Harry woke up the next morning in a rather classic way for someone who had just had their world flipped upside down, with no idea where he was and a minor heart attack. For a moment he blinked at the ceiling, trying to remember why he was in green room, then he rolled over and was forcibly reminded of his current plight.
Groaning The-Boy-Who-Lived turned girl sat up and rubbed his face. This was so much fun. He dragged himself out of bed and began sifting through the clothes Pansy had left out for him.
Damn it, more lacy underwear. Does she own anything normal? Harry thought dejectedly, But I don't really have a choice. Pfft, what would Pansy say if she ever realised that famous Harry Potter was wearing her underwear? I'd be dead, I don't know what they'd say anymore but I'd be dead. Very dead as I now know way more than a non-Slytherin should know.
Harry sat down at this reminder, he was a Slytherin, even if only an honorary Slytherin, but if he didn't want anyone questioning his sudden appearance he should probably act more like a Slytherin. He was probably ok when it was just the Slytherins, but he needed to be meaner around other people, or colder, or…something.
"What are you thinking about?" Pansy asked, making Harry jump as she broke into his thoughts.
"Er, I was just thinking that, you guys have done so much for me, and I'm not really doing anything to help," Harry replied, "So I was trying to work out how I could be more Slytherin. You know, to avoid suspicion?" Pansy blinked at him for a moment before laughing.
"It's not a big deal, but it's nice that your thinking about it seriously," Pansy assured him, "And it's not that hard to be Slytherin, mostly you just act like you above everyone else, treat others as though they're not worth a second thought, and be sure of yourself. In a way it's a great confidence booster."
Harry stared at the floor, he wasn't exactly brilliant at setting himself above others, though it seemed to happen a fair bit. He could probably manage that, he'd seen Draco do it often enough, the real problem would be being mean, especially to the Gryffindors who he was usually friends with.
"I'm not sure if I can do that," He mumbled, Pansy gave him an encouraging smile.
"It's not that hard, just think of someone who really pisses you off and think, 'I will prove I am better than you by acting superior and not letting you have any effect on me!' and you can throw in a maniacal laugh if you want," she added thoughtfully, "It can help get you in the right mood."
"Ok," Harry nodded, looking thoughtful, "Maybe I can do this." The biggest challenge will just be Ron and Hermione.
"Good, well your dressed, we're feeling confident, to breakfast! Before Vincent and Gregory eat everything," Pansy giggle, and Harry followed her downstairs, smiling at the girl's enthusiasm.
"What took you so long?" Blaise asked as they walked into the Common room.
"I was running over how to act Slytherin," Pansy shrugged.
"Really?" Blaise asked, turning to Harry, "Ok I got one, when you see other Slytherins it's like you're saying, 'I am a badass, and I recognise that you, too, are a badass'." He nodded solemnly at what he thought was very sound advice and Harry just snickered slightly.
Draco walked into the room just then and raised an eyebrow.
"What's going on?" he asked, Pansy was arguing with Blaise about something and Aurora was just standing there watching, looking immensely entertained.
"They're advising me on the best ways to act Slytherin," Aurora informed him, looking away from the pair to smile at him, before turning back to watch, "Or they were."
"Of course," Draco nodded, "Want to head down to breakfast?"
"Will, they be ok if we leave them?" Aurora asked concernedly.
"Well, they've yet to kill each other, I'm sure they'll be fine," Draco shrugged, heading out of the Common room. Aurora fell into step beside him as they wandered down the halls to breakfast. "Sleep well?" Draco asked casually.
"Definitely," Aurora laughed, she had a really pretty laugh, "Waking up in a bed is brilliant."
"Yes, isn't it though?" Draco laughed, he hadn't even thought of that. They were coming up to the Great Hall now and Draco schooled his features, noticing Aurora watched him as he did so he raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing," Aurora replied, but as he watched Aurora adopted a smirk similar to the one she'd had last night when teasing him and Blaise and the pair walked into the Hall looking confident and powerful.
"Hello, Aurora," Gregory greeted, "Hey Draco." Vincent nodded his acknowledgement, as he was still in the middle of chewing.
Harry again sat opposite Draco to watch the Gryffindor table. Hermione and Ron appeared to be arguing over something, Ron turned away to go back to his food and Hermione retaliated by hitting him with the book she was holding. Harry snickered quietly, causing Draco to raise an eyebrow.
"Potter's sidekicks are arguing," Harry answered, having heard Ron and Hermione termed with that before. Draco turned to look across the Hall.
"So they are, the Wiz kid himself is still missing though," He nodded. Blaise and Pansy wandered into the Great Hall now and took up their seats from the day before.
"Potter's still missing," Pansy announced, Draco raised an eyebrow and heard Aurora giggled slightly.
"Wonder where he's at," Blaise nodded, giving the still fighting couple a sceptical look, "Any idea's Draco?"
"Why should I care?" Draco shrugged. Blaise and Pansy shared a look that pissed Draco off immensely, but seemed to confuse Aurora.
"I guess it's good the lovebirds get some alone time though," Pansy pointed out, "They are so into each other, right Aurora?"
"Oh, absolutely," Aurora nodded.
"You're making this assumption on the fact that they argue a lot," Draco pointed out, "So do you and Blaise."
"Merlin Draco, that's disgusting," Blaise cut in, "That's just, no. It'd be like Potter and Granger, never gonna happen."
"I'm with Blaise, there is no way I'd every date him," Pansy nodded, "It'd be weird."
Draco rolled his eyes while Aurora raised an eyebrow at the antics. Of course, he knew that the pair were never getting together, he wasn't sure who they actually liked, he was fairly sure they did though. That was one of the reasons they were so close, they both just knew, way more than one person should know. Also amazingly good at figuring things out, damn they were annoying.
"So are you two going to be in the library again today?" Pansy asked suddenly, Draco grunted.
"I don't know, it'd probably just be easier to figure out who did it," Aurora offered thoughtfully.
"So the main suspects?" Blaise asked, everyone sat in thought for a moment, thinking over which Gryffindors could pull this off.
"Weasley twins!" They all announced together, having come to the conclusion that they were the only ones stupid enough to pull such a large scale prank.
"OK, so what do we do now that we worked that out?" Pansy asked.
"Ask the little Weasley where his brothers are," Aurora suggested, gesturing to where Ron and Hermione were now getting up from the table.
"You really want to do that?" Blaise asked, even as the little group got up from the table.
"What are they going to do so close to so many teachers?" Draco asked.
"Fair point," Blaise agreed.
They stood just outside the Great Hall and waited for the two Gryffindors to show up. It didn't take long and they were still having a hushed argument as they walked through the doors.
"Oi, Weasel," Draco called, Ron turned, looking irritated.
"What do you want Malfoy? Harry's not with us, shove off," Ron snapped, Hermione frowned at him.
"The world doesn't revolve around Potter," Aurora pointed out, in a way that made Ron seem extremely stupid for not realising it and got her an impressed look from Blaise, "Besides, we were actually wondering your idiot brothers were. Any ideas?"
"I, uh," Ron was caught off guard by the sudden attack from a girl who had seemed so shy yesterday.
"Of course not," Aurora huffed, rolling her eyes at the stupidity of him, "Don't hurt yourself. Granger, you're the brains, have you seen the idiot duo?"
"Fred and George have been going over something in the Common room all morning," Hermione snapped back, "And I don't see how any of that is you're business."
"It is because we want it to be," Draco shrugged, "Anyway, let's get out of here. This company isn't good for our reputations."
"Nice job," Blaise commended Aurora once they were out of hearing distance, "Didn't know you had it in you. You really took our advice on bored."
"Oh, absolutely, Mr Badass," Aurora laughed, Draco really liked her laugh, he walked silently along beside her as she chatted to the others, "Besides, that was more my revenge for calling me arm candy yesterday."
"Remind me to stay off you're bad side," Blaise laughed, "But that was something, hey Draco?"
"He's right, it was very impressive," Draco nodded, offering Aurora a smile. She smiled back, looking pleased with the compliment. Pansy laughed and threw her arm around Aurora.
"We can track down those two trouble makers later," she announced, "You've been through a lot, you need to relax. See ya boys!"
"Ok, you two have fun with that," Blaise replied sceptically as Pansy dragged Aurora off, then he turned to Draco, "We, my friend, need to talk."
Draco could already see his day going downhill with that one sentence. Sighing dejectedly he allowed Blaise to throw his hand over his shoulder and guide him down to the dungeons.
"Yes, I think she's cute, I did nothing to hide this, what's your point?" Blaise asked, barely with holding a sigh.
"Some really cute girl just appears out of nowhere and we've never so much as noticed her," Draco snapped, "How does that happen Blaise? How does no one notice someone like her?"
"Draco," Blaise demanded suddenly, in a very level, calm voice, "Please tell me you are not trying to come up with a conspiracy theory to explain why you're attracted to a girl? I realise you have some issues, but I have to draw the line somewhere."
"But she's messing with my head Blaise!" Draco whined, Blaise was glad they'd moved up to the dorms, rather than remaining in the Common room, Draco's image would be shattered, "Everything seems different now!"
"Just because she's made you stop think about Potter doesn't make her evil," Blaise chided, though it was having a negative effect on his betting life, "It's not going to kill you to actually have feelings about one girl."
"You are not even trying to be helpful," Draco snapped, flopping into his bed.
"Draco answer me this," Blaise questioned suddenly, "Why are we not friends with Gryffindor."
"Because it goes against our parents expectations?" Draco answered uncertainly, voice muffled by his pillow.
"Correct, now why aren't we friends with Potter?"
"Because he's a bastard you rejected me when I suggested we be friends…and he's a Gryffindor."
"Ah ha! I've got it! You're afraid of rejection!"
"I'm going to have to kill you aren't I?"
"No, because then I can't help you. Anyway, from what you've told me you didn't exactly make a good first impression. So, when he turns back up you should make friends with him!"
"Blaise," Draco said slowly, "Why would making friends with Potter be a good idea at this point in time?"
"Because, inevitably, the good guys win," Blaise said sagely, "And we are not currently supporting the good guys."
"So you saying we should turn our backs on our families, and the Dark Lord because they are 'the bad guys'?"
"Yes."
"You've been talking to Theodore again, haven't you?"
"Yes, so has everyone else, you're basically the last person we need to get on board. The way things are going, the Dark Lord losses, all our families fall apart and get bankrupt. There is no upside here."
"So you're saying we should make friends with Potter, turn on the Dark Lord, and take over our families?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Ok, I got it now. You actually want to die. You're a suicidal idiot who wants to take as many people with you as you can."
"C'mon, it's a good plan!"
"No, it's a stupid plan, and I fail do see what this has to do with…"
"Aurora?!"
"Yes, her," Draco nodded, "Pansy what are you doing here?"
"Have you two seen Aurora?" Pansy asked.
"Thought she was with you," Blaise replied, eyebrows furrowing.
"Yes well, she's not anymore and I'm worried she's gone to do something stupid!"
…Meanwhile…
Harry stalked through the halls of Hogwarts, making his way up to Gryffindor tower. He wasn't exactly sure what his plan was, but it involved a lot of threatening and two unorganised Weasleys. Fortunately for him, as he was moving up stairs he noticed the twins moving downstairs. From their talk they were heading to the kitchens, having missed breakfast. Harry followed them at a distance until they were in an abandoned corridor and the pair stopped.
"Why are you following us?" Fred demanded, turning to spot Harry.
"We are very busy people," George added, then he frowned, "You're a Slytherin."
"Honorary," Harry pointed out, pulling his wand, the twins were either too shocked to pull their wands or just didn't think it was actually necessary, "Thanks to you two."
"No way, we've never made anyone an honorary Slytherin," Fred argued, "How would we even do that?"
"Try turning them into a girl and leaving them in the dungeons," Harry suggested, then decided he should explain, "Fred and George Weasley, you snatched the Marauders map in you first year, gave it to me in my third, which was two years ago. You open the map by saying 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good' and close it by saying, 'Mischief managed.' Now guess who."
"Harry?" Both the twins gasped.
"Well done," Harry commended, "Since it took you so long you win the booby prize which is figuring out how to undo it with the threat of me using every curse I know on you if you don't work it out, or if you tell anyone. And trust me when I say I know a lot of curses."
"Right," the two red heads nodded dumbly.
"Good," Harry smiled, an immensely evil smile that freaked the two older boys out, "That was easier than expected, and make it fast."
With that he began to head back to the dungeons, feeling he had successfully dealt with the problem at hand. He could get revenge after they'd fixed it. As he was about to enter the Slytherin Common room the door flew open allowing Draco, Blaise and Pansy to come almost charging from the room. They all stopped at the sight of him and for a moment everyone just stood and blinked at each other.
"Where did you go?" Draco asked, the first to speak.
"I'm sorry, did I worry you again?" Harry asked, fighting back a smile at the irritated look Blaise was giving Draco, even if he didn't know why he was irritated, "I just went to scare the Weasley twins into doing the research for us. I'm sure they're going to be working very hard."
"Aw, she's so cute when she's being evil," Blaise cooed, throwing and arm around Harry's shoulder and smirking at Draco, "Isn't she just adorable Draco?"
Draco glared daggers at Blaise before turning back to Harry, who felt this was one of those confusing things that he just would not get.
"That probably wasn't the best move," Draco pointed out, ignoring Blaise's glare, "Those two can be real trouble, they've certainly been giving Umbridge a hard time."
"Cow," Pansy replied habitually, Harry laughed despite being slightly confused by this.
"Actually, I haven't seen her around recently," Blaise pointed out, "What's with that?"
"Don't know," Draco shrugged, "I'm sure if anything important is happening we'll find out soon enough. Or one of you two will find out and explain it to the rest of us."
"Sounds like a plan," Pansy nodded, "Wanna play chess Aurora?"
"Um, I'm not very good," Harry replied.
"That's ok, me neither," Pansy shrugged, "Which is why I never play Blaise, he's brutal."
"Ok," Harry laughed, "I'll keep that in mind."
"Well, the girls are playing, Draco, play chess with me," Blaise announced.
"Why would I do that?" Draco asked, seating himself on one of the comfier chairs.
"I guess, but on the other hand we just had that whole conversation, it'd be a nice change of pace," Blasie suggested, an evil grin on his face, "I could just go talk to the girls I suppose."
"I hate you," Draco informed the other boy, as Blaise pulled out a chess set.
"You can't hate me," he argued, "I'm awesome."
"I'm awesomer!" Pansy announced, from her seat opposite Harry, who grinned.
"Ah, but sadly I am more awesome than all of you," Harry sighed in mock sadness, Draco snickered at this and Harry winked at him.
"I am so kicking your but for that!" Pansy laughed.
"That's ok, I've already foreseen the outcome of this," He put on a voice like Professor Trelawney's, "This will end in the tragic defeat of my king and I shall be plagued for many years."
"Yeah, what's with her?" Blaise laughed, "The future isn't all doom and gloom."
"Maybe not," Pansy agreed, "But I heard if you hand in reports saying lots of stuff like that you're 'destined' to pass."
The rest of the afternoon the group mostly just sat around making little jokes and laughing like good friends. Harry paused for a moment as he realised he really did consider these three, and some of the other Slytherin's his friends. He frowned as he turned this thought over in his head.
"Hey, what's up?" Draco asked, turning from the small argument Blaise and Pansy were having with Theodore Nott, who had just joined them.
"Oh, I was just thinking, we'd never really talked until this happened, I hardly even knew anything about you guys," Harry replied, watching Draco's confused expression with a weak smile, "So, isn't there the possibility that, once this is solved, we'll go back to never talking?"
"I doubt it," Draco replied seriously, for which Harry was grateful, "Blaise and Pansy seem convinced that no matter what happens they're forcing you to remain friends with us."
"What if I'm a Gryffindor?" Harry pointed out, Draco looked deep in thought.
"Well, would you want to keep hanging out with us?" Draco asked, eyebrows furrowed as he thought.
"Definitely," Harry nodded, "Though I didn't think much of you before, you're all really nice and, even if it is causing a few problems, I'm glad I got to hang out with you."
"Then we'll keep hanging out," Draco shrugged, then smirked and winked, "Even if you're a Gryffindor."
"Thanks," Harry smiled at him. He still doubted they would actually stay friends, there was a bit more in the way than just houses.
"Ok, well, I'm starved," Blaise announced suddenly, "Let's head to dinner."
"Good plan," Draco agreed, "You coming Theodore?"
"Yeah, might as well, I think I'd like to spend some more time with the honorary Slytherin," Theodore replied with a smile, Harry smiled back at him before turning around.
"Vincent, Gregory, we're heading down to the Great Hall," he called. Vincent and Gregory both looked up from their game of exploding snap before wandering over to the group. The Slytherins all headed downstairs, chatting happily.
In the Great Hall they all took their seats at the Slytherin table and Harry looked over to see the twins in deep conversation over pieces of parchment and even a couple of books. Fred looked up and Harry raised an eyebrow as their eyes met, Fred's eyes fell back down to the table almost immediately. Dinner continued as normal until McGonagall stood up and called for quiet.
"Due to circumstances beyond our control," McGonagall announced in a hard voice, Harry assumed these 'circumstances' had something to do with Umbridge, "Monday's classes have been cancelled. All homework is to be turned in during your next class, and classes shall return to normal on Tuesday. Thank you."
"Recon that's got something to do with the lack of Umbridge siting's?" Pansy asked.
"Probably," Harry nodded, "But an extra day without classes, that's pretty good."
"Yep, another day for slacking off!" Blaise agreed, stretching out in his chair, "Life is pretty good."
"Life is going pretty well at the moment," Theodore replied.
Draco just rolled his eyes at the predictableness that was his friends when they were relaxed. Aurora smiled at all of them, but she still had that kind of sad look in her eyes, like she believed this was all just going to disappear once she got her mess cleaned up. Draco tapped her foot with his under the table to get her attention, she looked at him in surprise and he raised an eyebrow. Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment before she seemed to catch on, she shook her head and gave him a kind smile and a shrug before turning back to the rest of the group, laughing along to some joke Blaise had just made.
Draco frowned, she was kind of odd. She never really did what he expected, going after the Weasley twins for one thing, most would consider that a suicide mission. Maybe she was a Gryffindor, that level of stupidity, but she'd proved she also had a cruel side, when she wanted, even if it was only for revenge. He kind of wished he'd met her last year, then he could have taken her to the Yule ball, that would've been nice. He'd learnt a little about her, she was determined and hardworking but liked free time, she wasn't very good at chess, she was friendly and seemed very loyal. Still, he'd like to get to know her a little more, especially if she was convincing herself that this wouldn't last.
"Do you play Quidditch?" Draco asked suddenly, Harry's face lit up.
"Well, I'm not on a team," he replied, "But I'm a pretty decent Seeker."
"Cool, do you want to come to Quidditch practice tomorrow?" Draco offered.
"Can I?" Harry asked excitedly, he'd missed flying so bad, though it was technically Draco's fault he wasn't on the team anymore, "Won't I get in the way?"
"Nah, it'll be fine," Draco assured, "Especially if you can play Seeker, 'cause that way I can practise with you."
"That'd be absolutely brilliant!" Harry announced, "I haven't flown in ages! I'm going to have to borrow a broom though."
"No problem, it'll be fine," Draco smiled, it'd be fun to have some competition at practise, "But you're going to have to get up early."
"That's fine," Aurora nodded, eyes all lit up at the idea. She's kind of adorable, Draco thought idly, Merlin I'm glad Blaise doesn't know Legilimancy. He looked over to his friend, who was smirking at him with a look of 'I know exactly what you're thinking and I have every intention to hold it over your head.' Damn, maybe he does, Draco thought, I should look into Occlumency.