AN: This is a word of fiction using the characters from Harry Potter that are trademarked by J.K. Rowling
Year 1:
The Great Hall bustled with energy as the first-year students eagerly awaited their Sorting. Among them stood Harry Potter who nervously eyed the various House tables. When his name was called and the hat was placed on his head he caught sight of Neville Longbottom, a fellow nervous first-year, who had been sorted into Gryffindor.
Neville was a friendly face amidst the overwhelming sea of new students. He had met the other boy on the train and had helped him find his toad, Trevor. It was a new experience for Harry to have even one friend but now he had started the new school year with two, Ron and Neville.
Both of them came from wizarding families but after he heard them talk, they had very different home lives. While Ron had a loving home filled to the brim with children and noise, Neville had a life more similar to Harry's with a lot of anxiety and family members that didn't treat them like they should.
Through Neville, Harry had met Pansy Parkinson, who was one of Neville's childhood friends. She had a sharp wit and confidence that caught him off guard. Yet, through Neville's persistent efforts to bridge the gap, a tentative friendship formed.
Their first true interaction occurred in History class. Pansy sat across from Harry and made snide comments about Gryffindor's incompetence, and Harry couldn't help but retort. Thus began their pattern of spirited debate while they ignored Professor Binns while he droned on about the Goblin Rebellion.
Despite their differing opinions and House loyalties, Harry and Pansy found themselves engaged in the occasional debate in class, and friendly banter in the hallways. Even Harry's burgeoning friendship with the Slytherin helped to ease some of Ron's more judgmental attitude towards the house of the snakes. Even though Draco's behavior sought to push back whatever progress he made. Even Pansy agreed that Draco was not a good example of what the Slytherin house offered.
Year 2:
Harry walked through the halls of Hogwarts with whispers behind his back. He was trying to find refuge away from the rest of the population, but it was difficult. While unlikely, it felt as if the entire student body was searching for him just to whisper about him.
He spotted the mahogany head of Pansy Parkinson ahead of him and hurried to catch up.
"Want to take a walk?" Harry asked once he was in step beside her.
She looked over at him and then behind him, saw the group of third-year Hufflepuff students gathered together, heads bent, eyes cutting towards her friend.
"Sure," she shrugged nonchalantly and then led them outside into the brisk fall air.
They ended up sitting on the ground of Hogwarts that overlooked the forbidden forest. It was a lovely view of the red and brown leaves. Harry heaved a heavy sigh but said nothing. It was nice to have a friend who was perfectly fine to sit in silence and let Harry work things out in his head.
Neville often worried too much and needed reassurance that everything would be alright. Ron just wanted to rant and rave until he ran out of steam and then he moved on and usually forgot what happened. Hermione wanted to fix everything, sure that she had the solution to a problem that wasn't even spoken out loud yet. But Pansy was fine to allow Harry time to mull things over and then she offered her advice, whether he wanted it or not, but didn't take it personally if he went his own way.
"Check it out," she whispered into his ear and a small shiver went down his spine.
He looked towards where she was pointing and saw a large kaleidoscope of butterflies floating through the air.
"Wouldn't it be great to be that free," Harry mused.
"Yeah," Pansy agreed and nothing more was said. The pair sat in silence on the hill, their pinkies barely touching, until the sun had started to set, and they needed to head back in for dinner.
Year 3:
The echoes of Sirius Black escaping Azkaban reverberated through Hogwarts and shrouded the castle in an air of anxiety and suspicion.
During the first Hogsmeade weekend Harry stood alone in the courtyard and watched his friends walk away. When he turned around to go back inside to escape the brisk winter winds, he saw Pansy standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing here? Are you going to Hogsmeade?"
"And leave you here by yourself? Who knows what kind of trouble you'd get into Potter," Pansy said with a smirk.
Harry smiled and felt himself blush, but he hoped that Pansy wouldn't notice or if she did that the pink on his cheeks was due to the cold temperature.
Pansy pulled out her wand, tapped herself, and whispered, Calidum, on the head and then reached out and did the same to Harry. Harry felt a warmth run through his body and settled into his bones.
"Let's walk," said Pansy, and together they began a slow walk around the grounds.
"How are you doing, you know, with everything?" Pansy finally asked after the silence got too much for her.
"Alright, I guess," Harry said but at Pansy's raised eyebrow he finally opened up, "Scared mostly. Mr. Weasley said that Sirius was probably on his way to find me. To finish what Voldemort started. It's hard being trapped here like an animal waiting for slaughter but I don't know where else I'd be safe. I don't want to hide my whole life so I'm just hoping that they catch him quickly."
Pansy didn't say anything she just reached out, laced their fingers together, and gave Harry a small smile. He was grateful for her strong, silent loyalty as he faced the rest of this tumultuous year.
Year 4:
Harry sat in the library with books about Dragons open on the table in front of him. His entire body was tense, and he didn't know what to do. Ron had all but abandoned him and Hermione, though she hadn't said it aloud, had chosen Ron's side. Neville was busy assisting Professor Sprout with the new batch of Venomous Tentacula that was growing much larger than originally anticipated.
It left Harry feeling more alone than usual since Pansy was the only friend spending any time with him, but they were in different houses. He only saw her in class and briefly during meals. The increase in schoolwork had left them with only part of the weekend to relax and spend time together and now that he was in this death game, even his weekends were occupied.
"Dragons?" a female voice said from behind him, and Harry startled. He spun around in his chair, almost falling to the ground, and saw Pansy.
Harry grimaced, nodded, and turned back toward his books.
"Why the sudden interest?" Pansy asked as she rounded to the table and took a seat.
"It's the first task," Harry answered morosely.
Pansy said nothing and when Harry looked up for the books, he saw that she was surprised, her mouth agape.
"Yeah," Harry nodded, agreeing with her shock.
"I don't know how the ministry got anyone to agree to this barbaric tournament," Pansy sniffed, "It's absolutely ridiculous to think students, even ones that are of age, would be able to deal with a dragon when it takes a team of four or five experienced handlers."
"I'm thinking of flying," Harry shrugged, "It's the only thing I'm good at really," he said self-deprecatingly.
"You're good at plenty of things but yes. Your skills in the air would be beneficial. Any ideas on how you're going to get your broom when you're only allowed a wand?"
"Summoning charm I suppose," Harry said with a shrug, and together they started to formulate a plan for the first task.
Year 5:
Tensions were escalating in the Wizarding World. With Harry speaking about Voldemort's return there was even increased tension between the Slytherin House and the rest of Hogwarts which meant Pansy was receiving increased pressure to cut ties with Harry from her housemates and her family.
Harry was seated at the top of the astronomy tower, his hand was red and raw after his most recent detention with Professor Umbridge. He stared up at the stars while his hair ruffled in the brisk November wind.
He was soon joined by Pansy who sat beside him gazing pensively at the vastness of the sky. The twinkling stars reflected in her eyes, and he couldn't help but think that she had never looked so beautiful. Harry's heart raced as they sat side by side, shoulder to shoulder, in silence.
"I thought you were supposed to stay away from me?" Harry said, his voice was raw from disuse.
"Well…" Pansy said, "We both knew that wasn't going to happen," she said so matter-of-factly that it shocked Harry. Nobody had ever really chosen him before. Even though he cared for Pansy, more than he could truly put into words, he never fully believed that she felt even a fraction of the same for him. He was used to being put last if he was even a thought to begin with. And even after five years of having friends who cared for him, it was still his go-to feeling.
"I love you," Harry breathed out.
"What?" Pansy's gaze shot in his direction.
"I-" Harry hesitated, he hadn't meant to say that aloud, but he decided, quickly, that he was glad he did, "I mean. I know this isn't the right time. It's very dangerous to be associated with me but I don't think I could go another minute without you knowing. I love our friendship but it's not enough for me any-"
Harry was cut off by Pansy pulling him into a soft kiss. When her lips pressed against his he felt his heart stop for just a second before it took off racing.
The darkness loomed overhead, and Harry didn't even know if he would survive this year, but with Pansy at his side, in his arms, he felt like he could face anything the world had in store for him.
Word Count: 1,689
Challenges/Prompts:
Scamander's Case - Friends to Lovers / 'Would you be so Kind' by Dodie
Wicked Webs - HarryPansy / 18. Friend of a Friend
Candy Cane Daily Writing Challenge - Weather: Brisk
Santa's Sack - Friends to Lovers
Christmas Special Event: Snow Angels - 11. Brisk
December Writing Club: Would you rather? - Trope: 5. Friends to Lovers
December Writing Club: Nifty & Swiftie - 20. Takes place over 5 years
