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"You're seriously in Potter's little group?" Pansy asked, her hands on her hips as she stared at Daphne, the latter witch only now getting back to the girls' dorms late in the evening.

"Yes," Daphne answered simply, rolling her eyes at Pansy's tone and annoyance. "Umbridge isn't qualified to teach and I'll not have my grades go down because of her. That'd be absurd if I failed the class the following year on account of her inability to teach."

Pansy nearly laughed. "You think Potter of all people is qualified to help you avoid failing? Don't you see how many extra chances he gets? Without Dumbledore always watching over him or the other Professors favouring him, he wouldn't be half as highly graded as he currently is — Potions is proof enough of that."

"Potions isn't Defence Against the Dark Arts, Pansy," Daphne said with a sigh as she fell back onto her head, the lightest of groans escaping her. "Potter's more qualified than you think he is too. You'd know that if you came to one of these lessons. Don't get defensive or annoyed either, and definitely don't interrupt me like you usually do. All I'm saying is that he's smart, he doesn't lord it over you that you're learning from him, and he knows what he's doing when it comes to fighting. I don't care if he's stupid in every other subject."

"Even if I wanted to join you, which I don't and couldn't care less about my marks, he wouldn't allow me in his little group. We both know I've been less than kind to the Half-Blood, so that bridge is most definitely burnt," Pansy folded her arms when Daphne snickered.

"Malfoy wasn't the right call, was he?" Daphne knew the answer and it annoyed Pansy to no end.

Greengrass gets a little too cocky every now and then. I'd let her get away with it if her parents actually picked one side or the other.

"At least I picked one," Pansy shot back, raising her eyebrows and keeping her arms folded as she stared at Daphne.

Daphne smiled, showing that Pansy's remark didn't bother her all that much. "I know you're still annoyed that he decided to break things off, but come now, was that really all you have? Pansy Parkinson, the wonderfully gifted bully and rudest witch of our year as said by the other houses and that's all you've got?"

"As if the other houses know what they're talking about," Pansy said, finally dropping her arms as she climbed into her own bed which was beside Daphne's; Milly, Tracey and the other girls were already fast asleep with their canopy's closed. "Neville, the big fat baby that he is, would probably say that about me just because I don't sugarcoat anything for him like most of the other witches do — you and Tracey don't even talk to him. I only bullied because I knew I could get away with it too, not because I really liked it."

"Doesn't that at least imply that you liked bullying people if you only did it when you could get away with it?" Daphne asked, her head rolled to the side as she began changing whilst under the covers, the movements weird and lazy. "Forget about this, I don't care. Potter. He would teach you if you asked, I'm sure I could get you permission to attend the next study group too. They all like me enough to know that I wouldn't do anything to outright jeopardize our meetings."

Pansy looked away from Daphne then, biting her lower lip in thought. "I don't know if I'd care to go regardless. You… you have a goal in life, one that you've been chasing for quite some time if I remember correctly. My family is just as wealthy as yours so we don't even need to work, and beyond that, a good deal of those in Potter's group are those ultra-progression Granger types. I don't need preachy mudbloods."

"Preachy mudbloods," Daphne repeated with a grin as she pulled on a pyjama shirt. "I like that, I do believe I'll use it when next I write home to mother and father. There's no need to worry about them either, Potter keeps everything civil and aims to avoid conversations that aren't related to his classroom setting."

"Daphne, I app—" Pansy was cut off despite the shortness of her tone.

"Come with me to the next lesson. I won't make you, obviously, you're a big girl that can make her own stupidly-made decisions and I'm sure the peers of ours you bullied would prefer you stay here," Daphne gave as best a shrug as she could while laying down. "Think about how you could put them in their place if nothing else. Personally, I think it'd be amusing to see you try and battle for Potter's attention. You were the one I originally planned on competing with for his affection before we realised how he was in first year and onwards."

"Spineless, corrupted by Dumbledore and guarded by that mudblood Granger and his Weasley army?" Pansy asked sarcastically. "I'll admit, the idea of putting a few of them into the ground is amusing if nothing else… I think I just might go with you, maybe. Don't hold me to it, really, I'll have to be extraordinarily bored whenever it happens next."

"It's your choice like I said. Now goodnight, I'm too tired after putting one of those twins into the ground," Daphne smiled dangerously before she whisked her curtains closed and threw up a privacy charm, leaving Pansy alone.

Learn from Potter while he paraded about teaching our peers. Granger, Weasley — Ron — and the other degenerates of Hogwarts would be present too… I guess I could stomp a couple, it'd make them more worried about me if nothing else.

But if I lost… If I lost.

No. Pansy wouldn't think about that.

She'd go with Daphne to the next lesson, and that would be the one chance she'd give it.


One week later

"I hope you know I've already regretted agreeing to come with you," Pansy said with a huff as she climbed the stairs beside Daphne. "This is entirely too much walking on a day meant for relaxing, I can only imagine Potter's going to be as insufferable as ever — his minions will probably be the same too."

"Weren't you just talking about how you can't wait to beat a few of them? Tell me if I'm wrong, Pansy, but for the last few days you've been talking yourself up for this moment," Daphne shot her a look that seemed equal parts smug as it did knowing.

"So what if I did say that?" Pansy asked, tossing her hair out of her face and back over her shoulder where it belonged. "Putting them into the ground where they belong will be fun, enjoyable and however else you'd like to call it. That still doesn't mean this excessively long walk's enjoyable. I'd say the few other members of this little group we've met only make it worse too, they're all Mudbloods or Half-Bloods with no manners."

Daphne brought a hand up to examine her nails as she responded, one nod given in the process. "Yes, some of them don't seem quite as sophisticated as us, but they make up for it with a certain level of eccentricness. I think you'll be surprised when you see this first class of his, maybe you'll even come back for another session or two."

"You think I'm going to be impressed by any of them?" Pansy prodded Daphne in the shoulder with her fingertip angled so that her nail didn't scratch the other girl. "Daphne, we've known each other for years and that may just be the stupidest thing I've heard you say."

"No worse than how you were always hanging on to Malfoy or picking on the younger years," Daphne shot back, rolling her eyes as she pulled on Pansy's closer arm so that she'd pick up the pace.

From that point on, they continued in silence or near enough, Pansy would occasionally make a remark about another group or single student who passed them on the way to their shared destination. It wasn't ever loud enough to draw their attention, she wasn't that stupid, especially with only Daphne by her side while they were preparing to walk into the Lion's den. Still, she had to at least acknowledge their lacklustre looks, manners, school performance and the other factors that kept them separate.

Purebloods were Perfect, as her father had always told her — Half-Bloods could be alright, but Mudbloods would always be lower than their name implied.

"There's a wall where your door's supposed to be, or the door's hidden? You sound a bit mad, Daphne, because I can see it quite clearly," Pansy brought an arm up lazily to point at the door that stood out in stark contrast from the surrounding wall. "You're horrible at pranking, you know. There's a reason you weren't born with horribly red hair and an entirely too numerous set of freckles all over your face."

"Careful where you say that, the Weasley girl is surprisingly robust for her age and stature," Daphne leaned a bit closer to Pansy to ensure her next comment wasn't heard. "Maybe it's all the Potter she's been getting, it might just be the reason she's risen from mediocrity."

"I knew you weren't entirely changed by these losers," Pansy said after a short burst of giggles, the girl leaning against her friend as the two moved the last few feet to the entrance of Potter's club. "I'm glad, but at the same time, I'm annoyed. You're entirely too good at getting under my skin — Tracey, Millicent, those two aren't nearly as skilled at it as you are."

Daphne tapped a few nails to her chest. "Of course they're not, because they're not me," Daphne rolled her eyes and motioned to the door. "After you, Pansy. I'd rather not be the first Slytherin in if I can help it."

Briefly, fleetingly, Pansy wondered if it was all one big prank from her housemates and Greengrass, but that thought went away as quickly as it'd come. Daphne held no love or warmth in her heart for Malfoy or any other of the stupid blokes in Slytherin; the witches by and large weren't held to any high standard either, and as a result, Daphne seldom spent time with the majority of them. Tracey and Millicent were all Daphne spent her time with, while Pansy still occasionally hung around Malfoy or the others to stay in the know.

Her feelings were gone, had they ever existed in the first place thanks to her father's teaching and lessons. Perhaps the coaching and prodding to spend time with Malfoy had been the reason she thought she cared for him as much as she did.

"I'll do it then, you fangless snake," Pansy said, her head held up high as she strolled into the room with Daphne at her ankles.

The sheer number of their classmates and older years, as well as younger years inside what she'd thought would be a small classroom, was amazing. Dozens upon dozens, perhaps fifty or more, were inside the teaching room that seemed far too large for its purpose. None save for Daphne and Pansy wore green, but it wasn't quite as Gryffindor heavy as Pansy had thought it would be either.

In fact, it seemed as if Gryffindor was third thanks to the know it all Ravenclaws and entirely too loyal Hufflepuffs. The two houses had serious issues in their characteristics as far as she was concerned.

"Daphne, it's great to have you back."

The comment came from Potter, and Pansy could how genuine it was. He seemed as excited, pleased, and arrogant as ever.

"Potter," Daphne responded with a small, respectful nod of her head. "My thanks for allowing me to return, twice so with allowing a guest to try this out with me."

Harry shrugged and rubbed at the back of his neck, he was likely a bit intimidated by Daphne's looks like most boys were. She was beautiful, too beautiful, it was to the point that any boy who went to speak with her would find it hard to do so, so great was her beauty. Pansy wasn't quite as blessed by Morgana in that department, but she could make up for it in other ways.

"It's no problem… I didn't think she, Pansy I mean, would be interested in coming here, not really," Potter shook his head and stepped closer to the two Slytherin girls, extending his hand out to Pansy. "Parkinson. We haven't really gotten on all that well but Daphne says you're cool, wicked actually, so I figured why not. It's nice to have you with us."

Pansy nearly disregarded his outstretched hand, but Daphne's firm look and piercing eyes told her how that'd probably go over — not well, was the answer. So, with a near huff she daintily held out her hand and let Potter shake it.

"Thanks, Potter," Pansy said to him, her tone far more relaxed and cordial than she truly felt towards the target of her animosity for years on end.

When he walked away shortly after meeting with her to start helping a few younger years, Daphne shot her a look that conveyed just how impressed she was with Pansy's actions.

"I didn't think you'd be able to hold it in," Daphne finally said when the noise of the room rose higher, preventing anybody else from hearing whatever it was that she did. "I think I understand how mother or father feel when they say they're proud of me."

"You're an idiot," Pansy said, waving off her friends comment and looking away from her. "Now why are we just standing here, shouldn't we go partner up with two of these lo— peers of ours and put them down where they belong?"

Daphne shook her head. "Wait a few minutes and watch how everybody fights. I think it'd be better for you if you don't jump right into it. Don't winge about it either, the last thing either of us need is you getting into too serious a fight on your first day here. You may not care, but I've built up a small group of people who don't entirely dislike me on account of my Slytherin robes."

"Do you actually come here to socialize in addition to learning from Potter and his goons?" Pansy teased, poking at the taller girl as they strolled to a corner of the room and sat down on a small bench, one that was strategically picked so that nobody could join them.

"It's beneficial to mingle with those outside of your house, though you seem unaware of that fact. It's a pity, some of them aren't as horrible as we've been led to believe," Daphne pointed quickly at a Ravenclaw couple that were duelling. "His name's Alec and hers is Faye. Alec's quite gifted in the field of charms to the point that he'll pursue a mastery in the subject once he's completed his Hogwarts education. His girlfriend Faye is equally as gifted in transfiguration and has a decent amount of skill in Quidditch, enough so that she could go professional while avoiding the issues of stardom."

"So you're using this as a means of making new, powerful friends outside of Slytherin," Pansy said quietly, almost under her breath. "That's very smart of you, I don't believe anybody else in our house has thought about that."

"Tracey and Millicent were considering joining me, but neither of them care much for politics or the need for extra friends, as they called it. Maybe they'll join us next time, after hearing what you say about this large gathering filled with potential," Daphne stood up then, pulling Pansy with her and nodding towards a couple of people walking towards them. "Potter looks to be making his way back over to us, he has a couple of friends too. Please do try and be on your better behaviour, I'll not ask for the best considering how much energy that takes from you."

"Bint," Pansy got out before the trio was on them. "Potter, Potter's friends."

Harry laughed and patted each of the boys beside him once on the back. "On my left is Marcus, he's a Gryffindor in the year ahead of me. Pretty good bloke, be careful he doesn't swindle you in a chess tournament," Harry turned to his right, "And this is Dane, he's a pretty good Quidditch player but better with Football. He might just be the fastest person in Hogwarts."

Dane laughed, nodding his head. "Aside from the might in his sentence, he's right about everything. It's nice to meet you and put a personality with the name, Pansy. Daphne's right when she claims all of her friends are as good-looking as her. We'll see about her talent comment too."

Pansy shot Daphne a look, rolled her eyes and then sought out Potter again. "What'd you need from us?"

"I was hoping you'd duel myself or one of these two gits with me," Harry said with a reassuring smile at Daphne and Pansy each. "We don't know exactly where you are, so if I'm going to help you, I'd have to see how you do."

"Sure," Pansy said readily enough, ignoring the look Daphne gave her. "I can do that."

Harry nodded a couple of times and motioned towards an open spot, one that was soon after filled by Dane and Pansy; the fight began, spells were thrown, Dane lost, and Pansy winked at Daphne.

She'd accomplished what she'd wanted to do and just as she planned to make her exit for the day, Potter came up to congratulate her with the largest, friendliest smile she'd seen on his face. At least one that was directed towards her rather than the usual group of people he spent his time with.

Maybe… maybe she could come back to beat his minions again next week.


Two weeks later

"This is your third week in a row," Daphne commented as she and Pansy drank a glass of water on the outskirts of the room. "Dare I think you're starting to like a few select members of this group, or are you still convincing yourself that it's purely to best anybody Potter throws at you?"

Pansy raised an eyebrow at Daphne and set down her glass of water. "I enjoy beating the members of this group that you spoke so highly of. Most of them barely seem to be where people of our upbringing are, not to mention there's a sizable minority that's here solely to spend time with their friends or watch those actually interested in improvement."

"I notice you didn't answer the entirety of my question, which leaves me to ask, who else are you here for aside from myself?" Daphne tilted her head so that she looked down at Pansy, the former girl few extra inches all the more demeaning in the conversation.

Stupid nordic bint and her blonde hair and dumb height.

"Fine. There's a couple of people here who aren't entirely horrible to practise with, but I maintain that you're the second-best person in the room by a longshot. Obviously, you know who's first," Pansy tapped herself on the chest. "Does that suffice, your majesty?"

"I didn't think you'd outright say that you have a crush on Potter or one of the other boys here, but I did expect names rather than a simple agreeance from you," Daphne shook her head but quickly smiled at Pansy as she pulled her in the direction of Potter. "I'm glad to know I still occupy the spot of second best in Hogwarts in your entirely humble opinion — let's celebrate by having you speak with Potter about who you'll be 'putting in their place' today."

Pansy barely had time to think before the entirely too strong Greengrass pulled her over to Potter and the usual gang that hung around him. Most probably didn't even care about the class based on how much time they spent huddled nearby, waiting for Harry to give them a task so that he thought better of them.

"Daphne, Parkinson… I can call you Pansy by now, can't I?" Harry chuckled with his question, stepping away from the rest of the group and motioning for them to stay behind. "I'd like to think as my only two friends in Slytherin that we're on a first-name basis by now. Am I right or do I need to do something else to earn that?"

"You ha—" Pansy was cut off by Daphne talking over her, the larger, more vocal girl pulling the shorter and more vicious one into her side at the same time she spoke over her.

"Daphne and Pansy are agreeable, Harry," Daphne said, her nose raised as high as ever as she gave her permission for their first names to be used. "You've said something to the rest of the group, right? Don't look so surprised, it's not like you could keep it a secret so long as we kept on coming."

Finally, Pansy spoke up when Daphne took a breath. "Yeah, between the three of us, you're not very good at keeping secrets. Don't fret, your skillsets more in bothering Draco or having a completely unbelievable story happen to you."

"I can't tell if that's you trying to be polite or if that was as scathing as your tone implied," Harry said with a small smile and shake of his head. "I'll take it as you being nice since you've been pretty well-behaved in your other trips — a bit violent, but well-behaved."

"That sums up Pansy pretty nicely," Daphne said with a half-smile as she looked between Harry and Pansy with calculating eyes, ones that showed she seemed to be putting the puzzle pieces together.

I don't like like, Potter, Pansy wanted to say to dissuade the other girl from persisting or thinking otherwise.

He's just not horrible, not as horrible as I thought, we thought, he was. Potter's a good fighter too, definitely better than Draco.

Harry nodded. "I thought so, I remember third year and how that went. Still, I'm happy to see that you've gotten a lot nicer. It makes everybody a little less on edge around the two of you if you're not actively belittling them or otherwise causing issues," Harry motioned with his head over to an open spot, and the two Slytherin girls followed after him with no additional company. "Hermione keeps on telling me that I should ask one or both of you to help us regarding Slytherin. She thinks you both could help keep us up to date on Draco, maybe the house as a whole if there's any problems with it."

As if.

"Your thoughts?" Daphne asked, cocking her head as she looked at Harry intently. "You said Granger thought you should do it, but as far as I know, you've not reached out to Pansy any more than you have towards me. That only leads me to believe that you don't think it's a good idea."

"I've come to see you both as friends, brilliant witches and generally nice people," Harry said, his eyes lingering on Pansy a bit longer than Daphne. "I wouldn't want to risk that friendship or your safety. It wouldn't feel right after the progress we've made."

Pansy felt a weird twist in her stomach thanks to Potter's words. One that wouldn't go away regardless of what she thought about him, especially with those thoughts getting all the more positive as she continued speaking and seeing him alongside Daphne.

Sure, the thought was in the back of her mind that he wasn't sincere, but…

"Anyways, enough of that," Harry said, clapping his hands together before he slowly pulled one of Pansy's. "We're going to pair up today, so I can… so I can see how you do while I'm on the other side of your wand."

Pansy felt that twist grow stronger the same time her face heated up; Harry would be put into the ground like all the others for making her feel this way.


One month later

"You've changed a good deal," Daphne finally said as she helped Pansy to her feet. "If I would've beat you two months ago, you'd be throwing curses at me, albeit with your tongue instead of actual spells. Now, here you are, gracious when you lost and ready for a second round to show that you've learned."

Pansy felt that familiar, horrible blush come to her face at Daphne's words; Harry was usually the only one to cause that too, which left her very annoyed.

"You've changed too," Pansy said, shrugging and taking her wand back from Daphne's other hand. "You used to be more aggressive, but not in a bully sort of way. I suppose it was that brain of yours, or the inherent strength you have — I don't care what it was, but you're nicer too."

"We really should bring Tracey here if spending time with all of these fools has had a positive impact on us. Morgana knows she could use a few good influences instead of hiding away with Millicent or us," Daphne said, shaking her head with a fond smile on her face.

"That's not the worst idea you've had, Daph—" Pansy caught Harry's eye mid-speaking and stopped, looking away from him.

Daphne caught on though, she always did, and so she gave a teasing grin to Pansy as she looked over her shoulder. "Harry's coming, it looks like your prince has come to save you from an awkward conversation."

"Shut up," Pansy said, her old haughtiness and arrogance returning. "Say it again and I'll talk about Weasley or that boy you actually like giving you a snog… hi Harry."

Harry had made it right to the edge of hearing what was said, and abruptly, Pansy switched the topic over to welcoming him. It was a bit childish, and at the same time, she'd grown to speak to him whenever he was close enough to hear. Unlike Draco too, Harry would always respond to her. It felt good, well, most of the time it did.

"Pansy, Daphne," Harry greeted with a smile, the typical half one that he gave with his messy hair and a thin coating of sweat on him. "I was actually hoping to talk to you, Pansy. Not as a mentor or whatever, but as a friend… if that's alright with you?"

Pansy furrowed her brows and glanced at Daphne, curiosity and a touch of confliction going through her.

When a boy wants to talk in private, that's usually never a good thing.

Draco would scold her privately, other boys would always talk about helping her family by dating them or what have you. It was usually horribly awkward or stupid, it was part of what made her love messing with other people to the degree that she did.

"I guess we could talk for a few minutes," Pansy finally said, once she received a nod from Daphne. "Try anything and I'll curse you. You know I will too."

Harry laughed, a bit of the nervousness on his face escaping at her words. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

Pansy folded her arms. "Good. Let's go."

At that, Harry gently took her hand — which she allowed him to do — and led the pair of them out of the door to the room of requirement and into the hallway at large. It was empty, dead empty, and then the two walked far enough away until they came to a stop at the next classroom door.

As was typical of Hogwarts, the room was abandoned due to a lack of staff and children.

"We're seated, you're looking at me intently, and we're just quiet," Pansy said, her head resting on one of her arms. "What do you need to talk to me about in private?"

Harry swallowed a couple of times. He looked like he was building up his courage and then finally, he smiled at her, and spoke. "I was hoping, I've been hoping this for a long time too, that we could… we could go to Hogsmeade? It'd be wicked, really wicked, and we could do whatever you'd want or, uh, whatever."

"Are you asking me out on a date, Potter?" Pansy asked, a level of heat in her tone that she'd not used in a long time; it wasn't real, it was just how she was, the defensiveness ingrained within her and the reaction equally so.

"Yeah?" He said, his word coming out with so little conviction that it sounded like a question.

"You want to take me, Pansy, the girl who bullied you and your friends, Neville, especially, on a date to Hogsmeade?" Pansy asked, listing off a couple of reasons why that was a bad idea. "Has it occurred to you that I'm in Slytherin, Draco still hovers around me at nearly all times and we've a less than decent history with one another?"

Harry nodded once, that stupid smile still on his face. "Yeah."

That annoyed Pansy, and as such, she narrowed her eyes at him. "Yeah what?"

"Yeah, I've thought about all of that," He said, shrugging. "It doesn't matter to me, it's all in the past. You've changed this year, Daphne has too from the little I knew about her — that's not me saying I like her like I like you either. Draco doesn't matter, our history is different, changed now, and I just like you."

Pansy nodded, that flushing happening like it always did when he said something dumb.

"Fine. I suppose I don't entirely mind your presence, we can go to Hogsmeade if I can pick the places."

Harry's face lit up like he received the best gift in the world. "Anywhere you want."

He's precious. Daphne, stupid Daphne, wasn't wrong about my dumb crush.

Pansy rewarded Harry with a kiss on the cheek, and then they spent the rest of the 'training' together in private just talking like two regular teenagers; houses, alignments, all of it be damned.