The Gift From Death Year 3

Chapter 12: Third year Part 8

10th, August, 1998...

"Right we're starting from where we finished. Just after the attack on the Fat Lady." Harry smirked.

Professor Dumbledore sent all the Gryffindors back to the Great Hall, where they were joined ten minutes later by the students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, who all looked extremely confused.

"We weren't told what had happened." Astoria explained. "Professor Snape just came and told us to go to the Great Hall and to not ask questions."

"We weren't told either." Luna agreed.

"The Hufflepuffs weren't told either." Minerva told them, "We all felt it was better not to have the three other houses panicking or asking questions all the way down to the Great Hall." she shrugged.

"Which would've happened if they'd known." Molly smiled.

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Professor Dumbledore told them as Professors McGonagall and Flitwick closed all doors into the hall. "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts."

Professor Dumbledore paused, about to leave the hall, and said, "Oh, yes, you'll be needing..."

One casual wave of his wand and the long tables flew to the edges of the hall and stood themselves against the walls; another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags.

"Sleep well," said Professor Dumbledore, closing the door behind him.

"Awesome. Sleepover in the Great Hall." James grinned.

The hall immediately began to buzz excitedly; the Gryffindors were telling the rest of the school what had just happened.

"I think that's one of the few times a Slytherin was actually talking to a Gryffindor without them hexing each other." Astoria mused.

"I can't even think about any other times." Draco admitted.

"Mostly it was 'Oy! You over there! Your beliefs displease me so I'm going to hex you into a puddle'." Ginny smirked, "It got ridiculous at some points."

"It was usually the Gryffindor's who started it." Draco pointed out, "Slytherin's would insult them and then they'd start a duel."

"Slytherin's started it a few times." Harry disagreed, "I know at least half of them were looking for a fight."

"There is a reason we made sure the two houses had another house in between them." Minerva put in before they could start arguing about it, "To stop any fights."

"Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's never really started arguments and Slytherin's usually left us alone." Luna smiled.

"True." Regulus nodded, "That's how it was when I was still in school too, it was mostly Gryffindor and Slytherin that fought. It was rare for the other two houses to be fighting with anyone."