Chapter 5

"Sea?", Tracey repeated back to Pansy as they walked to their first lessons. They had left Liza, Harrier and Farah who had gone off to their lessons with their respective years. "I'm getting the alias but what's the connection".

"Pan…", Pansy let the word hang in the air.

"Sea", Tracey nodded, "very cute".

They reached the corridor for Defence against the Dark Arts and waited while the other Slytherins started to show up to see what the new, and somewhat unorthodox Professor Umbridge was all about.

"Well", again Tracey stood with her head angled close to Pansy, they were stood a way away from the others. "I don't think you did bad for your first extension of friendship. Still maybe it was a little…".

"Wet?", Pansy suggested, she felt as much when sending.

Tracey gave a considered look, "maybe, then again I did tell you to rein in your excess of Pansy". She paused for a second, "but saying that although we have less than twenty-four hours as best buds, it still at least sounded like you…from what little of you I've got to know that is", she conceded.

Whether in provocation or defence as the 'Group' arrived to que up for class Tracey put her arm through Pansy's and linked arms with the smaller girl, resting her head on her shoulder.

Pansy immediately went red. She had no idea Tracey was this bold and the thrill of being with her was only matched by the thrill of being included so heavily into her little world. She had felt a certain comfort roll over her when she managed to ease into the conversation at breakfast. Not that she joined in much, but she found Farah to be very talkative and she kept trying to engage Pansy which she was pleasantly surprised with.

Tracey was a thrill to be around, and Pansy more taken aback with the fact that she, herself, was genuinely enjoying her company. It made her more self-aware with how she acted or came off to people. She didn't want to change who she was fundamentally, just that she knew she needed an attitude adjustment to a certain degree. If Tracey or friends like her were the result, then she was willing.

Pansy saw from a distance that Draco was staring at her, she automatically gripped Tracey's arm tighter. Blaise and Nott leaned to him, whispering something and she saw Draco nodding. There was nothing in it, no threat or implication, but she didn't like the way her heart thudded at his stare. She turned away and waited for the door to open to the classroom. She felt a hand give a small squeeze in return on her arm.

Ron sat next to Harry and Hermione at the back of the History of Magic classroom. They had only been in class for fifteen minutes and already Professor Binns was set firmly in his book as he read aloud to the class, of which many were already falling asleep. To Ron's delight this had been their first lesson that wasn't met with a ten minute talk about the importance of this year being their O.W.L's exams and to stress the magnitude of the learning needed towards the end of year exams. In fact, Professor Binns seemed to take the arrival of the class as if it were the next lesson, picking up from where he left off only days earlier and not the start to a new school year with the gap being six weeks and not a few days from their actual last lesson.

Much to Hermione's annoyance, Ron and Harry had agreed that all lesson time in History of Magic this year would be used to write their essays and homework for other lessons. They knew that they would try and fail anyway so why not make use of this lesson for their other studies. Such talk was blasphemy to Hermione's ears, she was currently scribbling notes on today's subject, Eighth Century Centaur uprising of the Middle East.

Ron was sat with his quill end in his mouth wishing it was a Honeydukes sugar quill. He was leaning over his letter contemplating his response, he had allowed both of them to hear what was written at breakfast. Despite the argument he had all but forgot by now, this response had even pushed Parkinson out of his head.

"It's definitely a girl mate", Harry leaned over, his voice low to not disrupt the dreary class, "I mean, it definitely reads like it".

Ron was in agreement with this, his thoughts immediately went to 'girl' when he re-read it. There was a chance a boy could have written it, he knew of one or two people in the castle so inclined; but to Ron it read as female. Daydreaming somewhat his mind went to looking at the situation in a different light to the 'nuisance', he had once thought these letters were. If this was a girl, and the odds were only fifty-fifty, then he had the opportunity to open himself up to a girl who was willing to be open with him. So far, he only really had Hermione, his sister, and no one else to call on when it came to insights to the fairer sex. Not that he'd approach either of them for anything like that. This girl, he thought, might be his age. The subtle nod to being in love for 'years', to Ron, could only mean feelings for another student, so they had to have been here for a few years. And even a girl slightly younger than him would probably be able to help him understand women better than he could.

Ron paused, glancing over at Hermione from the letter, he contemplated her and what she meant to him. He knew he liked her, and this, 'liked', now meant something more than the way he liked Harry as his best mate. She was still a friend as much as Harry was, in fact, in differentiating the two in his mind. Ron often thought on Harry as his mate, Hermione as a friend, and that's how he managed to title to both as his 'Best'. The only true difference, he wasn't romantically hooked on Harry.

His eyes lingered on her bushy hair and trailed down to what he could make of her skin. It looked soft and delicate. He chanced another few seconds' glancing and looked at her pink lips imagining them to be as soft as the skin on her neck. There was a yearning in his chest. It was all very powerful, these, 'like', feelings for her, but he didn't know if it was love. Not like Sea had so effortlessly confessed to feeling for their, 'her', mystery man. He paused, or mystery woman, he supposed.

Harry brought him back to the room, "they could be a mental, mate".

"Nutter", Ron corrected him, although he agreed, "but still, that's the beauty of it being anonymous. Whoever Sea is, they won't be reading anything from a, Ron.

Harry tapped his temple with his finger at Ron in acknowledgment.

"Geniuses", Hermione muttered to herself with a roll of her eyes, her hand was a little hummingbird as it flashed across her parchment jotting down an excess of notes.

"Still", Harry began, "this Sea's a little bit…you know…it might all be a bit too lovey dove'y stuff especially if their hooked on their crush".

Hermione stopped for a moment, forgetting herself, turning her head, her voice low, "oh no it is lovely though. Poor thing's in love for so long, and it's been that bad they're really trying to put themselves out their…you mind your nice to them Ron", she added. She realised she'd been sucked into their conversation and cursed for missing whatever Binns was saying.

Ron didn't feel the need to tell her he wasn't that insensitive, but he had no intention of changing who he was just for them.

He began to write. Around 20 minutes into the long process of not knowing exactly what he should write he contemplated Hermione again. He wondered, if it were Sea's chance to get their crush off their chest then perhaps he could. Not to decide he was giving up, but maybe this was what he was thinking about earlier, getting a little something back off a girl who might give him a nudge in the right direction.

Pansy and Tracey were in the courtyard waiting, it was a decent bout of end of summer, start of school weather they were having. The visible trees in the yard were slowly starting their transformation from summer greens to autumn browns.

Eventually Liza, Harrier and Farah arrived and the five began to make their way to the great hall. Pansy and Tracey had gotten through their single Defence against the Dark Arts lesson and after their small break, had had to tough through an intense double Charms with Flitwick. As it turned out Liza and Harrier had gone straight into a double Defence against the Dark Arts lesson after break. It meant they were very much on par with the conversation when Tracey began to continue with her Umbridge rant.

"We're screwed if this toad stays the whole year", she spat bitterly. Pansy didn't reply and instead let the others chip in. She had gone over it with Tracey already who had been seething after their first lesson. She agreed now but earlier when they had left the lesson, she couldn't see what the fuss was about. Umbridge seemed annoying but when she had spoken, she seemed to look down at the other houses and came across as liking Slytherin's, which was why Pansy suspected she had been one.

Pansy had a mild change of heart a few moments later. They had cut through the yard and passed Greenhouse three, walking along she caught her reflection as she went along with the other girls. Earlier she had been very busy in Charms but sitting with Tracey through three periods she decided she was having the most enjoyment she had had in lessons in ages. Except for Millicent, she had never really been around girls. Millicent was as much one of the boys as the boys were, and happy being so. Still, the two never gelled at all as close friends. Not in the same way the two of them did with the boys in that group. Now looking back on today's morning and the glimpse of herself with this pack of exceptionally, almost intimidatingly smart, gifted Witches, it gave her such a thrill. She decided she wasn't going to continue being the silent new girl forever.

"Well, I thought she wouldn't be too bad especially as she seems like she was a 'Green' when she was here", Pansy glanced at Farah, she had the younger girl's attention. "You know, a few more easier house points and the odd easy ride in lessons", she saw Liza, and Harrier were also listening. "But like Tracey pointed out were going to be screwed come end of year exams if we haven't done a thing with our wands and we only learn spell theory". There was a chorus of agreement and she saw all four nodding, the heat in her chest returned. She found she was very fond of this group, giving her their attention so willingly, so quickly, it warmed her.

They reached the Great Hall after a round of Umbridge bashing from Liza and Harrier. They both vented as much as Tracey and Pansy had, seeing as they had been with Umbridge for longer. Farah finally added her two Knuts as they sat down, "Well you've given me a lesson to dread when it's my turn with her tomorrow".

The other three had sat opposite her this morning but Farah had chosen to sit on her left while Tracey pulled her down to sit with her. Pansy now sandwiched, was thoroughly in the mix.

She enjoyed a round of exchanging insults with Tracey over dinner which made her feel even more at ease. Pansy was getting more and more comfortable with her, and as this went on it meant she was being herself more and more. That realisation worried her. She thought of the consequences if she was her true, sometimes cruel self. And how, in the end, that might bring an end to this new friendship. But then Tracey would verbally bring her down, not to belittle or dominate her, but match her with her own intensity. Tracey, and soon she found the other girls too, were showing her that they had no issues meeting her levels of callus humour and personality. And again, this put her at ease within this group. They weren't afraid of her, and they knew her past reputation and still she was being accepted. She did however feel that these girls had a line, a much shorter moral line that her old group would overstep with ease and happily go further into bullying and cruelty, and she didn't believe this new group would tolerate that. She hoped she had enough in her to still be herself but not screw it up.

After they finished their food the lunch post arrived as the hall filled with hooting. To Pansy's and Tracey's confusion a letter landed in front of Pansy. "Already", she looked up into the taller girl's face.

Tracey shrugged not looking away from the envelope, "hopefully they didn't think you really were a nutter".

There was a cough from Liza and the other three sat, themselves looking like owls, with the parliamentarian looks on their faces, awaiting to be filled in on what they were talking about.

To Tracey's surprise this time, Pansy took the lead and filled them in. She was coy enough not to spill as much as she had to Tracey the night before, but she was honest enough with the truth. She tried to explain the need to change her outlook on the Pen Pal situation and what she was trying out. They all looked very impressed, more so Pansy imagined with her being so honest with them so quickly. She saw Farah and Harrier receiving their letters and as they were doing, opened hers.

"Well, you definitely are a nutter, I'll give you that.

I don't mind though; I've met plenty in this place to know they're usually the better sort. So, I'll make you a deal. You carry on your new 'trying to be nice' thing and I'll try not using words like prat, nutter, and moron so much.

Honestly though, it's not the most mental idea I've heard. I guess I know what it's like being the overlooked one in a group of high achievers and people who cast big shadows, so what could be the harm in having that one friend you can talk to privately without any consequences.

I can't say I've ever been in love; I can say I know that feeling when you like someone enough that you feel like you could drown in them, only to realise they might have that same feeling for someone else.

I don't know if this is the kind of stuff you were looking for but, hey!

Keep it short and mind your own business".

"Ps, 'Horse'.

She scoffed at the recall to her first message. Then noticed she was saved from having to tell Tracey the contents as she had her face as much in frame as Pansy did while reading it. "Ps Horse?", they both said aloud in sync with equally confused looks on their faces.

"Horse? That's what he's signed off with?", Harrier spoke up with a laugh, she paused while Pansy and Tracey nodded and then continued to laugh. They stopped nodding just long enough to see Liza start giggling too. Puzzled, the two coughed loudly for Harrier's attention. "Oh, come on, 'Horse', and your, 'Sea', right?".

"Ohh", Farah started to nod, clearly getting what Pansy and Tracey weren't.

"Well, I'm worried for the state of our house if you're struggling to work this one out", Liza teased.

"Oh, for crying out loud", Pansy moaned, "Sea-Horse".

Tracey closed her eyes with the embarrassment of missing it. "Wait why's that funny though, I actually think it's kind of cute".

"Oh you think everything's cute you soppy arse. But let's see, what else might a boy be referring to by calling himself 'Horse'", Harrier fluttered her eyelashes.

Pansy howled with laughter while Tracey snorted, "surely not".

Farah frowned, "what's so funny, what horse and who said it's a boy".

Harrier sneered at her, "oh, it's a boy alright, and we'll tell you in a few years".

Farah swore at her and then suddenly her eyes lit up, "oh, you mean his di-…"

"…-Yes!", Pansy interrupted trying to halt her, looking around the table conscious they were growing louder, "I don't think we need to go into what my Pen Pal's bringing to the table".

"Or what he's got lurking 'under' the table", Liza shouldered into Harrier. This caused a riot of laughter from four of the five girls, until Farah caught on a few seconds later and joined in.

The commotion grew louder as they went on, neither of them happened to see Professor McGonagall. "Ladies!", she announced her presence sharply. They all span around instantly sobering. She gave them all a nod and carried on towards the Professors table. It was a testament to her reputation that even with the Slytherins she only needed a single word to instil order.

The girls continued to giggle to themselves all be it much quieter. Pansy noticed the commotion had captured Draco's attention and a few of the others. She immediately turned away and read her letter allowed for them all to hear deciding that she may as well at this point.

"I thought it was all pretty sweet if I'm honest", Tracey said in contemplation.

Harrier rolled her eyes at her, then said, "I thought he sounded pretty ruthless", her voice full of admiration as she smiled down at the letter.

"I thought he was cheeky", Liza raised her eyebrow.

"I thought it was sad". They all turned to look at Farah, she shuffled in her seat under pressure, "well it was! All that about, knowing what it felt like to drown in someone, but them wanting someone else".

The girls all took her point and nodded in appreciation, she was right, it was sad. They all turned to Pansy expectantly as she'd remained quiet.

Pansy stared at them for a moment, "oh me?" realising they wanted her take. "Well, I don't know, it's only one bloody letter".

"And?"…, Tracey was back to leading her again.

Almost like she was on probation she did as she was prompted. "Well…".

And so, she thought about it. And without realising she smiled down at the little black envelope. "I liked it". "It was hardly Witch Weekly but then again neither was mine". 'But it was captivating', she thought. Then she thought of what they had all said and it mirrored her own thoughts on the matter. Like Tracey, "I thought there was an element of cuteness I guess". She kicked herself for acknowledging the small part of her brain that secretly liked such things. Harrier's words came to her, "he was being ruthless with how he spoke, I do enjoy creative insults", they spoke to her more than softness. Liza's point next, "he does appear to have an excess of cheeky banter", it was a quality she enjoyed. Then Farah's words played over in her head, "I guess he knows what it's like to feel like I've felt", she frowned at this.

The five girls all fell silent for a few moments staring down at the little thing. It was relatable to all of them in their own way. As they did Pansy noticed Harrier playing with the pendant on her necklace. She hadn't noticed it before under her school cloak but now she was almost transfixed by it. Looking at it closer she could see that the whole piece was a beautiful silver and black snake with emerald eyes. Where the snakes head cascaded down it became a pendant of sorts. The snake's head weaved down from its body around her neck where it coiled around a milky white pearl protectively. It looked solid yet delicate and the emerald kept catching the light and holding her attention until Tracey spoke.

Tracey decided to pull them all out of the silence, "Jeez Parkinson I thought we were finding you a friend, not a boyfriend".