Cardcaptor Pandora
Episode XX
A Switch For Quidditch

Pandora thought her brother would never get over the trauma of Valentine's Day, though she had to admit, it was for good reason. But even Harry had been acting awfully strange, and she didn't know what that was about. He seemed more distant if nothing else, and had become increasingly more wary of where Persephone was if they ever might be in the same room. It didn't really add up, but he was strange that way. Besides, a deciding Quidditch game was coming up. Slytherin would be going to the final round as it was, but if Gryffindor didn't win against them on Saturday, they wouldn't have another chance that year. It was plenty more of a reason for Harry to worry.

As for Pansy, they found a sort of hidden passageway with various rooms beginning in the dungeons area, far away from any ray of sunlight. Thank goodness for the Marauder's Map. Pandora felt sort of bad about banning her down there, but if she was going to start interfering with her cardcaptoring (and with Rangi's help, no less!), then something had to be done. Rangi promised that he would go see her as much as he could. Pandora was beginning to think that Rangi had a crush on Pansy or something. He claimed it was only because it gave him someone to talk to during the day. A likely story. Still, Pansy looked like she could use the company.

But on that particular evening, after all the classes were over, one hard Quidditch practice was about to take place. Pandora went to watch the practice. To be honest, she wanted to make the Quidditch team some day, but she would have to be a lot better on her broom first. Ron also came, and for much the same reason. He vowed to be on the Quidditch team before he left Hogwarts. Besides, Hermione and he had gotten in a fight earlier about something not very important, which was somehow sparked after she had received a letter from Victor Krum.

Unfortunately, the Gryffindor Quidditch team was greeted with quite an unpleasant surprise. The Slytherin team was also planning a practice there at the exact same time. Apparently there had been a mixup in the sign-up for times. One couldn't even tell the other that they got there first, it was at the exact same time. To solve the problem, Madam Hooch came onto the field and said that the first Seeker to touch the hand of the person standing in the middle of the field starting from their own side would win the stadium for their team's practice. She would have let them fight over a snitch, but that would take too long.

Ron spoke up immediately as he always did whenever he had a chance (however so often it may backfire) to make Draco look foolish and said, Ha ha, Malfoy! Just give it up now! You know Harry's Firebolt is twenty times faster than your broomstick! He's a better Seeker too! At least he didn't have to buy his way onto the team.

Madam Hooch managed to block Draco from getting to Ron with enough momentum to do much damage, then she said, And you, Mr. Weasley, have the privilege of standing in the center of the field with your hand in the air.

he cried. You've got to be kidding! Certain death awaits a person who stands in the middle of two bloody fast Seekers! Well... at least one bloody fast and the other a bloody mean one who certainly wouldn't mind causing a bit of bodily harm to me...

Then maybe you should have thought of that before you started spouting whatever first came into your head without properly processing it first. Now get to the center. Seekers, to your positions.

As soon as all were in their positions, Madam Hooch blew the whistle, and off they went. Pandora crossed her fingers in hopes of helping Harry move just a little faster, though she did feel somewhat guilty about wishing against her own brother. She could see Ron holding his breath. She didn't blame him at all, it would be just a little scary to be between those two, and she knew already that it probably wasn't going to end well.

But suddenly, as she watched, somehow to her own eyes everything began to move slower, and she saw things that she wasn't sure they were really there. Draco was closer, and gaining. Indeed, he was just about to reach out and hit Ron's hand when there was some sort of flash of light, though Pandora couldn't say if it was really there or if it was some trick of the sun, except there almost seemed to be a face there... In any case, when she snapped out of the slow-motion phase her mind had slipped into, she saw both her brother and Ron sprawled out on the ground, unconscious.

Oh, dear! How do so many people get hurt for the sake of Quidditch and it's not even a game yet? Madam Hooch shook her head and then charmed them so that they floated in front of her. I am going to take these two to the Hospital Wing. True, the Slytherin Seeker did reach the goal first, but he wasn't supposed to plow him under either. Therefore, Slytherin is disqualified for this practice time, and it goes to Gryffindor. She walked off quickly with the two invalids, not wanting to stick around to listen to all the Slytherin whining. After a few more minutes, they all went away sulking and glaring at the Gryffindor team, vowing that they would beat them on Saturday.

Harry was not ready to practice now though. He was very worried about Ron, even though he knew that Madam Pomfrey would be able to fix everything just fine. Don't worry, Pandora said to him gently, then kissed him on the cheek. He'll be alright.

I know. But still...

Would you feel better if I went to check on them?

He smiled and nodded. I would.

Fine then. I'll be back whenever I know anything more.
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Pomfrey had set them in the same room of the Hospital Wing. She had a few other patients to attend to, and had already done what she needed to with them. She allowed Pandora to sit with them until they woke up, which Madam Pomfrey said should be any minute.

Draco stirred first, and Pandora rushed to his side, anxious for him to wake up. Dray, are you okay?

What the bloody hell...? he mumbled with a little more inflection than he usually bothered to put in his droning voice.

Dray, you really shouldn't say things like that you know, she said with a light laugh.

Why are you calling me Dray,' Pandora? he said in a strange voice as he opened up his bleary eyes to her.

I... I always call you Dray... Unless you're in a bad mood and you'd rather me call you Draco...

He stared at her nervously for a second, then grinned and stared up at the ceiling. You just think you're being funny, don't you. Well you're not. I can see straight through you, you stupid Malfoy!

Draco... but you're a stupid Malfoy' too, if you're going to be that way about it, though I don't know why you would be.

I am not, Pandora! I'm Ron Weasley! You know that...

Pandora's jaw dropped and she stared at Draco... or it appeared... in a state of complete confusion. If... if you're Ron, then who's lying in that bed over there? she asked, pointing to the bed next to him where bright red hair stuck up on its end above the pillow.

Draco/Ron jumped out of bed, obviously not feeling any further side-effects from the earlier incident, and hurried over to the other bed. He leaned over to see the face clearly, and sure enough, it was what was supposed to be his own. What the...?!

Just then the redheaded Ron stirred and opened one eye up to see Draco/Ron. He scowled at it and closed his eye again. This is some screwed up dream, said Ron in a Draco-ish tone.

It's not a dream, Malfoy, get up! We've got to get back to our own bodies, because I'm going to die if I have to spend the night in Slytherin House!

Pandora listened and watched as the two of them talked (or fought rather) about what they should do, remembering the light and the face that she saw just before they collided. She closed her eyes and stretched out with her senses. It was as she suspected. The doings of a Hogwarts Card.

But now how was she supposed to explain that to Ron and Draco? She would have to make something up, but she most certainly could not tell them the truth about what happened. More than anything, though, she had to keep them from telling any professors. They would have to stay that way until she could catch the card and fix them.

That's it! I'm going to tell Madam Pomfrey what happened right now! said Draco in Ron's body.

((From now on, if I say I'm referring to Draco in Ron's body, and if I say I'm referring to Ron in Draco's body. Now that that's cleared up....))

Pandora cried, grabbing his arm and pushing him back onto the bed. You can't do that, Dray! You'll... you'll...

Draco glared at her, which still looked remarkable Draco-ish even through Ron's eyes. Well...? Out with it, Pandora!

If the professors know, then everyone will find out sooner or later, and then there goes your reputation even more than it was before! You wouldn't want that now, would you?

If I tell the professors they can fix it!

Dray, wait! Give me a chance... give me two days. If I haven't figured it out in two days, then you can tell.

He sighed and shook his head. I don't know why you think you have a chance of solving this, but whatever. I promise I won't tell.

What about you, Ron?

Ron distorted Draco's face into ideal patheticism. Alright... if I have to... but I really am not looking forward to sleeping in Slytherin House...
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Perhaps one of the worst parts for both of them was having to hang out with the other person's friends. Pandora let Harry in on what had happened, because she knew that Draco wouldn't be able to fake it very well and that Harry would figure something was up sooner or later. But Crabbe and Goyle didn't have the faintest idea that anything was different. In fact, Ron seemed to rather enjoy pretending to be Malfoy and being a jerk to basically everyone in general just to mock the way Draco was. He was quite good at it, though he thought he might be over exaggerating it just a bit. But his hard work paid off when the owls dropped in and he got a nice package of sweets from his mother. Draco was livid.

But Draco was even more livid about something else. The big Quidditch game was the next day, and if Pandora didn't have the two of them fixed, then Ron Weasley was going to be Slytherin's Seeker. That wouldn't work by the way, obviously... or so he thought. Of course he could never have guessed the extra trouble that Ron was going to get Draco-self into.

It was Friday morning, and Ron really didn't want to sit around with Crabbe and Goyle at Slytherin table, so he got up with some excuse about having to steal homework from someone intelligent and wandered off. He went into the dungeons, for no other reason than he felt he could really hide from the rest of the world there. Then he remembered a certain passage that he, Harry, and Herm-... um... yeah, her.... had found the year before during their random searches. No one else knew about it as far as he knew, except for the twins but they would have better places to be. He found the secret entrance to it, and off he went.

Imagine his surprise when, while wandering down the supposed lonely corridor, something jumped out from behind a pillar, threw him to the floor, and he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck as the person bent over him like he was a slab of meat and they hadn't eaten in weeks.

The pain stopped abruptly, and he heard the person take a quick breath in as if they were startled by something. It moved and sat up, then stared right down at him. He couldn't see the face clearly enough, but by the shape of that body, he could tell (quite well) that it was a female.

she breathed, what light there was flashing off of her fangs in the dim corridor.

Ron almost had forgotten who he was supposed to be, which tends to happen to someone who is pretending and suddenly finds himself facing possible death. He could just imagine what Mum's clock at home said, though he wasn't sure if that thing tracked his body or... well... him. If it tracked his body, he really needed to get it back from Draco as soon as possible. But anyway, out of Ron's mind and back to the story...

The girl rushed at him again, this time cupping his face in her hands and planting the most wonderful kiss on his trembling lips. I'm so sorry... please... are you alright...? I never meant to hurt you... please... I'm sorry...

I... I'm fine... just surprised... he said, trying to slip back into Draco-tone, but failing miserably. Um... who are you...? I can't see well in this light...

You... can't tell...? she asked, her voice sounding at once meeker. This is Pansy...

Pansy Parkinson?! he said, slipping back into Ron-mode. But I thought you quit school or something...

I did, Draco Malfoy, and it was your fault! she shouted, her eyes flashing along with her fangs, which made him once again fear for his life. It was your broken promise that forced me into the Deatheaters, and because of them I was forced to leave school and seek shelter in the forest, and it was there that I was turned into this... this... She fell to her knees sobbing.

Ron bit his lip, not entirely sure what to do, considering he didn't have the faintest idea of what in the world Pansy was talking about. What was worse, he had never noticed how incredibly attractive she was. Probably because Hermione's whining about her always made him automatically think she was just another hideous Slytherin, but it wasn't so. And there she was crying, honestly, the girl had feelings! He couldn't help but feel horrible for being the cause of her tears, though technically they seemed to date back to something completely out of his hands. So he did the only thing he could think of to comfort her at the moment. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him.

Sh... don't worry, Pansy... everything will be alright... I'm here...

She stopped crying and sat against him, motionless. You act like you care, Draco. I know better than that.

Of course I care, Pansy! Oh, he did. Too bad he wasn't really Draco Malfoy.

Her eyes lit up and she threw her arms around him. I knew you'd come back around, Draco, I did! Oh, I'm so happy! I think I can even deal with being a vampire as long as you're here too! And she gave him another kiss, a little more advanced than the first.

They carried on for quite a while that way, talking and kissing, when Pansy mentioned something about classes, and Ron realized he was incredibly late. So with one last three-minute kiss, he left promising to return later that night.

Meanwhile, Pandora had managed to find the card with the help of Rangi and Mini-Helga, because it was the Hufflepuff Switch Card. It was rather easy to capture, especially with the enlisted help of Sydney. The card was rather taken with her, thus making it an easy target for Pandora.

Unfortunately, capturing the card proved to be one of the easier parts of solving the problem. She found out from Rangi that the only way to undo what had been done was to have Draco and Ron collide once again in much the same manner. To make matters worse, it had to happen that day within ten minutes of the same time that it had happened on the original day ((I do hope that that made sense...)). When she began to try to work out the schedule, she realized that Ron would be playing Seeker for Slytherin team at the exact moment she would be needing him. She couldn't wait for another day though, or Draco would tell the professors, and she could not let them find out about the Hogwarts Cards. She would have to get in touch with her Slytherin side and do something sneaky.
*********************************************************

Ron stared down over the field, his mind rushing with a thousand thoughts. Here he was, wearing the green Slytherin Quidditch uniform, about to attempt to win the game for them, if he could go through with it. He almost hoped a bludger would knock him off his broom. There he was, perfectly capable of staying out of the way and letting Harry get the snitch for Gryffindor as was the original plan, but things had changed now. Pansy was in the audience, beneath a thick black cloak so that the sun couldn't touch her. She was watching him. She wanted him to win, and to be quite honest, he wanted half a chance to prove that he was a decent Seeker himself. But how could he bring himself to actually do it? He had once again gotten himself into quite a dilemma.

What was worse, Harry seemed rather distracted about something himself. It was going to be hard enough for Ron to pretend to not see the snitch when he was trying to show off for Pansy, but if Harry wasn't going to be at topnotch performance level, then everything was not going to end well.

Pandora watched how the game proceeded nervously, standing right next to Draco who obviously had to sit in the Gryffindor stands and wasn't enjoying himself. She kept looking nervously at her watch. Three more minutes... she whispered.

Three more minutes until what? Draco asked grumpily.

Oh, uh... nothing Dray! I mean... Ron! Just trying to... well... make sure I take my medicine on time!

He didn't even bother to respond, just returned his dull gaze to the Quidditch field and continued cursing the name of Weasley.

It was exactly three minutes later when Pandora saw Ron's attention snap, and suddenly he was in a dive. She was rather amazed to even think that he would want to win the game for Slytherin, even if he did want to have a chance to play some. Draco wasn't upset about it though. Pandora actually heard him say Go Weasley! under his breath. But she couldn't concern herself with those little details at the moment. She had ten minutes in which to protect her secret and save Ron and Draco from eternal embarrassment.

She walked away from the stands and stood off to the side at the foot of them, away from anyone that might watch her work. Wind Card, I call you to carry with you Switch, and to guide that boy on his broom to my brother in Ron Weasley's body. Crash him the real Ron Weasley into the stands with enough force to send them back where they belong! Release!

It started out not being as successful as she would have hoped. Though Wind was able to push Ron off his track, it also blew Harry off as well, making the Snitch lost once again. Then she thought he would never be blown the right direction, and for a while he was being tossed around so much she feared he would fall. But as her time ran ever closer, he slowly progressed towards the stands until finally he slammed into them, right into Draco. By the time Pandora ran up there to check on them, a crowd had gathered around them. Both had passed out.
**************************************************

Harry sat nervously in the waiting area of the Hospital Wing, anxious to hear what would happen when Ron and Draco woke up. They had been out for a very long time, for the sun had already gone down. After winning the game for Gryffindor (considering Slytherin didn't even have a Seeker to catch the Snitch after the supposed Draco had been injured), he had gone straight there and hadn't left all day. He was beginning to worry that something more serious might have happened, when the door opened (unfortunately not from their room) and in walked Persephone Avaran. There they were, alone in the room together, and he had been trying so hard to avoid her.

I suppose they're not awake yet, she said, sounding rather bored with the entire situation, or completely apathetic.

No, not yet, Harry answered, staring straight ahead.

She moved towards him and sat right next to him on the couch. I'm sure they'll both be fine. That card is rather weak, just annoying.

He nodded, then said, I noticed that you haven't been trying as hard lately to capture as many cards. Is there a reason for that?

She was silent and stared at the floor, until she finally answered. There's a reason for everything, isn't there, Potter? There's a reason you lived, there's a reason I haven't been killed yet. It is unfortunate that reasons are often impossible to find. Especially when it comes to the reason of my love for you.



The door opened and they both started slightly as Madam Pomfrey opened the door and said that they could both come in. Harry had to admit that he was rather glad to see that Pandora wasn't there at that moment, though he couldn't say why.

He walked straight over to Ron and, after making sure the Pomfrey was significantly out of earshot, said, Ron, is that really you?

Yeah, it's me... Never let me be Draco Malfoy again, Harry. It's bloody hell, it really is...

Speak for yourself! Draco retorted from the other bed with Persephone sitting next to him silently. Thank God it's back to normal, and no thanks to that blasted sister of mine. Where is Pandora anyway, Harry? She's your girlfriend, you should know. Persephone seemed to stiffen slightly, but sat up next to her and wrapped his arms around her as he waited a response.

I don't know, she probably had something else important to do. I'm sure she'll be pleased to know that you're back to normal though, Harry answered, just wanting to get away from the subject. He didn't know why it made him so uncomfortable. There were a lot of things that didn't have reasons.
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That evening, Pansy managed to catch Draco by himself after dinner and beckoned him over into a corner so that they wouldn't arouse curiosity. She was supposed to be banned from school, after all, and she still wore her Dementorish cloak. None of that mattered though. All she cared about was that Draco seemed to have feelings for her once again.

What do you want, and who are you? he asked shortly as they found a dark, lonely place.

What do you mean? she asked with a wide grin as she pulled the hood back.

Draco gasped and stepped back. Pansy! You're not even supposed to be at school... and what's wrong with your teeth? His eyes grew bigger, and suddenly he had an answer to why there were to small punctures in his neck. You... you freak...

Pansy staggered backwards until she hit the wall. What... what do you mean? Yesterday... last night... you said you cared about me. You wanted me to see you... What kind of sick joke are you playing on me, Draco Malfoy! Tell me now, because I can't take much more of this! she cried, fresh tears coming to her eyes.

Whatever I said last night was not coming from me, I assure you, he said darkly. Because our relationship still stands the same now as it did one month ago. You are nothing to me. He turned his back to her and walked away.
*********************************************

Both of you really are being awfully quiet, Hermione said, eyeing Harry and Ron suspiciously. Are you up to something that I need to know about?

Harry forced a smile and said, No, Hermione, we're never up to anything, and if we were, you'd know all about it whether we wanted you to know or not. You see, we're aware of this by now, so that's why we don't try to keep secrets from you anymore.

She smiled and rolled her eyes, then turned to Ron. He sat picking at his food and staring into the distance as if she hadn't spoken a word. Ron, are you okay? You look like you still might be sick or something.

I'm fine, he mumbled, but suddenly was distracted by something moving swiftly through the shadows along the wall of the Great Hall. Judging by the cloak it was wearing, he was pretty sure he knew what it was, and then wondered why she was in such a hurry to leave. I'll be back, he said and ran off before anyone could question him.

They were almost to the dungeons by the time he caught up with her. Pansy, wait! he called.

She turned and looked at him, an expression of surprise, anger, and despair on her face all at once. What do you want, Weasley? she asked with venom in her voice.

He stopped, realizing all too late that he had made a serious mistake. He wasn't the one she wanted to pursue her. He wasn't Draco Malfoy. You... just haven't been at school lately... and I was worried about you... especially when you looked so upset...

You never cared about me, Weasley, why would you start now?

He swallowed and looked nervously about him. You know, there's no rule that says we have to hate eachother just because you're a Slytherin and I'm a Gryffindor.

She watched him like she might pounce. You talk as if you were the one who said he cared about me last night... as if...

Maybe I was.

She narrowed her eyes and turned quickly around, storming off into the dungeons.

Pansy, wait! Let me talk to you, please!

Go away, Weasley. I had my joke and now Draco's had his. I don't know what part you played in it, but it doesn't matter anymore.

He wanted to follow her, but didn't know what good it would do. Instead he returned to the Great Hall, feeling more dejected than he did when he was willing to win the Quidditch game for Slytherin just to see Pansy smile at him.

((Segev: Yeah, I don't like those kind of fics either, but a long time ago I promised someone I'd write one for them because they won a contest and they wanted a yaoi Harry/Draco. So, being the little Slytherin that I am, I worked my way around it the best I could and came up with that humorous acid trip of a fic. I hope you enjoyed it well enough! ^_^;; ))

((For a picture of vampire Pansy and her kitty which I haven't written about yet but will go here:
http://sailorxenex.diaryland.com/images/pansyvamp.jpg ))