The Snake's Secret

Blood

It was about time for the meeting, they were holding it during the Halloween feast so that the teachers would mostly be distracted.

They were all planning to meet in a free room on one of the upper floors, the school had heads of year, perfects and such but house representatives weren't condoned, they were made by students and had causes wars between the houses before.

Still, they were useful, the room was empty when Harry arrived so he took a moment to set everything up and patiently waited for the other three to arrive.

It didn't take them long, Cedric walked through the door closely followed by Neville and Kate.

Harry was already sitting and motioned to the other three chairs set up around the table. Once everyone was sat down and settled they all placed their wands in the middle of the table and there was a moment of silence before Cedric cleared his throat and began to speak.

"So, we all know why where here today. There has been a long tradition of house representatives being chosen in secret and operating, often, against the school rules in order to make changes for the students. I represent Huffelpuff, Harry represents Slytherin, Neville is in the running for Gryffindore and Kate the fifth year Ravenclaw representative.

"So first things first, we need to talk about the competition between the houses. I understand why it happens but the teachers are starting to create a bigger rift between Slytherin and the rest of us which is harming the student body and I have noticed that we are becoming more complacent. Harry would you like to continue?"

"Yes thank you," he pulled out notes Hermione had helped him with on the states of the houses before Dumbledore. "I have been doing some research, with Hermione, looking into the houses before Dumbledore arrived. There were multiple cases of inter-house cooperation, student body protests against rules that were considered unfair and they often succeeded." He placed the printed documents on the table, Cedric looked at the paper, picking it up and running his fingers over it, obviously he hadn't see anything other than parchment before. "Dumbledore has been purposefully blocking the selection process. That's why two of us are second years. I think that we should band together. It will protect us."

"What do we have to be worried about Dumbledore?" Kate asked, picking up the documents and scanning through them.

"Well, let's take last year as an example; he let a Cerberus into the school, it could have killed someone. He was hiding a priceless stone that attached dark wizards, he lost the stone, and he hired Quirrle who attacked children and ran away with the stone." Harry answered.

"Okay I see that but considering you're called the Dark Prince by your house I find it hard to believe that you are against the dark." She shot back, trying to work him out.

"Well, I am not against it, if that's what you mean. Does that worry you?"

"No, but if you sympathies with the dark then why do you care that Dumbledore can't keep the school safe."

Harry took a second to order his thoughts. "I may not like Dumbledore or the way the light runs things but I can't stand to see children harmed. Magical or not, human or not. I experienced it and that shouldn't happen to anyone. Quirrle attacked children in this school and used them to get the stone. That is not acceptable and Dumbledore who is supposed to be all knowing didn't prevent it, on top of that I can hold him responsible for what happened to me. So I don't have a great experience with the light side and especially Dumbledore. What I want to ask you three is that we keep what happens in meetings a secret and band together against teachers who couldn't protect us."

Cedric stepped in "Harry I will keep what you said a secret as will the rest of us." He paused and the other two nodded. "In fact I think we are all on the same page, none of the people in this room like Dumbledore and I for one trust your judgement. I'm apprehensive about the dark but I think baby steps and we will all come around." He paused again and got more nods. "Hufflepuff is not the reject house. But that's how we get treated, Slytherins aren't evil and out to kill us all, Gryffindores can have brains and Ravenclaws can be emotional. He has done nothing to fix anything so on behalf of Hufflepuff I support Harry in this alliance. Neville if you would like to speak?"