Shifting Perspectives

Chapter Two

"What is the meaning of this letter?" Granger demanded as she stalked in.

Pansy squinted up at Granger from her chair. Granger was worried. "I believe I made it quite clear: we were to meet here or I was going to tell the whole school about your infatuation with Draco."

"What do you want in return for your silence?" Granger gritted out.

"Your help."

Granger was obviously not expecting that. "What?"

"Your help," Pansy repeated slowly, emphasizing the words. "Help: a verb meaning to assist or give support to."

"Don't patronize me, Parkinson," Granger said, her voice soft and dangerous. "You blackmailed me for my help?"

"Yes. Don't worry; I have no intentions of telling anyone about your feelings towards Draco."

"You won't?" Granger asked, relief evident in her tone.

"I won't," Pansy confirmed. "I apologize for having to resort to such methods, but we've never got along. I was afraid you would not come without a strong incentive. Would you have come if I simply asked for a meeting?"

"Perhaps not," Granger admitted. "What did you want my help with?"

Pansy affected a sigh. "The sad state of affairs inside Hogwarts. We are divided by these silly house prejudices when we should be joining together against the Dark Lord." She knew that house unity was a pet project of Granger's. It was the perfect lever to manipulate Granger with.

"If you wanted my help with house prejudices, why didn't you just say so in your letter? I would have come."

Pansy shrugged. "I thought you were more likely to come if I specifically mentioned a friend of yours. Potter and I have been working together in Potions, and because of inane house prejudices, we have not been doing as well as we should."

"You think the house prejudices are inane?" Granger asked. She sounded distrusting, but Pansy thought that she could detect a hint of curiosity. Granger wanted to believe that someone else agreed with her about house unity, which would make Pansy's task much easier.

Trying to sound earnest, Pansy said, "With these house biases, we cannot unite. Every house has something to contribute. If we all fight on our own, we could only achieve small, fragmented victories. But if all of Hogwarts were to combine, we could accomplish something worthwhile. We could do anything." She could see her ideas taking root inside Granger. "That is why I have come to you. I know that we haven't always liked each other. If two enemies like us can work together, we can convince people that inter-house relations is an achievable goal."

"I agree that house unity is necessary," Granger said cautiously. "I've been trying to do something about it for years."

"I know. And I must say, I found your efforts inspiring. That's part of the reason I came to you, and no one else. I knew you would understand, even if no one else could."

Granger blushed, obviously flattered. Pansy had seen this reaction before in class, whenever a teacher congratulated Granger personally. "I haven't had any success, though. People have been trying to unite the houses for generations. What makes you think that it will be different if we work together?"

"We now have an advantage that our predecessors did not," Pansy replied. "If you and I work together, we have a direct link between the most powerful Slytherins and Gryffindors. If we can work with each others' friends, and if we can convert our friends to the idea of house unity, the most of our fellow Slytherins and Gryffindors will follow. And the conflicts between Slytherins and Gryffindors are the main obstacles in our path towards creating house unity. If Slytherins and Gryffindors can get along, the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs will fall into line."

Granger nodded distantly, her eyes lit with an inner flame and focused on some faraway place. "We can be the bridge that crosses opposite sides of Hogwarts," she breathed. "We can be the catalyst to meld the houses together."

Pansy allowed Granger another moment to indulge her delusions of grandeur, then spoke up. "You'll help me, then?"

Granger reluctantly returned to reality. She became pessimistic once more. "How do I know I can trust you?"

"How could I benefit from uniting our houses? Even if I was working for the Dark Lord, which I'm not, uniting the houses would only serve to make Hogwarts stronger."

"True," Granger admitted. "But how do I know you aren't just trying to get closer to Harry so you can spy on him?"

"How can I convince you that I am sincere?"

Granger smiled suddenly. "I could give you a Truth Potion."

Pansy blanched. She shouldn't agree to this. Who knew what things Granger might ask? "I don't want to admit my secrets to you, Granger."

"I won't ask you anything private. And it will be a very basic Truth Potion; it wears off within minutes," Granger assured her.

"What kind of questions will you ask me?"

"I'll ask you whether or not I can trust you and whether or not you will hurt any of my friends. That's all. Then you can ask me the same two questions."

Pansy thought it over. This was probably her best chance to get Granger on her side. "When will the potion be done?"

"In about five days. I take it you agree?"

Pansy nodded curtly. "Shall we meet here in five days, then?"

"That's fine with me."

* * *

The door was already in the wall, which meant that Granger was in. Pansy stared at the smooth, polished surface. This was her last chance to drop out of their deal. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

Granger crouched over a cauldron in the center of the room. Granger's bag rested against the cauldron. Pansy wrinkled her nose at the smell. "Hello, Granger," she said. "Are you done yet?"

"Almost," Granger called back. She tossed in something, causing the smoke to billow upwards. "There." She took out a small beaker and ladled out some of the liquid. Granger held out the beaker to Pansy.
"Here. Take a sip."

Pansy accepted the beaker and held it up. At least Granger isn't the type to poison me, she thought. Pansy lifted it to her lips and took a sip. It was like drinking fire, a stream of molten lava coursing through her. The burning subsided to a pleasant warmth.

"Can I trust you?"

Pansy fought the burning in her throat for control of her voice. "You can trust me as long as we work together and you don't betray me."

"Would you ever knowingly harm me or any friend of mine?"

"I would never hurt Potter, unless it was for his own good. If you help me and do not betray me, I will not harm you. If your other friends do not interfere with me, my plans, or those I hold dear, they will not suffer at my hands."

Granger nodded. "Good enough." She took out another beaker, filled it, and took a sip. "Your turn."

Pansy watched as Granger's face flushed with the heat of the potion. "Can I trust you?"

"If I can trust you, yes."

"Would you ever knowingly harm me or any friend of mine?"

"I would not harm you or any friend of yours unless it was necessary to do so."

What was that supposed to mean? But the color was fading from Granger's cheeks, which meant it was too late to ask. "Very well. Have we established my trustworthiness to your satisfaction?"

"Yes. Now, what do you think we should do?"

"Well, we should try to convert our friends to the cause. I doubt that we could get my friends to get along with your friends. But perhaps I could get along with Potter and Weasley, and perhaps you could get along with Draco," Pansy said, her voice deliberately casual.

Granger nodded. "All right."