October 25th, 1:00

[headboyneville]

((OOC:  Open to Daphne ONLY.  This is taking place after another thread, but I don;t anticipate it affecting this much at all.))

Neville walked into the abandoned classroom that he had so recently used to talk to Harry, and the worries started again.  He truely hoped that tom would turn out to be on the up and up, but unlike Harry, Neville could not

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[headboyneville]

Neville did not speak for a few moments, prosessing all she had said. He knew he had to play this just right, or even this fleeting spark would go out.

"I think Voldemort killed Hermione's parents too."

"In the end, no matter how much we want to think otherwise, we care about our friends, we care about our family, and we care about ourselves. Everyone and everything else tends to be distant and unimportant. That isn't bad, that's human nature."

"I am starting to understand that the preconceptions I was given when I was sorted into Gryffindor are more than skewed. I was told that every Slytherin was an evil, manipulative person deserving of nothing but scorn. I'm starting to understand that manipulation and subtlety are as necessary as bravery and forthrightness, and that sometimes the former is better than the later."

"Which brings us to why we are here. I'm tired of it too. All of it. The war, the rift between the houses, everything."

"So, here is what I want. I would like to see the entire school on the same page. All of us, working together to make sure that Hogwarts is impenatrable. To Voldemort, his Death Eaters, as well as the Ministry, which has also shown they don't have our best interests in mind. I would like to see us relying on each other. Communincating so that we can make our seventh year safe and fun, without Voldemort or the Ministry's interferance."

"The problem is, I have no idea how to do that. I have no talent at social manipulation or subtlety. I am, in fact, too honest and forthright for my own good."

"So, Daphne, it comes to this. Are you and I on the same page, and if we are, how do we do it? How can we overcome over a thousand years of bigotry and malice? How do we get people to see beyond their parents on both sides, and start thinking for themselves?"

[malicious_dg]

Daphne listened in silence, not surprised that Longbottom thought that the Dark Lord had killed Granger's parents--although, Daphne supposed, if she was going to be on his side, she should call her Hermione. And his bit about having pre-concieved notions gave her an interesting new feeling towards Longbottom--admiration.

Of course, she supposed, he should be admired, mainly because he was the head boy of a school torn apart by hate and fear, and here he was, talking to one of his worst enemies--soon to be changed into something like (she shuddered at the thought) friends.

When he got to the part about social manipulation and subtlety, Daphne smirked. When he finished, she nodded.

"I agree with you. It's people's parents that we need them to see past. And I know that there are Slytherins who are already beginning to look beyond that--Pansy, for one. Promise I don't think was ever there to begin with. And myself, for a third. As for how to look past the parents, I'm not sure."

Daphne took a deep breath, not sure if she was actually ready to do this, but she felt she needed to. "And as for manipulatin and cunning, well, you've found your girl. I think the only one here more subtle at manipulation is Pansy, and we've already had a talk about that. I think what you need are people on both sides. I can do that, I can help." She swallowed hard. "There's another thing you should know about the Slytherins."

[headboyneville]

Neville nodded, and looked at her expectantly.

"Go ahead, Daphne. Anything you tell me here will not leave this room, you have my word on that."

[malicious_dg]

Daphne nodded, then swallowed again. She was basically about to betray her friends. Her family. And Blaise....Tracey and some of the others she didn't care about as much, but Blaise she wasn't so sure about. He reminded her of Draco, in some ways, but in others he scared her a little with his intensity.

"We're...." She opened her mouth to speak, then remembered the curse on the parchment she had signed. "Bollocks!" she practically screamed it. Fuming, she paced around the room. How could she have been so stupid? She turned back to Neville. "I can't say it. I want to." She hoped that maybe he would catch on.

[headboyneville]

Neville thought it over for a moment, using his Occlumency to find the memories he wanted. The morehe did this, the easier it became.

"If you want to tell me somthing, but are literally unable to do so, there are only two possible things happening. Either you are under a magical contract, or the effects of the Fideleus Charm. Either way, it would appear, if we combine that with your earlier statements, that the Slytherins are putting together some form of organization that needs to remain secret. Am I on to something so far? I think you might be able to nodd your head or shake it."

[malicious_dg]

Daphne nodded. "There's...." she didn't want to say anything that would incriminate her in an obvious way to Blaise. She wasn't sure what sort of hex he had put on that parchment, and didn't want to find out the hard way.

Instead she studied Neville thoughtfully for a few moments, then spoke. "How exactly did you find that out? what was in my head, I mean?"

[headboyneville]

"I honestly didn't. All I did was apply logic to everything you've said thus far. There's something you want to tell me that you can't about the Slytherins. You used the plural term, and used the word 'we're' when you started to try. That would indicate there is some sort of organization you are a part of. You also said that you 'can't' talk about it, which would indicate a literal inability to do so, either from a hex or the Fidelius charm. Now, if it is the Fidelius charm, it must be protecting what the exact nature of the organization is, rather than the organization's existence. If the Fidelius charm were protecting its existance, I wouldn't even have been able to use logic to figure out that it was there, and you would not have been able to even say 'The slytherins are doing something". If I'm correct, then I won't be able to arrive at the correct answer as to the nature of this organization no matter how hard I try. If you really want me to know it, and it is protected by the Fidelius, there are only three options."

[malicious_dg]

Daphne smirked a bit through Neville's speech and when it was done she shook her head. "Longbottom, why are you so smart about some things and seem just plain stupid about others? Granted, you're not as clumsy in Potions anymore, but still..."

She realized that what she had just said could be construed as an insult, so she changed topics. "And I believe you're right, in one of your three reasons. And i think you know which option it is out of your three you gave." She picked at a ball of lint on her school skirt before continuing. "To get back to manipulation and subtlety...since I can't talk to you about the....thing...."--she hoped saying it wouldn't make the hex Blaise had put on it all of a sudden become apparent in her--"I want to help in other ways. Manipulation, you say? Well, i think you're looking at one of the best. And I can--and want to, and will--help."

[headboyneville]

Neville smiled at Daphne.

"There's a Muggle saying from America that goes 'I use not only all the brains I have, but all that I can borrow.'"

"So, we want to end the House rivalries. We want to see Hogwarts united and strong. I can tell you who amoung the Gryff's will be amenable, and probably amoung the Ravenclaws and the 'Puffs as well, but the Slytherins are a mystery to me. Other than PAnsy, who else would like this idea?"

[malicious_dg]

Daphne gave one short, humorless laugh. "You really think anyone else will be open to this?" She shook her head. "Honestly, Long--Neville," she corrected herself, realiing that if she was to work with the man, she should at least say his name. "I don't think there's anyone else besides us. Blaise? Maybe. He...it was his....the thing," she said, hoping he would understand that Blaise had begun the LVS. "And I wondered about him, and sometimes I think he's doing it just to folow what he thinks Draco wanted him to be." she shook her head in disgust and amazement that someone would follow another's ideals so closely. "And honestly, I think that Pansy can do it, but she's fragile right now. Whatever ideas you have, Id say give her smaller ones, at least at first. She's weak right now--not an insult, but a fact," she added. "She is scared and wants to help, but at the same time still holds on to what Draco will think of her if she does this, what others will think. She wants to tell Draco."

Daphne thought for a moment, then smiled. "Promise." She said, hitting herself in the forehead. "Why did I not think of that? Promise will probably help, or be willing to. As far as I can tell, she's the only Slytherin who never had prejudices against anything. Yes, she can be vindictive against Houses, but she's more open to new ideas." She smirked. "So there you go. Your three-girl Slytherin army. Think we'll be enough?"

[headboyneville]

"Believe it or not, I think that will be more than enough."

"Together, I think you three represent the most popular Slytherins in the school, and I think you three have more sway than you are giving youself credit for."

[malicious_dg]

((OOC: GAH!! SORRY!!)

Daphne smirked at Neville. "I'm glad that YOU, at least, have faith in us." She took a deep breath and glanced his way. "I have someone else who could help us. She's been talking to Pansy lately, and...well...what about Melinda Bobbin?"

((OOC: Abs and I talked to Melinda's new player and she said she'd be interestd in the cause, now that Promise is gone))

[headboyneville]

((OOC: All good!))

"I honestly don't know much about her."