Flying lessons were both more and less exciting then she had hoped. On one hand, she barely got to float on a broom. On the other, Neville had ended up in the hospital wing and she had ended up challenging Malfoy time a duel for a trinket he had stolen from her Gryffindor friend. Heather didn't know how to feel about Ron volunteering to referee the match. He claimed to be impartial, but he seemed to hate Malfoy and had been avoiding her.
A bushy haired Ravenclaw had tried to talk them out of it, but Malfoy sneered and said it was a point of family honor and that a muggleborn like her wouldn't understand it. Since Heather wasn't quite sure of what was being set up herself, she stayed out of it. They decided to meet in the trophy room at midnight since it was never locked. The Granger girl huffed and glared at them all, but didn't tattle on them to Madame Hooch when she returned.
After the abbreviated lesson she had intended to go to the infirmary to check on Neville, but Malfoy looped his arm through hers with practiced eased and insisted on escorting her to the Slytherin commons over her protests. Other than shoving the smug looking boy, Heather didn't know what to do and let him lead her there, their dorm mates in tow.
As soon as they arrived he guided her to an empty chair and sat her down before claiming his own. For a moment there was silence and then the shoe finally dropped. It was Parkinson that led the ensuing interrogation. "You broke the house rule Potter. " The girl sounded pleased, and Heather realized that they had finally decided. Somehow she had chosen a side and it was the opposite of theirs. The claws were coming out. Greengrass spoke up, just shy of actually sounding concerned. "Honestly, how could you possibly associate yourself with Longbottom of all people?" Malfoy snorted. "Useless lump. Practically a squib from what I heard. "
An older boy wondered over. She didn't know his name, but she knew he was on the Quidditch team. "What's all this then?" He asked. "Firsty meeting?" Some looked worried by his intrusion, but Malfoy was eager to explain. "Potter her defended a Gryffindor today. Challenged me for him." The older boy nodded gravely, but he smiled easily when he turned to her. "A serious enough accusation. We've thrown people out for less." Her stomach did flip flops as she tried to figure out if they were allowed to do that. Snape hated her, so it felt like a real threat. "Got a good reason for it?" His eyes caught hers and he gave her a small wink. Her fear lessened even as Pansy sneered.
"Oh please. She's just proving she doesn't really belong here." Heather glared at the pug nosed girl. "It's called making connections Parkinson. He's the sole heir to one of the sacred twenty eight. And magically proficient or not there's no question of his legitimacy." She had said it without thinking, a bit of interesting gossip she had overheard turning into a sharp weapon. It hit the mark if the other girl's stunned expression was anything to go by. Malfoy rose from his chair to move by the girl.
"That was uncalled for." He actually sounded offended. Perhaps it wasn't a 'done thing' to bring up dirty laundry, but none of the first years seemed surprised or confused by her words. So it was obviously common knowledge that the Lady Parkinson had slept around. "So was questioning my loyalty to the house. Just because I don't wish to be one of your followers, doesn't mean I'm unconcerned with the good of Slytherin." The chaser let out a whistle. "Trying to set yourself up as a leader instead Potter?"
He sounded amused, which she took as a good sign. Honestly she hadn't thought about it, but there was no way she was going to let Malfoy use House Unity to trap her into putting up with him being a prat. She let her chin lift a bit. "I suppose we'll find out tonight." She said. Malfoy's face was flushed but he nodded in agreement. "I suppose we will Potter."
The crowd dispersed, and Heather ran a hand through her hair. What had she gotten herself in to?
"Well it's a bold move; I'll give you that Potter." She jumped in her seat, not noticing the older boy moving closer to talk to her. He stuck out his hand. "Adrian Pucey." Taking it she bobbed her head a bit. "Heather Potter. I appreciate your assistance Mr. Pucey." His grin widen and he sat in a vacant chair across from hers. "It was my pleasure. I've always enjoyed power plays, and once you get older everyone has usually figured out who is top dog and all of the fun ends." Heather sighed. "In that case, I'll no doubt be tossed of Slytherin before I have a chance of graduating."
He laughed. "So dramatic. Look, you've shown ambition openly challenging Malfoy when his family practically runs the wizarding world. And you've shown cunning by making an alliance with the Longbottom heir. There'll be those who'll recognize your strong Slytherin sensibilities and support you. You'll see." Since those things had just sort of happened, Heather rather doubted it. But she allowed an eyebrow to rise at him anyways. "Such as yourself Mr. Pucey?" The older boy gave her a mischievous wink and stood. "Perhaps Miss Potter, once you're older and shown me what you're capable of achieving alone." With that he was gone.
Well. It seemed her waiting period was over - they had finally spoken to her. Too bad she didn't like what they had to say. Heather shook her head. I have no idea what I've gotten myself into. She packed up her things and went to her next class. The seat next to her was conspicuously empty, Malfoy had moved to sit father back. She wanted to take advantage of it and have Neville move by her, but the Gryffindor was absent. She resolved to go check on him after class and tell him the good news. Malfoy had abandoned his attempts to be 'friendly'. At least one positive thing had come from her now open rivalry with the stuck up boy.
Neville insisted on coming along as her second. He explained as the challenged party Malfoy would set the terms of the duel and that not showing up would be conceding the issue. Madam Pomfrey said he'd up before curfew. Heather was touched that he was coming, but since he knew as many spells as she did, which is to say slim to none, his support was more moral then practical.
She had meant spend all of her free time that afternoon some spells to beat Malfoy. No matter how her aunt wouldn't approve of fighting, this WAS a matter of honor now. But she got engrossed reading about the rules of the different types of duels. Before too long it was curfew and she was pacing in her shared room, until Parkinson chased her out because 'really some people were trying to sleep'. Pacing in the common room was probably frowned upon, so she sat, staring out the window into the lake not really seeing the things floating by.
Pucey came and sat by her, and when it got close to time dragged a surprisingly rumpled looking Draco out of his room. With a 'you kids have fun now', the older boy tossed them out of the wall. They walked in sullen silence together, and she wondered if he was reconsidering this fight like she was. The castle was dark, the portraits were sleeping, and everything was quiet. Neville was there already, curled up in a corner. Malfoy looked even surlier, but the rules said they could each have a witness or a second depending on the duel, so he couldn't argue with the Gryffindor's presence.
Ron tumbled in a little after they did, followed by the Granger girl who seemed to have gone into some sort of lecture mode and was incessantly trying to get them to go back to their dorms before they were caught. The Hufflepuff finally snapped at her. "Nobody asked you to come." Which was true, and actually made the Ravenclaw stop talking.
Heather turned to face Malfoy. "Draco of the most Noble and Ancient line of Malfoy, you have stolen something that doesn't belong to you. Return it and I'll declare myself satisfied." In turn the blond boy looked down his nose. "Miss Heather of the family line Potter, I say that you have besmirched the House of Slytherin and will not consider the matter settled until you are on your knees before me." She clutched her wand tighter and they glared at each other.
Ron, in comparison to her awkward recitation and Malfoy's practiced formality, sounded out of place. But he got to the point. "Right you two. Seeing as you can't agree, you're going to fight it out yeah?" Neville added. "As the challenge party, Malfoy gets to pick the terms."
"First to be knocked down or forfeit loses." Ron nodded. "On the count of three. One two th-" He was cut off as Malfoy shouted a spell knocking Heather into one of the glass cases. It remained intact, but she bumped into one of the display causing it to crash into the ground. As if that wasn't enough noise, Granger screamed. "Oh no Mrs. Norris! Run!" Ron yelped and they all scrambled and scattered.
Somehow she ended up with the Hufflepuff boy in an empty room on the second floor. "Slimy snake." Ron said panting. "Set us up." Heather shot him a look. "Oh so now you're talking to me?" She asked sarcastically. His face flushed. "Well Malfoy obviously isn't any friend of yours. He ran as soon as he casted. "As if that explained anything. "So? He was a prat on the train too. That hasn't changed. But you have."
"Me? What about you? Went into Slytherin with the likes of him." No wonder the Slytherins were so insular if everyone thought like Ron. "So now you're saying EVERY Slytherin is evil? What about Merlin?" She challenged him. His mouth worked before he looked away. Feeling bold, she stuck out her hand. "Friends again?" He looked at her had for a moment like it might bite him, but finally shook it. "Alright yeah. But you better not start turning into an evil get like Malfoy." Elated she practically floated down to her bed. She had two friends now.