The next morning, Harry came down to the Great Hall alone, Ron and Hermione had already left before he had even awoken and he wasn't sure why. When he made his way towards the Gryfindor table, he noticed them sitting together, deep in conversation.
"Hey," he said sitting down and grabbing a piece of toast, "Where's Paris? I thought Dumbledore put her in your room?" Harry asked Hermione.
Hermione looked up nervously, taking a while before she spoke.
"I'm not entirely sure. I was up at seven and Paris wasn't there. Her bed was made and no one has seen her all morning." She said.
"You mean to say that you've already managed to get Paris lost? How could you not have heard her leave? It's not as though she is an extremely quiet person." Harry demanded.
"It wasn't m fault, Harry. She is your cousin, however distant, and no one put me in charge of her." Hermione said defensively.
Harry was about to say something in response when Ron cut him off.
"Look..." he said, pointing towards the entrance of the Great Hall, his mouth hanging open slightly.
Harry and Hermione looked up to find Paris walking towards them circled by a group of, what looked like, admiring boys. Hagrid came following in after them with a bemused smile. Harry couldn't help but notice that there was at least three boys from each house, each hanging onto her every word. When Paris got close enough to the table, she bade goodbye to her companions and took a seat across from Harry, Hermione and Ron.
"Where have you been?" Harry demanded, not meaning to sound like a bossy, older brother.
"Well, I was out on a run and I ran into Hagrid, quite a large man so I don't know how I didn't see him coming, and he helped me back to the castle. When I was inside all these nice people came over to see if I was alright and they walked me back here." Paris babbles merrily.
"You went for a run?" Ron asked, his mouth falling open once more, "What time did you have to get up for that?"
"I normally get up at six but I slept in a bit today, so I went out at six thirty. You should really try it. It gets you ready for school, cleanses your mind and body, keeps you fit and helps you stay awake during class." Paris replied energetically, "It helps me sleep at night too." She added as an afterthought.
"Oh... okay then." Harry said trying to think of something to say, feeling silly for getting so worried in the first place.
It wasn't everyday a girl was surrounded by a bunch of boys, come from Slytherine no less. Harry decided it would be best to tell Paris right now that inter-house hospitality was really rare.
"Those boys, the ones in the green," Harry began, "do you know who they are?"
Paris turned her head to have a look at the Slytherine house table. As she did this, Harry noticed a lot of onlookers turn their heads away, giving Harry the impression that they had been staring at the Gryfindor table only moments before.
"Slytherines, aren't they? The house wanted to put me in that house but, then again, it tried to put me in all the houses. I had to get it to tell me a little about them all so I could decide." Paris said, turning back to face Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Yeah, they are. Did the sorting hat tell you about their reputation?" Harry asked, and this time Paris shook her head.
"Let's just say there hasn't been a witch or wizard that hasn't gone bad in Slytherine. Most of them have parents who were once Death Eaters or still are. They aren't the sorts of people you'll want to hang around. They act all friendly but when trouble arises all they want to do is save them selves." Harry said, "And they have this thing about pure blood. All of them have at least three generations of pure blood in them."
Paris sat still for a moment, going over what Harry had just said. The others were sure that he had made his point rather clear and Paris had been saved from a future friendship with a Slytherine.
"You shouldn't generalize people like that, Harry, you could offend someone without meaning to and what do you mean by saying pure blood? Don't suggest that being pure blood is a bad thing... just because a few people take it to the extreme doesn't mean the general population does." Paris chided.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were taken aback, that certainly wasn't what Harry had meant at all.
"No wonder the Sorting Hat told me about the importance of inter-house friendship." Paris continued, unaware that people were, again, beginning to stare at her, "It's people like you that stop the houses from forming friendships and in times like these we need to bond together. Did you ever stop to think that maybe the only reason the houses stay segregated is because people misinterpret them or put them down as stereotypical characters because of problems in the past?"
Some of the closer house tables were now turning around to look at Paris and even the staff table was taking an interest in what she was saying. What shocked Harry was that they were smiling and Dumbledore was looking intently Paris as though hoping she would continue.
Paris, however, must have decided that she had said enough because she stood up from the table and strode through out of the Great Hall, only stopping when professor McGonagall handed her this years time table.
"Well," Ron said, munching on a piece of buttered toast, "she certainly has a lot to say, doesn't she? She's even worse then you, Hermione, going on about spew." Hermione went to retort but Harry cut her off.
"I guess it will take her a little while to settle down. Australia isn't like here, her school was much smaller and I doubt they had dark magic to isolate the houses, so this house segregation is all new." Harry said, as though trying to justify his cousin's behaviour.
"Well I think Paris has a point. You remember what the Sorting Hat said last year, we have to stick together and be strong from within. What with Voldemort being more prominent in his return, we have to hope that we can count on our fellow peers for support if we ever need it." Hermione said.
They left the Great Hall, making their way towards the first period of the day, Charms with professor Flitwick. Paris had already arrived and was seated at the back. Harry, Ron and Hermione rook seats next to her but she remained silent.
Professor Flitwick began the class by congratulating all his students on such high OWL scores.
"A special congratulations to Hermione who received an O in her charms examination!"
Everyone was expecting Hermione to receive straight O's so it wasn't such a surprise when Flitwick called on her but everyone clapped all the same. Charms was a much more relaxed affair when compared to last year. With no major exams hanging over them, the students could take their time bewitching a quill to write for them. Harry took this opportunity to apologize to Paris, as the rest of the class was far too busy practicing the charm.
"About before," Harry began cautiously, "I was only trying to protect you. I don't want to see you get hurt because I didn't warn you."
Paris, who at that moment was making her quill fly across the parchment, did no respond. Harry took this as a sign to continue.
"I guess because your new you don't understand the rivalry between the houses. Mostly we get along with everyone, but the Slytherines... they're different. I don't want to shift all the blame onto them but they are just as much at fault as we are."
Paris stopped pointing her wand at her quill and turned to face Harry, her eyes ablaze with anger.
"So you're just going to let it continue? If Gryfindor and Slytherine are having problems then it's up to someone to make amends. It doesn't matter who started it or what it was about but someone needs to be the big person who patches up the differences."
Clearly she wasn't ready to drop it and Harry was loosing patience. He didn't see why she was pinning the blame solely on him. What about Ron or Hermione or even the Slytherines she had been cosy with that morning? Was it just because they were, however distantly, related that it was up to him to fix past mistakes? If she wanted the past to be forgotten then she could do it herself.
"I'm not going to talk about this again. I refuse to apologize for something that I had nothing to do with. If you want things fixed then you're free to do it yourself, but I don't hold much hope. One person can't make a difference." Harry hissed through clenched teeth, just loud enough for Hermione and Ron to hear.
"One person can make a difference, Harry. I'll prove it if it's the last thing I do!" Paris whispered harshly back.
The bell had just rung to signify the end of the lesson and Paris immediately packed up her things and stalked out of the classroom.
X
Paris wasted no time in proving herself. After Herbology she raced out the door and was not seen at morning break until almost the end. When she did appear, Paris made her way, not to the Gryfindor table, but to the Slytherines. Many people, who noticed, openly pointed at her as she sat down next to Malfoy who gave a surprised start. Apparently he had not been expecting a visit from the new Gryfindor student.
Harry, Ron and Hermione all turned in their seats to have a look at what Paris was doing. Neville Longbottom lent across the table and whispered to Harry.
"Isn't that your cousin over there? Doesn't she know that we aren't allowed to sit at other house tables?" he asked.
Hermione cleared her throat, clearly about to say something, when Nearly Headless Nick popped through the table making her give a surprised shriek.
"I see you've all noticed our new student socialising at the Slytherine table?" he said, staring longingly at the mounds of food piled onto Ron's plate.
Ron and Harry nodded. Neville posed his question again and Hermione got her chance to speak, in that know-it-all fashion they all loved.
"There's no rule to say she can't. In Hogwarts, A History, it says that the tables never used to be arranged in house groups. It wasn't until rivalry began that the headmaster at the time decided it would be better to have them separated but there in no stopping anyone who wants to sit at another table."
"That's right Hermione. I remember when they were separated. It was during the second muggle war. Slytherine and Gryfindor students were starting to act hostilely towards each other and it got so bad that at one point a Gryfindor girl was nearly killed when a Slytherine boy hit her with a jinx that set her flying out the top window of the West Tower." Nick reminisced.
Harry turned back around to watch Paris. At that moment she was in a light conversation with Crabbe, who was laughing so hard that his water goblet was shaking. He wondered if she knew what the Slytherines were capable of. Harry turned back to face the group when Paris caught looked up and caught him watching her.
"She was sent flying out a window?" Ron asked amazed, "What stopped her from being smacked to the ground like a flat pancake?"
"Well it was quite lucky really, just as she smashed through the window pane, a teacher happened to be walking by and managed to put another jinx on the girl to stop her falling heavily. She floated to the ground as softly as a feather, and the boy, of course, was expelled." Nearly Headless Nick informed them.
"That was really lucky." Hermione breathed and she too looked over at Paris, "I still say Paris has the right idea though. What with another war brewing it would be best if we all bonded... maybe we could even get some of the older seventh years to stop joining Voldemort's ranks after they leave."
Harry gave a snort, "Go on then Hermione, go and join Paris in her little crusade. I know you're into all this do-gooder stuff but I thought you, more than most in this school, would realise that it is hopeless. I'm sure that if you were to go and sit over there they wouldn't welcome you as they have Paris!" Harry scorned.
Hermione stood up looking hurt and Ron looked at Harry with disbelieving shock.
"Why don't you think I would be welcomed, Harry?" Hermione seethed, but her voice was wavering, "Is it because I'm not as friendly as Paris, or maybe I'm not as pretty... maybe you think because I'm not pure blood they are all going to immediately start throwing jinxes at me like I'm vermin!"
Harry hung his head but Hermione seemed to be filled with the same spirit as Paris. She stalked away from the Gryfindor table but instead of going to sit with Paris, she headed for the entrance hall. Paris had been watching the interaction silently and followed Hermione out.
"Two girls in one day... you're doing well Harry." Ron muttered as he resumed eating.
"What?" You too? You can't tell me it's worth going to all this trouble just to befriend a Slytherine. Its already started fights and no one is even friendly yet." Harry said, his temper, which was already red hot, was beginning to boil.
"No Harry, you started the fights," Ron argued quietly, not looking at Harry as though afraid he'd send him over the edge, "I agree that it isn't going to happen over night but we need to make a start. I don't know, maybe when Paris gets to know them it wont be so bad."
Harry refused to answer; he didn't want to put Ron offside either. When the bell went, the pair got up, making, their way towards the dungeons. This was the one subject Harry had been hoping he could go without this year but if he wanted to be an auror he had to grin and bare it.
Hermione and Paris were sitting together, talking quietly when Ron and Harry entered. Ron made to sit with them but, when Paris looked up, she placed a bag in the spare seat and Harry decided it would be best to sit away from them. Ron must have read his mind because he changed direction sitting in an empty chair away from the girls. Harry sat beside him and watched as the Slytherines began to pile in after them.
He watched as Malfoy too the seat next to Paris, giving Hermione a sneering look but for once keeping his mouth shut. Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson took the seats in front of them. Draco turned around, scanning the room before his eyes rested on Harry. Harry prepared himself for a signature glare but instead he received a look of bewilderment. This baffled Harry but he had little time to register it because Professor Snape had just banged through the dungeon door and was strolling towards the front of the classroom.
"We meet again," he said to the class, his voice ice cold as he turned his gaze upon Harry, "for another year of hard work and dedication. I will take time now to warn you, exams or no exams, this year I will take no slackers. My standards may have slipped to a pitiful E in OWLs but I refuse to teach anyone who is performing below par." He, again, rested his gaze on Harry and then Ron before turning to the class roll.
While he called names the class remained silent as it always did when Snape was in the room. When he reached Harry and then Paris he glanced up, obviously noting the strange seating arrangements but keeping quiet on the matter.
Snape began the Potions year as he always did, with the hardest potion he could give to the new sixth years. Harry had nothing to do but concentrate on getting the potion just right. He was determined, this year, to prove professor Snape wrong, he was competent enough to take this class.
The lesson went on and on as double Potions seem to do, but at the end when professor Snape ordered wands down, Harry felt he had produced a near perfect potion which he bottled and corked setting it on Snape's desk with the rest of the class.
When the bell rang for lunch, Harry was glad to escape. Although professor Snape seemed to be treating Harry as an almost equal, his cool glares did nothing to settle Harry's insecurities of his capability in potions. Of course you're capable, Harry encouraged himself, just look at the O you got!
The rest of the day went in a flash and by the time Harry and Ron made their war to the Great Hall, Harry had almost forgotten about Hermione and Paris. Seeing them seated at the Hufflepuff table, however, jolted his memory and a scowl crept onto his face. Ron saw the look on his face and almost rolled his eyes, stopping halfway when he say the scowl on Harry's face deepen.
"This is ridiculous," Ron said, "We are supposed to be in sixth year and we're acting like a bunch of five year olds/ you have to go and patch things up with Paris and Hermione."
Harry's green eyes blazed but Ron did not back down, instead taking a seat between Neville and Dean Thomas.
"I don't have to do a damn thing." Harry fumed, taking a seat opposite Ron.
They sat in silence throughout dinner. Ron only spoke when they began the walk back to the Gryfindor common room.
"I'm your mate and I will stick by you, you know that, but I'm not going to pretend I agree with you, because I don't." Ron told Harry, trying to make his position clear.
"That's great." Harry replied sarcastically as he said the password that opened up the common room.
"You need to stop acting like the victim. By pushing your friends away you aren't helping anyone at all, certainly not yourself." Ron continued, it seemed to Harry that he had practiced what to say but it was still uncharacteristic of Ron to speak his mind out against Harry.
"I'm not pushing anyone away, they're the ones pushing me away." Harry said knowing his argument was pathetic.
"You can think what you want, mate, but I still think you should make things right with the girls." Ron turned away from Harry, making his way up to the dormitories obviously not wanting to continue the conversation.
Harry sat himself down in a chair by the fireplace, staring into the flames intently. He need to talk to someone and all he could think of was Sirius and his head that had appeared in those exact flames on a number of occasions throughout the years.
Harry pushed this thought from his mind, deciding he did not need the extra guilt. Instead he focused his attention on a group of first years who were playing a game of exploding snap in the corner. His first day back at school had not gone the way he had expected.
XXX
[A/N]: So the story finally starts moving... more exciting (I hope) stuff to come concerning two Gryfindors. Please review!!!
