nellie Snape."
Nellie felt herself being forced into a bone-crushing hug by Hermione.
"Nellie, you and Neville have raised the points above Slytherin," Hermione squealed, "which means,"
"we need a little change of decoration. " Professor Dumbledore said, clapping her hands as the décor of the room changed to Red and Gold. Everyone but Slytherin burst into applause, and for the first time ever, Nellie looked at Draco with a look of triumph.
And so year one is over!
When I was adding the extra 170 points that Dumbledore added, I felt that Nellie had done the same thing as Neville, standing up to friends. So I made Harry's added points change to 50, when in the book it was actually 60.
I had wanted to do NevilleXNellie, but my editor was all against it, so I at least made Neville care about her a litte...but yeah.
Anyways, we start on the REAL plot next chapter! This whole year had nothing to do with what I have planned, but I already wrote it, so I kept it. But I am not writing through all the other years. I'm skipping to the summer before 6th year, but I'll have a short summary of the years I'm skipping.
I'm really excited to post the next chapter! It introduces a lot! It isn't the longest I've written, but it has the most surprises!
So, I don't know what more to say...thanks for reviewers for reviewing, and thanks for favorites and follows! This story has been my most popular!
Myraah out.