Pride and Polyjuice Potion

Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged that any honourable Gryffindor would never associate themselves with a Slytherin. A Slytherin is, entirely unequivocally, the epitome of all that which is corrupt and deplorable within the world. It is impossible to disagree.

Such was Hermione Granger's (and almost every other Gryffindor in history) opinion until the introduction of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's newest student: Blaise Zabini.

In saying so, it also goes that a proud, pure-blooded Slytherin would never condescend so much as to willingly be in the presence of impure blood, particularly if that blood runs through the veins of a Gryffindor.

It is difficult to find something more indestructible than years and years of tradition. The social norms are carved into our understanding of the world like an imperishable scar. You can paint over it, you can mask it, you can glue a plaster over it. Oh look! You can't see it anymore!

Stereotypes are, of course, infallibly true and are impossible to be deceiving. It follows that these widely held prejudices are entirely natural and justified.

Bullshit, they would soon come to understand.

The Gryffindor common room.

"Mione, Mione! Have you heard the good news? There's a brand new student," Parvati exclaimed. "I managed to catch a glimpse of him and Merlin he is a sex god."

Hermione was not one to be easily impressed by men, but having bumped into him not five minutes prior, she informed Parvati that she had indeed hear the news and that Blaise Zabini appeared particularly agreeable to her.

This caused Hermione to reflect upon her meeting with him with quite some pleasure. She had just come back from her usual late night trip to the library and was carrying a decent stack of hardcover spines. Her nose was deep within the scent of the musky parchment of the first little red book when she walked straight into him.

Thankfully, Hermione dropped none of the books. The only disruption caused by this interaction was within their countenances. He apologised profusely, as if by automatic response, and once he had satisfied himself with a dozen enquires about her health, he extended his hand to her and introduced himself as Blaise Zabini, a brand new Hogwarts pupil. Hermione shook his hand most willingly and gave him her name in return. He smiled - a most exuberant and innocent smile - and spoke of how glad he was to have made her acquaintance. Hermione assured him of the same with equal warmth and friendliness and waved as he departed from her with yet another apology.

"Devastatingly rich too. Shame he's been put in Slytherin though," Padma remarked.

"I wonder how that happened. I mean, he has such easy manners and from what I've heard, he strives to please wherever he goes." Ginny stated.

"Someone said he was a childhood friend of Draco Malfoy's and asked the sorting hat to put him in Slytherin. I'm assuming there must have been some form of coercion on Malfoy's behalf for who would willingly choose to be part of such a house?" Parvati huffed.

"That cannot be true; it seems far too unlikely. How can someone as amiable as him possibly tolerate such a foul, loathsome evil little cockroach?"

It was in this moment that Luna Lovegood strolled into the common room. It had been long since they had given the Ravenclaw the password as an honorary Gryffindor member and it was now customary that she visited them every now and then, being much excluded in her own house for her rather unconventional ideas.

The girls all greeted her warmly as she took her usual seat by the fireplace.

"There's an uncommon amount of nargals this year," said Luna, her ethereal voice sailing smoothly through dusk-lit common room.

"Yes I suppose there is, Luna," Ginny smiled, but Hermione did not. She had a feeling the lovely blonde was very sadly correct.

"I hope they won't ruin the dance tomorrow."

"Merlin, I almost forgot about that! I can't believe it's due to take place tomorrow. A whole year has passed since the first one, isn't that incredible? Oh, I do wonder if the new boy - Blane was it? - will be going," said Padma.

At the start of every new academic year, Hogwarts hosted a house colour themed formal to welcome back the students. It was never really that good but people generally went nonetheless because dancing was, of course, a certain step towards falling in love.

"If he is as agreeable in his passion for dancing as he is in propriety, I can almost guarantee his attendance," said Hermione.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Padma," teased Ginny. "Let's not forget what happened last year."

Padma attempted to cover her embarrassment with a quick giggle, but the rising pink heat in her cheeks gave her away.

"Ginny! You swore you'd never mention it again."

"Did I? That's terribly sad. It would be such a shame to forget that you got so drunk you pissed all over the floor of the Great Hall, went over to Snape and cried thinking you were pregnant because of your alleged bladder problem. Oh, not to mention that in doing so you left a trail of piss from the centre of the hall to the corner where Snape was standing."

Padma now covered her face with her hands in humiliation but couldn't help her laughter.

"Let's not forget that Snape then had to get Dumbledore, Hagrid and McGonagall to escort you out and you bit poor Hagrid on the arm. And then -"

"Ginny, I think you have tortured the poor girl enough," said Hermione.

"Safe to say I am not going anywhere near the refreshments table this year," cried Padma. "Hopefully one of you lot will embarrass yourselves so much that my horrific performance will be soon forgotten."

"Cheers, Padders," said Ginny, raising her glass of butterbeer ironically. Much to Padma's relief, the Gryffindors soon stopped indulging their mirth at the expense of her humiliating behaviour when Parvati changed the subject.

"Oh we need to start planning our hair, makeup, outfits - everything!" exclaimed Parvati, spilling with excitement and glee.

Hermione smiled at her friend's cheerfulness but could feel none of her own. As much as she loved a good dance and an opportunity to have fun with her friends, she could not be ignorant to the ever-imposing darkness that had come upon Hogwarts. She looked up into the window next to the mantelpiece and all she could see was an uncanny reflection of the past she was so accustomed to. This year was bound to be a time of change - not in the good sense - and Hermione Granger did not feel prepared for it.

Harry and Neville now stumbled in to the common room and were cordially welcomed into the girls' discussion.

"I heard some buzz over the formal," Neville said shyly.

"Oh not that stupid thing. How am I supposed to dance with two left feet?" Harry complained.

"Just because it's the one thing you're not good at doesn't mean you have to hate it, golden boy," Ginny mocked as she rolled her eyes.

"I am fairly, well, uh, for lack of a better word, excited about it," Neville mumbled almost incoherently.

"Liar," said Padma playfully. "We all know you've been practising for it this past year."

Neville's face turned redder than sofa he was perched on the end of and turned his face away from all of them in embarrassment.

"What about you, Hermione?" Asked Luna, who had been quite fixed on her anxious expression.

"Oh - me - dreadfully excited, of course."

'Dreadfully anxious' would have perhaps been a more accurate reflection of her opinion, but she had no desire to dampen the sweet, innocent atmosphere in the tower that evening. She almost allowed herself to indulge in it, fall recklessly within it and disregard all the external factors that were the reason for the rarity of her smiles those days.