The Downfall of Pansy Parkinson

Disclaimer: have never owned, don't own, never will own. I also don't own the Watch/Listen With Mother quote from my mum's childhood. Not sure who t hat's the property of, but it's not mine.

A/N: I'm pretty sure this chapter is shorter than the rest, but it's all a matter on appropriate division of chapters, as I tend to write the story and sort the chapters out afterwards

A/N2: I chose Aston Villa over Birmingham City, Wolves, West Brom, Coventry or Walsall because Aston Villa play in the same colours as the team I support

Chapter 3: Finalising

(1 month later)

Leaving Thursday afternoon's Potions lesson, Hermione slipped something into Blaise's robe pocket, elbowing her sharply so that the Slytherin was aware of her. She then hurried off to catch up with Harry. In Gryffindor, only he and Neville knew of Hermione's alliance with the two Slytherins, and it was necessary that it remained so.

Rounding the corner with Draco close behind, Blaise retrieved the note from her pocket - after also removing a pencil, a packet of Fizzing Whizzbees, some half-melted chocolate, an Aston Villa football ticket and a scrunchie, and pushing them into Draco's hands – and unfolded it.

Saturday is The Day. Meet me in the usual spot, 2pm. You know what you need to get. Sort out our problem, as well.

H

"So what's the plan, Draco?"

"I'll sort Parkinson, with Neville's help. We Stupefy her, give her a sleeping draught and then lock her in the old broomstick cupboard near McGonagall's classroom, and then put a Silencing Charm on it so if she wakes up nobody will hear her."

Blaise's eyes glittered wickedly. "I am liking this!"

"What exactly are you planning to do to fr–"

"Hush! Not here – the walls have ears!" Blaise hissed furiously. She grabbed Draco's arm tightly. "You and I have a date in your dorm to discuss our plans."

Draco was unable to object to this plan, as he was currently being dragged along the corridor through a crowd of third-year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws by Blaise. The third-years scattered when Blaise ordered them to move, barely slowing as she continued to drag her best friend.

"Blaise, do you…mind…easing off a…little? Only you're…hurting me!" Draco attempted to pull his arm free.

"Tough," that young woman retorted, practically running down the staircase that led to the Slytherin dungeons. She did not loosen her grip on his arm. "And stop bloody struggling!"

"Then kindly refrain from your attempt to dislocate my shoulder!"

Blaise stuck her tongue out at him and continued to pull him along, until they reached the crack in the wall that led to their common room. She muttered the password ("Python") and they slipped inside, straight up to Draco's dorm, which was currently empty of people.

"Well?" inquired Draco, letting his bag drop to the floor and flopping down onto his bed, feet by the pillow. He rolled onto his stomach and propped his chin up in his hands.

Blaise remained in the centre of the rectangular room, nose wrinkled in disgust as she took in the state of the dormitory. Draco's territory was the only tidy area. Theodore Nott's uniform was crumpled and spread all over the floor of his territory (it was always referred to as 'territory' in Slytherin), and his bed was unmade. A half-written essay with multiple ink-blots on it lay on the pale green sheets – which were also stained with ink. Evan Greengrass' territory was little better – a towel (still damp, Blaise noted with disdain) lay on his unmade bed, a half-crushed quill was staining the pillow on the bed with ink, the other pillows were on the floor, a tie was half-under the bed…

I can't bear to look at the rest, she thought, closing her eyes against the sight that assaulted her eyes. At least girls are reasonably tidy. Boys, on the other hand…She shook her head in resignation.

"Blaise, when you've concluded your surveillance of the sixth-year boys' accommodation, perhaps you would care to enlighten me with your grand scheme?" inquired Draco, waving his feet in the air to attract her attention.

"Perhaps this dorm could be tidied a little? It affects my concentration and my focus. Negatively."

"The scheme?"

Blaise narrowed her eyes at him before sighing in a long-suffering manner and jumping onto the bed. Waving her wand, she closed the curtains and cast multiple silencing spells around them. "Are you sitting comfortably?"

Draco gave her a quizzical look.

"Then I'll begin…"

It was ready. Hermione, Blaise, Draco and Neville were gathered in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Neville was looking distinctly apprehensive – or, in Draco's opinion, downright scared. Hermione, having had a brief attack of conscience earlier in the month – but subsequently snapped out of it by Blaise – was now tense, yet still alert. Blaise was eager, and Draco was laid-back and relaxed about it all – cocky, if you asked Hermione for her opinion. Myrtle was hiding in her toilet, muttering irritably about the presence of boys in her bathroom.

Watches were synchronised. Hermione looked steadily at the boys. "You know what to do?"

Draco nodded confidently. "No problem, Granger. As long as we've got this 'equipment' you promised us."

Hermione obligingly produced an old scrap of parchment from her pocket, a knowing look on her face. The boys regarded her doubtfully and Blaise snorted in disbelief. "And just what use is a scrap of old parchment to our cause?" she demanded.

"This," Hermione informed her in a superior tone, "is no ordinary 'scrap of old parchment'. This is the Marauder's Map."

"I don't see anything," Draco stated flatly.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "What does the word 'marauder' make you think of?"

"Sneakiness," said Blaise immediately.

"Secrecy," supplied Draco, not to be outdone by a girl – even if she was his best friend.

"Exactly." Hermione tapped the parchment with her wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

The two Slytherins and Neville watched as lines and words began appearing on the parchment in front of them. Dots, labelled with names of people, began appearing, their four huddled close together in Myrtle's bathroom. Peeves the poltergeist was in the trophy room with Argus Filch, the Squib caretaker, an was no doubt causing trouble for the caretaker.

"Impressive, Granger," remarked Draco in his old drawl. "Care to enlighten us as to its use?"

Hermione obligingly explained how the Map worked, pointing out what appeared to be a staff meeting in Dumbledore's office, themselves and Pansy Parkinson, their target, who was sitting in the library.

"So what's the plan?" asked Neville nervously.

"You and I sort Parkinson," explained Draco. "Blaise will be with us. Then she drinks the potion. Then she attacks any random person that crosses her path. Get it?"

Neville nodded, gulping.

"I've got my target sorted once I'm Pansy," Blaise informed them. Her gaze came to rest on Neville.

"Why me?" he wailed.

TBC

Author thanks:

Dark Borg Drone: hannon le, mellon nîn!!

Lord Elrond of Hogwarts: Not sure whether my having an effect on your mental stability is a good thing or not!! Of course Blaise got the ingredients; she's a Slytherin!!

Lucidity: I hope the Author Alerts are sorted soon!!! I'm glad you're liking Blaise; I wanted her to be very likeable, and fun and feisty (she's the sort of person I would love to have been at that age – God, that makes me sound old! I'm not twenty till October!) whilst retaining the qualities that got her placed in Slytherin in the first place, and keep her believable.

Apocatha: (blushes at praise) It's Draco's shins I pity! I didn't want to go into too much detail about Blaise's father; that's not the story. But it would be typical of Pansy to use that kind of information to (attempt to) hurt her. Blaise is the only one who really accepts Draco for who he is. She's not trying to 'get in' with him just because of his money or for social standing, and actually cares about him, which he appreciates, and needs. Also, he knows he can trust her – very rare in Slytherin!!