Secret Meetings (Here Harry Harry!)

[Trixier]

August 28th, late at night.

Pansy was paranoid. She looked over her shoulder a couple of times and then brought the hood of her cloak up to conceal her face. The fact that it was incredibly warm outside earned her looks from people nearby but she just shrugged them off. She took out her hand mirror and revised her reflection. She had mousy brown hair now, her face was darker and her face was a lot softer and oval shaped. Yes, everything was still in place even her eyes instead of cold blue-gray were now bright green.

She tried to tone down her walking. Her maid had told Pansy after she took the polyjuice potion that she didn't walk like that so Pansy had to remind herself to tone it down. She was hardly successful at it. She wasn't even sure how to walk in the muggle clothes the maid had helped her get in a shop. Pansy didn't understand the concept of faded jeans, and the snug top it was just not fitting of her. That was why she had put robes over them and a matching cloak. She was pretty sure she looked like the muggle born students in schools.

She tossed her hair and thought of how lucky her maid must be pretending to be her, sleeping on her bed and hoping that no one decided to check on her.

Thankfully for the other woman no one ever checked on Pansy while she was sleeping. The Slytherin stepped towards the counter and requested a room. She was offered drinks but she quickly refused them. Music was playing, catchy melodies waving through the air as some pairings danced. She watched the scene for a moment and then turned back to the desk boy.

For a moment she considered telling him to tell a gangly black hair boy to just head upstairs however she decided against it. She had told Potter which room she would request but for now she supposed it was better to wait until he showed up. Had she told him what she would be wearing? Yes, she was pretty certain she had. She had also sent a picture of who she was impersonating so chances of him not seeing her were slight.

However this WAS Potter.

Harry Potter...she was meeting in secret with Harry Potter. What had the world come to? She tossed her hair and let the hood fall away from her face and just waited. For a brief moment she wondered what she would do if he didn't show up. Well she wouldn't blame him. Actually she would! It was all ready bad enough that she was waiting let alone gets stood up by Harry Bloody Potter.

[wintersnow]

It had taken Harry some time to get away from his godfathers house. This year he'd requested his own room, rather than sharing with Ron, for several reasons - Ron's snoring being one of them, though it was a lame excuse. . .

Donning his cloak, he'd eased his door open and peered down the hallways. Dark, the sounds of the sleepers in their rooms tucked away for the night, quiet. . .for the most part. He'd tiptoed through the hall, down the stairs, past that godforsaken portrait and into the kitchen.

Copper and iron pots and pans lined the cupboards and the fire place was dim save for a few red coals. Harry flicked his wand toward the fire igniting it once more. He sighed watching the flames for a moment. What was he thinking, sneaking off in the middle of the night when Voldemorts powers seemed to be at their highest? What if someone found him? What if they caught him? He kept thinking back to the night Remus Lupin had found him wandering the halls looking for Peter Pettigrew. His parent's had given their lives to protect him, keep him safe. . .and what was he doing? Sneaking off to meet Pansy Parkinson, the daughter of two of the Deatheater's he'd seen the night Cedric died.

Harry hung his head. This was what had torn the houses of Hogwarts apart. Voldemort, and those that had supported him. He'd pried apart the balance through fear and cowardly followers. Harry gripped his wand tighter, looking into the flames ever harder. No. He wasn't going to let that happen. If he was going to start making a difference (seeing as how the Order really didn't want him to do anything) he was going to do this. He was going to get through to Pansy and through her the Slytherins and through them house unity. Harry shoved his hand into the Floo Powder pot and threw it into the fire.

Green flames shot up and Harry stepped into them. "Diagon Alley!" he said as quietly and clearly as he possibly could. In a moment he was swept away by the navel and appeared in one of the Leaky Cauldron's Floo network fire places. Stumbling a bit, he quickly brought his hood up over his head before anyone looked at him. People were everywhere a bunch of them dancing to music, that bounced through the room making things cheery.

Harry stepped through the fireplace and looked around, adjusting his hood further over his head. People began to glance at him as he swept up the stairs as quickly as he could. It was room 215 according to the letter. The halls were thankfully clear. Harry looked from room to room - 211. . .213. . .215.

He sighed adjusting his robes and patting the soot from them. He lifted his hand and quietly tapped the door with his hand.

[Trixier]

She had sat up and sat back down. She looked around and opened the curtains but closed them again. Pansy lighted candles and removed her cloak. She shifted uncomfortably not used to the muggle jeans she was wearing under her robes.

She tried organizing the room, tried to clean it up but she didn't know that many cleaning spells. Maybe if she just sat on a chair she would calm down.

Suddenly she heard a knock and yelped standing up. She rushed to the door her breath accelerated and she took a deep breath to straighten herself down. Pansy straightened her clothes and then took another deep breath.

The Slytherin looked through the peep hole and immediately recognized the boy standing there. Gangly, messy hair, no impeccable clothes. Yes, that was Potter all right. She reminded herself that just like she disguised herself others could do the same.

"Who are you?" She asked as she poked her head out of the door. Even if she didn't look like Pansy her voice sounded exactly the same not bothering to change it. She ran a hand through her hair and noticed some people that were coming up the stairs were starring at Harry.

Oh, bloody hell! She took her wand and kept it handy in case it was a set up and just pulled him into the room closing the door behind him.

"You are on time. For once." Even with their letters she still wanted to keep her attitude. She took an awkward pause in which she considered what to say. She looked at him up and down and before she could say anything else she sighed.

"You are taller." She said simply again shifting uncomfortably on her clothes. "You should have disguised yourself." She said running her fingers through her hair. Another pause as she looked around running a finger down and table and wrinkling her nose at the amount of dust in it. She sneezed and coughed probably over dramatically...great moment for her allergies to start.

When her cough was under control she looked at Harry and took a deep breath. "Is your muggle born friend alive? She did not end up going to that dreadful camp did she? It was so obvious of what was to happen." She crossed her arms as she sat at the edge of the bed and looked at Harry her now green eyes still reflecting who she really was.

[wintersnow]

A shuffle came from behind the door, and a long pause followed before it opened.

The splitting image of the girl in the photograph poked her head through the crack and Harry blinked for a moment taken aback - he had expected Pansy of course, and knew that she would be disguised but the girl was so much different from the Pansy he knew. Brown hair, oval face. . .

"Who are you?"

[/center]

That was Pansy's voice, alright. Harry visibly relaxed, only to get suddenly yanked into the room. The door snapped shut behind Pansy, who looked a bit paranoid. Harry wasn't sure he looked the same. . but he sure felt it.

"You're on time. For once."

Harry took off his cloak and tossed it into the same chair that Pansy's was settled over. "I was nearly late. . .Can you move away from the door?" Harry raised his wand pointing it toward the door enchanting it to keep anyone listening from doing so. Hermione had taught it to him and he was grateful for it. He smiled to Pansy stuffing his wand back into his pocket.

"You are taller." She said simply again shifting uncomfortably on her clothes. "You should have disguised yourself."

Ever worried about her image, Harry watched her straighten her clothing. Jeans and a simple shirt. He idly wondered what she'd look like once the polyjuice potion wore off. He might see, he mused, depending on how late they practiced. The stuff generally wore off after an hour anyway. "I was thinking about it. . .but everyone recognizes the people around me. . .so it wouldn't be any better. Least I had my hood up right?" he blinked as she was suddenly thrown into a coughing fit. Dust had drifted up into her face and the poor girl was coughing pretty hard. Harry walked up patting her back . . .which was the only thing he could think of doing at the present time. She seemed to compose herself after a moment and sighed clearing her throat.

"Is your muggle born friend alive? She did not end up going to that dreadful camp did she? It was so obvious of what was to happen."

Well THAT threw him off. Since when did Pansy Parkinson, Princess of the Slytherin House, give a damn about Hermione? He blinked for a moment too shocked to respond. "Um. . ." A snap in his brain fired off and Harry came crashing back down to earth. "She's fine. We kept pretty much anyone we could from going. So. . .yeah Hermione's perfectly fine." He ran a hand through his hair. "Thanks for asking, Pansy. . ." he muttered still rather shocked, but grinning now.

"Anyway. . " he muttered dropping his hands heavily to his sides and bumping his fists on his thighs. It had been so long since he'd seen Pansy that he didn't really know what to say.

Then the idea hit him. He hadn't exchanged his general greeting to her yet.

"Hello again," He said tilting his head, a playful smirk forming over his lips, "Princess." It pissed her off - and the first time he'd called her that he'd nearly stepped on her foot from laughing. The faces Pansy made when she was taken off guard where nothing short of hilarious.

[Trixier]

"I was nearly late. . .Can you move away from the door?

She stepped sideways and rolled her eyes. "Oh yes I bet you were with all the eyes you have on you. Potter you can not understand how much trouble I would be in if I were to be found out." Even with the charm Pansy could still hear the sound of music drifting from downstairs she shifted uncomfortably her feet shuffling slightly to the beat.

"I was thinking about it. . .but everyone recognizes the people around me. . .so it wouldn't be any better. Least I had my hood up right?"

"Get someone you do not know!" She said simply between coughs. She flinched when she felt his hands on his back but was easy to re-compose herself. She stood there for a moment and stared at his hand and back to Harry. She cleared her throat nudging towards his hand.

"She's fine. We kept pretty much anyone we could from going. So. . .yeah Hermione's perfectly fine." He ran a hand through his hair. "Thanks for asking, Pansy. . ." he muttered still rather shocked, but grinning now.

"Wipe that grin off your face." She snapped tossing her hair. "I just asked because after the warnings that I send you it would have been imprudent of you to not attempt to warn any of your people." At his gratefulness she waved her hand in a dismissing manner. "Do not think much of it." She said in a menacing tone as she stood up from her place and walked towards him.


"Hello again," He said tilting his head, a playful smirk forming over his lips, "Princess."

She would have hissed if she did not have any matters. Why did Potter found so incredibly amusing to say such inane things? Her lips formed in a combination of a scowl and a pout. Glaring at Potter she ran towards him. Without a word she set his hand on her waist and took a hold of his other free hand.

"Has the pauper." She hissed this in a voice full with venom. "Been practicing on enchanted robes again? When I found you like that it was very interesting. I should have black mailed you." A smirked that seemed pushing on the edge of a smile adorned her features for a fraction of a second before it disappeared. “I am pretty sure whoever you decide to ask for their company during the ball will be impressed.”

[wintersnow]

"Oh yes I bet you were with all the eyes you have on you. Potter you can not understand how much trouble I would be in if I were to be found out."

Harry nodded, "Oh I think I can." Again he ran his hand through his hair. A nervous habit, he apparently picked up from his father. "You don't want to know what the wrath of Dumbledore feels like, Pansy, I assure you."

"Get someone you do not know!"

Harry pursed his lips, "Well it's not that easy, Pansy. Seeing as I'm honestly not allowed outside without a chaperone, and idly zapping off someones hair could get a little dangerous. Besides, I suck at potions and there's no way Hermione would help me with this anyway - I'd be breaking rules. You know how she is." Actually. . .now that Harry thought about it Pansy honestly wouldn't know how Hermione was because she didn't know her very well at all. "Nevermind." Harry muttered.

"Wipe that grin off your face. I just asked because after the warnings that I send you it would have been imprudent of you to not attempt to warn any of your people. Do not think much of it." She said in a menacing tone as she stood up from her place and walked towards him.

Harry shrugged putting his hands into his pockets, "Okay then." He said as indifferently as he could but the sudden worry for his muggle born friend made him ridiculously excited. As much as Pansy was always going to admit it, he was getting through to her. Inside his head, Harry wooped, jumped around and did a happy little jig.

He was so distracted by his unexpected victory point, that he didn't even get much time to react when Pansy rushed over to him. He backed up at the last second but she was too quick and his hand was caught. Harry stiffened as she slipped her fingers into his and placed his hand on her lythe waist. He blinked looking down at her - Green eyes. . .like his.

Her grip was tight on his hands, her fury at him obvious, but under that fury, Harry knew he saw a sudden smile that instantly fell. This only made him all the more happy. He couldn't stop grinning. He was getting through! His plan was working and we was gonna learn how to dance without making a total ass of himself - what could be better?

"Has the pauper." She hissed this in a voice full with venom. "Been practicing on enchanted robes again? When I found you like that it was very interesting. I should have black mailed you. I am pretty sure whoever you decide to ask for their company during the ball will be impressed.”

Even her hissing voice couldn't bring him down from his high. Harry cheerfully smiled, "Actually I've been practicing with an old bathrobe!" Perhaps he said this a little too brightly.

Harry quickly fell into step, finding the tempo of the music down stairs. The waltz was really rather easy, he'd decided, just four basic steps really, but it was perfecting it and getting, if anything creative with it, that made it difficult. The basic box move, Harry was fine with - his feet liked to move in really small spots though. He had to admit he was paranoid to spread his feet very far for fear of stepping on some other girls toes - not just his partners.

Harry attempted giving her a spin, and smiled to see the long brown hair spin about her form as she fell into it easily. Pansy was a great dancer, and Harry couldn't have a better teacher - so he didn't mind being her 'Pauper'. Besides, a plan that he'd made up was finally going right. No kinks. No blunders. No one to notice. At least for now.

[Trixier]

Pansy rolled her eyes at the mention of the old man. “Oh the one that gives you preferred treatment?” She asked raising her eyebrows. She grew quiet for a moment, thinking about all the news of the old Headmaster that had appeared on the Daily Prophet. She shook her head nothing of her concern.

As they danced her heart beats fastened. She tried to keep herself under control. She could hear it thumping on her ears and she shook it off. She looked at Harry and quickly away the slight breeze from the spinning was refreshing but also made her dizzy.

She blinked and heard the tempo from down stairs grow faster. It seemed to grow with the customers loud voices. They were now playing some type of Irish music Pansy had only danced to this once, during an Ireland quidditch tournament that her cousin had taken her to. It was a memorable time and if she remembered correctly the dance was more like little jumps.

“Hold up Potter I am not sure how this one goes.” She stopped for a brief moment separating herself from him and seemed to do a couple of steps on her own. She then spinned around and moved towards Harry. With her back turned to him she gave him her hand and set his other free one on her waist. She could feel his breath against her neck but she quickly shook it off.

“All right they hardly play this type of music in balls but if you ever happen to have a social life.” Her smirk came back now turning into more of a smile that this time it didn’t fade. She led him into faster steps bouncing as they did and then she spinned around and face towards him.

She raised an eyebrow. “Well it seems that the bathrobe is working.” She tossed her hair gasping for breath as the music continued. Pansy shifted so she was closer to him. “This is one of those were you can try and touch a girl Potter I know you fancy that.” She giggled slightly and shook her head.

“Now...you lead.”

[wintersnow]

“Well it seems that the bathrobe is working.” She tossed her hair gasping for breath as the music continued. Pansy shifted so she was closer to him. “This is one of those were you can try and touch a girl Potter I know you fancy that.” She giggled slightly and shook her head.“Now...you lead.”

"Bathrobes make excellent dancing partners, you don't have to disguise them," He quipped giving Pansy a small verbal jab, but upon her counter jab he blushed. "I do not fancy touching. . well . .I mean not in the. . .I. . ." He was flustered and it wasn't being helped by the fact that Pansy had giggled.

harry had seen and heard Pansy giggle, before but generally it was a snarky kind of laugh. A giggle that had made any hackles he had stand on end. This one was some how endearing though, perhaps it was because she wasn't automatically on the defense, and truth be told actually enjoying herself. It looked an awful lot like she was enjoying herself.

He was lead about the room for a moment as she got her bearings on the music and Harry found himself watching his own feet for a few moments. Upon her direction for him to lead, Harry sighed inwardly to steady himself, and nodded. Gripping her waist a little firmer he lead her about the room, much like she had, copying what she'd done and trying his best to mimic the movements she'd pulled. Inside his head was counting the music's beat as he moved about the floor.

After a few moments Harry actually let out a laugh, "Oh my god I'm dancing. . ." he muttered to himself feeling utterly ridiculous and insanely happy at the same time. Dancing wasn't so bad - in fact it was rather fun.

He gave her another twirl and pressed her back to his front upon her return, leading her around the room once more finding a new confidence in his steps.

Twirling around like a retard with that bathrobe really had worked!

[Trixier]

"Bathrobes make excellent dancing partners; you don't have to disguise them,"

Pansy frowned and glared at him "Well maybe you can take a bathrobe to the ball I fancy seeing the type of looks you receive." Her lips formed into a pout and she had a right mind to step on his toes. However, she decided against it instead smirking at the reaction she got from him. She saw his stuttering behavior.

"Careful Potter that sounds like an insult. Be careful of what you said to the girl you dance with." She whispered stepping closer towards him.


After a few moments Harry actually let out a laugh, "Oh my god I'm dancing. . ."

She blinked and her eyes grew bigger startled by his laugh. "Fancy that. You defeated the Dark Lord as a baby and now you defeated dancing the world can not stop you." She said sarcastically rolling her eyes but then shook her head and laughed quietly trying to avoid being heard.

Harry's laugh however was contagious and as they danced she panted the speed of the music going faster. She didn't know what it was but she found herself laughing and looking away to hide her laugh.


"Hey Potter." She spoke between laughs but then bit her lower lip. "Want to go down and see how you handle yourself in front of others?" The brunette whispered and then shook her face expecting a look of horror as she looked at him. As the music stopped for a moment she took a step back and headed towards the window for a deep breath.

[wintersnow]

"Well maybe you can take a bathrobe to the ball I fancy seeing the type of looks you receive."

She pouted saying that. Harry smirked raising his eye brows in an almost skeptic manner and she smiled. Harry shook his head, "Pansy, I'd like you to meet my bathrobe. Bathrobe, this is Pan-. . .Wait. . .Introducing someone I'm supposed to say Mr. or miss or whatever right?" His brow furrowed trying to remember. "So my bathrobe would be. . .well bloody hell, it's a bathrobe - but you'd be Miss Parkinson, right?"

Blushing at her comment on touching girls, Harry, he grew a little redder in the cheeks as she stepped even closer. He hoped she wouldn't notice. . or maybe just think it was flushed cheeks from dancing. "Well . .I mean. . I. . ." Her frowned lightly, " I. . .just don't want to . . .um . .overstep boundaries." He said the final bit firmly as though this was very obvious and totally the right thing to say - even though he was bullshitting to the extreme. Honestly he wouldn't mind touching a girl . . .but he was like a dog chasing cars, he wouldn't know what to do with it if he caught one. Just to shut Pansy up, he slipped his hand a little lower, placing it at the small of her back, "but since you're apparently giving me permission. . ." Again, he raised his eyebrows in that playful manner, the scar under his bangs wrinkling lightly.

"Fancy that. You defeated the Dark Lord as a baby and now you defeated dancing the world can not stop you."

Grinning he looked down at her, "I heard that, O, Princess," and he gave her another spin, only to spin her in again, instinctively catching her tightly as she came back in - arms intertwined with hers. She was laughing. Pansy Parkinson was laughing. A Slytherin Princess having the time of her life with the famous Gryffindor fuck-up.

As they spun about the room, keeping with the tempo, Harry didn't feel so silly dancing anymore. Before he had felt ridiculous - like an epileptic dowel in clown shoes. Now he felt confident and comfortable. He knew where to put his feet, how to avoid stepping on toes and that certain dances meant more touching was okay as long as said girl wasn't on her period and likely to explode in an epic eruption of estrogen. The last one was a bit of a 50/50 chance. One way you win - the other you end up as a simple grease stain, wondering about the where, how, what and when of the sudden pummeling you'd just received. Harry made a note to simply play it safe: Stay at or above the small of the back, Potter. Unless invited of course.

Pansy was loosing concentration in her fits of giggles, and Harry couldn't help but fall apart with her. Laughter was contagious and eventually Harry had to steady them both as they came from their high. He felt a little dizzy and wasn't sure if Pansy felt the same but steadied her none the less, chuckling heavily.

"Hey Potter." She spoke between laughs but then bit her lower lip. "Want to go down and see how you handle yourself in front of others?"

Well. . .that was something he hadn't expected. Harry had half the mind to say, "Sure lets go! Ah HUYUCK!," save for the warning bells complete with red sirens blazing, that just went off. His grin faded but a small smile still remained. "Are you mad? Not to sound egotistical or anything but I'm kind of noticeable any where I go. People will be onto us in seconds, and what if someone takes a photo? Remember the Triwizard Tournament? Do you really want us on the front page of the Daily Prophet? Your parents will likely see it and then what happens to your maid? Not to mention you'd get in trouble."

He sighed feeling bad for slamming her idea down, truth be told, he really wanted to show off his new skills as much as she wanted to -. . .well Harry wasn't sure exactly WHY she wanted to blow their cover, but he liked to think it was because she wanted to dance with him in a public setting rather than hiding it the entire time. . .

He walked over to the window Pansy was sitting by and touched her shoulder lightly. "Maybe dancing at that thing Lucius Malfoy is throwing would be a better idea. . .maybe you can tell people you did it to show them what a git I was or something?" Placing a hand on her shoulder he tilted his head and gave her his best lopsided smile.

It was then out of the corner of his eye Harry saw a flash of light. Looking down into the street he blinked clearing the spots, and saw to his horror, some one racing down Diagon alley - with a camera only to dissaperate in an instant. Harry cursed.

[Trixier]

"So my bathrobe would be. . .well bloody hell, it's a bathrobe - but you'd be Miss Parkinson, right?"

Pansy nodded raising her eyebrows. "Impressive Potter." She said nodding slightly. "Yes you don't want to act too familiar with someone when you first met them." She explained. "So no hugs or kisses on first meetings unless you are trying to just be obnoxiously friendly. You may kiss a lady's hand but you want to avoid it."

She smirked as he stuttered about his insecurities with girls. As he lowered his hand to her back she raised an eyebrow. "I am hiding with you in a room above the Leaky Cauldron and dancing close to each other I think you over stepped your boundaries a long time ago."

As Harry got even more comfortable and spinned her around and then brought her back near him. She panted and her cheeks started turning red. The hair that wasn’t her own was spinning with her and started to get moist. It was starting to curl around her face and her mouth was standing slightly open. Her ears were ringing and she shook her head to try to keep herself controlled.

The laughter still came and it bubbled out and even Harry's little outburst about her proposal just made her laugh even more she shook her head. Even as he rambled on in a bad mood she giggled and tried to bite her lips to stop herself but she couldn't help it. She lower her head and focus on their feet for a little while to keep herself controlled.

"Are you mad? Not to sound egotistical or anything but I'm kind of noticeable any where I go. People will be onto us in seconds, and what if someone takes a photo? Remember the Triwizard Tournament? Do you really want us on the front page of the Daily Prophet? Your parents will likely see it and then what happens to your maid? Not to mention you'd get in trouble."

"Relax Potter." She said but still laughed shaking her head. "You can not believe that I was serious?" She said raising an eyebrow but continued dancing trying to get him to stop preocupying himself.

"Maybe dancing at that thing Lucius Malfoy is throwing would be a better idea. . .maybe you can tell people you did it to show them what a git I was or something?"

"Have you not read the invitation? It's about unity and the reason why they invited you is pretty obvious they want to let people know that they're not really the evil reign that people think they are." She took a pause. "So yes it's really easy for me to dance with you during that ev-"

She stopped in mid sentence as she felt her eyes go blind. She blinked confused and heard Harry cursed. 'What the blood-" She stopped in mid sentence as she realized she was about to curse in front of another person.

As her eyes focused she saw her reflection on the mirror and gasped. The long mousy hair was growing a bit shorter to her shoulders and it started to darken. Her face was growing rounder and she quickly reached for her cloak bringing up her hood. "I think this is the end to our meeting." She scrambled but ended up almost falling. Her maid was taller than her and so the clothes ended up being slightly bigger than she needed. Not to mention she didn't know how to walk on jeans that well.

[wintersnow]

Harry was right behind her. Throwing his own cloak over his shoulders in a sweep of black fabric, he threw his hood up and pushed Pansy's over her head as well. Grabbing her hand, having no time to honestly say anything other than, "Follow me."

Apparently that 'saving people thing' he had was kicking in. As they headed down the hall way his mind was a blur of thoughts. Where were they going to go? The fireplaces down stairs were PACKED with people who would recognize him in an instant. He didn't want people figuring out Pansy was with him as that would probably land her in a pile of trouble with the DE's. Where could they go? How would she get home? How would he get home? Not through Diagon Alley that was for sure. . .then it hit him.

Racing down the stairs, and veering left the two of them by passed the crowd slipping into the main foyer and straight into the muggy streets of London.

(cont. in London Thread)