Chapter Text
Harry James Potter was having the weirdest day. Last night(though technically, early this morning) a man named Rubeus Hagrid showed up at the door of the shack he and his 'family' were hiding in. Though man may be a bit of a misnomer for Hagrid was huge, easily the largest individual Harry had ever seen. After tormenting the Dursely's for a bit, which was much appreciated, Hagrid told Harry that he was a wizard. That being a bit too much for the poor, under-fed boy, he promptly passed out. He awoke to find himself in London with Hagrid, who explained he had been accepted to a school for wizards and witches and they were heading to a place called 'Diagonally' to get some supplies. Once they arrived, passing through an inn called The Leaky Cauldron, the set about getting things Harry'd need; wand, books, stuff for potion brewing. It all seemed a bit much for the young lad who was now happy to be away from it all for a bit and getting his robes. Standing next to him for a fitting was a black-haired girl who looked about his age and was smiling at him.
“Hi, I'm Pansy Parkinson.” She held out her hand, which Harry took after a moment of hesitation and managed a brief smile at her. “You're the one traveling with Hagrid right?” Harry could tell this was more of a statement than a question. “He works at Hogwarts! How did you manage to get someone from the school to take you shopping?”
Harry shrugged and thought for a moment, “Well he said that Dumbledore sent him, so I guess you'd have to ask him.” He noticed Pansy's eyes going wide at this. Apparently Dumbledore was important. “Oh and I'm sorry for being rude. I'm Harry Potter.” Pansy's eyes went even wider and they flicked up briefly to his forehead before coming back down to look at him a little closer. After a few seconds, a smile flashed across her face and she grabbed his hand and started chatting with him.
It soon became woefully obvious that Harry was supposed to be someone important, and that he had no idea how the wizarding world worked. After they were fitted, she dragged him off to Florean's and gave him a long talk about who he was thought to be, why he was famous, how most of society viewed him and loved him. When she admitted to having sent him a fan letter a few years ago, she blushed and he felt sorry to admit he never got hers, or any letters for that matter. She wondered about it and resolved to have her daddy, someone Harry took to be high up in the ministry, look into it. She had just toldhim how to contact her when Hagrid returned, a snow owl for Harry on his arm.
Pansy looked awestruck by how beautiful the owl, who had been named Hedwig, was. With a promise to write her, Harry stood up and followed Hagrid out of the alley. She couldn't believe that she had just met her girlhood crush. She wanted to write everyone she knew and rub it in their faces, but the thought of doing that such a sweet and shy boy instantly crushed that thought. She vowed to get him ready for the wizarding world and protect him with all she could muster.
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September 1st rolled around and Harry was thrilled to be heading towards Hogwarts. He and Pansy had been writing each other almost every day for the last month. Pansy talked a lot about her self and took great care to explain the wizarding world and Hogwarts to him. In turn, he opened up about himself for the first time in his life and told her of the Muggle world, which she seemed fascinated by. A few hours ago they had reunited at King's Cross, where Harry met her father, an imposing man named Peter, and her mother, a stunningly attractive and charming woman named Leslie. Pansy looked just like her mother, though with a more up-turned nose. With a start Harry realized that meant he probably found Pansy attractive as well, but resolved to worry about it later. Boarding the train, the found a compartment all to themselves and were chatting about the Hogwarts houses. After hearing about what house Voldemort came from, Harry stated he'd never join Slytherin, which caused Pansy's face to sink for a moment, but she came right back with renewed enthusiasm. The resolve to not join Slytherin was doubled minutes later with a visit from a blonde kid Harry could tell would be a nuisance.
“Ahh Pansy there you are. What are you doing sitting with this rabble,” the boy gestured towards Harry. “Haven't you heard? Harry Potter is supposed to be onboard!” The boy puffed up at the look o shock on the 'rabble's' face and waited for Pansy to reply, who he noticed seemed to be furious.
“Get out Draco! Me and my friend here are talking and we don't like being interrupted by ponces!” Pansy and Draco had always been friendly with each other, but she couldn't stand for him to insult Harry so blithely. She got up and pushed him out of the compartment and locked it, hen turned to face Harry. “Sorry about that, Malfoy can be a pain sometimes. I really hope he's not sorted into Slytherin. He'd be such a disgrace.”
“It's fine Pansy, really.” Harry couldn't stop blushing, no one had ever stuck up for him before. But then he realized what Pansy had said afterwards. “Err so does that mean... you want to get into Slytherin?” Harry looked at her and noticed that she just looked mortified. She quickly looked down at her feet and mumbled something under her breath. “Sorry Pansy, I couldn't catch that.
“... Yes... I do. My whole family has been in Slytherin. I don't know what I'd do if I went somewhere else.” Pansy was so ashamed that he was getting to her like this, she'd never before questioned her choice of house.
“Oh... well then. That doesn't matter to me.” Pansy's whole face lit up as she looked up at Harry. “You're my first and best friend Pansy. I don't care where you're sorted as long as I don't lose you. Nothing else really matters.” Harry thought he had broken a few ribs with how quickly and strongly Pansy had hugged him. She was crying and it made Harry feel especially awkward but he did his best to comfort her.
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Standing in the Great Hall, Harry couldn't remember the last time he felt this nervous and sick. Pansy had just been sorted into Slytherin and he couldn't even look up to congratulate her. Suddenly it was his turn and the hat slowly slid onto his head.
“Ahh, Potter. How wonderful to see you finally. My, my, you would do wonderfully just about anywhere I think, though that ambition and cunning would best be served in Slytherin hmm? Though no small amount of bravery and courage either. And love. Everyone forgets that Gryffindors need love to. So what say you?
“Not Slytherin.. not Slytherin...”
“Not Slytherin? Really? Even with your only friend there? Very well better make it.... GRYFFINDOR!”
Harry smiled and looked around as he went off towards the Gryffindor table. He found Pansy staring at him, looking heartbroken. Oh. Right. Pansy. He'd talk to her as soon as he could. He promised, and there was no way he was going to lose her.
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Pansy had spent the entire first week going out of her way to avoid Potter. No, not Potter, Harry. She didn't want to talk to Harry. Sure they had classes together but she was always the last one in and the first one out. She didn't even look at him, knowing full well he spent most of his classes staring at her. It was going pretty well too, until today. It being Saturday, there were no classes so she decided to explore. Her day was going good right up until she rounded a corner and was knocked to the floor. She looked up to yell at whoever had bowled her over only to find Harry standing over her.
“Pansy! Ahh I'm so glad I found you! Even if I had have to knock you over to do it,” he chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. Harry grabbed her, lifted her up, and gently hugged her. He was about to say something else when his friend, a Weasley cut him off.
“Come on mate, she's a Slytherin. They don't deserve our help.” The boy, Ron probably, made to move off and Pansy was crestfallen that Harry was going to leave her, even if she tried her hardest to ignore him all week. She turned to walk away when she realized Harry still held onto her.
“No Ron. Pansy is my friend and I want to talk to her. If you don't like that, then you can go off by yourself, I'll not be seen with someone that disrespects my friends.” Harry stood firm under Ron's glare, holding Pansy close so she could see he was being honest. Finally Ron turned and left and Harry led Pansy outside towards a rock by the lake. “Come on Pansy, we can relax and catch up here!”
And catch up they did, each going over the events of their first week. It took her awhile but Pansy eventually noticed a change in Harry. He looked at her a little bit longer, sat closer to her than ever before, and tried his best to touch her at all times, whether it be their fingers brushing as they sat on the rock or his arm around her shoulder. She soon noticed that every time he touched her, she felt happier than before and loved it. She resolved to never ignore Harry again.
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The rest of the term went by mostly uneventfully. Sure the fact that a Gryffindor and a Slytherin were best friends didn't go unnoticed, but the uproar eventually died down, due in part to Harry befriending the Weasley twins, Fred and George, and no one was brave enough to mess with them then. And the fact that Harry rescued Pansy and Gryffindor girl named Hermione Granger from a mountain troll on Halloween didn't hurt.
But now it was Christmas and as soon as she found out Harry planned to stay at Hogwarts alone, she wrote to her parents and asked, or rather demanded, that Harry be allowed to come home with her. They acquiesced and now it was the first day of Christmas break and Harry was wandering around her home and grounds, awestruck at the sheer size of the place. “Well Harry, what do you think?” The boy in question broke out of his daze and looked at her with he biggest, goofiest smile she’d ever seen. On most I the people it’d be ridiculous, but this boy was so endearing that it did wonders for him.
“Do you have to ask Pansy? This is the greatest house I’ve ever seen! I could run around for days and still not explore everything! And that’s not even counting your yard! Or is it forest?” He chuckled and then took off again, Pansy close behind.
And that was how their Christmas holiday went. Harry and Pansy exploring, her mom quickly considering Harry family in all but name as she saw the two of them running around. Even Pansy’s father seemed to be warming up the boy. It didn’t hurt that most nights they fell asleep in front of the fire in the drawing room, cuddles together in some sort of blanket best of Harry’s design. Indeed, the only dark spot of the whole holiday came Christmas morning when Harry woke up to are gifts under the tree. He backed away to let the family celebrate and when asked why he said the one thing guaranteed to break every loving parents heart.
“Well uh… I’ve never…” What he never had was lost as he mumbles and Pansy wanted to run over and comfort him. Before he could, her father had sat next to Harry and asked what was wrong. Bolstered by her father, he sat up straighter and spoke loudly and clearly. “I’ve never had a Christmas present before.”
The gasp that came from Pansy’s lips was beaten only by the one from her mothers. Her father stood up and Pansy ran over to grab Harry and hug him close. She missed the silent exchange between her parents, where they decided that this boy was now a Parkinson, no matter what. After Christmas, the holiday went by even faster but now both her parents were warmer to both her and Harry. All too soon it was time to return to school.