Slimy Slytherins And Glowering Gryffindors
Part Six
The Burial
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Inside the closet, the kids squealed eagerly as McGonagall pressed her lips to the very surprised Snape's. At the same time, Ginny did the same to Draco who had the same wide-eyed reaction, not to mention the fact that the force of the girl hitting him sent them both tumbling out of the closet, wands flying all over. The stubborn door also took the time to fly open, revealing an equally shocked Dumbledore who looked in at the action. He watched for a moment before loudly clearing his throat.
McGonagall jumped a mile before bursting into nervous giggles, while Snape wiped his mouth and tried to look dignified. Draco tried to unlatch the impassioned Ginny from his lips while eyeing Dumbledore nervously.
Dumbledore glared down at them all, but he couldn't keep his eyes from sparkling in amusement. "And what is going on in here?"
Snape held together his robes and tried to shake McGonagall off his hand, to which she was clinging in giggling hysteria. "Er…we were having dinner…that is to say…we were shut in here and we don't know why…and the door was electrified…and I didn't have another robe to wear…and our wands flew out the window…and Minerva had a bit to drink…and…AREN'T YOU TWO SUPPOSED TO BE IN DETENTION?!!!" He glared at Draco and Ginny who sat there dumbly, gawking at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore looked at the two troublemakers. "Is this true? Are you supposed to be in detention?"
Draco stood and held on tightly to Ginny's hand. "Yes Sir. But we snuck out."
Snape pointed viciously at Ginny. "I know what happened! We were set up and locked in here! I knew it was the girl's fault. She's in with Potter, you see? I knew it was HER fault!" He loomed up in front of Ginny, who cowered.
Draco stood in front of her. "No Professor, it was all my idea. Honestly, it was!"
Snape looked at him in surprise. "You, Mr. Malfoy? But why would you…?" It was a surprise to him that the child would do something to purposely make him mad, and an even larger surprise that Draco would stick up for anyone else besides himself.
Dumbledore placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I will handle this from here, Severus. Do call Madam Pomfrey if you would. She will see that Minerva gets to bed. Then…you may wish to change your clothing. You will find fresh robes in your room."
Snape flushed deeply and nodded. Meanwhile, Dumbledore led the children out and they all headed through the hallways and up to his office. Once the two were seated in chairs, Dumbledore addressed them. "I am under the impression that neither of you wished to do anything malicious, but I would like an explanation for this behavior."
Draco and Ginny looked at each other before bursting into the whole story, beginning to end. As Dumbledore listened his face became more and more amused. Soon, it looked as if he were trying hard not to laugh. When the kids finally fell silent, he regarded them kindly. "Well, that was certainly an idea, trying to join your houses together by way of a romance between the heads of your houses. A very noble pursuit, if I do say so myself."
"So you're not angry?" Ginny asked hopefully.
"You did break your detention, which is not allowed, and took advantage of two innocent teachers, which is certainly not permissible. But under the circumstances that you were trying to do good, I can't see fit to punish you too greatly. I realize that the relations between Slytherin and Gryffindor have been rocky for some time now, and indeed have not been good since I've been headmaster here. For your sake, I truly wish they were better. But I'm afraid it might be too much for two young people to change years of competitive and spiteful history all on their own. But you two can be the beginning of the healing process. You're helping the relations between houses with your very friendship. Showing others that Slytherins and Gryffindors can be friendly with each other will help the feelings between the two in the future…even if your house masters can not be so easily…convinced, if you will." He chucked. "Now why don't you two head back to your common rooms. You've had a busy day. I should go down and try to calm Severus."
"Yes Sir," said Draco, and stood, followed by Ginny. On their way back down to the common rooms, the two rejoiced at their handiwork.
"Did you see how she kissed him?" squealed Ginny. "And did you see his face?"
Draco doubled over in laughter. "It was simply mad!"
Ginny reached over and gently took his hand. "Do you really think we can be the start of an alliance between the houses like Dumbledore said? I mean, you and me, instead of Snape and McGonagall?"
He shrugged. "I suppose so. As I recall, you kissed me when McGonagall kissed Snape."
Ginny feigned innocence. "Oh? Did I?"
"I seem to remember it that way." He grinned.
She giggled. "You're such a brat!"
"You are!"
"No, you!"
As they went around a corner, they came across Snape helping McGonagall along in the direction of her chambers. Ginny grabbed Draco and pulled him back against the wall, motioning to be silent. "You really were quite silly in that room, Minerva," Snape was saying. "I think you were quite mad to drink all that wine."
McGonagall had gotten over her giggles, and now just looked quite exhausted. "I really don't know what came over me. And I wonder what in the world Miss Weasley could have been thinking, going along with the Malfoy boy in trying to embarrass us."
Snape snorted. "I suppose we shouldn't be too hard on them. It wasn't as if I was doing anything more interesting with my evening. It was a good show at any rate."
McGonagall looked at him in surprise. "Severus! How very…unlike you."
Snape cleared his throat. "Yes, well…" He leaned over and kissed her quickly on the cheek. "Go to bed." He then stalked away, his cheeks fiery red.
McGonagall blushed and pressed a hand to her cheek. "Perhaps he actually does like me a bit."
Ginny leapt in the air and crowed, disregarding her silence. McGonagall jumped and upon seeing them, shot fire at them with her eyes. "Miss Weasley! Mr. Malfoy! Bed!"
Giggling gleefully, the two children ran down the hallway, stopping only briefly for a quick kiss before running to their respective, almost-united, houses.
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Note: Whew! I finally FINALLY finished this! I figured if I didn't get it done now, I would never get it done. It might be a good deal shorter than I originally thought, but I had them in such a fun position that I really didn't have anything else for them to do! I hope everyone enjoyed it even though it took me ages to finish. Thanks to everyone who was so patient and gave such nice reviews. Love to all!
~Lady Grizabella