Accepted (Drarry/Pansmione/Linny)

Chapter Eight - Pansy

Pansy stroked Oxy's feathers through the cage as she waited for Millicent and Tracey to arrive. She knew they weren't there yet because not only were the Grangers one of the first families to arrive - forty five minutes before the train left - they had agreed in their letters to all sit in the compartment they had sat in on the ride home for the summer.

Pansy looked out the window and saw Hermione standing with Mum and Dad at a lamp post. The third lamp post, to be specific. Pansy rolled her eyes. Hermione could have just waited for her friends on the train so her parents could leave, but instead she wanted to be right there when they came through the wall. Oh well.

Tracey was the first of Pansy's friend group to arrive. Pansy saw her wave politely to Hermione and bring her things onto the train.

"Hey, Pans!" Tracey greeted brightly. "Excited to be going back?"

"Oh, definitely. I've missed using magic."

"Same."

Tracey sat down and set a carrier on her lap.

"What's you get?" Pansy asked.

Tracey opened the door and took out two small toads. They fit easily in her hand. "They're sisters," she said excitedly. "Annabelle and Amanda."

Pansy tried to grin. "Cool. Put them away, please."

Tracey chuckled and set the toads back in their carrier. "What, don't you like toads?"

"No." Pansy made a face. Toads were icky.

"Oh come on, they're great pets," Tracey said. "And they aren't slimy, like some people think."

"They aren't?"

"No, here, feel."

Tracey put her hand in the carrier and pulled it back out with the two toads sitting on it. Pansy looked from the toads to Trace a few times.

"You're sure they aren't slimy?"

"I'm sure."

Pansy hesitantly reached out and poked one of them. It hopped a tiny bit and Pansy yelped.

Tracey laughed. "Oh my gods, Pans, seriously?"

Pansy frowned and reached back out. They weren't slimy, but they did feel weird. She took her hand back and rubbed it on her jeans.

Tracey put Annabelle and Amanda back into their carrier and leaned against the seat. "How was your last week at the Grangers'?"

"Pretty good. You would not believe how many books I read over the summer. How was your brother?"

"Well, he tried to step on Amanda and I might have levitated him by the foot and gotten a warning, but that's what having a brother is like."

"You got a warning?!" Pansy exclaimed.

"Yeah. It's not like I intended to do magic though; it just kind of happened. It did teach me to keep my toads in their cage around Derrick at least."

"Yeesh."

"Hey guys!"

"Millie!"

"Millicent!"

Millicent sat down and handed each of them a bag of cookies. "From my stepmother."

"Which one?" Pansy asked, already opening the bag.

"Mum's wife."

Pansy nodded and took a bite. Flavor exploded into her mouth and she could swear she got goosebumps.