The dungeons hadn't changed much when he and Ron forayed into it during Second Year. Harry settled to wait right across from the Slytherin entrance with Holly, waiting on Pansy to reveal herself. This was the day that would either make or break Holly's compliance with the whole caretaker system that Dumbledore had construed. Harry had his reservations, but begrudgingly understood the whole point of this exercise; to let Hedwig be more comfortable being human around humans. And he couldn't shield her from unsavory people all the time, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try his damnedest to protect her from any Slytherin idotic enough to lay a hand on her.
Cough, Malfoy, Cough.
The walls opened up and the figure of Pansy Parkinson appeared. Her mouth turned up as she saw Holly and she gave a nod to acknowledge Harry's presence, "Good morning you two, how are you Holly?"
"Hello Pansy, I'm good." Holly's tone had softened, still clearly guarded around her presence.
"And how about you?" Pansy looked up and made eye contact with the Gryffindor boy.
"As well as I can be near enemy territory." Harry offered as he eyed the entrance, vigilantly looking out for any Slytherins that may exit from their common room.
Rolling her eyes, Pansy ignored his paranoia and went down to her knees and spoke softly to Holly, "Hey, how about we go someplace more fun?"
Holly shook in excitement, a Pavlovian response to the words "fun" that Sue Li and Susan instilled on her, and Pansy's confidence rose due to her reaction. With a hop in her step, Holly tugged on Pansy and jumped up and down, "Let's go! Let's go!"
Laughing at her anticipation, Pansy took a hold of her hand and grinned, "Well, if you say go, we go!"
Harry just smiled and took a backseat, keeping an eye on both of them.
And to the shadowy figure following them from behind.
Pansy walked on near Hagrid's Hut, a place familiar both to Harry and Hedwig, and seemed to scan the ground for something beyond her vision, "Now where did it go?"
Holly looked left and right, before looking up to Pansy with a questioning gaze, "What are we looking for?"
With a put out look, Pansy let out a sigh and sadly said, "Well, it's just that I got a ton of things for you and it seems that they've disappeared. But, what is this?"
A gasp made its way out of her mouth as she crouched down and picked up a letter off the ground. Holly eyed the letter with curiosity and had her attention a hundred percent on the Slytherin caretaker as she read the letter:
"I have hidden your presents for Holly! If you want to find them all, you must solve my riddles and puzzles!
Signed, the Strange Specter."
Again, she gasped and had a worried expression on her face, "Oh no, there's a serial thief on our hands!"
Two ends of the reaction spectrum were on display at Pansy's theatrics; Harry had an amused smile due to Pansy's exaggerated acting, while Holly had a stone faced expression, the audacity of the Strange Specter's heinous actions instilling in her a need to catch the thief. A glint of conviction lit up her eyes as Holly stated earnestly, "Don't worry, Pansy. I'll help you get this Strange Specter!"
Pansy nodded and smiled, "Thank you Holly. Come on, let's start by looking over here."
As they went off to start with Pansy's constructed adventure, Harry eyed the tree where the person tailing them took hold. He walked and leaned on said tree, before stating bluntly, "So, do you usually suck this much at hiding or do you get Crabbe and Goyle to do it for you?"
The sound of rustling leaves gave way to the head of Draco Malfoy appearing out of the bush.
"Shut it, Potter." The Malfoy Scion's tone took on a snooty note, although the effect was lost as he looked silly with his body hidden by shrubbery.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know being a Malfoy means you can just stalk a girl and a child without consequence." Harry sarcastically droned out, making Draco redden; out of anger or embarrassment, he didn't know. Possibly both if past experience proved otherwise.
"I'm just keeping an eye on Pansy. I don't trust you to look after a rock, much less her." Draco stated, keeping an eye on Pansy all the while she and Holly looked to be solving some sort of puzzle.
"You know you could have just told Pansy you wanted to come? Is there a need to hide?" Harry asked, which Draco responded with a scoff.
"I don't expect you to understand." Draco said, his haughty words followed by silence…
"It's because you didn't want to look stupid in front of her, isn't it?"
Harry had a victorious grin as Draco mumbled and stewed in anger at being exposed, by his nemesis no less!
"It's not my fault! I don't know how to handle children. I'm fifteen for Merlin's sake and Pansy is already talking about babies and heirs!" Harry blinked at this unexpected side of Draco.
"Well, I can't say I'd not react that way as well if I was in your shoes." He couldn't believe he was reassuring the person that probably could be defined as the worst person he has ever met - barring the Dursleys, but only by a small margin - but nevertheless, he continued on speaking, "But you have to say something. Keeping quiet about something that irks you won't do you any good."
"It doesn't irk me." Draco refuted petulantly, "I'm just… I don't know, a mixture of excited and scared, I guess is the right feeling. But it's not like I hate it or anything."
"That's surprisingly human of you." Harry couldn't help but say out loud.
"What's that supposed to-" Draco stopped and immediately took cover. Harry heard the footsteps of Pansy and Holly near them and he saw them carrying an assortment of items, a majority of which he didn't recognize, except for an unopened pack of Exploding Snaps.
"Harry, look! Me and Pansy managed to find my presents!" Holly had a toothy grin as she lifted the toys and gizmos in her arms.
"Holly was brilliant, solving all the riddles and puzzles." Pansy praised her with a smile. Harry nodded and let out an impressed hum.
"I'm sure she did. Great job out there, Holly." Patting her on the head, Harry was happy to see her preening and positively beaming.
Holly then turned towards the bush where Draco was currently hidden in, pointing with her finger at the conspicuous piece of shrubbery.
"Is he also trying to find his presents?"
Harry bit the inside of his cheek to fight the urge to laugh out loud, meanwhile Pansy bemusingly asked the owl-turned-human girl, "Who are you talking about, darling?"
Standing up, his arms up in the air in a surrendering gesture, Draco attempted a smile, but it came across more as a grimace as he nervously let out, "Hi…"
A beat…
"Harry, do you mind if you and Holly give me and Draco some privacy?" Pansy's tone was calm, but the two boys felt the underlying killing intent that poured out of her. Taking Holly's hand, Harry quickly ushered them out of their vicinity, Holly looking between Pansy and Draco confusingly.
"Umm… I can explain?" His pitch rose at the end of his statement. Obviously feeling the fear only a male can feel when angering their significant other.
The feeling only strengthened as Pansy cracked her knuckles, a soft smile on her face.
"And then you pull the rubber band here and… Tadah! A star!"
Holly held out the rubber band pattern she had created out for Pansy to see. She applauded and cheered, although she truly was impressed by the creativity Holly had demonstrated using only a piece of rubber band.
Off to the side, Draco gingerly tended to his cheek, which had a large, red, hand marked on it. Harry sat beside him, tittering in amusement.
"Don't you start, Potter." Draco growled in contempt, but Harry was not able to take him seriously.
"Next time, maybe don't stalk us and expect to get off scot free." Pansy commented offhandedly, glaring at him at the corner of her eye, before returning her attention back to Holly as she fiddled with the rubber band in her hands once more.
"I wasn't stalking…" Draco mumbled out pitifully. Falling on to deaf ears as Pansy's unabated attention was on the little girl's pattern making hands.
Harry heard him however, and gave a smirk at his direction, "Yeah, that'll sound convincing in court."
Not wanting to raise his future wife's ire and give her more reasons to give him hell any further, Draco simply glared at him silently. Suddenly, his vision was obscured by dainty little hands and the shape of a heart. After retreating his head back, the smiling face of Pansy's charge was more apparent. An awkward silence followed, the both of them not making any movement, before Pansy coughed and had Draco jump from the sudden noise.
Taking a look behind Holly, he could see Pansy smile at him but it had a hint of malicious intent and a promise of a world of hurt if he made a wrong move or said anything out of turn.
"Amazing, Holly. Simply brilliant." Draco's tone was borderline monotone but it was enough for Holly to take it positively and smile brightly, in turn causing Pansy to lighten up and nod in satisfaction.
Draco let out a sigh of relief and groaned silently. Harry stayed quiet and observed, albeit a quirk of his mouth letting his amusement known.
Holly took her usual spot in the crook of Harry's neck as the day closed. Pansy walked alongside them, and waited patiently outside their assigned room as he tucked Holly in and left her in their room. As Harry walked out, jolted in surprise at Pansy's presence, half-expecting her to leave when they finally made it to their room.
"Er… Can I help you?" Harry asked, wondering if the girls had made a plan together to stay after every time that he tucked Holly in for the night.
"Just wanted to apologize for Draco, I know you and him don't see eye to eye."
'Quite an understatement.' Harry mentally deadpanned at her comment, but smiled outwardly and shook his head.
"No need, for what I've seen he's been much more friendly, accommodatingly so."
"Well, let's just say that I've spoken with him beforehand and made it known that any unruly actions around or towards Holly may lead to an extended stay at the infirmary."
Harry grinned and the memory of Hermione's whacking of Ron and Zacharias had him taking the equally assertive girl at her word, "I don't doubt it."
"Want me to walk you back?" Harry offered, expecting her to decline, but she uncharacteristically accepted his offer with a nod and he followed her to her dorm.
To let the silence subside, Pansy started off by stating her observations from earlier, "I see that you've been playing nice with Draco as well."
Harry eyed her out of his peripheral vision and hummed neutrally, "Had to. His fear of you was palpable that even I felt bad for him."
She let out a snicker and he winced, feeling sorry all over again for the blond ponce that he called his enemy. Pansy coyly leaned towards him and he leaned away nervously, she had a cat-like smirk as she asked, "And why would you or him be afraid of me?"
Even he knew that was a trap best not stepped on, so he ungraciously changed the subject, "So marriage huh? Can't fathom why you guys are getting married so young."
Smirking at his attempt to tread towards lesser dangerous waters, she obliged and replied, "Technically, we'll get married when we're out of Hogwarts. It's just convenient to know now; it would be horrible to find that out when we're going out with different people, after all. So our parents divulged it to us when we were young enough to comprehend what it meant."
"And you're alright with that? Having your partner be chosen before you were practically even born?" Harry couldn't help but ask. Pansy gave it a moment to think about before stating carefully.
"If it had been anyone else, probably not." Pansy conceded, "But it's Draco; we've practically been together for our whole lives, so the prospect of us being together didn't really bother me that much."
She took a step forward and stopped in front of him, the both of them at the Slytherin Common Room entrance, "Thank you for chaperoning me, Harry."
Harry smiled at her choice of words, "No problem, Pansy."
With a wave, he left her to return back to his room. Pansy took a moment to linger her vision on his back. Her thoughts on their conversation.
Another time, another universe, maybe she would have been betrothed to another; she knew her parents had spoken to many other families that equaled the Malfoy's clout. And she couldn't help but wonder if her parents ever entertained the thought of sending an owl to the Potter's…
Shaking her head to get rid of that line of thought, she entered the common room and smiled at the sleeping body of her soon-to-be husband, taking the spot on the couch, obviously waiting for her to return.
Best not to dwell on what ifs.
Holly did a funny little dance, excited to get things started for the day. She scribbled furiously on the piece of paper with the crayons that she and Pansy had recovered together and had a plan to make that Draco boy smile some more, as well as the other people that had taken the day to make her have so much fun. She giggled as the crayons filled in the shapes and figures she had drawn, and it wasn't too long before her drawing was finally finished. She quickly started on another and listened out for Harry as he prepared for the day as well.
"Holly! Time for breakfast!"
Holly drew faster and started on the last piece of paper, letting out loud, "Just a second!"
Letting the magical crayons finish her work, she quickly fixed everything up; tidying loose objects and putting everything back to their place, before clutching the three sets of paper and rushing out the front door, careening into Harry. She let out a little "Oof!" And landed square on her bottom.
"Told you to take it slow, remember?" Harry laughed softly as she stood up and blushed, a beaming smile still on her face.
They traversed the halls, the occasional student giving a wave to both Harry and Holly, who both returned it with different energy; Harry with his lazy wave, whilst Holly swung her arm side to side in a wide range.
As they arrived in the Great Hall, Harry made to go to their customary spot at the Gryffindor table, but a tug on his trousers had him look down and see Holly point at the opposite side of the hall.
"Can I give Sue Li, Susan, and Pansy something before we sit down?" If Holly's pleading tone hadn't been enough, her puppy dog eyes were just overkill. Harry nodded resignedly and followed Holly as she travelled to each of the tables. The recipients having completely different reactions to their gifts:
Sue Li nodded and gave Holly a smile as she accepted the paper from her, and she took a look it was a drawing of herself and the activities they had partaken the day she was in charge of taking charge of her. The childlike quality of the drawing didn't take away from her opinion of the drawing; if anything it only added more of her charm and she held a small smile as she carefully folded the paper and pocketed it safely, triple checking that it wouldn't fall out or disappear from her person.
Susan gave her a hug, as well as the other Hufflepuffs that accompanied the both of them, and she and the group huddled together to see what was on the paper; a drawing of the Holly Brigade and the pose she had created, with Susan and Harry standing on opposite sides. They all cooed and awed over the drawing, smiling at one another and wanting to magically replicate the drawing immediately, so that each of them could have a copy of their own.
Pansy took the paper, gave her a quick hug and a chaste kiss to the cheek, and waved goodbye as she and Harry went to the Gryffindor table. She opened it up and gasped as the drawing depicted Pansy and Draco in a wedding; with Holly as the flower girl and Harry at Draco's side. She nudged Draco and showed it to him with a smile, "Look who drew us."
Even Draco, with his pompous attitude and haughty outlook, was surprised to see the drawing and the love it had on the surface, marred with crayon and smiley faces. Smiling, he let out a huff, "Honestly, if it were our real wedding, it would be even more fantastic than that."
"Hmph, then maybe I won't give you a copy and repeat what you said to Holly." Draco's face took on a moment of panic and he quickly reigned in what he said, before realising that Pansy was tittering in laughter and he blushed madly in embarrassment, but still held a smile.
Harry, having witnessed all of this, looked down on Holly and hugged her closer to him and smiled. She looked up and reciprocated his smile with one of her own, before turning back to her plate of food and enjoying the breakfast. Harry followed her lead and the day quickly went by as normal.
Nothing could ruin this day.
Voldemort's face was contorted in a furious frown as he waited in line for food. Having taken host in a body that was near death in an alleyway, he could feel the small semblance of magic in the body and quickly possessed it. His clothes were worn and tattered and he was sure that his breath smelled as well as his whole body. But at least he had a body…
A body that currently needed sustenance, hence his presence at this particular line.
He inferred that this line was for people like his host; people of equivalent smell and fashion choices, and his stomach grumbled as he neared the front of the line.
'As soon as I get my energy back, I will travel to that damned castle and rip that boy to shreds!"
Voldemort waited, seething in anger as he accepted the sandwich from the hands of the impatient worker in front of him. He sneered and ate the bread.
And then his throat tightened and he couldn't breathe.
As he fell down, a bunch of people began to panic, running to his side and trying to help him.
"He's having an allergic reaction!"
"Who in the bloody hell eats a peanut butter sandwich when you have an allergy to it!"
Voldemort had one last thought before his body succumbed to its weakness and transferred into the eventual wraith he will once again become…
'Potter now. Next… Jif!'
A/N: Poor Voldy, should have just taken the soup line. Leave a review; free peanut butter sandwich with every one!
