The soft sound of slippers could be heard crossing the Gryffindor Common Room at about 11:50pm that night. The slippers belonged to a certain Miss Gabrielle Watson who was using her Prefect powers to her advantage again. The common room was strangely quiet, the fire that had been crackling merrily in the grate hours ago was now almost extingushed. It was strange to be in the Common Room when there was no one else about - most of the time it would be so loud and cheerful.

A hand ran through her hair as she slipped past some papers without ruffling them. Pausing, she stepped back and picked one up which was dated as today. Frowning slightly, she read the title and sighed; MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT MINISTRY OF MAGIC. It was a dreadful thing to happen, and everyone was getting so paranoid again. Rumors suggested Professer Dumbledore knew exactly who was behind these strange things, but no one had asked him about it.

Crawling through the entrance to the Common Room, her dressing gown brushed against the brick as she left the common room. The Fat Lady had been awoken having to open to let her out, and she could sense the portraits eyes on her all the way to the end of the corridor. Gabby was a Prefect, and when she went on her night-time wanderings the Fat Lady got severely irritated. She hadn't snitched on Gabrielle yet, thank-god. Gabby wouldn't be able to stand her Prefect Powers and position taken away from her.

Ten minutes later, and Gabby had reached the Grand Staircase and she was now in the Entrance Hall. She'd been forced to hide several times from the ghosts and other prefects that patrolled the corridors at night. Even if she was caught she'd use her prefect excuse like every other time. It was an extreme wonder that she hadn't been stripped of her powers yet.

Sliding through a hidden tapestry, Gabby emeraged into the Kitchens corridor. A smile decorated her features as she quietly walked up to the picture of the fruit and tickled the Green Pear. It giggled, quite loudly, and transformed into a handle for her to push. Once she'd done that, the portrait swung open to reveal the Kitchens. Another smile appeared, and she stepped through to be instantly swarmed by House Elves.

Gabrielle laughed once the door had swung shut behind her. The elves had always made Gabby laugh, and they were such sweet, friendly creatures. Gabrielle could not bare House Elves being used for families, she wanted them to be free but it was such a silly suggestion she had never mentioned it in case she was told off by her mother. Which she could see happening.

'What do you want, Miss?' a voice squeaked from near her foot. She looked down to spot one of her favourite Elves that loved to help her out everytime she visited the Kitchens. 'My usual, please,' she replied, and he hurried off to get what she normally had. Another elf took her hand and pratically dragged her across to the stools where she was seated. They loved to serve and help students - another thing that Gabby found quite delightful.

A couple of minutes passed by, and she was finally handed her biscuits and hot chocolate. She smiled and said 'Thanks,' and the House Elves bustled off to continue from where they had left off. Probably cooking breakfast, or cleaning. Or something like that. Taking a sip, she also took a bite of her biscuit and savoured the taste. She had loved hot chocolate since a small child, and it was a taste she had always loved.

The clock in the Kitchen chimed loudly, twelve chimes sounded meaning it was now Midnight. The House Elves worked quicker than ever, aware that a new morning was approaching. In another seven hours, yeah, but the House Elves were too much of work-lovers to pay attention to details like that.

She took another long sip of her hot chocolate, concious of the time slipping away like water through hands. Her free hand ran through her hair as she studied the House Elves as they worked. One day she would help free the House Elves from what Gabby called 'slavery'. When, she had no idea, but the Elves seemed to provide comfort for Gabby. Very unusual for a witch, but there you go.

Watson!

The sound of a book hitting the floor made Gabby come back to her sense. Sitting up properly, her face alert, she looked towards the Kitchen door and saw Snape. She'd jumped at his voice, and she couldn't deny it. The House Elves looked up anxiously at the source of the noise and once they'd realised it was just Snape they went back to their work.

'Snape,' Gabrielle replied coolly. Of course, seeing him had just ruined her night but whatever. She couldn't have everything in the world. 'So what brings you down here this lovely evening?' she asked, out of general curiosty. 'Oh, my mistake, not so lovely now you're here.' She smirked.

Gabrielle wasn't this mean towards Slytherins normally, but Snape she just d. She sympathised for him of course, the bullying of the Marauders was defiantly out of the question and Gabby despised them for it. They had no right to bully Snape - sure, he was a freak that got on everyones nerves but still.

Couldn't she go one day without running into someone she did not like and having an arguement? Durh, of course she couldn't. Everyone always seemed to be arguing with Gabby, though it was generally just the Slytherins. All the other Houses she got on with perfectly well - it was just the Slytherins with whom she didn't.

Congratulations, Watson. You've mastered the concept of generic, circumstanceless insults. And none of your business. I've just as much right to be here as you.
Gabby raised an eyebrow in suprise, wow she knew he had missed dinner that night but she didn't know he was that hungry. 'I have two things to say; One, you've learnt some big words! And two, I wasn't stopping you from being here.'

Well, technically she had just insulted him when she first saw him but she wasn't going to remind him. She rolled her eyes and turned back towards her biscuits and hot chocolate. She slowly finished her drink and the house elf appeared by her waist again. 'Would you like another, miss?' she asked in their high pitched voice. 'Ohh yes please, if you can,' Gabby replied with a small smile.

She just about heard what Snape asked for in the background, and she had nothing against it. In fact, thats what she had most nights - cocoa. And she would normally just ask the House Elves for whatever was available.

Gabby's comeback was pretty rubbish, and she knew it. Fortuantly for Severus she was too tired to think of an insult to throw back at him. Unfortuantly for her she was too tired to be aware of what he was doing. Although she did watch him as he placed his book on the table - opened it and then closed it again.

It was pretty obvious that he had forgotten a quill, Gabby shook her head slightly and turned back around, seeing the House Elf standing there holding her hot chocolate, and some cakes. She raised an eyebrow in suprise, they were certainly willing to give food away tonight. She thanked the House Elf and took the food, setting it on the table and took a bite of the savoury cake.

Gabrielle remembered him ordering; Whatever's around, so they must of thought that applied to her as well. Ah well, she was going to order some cakes next anyway. She took a sip of her hot chocolate and spun around on her stool to face Severus who was some tables away from her. Gabby's back was leaning against the counter, and she could easily spin back round and take another cake if she wanted too.

'Soo,' she said, taking a sip of her hot chocolate. The mug in her hands warmed them, so she clapsed both hands over the mug, enjoying the heat that came from it. 'Hows life?' she asked. And then realised she was being civil with a Slytherin. My, she must of been tired.

She knew she shouldn't be nice to him. The conversation she had had with Lily by the Lake came flooding back to her and she was instantly angry again. She detested him again now, with a vegence. He'd called her best friend a Mudblood for crying out loud. A few civil words wouldn't hurt though, she decided.

She shrugged, 'Boring but i'll live.' And she did not say anymore. She had better things to do, she decided. Although she wouldn't let her time in the Kitchen be ruined by him. She loved the kitchens, Gabby had always thought the House Elves were so friendly - forced too or natural they were still friendly anyway.

Her hands clasped once more round the mug as she raised it to her mouth and took a sip. She spun around on her stool to once more to be facing the counter. Placing the warm mug onto the side, her hand reached out for the cake and her mouth bit onto it again. The beautiful smell filled her nose and when she had finished eating it she called out to a House Elf rushing past; 'You guys are good cooks,' he bowed done low and hurried away looking rather pleased with himself.

She took another cake and looked round when the portrait door swung open and another House Elf entered. Ah, yes, the House Elves cleaned the dorms and whole castle when the student population were asleep.