Saving Snape

12. Ron has a problem

"Pansy..." I shake a sleeping Pansy's shoulder. "Pansy... Wake up, sleepyhead..."

"Morning Belle."

I wrinkle my nose. "Belle? Yesterday it was Izz."

"Belle suits you better."

"Whatever you say, Pansy. Now get up. Please?" She rolls over and falls out of her bed. "Great." I smile. "I'll be in the common room."

People give me weird looks as I wait for Pansy but I don't care. They don't know anything. I made that promise to Pansy anyway.

So basically, I'm going to feed her the story I told Ron. If she asks.

I hear footsteps and feel a hand on my shoulder. "What time is it?'

I look down at my bare arm. "A hair past a freckle." I grin. "I honestly don't know but breakfast is still on."

She cheers and I giggle as she drags me to the great hall. Hermione watches us at breakfast from her table, smiling. I can tell she understands that I can't just ignore my house, even if I wasn't meant to be here.

For the rest of the day, Pansy sits with me in every class and helps me out when I'm stuck. I help her in return by actually staying awake in History Of Magic.

"Pansy..." I nudge her. "Professor Binns is done."

She opens her eyes and blinks in response. Then she jumps up and we head outside after leaving our books and homework in our dorm.

"Fresh air!" She breathes it in. "Finally!"

"Yeah, it was so stuffy in there!" I giggle. "No wonder Professor Binns died. He didn't get enough oxygen! Imagine what it must be like in summer, though." I shudder.

"Hey Izabelle! What are you doing with Pug Face?"

"Her name is Pansy, Ron!" I yell. "Once again, give people a chance!"

"I gave Snape a chance and he's a mean old bat!"

Hermione winces beside him. Poor, poor, girl.

"Ron, maybe Snape... Isn't so bad..." She whispers.

"You saw what he did, Hermione. He's foul, and mean."

Hermione cringes. She can't say anything. Maybe she can. What if we didn't do the vow right?!

"You should take a chance to know people better." She mutters. Ron shakes his head, walking away. I breathe a sigh of relief.

"What was that about?" Asks Pansy.

"Ron hates Snape's guts." I say simply. She drops the subject and we hang around for a while, getting to know each other better. I introduce her to Hazel and Emma-Leigh and they instantly become friends.

When it gets too dark we do our homework in the silence of the dorm, and fall asleep to the smell of fresh parchment.

()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()

Wednesday. That's what day it is. About two months after Ron insulted Snape like that. Christmas has come and gone. Harry has the cloak now, and Snape has gone back to being depressed. He doesn't smile a lot, and has gone back to his moody self, but I suspect that's because he had to tell Hermione. It must have been hard for him, so he went back to the way he used to be.

Hermione is back as well.

It's after class and we're going over what Harry's about to do tonight.

"Make sure he sees you threatening Quirrel. He needs to see that. I mean, he's going to hate you even more for it because he thinks you're the one after the stone. He thinks you're threatening him to get the stone for you."

"What?"

"I never said Harry was clever." I smile and Snape smirks. Good thing he remembers how to be bitter. I just need him to take that disguise down more often.

"So I just do my duty to the headmaster, and Potter comes in at the wrong time, and assumes that I am the bad guy? I've been at this school much longer than Professor Quirrel, so I know I am much more loyal. And even if I wanted to kill Potter, I would have done it earlier."

"That's what he thinks you tried to do. Remember the Quidditch match? The one where Harry's broom went nuts?"

"Yes. It wasn't me, it was Quirrel!"

"I know that. I know everything. Sadly, Harry doesn't. Hermione saw you doing the anti curse, and thought you were jinxing the broom. It was an easy mistake, but the boys are convinced that you've got it in for Harry."

"Nonsense."

"Dumbledore could lend you this year's book, if you want. Or maybe at the end of the year, so you can see this years events from his point of view."

"You think he would willingly give me that book? It's priceless. It's from the future!"

"I actually had the whole series in my bag when I came here."

"Good idea. On the last day of school, I'll ask for it." He pauses. "Where are you staying for the holidays?"

"Here."

"That would be pretty uneventful."

"Please. This is Hogwarts we're talking about."

"Yes, yes. It's almost time to go back to your dorm. You should go."

"Ok. Just make sure to find Quirrel."

"I will. Now go before you get into trouble."

I nod and disappear out the door and head back to the dorm, where Pansy is waiting with her homework. She sits beside me and we give each other ideas for our essays, and go to bed once we've done. This is probably the most unlikely friendship in the world.

________________

Yes, I know my chapters are super short.

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