There'll be peace when you are done -- Winter/Spring 1997

I was rather surprised that Draco came over to me; he had been distant with everyone in our house this entire year thus far for the most part.  I could see he seemed slightly panicked, though.  I nodded at him.  "What is it, Draco?" I asked.

I was so grateful that Pansy just instantly asked what I needed.  "This is going to sound odd, but please, don't ask questions," I pleaded with her, glancing around the room to maek sure my sister had not appeared yet.

I put a hand on Draco's knee.  "Draco, you have my word," I promised.  "What do you need me to do?"  I would do anything for him no questions asked... if only he would trust me to do more.

I smiled slightly in relief that she gave me her word.  I knew Pansy would do it for me.  "I need you to look through June's things or something to find this potion she has.  It's not good for her and I need to know how much she has of it," I explained.  "And if it's not in her things... could you try to figure out where it is?  I know Juniper will not tell me... and that's why I need you."  I realized as I was speaking that Father would not approve of how casual it all sounded, but I did not really care at the moment.

I nodded at him, though it was an odd request.  "Okay," I said slowly.  "And when I find it, do you want me to take it?" If it was no good, that could easily be done.

I was glad that I was not the only one who thought that ay.  I shook my head, though.  "No... I just need the amount," I told Pansy quietly.  "And if you can't find me to tell me teh amount, find Matthews.  We need to know as soon as you can, though."  I hoped she would sense the urgency of the matter.

He was working with matthews?  Last I knew he could not stand him.  This must be an emergency if those two were an alliance.  I nodded at him and squeezed his knee.  "Don't worry, Draco," I assured him.  "I can find out."  I smiled at him.

Why was she not moving?  I returned her smile with a strained one of my own.  "Please... go look now.  I'm going to try to do other things to help... so once you know, find one of us," I told her.  Honestly, I was going to check on the Vanishing Cabinet, but I obviously could not tell Pansy that.  I did not need Juniper to find me waiting in the common room because then she would put it all together.

I nodded and went to the girls' dorm.  I walked into the one where I shared it with Juniper, Millicent, and other Slytherin girls.  I went over to Juniper's things and started looking around.  I hoped that she would not stumble upon me doing so.  What would I say?  I started to figure out my cover as I looked.

I had just finished my classes for the day and was heading back to the dorm to get more of Linc's potion, I needed more. I was happy that I had been able to figure out how to make it myself so I didn't have to bother Linc every time I needed it. I walked up to the girls dorm and saw Pansy looking through my things. "Hey, what are you doing?"

I really should have told Draco to stay and give some sort of warning from the common room.  I stood up and smiled at her.  "Sorry, I think those bloody house elves put some of my things over here after cleaning up in here," I said, hoping it sounded believable.  "They put some of Millicent's things with mine and so I just thought that I could grab them quickly if I could.  I didn't mean to overstep."

I forced myself not to glare at her. I hated that she spoke poorly of the house elf's but i put that out of my mind, I needed the potion. "Did you find anything?" I asked as I walked over to my things. Thanks to her, I had no idea where it was now. I started rummaging through my thinks, hoping to find it soon.

I had just gotten to what appeared to be a liquid -- I was assuming teh potion that Draco spoke of.  I just did not know how much she had.  "No," I replied, shaking my head.  "Thanks for being understanding about it, Juniper.  I did see something -- forgive me if I'm being nosy and you don't have to answer me -- well, it looked like a potion... but not one from class.  Are you working on something outside of class for Snape?" I asked her kindly, hoping that she would show it to me so I could at least see how much there was.

I saw where she was looking and smiled as I took the flask I bought on the last Hogsmeade visit to hold the potion. I took a large swallow of it and allowed the fiery liquid to clear my mind. I sighed in relief, then realized that she had asked me about it. I bit my lip, "Yeah, it's an extra credit project for Snape." I didn't want anyone else knowing about Linc's cure, there would be too many questions to answer then. I would play along with what she thought.

I was not entirely sure how much was in the flask, but I could guess the rough size of it and Draco could pretend that it was full if he had to -- I would say it was at least half, judging by the weight that I had felt when I had barely gotten a grip on it when she came in.  "Oh, cool.  I'm surprised that he lets you do any extra credit," I said, knowing how Snape was.  "But then again... you all are old family friends, aren't you?"  I did not mean to be trying to start an argument with her, but there was something fishy going o.  I promised Draco I would not ask questions... but it did not mean I could not try to get to the bottom of it on my own.