Yes and No, but it's Memorable Nonetheless

You walk into the Great Hall which has been decorated with Slytherin regalia. The green tapestries hang around the room, creating a strange air to the feast, like the room was slightly nauseous. The Slytherin table is joking and laughing loudly when Dumbledore stands up to give his speech.

Unfortunately, you miss most of it, you are struggling to reach your bench. Harry Potter had recovered and was sitting with Ron and Hermione. Ron gives you an encouraging smile, but then turns to Dumbledore with a look of surprise on his face.

It seemed that the Headmaster was in a generous mood. He was handing out points to Gryffindor! Fifty points to Ron, another Fifty to Hermione, and Fifty to Harry. Neville Longbottom even got points! Something must have happened before they even got to the Corridor, you ponder.

You find your seat between Ezra and Raj, across from Jennifer, but before you can sit down, you see every eye in the hall turn to you.

"Yes Marvolo Gaunt." Dumbledore continues. You feel suddenly very small before the entire school. "You have had a hectic first year here at Hogwarts, from your surprising sorting, to your first rough and tumble flying lessons, to what you managed to achieve just last week." You feel your cheeks flush at the mention of your flying accidents.

"However, we cannot overlook your flagrant disregard for the rules here at Hogwarts. For breaking into the Potions Supply room, thirty points from Ravenclaw."

There's a collective groan from the Ravenclaws. The blue sands recede from the Ravenclaw Hourglass. You feel the Ravenclaws' admiration turn to resentment, they could take losing, but the public humiliation was too much.

Dumbledore clapped his hands together, and looked around. "Now lets dig in... Wait!" He stops suddenly. "I almost forgot. There is one more matter to discuss. Marvolo Gaunt, you showed peerless cleverness and a degree of concern for your fellow student that speaks as a credit to you, your family and shows that every House values compassion, honor, and heroism. The concerted efforts of Master Gaunt, and Ms. Fairhaven should be recognized."

There is some scattered confused applause. Dumbledore looks up and down the professors' table as if looking for input. Most of the Professors seem as confused as the students, but Professor Flitwick seems oddly amused, and Snape is making a face, as if he swallowed something bitter.

"I think its only fair to award Ravenclaw points as thanks, let's say... Fifty points to Ravenclaw." There is a stunned silence in the Hall. Then the entire Ravenclaw table bursts into cheers. Every eye in the room turns to the hourglasses. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw stand evenly matched.

Everyone slowly begins to realize that Dumbledore is done awarding points. Murmurs start to ripple through the halls. A split House Cup was almost unheard of...

"Well now I think we are truly done with all announcements." says Dumbledore with a smile. "I believe some redecorating is in order." The wizened head master clapped his hands twice and the tapestries twisted and morphed, one becoming blue and bronze, and the next red and gold. Behind the Professors' Table the large banner shifted to a strange blend of the two houses, red on one side, blue on the other. In the center was a gold and copper griffin, rearing back in a dramatic pose.

The Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables cheered. The Slytherins all appeared to be quite put out, you see the Malfoy boy shouting at his two lackeys, and the rest of the Slytherins morosely picking at their plates.

Ron comes over and claps you on the shoulder, and before you know it, the two houses have intermingled across the hall. Ravenclaws talking with Gryffindors, and Gryffindors talking with Ravenclaws. There is a spirit of healthy competition between the two tables, and you hear more than one group of students talking about how they aren't going to share a victory next year.

The feast passes by quickly, and before you know it the students begin to file out of the Great Hall back to their dormitories. Most of the students will be leaving tomorrow the Hogwarts Express taking them all back to King's Cross Station, to meet with their family.

You hang around until the bulk of the hall has left, its slow going with a fractured rib, and you don't really want anyone coddling you. As you ready yourself for the walk back to the Ravenclaw dorms you see there is another student still hanging around the hall- Harry.

The Gryffindor student approaches you and waves, awkwardly. You begin to realize how similar the two of you look: lean, raven-haired, green eyes. There must be some connection between the Potters and the Gaunts, and you resolve to look into it.

"Hey." says Harry.

"Hey."

"I just... I wanted to thank you I guess." He says with a smile. "Not a lot of people would have did what you did."

"I think most would have, they just didn't know what you were up to Harry." you say shaking your head. "Neville tried to stop you, didn't he?" You weren't sure if that was why he got house points, but it was even money.

"Well, yeah..."

"Hermione and Ron wouldn't let you go down there alone, either. Everyone who knew you were going down there tried to stop you or at least help you out." You reason.

"But they are my friends." insists Harry. "I haven't said two words to you since the train at the start of the Fall term. In fact I was a little rude over Holidays. I thought that you could have even been working with Snape, and yet you were just trying to help."

"I mean, Snape was too." You say.

Harry frowns.

"Not that I was working with him," you amend. "I don't think anyone really saw Quirrell as the enemy, although in hindsight we should have."

"Yeah," said Harry looking at you funny. "I guess a lot of times we take things at face value."

He extends a hand, which you take slowly. Wow, he had a strong grip.

"Ron says that you are alright, and that's good enough for me. If anything comes up next year, I'll keep you in mind."

"Yeah? Well, its probably good to have friends from other houses at any rate." You say, Harry smiles and turns to go.

You watch the Boy Who Lived walk off, marveling at how oblivious he was. Couldn't he tell that he was the symbol of Voldemort's defeat? That he was probably more important than any wizard alive? He was so reckless, someone would have to look after him.

These thoughts wander through your head as you meander back to your room. Your roommates are packing up the last of their things. You have to respond to Kingsley by tonight. You begin to sort the last of your things and you see a small box, in faded green and silver wrapping paper. It bore the insignia of the Gaunt family on it.

The present.

In the hustle of Christmas day, and with the terror of Voldemort's letter, you had never gotten around to opening it. Inside was probably some insult from your father. Another piece of mad rambling from the man Voldemort just admitted to framing for ****.

Placing the present unopened into your trunk, you ponder over Kingsley's message.