Beneath The Facade
Murder
"Have you heard? Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson are back together!"
"No way! Really?"
"Yes! A Ravenclaw prefect just caught them snogging in a corridor last night!"
"But isn't Parkinson going out with Potter?"
"Oh yeah, they were ever so sweet during the last Hogsmeade visit, right?"
"I bet she only did that to get close to Potter and hurt him."
"Yeah, everyone knows that you can't trust a Slytherin."
"Why did the boy-who-lived believe her though..?"
"Poor Harry, I heard he's taking it bad..."
"Don't listen to what they're saying mate," Ron tried to assure his friend as he added gillyweed roots to the boiling contents of his cauldron, "bloody Slytherins probably planted the rumors."
Harry only remained quiet.
Harry's POV
How could she do this? Thought, it wasn't as if we were actually going out, right? But when we were in the Three Broomsticks, she-- Why did I possibly think that a complete Slytherin would actually be friendly with a total Gryffindor?
She saved your life. Isn't that a guarantee?
Yeah, but still...
You're just jealous. Deep inside, you were actually hoping that Pansy wouldn't get back with Malfoy...
End Harry's POV
"But that's not the point!" Harry exclaimed loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Harry--" Hermione started but was interrupted by their greatest annoyance in potions class.
"What is not the point Mr. Potter?" Snape spat as he glidingly went to check out what was going on with the Golden Trio's work.
"Nothing sir," Harry replied.
"Oh really, boy," Snape continued, "do you think that I am dumb not to notice that something sickening has been going around?"
"No sir," Harry silently gritted.
"Insolent as your father, I see. 10 points from Gryffindor for disrupting my class, Potter."
The rest of the class was spent with silence and concentration on their work.
"Kindly stay along with me Mr. Potter and Ms. Parkinson," Snape hissed after he dismissed everyone. Draco stayed behind watching everything.
"You better go to your next class, Mr. Malfoy. Mr. Potter and Ms. Parkinson have some things to discuss with me about their abysmal grades in potions."
"Sir, about Potter that's understandable, but Pansy's--"
"Kindly do as you're told Draco."
Draco Malfoy grudgingly left for his next class.
"So..." Snape started.
"With all due respect sir," started Pansy, "I don't think I'm failing Potions at all so I don't see why I should be kept from going to my next class."
Harry looked admiringly at Pansy, he never saw a student talk back to Snape like that before.
"As your Head of House Ms. Parkinson, I believe I have the right to stop you from going into class due to an important subject."
"But sir--"
"It appears Ms. Parkinson, that your hanging around with Mr. Potter has taught you to be quite a blabbermouth."
"What--" Harry interrupted but was silenced by a glare from Snape.
"I kept the two of you here for only one reason," Snape hissed.
Harry and Pansy shared a confused look.
"Stop that!" Snape interrupted.
"Stop what sir?" Harry questioned, weirded out by the way Snape was acting and giving another glimpse at Pansy who looked as weirded out as he did.
"That!" Snape bellowed. "Stop giving questioning stares at each other as if the other would help you!"
"What?"
"Have the two of you not even common sense to understand that a Slytherin and a Gryffindor must not be seen together? The Three Broomsticks of all places!"
"You kept us here for that?" Pansy incredulously asked the resident bat of Hogwarts.
Harry couldn't control himself and let out a growl of laughter in front of the man he shouldn't be laughing at.
"This is not a laughing matter, Mr. Potter," Snape glared coldly.
"I-I'm sor-ry sir..," Harry continued laughing, "it's just... the w-way y-you looked... You looked exactly like my aunt when she scolds my nephew--"
"Call it scolding if you want but this is a serious matter, Mr. Potter. It is a known silent agreement that a Gryffindor and a Slytherin must not be seen together! And enjoying each other's company at that! I'm surprised your family hasn't sent a howler or a curse to murder you, Ms. Parkinson!"
Harry's laughter stopped as he suddenly noticed the emotionless expression that suddenly took over Pansy's face.
"I don't see why they should meddle in my business sir."
"Ms. Parkinson--" but whatever Snape was going to say, it was never said. For at that exact moment, McGonagall entered the potions classroom with a bang, her face pale with both shock, sorrow, and horror.
"Minerva, what--" Snape questioned but was stopped when Minerva blurted out,
"Severus, it's your student, Zabini--!"
"Wha--?" Harry started to ask, but was cut off by Snape.
"What did the blundering idiot do this time? I just told him with the rest of his class to go to the next subject--"
Harry shook his head, "don't you remember, Professor? Blaise wasn't in class today."
Snape's eyes widened and he looked over at Mcgonagall, "what happened?"
"Severus--Blaise Zabini--" Mcgonagall continued with a tear stricken complexion, "he's… dead."