Touch your thighs, I'm the lonely one
Narc - Interpol
Chapter 1
Pansy was skulking. This was accompanied by thoughts on how this wasn't how she envisioned spending her fifth year. The worst part was there were many things she would rather be doing at this very moment, but for today and many more days she would spend them following Potter or his posse. Between Umbridge and Draco's obsession with the boy it was a miracle that half of her year wasn't doing the same to curry favour. Of course most just found it not worth it to be within Potter's sphere of notice. Potter's claim of the darklord's return had thoroughly spooked people. She didn't care. One way or the other, she would have Draco's affections by the end of the year. Soon after that she would have the Malfoy name, wealth and power.
She had been following Potter half-heartedly since the beginning of the school year. Becoming a prefect only seemed advantageous in bringing about Potter's downfall. Well atleast that was how Draco saw it. This following though was only by chance after she caught him skulking in the lower hallways. She couldn't resist tailing him, even if she was alone. It would be a brilliant if she could find out the secret meeting place of his little group. This could perhaps bring her and Draco closer.
She shook her head of these thoughts of grandeur and focused.
She focused on Potter, whom walked as uncertainly as she did; seeming to be following something she couldn't see. She followed him past a corner but stopped short in surprise. The hallway came to an abrupt end and she was quick to duck back before he saw her. She peaked around the corner to find him crouched against the wall fondling it experimentally. She ducked back weighing on whether or not to cut her losses before he caught on to her spying.
The matter was left undecided as a short cry caught her attention. She risked a glance around the corner but the end of the hallway now lay empty. She approached fuming, upset that he had given her the slip into some kind of secret passage.
Reaching his last position, she found herself giving a similar cry to the one she heard only moments before. Illusionary floor gave way under her and she found herself falling through the floor. Darkness gave way to instant blinding light and the ground rushing up to be the end of her. Her screams were cut off as her descent came to an abrupt end before she could paint the floor. The force holding her off the floor gave way and she hit the floor with a wince.
She felt the plant life around her before she glanced around to find she was surrounded by it. For a second she thought she was in the herbology greenhouses but she quickly dismissed this as she fought off the disorientation. The plant life was clustered into a circular indoor garden, thriving with various magical plant life. She looked up to find Potter looking down at her expression suspicious with his eyes darting to their surroundings now and then. She winced half blinded by a bright halo above him.
He stepped towards her and offered her a hand. She ignored it and promptly stood up and tried not to look as bewildered as she felt.
"So you were the one following me" He said dejectedly having felt he was being watched. He turned to survey the room.
The rest of the room was all stone with an artificial sun floating somewhere high above them. There was only one door, situated on the far side of the room.
She ignored him and smirked "So this is where you and your little friends have been sneaking off too"
Her smirk fell as Harry gave her an amused smile and walked away.
"Who are you anyway" He asked behind him as he headed towards the only door in the circular room.
To say she was offended was putting it mildly.
"Your attempt to be insulting is child's play Potter" She said hesitantly following him.
He stopped, looking back even more amused
"I'm sorry" -He clearly was not- "I don't mean to insult but I don't think we've met. You're in Slytherin. Fifth year I think; I've seen you in potions"
"Pansy Parkinson" She ground out glaring at him
Potter gave a click of the fingers nodding to a complete picture now.
"So why are you stalking me Pansy? You're one of Malfoy's minions right"
She flinched at the use of her first name.
"You're as narcissistic as expected Potter, the term coincidence describes this situation perfectly"
He gave an irritated look and she responded with a half-hearted sneer.
Harry sighed the anger away and tried to bury his annoyance. He opened the door and walked on. He paused startled as the room ahead was pitch black illuminated slightly by runes that glowed green on the ceiling. His skin prickled as a pressure seemed to close in around him. This was one of those moments he would have been glad to have Hermione with him. He wasn't sure if he should proceed, the pressure and runes putting him on edge.
"You wouldn't be taking ancient runes would you Parkinson?"
She pushed him aside coming to stand beside him. she immediately faltered and Harry caught her before she hit the ground. She shook him off and stood shakily.
"Where are we Potter"
"I'm not sure"
She looked at him incredulously
"I'm pretty sure I didn't ask you to run around stalking me" He bit out irritably.
Harry was aware of the anger seemed to be constantly lurking inside him these days, and it took a moment to get it under control and breathe it out. Parkinson stepped away from him cautiously.
"We should look for a way out" Harry said
Walking deeper into the room, it came alive with small light fixtures around the room lighting up with half a dozen balls of light. The room resembled a common room, though this clearly wasn't made for a large number of people seemingly furnished for a small group or a single studious mind. Half the circumference of the room was lined with books. The other kept clear with a hearth, two couches and a small coffee table. The centre had a small study table to fit maybe four people. All was dust covered and musty.
Both momentarily forgot about one another, focused entirely on the room. They walked deeper into the room catching a breeze gently flowing through the room. As they walked deeper the oppression and dust around the room receded. By the time they stood in the middle of the room, it was pristine. Parkinson sat herself on a chair as soon as they were close enough. She muttered something and Harry noticed she was hyperventilating, and sweaty as though she had just come from a jog.
"Parkinson" Harry called out, testily laying a hand on her shoulder.
"Something's wrong" She said weakly "Tired"
Harry felt his apprehension rise at this. It was bad enough to be caught up in a secret room he found through more whispering parseltongue, now he had to be worried about one of Malfoys cronies.
"Rest, I'll look around for a way out" He said uncertainly.
He noted half the runes around the ceiling were no longer active and the others fading slowly. There were five doors equally distributed around the room (including the one they had just come from) and Harry set to exploring for an exit. His curiosity took a back seat as he looked through each door. He identified a lavatory and bathroom through the first door. Second came a featureless wide stone and runed room that otherwise looked unremarkable. Third was stairs leading up to god knows where. Fourth was sleeping quarters. Last was the door they came in from.
Harry walked back into the plant room, checking for any exit he might have missed. There was no exit, and the artificial sun hid where they had fallen in from. He retreated back into the commons and found Parkinson now unconscious. It seemed too early in the year for a life threatening situation he thought. This did little to slow his rising panic. He tried to shake her awake but she didn't stir.
"Rennervate" he cast on her but it only earned him a moan
This was the last thing he needed and he silently cursed her for the panic he was feeling. He cast a lightening charm on her, before carrying her bridal style. He took a gamble assuming the stairs leading up were the exit, but trusted his instincts. It was a short climb up the stairs, which levelled out into a hallway with two paths.
Left or right.
He took the left and found his route illuminated by the same lights as the commons as well as well as runes lining the hallway ceiling. He came to the end with a single door. It didn't open when he awkwardly tried opening it. He lay his ward on the floor before scanning the door. There were words -assumed to be Latin- scrawled on it and they ended with snakes on either end.
Uncertainty and apprehension took hold of Harry once more, the memory of the small snake carved into the floor of the hallway they fell through. He wondered if he had used parseltongue again without notice.
"Open" He hissed at the door after studying the snakes on it.
The door groaned and swung back. He took steps back and stood in front of Parkinson's unresponsive body, his wand out. The door revealed inky blackness that reflected nothing but continuously rippled. Harry cautiously approached and it lit up with sea green. Inky darkness gave way to watery surface that gave an obscured picture of hazy images behind it. Harry squinted and was pretty sure he could see some movement behind it.
He groaned 'not that way then'
He felt himself tire as he picked up Parkinson again, and noted his charm had worn off. He was momentarily puzzled as it should have been active longer than this. He tried to reapply it but it gave way a few seconds after he cast it.
He gave up and picked her up and went back the way he came.
Ten minutes later he found himself faced with another door. He hissed for it to open and it readily gave way. He noted the runes above him were gone. The door gave way to a darkened room. Harry stepped in cautiously but wasn't surprised to hear the door close behind him. An outline glowed ahead of him and swung open to an empty hallway.
Harry stepped through warily giddy to be back in parts of the castle he was used to. Behind him a portrait closed the way he had come. The portrait which had been body length shrank to a small window size. Harry shook his head promising to ponder this at a later date.
Xxx
"Is she going to be alright?" Harry asked feeling his own fatigue catching up with him
He sat on a cot next to Parkinson grateful to be off his feet.
"She's going to be fine. She was just exhausted. Care to explain Mr Potter" Pomfrey asked expectantly
This year was already volatile enough without him adding this to have used against him. He could lie but there was no guarantee that Parkinson would backup any lie he came up with.
"I'm not sure" he said which was sort of true, he wasn't sure why she got exhausted so fast.
"I heard a cry and investigated, she was in a hallway passed out on the third floor" he said shrugging at her raised brow.
"You look thoroughly winded yourself, lay back while I look you over"
He didn't argue and let her run her spells off him while he lay back and caught his breath.
"Everything seems fine, though you seem to have exhausted your magic slightly. Rest I'll have an elf bring you some dinner"
She returned to Parkinson throwing a few more spells at her before leaving to do as she had promised.
Xxx
Pomphrey left him to eat and returned to her office, presumably notify the headmaster Harry assumed. When she was out of the room Harry was quick to whip out his wand.
"Rennervate" He mumbled
Parkinson stirred but seemed too tired to sit up and express the shock on her face.
"How did I get here" She asked tiredly as he stood over her.
"I carried you here"
He didn't give her time for any more questions "I found you on the third floor hallway, collapsed and brought you here"
She arched her brow at him "No, we fell and…"
Harry bared down on her feeling hot anger flood him
"I have enough problems with Umbridge and l don't need her spinning this against me. I didn't have to physically carry you all the way here, I could have left you. I didn't leave you to die did I?" He asked
She seemed ready to retort something challenging but Harry repeated
"I found you on the third floor hallway, collapsed and brought you here. You owe me" He held her gaze steadily
She tore her gaze away from him and gave a small nod followed by Harry releasing a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
He sent a wordless stunner and she was out again. He returned to his eatery ignoring the hissing laughter he had to be imagining.
Xxx
"Mr Potter's behaviour has been so far nothing if not suspicious. I merely feel it would be prudent to make sure all is as it seems" Umbridge said smile in place
"My dear there is no need for that, miss Parkinson has already collaborated Mr Potter's version of the events."
"Ah but she couldn't account for what happened after she was unconscious"
"You can't be serious" Harry said incredulously
"Oh but I am. I think it prudent for Ms Parkinson's state of body be verified" she said with a sniff before continuing. "Miss Parkinson comes from an ancient house. I think it would give her piece of mind to know she wasn't violated in her time of weakness. Don't you agree Pansy"
Harry gaped and Dumbledore frowned but said nothing
Pansy was stuck bewildered hesitant to give any type of answer.
"There is no need for any of that" Pomphrey cut in "I ran tests on both mister Potter and miss Parkinson, neither has had any sexual activity this evening"
Umbridge's smile remained on her face but looked to be on the verge of becoming a scowl.
"Ah a relief then, I'm sure we all feel better with that all cleared up"
She caught Harry's eye before turning and leaving the room. The expression on her face made it clear that, though she didn't get to Harry this time, it was only a matter of time.
"Excellent work as always Poppy, Harry shall we leave Miss Parkinson to have her rest"
Parkinson watched Potter leave with Dumbledore, sparing her an uncertain look before they were gone.
Xxx
Pansy watched Harry and his faithful dogs leave the great hall with a fading and decidedly unenthusiastic thought of following them in case they got up to anything. She decided against it. Besides she needed to stick to Draco. She had to make sure his ego was soothed with her every laugh at his inane jokes. If she didn't do it, it would only be a matter of time before some hussy took her place. Draco could be genuinely funny sometimes but the rest of the time it was grandstanding with relish at hearing his own voice. So here she sat, squealing at every thought he thought to voice.
She thought back to Potter, and not for the first time the room they had fallen into before her black out. She wanted to believe Potter had been responsible for whatever happened but convincing herself of that was harder than convincing half of the school of his insanity. His character might have been sickening but it was genuine enough.
It was ironic that sticking with Malfoy had made them Potter's main adversary in Hogwarts but also gave her a front row seat to who he was. His goody goody attitude was what drove Draco mad half the time.
Draco was about to start a new retelling of how things would be different this year when Pansy thought she had fulfilled the quota at being his brainless harpy for the evening. She stood giving his shoulder an affectionate squeeze. He stopped his retelling to study her.
"Where are you off too?"
"Finish a transfiguration essay" she said with a groan before smiling sweetly at him.
He gave a dismissive nod turning back to his audience. He seemed inquisitive of her comings and goings after he heard of the incident with Potter. Truthfully she was embarrassed by the whole affair. Potter hadn't been discreet when taking her up to the hospital wing, and the few students that caught sight of him made it out to be more than it was with every retelling. Most of it of course deliberately targeted to upset her or Draco. The simple version of him taking her to the hospital wing after she collapsed was being promptly ignored. Stories ranged from Potter rescuing her from a something or other, to them having a secret rendezvous that was so spectacular that she passed out.
Still she was glad to see Malfoy incensed enough to be giving her extra attention for however long it lasted.
Xxx
It was later that night that Pansy left for her rounds. Usually she was more enthusiastic about this as it gave her the authority to walk about after curfew, not to mention she always came away with a bit of gossip or black mail from the creatures out past curfew. This time though her mood wasn't suited to it. She simply walked the halls ignoring any quick shuffle of feet that usually made her give chase. It simply didn't excite her enough. It was Potter's fault of course, him and his bloody secret ancient room with an artificial sun. She didn't want to think about it, knowing it would lead to more curiosity and she wouldn't have the nerve to go hunting Potter for more information.
She was descending toward Slytherin house after her rounds when she caught sight of the path leading to where she and Potter had the start of their short lived adventure. It was unconscious but soon she found herself stood watching the spot they had fallen through. She didn't dare come any closer but peered at it.
One had to wonder if these kinds of situations were the make-up of Potter's life. She snorted brushing away thoughts on the daily life of Potter, she had her own hypothetical problems. She stepped forward and gave the ground in front of her a tentative feel with her foot while keeping most of her weight back in case the ground tried to vanish from under her. The ground stayed firm under her but she didn't have the heart to test it further. She knew she should have been getting back to the common room but her curiosity wasn't so easily assuaged. She cast aguamenti spells all over the floor. When she was sure none of the pools of water were vanishing, she vanished them and approached. The floor stayed beneath her.
She looked around the walls and floor but found nothing that proved to be remarkable, it seemed for all intents and purposes just another dusty Hogwarts hallway. She turned to leave feeling put out. She wasn't sure what she expected to find but had hoped it would be more interesting.
Pansy gave a squeak in fright finding Potter watching her.
"Sorry, did I surprise you" Harry said with a smirk
"As if you weren't disturbing enough Potter, now you have to add stalking and creeping up on people to the list"
"I'll settle for creeping up, stalking is your department remember" Harry said bemused
"Don't banter with me Potter, what are you doing here"
She noted he was trembling and pasty from sweat
"I should ask you that" he said coming closer "Looking for another misadventure?"
She opened her mouth to retort but stopped short "I'm leaving and I'll be reporting this"
"Yes, I'm sure Malfoy must be wondering where you are" Harry said not really caring for her threat.
She didn't reply and made to walk past him
"I'm surprised you haven't told him about it" Harry said seeming casual but was fishing.
"How do you know I haven't told him" she said without her usual confidence.
"Well the lack of Umbridge or the rest of his cronies sniffing around was my first clue" Harry said pleased he had guessed right as she frowned
"Whatever" Parkinson muttered continuing on her way
"You're not curious" he said slowly
That stopped her dead in her tracks.
She turned to see him move to stand at the end of the Hallway looking back at her curiously. She should leave, this she knew. She couldn't associate herself with Potter anymore than she already had. She had a plans for the future, these plan consisted of Draco and his family's reputation and wealth, it would be extremely unSlytherin to put it all at risk to go exploring with Potter.
Pansy could only glare in answer to Potter's growing grin as she came towards him.
"How do I know I won't just pass again" she said trying to be dignified
"I told the headmaster about the room and what happened" Harry said rolling his eyes as she glared at him "Anyway it shouldn't happen again"
She looked at him funny "Umbridge didn't give you any ideas did she"
Harry gaped at her
"Ideas?" he repeated slowly
Pansy shook her head with a smile "What am I thinking, virgin Potter wouldn't even know what to do with-"
Harry hissed in parseltongue and the ground gave from underneath them.
Harry was glad to hear her scream
TBC
Xxx
Bad writing while in transit, you'll have to forgive or love me.