Chapter 6
"Hey, Harry. Who's the letter from?" Ron leaned over Harry's right shoulder, trying to peak at the senders name.
"Tell us Harry! Oh, did Malfoy get the same letter as you? I wonder who it's from, probably from Dumbledore. Or maybe, you and Malfoy haven't been fighting, have you? Because Harry..."
"Hermione please, it's just from Dumbledore. Me and Malfoy are probably just taking the same extra credit course or something." Harry wasn't surprised at how easily, how naturally the lie came out.
Harry could feel someone's gaze on him, without looking, assuming it was Draco's stare, he stood up, excusing himself. He knew that Ron and Hermione wouldn't question him. He also knew Draco would shortly join him when it was safe too, without raising suspicion.
When Harry was out of the hall he followed one of the corridors that lead to the dungeons. At the end of the corridor, he descended the large stone steps and stopped in front of a large painting of a serpent. It was none other then the entrance to Slytherin. Harry whispered the password, and the entrance opened.
Looking in, Harry saw something. Someone deciding to skip dinner was sitting on one of the black leather chairs, staring at the empty fireplace. Hearing the noise of the painting rub against the stone floor, Pansy Parkinson looked up from a letter that looked very similar to his own.
"Oh, hey Harry," Pansy looked back down at her letter, concern etched across her face, "get your letter yet?"
"Um, yea actually. I just got it. Voldemort send it in the middle of dinner though, not one of hi more brilliant plans I must say. I'm just waiting for Draco. Were supposed to be discussing our plans for the Initiation and such."
"Oh ok. That's cool." Pansy replied, though she didn't seem like she was really taking much interest in what Harry said. She seemed too preoccupied with her letter.
"Hey Pans, what's the matter?" Harry asked as he pulled her over to the leather couch and sat her down, sitting himself beside her.
"Oh nothing Harry. I'm just being silly is all." Harry could easily see that whatever Pansy was worried about, it wasn't just 'silliness'.
"Come on, you know you can tell me. You know you can tell me anything right?" Pansy looked into Harry's eyes and knew he was being sincere. God, she loved Harry to death; the brother she never had. But were her feelings really completely platonic? Ever since Harry had chosen the rightful side, there friendship just seemed to come naturally. Unlike some of the Slytherin boys, Harry actually cared. Seeing the look on his face made her see that she could tell him anything, no matter how silly or stupid it was.
"Well, like I said it's really nothing big, it's just...this is so nerve-wracking! Holy Salazar Harry, look at what I have to live up to. I'm a daughter of a death eater from Master's inner circle for Merlin's sake! I know I'm going to mess up, or at least do something wrong at the ceremony. I can just picture myself tripping on my robe on the way to get the mark from Master." At Pansy's last comment Harry couldn't help but laugh, but the seriousness of Pansy's face made him stop.