Two of a Kind
DISCLAIMER: We do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters therein. We do, however, own Persiopeia Black and all other original characters created for this story.
Chapter 2: Fifth Year Doldrums
I remember where I was in my home when my letter came from Dumbledore. I was in the sitting room with my mother. She was lecturing me on my latest rejection of a proposal from a boy born into another pure-blooded family.
"Persiopeia Black, you will marry someday. If you want to remain part of this family, you will marry a pureblood. Up to this point, you have rejected every proposal from every acceptable young man. When are you going to grow up and accept your duty!" my mother had been on her usual line about my lack of suitors.
"It's certainly not my fault that they all have bad teeth, or body odor, or the intelligence of a gargoyle. Find me a boy with good teeth, no body odor, intelligence, and a good family line, and I'll accept him. Without that, no dice."
And I meant it. I was sick of meeting all these pretty boys with no brains. My parents just could not understand that I was more concerned with how I would have to live with whomever I marry. Don't get me wrong; I'm not looking for 'my one true love'. I just don't want to wake up every morning and dread when my husband rolls over and demands his… rights.
My mother and I were just getting into a good fight when my father and a maid stormed in.
"Persiopeia Black, what is the meaning of this letter?" my father was still wise enough not to open anything that came by owl for me. The fact that it came from Hogwart's, and it looked like Dumbledore's own writing probably helped my case.
"I don't know. May I see it? It is, anyway, addressed to me," I had been patient enough with my family that day, and I had had enough. I stood and crossed the room, and had ripped the letter from his hands. I broke the seal and read the letter aloud: "We are pleased to inform you, Persiopeia Black, that you have been chosen as Slytherin House's prefect. As you know, being chosen as prefect is your first step towards becoming Head Girl of your chosen house. When you arrive at Platform 9 ¾, you will meet up with your partner. You will know him by the prefect's badge he will be wearing; enclosed, you will find one of the same design. By the way, in order to help the first years, remember your pass-phrase: 'parselmouths belong with snakes'."
"Prefect! How delightful! And in Slytherin, your partner is undoubtedly a pureblood. Send an owl as soon as you arrive so we can arrange a meeting with his parents to discuss your prospects," my mother had said gleefully, and I knew that I could not get out of that.
"Persiopeia, it is time that you suck it up. Begin preparing for your journey back to school. And make sure you pack something…delightful…for your fellow prefect," my father had already made up his mind.
Two weeks later, I stood alone at the entrance Platform 9 ¾. As I looked around at the muggles surrounding the entrance, my mind felt fragmented. I was trying to make sure no muggles would see me enter. At the same time, I was worried about who the other prefect would be.
'Well, I know it won't be Crabbe or Goyle, that much is for sure. Flint is too old. Pansy. Pansy's a girl. And I'm already the female prefect…' I thought to myself, forgetting to look for the matching prefect badge, and also forgetting to look where I was going.
"Hey, watch it, Persy. With the way you walk around, one would think that you're a mudblood. Head down, eyes averted," Draco Malfoy's voice pierced my thoughts.
'Ballocks! He couldn't be the other prefect, could he?' I thought to myself. I dragged my eyes from the ground I looked intensely interested in to check the left side of his chest for the tell-tale badge. My, I had to crane my neck. I'm not short, but over the summer, he sure did grow. He towered over me, and his chest had become irresistibly wide and rather strong-looking. 'Shit! Stop thinking like that! Its dumb Draco, your rival – not your lover!'
"I know that I am unbelievably gorgeous, but stop staring at me," Draco said irritably as he pushed me through the pillar that was actually the entrance to Platform 9 ¾, and the Hogwart's Express.
"Don't push me around, Draco," I growled as I straightened my robes, hiding my face and blush. "I'm a prefect, and I soon as I find the other – What's that look for?" I demanded as a strange look clouded Draco's face.
He fished around in his trouser pocket and dragged out a small, irregularly shaped piece of fabric. Sending me an arrogant, sexy smirk, he affixed the fabric on his chest, above his left breast. "I'm your … partner. Better start checking on the first years, should we not, Pia?"
I shrank my trunk and thrust it into my pocket, then darted after him. "Don't call me that! My name is Persiopeia Black! Your mother is my distant cousin! Have respect for my family line!" I screeched as I struggled to keep up with him. He turned to me as I finally caught up with him. Unfortunately, I didn't see him until it was too late. I ran right into him.
Draco caught me and we fell against the side of the train. As I struggled to get up, we slipped again, and I ended up caught between his body and the side of the train.
"My, my, my, I thought I might enjoy those new curves you've grown into, but after supporting their weight, I believe not," Draco breathed into my ear. The hard wall of his chest moved away and I whimpered for loss of it.
"Get off of me right now, Draco Malfoy! And to think, I have to work with you!" I yelled, elbowing him hard in the side as I climbed aboard the train, turning towards the front, where the prefects' compartments were, and where the first years would undoubtedly congregate. I was cursing up a blue streak, and he just laughed at me! Thank Merlin there were no professors anywhere near. Slytherin would have lost points before the beginning of term for my outburst. My father in particular had been on me recently for my language. I'm not planning on changing it anytime soon, so he can say what he likes.
Luckily, Draco was currently being harassed by the mudblood and the Weasel King. Hmph. Like Draco could have thought of that on his own. All the Slytherins called all the Weasley boys that. Before he could call on Crabbe and Goyle for back-up, however, the youngest Weasley, Ginny, bat-bogeyed him.
"Draco, really, must your hormones act up all the time? Maybe you should just wash your face more often!" I called down the corridor, holding my stomach as I laughed. I don't like the so-called 'golden trio', or Ginny for that matter, but seeing Malfoy get his comeuppance after 'our little scene' was just … precious.
Unfortunately for me, Pansy Parkinson had managed to master at least one healing spell in the past five years. She cast it on the ferret and he was back to harassing me. I had finally managed to herd all the possible Slytherins into a compartment with some second years from our House, and I was ready to nap for the rest of the ride when he appeared in our compartment.
I was quite alone, as the other Houses prefects were still busily entertaining and herding the rest of the new first years. The Hufflepuffs were hanging around the Gryffindors, and the Ravenclaws were sharing compartments with our own House members. I was finally drifting off when the door to the compartment slammed open and Draco and Pansy stumbled in, snogging for all the world to see.
"Get her out of here!" I screeched as Pansy landed on me, knocking my breath from my lungs.
"Why should I? She's a Slytherin, just like us, and if it weren't for you, she'd be prefect," Draco sneered, snagging his arm around her rather ample waist.
"So, that's what you think, huh? It's my fault your dearest Pansy isn't a prefect?" I laughed. "I think that there is more to it than just me…like inbreeding; but thanks for the consideration. Now, Pansy, remove yourself from this compartment. I was resting, and you take up too much space."
"Me? Take up too much space? Well… what about you, Persy?" Pansy said, obviously trying to stake a claim on Draco. As she realized that her comeback was anything but snappy, she gripped his arm tightly and gave me a dirty look.
"You heard me. Get your larded arse out of the prefects' compartment. Being a Slytherin doesn't entitle you to this compartment. Out. Now."
"She's a pureblood. Give her some regard," Draco said venomously.
"I do give her regard. Plenty of regard for where her ass begins and ends, so I don't get squashed between it and the far wall. Now get out and shut the door so I can sleep!" I screeched, finally losing all my patience. "And as you leave, remember this Malfoy: get her pregnant, and she'll only get bigger!"
As I heard them force some pitiful Hufflepuffs out of a compartment, I turned on my side and covered my face with my hands.
'How can I let my parents know that Draco is the other prefect? A match with the house of Malfoy will have them salivating! I'll never get out of it; with Cousin Narcissa married to Lucius… they'll just want to strengthen the bloodlines. That settles it…'
"I just won't tell them Draco Malfoy is my fellow prefect!"
Outside the prefects' compartment, Pansy Parkinson had overheard the last bit of Persiopeia's conversation with herself. Smiling to herself, she realized how she could ruin the prefect's school life.
"If its Draco she dreads, then I'll just have to make sure she has plenty of reason! Mine, all mine, she better not forget," Pansy smirked to herself as she contemplated the ruin Persiopeia would face when her parents found out.