Rejection and Acceptance

*AN* I'm writing responses to reviewers first as i let my mind figure out what is supposed to happen next. I hope no one minds.... Ok well none of you have the knowledge that time has actually passed (though I assure you it has) but responses are done, and you have a special surprise coming to you... On to the story!!!
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By the time Harry had run to get Dumbledore and returned with him to Gryffindor tower and the empty portrait in which the Fat Lady had previously been help a large group of Gryffindors had crowded in front of the picture. It soon became clear that the only reason so many people had been up was that a Collin Creevey on his way to breakfast early remembered he had promised he'd wake a fellow second-year. When he turned back to enter the common room the fat lady was nowhere in sight and the shredded canvas that had been her portrait had stood empty before him. He had caused enough of a fuss that within moments, half of Gryffindor, if not the whole of Gryffindor now stood in front of the painting shocked and scared.

"We need to find her." Dumbledore announced. "We must search all the portraits, we need to know who did this."

At the same moment Peeves came whizzing around the corner and down the hall towards the group laughing at them. "Missing someone? Poor little horrible mess hiding on the fourth floor dodging between the trees." He cackled.

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked the poltergeist.

"The Fat Lady sir, ashamed she is. Poor thing." He finished unconvincingly.

"Did she say who did it?" Dumbledore asked quietly.

"Of course sir Proffessorhead. He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in you see." He announced, pausing as everyone waited with bated breath to find out who the culprit was. "Nasty temper he's got, that Siruis Black."

Proffessor McGonagall who had shown up just as Dumbledore asked who the culprit was gasped as she paled just the slightest bit. Catching her eye, Dumbledore nodded his head to the stairs. "Follow me everyone." She said with authority. Walking towards the stairs with the step of someone accustomed to being obeyed, she did not so much as glance back as she led the whole house to the Great Hall and instructed them to sit at the Gryffindor table without saying a word.

Ten minutes later, Proffessor Snape, Proffessor Sprout and Proffessor Flitwick entered the Hall leading their sleepy houses. With many yawns and much grumbling, the other three houses sat down at their tables. Unlike Gryffindor table, the other three held very sleepy students, most of whom had stumbled out of bed and been ushered straight into the Great Hall, allowing only those who slept in the nude to pull on a pair of bottoms, so many bare-chested male students were in attendance, and very few of the girls didn't notice or take the time to look at the builds of their fellow students.

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Proffesor Dumbledore told them as Professor McGonagall and Flitwick closed all the doors into the Hall. "I am afraid that for your own safety, you will have to spend much of the day here. I want the Prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the Hall and I am leaving Head boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbances should be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, who was looking immensley proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts." With a wave of his wand, he sent a note to the house elves that breakfast had started a bit early and to ask them to send a bit of breakfast up. Then he left the Hall closing the doors behind him with one last admonishment. "Don't be too loud, and please stay calm."

When the door shut the Great Hall erupted into noise, like no other event had caused. Gryffindors spread the news of what had happened to their friends in other houses. News of what happened took two minutes to reach from the Gryffindor all-knowing of the events to the Slytherin didn't-care group. Rumours and guesses of what happened spread like wildfire everyone convinced they were right. Within moments cold foods had been sent to the four houses tables, though the Head Table remained dry.

"QUIET DOWN YOU LOT!" Percy's magically enhanced voise burst through the noise. This caused noise throughout the hall to drop incrementally.

Hermione Granger was getting increasingly miffed with the rumours spread throughout the Hall of how Sirius Black had entered the School. They ranged from him apparating into the school, to him disguising himself to him flying into the grounds.

"Honestly, don't you lot know anything?" She finally demanded furiously. "Hogwarts isn't just protected by WALLS." She dismissed the ideas scathingly. "First off, you cannot apparate into hogwarts, second off Dumbledore HIMSELF told us disuises wouldn't fool the dementors and they's have also seen him if he tried to fly in."

"Well then how DID he get in?" A hufflepuff demanded when his suggestion got shot down.

"I don't know." Hermione admitted. "But it's probably got a lot of Dark Magic involved." She added nodding.

"Who cares?" Harry demanded. "As long as he's long gone, the Fat Lady's portrait gets fixed and no one gets hurt... That's all that matters right?" As Harry spoke attention from his housemates was drawn to him for the first time. Outraged gasps from seventh years to second years (First years hadn't been there long enough for the house rivalry to TRULY hit yet) could be heard.

"WHAT in the BLOODY RUDDY HELL are you WEARING!" Demanded a apoplectic Ronald Weasley. Only then did Harry realise that he was still wearing Draco's shirt and pants... and no underwear. He realised what a bad idea it had been for him to say even the slightest of words in this situations and stared to wish that he could sink into himself. Then remembering who's fault it ultimately was that he was in such a get-up he turned his blushing embarassment into furious resentment.

"Well WEASLEY," he bit out as scathingly as he could. "When YOU decided to lock the doors on me last night, I had to find SOMEWHERE else to sleep didn't I?"

"So, you admit that the rumours are true then? You went to sleep in Slytherin dorms with your new lover didn't you, you traitorous poof!" A purple-faced Ron gasped out.

"It wasn't like that you homophobic git! Proffessor SNAPE decided I was to sleep in the Slytherin dorms since me and Draco have been on friendlier terms and aren't likely to hurt one another. And Draco was kind enough to lend me some clothes so I could walk around in something other than my birthda suit!" Harry snapped feeling guilty afterwards that he had explained anything at all. "At least HE'S more of a loyal friend than you!"

Ron stared at him dumbfounded for a moment, then glared even more furiously. In a rage he didn't stop to think about what he was about to do and he sent a stinging hex at his once best-friend.

Harry dodged out of the way to the mis-fortune of a fifth year hufflepuff and sent a bat-bogey hex towards Weasley. The hufflepuff furious at Ron also sent a stunning hex at him. Ron however managed to escape the two hexes by dropping quickly to the floor and the hexes hit a Ravenclaw seventh and first year. The first year dropped at the merciless stunning hex and the seventh year quickly stopped the spell and joined the fray.

Within moments many students had crammed behind the Head Table to escape the hexes coming from all directions of a sudden. Prefects tried to dodge the hexes and shelter both themselves and the youngest years from any damage and at the same time herd the scared kids towards the Head Table and away from most of the spells, especially after turning the tables on the side with some care and allowing the table to take the brunt of the hexes.

"STOP! CEASE! ENOUGH! QUIT IT!!!!!" Percy shouted at the top of his lungs, with some help from a magical voice-enhancing spell. Ducking a spell, he tried to grab at some opponents and seperate them.

Ron and Harry were at opposite sides of the Great Hall, mostly undamaged. Harry fought with the Slytherins, several loyal Gryffindors, and some loyal Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws as well. Ron fought with the same with the exception of Slytherins, because no Slytherin deigned to fight on his side. Added to the mix were many students who were just enjoying the brawl and hidden in a different corner sending hexes at both sides of the fight in order to keep it fairly even.

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The Fat Friar flew through the walls in search of the headmaster. Several other ghosts were searching in different directions in order to find the headmaster and any possible teachers as well. The spellwork going on in the Great Hall might have been a sight to behold, but the damage would be pretty excruciating.

Spying the headmaster he called out and sped up as much as he could "Headmaster! Headmaster Dumbledore sir!"

"Yes, do you have news from the Great Hall? Did Sirius turn up there?" Dumbledore worried, his normally twinkling eyes grave as he turned around and headed towards the ghost.

"A fight sir. Spells flying everywhere, children hiding at the table. You MUST hurry, they will hurt themselves." The ghost warned worried for his Hufflepuffs.

Dumbledore started running at the warning not sure what to make. He was worried that the children were battling Black and was scared of what possible outcome he might find. He was worried that he may already be too late.

On his run there, he met up with McGonagall who had her robes and skirts hiked up so she could run with a better ease. Sharing concerned looks they continued to run towards the Great Hall and as they passed a crossing corridor, they were joined by Proffessor Snape who was also wearing a concerned frown and panting from his run.

As the three Proffessors opened the door with a loud boom they quickly took in the scene before them. All three took note with some surprise that Harry was fighting ALONGSIDE Gryffindors, and that he was fighting his friend Ronald Weasley. The least surprised teacher was Snape, though he was very surprised at how many students were fighting, though he was ironically pleased that his snakes were ALL fighting on the same team.

"ENOUGH!!!!" Three magically-enhanced voices shouted in tandem. Whereas one voice had cause no notice within the fighters, three loud voices broke into their single-mindedness and all spells ceased. Dumbledore did not remove his enhancement as he spoke.

"LOOK AT YOU. FIGHTING AS THOUGH IT WERE ALLOWED! WHAT HAS COME OVER YOU? THERE IS NO, AND ABSOLUTELY NO FIGHTING LIKE THIS IN THIS ROOM EVER FOR ANY REASON. NOT LIKE THIS. I AM ASHAMED OF YOU... ONE AND ALL." He announced in a fury. Silence reigned and Dumbledore removed the spell on his voice.

"What reason have you for this?" Dumbledore demanded quietly with hard, flinty eyes.

No student answered him for a minute as he looked gravely around the hall. Students refused to meet his eyes and were ashamed of their actions as they looked at their fellow students.

"Proffessor." Hermione called suddenly into the oppressive silence. "He's hurt. He's hurt really badly. He's just a first year, he didn't know how to protect himself." She sobbed.

This cry, small as it was in the vast silent room spurred the proffessors into action. As the three proffessors ran further into the room and started to investigate the students, several more proffessors entered at a run. Quickly, Percy informed them to a general degree of what had transpired and the proffessors obediantly brought those that were in need to the hospital wing.

In the hospital wing Madam Pomphrey jumped from one bed to another in order to assess the very seriousness of each students welfare. All the eight beds were full and seven cots had been conjured to hold the remaining students who were unable to stand and whom it would be dangerous to leave sitting.

Helping out in the ward were Proffessors McGonagall and Snape, both furious at the students and furious they would not be able to join Proffessor Dumbledore in their tongue-lashing of the other students, and mainly the students who had started this fiasco, especially after the dangerous situation that had already been in employ from the cause of one Sirius Black, Azkaban escapee. However, neither proffessor was going to let the chance for any tongue-lashing escape them and along with Madam Pomphrey they proceeded to give a proper set-down and tongue lashing to every student who was conscious and had participated in the mornings events. The only lucky spot was that Sirius Black had NOT been found lurking anywhere in the castle, but that was the only good thing.

The total sum of students sent to the hospital wing numbered twenty-eight. Ten students were critically injured and needed the hospital wing and attention from the healer immediately. Five students had been moderately hurt but were unable to stand or help themselves and consigned to beds. Seven students were hurt with broken bones or such, but they were able to stand or sit in the corridor beside the hospital wing in wait for the Healer and her helpers to finish with the more critically injured students. The last six students had many cuts and such that needed potions to heal because of how many they were and some that were slightly deep, but they needed only potions and a moderate amount of attention and Proffessor flitwick performed this service, giving them their potions and watching them as he gave an additional tongue-lashing, for like the other two proffessors he did not want to miss out on the opportunity.

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Dumbledore regarded his gaggle of students. After the proffessors had finally finished examining and bringing those students in need of medical attention to the hospital wing, it was now time to find out the reason for this latest mess. So sorting through the rest of the students, Dumbledore sent the first years along with any student that had been at the Head Table hiding back to their dormitories with the Prefects of their houses. Given only two of the Prefects had had anythign to do with this fight, Dumbledore was grateful there was enough Prefects to send with the scared, and still slightly bewildered students. There were around fifty or sixty students left in the Hall.

The students sat in groups. Dumbledore stood at the front of the Hall and regarded them with flinty ice-blue eyes.

"So, does anyone wish to inform me what this was about?" He asked in a deceptively soft voice.

"Sir, if I may?" Percy asked. At Dumbledore's nod he continued. "I am sorry I was unable to keep them in check, they had no wish to listen to me. However I did hear what was going on. Everyone was talking about Black sir and speculating on how he entered the castle, when suddenly my brother, Ronald Weasley shouted out comments on Harry Potter's wardrobe. It started from there and I am very ashamed to say sir, my brother was the one who was the first hex." Percy's head dropped in embarassment as he acknowledged the actions of his youngest brother.

"Ronald Weasley, have you anything to say for yourself?" Dumbledore asked, still using his deceptively calm voice.

Head hanging, Ron answered in a whisper and had to repeat three times before Dumbledore heard his words. "He's wearing SLYTHERIN clothes."

"What has this to do with you?" Dumbledore asked.

"He's in my house still is he not? What respectable Gryffindor would wear THAT." Ron asked, slightly embarassed but also feeling like he was vindicated with his belief.

"And you, Mr. Potter, what have you to say for yourself?" Dumbledore asked.

"I was defending myself sir. I did not mean to wear Slytherin clothes to cause a fight or anything, but they locked me out of my room last night and Proffessor Snape allowed me to sleep in the Slytherin rooms, and Draco decided to lend me some clothes so I could return to my room and change. I never intended to do a spell and I am very sorry for what happened, but I do not see how I could have avoided it sir." Harry Potter stared Dumbledore in the eyes. Even though he knew Dumbledore was disappointed, he believed he would understand.

"You were locked out of your room? Your dormitory you mean, or Gryffindor common room?" Dumbledore asked troubled by the meaning of this.

"The dormitories sir." Harry admitted, feeling like all kinds of bad for telling the Proffessor.

"Mr. Dean Thomas, did you know of this?" Dumbledore demanded, turning his eyes to the boy.

"No sir, I would never do that." Dean answered from somewhere along Harry's side of the grouping.

"I would ask Neville Longbottom, but he is currently stuck in the Hospital wing. You, Mr. Seamus Finnigan, were you aware that Mr. Potter was being stopped from entering his rooms?" Dumbledore turned the full force of his gaze onto Seamus.

"Yes sir." Seamus admitted. "Ron recruited my help, he said..." Dumbledore cut him off.

"Just a moment. Mr. Ronald Weasley, did you know of this?" Dumbledore asked again.

"Yes sir." Ron asked turning bright red.

"I wish for Mr. Ronald Weasley, Mr. Seamus Finnigan and Mr. Harry Potter to follow me to my Office." Dumbledore announced with a solid snap. After giving instructions to the remaing Proffessors to determine who and why the students left were fighting, whether it was self-defense or some other reason, Dumbledore led the way to his office.

*AN* Sorry, bold and underlined didn't work, so had to change it a bit.

Harry: Oh my gosh, i remember that. That git was such a BLOODY prat.

Draco: He was always a prat dear. It just took you longer to notice than it did me.

Harry: Maybe.

Draco: You know it's true. Anyway, you remember what happened after you guys went to the office?

Harry: Yes. *sigh*

Draco: Why don't we tell them how you and I asked Proffessor Snape...

Harry: SHUT UP!!! We can't tell them that now! They have to wait for the next chapter! You'll ruin the surprise.

Draco: What can I say... No one likes surprises anymore, right? Please don't hesitate to answer my questions in the reviews, thanks. Anyway as I was saying before this tosser interrupted me...

Harry: I will NOT let you ruin the surprise!!! *glares*

Draco: Shut-up, you can't stop me.

Harry: Oh can't I... *jumps Draco and kisses him roughly...

Author: Sorry friends and comerades, but Harry has decided they are not to be around. Well until next time, REVIEW!!!!
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Responses
mrequecky - thanks i'm almost all better! hope u like this next chapter!

Crazy Pedantic - if i may say i hope the twins shall stay as loyal as you have been with me! I have come to the conclusion that i refuse to write another chapter without first reading your review. Not that I don't love everyone else's too, but yours are special because they have been from start to now. I very much look forward to what you have to say about my story. I had a LOT of fun coming up with rumours around the school... but i was unable to think of many that didn't have to do with sex... btw, be wary of the prophet... I'm not sure how long it's going to take, but i shall say... pictures SHALL be involved (well not quite literally, but yeah)

Madame de Coeur - you cut to my very own thoughts. I have no notion of what will happen as of yet though some inklings have leaked into my mind of course

BleedingHearts - I wish I could answer your question, but I truly do not know. I AM however thinking of maybe allowing the older version of Harry and Draco (and whoever else wants to add input) into my author's notes... depending on my reviews, how many I get and how many wish this of me. They aren't kids anymore and have been doing... naughty things and I'm sure they wouldn't OVERLY mind giving my readers a show or two... but only if my reviewers are nice of course.

Akira_Kushrenada_Merquize and EVERYONE else - thanks so much for reading my story. DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!!! (People who are not logged in may review, please leave your name, and you don't have to be registered on this site even!!)