I'm so sorry this chapter is so long I didn't realize how it was over 1400 words until like the middle of some of the dialogue and I couldn't just cut it so... sorry. Hopefully the sickly sweet fluff makes up for it though (I actually had a lot of fun writing the fluff at the end)

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Fern's Perspective-

The Slytherins stood in the common room, hearing the shouting outside. Seth sat in the corner, mumbling with Orion while most were trying to go back outside and fight them.

Tango quickly grabbed Inka's elbows before it could go outside and smack someone. The shouting slowly died down as the professors shooed everyone away, and the snakes glanced around at each other.

"So what's our plan?" Yuuko asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" A sixth year asked, confused.

Yuuko sighed and stood up, his dark eyes staring everyone down. "If anyone in this room is behind all of this, speak now or face the consequences when we find out it was you this entire time."

He looked around and no one spoke. He then nodded, walking around the room. "Are we really just going to let everyone accuse us like this? I don't care if they believe we're all evil, do you think that?"

"No." Seth snorted, leaning back. Yuuko grinned, walking over to her.

"I know you hate stereotyping, Seth. So come on! Why don't we take action?"

"Doing what?" Orion snapped.

"We're cod damn Slytherins, people! Why don't we show them how we really act. We don't just go around shouting killing spells, do we?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"We're not all evil and hate everyone who's not a pure blood. You wanna know which Slytherins do that? Those who are scared. Are we scared?!" He shouted and everyone shouted no. "So what do real Slytherins do?"

"We prank!" Grian chimed in and Yuuko fist bumped the air.

"Exactly!! We pull dumb tricks and prank! We don't have the intent to kill others, we don't always go after each other in Quidditch games! Quidditch is the best thing we have here! Why would we destroy it!"

Everyone cheered and Yuuko grinned, getting backup from his teammates and other snakes. Fern watched as people started to make plans on how to prank other houses and she snuck out.

At times, she really felt like she didn't belong in her house. This was one of those times.

She kept her hand on the railing as she hurriedly walked downstairs, not looking back. She tugged her green coat around her shoulders and tried to avoid getting any attention. Even so, she felt others staring at each other because she was a snake.

"Fern?"

She kept walking, ignoring those who spoke about her.

"Fern! Wait-!"

She hopped on the railing, sliding down and going towards the owl barn in the other tower. She heard someone following her and had a feeling it was someone from her house.

"I don't want to join in, okay?" She shouted, continuing to walk towards the other tower.

"What? What are you talking about?"

She stopped, pausing as she thought about the voice that just spoke to her. She suddenly flushed red and turned around to see Finley.

"What are you on about?" He brushed his hair out of his eyes, looking confused and out of breath.

"Oh um...nothing!" She plastered a smile on her face and Finley frowned. "I just was um...I thought you were someone else and.."

"Kept running?"

She slowly nodded and Finley looked at the wooden door behind her. "Are you heading up to the owl barn?"

"Yeah, I sometimes go there to try and get away from everyone. I don't know it's stupid, sorry."

"I do the same thing sometimes, honestly." Finley blushed softly, rubbing his hand on his red neck as he smiled. Fern blushed heavily, unable to stop her heart from racing whenever she saw him smile.

"Something's just comforting being with the owls."

"Yeah, exactly." She giggles and Finley holds the door open for them as they walk up the tower together.

"I still have that little keychain." Finley said after a minute.

"You do?" Fern looked behind her, stepping aside a bit so the Gryffindor could stroll next to her.

"Yeah, I named him Edelweiss, it's my favorite flower."

"Why did you name him after a flower?"

"Well that's what fern means, right?" He tilted his head, smiling softly as he stared into her eyes. Fern felt her breath hitch and she nodded, unable to form any words.

They arrived at the top of the tower and Fern sat down on a nearby bench that was placed under the giant window owls flew in and out of. It was currently closed because they didn't want the owls flying off at night, nor did they want stray owls coming inside.

She laid her head on her folded arms and stared out the window. The moment was more stressful than relaxing, however, mostly because Finley was doing the same thing right next to her. He rested his chin on his hand and stared out the window but glanced over at her from time to time.

"Are you still stressed from the game?" Fin asked in a soft tone.

"A bit, yeah." Fern whispered; her voice was so quiet you could barely hear her. "Everyone's mad at us and accusing us and I can barely go anywhere anymore without getting glares. I just...I wish I wasn't in Slytherin. I don't belong there anyways..."

"They put you in that house for a reason." Finley said, rubbing his hand on her back.

"But why?" Fern felt tears form in her eyes and she put her head down. "I'm not bold, I'm not clever or resourceful, and I'm failing potions right now."

Finley nodded, watching as she cried. He continued his comforting motion as the owls hooted, flying around and eating some of the bird seeds people had set out. One snowy owl was snacking on a rat they must've killed earlier.

"You know," Fin leaned in a bit, talking in a quiet tone, "Grian always told me that Slytherin's weren't just some clever, egotistical asshole. They're more than what you think."

"Yeah? Like what? Cause I certainly don't match up with any of them." Fern said, lifting her head and wiping her eyes.

Finley frowned as he saw how red they were, and he spoke in a soothing tone so as not to worry her. "Well, you're very ambitious and determined. You kept pushing to try and be my friend even when I was mean to you at first."

Fern giggled and Finley smiled, leaning in a bit closer.

"You wouldn't let me ignore you no matter what, and then you gave me those keychains. I saw you in class after you did that. I saw you eyeing me to see if I had put on that keychain. You were so determined to make amends with me, and it was really sweet."

"But that's more of a Hufflepuff thing to do..."

"Not true. Most Hufflepuffs I know are normally followers and play by the rules. You," he winked, elbowing her, "prefer to make the rules. I've seen you at times when you take control of a group project and become the leader. And you know what, you're a damn good one too. Those presentations always came out great."

"I guess, yeah."

"You guess? Look at any one of my presentation grades and tell me why yours are so much better." He grinned and she laughed. "I hate to admit it, but I'm a follower. Us Gryffindors may be brave, but I don't always have the smartest ideas and great leadership skills that you snakes do."

She smiled softly and Finley bumped shoulders with her.

"You're way more awesome than you know." He said, suddenly realizing how close they were. He blushed heavily and leaned back a bit, embarrassed. He felt Fern hold his hand and squeeze it, and he returned the gesture, smiling softly.

"Thank you...that really means a lot to me." She smiled and Finley nodded. The two made eye contact and she could feel her heart racing, unable to look away. He started to lean in again and she didn't stop him, enjoying the closeness.

Fern's eyes flickered from his eyes to his lips, and she saw him slowly nod, taking that as a green light to close the distance between them, sealing their love with a sweet kiss.