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 rest of Mildred's first month at Hogwarts was more social than she could have predicted. Thanks to the study groups, she now had several second- and even third-year Slytherins who greeted her by name on occasion. Malcolm Baddock even went so far as to punch her playfully on the arm when she showed the group her latest 'A' on an assignment, and say "good job, Harkness."
True, none of that translated into offers to do anything outside of studying, but she had Veronica for that, and to walk to and from classes with. After a few days of eyeing her suspiciously for signs of trying to attract Draco's attention, Veronica had gone back to being chatty.
One morning at breakfast, when a post owl had dropped off another enormous care package to Mildred from her parents, Veronica even unbent enough to ask if she could buy a bag of Bertie Bott's Beans off her.
"Just take them," said Mildred, shrugging carelessly. She'd been so busy in the evenings that she hadn't been snacking at nearly her normal rate, and was still only halfway through the last parcel they'd sent from home.
"You're sure?" said Veronica, snatching them eagerly. That night Mildred entered their room and caught Veronica seated cross-legged on her own bed, furtively working on something involving a scrap of lace and oodles of pink ribbon. She tried to conceal it but Mildred sat down on the edge of the bed, shifted a stack of books, and picked up the little handmade gift bag containing the Bertie Bott's Beans, and labeled, in Veronica's curliqued script, "from your secret admirer."
"Well, what do you care?" said Veronica defensively, blushing deeply. "You never talk to him or anything. Are you going to take them back?"
"I don't care," said Mildred honestly. "And no, of course I'm not going to take them back. I said you could have them, didn't I?"
Veronica relaxed a little. "You're not jealous?" she demanded.
"Of this?" Mildred rolled her eyes. "No. Honestly, if you want him you can have him. Best of luck and all that."
"I'm not as stupid as you thin I am," said Veronica. "I know perfectly well he doesn't know or care that I exist. I just like him, that's all."
Mildred grinned, feeling unexpectedly fond of her. Poor old Veronica; just because she has a stupid ambition is no reason not to hope she achieves it.
"Anything I can do to help?" she asked, and immediately regretted her burst of comradeship when Veronica answered.
"Yes. I'm sneaking out of the dorm tonight to follow him, actually—come keep me company, all right?"