In Evidence Of Magical Theory

Chapter 5 ~ The End Of The Beginning

Everyone was talking over each other.

After climbing back up to their rooms, Harry just wanted to sleep, but Ron and Hermione had trudged after them. After a few minutes of listening to them talk over each other, Draco had tugged on Harry's sleeve and Harry'd turned to him questioningly.

"Since it doesn't look like we're set to be alone for a while," Draco said dryly, "would you mind sending a Patronus to Pansy to join us? It doesn't seem hard for you and I haven't been able to produce one."

Surprised not only by the request but also by the ease with which Draco admitted something he probably considered to be a weakness, Harry cast his Patronus quickly and they had been joined by Pansy, who huffed, "Salazar's sake, I feel like my father when you call me Parkinson." She'd brought Blaise because "it'd be fun," and, and Blaise leered and told Harry to call him whatever he wanted.

Now everyone was arguing over what should be done about Highlash. Pansy was vying for a poisoned potion, Blaise thought Harry, Ron, and Hermione should use their status to get him sent straight to Azkaban for daring to secretly run tests on the Chosen One without permission, Hermione kept arguing that more research would help, Ron kept darting threatening glances at Draco - and no one would let them speak.

"Oiy!" Harry finally yelled, fed up. "We're here, you know!"

Malfoy shook his head. "It's no use, Potter. Pansy's as bad as Granger when she gets on about something."

"No one is as bad as Granger," Pansy said, offended.

"I am not bad when I get on about something," Hermione huffed. "I'm just... thorough. Which is a good thing, because it's not as if your lot has been doing anything for the two of them!"

"Our lot?" Blaise arched a dark eyebrow and flashed a sly sort of smile.

"Well, you know... M- Draco's friends," Hermione said, flustered.

"Well, we have so, as a matter of fact," Pansy said, put out. "I was going to talk to him about it at dinner last night, but they didn't show up. And then again at breakfast, when they didn't show up. Speaking of which, why didn't you show up?" she asked.

Ron coughed.

"We were working," Draco said. To his credit, he didn't blush at all. Harry couldn't claim the same, heat rising fast in his cheeks. He wondered how noticeable it was.

"Mmmhmm." Pansy glanced between them speculatively. "I see."

"Wait, what have you been doing?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Research. I do know how, you know."

At Hermione's gaping expression, Malfoy grimaced. "It's true. She's top in our House in classes."

"Among other things," Blaise said with a grin. Pansy elbowed him in the ribs.

"Well, what did you find?" Hermione pressed.

"A footnote in Blood Magic and Mystical Curses," Pansy said, throwing herself down dramatically into the squashy chair to the side of the loveseat. "Horrible, dodgy old book written in the 1700's. It was a nightmare to get through. It made reference to a case of Core connectivity, just mentioned in passing, but the footnote said that these types of curses tend to have lingering effects if they aren't treated immediately."