Chapter Two: The Reason.

"So, this is how it feels to be Pansy Parkinson." Adrienne muttered, rather grumpily, walking slowly down the dungeon corridors. "Why couldn't I be in Hermione Granger's body, or Ginny Weasley's or anyone else's, for that matter. Why, oh why did I have to be locked in Draco Malfoy's pet whore's body?" She wondered, sadly. Because now she knew her suspicions were right. This poor girl, this Pansy Parkinson was the silly, vain little brat that followed Malfoy around, doing his every whim and bidding. The feminine version of Crabbe and Goyle, with the subsequent requisites. Be there, do what he says. It was very sad to even think about it, let alone be there, doing it.

Adrienne wondered for how long was this going to last. It was the History of Magic's notes that morning, who knows what would come next? And if she had given it to him before, why should she refuse the next time? It would look very suspicious, but how to escape? She was thinking about it when her stomach grumbled.

I'm hungry. I wonder if there's anything left for breakfast? Where's the stupid Great Hall, anyway? She thought. She was starting to get angry, as that narrow corridor didn't seem to end.

Okay, think Adrienne. You're not this Pansy chick, so you do have brains. The Slytherin common room has been described as a dungeon common room, so everything else must be up. And so she started to climb the first staircase she walked into. Now that she came to think of it, if the Slytherin dormitories were underground, how come they had windows? Hm. Probably some kind of charm on the walls, so the students don't get mad and kill themselves. She thought, but then, she remembered she hadn't had anything to eat, and probably wasn't in the best shape to throw theories about it. Besides, it wasn't her main concern, either.

Sure enough, her upwards path ended at the Great Hall, but not before walking a bit more and turn a few corners. She almost felt sad for the Slytherins. How can they like to have such dark and underground spaces as their dwellings?

Breakfast was over. Adrienne's anger grew bigger, and she wondered whom would she have to kill to get some food in the castle. The corridors were deserted, and the only noise came from the teacher's voices behind the doors. Adrienne wandered aimlessly for a few minutes, thinking hard, when a short girl came from a sideways hall, the Hufflepuff's crest on her robes. This gave Adrienne an idea.

"Hey you!" She beckoned the girl to come nearer. The girl obeyed, looking nervously to Adrienne's Prefect badge. "You're in Hufflepuff, right?" She asked.

"Y-Yes...?" The small girl squeaked.

"Where're the kitchens? They are close to the Hufflepuff common room." Surely the house elves would supply her with food. Gladly.

"I-I can't tell you," said the little girl. Adrienne lost her patience.

"Look, if you don't tell me, I'll take fifty points from Hufflepuff." She said, fingering her badge. Finally, it was paying off to be a Prefect.

"Please don't!" Said the girl, close to tears. "The kitchens are down this corridor, turning once to the left and once to the right. There's a painting of a fruit bowl, and..."

"Yeah, yeah, you tickle the pear, I know that part. Now go to class." Adrienne said, and the girl walked away quickly, wiping her incipient tears. Adrienne went through the corridor and reached the kitchen's door. The house elves were so happy to provide her with food, that for a moment she felt guilty about causing them trouble, even if in the slightest. And when she had finished her fourth helping of bacon and fried eggs, she was feeling very sorry for that poor Hufflepuff girl she had scared the living daylights off from. She wasn't like this all the time, but considering she wasn't precisely a witch either, and that she was trapped in some sort of alternate reality, she had to take advantage of all her chances.

But why did this happen to me? What am I doing here, in this precise day, in the body of a Slytherin, and with virtually all the answers in my brain? She wondered over and over while she drank her pumpkin juice. She had never had pumpkin juice before, by the way.

Okay, today's the last day of the O.W.L.'s. Last exam, then probably a month of doing nothing. I should be studying, but I have the feeling History of Magic isn't that important. After all, the real Pansy has already done all the important exams, I shouldn't worry about that. But then what? What's left? Adrienne emptied her glass, thanked the elves and headed out, not sure about going back to Slytherin common room. She didn't know the password, anyway.

If Dumbledore was here, I'd go straight to him. He'd know what to do. Damn you, Umbridge. She thought, remembering the wicked Defence Against the Dark Arts' teacher the students had that year, and her appointing herself Headmistress upon Dumbledore's escape. But brooding on this wouldn't be of use and she knew it, so she considered the rest of her options. Snape would surely look at me like I was mad, and so would McGonagall. If she was here, that is. And Madam Pomfrey would think it's the O.W.L.'s stress. Probably the only one who'd believe me would be the Sorting Hat. She thought, half-joking. And only because it sees inside people's head. She shook her head. The Sorting Hat was unreachable, if Dumbledore wasn't in the castle. Damn you, Umbridge.

Adrienne turned around a corner and ran into a girl with bushy brown hair. Very bushy and wavy. She looked up with surprise, and her expression turned to hatred at once.

"Watch out, Parkinson." She said, and stalked away, apparently very upset. Adrienne understood perfectly. Another Prefect badge had tinkled against hers in the collision, and the symbol of the Gryffindor lion had jumped at her sight. It was Hermione Granger Now that's how her hair should look like, not those cute, Teen-beat magazine-like curls of Emma Watson, she couldn't help thinking. Adrienne felt very bad with the look she had given her. If she weren't trapped in Pansy Parkinson's body, she could have probably asked for Hermione's help. Hermione had seen such weird stuff in her life as a witchcraft student that she'd probably believe her story. And she was currently the smartest girl in all Hogwarts. She had probably already studied for their last exam, and Adrienne was sure that Harry Potter had her notes this morning. He sure was studying them the right way, not like that Malfoy cheater. Coming to think of it, Adrienne wondered how had Pansy Parkinson managed to take notes in Binns' class. His droning voice was supposed to have the effects of a Sleep Draught that only Hermione Granger could stand. Had Parkinson cheated in this one? Most likely she had.

But going back to Potter and his friend, Ron Weasley, did they even know what was waiting for them after the exam? Of course not, you silly, she said herself, but couldn't help the thoughts. Was Harry prepared to lose his grandfather? The thought of Sirius' death made Adrienne sad. That night, a good man would be dying, and there was nothing she could do about it. Or was there?

She stood in the middle of the deserted hall, pondering the thought. Was it worth it? Had she been placed in that position to save Sirius' life? The mere idea was downright crazy. Would she manage it? It was worth a try, at least. But if she was there for a reason, then this was it. No less than saving a good man's life.

But how to do it?

Adrienne put all her brains into work. She couldn't just go out and tell Harry that the Dark Lord would be trying to make him go to the Department of Mysteries, by the means of showing him his 'torturing' of Sirius. Considering how close she was to the Malfoys, they would obviously think that she was trying to prevent him from saving his godfather. And, being realistic, would he even listen? Wouldn't he rather listen to his own heart than the words of a Slytherin, who happens to be one of his worst (well, probably the second worst) enemy's cronies? Not likely, Adrienne thought. I can't do that. She said to herself.

There was Professor Snape. He was the last remaining member of the Order of the Phoenix, but sadly, Harry wouldn't remember about him. And who would, after having stumble upon such embarrassing memory, and having witnessed the rage of Severus Snape? They're not in the best terms right now, thought Adrienne.

But probably, if I let it slip to him, that Harry seems somehow, 'unbalanced', or better, that he made such a ridicule in the last exam, falling asleep and then screaming, he might be warned about it. She pondered about this plan. It was the best she had, so far. But will there be enough time? Upon leaving the Great Hall, Adrienne should have to find Professor Snape in less than five minutes, with a credible excuse, and then 'let it slip'. Would she manage it? And what was more important, would Snape hurry over to Harry before he'd crash into Umbridge's office? Because if she got wind of him breaking in, it was all lost. There was no stopping Dolores Umbridge of catching Harry in the act. Then, the youngsters would be going to the Forbidden Forest, and out to London on the thestrals, and Adrienne wanted to avoid them doing it. Somehow she didn't think Snape would care much, either. His hatred for the name Potter was beyond reasoning, and Adrienne wondered even if he'd enjoy knowing that Sirius was going to die by his hands, or rather, by his not having a hand on the matter. It wasn't a good plan, alright. But what else did she have? Only to make Harry aware of the two-side mirror he had in his trunk, to avoid him thinking about going over to Umbridge's fireplace, but how to manage it without looking suspicious?

"Hey, Parkinson." An unknown voice called from behind Adrienne. She didn't turn at once. She wasn't used to be addressed as 'Parkinson' just yet. "I'm talking to you, Pansy." The voice sounded closer, and a hand on her shoulder startled her. Adrienne jolted back to her senses, and turned around, as she realized it was her whom they were calling at.

A handsome boy was grinning to her. He seemed to be a Slytherin as well, but by the look of it, he didn't seem as mean as his housemates. Adrienne wondered who he was, and why was he in the serpent-crest house.

"Draco is looking for you. Apparently, he ran out of potion." He said, smirking. Adrienne took a moment to bring back the memories of the previous hours. And then she gasped.

"But how could he? I told him it was only ten drops..." She started saying, but the boy cut her speech.

"He didn't take it all, don't worry. Though it wouldn't be half-bad to see him go through real pain, for a change." He was still smirking. Now Adrienne really wanted to know who this stranger was. An enemy of Draco's in his own house? No honour amongst Slytherins, she thought.

"He spilled it over, after having Crabbe taking it. It seems he wants some for Goyle, too." He finished. Adrienne's face was fearful. She was supposed to be brewing the potion again? Considering she hadn't even done it once, it was no laughing matter. She put her hands on her face and moaned. The day was going seriously down.

"Nononono... First the notes, and now this. What am I supposed to do?" She said, her hands still over her face. The boy took her hands, making her jolt with surprise, and put them down.

"Don't cry. I have some of it in my room, and I'm done with it. I can give you some for him, but only if you do me a little favour." A malicious grin spread on his face. Adrienne's spirits fell to the floor. Considering what she had so far found out about Pansy's duties to Draco, she was almost sure what kind of favour was this boy going to ask. She couldn't decide what was best, to try to worm her way out of her trouble with Malfoy, or to agree to the stranger's petition. But he seemed to have read her mind.

"Don't worry, I won't ask you that. I just want to go out with you on the next Hogsmeade weekend." He said, smiling. Adrienne still didn't believe him. Did this date include...?

"How can you know what I'm thinking, anyway?" She said, finding it weird.

"Well, you could say that there's Seer blood in the Zabini family, but that would be straying from the point. I've heard Draco boasting about it..." He said. Adrienne frowned at the name

"Zabini, Zabini, what does it remind me? Oh, that Zabini! So, this is Blaise Zabini? Not half-bad, either. Should be in fifth year as well..." She strayed in her thoughts. Probably this guy was nicer than Malfoy, probably he was smarter. Why would she trust him not to go out with her just for the...?

"Boasting about it! The little weasel..." She said angrily. Blaise waited, patiently, his arms crossed over his chest.

"But wouldn't he--"

"The little weasel won't mind, don't worry. I heard him talking with Nott about an excursion to the Shrieking Shack, who knows what for. He hadn't even considered taking you out to a nice place. I expect he won't mind someone else doing it..." He said convincingly and... nicely, actually. This was new for a Slytherin, Adrienne thought. Why was this guy in Slytherin?

"Oh, okay." She felt bad for Pansy. Draco didn't even respect her enough to keep his mouth shut about her.

"Okay, like in 'I will go out with you', or like in 'I believe you. Draco won't mind me going out with you'?"

"Er..."

What was worse? To go out on a date, or to face Draco's spoiled-brat anger? The answer was self-obvious.

"Okay, I will go out with you if you help me out of this one." Adrienne said. Blaise smiled and headed to their common room, Adrienne trailing behind him. She had half-forgotten about her plans to save Sirius Black's life on the face of this new inconvenient, but she kept on thinking about it. She was trying to find a way to light the mirror option in Harry's mind.

"Dark mark." Blaise told the password to the portrait on the Slytherin common room's door, and it swung open. Draco was inside, looking very annoyed.

"Well done, Zabini. And you, go upstairs and make me more potion." He said to Adrienne. Blaise did a mocking bow and headed to the boys' staircase. Adrienne didn't know what to do. Was he going to help her at all?

"Oh, Malfoy, I was wondering. You don't need the potion for today, right? Because it takes a while to stew. If Parkinson starts right now, it'll be ready for tomorrow..." Blaise spoke from the stairs. Draco looked at him, a clear look of anger.

"Of course I need it for today! What do you think I'll use it on tomorrow? And why didn't you do more, stupid wench?" Draco slammed his fist on a table nearby, standing up. Adrienne edged away from him, but Blaise didn't seem to be bothered in defending her.

"I have some up here, do you want it?" He simply offered. Draco looked up to him and nodded, stalking up the staircase with Blaise, not even bothering in looking back to Pansy. She stood there, not knowing what to say or do, plainly astounded at the way Malfoy was used to treat Pansy. It was very, very unfair. Adrienne wondered how did the real Pansy felt about it, 'cause it was starting to annoy her, Adrienne, a huge lot.

Seeing that she was no longer needed in there, she walked out again, tears of anger welling up. Upon arriving to the corridor, she started looking for a bathroom. There should be at least one in each floor, she thought.

There was a door further on that same corridor. She pushed it open, and luckily enough, it was the girls' restrooms. It was deserted, but probably won't be for much. The first period must be about to end, she thought, as she leaned down on the sink, tears streaking down, trying to calm down. Looking up at the mirror, she saw Pansy's reflection. It sure looked very sad, and even when she wasn't at all the ugly one in the bunch, she noticed some lines under her eyes that could as well be made out from many nights without sleep. Adrienne wondered about this girl's life, and why had she taken this much from Malfoy. Or anyone else. Was it her parents' advice, to cling on the Malfoy's heir at any cost? Or was it that she really wasn't very smart? Probably she didn't really notice the alarming lack of respect from her mates, specially the boys.

But Adrienne did notice. And it was getting to her.

Calm down. You are not this Pansy chick, you can get out of this. She said to herself, wiping off the tears with her sleeve, and washing her face.

The bell rang outside, and the racket of hundreds of students coming out of class filled the previous silence. Pansy flattened her shoulder-length hair and walked out. And got lost amongst the crowd of chattering students, most of them heading to the Great Hall. It must be lunchtime, she thought.

"Gotta start doing something, if I'm supposed to be saving Sirius' life." She said to herself, pushing away the sadness.