It was only a few days until we were to leave Hogwarts, when the attack happened.

"Y/N! You have to wake up! Y/N!" Hermione shook me awake, and wore a look of absolute fear.

"What is it 'Mione?" I mumbled as I stretched, but she was already heading towards the door.

"Come on Y/N!" She shouted, making me jump out of my bed faster than I could say quidditch.

"Alright! Alright!" I groaned, following her out of the dormitory in my dressing gown, through the common room, and into the corridor. "Hermione Jean Granger! I cannot go around the school in a dressing gown!" I hissed at her, but she wasn't listening. Instead, she was heading straight to Dumbledore's office.

"What if Filch sees us?" I whispered, but Hermione just rolled her eyes.

"Honestly after years of sneaking out, now you think about Filch catching you?" She said, and I grinned at her, a gesture she did not return, instead walking straight up to the entrance, whispering 'sherbet lemon', and quickly running up the stairs.

"Are we late? Did she miss him? I tried to wake her up faster but she is a heavy sleeper!" Hermione burst into Dumbledore's office, and I followed behind her to see the solemn faces of Fred, George, Ginny and Ron as they stood in a circle around a random book.

"Where are you going Fred?" I asked, and he turned his head over to me, and I could see his face was stained with tears.

"Dad's been hurt, bad. We have to go see him." He said, holding back tears, and turned to nod at McGonagall, who stepped towards me.

"We were wondering if you'd join them? They're all going back to your father's home, so it would only begin your Christmas holidays sooner." She said with a weak smile.

"What about my schoolwork?" I asked, and Hermione nodded aggressively next to me in agreement.

"It will all be taken care of my dear." She said, but I shook my head.

"No...they...they need to see Mr Weasley. They're his family, and I'd just be in the way. I'll stay here at Hogwarts. I have a lot of things to do before Christmas anyway." I said, and Dumbledore simply smiled in acknowledgement.

"Very well Miss Black, I'll have Miss Granger escort you back after you say goodbye." Minerva said, before turning to Dumbledore and the pair began discussing something in hushed voices.

I turned to Fred, and went up and gave him a tight hug. "Stay safe Freddie, I don't want to spend another Christmas without you." I mumbled into his jumper, and he pressed a kiss to my temple. Then I turned to the others - George, Ginny and Ron. Hugging them quickly, and then stepping back, I gave one final smile to Fred, before they were whisked away with the portkey.

Hermione looked at me, before nodding to the door, and I followed her out, leaving Harry with the professors.

"He's going to be okay you know." Hermione said as we walked back to the common room.

"I know, I just hope Arthur isn't too badly hurt. He makes an excellent Christmas joke and I'd hate to miss it this year." I told her as we stepped through the portrait, to be met by a small gaggle of girls sat at the fireplace giggling.

"What are they doing up so late?" I muttered as we walked past.

"It's Romilda Vane and her group of idiots - do you expect anything less?" Hermione said, shooting the girls all cold glares as we walked by.

Just as we were about to approach the stairs to our dormitory, Romilda stood up.

"Y/N? Tell Freddie thank you for the present and card, it was so lovely of him to give me it." She smirked at me, and Hermione had to grab my wrist to stop me from turning around and smacking her face.

"Leave it Y/N, it will only give her what she wants." Hermione whispered, dragging me towards the dormitory, as I continued to snarl at Romilda.

"What do you think Romilda meant by card and present?" I asked Hermione the next morning, as we both sat eating our breakfast, still waiting for Harry, Lee and Alicia to join us.

"She probably said it to wind you up. I'm sure Fred wouldn't actually give his evil ex girlfriend anything for Christmas - most definitely not a present." Hermione reassured me, before shifting her eyes to focus on something behind me.

"Wha-" I began, before I saw what Hermione had stoped to stare at. Walking into the Great Hall together was Lee Jordan and Alicia Spinnet, holding hands and approaching the two empty spots next to where I was sat.

As the pair plopped down on the bench, they never let go of each other's hands, and Hermione had forgotten about the toast she'd dropped on the floor completely.

"Lovely day isn't it?" Lee chirped, going to grab some potatoes as he continued to hold Alicia's hand.

"Did we miss something?" Hermione finally asked, and Lee turned to her.

"I don't know what you mean, my dear Hermione." He grinned at her like the Cheshire Cat, and she simply rolled her eyes as Alicia giggled.

"This better be serious, because I can't deal with a split friendship group after you two have a broken friends with benefits situation." I said, pointing my fork at both of them, and making Hermione spit out her pumpkin juice at my comment.

"Don't worry Black, I'm going to be the proper gentleman and court Alicia and everything." Lee said in a mocking formal accent.

"Oh don't talk like that Lee! You sound like one of the bloody Slytherins." Alicia slightly shoved him, but wearing a huge smile on her face.

"Hey! I'll have you know some of my best friends are in Slytherin!" I pointed out, and Lee chuckled.

"Y/N, I think you mean one best friend. Zabini may be your best friend, but I'm pretty sure you and Parkinson aren't chums." He said, and I rolled my eyes at the mention of Pansy.

"You are right there Jordan, I can't stand her she's so annoying!" I exclaimed, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Better not be bashing my friends, Y/N Black." A familiar voice said behind me said, and I smirked as I turned around to see Blaise approaching the Gryffindor table.

"I wouldn't call Parkinson your friend the way she looks at you. Also, what do you think you're doing coming over here? Do you want the first years to throw eggs at you?" I said as he sat down next to me.

"They will do no such thing, because dear Granger over here will hex them for 'wasting an elf's hard work' - isn't that right Granger?" He turned to Hermione, who huffed and nodded in agreement.

"I forget how much I tell you about my other friends sometimes Zabini." I sighed, and he chuckled, grabbing a piece of toast and putting it on his empty plate.

"So when did you two become an item?" He asked, pointing at Lee and Alicia, who were blushing and looking at each other with adoration.

"Around three hours, six minutes and thirty...eight seconds ago." Lee said, and Blaise laughed.

"Not counting or anything mate?" He said, turning back to me. "I actually came over to tell you something Y/N, but knowing who you spend time with with, they'll need to know too." We all began to become tense. "Umbridge has this weird group, the Inquisitorial Squad, and I'm sure you can take a few guesses at who's in it..." The group all quickly glared at Pansy and her group of friends, before returning our focus to Blaise. "She knows you're up to something, and she's making them watch you very carefully. So whatever you're doing, be more cautious because you're going to get caught soon if you don't." He said, and I sighed.

"We knew she'd catch on, but the fact the Pugface Parkinson could be the one to get me in a months detention isn't better." I grumbled, and Blaise smirked. "Thanks for telling is though, that was really helpful." I said, and everyone else nodded in agreement.

"No problem. Maybe even one day I'll be able to join your little group of rebels." He smiled, and I returned it.

"You know I wanted you to be part of it, but unfortunately not everyone knows you like I do, and they just see a Slytherin - bunch of wankers if you ask me." I muttered, but Blaise gave me a final smile of appreciation, before turning to the group and saying goodbye.

"I think Zabini isn't half bad y'know." Lee said as he ate his breakfast. I rolled my eyes, and Hermione did too.

"She's been trying to tell you all this for nearly a year!" She said, and turned to me. "I think we should let him join. He's a good one, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't like the sound of boils all over his face as he's pretty high maintenance, so he won't betray us."

"So it's finally settled. Blaise Zabini will be the first Slytherin to join the DA."

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A/N

GET PREPARED FOR AN UPDATE EVERYDAY FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK BECAUSE ITS MY BIRTHDAY SATURDAY AND IM FEELING SUPER MOTIVATED hehehehe :))

Plus I'm going back to school next week and I'm not gonna even have to time to think about updating ahhhhhhh

So enjoyyyyy

slytherinserpentine xx