Veneficara & Depraedata: A new chapter….

Veneficara: Admittedly, it took a while.

Depraedata: Hey, but here it is!

Veneficara & Depraedata: But before we start it, we would like to thank everyone who read and reviewed this story. We really appreciate it.

Chapter 6: 'Pansy Parkinson's woes'

After last night's spectacular welcoming feast a beautiful sunny morning awaited the Hogwarts students. Many were already up early, wanting to walk around a bit & have a nice breakfast before receiving the schedules. Pansy Parkinson was not one of those. Actually, she was still in bed, mourning over the fact that her 'engagement' to Draco had been stopped because of a… a… a WEASLEY! She really couldn't wrap her head around the fact that her Drakie had chosen another. 'It must have been a love-potion' she concluded after a long night of denial and nightmares and, she thought to herself 'Of course, her Draco had not been the only candidate she had had in mind for a marriage.' She wasn't desperate for his love (or money) 'My current love is more then enough for me', she thought to herself, now satisfied that the loss of Draco had not been too terrible. Besides, he would one day grow bored with the girl, and run back to her (she hoped). At that particular moment she glanced at the shiny, antique clock that her daddy had bought for her last christmas.

'Still 5:30? But wasn't it 5:30 half an hour ago?'

Quick glance at the watch lying innocently on the floor

"8:15?! I'M LATE!!"

A couple of minutes of panicking and rushing to get ready later

Breakfasts had never been a quiet affair at Hogwarts. There was always chatter, the sounds of people eating and of course the hooting of owls. However, when Pansy Parkinson strided in, (no longer fashionably late), all chatter stopped, at least 90 of the school turned to look at her and continued to follow her with their eyes. By the time she reached her seat (with Draco miraculously absent) she felt pretty uncomfortable. It wasn't until then, that she noticed that she (in her hurry to go to the great hall) had apparently forgotten to put on her socks… and shoes… to take off her pajama… and nightcap…..
At exactly that moment the giggling started, along with the right-out laughter of the Gryffindor boys ("Still sleepy? Or did you just roll out of your new love's bed?") Gryffindor girls ("Latest fashion Parkinson? Or has daddy's money run out?") and the rest of the school (two Ravenclaw firstyears, worried "Is that lady sick? Shouldn't she be in a mental hospital or something?" Ravenclaw sixth year answering " Nah, it's not like she can do a lot of damage, she still reads Gilderoy Lockhart's books on dueling")

'How is this possible?!' she thought, confused 'I'm sure I changed my clothes, I'm sure of it!'

To the amusement of certain people Pansy Parkinson's first day at school didn't improve much: After discovering that she was not adequately dressed Pansy immediately rushed out to change, forcing her to skip breakfast. Because of that she had no idea what class she had first and because of that she arrived 45 minutes late for her first lesson: Transfiguration. 15 minutes later she left with a weeks worth of detention and negative house points for Slytherin. After Herbology (where she accidentally knocked over her professor's favorite plant, tripped over some roots and couldn't help but not know the answer to ANY question asked, up to and including "Can you hand me the shovel?") Pansy Parkinson was tired, angry at everyone in the school and a bit sad because her alarm clock was broken.

However, these feelings all dwindled down to nothingness compared to how hungry she was. After all, she was a growing girl (horizontally, that is) and needed her nourishment. If she were at home, she would have had her second lunch by now. So it was no small miracle that as soon as she had spotted the Great Hall she started to run a little, she couldn't remember reaching the Slytherin table this quickly, in all her school years. She had just settled down and taken the first bite of her ham-cheese-enormous-amount-of-mayonnaise-sandwich when she heard the commotion. Right above her head. She was just about to look up to see what in the name of Merlin was going on when Peeves decided now would be the Right Moment to dump all of his newly received Slime-in-seven-colors. Unfortunately for Pansy, she had to miss lunch: she needed to change. Hungry and a teenie-weenie bit desperate she left for her classes again.

Somewhere, in a dark part of the school, where two people accidentally had the same period off

"I must say, I have underestimated you."

"In what way?"

"Well, the alarmclock was brilliant. And so was the slime by the way."

"You did most of the magic though: she wouldn't be quite as desperate as she is now if you hadn't spelled her Pajama on again, not to forget all those spells you put on her during classes."

"Thank you for the compliment, but let's get back to the plan. Our greatest weapon is (of course) her affection for food. She will have to miss dinner too. Then we can play our trump card."

"I know, fortunately we've got that covered as well."

"Let's hope so, we can't pull this one twice. She's not that stupid."

"I know, you will just have to trust me with this one. Anything she has on Harry will be revealed tonight."

"Okay… Don't screw this up, Ginny."

"I won't, Draco."

Pansy had a very, very quiet period directly after lunch. Only the whisperings of her classmates reminded her of the fact that this was, without a doubt, the worst day of her life. Hell started the period after that. Potions. She didn't know HOW, but for some reason Snape could be more annoyed with a Slytherin of his own house then with Longbottom. Granted, thanks to her, Slytherin stood 20 points in the minus. In one day. Add to that the fact that she managed to screw up a simple pepper-up potion and when handing it in managed to drop it on top of Snape's priceless collection of ancient potion tomes. Actually, she didn't think it was that bad: only half of it burned away. It was the ridiculously long lecture afterwards (a full 35 minutes into dinner) that eventually drove her to near madness. And just when she thought she couldn't take it no more she go another stab in the back.

"Misters Weasley, Finnegan and Potter: Sleepy time's over, you'll have a chance to nap as soon as this lecture is over. For as long as you don't fall asleep on my doorstep I'm okay with it."

Anymous voice, with a suspiciously long drawl to it "Professor, you won't have to worry about them: I mean look at Pansy! It's a miracle already that she got out of bed, let alone change! If it was up to her, she'd use what is left of your priceless collection of ancient potion books as a pillow!"

A snicker followed this statement. Weasley. Another followed. But it wasn't until Pansy screeched that it wasn't true and that they would all; pay for being mean that the entire classroom burst out into unstoppable laughter. Even her potion professor Snape was risking his reputation by laughing at her, while leaning at his desk, so he wouldn't topple over. Lecture finished then.

Unsurprisingly, Pansy was the first one to reach the door. At first she had visiting the Great Hall for dinner in mind. But then she realized she propably shouldn't show her face right now. It wouldn't do her reputation any good. Unfortunately for her she didn't have a clue as to where the kitchens were. It was then that she got a brilliant idea:
'I still have some food (Belgian chocolates, to be exact) in my room! I can go there, eat, assess the damage and make a plan so my reputation won't suffer anymore damage. It's brilliant!'

With this idea, Pansy ran to the Slytherin common room (waddled is more like it), quickly went up the stairs towards her room. She was a hell of a lot happier then she had been ample minutes ago. The feeling of happiness and minor contentment however dissipated the second she checked her tiny (0.5 cubic meters) box of Belgian chocolates. It was completely empty. To make sure that what she was seeing was not an illusion she double-checked by putting her hand in the box, and even trying spells to hopefully discover their new location. Nothing worked. Just as she was about to sing the muggle song 'the swan song' to empathize that her life was now meaningless her trained nose picked up the weak scent of chocolate. Naturally she followed it, into a room she didn't recognize where an enormous box of chocolates was simply calling out to her. The collective strength of two completely cloaked people, who her foodstarved couldn't hope to recognize, stopped her from her prize.

"Not so fast." Said one of them.

"After all, those are OUR chocolates" Added the other.

"But, but… I want them!" Pansy wailed.

"Don't worry, you might get them."

"However, only if the info you give us is genuine."

Pansy in her food deprived state didn't recognize it as it was: a trap. Which was exactly what the two others had been counting upon.

"So… what is your connection to Harry Potter?" one of them asked.

"Harry Potter?" Pansy answered, faking genuine confusion.

"If you won't tell us anything, we'll unfortunately have to leave."

"And eat all those Belgian chocolates."

"Because we aren't here to waste anyone's time."

"Last of all our own."

Pansy was absolutely sure the two were bluffing. That was until both of them stood up, taking all of the chocolates with them.

"Okay, OKAY! I will tell you. But only if you DON'T TAKE MY CHOCOLATES AWAY."

Pansy was near hysterics, so they gave her a moment to regain her calm. Then she started talking:

"Ok, I know he's a Gryffindor and all, and that I'm a Slytherin, and that I'm WAY prettier, wealthier, smarter and nicer then him, but I couldn't help but feel attracted to him."

Both Draco and Ginny were loving this (and recording it at the same time, for blackmail of course).

"So I asked him to be my boyfriend last summer before the holidays…" (Ginny & Draco nearly died at this point of the conversation from overexcitement, Pansy from starvation) "but he said no… Can I have my chocolates now?"

She got them (together with a spell that erased her memory of this rather … unusual conversation) and Draco and Ginny left the girl's dorm (not wanting to be there anyway) in favour of plotting.

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