Warnings: This story is set post-OotP, and may contain inadvertent spoilers. "A Work in Progress" is contraindicated for readers with an allergy to original characters or with Acute Mary-Sue-itis. It contains annoying original characters: you have been warned.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to J. K. Rowling. This fanfic is for entertainment purposes only, and no profit is being made from this fanfic.
Dedication: "A work in Progress" is dedicated to lj user moontime, for indulging my own loyalty to Slytherin House.
The Slytherin common room was packed to overflowing. Mildred and Veronica found a place to sit on the floor in front of a green leather armchair shared by three second-year students.
"All right, you lot," said Draco Malfoy, "quiet. Listen up. This year it is vitally important that Slytherin win the House Cup. That means I expect all of you to be focused on this. Your appearance must be impeccable at all times. Your behaviour must be irreproachable at all times. I hear about any of you losing House points, and I will personally make you pay for it. Got that?" There were cheers and applause from all corners of the room as two large thuggish-looking boys standing beside him struck menacing poses.
"He's so forceful," purred Veronica in Mildred's ear. She flicked her long blonde hair over one shoulder and gazed adoringly up at Draco, who was oblivious to her attention. Mildred rolled her eyes and tried not to gag. She privately thought that Draco looked like a bit of a lightweight, personality-wise; if he were all that bloody "forceful," wouldn't he be able to command respect without threats and goon-age? But she said nothing, figuring it was simpler to let Veronica simper her little heart out.
"I also expect you all to earn points—yes, even you peons in first year," Draco went on. "Whatever skills you have—athletic, academic, extracurricular—I expect to see you using them for the advancement of Slytherin House. Your ambition, for the rest of this term, should be to make your House proud, your families proud, and our founder proud. We will not be beaten by a bunch of foul mudbloods or do-gooder Hufflepuffs."
The room exploded with applause and howls of approval. Even Mildred found herself riveted.
"Now then," said Draco, holding up his hands until the noise faded, "I want us to be organized about this. Each and every one of us has strengths we can play to. For example: who here expects to make straight As this term?"
Hands shot up around the room. Mildred had her hand in the air when she realized Veronica was looking at her in horror. "Millie, don't!" she hissed. "They'll think you're just showing off!" But it was too late. Draco was standing in front of them, smirking. "A first year?" he said. "Isn't that a little over-confident?" Mildred felt her stomach turn over as she glanced around and saw that none of the other raised hands belonged to first years. Several people were snickering, including a female prefect whose name she didn't know.
"Idiot," sneered the girl.
"No, Pansy, don't discourage her," said Draco thoughtfully. "That Granger bitch has been pulling top marks since first year. We should be making our first years strive to beat that standard." He raised his voice. "Okay, all of you who feel your strength is in academics: I want to see you forming study groups so you can help each other stay competitive. Next up: sport…"
He went on, clearly having dismissed Mildred's existence from his mind, but that momentary acknowledgement earned her a glare from Pansy. Chill, babe; at ten stone I'm hardly a threat, Mildred thought bitterly. Realistically speaking, a chunk like me would crush that lithe little bastard.
"I don't know why you worry so much about grades anyway," Veronica said in honeyed tones, but loudly enough that everyone nearby could hear. "You'll have a job waiting for you at your parents shop no matter what your marks are like when you leave school, won't you?" Several people snickered audibly.
Mildred held her head high. "I don't intend to spend my life keeping shop in Diagon Alley," she said coldly, wondering for the first time what lay beneath Veronica's saccharine exterior.