Gobbledegook

"Clearwater."

October 14th, 1991. Potions Classroom, Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle.

Penelope Clearwater rose from her seat as the bell rang, releasing them from potions class.

"We will be continuing our discussion on the magic properties of holly when we reconvene in a few days." Professor Snape announced as the fourth years collected their belongings and left the classroom.

Penelope collected her belongings and walked up to Professor Snape's desk, straightening her shoulders and taking in a deep breath as she walked. "Excuse me? Professor?"

"Yes, Ms. Clearwater?" He drawled, although he seemed more like a person than the Dungeon Bat most assumed him to be as he seemed to remember that Penelope was in the same house as his godson.

"I know you don't really like my house, at least no more than you like Hufflepuff, but we need the help of an adult. It appears that members of House Gryffindor have been picking on a few of the first years in my house." She braced herself for his reaction and surged on. "One of the first years is your godson."

Professor Snape let out a rush of angry air, his hands laying palm down on the smooth plane of the desk in front of him. "What do you need assistance with Ms. Clearwater?"

Penelope looked at him imploringly. "We need to find some way to get them to stop picking on the first years."

Professor Snape nodded before waving his hand dismissively at Penelope. "I'll discuss the matter with Professor Flitwick and we'll arrange something. For the time being, I suggest you get to your next class." He quickly wrote a note and handed it to her, a contrite smile on his face, "give this to the Professor."

"Thank you, Professor Snape." Penelope Clearwater held the note on top of the rest of her belongings and scurried out of the classroom, intending on getting to her next class as soon as possible.

October 14th, 1991. Library, First Floor, Hogwarts Castle.

Penelope Clearwater sat at a mostly empty table with several books surrounding her. She was working on her Ancient Runes assignment. The Weasley twins would be joining her in half an hour and the first years would be joining her in forty-five minutes. The Weasley twins had Quidditch practice and were surely running extra drills so they might not get there till after the first years.

Professors Snape and Flitwick approached the studious fourth year. "Ms. Clearwater?"

Penelope, for all that she's worth, tried to keep her cool when she looked up and saw the two Professors. "Yes Professor?"

"I believe we have a solution to your problem. A temporary solution, but a solution nonetheless." Professor Snape began, before he looked over at Professor Flitwick. "Flitwick?"

Professor Flitwick smiled and nodded. "Yes, as Professor Snape said, we believe we have a solution." A rare smirk spread across his face and the three began working on their plan.

October 16th, 1991. Great Hall, First Floor, Hogwarts Castle. 7:30 AM.

For the first time since school started a month and a half ago, Harry, Draco, and Neville sat at their house table and ate breakfast with their housemates.

The three boys sat in the middle of the table, amiable housemates protecting them on all sides. They ate silently, not wanting to draw attention to themselves, but their plan failed when Ron walked in, his blue eyes searching, like they always do, for the three boys who were hoping to hide from his gaze.

"Mr. Weasley." Professor McGonagall's words stopped him dead in his tracks. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Nothing Professor." He begrudgingly slunk away to the Gryffindor table and grumbled to whoever would listen throughout the rest of breakfast.

October 16th, 1991. DADA Classroom, Second Floor, Hogwarts Castle. 8:52 AM.

Harry leaned against the wall outside of the classroom, nodding along to Padma's rant about how awfully Ron has been treating him lately.

"-Pavarti tells me he's spreading lies about you. That you practice dark magic and are secretly a vampire and have our whole house enthralled." Padma's voice grew cold in her disdain for the redhead's treatment of her housemate.

Harry smiled reassuringly. "I'm pretty much sure that if I was a vampire my parents would have told me about it by now." He rested a hand on Padma's shoulder before wrapping his arms around her and giving her a brief hug. "Thank you for caring so much."

Padma smiled and patted Harry's back. "Of course I care. What are housemates for?"

October 17th, 1991. Staffroom, Ground Floor, Hogwarts Castle. 6:15 AM.

Professor Snape sat beside Professor Flitwick, their heads bent together as they discussed solutions to the problem. Professor Sprout rose an eyebrow at the two of them before she looked at Madam Pomfrey.

Madam Pomfrey rose an eyebrow back at Professor Sprout before she too shot a look at Professors Snape and Flitwick. "What do you think they're talking about?"

"Something big, I guess. Why don't we ask them?"

Madam Pomfrey tapped Professor Snape's shoulder and straightened her shoulders. "What are you talking about to Filius?"

Professor Snape rose an eyebrow. "Filius and I are discussing possible solutions to a problem a student came to us with. It appears that some of Minerva's lions are antagonizing some of Filius' eagles and some of my snakes." He shrugged and picked up a mug of coffee.

Madam Pomfrey nodded and placed a hand on Professor Snape's shoulder. "Oh Severus."

October 17th, 1991. Great Hall, Ground Floor, Hogwarts Castle. 5:42 PM.

The students of Hogwarts sat at the four house tables, they were eating dinner quietly with their housemates when it happened.

Professor Snape stood up and tapped a knife against the glass part of his goblet. "Attention students. Attention please."

The quiet roar of talking dulled to a near silent mummur before silence fell over the Great Hall.

"I'd like everyone to know that from this moment on, Professor Flitwick and myself have declared our House common rooms as safe spaces for students who have been victimized by members of House Gryffindor."

An uproar erupted in the Great Hall, driving Headmaster Dumbledore to stand with a wave of his hand.

"Enough!"