Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling. I'm not making any money from this in any way.
Slash of the male/male and female/female kind will eventually be appearing in this story. If you don't like slash, or the idea of Harry/Severus or Hermione/Pansy, then please leave. Don't read what you don't like.
Chapter One.
Everything changed after Harry disappeared about a month before Christmas.
Before that – it was all normal. He was beside Ron and me, laughing, messing around, and even studying. When I asked Professor Dumbledore where Harry had gone, he just replied that he's somewhere close, but absolutely safe. At the time I thought it was for the best – that Harry was safe. Now I'm not quite sure.
Things definitely changed just before Christmas and the fateful Ball that Dumbledore held for the Winter Equinox.
There was that 'friend' of Professor Snape's that showed up. Miss Jamari Paton. Now if I ever saw a more girly woman, with all of that eyeliner and elaborate hair than Miss Paton than I would be surprised. Not to mention all of those bloody high heels she constantly wore. She was once the relief teacher for Defence, and was doing a practical Defence and Evasion lesson while wearing them…
Then Draco Malfoy. From the cold Ice Prince of Slytherin to a mushy little puppy whenever he came near Miss Paton. That was strange. Especially the time when he was flirting so much with her in Potions that his cauldron exploded covering him with pink goo. Heh – that was a good Potions class…
But the Winter Equinox was the climax of all this strangeness that had been building up over the year. At first I thought I was just studying too hard for NEWTS, but it was that night that changed everything.
Snape came out in front of the whole school and proposed to Miss Paton, then proceeded to thoroughly snog her on the dance floor. Draco after seeing them snogging, claimed that he loved Miss Paton with all of his heart and that he had deflected publicly to the side of the Light to prove it, while at the same time he also named at least a dozen other Slytherins who had as well…
And from there it all went downhill, but I won't bore you with the details.
During all of this chaos Harry was apparently safe. But I'm still not quite sure if I think it was for the best. If Harry hadn't disappeared, and that Miss Paton hadn't showed up – I bet none of this would have ever happened. Really – Miss Paton has nearly a bad as habit as drawing trouble to her as Harry does.
But I'm still not quite sure. Because I'm also going to be absolutely safe in a couple of hours – but unlike Harry, I won't be sharing the experience with a person or people who like me. Instead I'll be going into a safe house with none other than my worse enemy.
"You've got to be joking."
Hermione sat perched on the edge of her air, her head slightly tilted to the left, fingers gripping into the soft padding on the armrests.
"No Hermione, I'm afraid I'm not."
Disbelief showed in every fibre of Hermione's being. How could Professor Dumbledore be doing this? To me. I need to continue my research. It's vital that I do. And to do so I need books. And intelligent people.
Not being stuck in the middle of nowhere with some stuck up Slytherin cow.
Who I hate with a passion. And who also hates me with the same if not more passion.
"It's vital that you continue your research. But to be here to continue you need to be alive. And that's why I'm putting you in a safe house, which only I can access once you and your companion are in it." Professor Dumbledore smiled gently, a kind look in his eyes, "And I'm sure that you will find the library very satisfactory to your research needs," A twinkle appeared in the old man's eyes, "Not to mention your research buddy and living companion."
Hermione sighed. Obviously there was no way she was going to be getting out of this. She would be placed in the safe house where she could do her research without fear of her life. And she would just have to accept that none other than Pansy Parkinson was going to be her housemate.
Even though I'm a Slytherin, I still take notice of what happens in the other houses. But nobody could help but notice that the famous Harry Potter was gone. It was whispered at the time that he had been placed in a safe house by Dumbledore.
But I knew better.
Not by anybody telling me – but by actually looking and seeing what was in front of me.
It couldn't have just been a timely coincidence that 'Jamari Paton' showed up the day after Potter disappeared. Nobody else saw it that way though – even when I pointed it out to them. All I got was "your waaaay to suspicious Pansy" "Oh shut up with your bloody conspiracy theories" from my so called friends and fellow Slytherins.
Humph. I knew I was correct and that was all that mattered. But just to be sure I watched 'Miss Paton'.
Draco's high obsession over her and the way he got riled up over every little thing she did just help to prove my theory. The only other person he could summon such passion for was Potter – despite the difference in Draco 'loves' Miss Paton, and 'hated' Potter. I must admit it was amusing to watch Draco fall.
But now, just after the most interesting thing of the year has happened – I'm being sent away to a bloody safe house. It's all Draco's fault naturally. If he hadn't blurted out my name, with several others of our class mates, when he was proclaiming his un-swaying devotion to the Light, then I would still be safe. Still living a lie – but at least safe from bodily and mental harm.
I suppose it's a good thing that I'm going into this safe house. Or at least that's what I first thought. I thought that I would be locked with somebody I like, or at least with somebody I didn't know. But instead Dumbledore has to nominate me as Granger's little safe house buddy.
Just fucking great.
I get stuck with nosy Granger, researching some obscure thing that probably will come to nothing in the end – since the freakin' 'Dark Lord' seems to be invincible. Damn it all! It also means that I don't get to watch 'Jamari Paton' for the obvious clues that she is really Potter.
Just fucking great.
"You've got to be joking."
Dumbledore just smiles and twinkles while shaking his head. "Of course I'm not Miss Parkinson. Is it so unbelievable that I think you and Miss Granger would work well together as a team?"
I can't help but look at him, scorn traced all over my face. A slight sneer plays at my lips, "Of course it's bloody unbelievable." I hear him tut over my use of language, "We've never gotten along. Her Gryffindor sensibilities, bossiness and never being able to mind her only business are only the beginning of her faults."
And now, my precious and esteemed headmaster has the audacity to grin at me. Grin!
"Now Miss Parkinson, I'm sure you both will do terrifically together while in hiding. I'm expecting you to help with the research", he winks, "And perhaps keep Miss Granger from working herself to death."
Eh?
"Like maybe, you two could…" He shrugs and his eyes start to twinkle more brightly, "Have some fun?"
Ha. As if. Fun with Granger. The researching is Granger's idea of fun. Though the old man is right – perhaps it would be amusing to see Granger drunk and spilling all of her idealistic Gryffindor fantasies.
I cough and look innocent, "Though Professor Dumbledore, to have some fun, we have to have the right necessities." Once again he smiles, not at all fooled by my perfectly performed innocence.
"Miss Parkinson, I'm sure you will find that this safe house will cater to whatever you need."
Pansy thought for a second. Whatever I need. Perhaps sharing a safe house with Granger won't be that bad after all.