"Dracaena Trifasciata," said Daphne.

The portrait of Salazar Slytherin melted away, revealing the square passage that linked the dungeon corridor to the Slytherin common room.

"Pansy, you're back!" Millicent cried, stumbling in ahead of Teddie and company. They had just finished their fourth lesson of the day and were dropping their things off at the Common room before heading up to Lunch.

Pansy Parkinson sat amongst a cluster of Slytherin students near the fireplace. She looked healthy, or at least healthier than she had done a few months previous.

Millicent dashed across the common room and engulfed her best friend. The two held onto one another, and Teddie could not help but smile.

"When did you get out of the hospital?" Tracey asked.

"Monday," Pansy answered, relinquishing Millicent. "I had a couple of days at home with Mum and Dad, and then came back here this morning." She met Teddie's gaze, and hesitated.

Teddie smiled. "It's good to see you back," she said. "You gave us all quite a scare"

"Mum and Dad told me what you did," said Pansy. "Thank you."

"No problem."

An awkward silence fell between them. It was common knowledge that Pansy and Teddie were not friends, and had not liked one another since the start of school five years ago; they constantly bickered and Pansy even expressed a liking to Teddie being a victim of the Basilisk four years ago; which was why people had been confused when Teddie has selflessly abandoned safety to try and help Pansy during the attack a few months ago.

"I know you have a lot of catching up to do," said Teddie, "but any chance we can talk? Alone."

Pansy glanced at Millicent, squeezed her hand, and then nodded. "Yeah. There are somethings we need to talk about," she said.

"We'll meet you in the Great Hall, Ted," said Blaise.

Daphne turned to Millicent. "Join us?" she asked.

Stunned, Millicent nodded numbly and followed the trio out of the Common Room. It had emptied now of most students, only those that remained were seventh years, but they kept to themselves at their own tables.

Teddie and Pansy sat opposite one another on the leather couches near the fire. An awkward silence fell between them, and neither knew how to start.

Finally, Pansy broke the silence. "Why did you do it?" she asked. "Why did you help me? I mean, we are not friends."

"No, we're not, but I couldn't let what was happening happen and not do something," said Teddie. "I could tell something was not right. When you brushed past me in the Three Broomsticks, I could feel something off about you, and I know what it is like to be under an Unforgiveable. Then there was the terror in Millicent's voice when we found you on the High Street…"

"Mum and Dad are shocked that you helped me and didn't want anything in return," said Pansy. "Dad kept asking me to ask you if -"

"I don't want anything from you in return for your safety," said Teddie. "Look, Pansy, you and I aren't friends, I get that, but what you went through…" she shook her head. "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, and that's saying something."

Pansy stared bleakly at Teddie. "Is it true that the Dark Lady tortured you?" she asked.

"Yes," Teddie answered. What did she have to hide? She was surprised more people had not asked her about her time with Avery two summers ago: especially those with Death Eater parents. "And last year, at the Ministry, she used her abilities to try and suffocate me."

Pansy's eyes widened. "Mum is afraid that the Dark Lady will try to use us to get to you," she said. "She's afraid that she will think we're friends now that you saved me."

"I won't let that happen," said Teddie.

"But we aren't friends."

"Doesn't matter."

Pansy offered her a small smile.

Another awkward silence fell.

"I don't know who gave me the necklace, you know," said Pansy, after a short while.

Teddie looked stunned. "I didn't -"

"It's okay," said Pansy, reassuringly. "I could see the question on your face from the moment you realised I was here. Thank you for not asking me straight away. I appreciate you thinking of my wellbeing first."

Teddie smiled awkwardly. "I just want to find who did this to you," she said. "And, if it is in anyway related to what is happening in the world. I want to find the person and make them regret involving you in their plans."

"You're scary, you know that?" Pansy asked. "When you talk about revenge. You sound like her."

"Like Faye?"

Pansy nodded. "Or, at least what everyone thinks she should sound like," she said.

"Sorry. I just hate when innocent people get hurt for someone else's agenda."

Pansy nodded. "Like your parents?" she asked.

"Yeah. Like my parents."

"Well," Pansy sighed. "All I remember that day was going to the bathroom in the Three Broomsticks."

"You definitely went into the bathroom?"

Pansy looked thoughtful. "I remember pushing open the door," she said. "So, I suppose, whoever Imperiused me was standing behind it. After that, my memory is blank until about two weeks ago in St. Mungo's."

Teddie listened keenly. Harry had a theory on who had imperiused Pansy, but it had fallen flat when they had learned Malfoy was in detention, and therefore not in Hogsmeade; but if the event had taken place in the girls' bathroom, then the orchestrator had to be a female.

"Listen, I'm going to get some lunch," said Pansy, standing, "and have a catch up with Millicent before this afternoon. Thank you, Teddie, for everything you have done."

Teddie smiled and nodded. When Pansy was at the portrait hole, she turned and leaned over the back of the sofa. "Hey, Pansy," she called.

"Yeah?"

"Welcome back."

Pansy smiled, waved, and disappeared.

~X~

Teddie looked up as the door to the empty Charms classroom opened and Pansy shuffled inside. "Hey, you're early," she said, checking her watch.

"Yeah, I know, but I was in the common room," said Pansy. "I did not realize it would take me so quick to get up here. I still cannot believe that you are a junior assistant for Flitwick."

Teddie smiled. "I can't believe it, either" she admitted. "When I started at the beginning of the school year, I was told that I would be working with students' years 5 and under, but I guess Flitwick doesn't mind me helping you catch up."

"To be honest, I'm glad to have the help," Pansy admitted. "Charms has always been a tough subject for me."

Teddie nodded in understanding. Charms was not an easy subject for everyone. Between the wand movements and correct pronunciation of words, it was not difficult to see why people struggled.

"Um, can I ask you something?" Pansy asked.

"Sure. Everything okay?"

Pansy shrugged. "Am I the only one that finds this…" she motioned between the two of them, "weird? I mean, we have not been friends at all, and now we have seen more of each other than physically possible considering we are in the same house, and we are talking instead of trying to take each other's heads off."

Teddie smiled lightly. Sure, it had been weird in the beginning, but just because they were civil towards one another now, did not change everything that had happened in the past. It just meant that they had grown older and matured beyond their childish actions.

And Teddie was not ashamed to admit that to Pansy.

Pansy considered the answer and nodded. "I guess I should thank you," she said. "For agreeing to tutor me, that is. I am the worst student you will ever have."

"You'd be surprised," said Teddie. "I tutored a seventh-year last month, and he couldn't even do the levitation spell properly." She shrugged. "But I should not be talking about the other students like that. Anyway, shall we get started?"

Pansy nodded and dropped her bag onto an empty seat. "What's first?" she asked.

"Well, normally, I use the first session to gauge where you are in your learning and how I can possibly help you," said Teddie. "This is different, though, because you know all the charms, we were learning about leading up to your attack. I do not know how well you mastered them, or if you did or did not, but I think we should concentrate on the ones you missed while away. What do you think?"

Pansy nodded. "I didn't master all the Charms leading up to the attack," she said. "Any chance you can help me with them?"

"Sure. Which one did you struggle with?"

While Pansy listed the Charms she struggled with, Teddie listened openly and earnestly.

"Okay. Well, you have a choice," said Teddie, "I can either show you the ones you missed while you were away, or we can start on the ones you struggled with."

"Can we start with the ones from last term first?"

Teddie nodded. "Of course!" she said.

Pansy smiled, and Teddie could not help but think that it was the first genuine smile that Pansy had ever directed at her. Even the ones Pansy had supported when they had spoken the day of her return to Hogwarts seemed forced, or tired, but this one was different.

Teddie returned it and reached for her wand. "Ready?" she asked.

"Ready," Pansy echoed.

~X~

At the end of the hour, Teddie and Pansy separated outside of the Charms classroom, with the latter heading down to the common room and the former up to the library to meet her friends.

As she climbed the moving staircase, Teddie could not help but let her mind wander. Not only over what she and Pansy had just learned during the Charms session, but about the events that led to Pansy's attack – it had to have been a woman that had given her the necklace, right? But how many women out there wanted Dumbledore dead.

Avery? Was it Avery that had snuck into the bathroom at the Three Broomsticks, imperiused a Hogwarts student and planted a cursed Necklace on them in the hopes that it would make it back to Dumbledore?

Teddie shook her head. No, a lot could have gone wrong – a lot did go wrong – and Avery's plans always succeeded. At least they had succeeded when they had not included trying to kidnap and torture her daughter.

So, who else would want Dumbledore dead?

Teddie could remember Harry's theories about Draco Malfoy, but Malfoy could not have done it because he was in detention, and there was the matter of the fact that he was the wrong gender. But could he have persuaded someone to do it for him?

But who would be foolish enough to agree to help him? Who would set themselves up to take the blame or the fallout for a sixteen-year-old? Malfoy was a lot of things, but Teddie could not see him being able to even pay someone to take the fall for his actions, besides, if he were placed at Hogwarts to kill Dumbledore on Voldemort's orders, would he really want someone else to take the glory for his plans?

Harry had also said something about Polyjuice Potion. A stock of it had gone missing from the Supply Cupboard in the Potions classroom; so had someone used female hair to change and then sneak into the girls' bathroom and plant the necklace on someone else?

Why bother though? Again, why are bother planting the necklace on someone else and risk them getting the glory of killing someone that you were supposed to have?

None of it made any sense.

Then, there was Malfoy himself. The last few times Teddie had seen him, he had not looked anything like the Draco Malfoy she knew. He had become slim, slim, and paler than death itself. Every Breakfast and Dinner, he looked like he was about to throw up, and the mere food he did manage to get down was not enough to sustain him all day and night.

A few nights in the common room she had seen him bent over a table, nose inches from a book, but she was sure it was not a schoolbook – something to do with whatever job he had been given. His hair was dull and greasy, like he had forgotten to wash it, and his face was a lot more hollowed out, a clear sign that he was not eating properly.

Occasionally, at breakfast, she would glimpse black bags under his eyes, but as many times as she wanted to ask him if he was all right, she knew better. Unlike her and Pansy's newfound relationship improvement, she knew that she and Malfoy would never come to any level were they could, or would, understand one another.

There was a loud bang, followed by a high-pitched screech of "STOP!"

Teddie stopped at the sound of sloshing water and looked down. She was standing in a puddle that was running out from the gap beneath a door behind her. It was a boys' bathroom, and she could not help but wonder if a fight had broken out between two students.

"SECTUMSEMPRA!"

Teddie's heart leapt as she recognised the voice.

Whipping around, Teddie lunged for the door, shoving it open and stopped dead, her mouth hanging open as she took in the scene.

Harry was standing with his wand in hand, his arm stretched out in front of him.

Moaning Myrtle was hovering in the air, screeching at the top of her lungs – "MURDER! MURDER IN THE BATHROOM! MURDER!"

While Draco Malfoy lay in the centre of the room, water pooling all around him, and scarlet blood staining his white school shirt.

"Harry," Teddie breathed.

"No – I didn't -" Harry gasped. He staggered forward, slipping in the water. He looked around, his eyes wide as he met her gaze, then slid to something behind her.

Teddie felt him before she saw him. The hairs on the back of her neck sat on end, and she could feel the heat of his presence long before he brushed past.

Professor Snape was livid as he swept into the room. He swept towards the scene, shoving Harry aside as he knelt beside Malfoy and drew his wand.

Teddie watched as Snape pressed the tip of his wand to Malfoy's wounds and muttered an incantation that she did not recognise. Before her eyes, the blood stains disappeared, flowing back into the wounds they had come from.

The wounds seemed to knit themselves back together, but Teddie could not be sure without seeing them. She had to trust that Snape knew what he was doing.

Standing awkwardly nearby, his clothes soaked with water, was Harry. He stared helplessly at Malfoy and Snape, fear shining on both his face and in his eyes.

"Is he going to be okay?" Teddie asked, finally, shattering the silence that had fallen.

"He'll need the hospital wing," said Snape. "There may be a certain amount of scarring, but if he takes dittany immediately, we might avoid even that."

Teddie glanced at Harry. He was still rigid and struck by fear. He did not seem to have heard Snape.

"Miss Green," Snape's voice snapped Teddie out of her head. She turned back to him, acutely aware that her hands were now shaking, and her heart still beating fast.

"Sorry," Teddie murmured. "What did you say?"

"I asked, could you take him to the Hospital Wing?" Snape asked.

Teddie nodded numbly. "Yes. Yes, of course," she said, crossing the room. Water sloshed around her and, shouldering her bag onto both shoulders, Teddie wound one of Malfoy's arms around her, and looped her own around his waist.

He was dead weight, but still, using her as a crutch, managed to shuffle out of the bathroom.

"As for you, Potter," said Snape, his voice cold with fury.

Teddie did not hear the rest of the sentence as the door swung shut, cutting her and Malfoy off from Harry and Snape.

"I can make it by myself," said Malfoy, weakly. He tried to shove away from Teddie, wobbled unsteadily, and would have fallen as she not caught him.

"Sure, you can," Teddie replied.

"I don't need your help."

"Huh—uh."

Outside the Hospital Wing, Teddie used her wand to open the doors, and then half carried/half dragged Malfoy inside.

"Madam Pomfrey!" Teddie called. She helped Malfoy to a nearby bed and set him down, watching as he flopped over onto his back, his head hitting the pillow with an inaudible thump.

Madam Pomfrey gasped as she rushed over. "What happened?" she asked, promptly.

"Fight in the boys' bathroom," Teddie answered. "Professor Snape asked me to bring him. I do not know the spell that was used," she added. What good would it do to rat Harry out to the medical matron? Especially when he was already being chewed out by Snape.

Madam Pomfrey removed her wand and pointed it at Malfoy. She muttered a spell, and the buttons on his shirt started to pop open; Teddie averted her gaze as, like a puppet, Malfoy sat up and his shirt slid from his shoulders and pooled around his hips on the bed.

Once Madam Pomfrey had redressed him in hospital wing pajamas, she tucked him into the bed and turned to Teddie. "The scars seemed healed," she said. "How?"

"Professor Snape did it before sending him up here," said Teddie. "He said, if he took Dittany straight away then he would avoid possible scarring."

Madam Pomfrey nodded and bustled over to her supply cupboard. She fussed around inside before returning with two small brown bottles, complete with a pipette attached to the side. She handed one to Teddie.

"Um, what am I supposed to do with this?" Teddie asked.

"Drip it onto his wounds," said Madam Pomfrey. "It will heal the outside. Once he woken up, I will mix him up a concoction of Dittany so that it will heal the insides."

Teddie nodded, shrugged off her backpack, and followed Madam Pomfrey in attending to Malfoy's wounds. Using the pipette, she dribbled some golden liquid onto his chest, watching as the wounds faded to thick, taut new skin.

Moving up to his face, Teddie took the offered cotton ball from Madam Pomfrey, pressed it against the mouth of the bottle and turned it upside down. She then pressed the swab to Malfoy's face.

Once they were finished, Madam Pomfrey used her wand to cover Malfoy in a second blanket and turned to Teddie, placing a hand on her shoulder as she took the bottle of Dittany.

"Let him rest, Miss Green," Madam Pomfrey said, gently. "I will keep him here tonight and check on his progress. I am sure Professor Snape will update you as soon as I have updated him."

Teddie nodded and glanced back at Malfoy one last time before leaving the Hospital Wing.