Beneath the Covers / DRAMIONE (COMPLETE)

Ubiquitous Unity

Draco and Hermione began their campaign the following day. Not only did Hermione sit with Draco and the Slytherins for breakfast, but Draco brought Blaise over to the Gryffindor table for dinner and the three held a complex debate on Golpalott's Third Law, the latter being something they were currently studying in their NEWT Potion class. Two Ravenclaw girls joined their table to add their own inputs and figments of knowledge. Their debate got so heated that Professors Snape and McGonagall approached their table, and Hermione thought it was to tell them off.

However, it was to the contrary. Professor Snape didn't look nearly as stern as normal, and Professor McGonagall was beaming.

"Ten points to Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin," McGonagall said, smiling, and Snape nodded curtly at Hermione and Draco as he went by.

The two Ravenclaws, one of whom was Padma Patil, asked if they could start a study group for Potions, among all houses, in all years.

"Why not?" Said Hermione. "It's a really good idea, Padma. We need to try and bring along as many people as possible. Saturday night, at eight?"

"Can't," interjected Blaise. "Draco and the team have Quidditch practice. Can we do earlier, at six?"

The Ravenclaws looked so surprised that the Slytherins were joining in that they agreed at once.

"See you Saturday, then," Padma waved and walked off with her friend.

*

They held their Potions group in one of the unused classrooms on the second floor. Draco and Blaise had brought along Daphne Greengrass, her sister Astoria and Charlie Vaisey, a Chaser on the Slytherin team. Padma and her friend, whom Hermione later found out was Susan Fawcett, had encouraged four Ravenclaws to go with them: Felicity Eastchurch, Marcus Belby, Michael Corner and Terry Boot. Hermione, to her disgrace, had found nobody willing to go with her and she'd even neglected to mention that the session was with Slytherins.

"Who did you find?" Asked Draco, raising an eyebrow at her lack of companions. "It was you who suggested bringing friends, didn't you?"

"I couldn't find anyone," Hermione replied, utterly disappointed with herself. "Gryffindors aren't really into whole-school unity, are they?" She joked flatly.

"So, what is this group, then?" Terry Boot questioned. "And why are they here?" He nodded at the Slytherins. "Aren't they the barrier preventing us from uniting outside of our own houses?"

Blaise fiercely opened his mouth to answer but Hermione cut in first. "No, Terry. The Gryffindors are the true cause." Terry looked unconvinced. "I saw something recently that forced me to change my opinion of Gryffindor house. If you look beyond the camouflage of bravery, Gryffindors are stubborn, selfish, cruel and often stupid. I needed something extraordinary to help me see that. I think the others will need that too. We can show them unity and see how they respond. We need all the help we can get... against Voldemort. We have to work together."

"So this is a recruitment scheme?" Questioned Daphne. "You want another, what was it, Dumbledore's Army? I'm not being used as a pawn. Tell your precious Dumbledore that the Slytherins will pick the right side when it comes to it, and that it may not be his." And she stormed out.

"I'm so sorry," her sister Astoria apologised. "I'll go and talk her round. I know what you're doing, Granger, and I like it." And she followed her sibling out the door.

"That's that, then," said Blaise. "We're really doing this."

"Yes," Draco answered. "We are."

The determined gleam never left his eyes, even as they tackled the harshest of Golpalott's Laws.

*****

A.N. Draco and Hermione begin their campaign to unite the whole of Hogwarts. How will Ron and Harry take it? Read on for more shocks and surprises!

Thank you for reading.