"Welcome, class. Today we will begin learning about nonverbal spells," Professor Lisney stood at the head of the class, smiling around at her students. The rest of the class adored her. After having a fairly awful history with Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors, even Clara had to admit that this was a change for the better. Personal history aside, the woman was a good teacher. If they could get through the rest of the year with little to no personal conversations, Clara might even say that the class was enjoyable. Pansy hated the woman on principle, and was determined to hate her and her class. She was a very loyal friend.
"On Monday we will begin practicing. For today, I would just like you all to read and discuss chapter 3."
The sounds of books being dropped and opened filled the room. Class passed slowly and quietly. At Professor Lisney's prodding, there would be a short discussion on a point, but then the words would trail off and they'd be reading in silence again. Clara had already read the chapter, so she spent most of the class scribbling on the parchment between her and Pansy. After several games of Hangman, or hang-a-gruesomely-detailed-Professor-Lisney, it was time to continue on to their next class. They gathered their things quickly and didn't notice the woman standing by their desk.
"You're quite an artist," she told Pansy, who looked up in alarm.
"Yes, she really is," Clara answered matter-of-factly.
"You must know who I am," Professor Lisney said grimly.
"Of course I do," Pansy snapped. "Clara's my best friend."
Professor Lisney nodded and watched the other students leave, "There are two sides to every story, dear."
Pansy scoffed, "Normally I would agree, but I don't see a different side of this story, dear."
Clara was standing awkwardly, watching her mother and her best friend. Pansy had never said much about the woman, and Clara had just assumed she didn't really think about it. Now she was listening to them while she pulled at the hem of her sweater.
"Miss Parkinson, I must ask that you don't speak to me that way."
Pansy rolled her eyes and grabbed Clara's hand, "Let's go."
The girls walked down the corridor silently. Pansy strode slightly ahead of her friend, fuming.
"I don't want you getting in trouble," Clara told her after catching up.
"She's just so smug… the way she looks at you, at everyone else. Just like she's so much better than everyone."
"We know that she's not, though, and we've accepted that. At least I have," Clara shrugged.
"How can you possibly be so calm about this?" Pansy asked. "How can you go into class and listen so quietly and do your work with no problems?"
"Pansy, I went to detention for calling her a bitch."
"And it was great! It was the expected reaction," Pansy said.
"But I can't do that every lesson. I have to just sit there and be a student," Clara explained.
"You shouldn't just have to deal with this." Pansy was upset.
"What the hell am I supposed to do? Fail Defense? Fail my Sixth year?"
"No… I don't know. It's just so unfair," Pansy groaned.
"Yeah, it is. But I don't really have any other options."
Pansy was in a foul mood until they had returned to the dormitory. She and Clara got ready for bed in silence, while the other girls trickled in and got in their beds.
"Goodnight," Clara kissed the top of Pansy's head. She was already in bed, twisted in her covers.
"Love you," Pansy whispered. A few minutes after Clara had settled down in her own bed, she felt the weight of someone climbing in behind her. She turned and smiled at Pansy.
"I'm sorry for today," the girl apologized, her expression tired and sad.
"It's alright," Clara assured her.
"It's your fight, I know," Pansy sighed. "It's just really hard to hear everyone saying how fantastic Professor Lisney is and how she is so much better than anyone we've had and how she's so cool and pretty."
"It is," Clara nodded, "They don't know what she did. Maybe she is a good person, I don't know. I don't think I'll ever feel like she's a good person, but maybe she's changed."
"Can you change after that, though? Can you really come back from ruining your family and just suddenly be a good person?" Pansy asked quietly. Clara just sighed and shook her head.
"Clara, I'm sorry I got angry today. I'm upset about her, and about Draco, and I'm just frustrated. The only person who doesn't make me mad is you, and I'm not going to push you away with attitude."
"You really think I'd let you push me away?" Clara asked incredulously.
"I hope not." Pansy looked so sad. Clara hugged her.
"You are never getting rid of me, Pansy. I love you."
Saturday dawned earlier than usual, with the sounds of everyone getting ready for Hogsmeade. Clara had woken up with Pansy's arms around her, and they had stayed in bed after everyone else was already up and nearly ready.
"Come on, you two, we're leaving soon," Tracey Davis told them as she nudged Pansy in the back.
"Alright, alright," Pansy sighed. She removed her arms from around Clara and sat up, followed shortly by her friend.
"You want to go?" she asked her bleary-eyed friend.
"Yes, I think it'll be good for us."
They got up and started looking through the small selection of street clothes in their trunks.
"Don't look too good, you wouldn't want to give Goyle a heart attack," Pansy laughed. Clara had held up a casual black dress.
"This trip will be a success if we don't see any of those wankers," Clara shook her head.
Pansy pulled on grey tights, before slipping into a short and flowy emerald green dress. Clara was still digging through her clothes.
"Wear that," Pansy said over her shoulder as Clara picked up a dark purple top. "It'll make your eyes pop." Clara laughed at her friend and pulled the top over her head. It was simple and sleeveless with a triangle cut out of the back. She tugged on some dark jeans and sat on the bed, watching Pansy do her makeup.
"How have we been friends for six years and you've still never taught me how to do that?" Clara asked disgustedly.
"I guess you're just going to have to come spend the holidays with me or something," Pansy grinned.
"God, I would love to."
"You know, your dad wouldn't mind," Pansy told her friend.
"He would say he didn't mind. I can't leave him alone at Christmas," Clara sighed.
"It's worth thinking about," Pansy looked excited at the idea. "It'd be fantastic."
Clara pulled some safe-looking brown eye shadows from Pansy's makeup bag and started to copy her.
"Are you ready? They're about to leave," Daphne Greengrass called from the other side of the door.
"Yes, we'll be right there!" Pansy called before taking the makeup from Clara and hurriedly finishing for her. They stood, found shoes, and rushed out the door. Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing with their other friends, probably discussing torture methods, Clara assumed. The Slytherins were all accounted for, so the group left the dungeons and met up with the other houses in the courtyard to begin the walk to the village. It was a nice day, cloudy but warm. Everyone was talking excitedly, glad to be out of the castle for a day. Pansy and Clara were walking slightly away from the crowd, next to a group of Third years. It was their first trip, and they were asking Pansy and Clara about all of the shops.
"Zonko's and Honeydukes are all you need," Pansy was telling an eager boy.
"My cousin told me about Zonko's… been saving up my galleons!" his friend grinned.
"Be sure to hide your purchases," Clara told them. "Filch likes to confiscate them."
Clara and Pansy started their day with a trip to The Three Broomsticks. They picked a table in the corner and ordered two butterbeers.
"You know, I'm glad we don't have to deal with the boys," Pansy said thoughtfully. "I like having my freedom."
"I can't believe Draco didn't even say anything," Clara frowned.
"I can. It was his idea, remember? Probably found someone with bigger tits."
"Well, she can't be prettier than you, so you can take comfort in that," Clara told her.
"You wouldn't go out with him, so no, I guess not," Pansy stuck her tongue out.
"I am not prettier than you," Clara scoffed.
"Mhm," Pansy mummered before taking a sip of her butterbeer. Clara just shook her head. They had a view of everyone who came and went from their table. Groups of excited third years sat together and took up most of the seats in the pub. Along the edge of the room was where the older students who were over the thrill sat. Pansy noticed Draco sitting across the room, talking to his groupies. Crabbe had something in his hand and was showing it to the group. Suddenly Clara choked on her butterbeer and swatted Pansy on the arm.
"What is she doing here?"
Pansy turned to see Professor Lisney walking to one of the empty tables, followed by Professor McGonagall.
"I… I don't know. She wasn't there this morning, was she?" Pansy asked her friend, who just shook her head. The two Professors sat and peered around at the surrounding students. Clara suddenly bent under the table to hide.
"Very casual," Pansy whispered. Clara shushed her. The Ravenclaw third years sitting at the table in front of them were watching Clara curiously.
"What are you looking at?" Pansy snapped at them. She took a sip of butterbeer and glanced over at the table where the Professors were sitting. They were facing away, talking to Madam Rosmerta.
"It's clear, Clara, stop being weird."
Clara raised up, careful not to hit her head.
"Should we leave?" Pansy asked as her friend straightened.
"I don't think so… that would look strange, wouldn't it?" Clara looked uneasy.
"Only to you," Pansy shrugged. Clara rolled her eyes and finished her butterbeer. She tried to listen to what the Professors were saying, but the noise of the crowd, distance between tables, and moaning couple next to them made it impossible.
"Come on, you need chocolate," Pansy informed her friend before standing up. Clara grabbed her bag from the floor and they exited quickly.
"I don't think she even saw us, Clara, you can stop sneaking."
Clara realized she was bent at the waist, walking lightly. She cleared her throat and straightened her back as Pansy giggled. They made their way through the crowd slowly, spending most of the walk behind a group of fifth year Gryffindors who were more interested in talking than walking. Finally, Pansy took Clara's hand and pushed through them after several "excuse us"s were ignored.
"Bloody Slytherins," one of the girls said nastily.
"Maybe if you learned how to walk and talk at the same time, people would be nicer to you," Pansy told her before leading Clara into Zonko's. It was packed with students. The first trip of the year was always the busiest, when every single student made the trip. Later in the year, more and more students usually decided they'd rather stay in the castle.
"Here we are," Pansy grinned as they reached the dungbomb display.
"Why do you…" Clara saw the expression on the girl's face and decided she didn't need to know why Pansy needed them. She picked up a few and continued on.
"I bet Goyle would be excited to get a present from you," Pansy raised an eyebrow and gestured to the shelf of Nose-Biting Teacups.
"That would be mean," Clara shook her head.
"That? Oh, my dear, that would not be mean. Just wait until you see what I have planned," Pansy looked giddy.
"Why haven't you told me of your evil plans?" Clara frowned.
"Because you'd talk me out of it. Besides, I told you about the Polyjuice Potion," Pansy said.
"Wait, you're actually going to do that?" Clara asked, suddenly worried. Pansy just grinned.
After Pansy had paid for her dungbombs, they left the shop. They almost immediately ran into Professors Lisney and McGonagall.
"Shit," Clara whispered.
"Excuse me, Miss Rowley?" Professor McGonagall asked sternly.
"Nothing, Professor. Hello," she greeted the teachers.
"Hello, girls," Professor Lisney smiled at them. McGonagall looked down and noticed the Zonko's bag in Pansy's hand.
"I wouldn't let Filch see that," she told the girl quietly, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Of course not," Pansy smiled. She shared Clara's affection for the Gryffindor Head of House.
"Hope you're having a good time," Professor Lisney said, still looking at Clara, who was ignoring her pointedly.
"We're having a great time, but we actually are supposed to be meeting someone," Pansy said as she looked around, "Oh, here he is, bye, Professors!"
Pansy pushed Clara over to where Harry Potter was walking alone and they each grabbed one of his arms. He looked alarmed.
"We've been looking for you!" Clara said, laughing a little too loudly.
"You have?" Harry asked, confused.
"No, now shush and go with it," Pansy whispered. They walked arm in arm until they were headed down the path to the Shrieking Shack.
"Are you going to murder me?" Harry asked them casually. Pansy seemed to consider it.
"No, Harry," Clara smiled, "Sorry about that. Things are… weird with Professor Lisney. I had to get out of there."
The three broke apart.
"I get that. Snape was apparently in love with my mum, and it's apparently considered a valid excuse for him to treat me like shit," Harry shook his head.
"That's stupid. Professor Lisney is my mother, so…"
"Are you serious?" Harry looked surprised, "Did she not tell you?"
"No… I actually hadn't seen her in years. She walked out on my dad and I when I was 8."
"Bloody hell, that's terrible. I'm sorry," Harry frowned.
"Why are you alone? I never see you away from your entourage," Pansy asked.
"They're probably snogging in Madam Puddifoots's," Harry told her disgustedly.
"I need to ask Pansy something, but I need to know if we can trust you," Clara told Harry, "So can we trust you?"
"Sure," Harry shrugged. Clara grinned and turned to Pansy.
"What are your plans for the dungbombs?"
"Just going to have a little fun," Pansy said innocently.
"Fun with who?" Clara asked.
"Just people. I'm not sure," Pansy shrugged.
"Draco?"
"Sure."
"Are you going to get in trouble?" Clara asked, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.
"Well, no. I won't get caught," Pansy scoffed, "Do I ever get caught?"
Clara had to admit that she didn't. The entire school knew about the Weasley twins from Gryffindor, who had dropped out last year in a blaze of glory after getting fed up with Umbridge's antics. Then there was Peeves, the Poltergeist who terrorized the entire school. No one, however, knew that beautiful, sophisticated Pansy Parkinson was the other school mischief maker. The others made mistakes, sloppy mistakes, that Pansy would never make. She knew better. It had started after a particularly messy prank by the twins. They had done a decent job of leaving no evidence, but they bragged too much. Filch interrogated seventeen students, and every single one of them said that the Weasley twins had done it. Pansy and Clara, second years at the time, had been embarrassed by their laziness. That was all it had taken. Pansy had never been particularly interested in jokes, but the opportunity to be better than someone else was her draw. She had planned out a fairly simple prank, involving dungbombs and balloons, and it had gone perfectly. Just to prove her theory that not telling every single person in school what you're doing would be enough to get away with it, she was sloppy with her evidence. Still, years later, no one knew she'd done it.
"Are we hanging out now?" Harry asked, looking confused about why they were still walking together.
"I'm okay with it," Clara shrugged. Pansy looked uncomfortable but quietly accepted his presence. They were heading back to the castle.
Clara was nervous about bumping into her mother again, and Pansy was getting antsy, wanting to continue her research on Polyjuice Potion while the castle was empty and there were fewer questions to answer. A few Hufflepuffs were also going back early. From what Clara could gather from overhearing bits of the conversation, Draco had tripped one of the younger girls, causing her to fall into a display. She seemed very shaken and embarrassed, as the older kids kept putting their arms around her. The Hufflepuffs were always the easy targets, but Clara was happy that Pansy only used her prank skills on fellow Slytherins, and usually only the ones who bullied.
"Did I hear the name Draco?" Pansy called. The Hufflepuffs turned, a few of them looking scared at the sight of the Slytherins.
"We don't like him either," Clara clarified. They looked relieved, but still unsure.
"I just wanted to know your thoughts on a plan I have," Pansy smiled.
At this, they stopped and let the girls catch up. They also seemed to recognize Harry, who was much more trustworthy than the terrible Slytherins, so they relaxed.
"We dated, actually," Pansy looked ashamed, "But it was a low point in my life."
The younger girl smiled.
"I'm Clara," she held her hand out.
"I'm Pansy."
"Harry."
They shook hands and learned names. The youngest one was June, and she had been Draco's victim; her sister, Ellie, was a 4th year, who was dating Elias, a 5th year, who's best friend was Neal, another 5th year. Clara was polite, but she knew there was no way she would remember the sudden burst of information.
"We were in the Three Broomsticks earlier. Draco was there, with his trolls, and this... girl comes up to him and kisses him," Pansy groaned and paused, apparently waiting for a group 'ugh'. She eventually got it.
"We only just broke up, and we were together all summer. Now, maybe I'm overreacting a bit, but I think that's a little rude of him. So I picked up some dungbombs, and I happen to know that there is a certain broom closet on the 4th floor where Mr. Malfoy takes his, shall we say, conquests," she raised her eyebrow, "so I have a little plan."
Clara was as clueless as the confused Hufflepuffs.
"All we have to do is find out when he will be bringing this week's tart to the closet of broken dreams. Then we can plant a dungbomb or two that will go off right as they…" she eyed the first year, "are least expecting it. Bam. Instant payback."
The Hufflepuffs looked excited. June looked up at Pansy and laughed, before her face turned stern, "I'm not 11. You can talk about sex."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I will… I will be more open next time," Pansy apologized awkwardly.
"Well, we need to be getting back. See you!" Ellie waved to the girls and the Hufflepuffs walked off ahead of them.
"Kids today," Pansy sighed.
"When did you come up with this plan?" Clara asked, still confused.
"About ten minutes ago," Pansy told her with a shrug.
"Did you actually see a girl with Draco?" asked Harry as they started walking.
"No, but I couldn't tell them the dungbombs were for a Professor, could I?" Pansy said nonchalantly. Harry looked excited.
"Wait, what?" Clara stopped again. Pansy just smiled.
"Please don't get us expelled."
Pansy laughed, "Clara, has anyone ever found out about one of my plans before?"
"No," Clara said uneasily.
"Then don't you worry, my dear."