Shifting Perspectives

Chapter One

"Can we wrap this up? I need to meet Draco at noon."

Harry glared at his research partner. "We can't finish by noon! And if we don't finish now, we'll have to meet again tomorrow!"

"Fine," Parkinson said, sounding bored. "So we'll meet here tomorrow, after dinner."

"No, you're staying here and we'll finish today."

"Look, Potter, even if I stay we can't finish today. I'm going to go meet Draco, so just shut up."

"You want me to shut up? Make. Me." Harry growled.

Pansy narrowed her eyes dangerously at him. "Fine, I will!" She got up abruptly and stalked over to him, stopping only when she was standing in front of him. She was close, too close, close enough to kiss... She leaned in closer, and Harry closed his eyes in anticipation. Moments later, something soft and silky slipped through his lips. She smiled
triumphantly and whispered in his ear, "Tomorrow, after dinner, Potter," as he spluttered angrily.

"This conversation isn't over yet, Parkinson!" he yelled at her retreating back as she sashayed away.

"Then you will have to finish it yourself!" she called back, not bothering to turn around.

Harry ground his teeth and looked down at the handkerchief she had stuffed in his mouth. It was a piece of white silk decorated only by an embroidered dragon in the corner. Shrugging, he tucked it away in his bag to give back to her tomorrow and began to put away the books Parkinson had left carelessly on the table.

"Oh great," Harry groaned. His bag had ripped, spilling everything. Ron grunted in agreement as Hermione bent to help pick up his stuff.

"Harry, what are you doing with Malfoy's handkerchief?" Hermione asked curiously, holding it up.

"Malfoy's?" Harry asked blankly. "I got it from Parkinson."

"Well, it has a dragon on it doesn't it? 'Draco' is the Latin word for dragon, and all of his stuff have dragons on them. His pack, his rings, all his jewelry...surely you must have noticed?"

"How do you know all that about Malfoy anyway? You don't fancy him or anything, do you?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"Ron, just because I pay attention doesn't mean I fancy him," Hermione said before changing the subject. "Anyway Harry, you said you got the handkerchief from Parkinson. Do you fancy her?"

Harry noticed the oncoming horde of Hufflepuffs. "Hermione, don't talk so loud! People might overhear! And as for me fancying Parkinson--that's ridiculous! No one in their right mind could possibly think that."

"You think I'm talking too loud? Why, you don't want everyone to hear that you secretly fancy Parkinson and have been dating her for the past five months behind our backs?" Hermione asked sarcastically.

Harry noticed with horror that the Hufflepuffs were giggling and gossiping about Hermione's last statement. "Don't say stuff like that when other people can hear! Now the whole school will think we've been dating!"

"Why should you be worried? After all, 'no one in their right mind could possibly think that.' Unless you really do fancy her?"

"I don't fancy her! And give me back that handkerchief; I'm meeting Parkinson after dinner. I'll give it back to her then."

He was already there waiting for her when she arrived at the library. He didn't seem to have started researching yet; instead he sat and played with a white silk handkerchief embroidered with a dragon. Wait...a white silk handkerchief embroidered with a dragon? She checked her pockets. Only her normal handkerchief, pink and frilly like everything else her parents bought for her because it was more feminine. Draco's handkerchief was gone. Damn! She must have accidentally stuffed Draco's handkerchief in Harry's mouth instead of her own. Now what was she going to do?

She quite possibly could have stood there all day, debating her options, had Potter not looked up. "Are you going to sit down or not, Parkinson?" he asked irritably.

"I'll assume 'or not' isn't really an option and sit down."

A brief smile flickered across his face at her retort and was quickly suppressed. "Have you got any research done in your free time?"

"Have you?" she countered.

"No," he admitted.

"Then let's get started. I'll begin writing our report on the information we found yesterday. You can go research more. We need to hurry; it's due tomorrow."

"I know it's due tomorrow, but someone had to cut our last session short. And why am I doing the research?"

"You're doing the research because it's less complicated."

"You don't think I can handle writing the report?"

"I know you can't handle it. You only got an E on your OWL, remember? You couldn't even have got into Potions this year if McGonagall hadn't forced Snape to let you in. Draco told me about it."

"Fine! I'll do the research!" Harry stormed off into the depths of the library and disappeared behind the bookshelves. He came back two minutes later to grab a quill and some parchment as she fought to hide a smirk. Her attempts to control her laughter apparently only incensed him further; when he came back he dropped his research notes on the table and left the library without so much as a parting shot. She decided against calling him back; she had the information she needed.

The growing grin on her face died as she abruptly realized something. She had forgotten to ask for Draco's handkerchief back! Never mind that. Harry was her top priority. But from what she knew of Potter, he wouldn't just forget those years of hating all Slytherins. She needed help. Pansy would have to ask for the help of Hermione Granger.

She sent the letter to Granger at breakfast, so it wouldn't be noticed among the rest of the owls. She had spent an hour on that letter, trying to find a way to phrase it to convince Granger to meet her. She had ended up with:

Granger,

I need to talk to you regarding Potter. I will meet you after dinner
in that secret room, the one across from the tapestry of Barnabas the
Barmy. If you are not there, I will be forced to tell the entire
school about your little crush on a certain friend of mine.

Pansy Parkinson.

Pansy carefully positioned herself so she could watch Granger's reaction as she read the note. Granger paled slightly as she scanned the letter. She looked up, caught Pansy's eye and nodded slightly. Pansy relaxed and sat back. She hadn't been sure how Granger would react to being blackmailed. Luckily, Granger was practical enough not to refuse simply because of principles. Pansy almost laughed out loud out of relief, but caught herself just in time. She jumped as the bell rang, earning herself an odd look from Blaise.

"We have Potions first, Pansy. It doesn't matter if we're late. Snape won't punish us."

"I know that, Blaise," she snapped. "I just lost track of time, that's all."

"If you say so."

The Slytherins got up and exited the Great Hall together, slipping into their usual formation; Draco in front with Pansy, followed by Blaise and Theodore, the only other Slytherins to make the required Outstanding. Snape said nothing as they slipped through the door five minutes late until they tried to sit down. "Do not sit in your usual seats. Because most of you did better on your last projects than you have done the past five years, you will be working with your partners for the rest of the year. Sit down with your partner."

"Sir? If we've just turned in our projects today, how do you know we have done better this time than in the last five years?"

"I was speaking of your other project with your partners, not the one you've turned in today."

Heart pounding, Pansy walked across the classroom and slid into her seat next to Harry.

"Parkinson."

"Potter."

"On the board are instructions for an Acrophobe Potion, used to cure fear of heights. Get to work!"

They worked in silence, Pansy wanting to say something but not knowing what to say. Pansy began peeling the Abyssinian shrivelfig as Harry cut ginger roots. When they were done with their respective tasks, Harry started a fire underneath the cauldron while Pansy tipped the ingredients in and stirred. The potion hissed and turned pale green. "Perfect," she said, satisfied and sat back.

"We're the second group done," he said, looking around the room. "Only Hermione and Malfoy finished faster."

Pansy glanced around the Potions classroom. Except for Granger and Draco, they were all still shredding or peeling.

"We should start cleaning up now," Harry said.

She scooped up a flask of the potion, labelled it with both of their names and placed it on Snape's desk, as Harry put the ingredients back in the student stores cupboard.

The bell rang, and students jumped up to get out of the classroom and away from Snape.

"Wait!" he snapped. "You may not leave until I have a sample of your potion on my desk. Malfoy, Parkinson, Granger, Potter--you are dismissed."

Pansy noted with amusement that Harry nearly bolted out of the classroom, in direct contrast to Draco and Granger, who seemed to be discussing something and were taking their time. Pansy hovered on the edge of their conversation, waiting for Draco. They seemed to be arguing about Arithmancy. Pansy mentally restrained a sigh. Draco loved Arithmancy and could argue about it all day. "Draco," she said, trying to get his attention. "Draco!"

He looked back at her. "What?"

"We have to get to Transfiguration."

"Oh, right. Later, Granger." He looked back at her as they left, a glance that lasted only a second too long.

"Enjoyed your chat with Granger?"

"You know how much I like Arithmancy."

"And that's the only reason you enjoyed your chat with Granger?"

"Of course! What do you think I am, a Mudblood lover?"

Pansy looked at him. He actually believed what he was staying. He still believed that rubbish his father had pounded into his head. She thought of telling him that it was all right, that his father was in Azkaban and he didn't have to follow in his footsteps any longer. Instead she said, quite neutrally, "Of course not. How could anyone think that?"