Our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher had caused quite a stir amongst the students and professors alike.

Professor Umbridge, who was refusing to teach anything practical in her lessons, was using her position as high inquisitor to implement crazy school rules and according to Harry, was dishing out cruel and unusual punishments during detention.

"But that's sick!" I cried when Harry showed me the back of his hand. A punishment for trying to speak out about what really happened to Cedric last year. "Surely she can't be allowed to do this to students?"

"I don't care." Harry simply said looking out at the Great Lake where we were enjoying the last of the summer sun under a tree. "I'm not afraid to speak the truth, no matter what that bitch does to me."

"Well certain Slytherins seem to like her," Ron said dryly as we watched Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy walk by, all four roaring with laughter over something Draco had said.

Suddenly Pansy broke away from them and walked towards us with a big smile on her face.

"Rosie!" She waved at me as she approached, completely ignoring Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Oh, hi Pansy," I answered, feeling slightly apprehensive given the company. It was one thing Pansy talking to me amongst the other Slytherins but she had never approached me in front of Harry, Ron or Hermione before.

"What are you doing out here? Why don't you come and join us back at the dungeons? I have an awesome new top I want to show you that my aunt sent me." She stayed smiling at me, not even acknowledging the other three.

"Actually Rosie is busy with her friends right now, Parkinson." Ron spat, irritably.

"I wasn't talking to you, Weasley." Pansy said through her teeth, still smiling at me.

I suddenly felt very torn. On one hand I didn't want to abandon the friends who have been by my side since first year, but on the other, I didn't want to ruin this new bond I seemed to have with Pansy that made me feel like I was starting to feel accepted as a Slytherin.

I made a decision.

"Actually, I was thinking of heading back now anyway so I'll walk with you Pansy." I got up, dusting the grass off my bottom and grabbed my bag. I avoided eye contact with my friends as I mumbled goodbye ashamedly.

I could feel the disappointed glares from the three of them as I walked away, arm in arm with Pansy Parkinson.

***

As I spent more time with Pansy, Tracey and Daphne, I spent less time with Harry, Ron and Hermione. I felt bad and I missed them but at the same time I was loving feeling a part of my house. Although, it was still only just my dormitory mates that were being friendly to me - Draco Malfoy would almost always sneer and walk away if I were to ever come near him. Pansy would just tut and laugh when he did this and say things like "silly Drakie, always such a grump!".

The days were getting colder as we approached winter and a weekend trip to Hogsmeade was coming up. Missing my three friends, Harry, Ron and Hermione, I decided to approach them one morning at breakfast and ask about us going together.

"I don't think your new BFF would like that very much." Ron replied bitterly as I sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"I am my own person Ron, I can choose who to be friends with, you know." I said, somewhat haughtily.

Hermione sighed and looked at me sympathetically. "Look Rosie, Ron didn't mean to sound so rude," (at this, Ron made a scoffing sound.) "but you know how the Slytherins feel about us and with you being so close to them these days it makes things a little tricky for us."

"Tricky? How?!" I seethed in frustration. I didn't want to have to choose between friends. It wasn't fair.

"There are things," Harry spoke up, seemingly struggling with what he wanted to say, "things that we need to discuss that can't be disclosed to-to uh... certain people..."

"CERTAIN PEOPLE?!" I could feel my blood start to boil with anger. "Oh - you mean Slytherins don't you?!"

Harry would not meet my eye as he stared down at his bacon. "It's for the best Rosie, after what happened in the graveyard, after who I saw-"

Angrily, I stood up causing my chair to topple back and hit the floor noisily. A few people on the surrounding tables stopped talking as they peered over to see what the commotion was all about.

"You don't know anything for sure Harry, they could have been anyone!" I hissed, and Harry, startled by my outburst finally looked at me. "Get off your high horse Harry and stop assuming the worst of people just because your narrow mind cannot even consider that maybe Slytherins can be good people too."

And with that I span on my heel and walked back towards the Slytherin table, away from my Gryffindor friends.

If I had looked over to where she was sitting, I would have seen the gleam in Pansy Parkinson's eyes.

***