How to Save a Life

As they stood in the doorway to the Slytherin common room, Pansy could feel Harry tense up. She took hold of his arm, gave it a slight squeeze and then proceeded to drag him unceremoniously inside.

Harry looked round and found that the room was much the same as it had been back in the 2nd year. He couldn’t help contrast it against the bright cheerfulness of the cosy room in Gryffindor tower. Being in the dungeons the room was dark; the only light was an almost green glow coming from the sconces, which were dotted around the walls. There was a blazing fire burning, but from where Harry stood he could still feel the chill that permeated the walls. Around the room were various sofas and chairs in a dark green leather, the floor was covered in flagstones, with only the occasional rug. Around the fireplace were several rather stately looking wingback chairs, which despite the crowded room, remained empty.

It was then that Harry realised just how many pairs of eyes had turned to stare at him in undisguised shock and in some cases - outrage. He couldn’t really blame them he supposed. After all, if Malfoy had walked into Gryffindor tower the reaction would be a similar stunned silence. Although a fairly severe hexing would probably follow it, which Harry prayed wouldn’t be the same for him.

His footsteps faltered slightly and Pansy, sensing his unease, turned a fierce glare on her housemates.

“Yes,” she hissed, “Harry Potter is in the Slytherin common room. I hope you all had a good look, because the next person I catch staring will find themselves on the wrong end of my wand.”

Harry noticed the satisfied smirk on the dark haired girl’s face as the rooms occupants immediately began to look in any direction but at him.

“That’s impressive,” he whispered, “d’you think I could get you to do that in the great hall later?”

Pansy chuckled, “somehow I don’t think I would get quite the same response from the other houses!”

“Pansy, where have you been? Draco will kill me if he finds out I let you go wandering off on your own!”

A very agitated Theodore Nott was stood blocking their path.

Pansy huffed, “you didn’t let me go Theo and you certainly wouldn’t have been able to stop me. Besides, I wasn’t alone, I was with Harry.”

Nott turned and looked at Harry as if noticing him for the first time and gave a curt nod,

“Potter”

Harry threw caution to the wind and held out his hand to the other boy.

“Harry,” he corrected.

Nott gave him an appraising stare, before slowly reaching out and accepting the offered handshake.

“Theodore,” he stated, with a sideways look at Pansy who was smiling her approval.

“I’ll be in my room if Draco comes back.” She said, before taking hold of Harry’s arm again and dragging him in the direction of the girl’s dormitories.

She pulled Harry through the door into her bedroom.

“Excuse the mess, Millie is a real slob!” she explained as she moved various items of clothing off her bed. Smoothing the comforter, she sat down and looked over to Harry who was standing nervously in the door way.

“It’s safe to come in you know, I’m not going to jump you” she said.

Harry flushed but nonetheless walked slowly over to Pansy and took the spot she indicated next to her on the bed.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” he mumbled nervously.

Pansy laughed, “Harry, this is Slytherin, not Gryffindor. No one is going to bat an eyelid at you being in here. You should see what goes on in the common room sometimes!!”

Harry’s eyes widened as the implications of this statement hit him. For a boy of 18, Harry was surprising naïve in some ways, and this was certainly one of them. Perched uncomfortably on the edge of the bed, he looked over at Pansy.

“I would think Malfoy would have plenty to say about me being in here with his girlfriend.”

Pansy let out a peal of laughter at this, only stopping when she noticed the slightly offended look on Harry’s face.

“Oh Harry, I’m sorry, but that’s so funny. You think I’m Draco’s girlfriend! Wait till I tell him that.”

“Well, you’re always together,” Harry said, defensively.

Pansy thought quickly, Draco hadn’t given her permission to out him to Harry yet, but then he hadn’t said she couldn’t. Besides, the way she saw it, if Harry believed that Draco was straight, there was no way he would ever show any interest in the boy.

“I’m not exactly what you would call Draco’s type Harry. He prefers his girls more masculine.”

Harry looked confused, “like Millicent Bulstrode you mean?” he asked, scrunching his nose up in slight disgust.

“No Harry,” Pansy grinned at him, “more like Blaise.” Then she sat back and waited for the Knut to drop.

It took a moment for the realisation of what Pansy was saying to hit him. Harry’s eyes widened and he stared at her in open mouthed shock.

“Malfoy’s gay?”

Pansy nodded.

“And he’s with Blaise?”

“No,” she answered, shaking her head. “Blaise and Draco had a bit of a thing a few years ago, but they’re just really good friends.”


Harry was amazed by her calm acceptance of her friends’ sexuality. The only experience he had of attitudes towards gay people was his Uncle Vernon’s homophobic ranting about poof’s and queers. And these were the thoughts that had shaped his opinions on his own sexuality. He felt a small weight lift from his shoulders as he realised that maybe not everyone would think he was a freak.

“Doesn’t it bother you?” he asked curiously, eager to know more.

Pansy shook her head emphatically, “Of course not. Ok I was a little pissed when I realised we weren’t going to get married like I had always thought. But Draco’s my best friend, and I want him to be happy. And if shagging blokes is what does that for him, then that’s good enough for me.”

Harry shook his head in disbelief.

“I would never have guessed.”

“Really?” Pansy questioned. “I mean, he does pay a lot more attention to his hair and clothes than your average teenage boy. He has manicures for Merlin’s sake!”

“Not all gay men are like that though are they?”

“No,” Pansy admitted slowly, “but how many straight men do you know that are?”

Harry thought for a moment.

“What about Malfoy’s dad? He always seems to be really into his appearance. All that long hair, the fancy robes, and don’t even get me started on that snake stick thing he carries everywhere.”

Pansy smirked, aware she was about to give Harry another shock.

“Well they do say the Mr Malfoy and Professor Snape were very close when they were younger.”

Harry’s eyes widened so much that pansy reflected they were in danger of falling out.

“Lucius Malfoy? And Professor Snape? But that’s...I mean....Snape can’t be gay, he was...”

Harry trailed off here, not really wanting to discuss the fact that Snape had been in love with his dead mother for the best part of the last two decades.

Pansy raised an eyebrow at him in question, “Why couldn’t he be gay Harry?”

Harry fumbled around for an explanation that wasn’t the truth.

“Well, he just didn’t seem the type.”

Pansy chuckled here:

“The type? There isn’t a set type of man that is gay Harry, surely you know that. They don’t wear pink robes and mince around limp wristed all day. In fact, you would be surprised at just how many gay people you know without even realising it.”

This caught Harry’s attention now and he leaned closer to her.
“Who?” he almost whispered.


“Well, your Irish friend Finnigan for one, although I suppose he really is more what you would call bisexual.”

Harry was stunned “Seamus! How do you know?” he asked weakly as he flopped back onto the bed.

“Blaise” Pansy replied simply.

“Who else?” Harry gasped, not sure if he could handle any more surprises, but equally sure that he couldn’t handle not knowing.

“That pompous Hufflepuff, MacMillan. Although I have it on very good authority that he isn’t quite so pompous when he’s on his hands and knees.” Pansy paused here for a big grin at the dazed boy sitting next to her before rocking his world one more time.

“Oh, and there’s Longbottom too. I’m pretty sure he plays for the team as well. I saw him and the Leprechaun boy in quite a compromising position last year.”

“Nnneville?” Harry stuttered.

“Yep,” Pansy was thoroughly enjoying herself now. “And I almost forgot Boot from Ravenclaw. Although I’m surprised you don’t know about him, seeing as how he and Finnigan spent most of 5th year rutting like dogs in your dormitory!”


“Fuck Pansy, did we even go to the same school – how do I not know this stuff?” Harry let out a quiet laugh. “I must have been walking round with my eyes closed for the last 7 years.”

“I think that you were a little busy saving us all from a madman.”

The laughter died from Harry’s eyes and he turned away. Pansy looked at him nervously, scared she had offended him somehow.

“You really don’t like talking about that do you? I’m sorry; I won’t bring it up again.”

Harry sat up and looked into Pansy’s eyes.

“It’s ok. You don’t have to apologise. It just makes me feel uncomfortable when people thank me like I single handedly saved the world. I’m not the Saviour Pansy, People died; people I loved and I couldn’t save them.

“Do you blame yourself?” she asked, looking at him speculatively.

Anger flashed briefly in Harry’s eyes, “What the hell kind of question is that?” he snapped.

Pansy flushed slightly and couldn’t meet his eyes. Her fingers plucked at some invisible thread on her robes.

“I didn’t mean to offend you,” she whispered. “It’s just that I know how it feels, to feel guilt for something like that.”

Harry wanted to ask more, but knew that the girl was struggling to retain her composure. Instead he reached out and covered one of her small hands with his own larger tanned one and gave it a squeeze.

Pansy laced her fingers with his and looked up with a weak smile. “I want to tell you, it’s just...” she trailed off.

“You’re not ready,” Harry finished. “It’s ok, I know how that feels.”

Before either of them could say anything further, the door banged opened and petite blonde girl walked in.

Noticing their linked hands she smirked as she spoke.

“Oh sorry Pansy, I didn’t realise you were entertaining.”

Harry felt a blush creep over his cheeks as he understood the implication of her words. Pansy looked at the other girl with narrowed eyes.

“What do you want Daphne?” she asked sharply.

“I just came to tell you that Draco was back and was looking for you. But I guess I’ll just tell him you got a better offer.” There was no mistaking the leer that she sent in Harry’s direction. She took a step closer to the bed and reached out a hand to touch his cheek.
“And such a pretty one too.”

Pansy slapped her hand down, “Back off Greengrass, and you can tell Draco I will be out in a minute.”

As soon as the other girl had left the room, Pansy turned back to Harry and began to laugh at the look of mock outrage on his face.

“She just called me pretty! Do I look like a girl?”

“No Harry, you look like a boy. Believe it or not, it was meant as a compliment.” Pansy leaned closer and scrutinised his face. “Besides, she may be right. You are rather pretty!”

Harry grimaced at the girl and then clambered up off the bed and rescued his broom from where it lay abandoned on the floor.

“I guess I better get going then.”

Pansy looked at him in surprise, “why? I thought you weren’t in any hurry to go back?”

“I’m not,” Harry admitted. “But I thought you were going off to find Malfoy.”

“I’m only going into the common room and I was planning on you coming with me!”

Harry felt a little conflicted in his emotions regarding this. On the one hand, Pansy was right; he wanted to put off going back to Gryffindor Tower for as long as he could. Plus he was enjoying Pansy’s company; he felt like he could relax around her, like he didn’t have to pretend anything because she had no expectations of him anyway.

On the other hand he was nervous, despite the recent ceasefire in their hostilities, Harry still had no idea how Malfoy would react to his presence in the Slytherin Common room.

“I hardly think that Malfoy will want to spend his weekend with Harry Potter.” He said, with the slightest hint of bitterness in his tone

Pansy sighed, “Draco won’t mind at all.” She paused here, and thought carefully before continuing “he’s not the person you think he is Harry. I know I have no right to ask this of you, but just give him a chance, I think you two will actually get on.”

Harry grinned, “Ok, let’s go see Drakie!!”

“Harry Potter, don’t you dare. You promised me you wouldn’t say anything.” Pansy emphasised her point by slapping Harry on the arm. All she got in return was an almost Slytherin worthy smirk.

Shaking her head, she grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him towards the common room.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Draco was sprawled in his chair by the fireplace. He was outwardly calm but on the inside his stomach was busy tying itself into knots. He ran his hand nervously through his blonde hair for the umpteenth time that morning. Blaise reached over and smacked his hand away.

“Your hair looks find Draco. Leave it alone or you’ll make a mess of it, and what would golden boy think then!”


Draco fixed a glare on his dark haired friend and opened his mouth to fling a sharp retort at him. However, the words never made it past his lips as he saw Pansy enter the room dragging, a slightly nervous looking, Harry Potter behind her.

“Pansy,” he drawled. “Daphne said you had company, but I had no idea who it was.” He leant forward in his chair, “Tell me Potter, what brings you to the dungeons?”

“He’s here because I invited him Draco, now play nicely. I just got done telling him that you weren’t a complete arse, so could you not make a liar out of me please!”

Draco gave Pansy a quick grin and then turned to Harry, “Sorry Potter, it’s a hard habit to break after 7 years.”


Harry shrugged, “that’s ok Malfoy, It’ll take a bit of getting used to for both of us.”


Draco nodded in agreement. “So what do you think then?” he asked, gesturing to the room with a wave of his hand.

“It’s not bad, not that different to the last time I was in here.” Harry leant back in his chair and waited for the outcry that would greet his words.

Draco eyes widened in shock, Pansy giggled and Blaise spat his pumpkin juice out.

“You’ve been in here before? When?”

Harry smirked at Draco, enjoying the confusion on the other boys face.

“Second year, Ron and I came in. We actually sat and had a chat with you.”

Draco leant forward in his chair and Harry could see his brain working overtime.

“You and the Weasel in the Slytherin common room? I think I would of remembered that Potter.”

“Well, it’s quite possible that you thought we were Crabbe and Goyle at the time.”

“And why would I have thought that Potter,” Draco drawled.

Harry smirked again, “Because we were polyjuiced to look like them!”

Draco shook his head in amazement and Harry just grinned back at him.

“You never cease to amaze me Potter.”

Harry leaned back in his chair, a satisfied look on his face.

“That’s good to know Malfoy. I wouldn’t want to become predictable, now would I?”

Before Draco could think of anything to say, Millicent Bulstrode walked over and joined the group.

“Blaise, we have to go. McGonagall wants to see the prefects.” She looked down at the Italian boy, “And for Merlin’s sake do something about your robes, you look like you’ve drooled down them.”

Blaise looked down at his robes and smiled ruefully, “Pumpkin juice,” he explained.

Millicent huffed, “I don’t care what it is, just do something about it.” With that she took hold of his arm, dragged him to his feet and shoved him in the direction of the boy’s dormitory.

Harry looked round at the two remaining Slytherin’s thoughtfully, suddenly reminded of a question he had been wanting to ask all week.

“Tell me to mind my own business if you like,” he started. “But how come you two gave up being prefects?”

Draco looked at him in surprise, “what makes you think we gave it up? McGonagall could have just taken it off us.”

“Well, I suppose she could of,” said Harry slowly. “Except that she told me you two handed the badges and she couldn’t talk you out of it.”


Draco opened his mouth to speak but Pansy leaned over and gave him a playful swat on the arm.

“Stop being difficult Draco, it’s a fair question.”

She turned to Harry before continuing.

“We talked it over before coming back to school and decided it was for the best. You’ve seen how the other houses react to Slytherin’s, especially me and Draco. After what happened last year we thought it would be best if we kept a low profile. Blaise and Millicent weren’t here last year, so the others aren’t quite so hostile to them. You saw for yourself on the train the kind of reaction we get - can you really see the other students listening to us?”

“We weren’t exactly popular before but now... well all people see when they look at us is children of Death Eaters, and in Draco’s case, they think he actually was one.”

Harry flushed at this, remembering how he had tried to convince his friends and Dumbledore that Malfoy had taken the Dark Mark back in the 6th year. He shifted uneasily in his chair, which did not escape Draco’s attention. However, the blonde boy didn’t want to dwell on his past sins or remind Potter of them so he swiftly changed the subject.

“Why on earth are you out flying on that decrepit old broom Potter, what happened to your Firebolt?”

Harry visibly relaxed at the change of subject, “oh, this one is a school broom I borrowed. I left my broom behind at my relatives last year before...well, you know. I haven’t been back since; I don’t think I would exactly be welcomed back with open arms.”

Draco raised an eyebrow at this statement, this was news to him. He had always thought that Potter was treated like the Golden Boy wherever he went. However, the tone of the other boy’s voice told him it wasn’t a subject he was prepared to discuss, so Draco filed the information away to be investigated at a later date.

“How come you haven’t got a new one? There must be any number of people who would be falling over themselves to provide ‘The Saviour’ with anything he wanted.”

“I guess,” Harry said thoughtfully, “but it just doesn’t feel right replacing it. It’s the only thing I had left from my Godfather and I ...” Harry trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

Draco and Pansy sensed his discomfort and wisely didn’t pursue the subject.

They sat in silence for a few moments, all of them racking their brains for a safe topic of conversation that wouldn’t lead to another one of these awkward moments. They were saved from the trouble by the distraction of a large line of Slytherin students forming by the common room door.

“Lunch time,” Pansy commented, getting up from her chair. “You’d better go now Harry and we’ll give you a head start.”

Harry looked up in surprise, “why would I want to do that? Is there some reason I can’t walk up with you guys?”

Draco came to stand next to them, “it might not go down too well with your friends Potter, seeing you walk into the Great Hall surrounded by Slytherin’s.”

Harry only shrugged, “that’s their problem then, isn’t it. I can be friends with whoever I want, if the Gryffindors don’t like it, well that’s just tough.”

Draco nodded calmly, but inside he was mentally performing cartwheels. Harry had just said that they were friends! It was all he could do to keep a goofy grin off his face as he walked out of the dungeons towards the Great Hall, with Harry Potter at his side.