Chapter Four

"Have you seen this garbage?" Bridget cackled the next morning, flinging a newspaper at Pandora's head as she walked into Potions class. Pandora yawned, her eyes swollen from crying the night before. She picked up the paper, flipping through it.

"What am I looking for?" She asked, disinterested.

"Rita Skeeter's article. Here, give me," Bridget snatched it from her, flicking through the pages until she had reached it. She handed it to Pandora, a smug grin appearing on her face. Pandora skimmed it, bored and longing to be back in bed. Her eyes skipped around and she thought she might fall asleep until she saw Harry's name. She stopped, her eyes widening. Then she circled back to the top and read the article, her eyebrows rising in disbelief as she swallowed every word. When she had finished scanning it, her head hurt and her eyes watered. Harry and Hermione? In love? Bridget began to degrade Hermione, but all Pandora could think about were Harry's hands running through Hermione's wavy brown hair.

"Yeah, like that Mudblood could get Krum and Potter." Viola ridiculed. "This is all lies."

"You think?" Pandora asked quickly, her heart thumping.

"I don't know, we know she was with Krum. And have you seen her getting all chummy with Harry? I wouldn't be surprised if they were shagging," Bridget mused.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Pandora whispered. She felt as thought she might be sick.

"Okay, new subject," Viola said. "Hey, isn't your dad coming later?"

"Oh man, that's even worse!" Pandora moaned. "I forgot he was supposed to be coming,"

"Why is your dad coming?" Bridget inquired.

"He has some business with Professor Snape, I don't know. You know how my dad is. Business affairs are meant to stay private." Pandora shrugged, turning to her cauldron. She didn't want to talk anymore. She could feel Harry's eyes on her from across the room. It was odd; she had never really noticed him before in the class. She had obviously known he was in it with her, however before now, she had skipped over him and never dwelled on him. But now it was like she couldn't see anyone else. And it was driving her mad.

"You three, separate." Professor Snape ordered. Ron and Harry got up from their desks and were moved to different areas where they could not talk. Pandora felt a twinge of satisfaction as she saw Hermione's shoulders sink. Served her right. Pandora longed to slip an acne potion into her drink.

"Pandora Clara Elfin! Shouldn't you be in class?" Pandora groaned as she shut her textbook and came face to face with her father.

"Father, classes are over for the day. I am studying." She explained slowly.

"That's my wicked witch," he patted her on the back condescendingly. Pandora rolled her eyes.

"Have you met with Professor Snape yet?" she asked.

"On my way there right now," her father said, patting his coat where he presumably was keeping valuable items. His eyes widened and he gripped her shoulder tightly. "Say, is that Potter?" she looked over to see. Harry was sauntering down the aisle, books in one hand, his tie loose and a grin on his face. He caught sight of Pandora and her father staring and slowed his pace, the smile lifting off his face immediately.

"Father, stop staring!" Pandora scowled.

"I've been waiting for this," he said quickly, straightening himself. He began to walk off before she could protest. She had no choice but to follow. "Harry Potter? So good to meet you! Arsenius Elfin, I'm a big fan." He shook Harry's hand vigorously. Pandora scoffed to herself at his duplicity.

"Nice to meet you as well, sir." Harry responded cheerfully, glancing over at Pandora curiously. "You do seem rather familiar though, have we possibly met before?"

"No, my boy. I'd remember meeting a fellow like you," Arsenius flashed a million-dollar grin. "I must be off though, I've got a meeting with Severus. But congratulations on all of your accomplishments in this tournament. It's not easy. That I know. I only hope that one day my little Pandora will win. She is an Elfin, after all." He ruffled her hair roughly, flashed another toothy smile and trotted off, his hand placed protectively over the bulge in his coat. Harry began to chuckle. Pandora shot him a glare, but it did nothing to cease him. Finally, she began to laugh as well, and soon enough the two were doubled over in hysterics.

"I mean…I wouldn't exactly describe you as 'little'" Harry teased.

"Oh, shut it, Harry," Pandora said in between giggles. They quieted down and looked at each other, smiling.

"I think I might have met your dad before," Harry said.

"No, he would've said something. He really is a…fan…" Pandora responded uneasily.

"He seems familiar, I just can't place where."

"You might've heard his name? He owns a store. It's pretty popular actually. But it's in an area you wouldn't have ever been to so I doubt you've seen it."

"Try me,"

"I know you've never gone there. He owns a store in Knockturn Alley." She revealed. Harry felt as if time froze. He recalled second year when he had a failed floo powder attempt and had been transported to a shop filled with dusty bones and devilish masks. He recalled overhearing a voice talking with Lucius Malfoy. He made the connection between the two.

"I was there, once. By accident. But I was there, at your dad's store. I overheard him talking with Lucius Malfoy. He was selling some items for him in case the Ministry checked his house…" Harry looked up at Pandora. Her face had turned stone white.

"I have to go," Pandora interrupted and ran off before he could respond. He paused, debating running up to catch up. He didn't understand her. One second they were bonding, laughing and joking around, then the next they were fighting. She confused him beyond belief and he wasn't sure what to do.

"Hey girl," Bridget said, looking up from her notebook when Pandora entered their room. She flopped onto the bed and let out a huge sigh.

"What's wrong with you?" Viola asked, pausing at dabbing on makeup to give Pandora a quizzical look.

"I just love the way my father's reputation precedes me," Pandora groaned, rolling her eyes up at the ceiling.

"You're not happy about that?" Bridget shut her book and turned to face Pandora head on, a look of disapproval crossing her face. "Pandora, your father is one of the most creative and ingenious inventors in our world. He constructs the most magnificent and useful things, and helps other wizards sell and profit from their own. I think he's brilliant."

"He constructs dark things," Pandora spat. "He sells and buys dark, evil things."

"And what's wrong with that? He is a businessman, after all." Bridget insisted.

"Yeah, I don't get what the problem is," Viola said. Pandora looked at her two best friends in disbelief. Could they really not see the issue? Were they that close-minded? Had they never stopped to think about the lives that her father and his "magnificent and useful things" ruined? But the two stared wide-eyed and expectant, oblivious to her thoughts. And she knew that she could try to explain it to them. She could attempt to detail the nights that she had spent, pondering and guessing the names of the people that had died from dark objects her father created or sold. She could tell them of the types of customers she spotted in his store, creepy, dirty strangers with spindly, greedy fingers that lurched towards each contorted mask and evil book of spells. But she knew it would do nothing. Bridget and Viola did not think the way that she did.

"Never mind," Pandora mumbled. And just like that, the two girls went back to their activities.

"Oh, by the way, Pandora, I need another one of those wake-up potion thingys," Bridget piped up. "And a de-stressor. I ran out, and I have so many tests coming up."

"Okay, it'll take me a week or two though," Pandora told her.

"Just get it to me as soon as possible, okay? I can't afford to waste time sleeping when I could be studying." She said, going back to her notes.

"How are you?" Pandora asked, turning to Viola. She stopped applying mascara and grinned mischievously.

"Never been better," she said with a wink.

"Who's the new victim?" Bridget laughed. Viola shot her a dirty look, then giggled.

"Jeremy from Herbology," she answered.

"How did it go?" Pandora asked eagerly.

"Very well. I asked him to help tutor me and we ended up shagging in the broom closet," Viola responded, cackling like a maniac.

"Ew, Vi! He's disgusting! Why would you do that?" Bridget shrieked, scrunching up her nose and throwing a pillow at her.

"You guys, it's the best thing I've ever done!" Viola's eyes shined with delight. "I won't have to take a single exam for the rest of the year! As long as I keep shagging him, of course."

"How is that supposed to work?" Pandora asked incredulously.

"Easy. Once you brew me up a couple of Polyjuice potions, I won't have to lift a finger!"

"Ah, I see," Pandora laughed, rolling her eyes.

"Okay, can we get off this repulsive topic so I can get back to studying?" Bridget moaned.

"Suit yourself," Viola flipped her hair and went back to pulling and tugging at her face.

"I'm going to go to the library and start all of your potions," Pandora said, standing up.

"Thanks girl, you're the best!" Bridget called out after her.

"Yeah, you rock!" Viola added. As Pandora entered the library with her potion kit, she felt the discomfort from before arising again in the pit of her stomach. She dodged past a couple of Slytherin boys picking on a Hufflepuff girl and began to think about the differences between the houses. She had always been told that Slytherin house was for those who were clever and were going to succeed in life based on their own merits. She had been told by her father at a young age that Slytherins were savvy and self-serving, not letting the "shortcomings" of others get in the way.

Pandora could see the Slytherin in both Bridget and Viola. Bridget was quick to sacrifice sleep and a social life for the best grades. She worked harder than anyone Pandora had ever known to do well. She was not only an outstanding scholar but also a notable athlete, playing on the Slytherin quidditch team since her second year. Viola was gorgeous and knew it, and due to her difficulties, or rather, disinterest, in anything pertaining to school, she used her wit and charm to lure intelligent boys in order to aid her in schoolwork. It worked for her and despite the words other girls whispered about her, Viola was proud of it. She often told the other two that she was not the one at fault, instead the boys were. She spoke of foolish and conceited boys, expecting certain things from her just because they bought her presents. She explained to them that she really wasn't doing anything different. They used her for sex and she used them for grades.

Pandora's father had told her time and time again that Slytherins were the best of the houses and that she had come from a long line of prevailing wizards. She had been nervous and shaky her first year, when the sorting hat was placed on her head. She had been trembling, hoping and praying for Slytherin above all else. She knew her father would never accept any other house. The sorting hat had taken less than two seconds to decide. Pandora had breathed a sigh of relief, but not before the hat had murmured in her ear, I have given you what you want despite the fact that it is not where I think you should belong. Pandora had practically tore out of the seat, joining her fellow Slytherins and pushing the words the hat had whispered out of her mind before she could dwell on them any further.

She thought of her mother then. She had not done that in a while. Her mother was a brilliant potion-maker, constantly concocting purple liquids and green slimes, her glasses perpetually steamed from the beakers that she leaned over. Her mother, Belinda, had been Pandora's best friend. She had died days after Pandora received her Hogwarts letter, poisoned from a potion that was supposed to help her sleep and had instead put her to sleep forever. Pandora had been devastated, and it still made her heart lurch, even now. Her father had remarried almost instantly, taking less than five months to marry Gwendolyn, a woman who worked in the Ministry of Magic. Even after four years of marriage, Gwendolyn and Pandora did not act as mother and daughter or even friends, for that matter. As far as she was concerned, Gwendolyn was still a stranger in Pandora's life. And she planned to keep it that way.

Later that night, she spotted Draco sauntering through the hall. She lunged behind one of the columns, praying he had not seen her. They had not spoken since she had rejected him, and from the years of knowing him she knew he had not yet forgiven her. She hid for a few minutes, hardly breathing, until she heard his clomping steps fade, then disappear. She relaxed and crept out, her eyes searching to make sure he had gone. She heard someone chuckle from behind her.

"Good to know I'm not the only one you're avoiding," Harry winked, leaning against the wall nearby.

"I'm not avoiding you!" Pandora replied.

"Yes," he pushed himself off the wall and came closer to her, his face serious. "You are."

"I'm not," she insisted.

"Oh, you're not? So I'm mistaken?"

"Yes, I think you're mistaken," she nodded furiously.

"Okay, perfect. So then you won't mind hanging out with me tonight? "

"Hanging out? Where would we even go?" she asked, glancing about to see if anyone was watching. He took her hand instinctively.

"I know a place."