I could hardly hold back my grin, the looks on their faces were so satisfactory. They lied to me--at least Hermione did, and the looks on their faces were revenge enough.

"Bloody Hell! Why?--What? We--" Ron whispered, looking to Harry then Hermione. I smirked.

"You might want to change the place you study. The beech tree by the lake." I clarified when Harry frowned. "Funny you never noticed me on the other side as you passed. You might want to get your eyes checked. Oh, and the lying before--not a very 'chivalrous Gryffindor' move."

"We've just adapted to look past a little bit of scum," Ron growled, and spat, "Slytherins aren't ones to talk about chivalry."

I made to move toward him--don't you call me scum, and expect me to take it laying down! Then, I spotted the parchment with all the signatures for the defence group on it, and hesitated. "I don't go around parading the fact I am chivalrous, when I'm not, that's the difference," I shot back, glaring. I stepped back diagonally, so my back was to the table hosting the parchment and quill. Ron went to shoot something back, but was interrupted by Hermione ("You're a Prefect, Ronald Weasley, do not rise to the bait, it's not worth it!"). I picked up the quill, and put it to the parchment. I've gotta to say, signing your name with your hands behind your back isn't easy. I had quite an amount of time though, since Ron and Hermione were bickering that Hermione was "being a hypocrite" because she was the one who "punched Malfoy".

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait! You punched Malfoy?" I asked astonished. Hermione narrowed her eyes and nodded. "Nice one!" She frowned.

"Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin..." She clarified. I gave her an exasperated look. "And you're a Slytherin," She said, pointedly.

"One, wow, really? I hadn't noticed! Two, more like, 'Draco Malfoy the Idiotic Bully'," I said, disgusted at being associated with him. I paused, before continuing, "How hard is it to wrap you silly little minds around the fact that all the Slytherins aren't like Malfoy. True, there's Malfoy and his gang of morons, there're the people too scared to challenge him, and the people who think what he does is a right laugh, then, there's me. The only fool from Slytherin to have either the courage or stupidity to challenge him." I finished, my voice on the verge of rising.

"Oh..." Hermione said softly. She opened her mouth to say more, but I cut her off.

"You think muggle-borns and half-bloods from the other houses get made fun of by the pure-blooded Slytherins? Try being a Slytherin that's a half-blood and the one that stood up to Malfoy! Some Slytherins hate your guts, some are too scared of Malfoy to say anything to the contrary, and the other houses think, 'Oh, a Slytherin, must be an evil bully! Yeah, I'm a Slytherin, I'm cunning, I'm ambitious, and I'm sarcastic, but I'm not Malfoy!" I growled, only barely succeeding at keeping my voice a normal volume. I turned on my heal, fuming, before remembering to point out my beautifully completed signature. "Oh, and since, I know you're not stupid, I know you charmed that list of signatures, which my name is now added to, your magic is forcing you to let me become a member of your lovely little discriminatory defence group." I added accenting the last five words in a falsely, sickly sweet, Umbridge voice. I turned around and nearly ran into a chair. Ahem, right. That didn't happen.

"We didn't make you sign that paper," Harry pointed out.

"Yes, well, believe me, I'm not doing it for the lovely company. I'm doing it because, guess what? If Voldemort--" Ron squeaked, and knocked over the ink bottle by the parchment of names, "--or any of his followers try to kill me, you best believe I will be putting up the best fight I can!" I spun around for a third time and kicked the deterring chair over.

"Er, Natalie, I'm sorry I lied. And I'm sorry that everyone including the three of us misjudged you," a gentle voice came from behind me. I felt momentarily as if I had perhaps pressed the matter too much. I turned around with a small, apologetic smile. Hermione looked rather pitying, which irked me. She grin slid off my face, and my eyes narrowed.

"I wasn't meaning to seek pity," I said, accusatorially. Hermione, smiled in a resigned, 'here-we-go-again' fashion. I surveyed the three of them, and let the matter drop. "Alright, then. Thank you." I said, and made to leave the pub.

"Want to walk back to the castle with us?" Hermione asked, apprehensively looking at me, and her two friends. Ron scoffed, and Harry look skeptical. I was just suspicious.

"Really? Or are you just asking so that I'll say yes, and then you'll say 'too bad'?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"No, I'm asking. Really," Hermione assured me. She looked sincere.

"Alright, then. Thank you," I said, and nearly smiled, but then I caught sight of Harry, who now looked resigned, and Ron, who gave had an expression of one being stuck in an unpleasant dream. I added, "Although, I can't," I began. Ron looked like Christmas had come early, and even Harry brightened. "I wouldn't want to butt in where I'm not obviously not welcome." I gave Harry a swift glance, and glared at Ron. "I really do appreciate the offer, though, Hermione, thank you." I smiled quickly, the bell above the pub's door rung briefly a few seconds later.

Outside was snowy and cold. My boots crunched in the bit of new snow between the Hogshead and the main road. Wind whipped at my face, and my eyes stung. I wasn't much looking forward to the long walk back to Hogwarts.

~~~~
Hi!

Okay, I really needed to update this! So... what d'you think? It was a really hard chapter to write for some reason... Just, I'm not sure...

Thanks for reading!!

GW