Harry Potter 50 Shades of Gray

Daphne smacked Theodore's hand off her head then turned to make her case with Cyrna. "Weren't you telling me yesterday that you wanted to get those plants? Why don't we go right now? It's evening, so the Spiky Bushes will be sleepy, and it'll be less dangerous to harvest their spikes."

... That idea held merit. Cyrna did have time on her hands, and she'd long since planned to add the Wound-cleaning potion into her kit. But—"What's with the sudden change of heart?" asked Cyrna. Daphne never left the castle if she could help it.

"You caused it, actually."

It took Cyrna some time to realize what Daphne was talking about, but when she did, she was appalled. "You mean you've developed a sudden desire to leave the castle after hearing about my incredibly traumatizing encounter with the DADA professor—mind you, one that ended with a dead unicorn and being told off by our Head of House?!"

"That happened to you?" squawked Theodore.

"Yes, well, I doubt we'll see such extreme circumstances again." Daphne huffed, her chin propped up by her hand. "I just wanted to do something more stimulating than sitting around in a poorly lit room in the basement of an old castle."

"Right," Cyrna said with disbelief. "Can't believe I thought that you were one of the sane ones."

Daphne gave her a cheeky smile.

Cyrna startled with a small laugh.

"No," Theodore put his head in his hands. "Don't encourage her."

Cyrna hand-waved the concern away, but privately, she seriously considered the situation. It was unlikely that Quirrell would try anything so soon. But she was rather risk-adversive, and would rather just... not tempt fate. "I'm not sure, Daphne. There was something seriously creepy about Quirrell—"

"But that guy looks like he'd be scared of his own shadow," said Theodore.

"I know—it's hard to explain what I saw, but..." Cyrna gave a sharp exhale. "Look, maybe if you can convince other Slytherins to go. Safety in numbers, and all."

Theodore looked considering, and when Daphne turned to him with large, pleading eyes, Theodore held strong for maybe five seconds before giving in. "Fine," he said, moving off the couch like each motion brought him pain. "Meet me at the exit. I'll go grab the rest."

True to his word, in no time, Cyrna and Daphne spotted the rest of their Slytherin cohort at the castle's doorstep. Malfoy looked as if he had been dragged here by the scruff of his neck, and Pansy didn't appear much happier either.

"Why are we here?" Blaise asked bluntly.

"Cyrna wants a few spikes from the Spiky Bush for whatever reason, and I want an adventure," Daphne said airily.

"Well I'm not interested in traipsing about in mud," said Pansy with a large scowl. She turned to Cyrna. "And what do you even need that spike for, anyways?"

"I need its emulsion for a potion."

Pansy arched her neatly groomed brow. "Can't you just order that from Slug and Jiggers?" She shook her head. "No. Are you just trying to show off to our Head of House? Honestly Cyrna, just stop sitting with that Mudblood in potions if you care so much about that. Millicent here has been working with Draco and I, but it can get crowded. Why don't you partner with her instead?"

Millicent scowled. "So you can have Draco all to yourself?"

Pansy threw her a poisonous smile.

"Unless Millicent miraculously improved, I think I'll stay where I am," Cyrna said dryly.

"Don't you find it shameful to rely on a Mudblood for your grades?" Pansy snarked.

Cyrna allowed the judgemental gazes of the other Slytherins to wash over her, delighting, if anything, that her ruse of mediocrity was working. "Who cares? At the end of the day, I'm still getting an outstanding in Potions—" she smirked—"unlike others."

That ruffled a few feathers, and Cyrna noted the ones who were angered with hidden glee. Frankly, she was surprised by how many Slytherins weren't excelling in Potions, given that Snape was their Head of House. Unfortunately, Draco was not one of them. He had been quiet all the while, but seeing this, he sneered unpleasantly. He might have retaliated but their bickering had started to draw in a small crowd—so unusual it was, apparently, for Slytherins to fight amongst themselves. Perhaps recalling both his father's and Snape's warning, Draco switched his words, "All this for some spikes?"

"Are you coming with us?" Cyrna asked instead, implying through her question that yes, she was going and if he did not want Slytherin to appear more divided, then he had better get the rest to come with her.

"... Of course," he said sourly, silencing Pansy with a look when she protested.

The first-year Slytherins left together, trudging slowly towards the field of Spiky Bushes. Draco spent most of his time either glaring sullenly at her or ignoring her. But after his foot made a particularly loud squelch in the mud, Draco scowled and finally spoke again, "Seriously, couldn't you have chosen another day?"

"I could have. But Daphne was feeling restless today, and I didn't have a strong opinion either way."

From the far end of the group came an especially loud girlish shriek. Draco snorted softly.

"You don't think Pansy wore her favourite shoes, do you?" Cyrna asked after a moment.

....

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