Daphne Greengrass wasn't your typical Slytherin. She worked for her grades, was from a family of Hufflepuffs, and didn't care for the rest of her house. Actually, she didn't care for anyone. She preferred plants to people.
Her tongue was as sharp as Draco Malfoy's, but unlike him, she used it to her best advantage. She was sly and manipulative, and if it weren't for the fact that she thought pranks were asinine and people even more so, she would probably have been expelled within a day of entering Hogwarts.
As it was, she was simply the least-liked person in the entire school; even Filch had Mrs. Norris. She had no one.
And she didn't care.
From the day she was sorted into Slytherin, her family had abandoned her. Afraid of the reputation of the house their middle child had been placed in, they put wards around the bedrooms of her younger siblings, and did their best to keep her from family reunions.
Her house didn't like her either, because she signified everything they should be, but weren't. And she was from a family of Hufflepuffs that extended back generations. She was more Slytherin in personality than Draco Malfoy, but was from a much less savoury family than even Bulstrode (whose grandmother was a half-blood). At least Bulstrode's family was pure human, and Slytherin for as long as anyone could remember. Daphne Greengrass had Dryad blood in her; it was far back, yes, but you could tell by the colour of her eyes, hair, and skin. She was all shades of brown and green, with eyes the colour of pine leaves, and skin the colour of beech bark. The way she moved was like the trees as well, and she certainly excelled in Herbology.
Her cunning mind, quick tongue, and ruthless malice made her perfect for the role Draco wished to cast her in.
But how to make her agree? Daphne wasn't one to be messed with, and she couldn't be manipulated. Perhaps a dare...
Inspired, Draco hurried to the Owlery.
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"Okay, calm down," Hermione coached. "Are you sure you've got nothing to wear?"
"'Mione, imagine you're me, and you have a date," Ginny said.
Hermione wrinkled her nose. "With Harry? Because that's gross."
Ginny giggled. "With Ron, if he's what floats your boat."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Goodness, you really don't have anything to wear."
"Exactly." Once again, Ginny had managed to prove Hermione really was a girl. It didn't happen often, but sometimes...Ginny pushed that away. "But you see my problem?"
"It's okay. I know just who to go to." Hermione began pulling Ginny along.
"What? Who?" Ginny asked, dreading the answer.
"Parvati and Lavender."
"I shouldn't have asked."
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"So what exactly do you plan to do?" Ron asked Harry, shovelling bacon into his mouth.
Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ron swallowed. "Where do you plan to take Ginny for your date?"
Harry paled. "I'm screwed."
"What do you mean, mate?"
"I have no idea where to take Ginny," Harry whimpered.
Ron imagined his sister's face. "Yup," he agreed, "you're screwed."
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It had taken a while to find Parvati and Lavender; they weren't in any of the usual places. In fact, they were in the Library with Dean, Seamus, Neville, Luna and Padma, pouring over books.
"What are you doing?" Ginny asked, both curious and hoping to put off her makeover for as long as possible.
"Looking up spells we want Harry to go over in DA this year," Parvati said distractedly.
"But Voldemort's been defeated!" Hermione protested.
"Still, the world is full of evil. We need to know how to combat it," Padma said logically.
"Makes sense." Ginny sat down. "Need any he-" She was cut off when Hermione put a hand over her mouth.
"Parvati and Lavender…we – that is – Ginny and I were wondering if we could elicit your help. Gin's going on a date with Harry this weekend, and-"
"You need a makeover. We know." Parvati nodded, dark eyes glinting with mischief.
"Okey dokey, that sounds like fun!" Lavender said cheerfully, getting up. "We'll do you, too, Hermione." She took Hermione's arm in an iron-hard grip, putting her DA talents to work as she swiftly relieved the brunette of her wand. Parvati did the same to Ginny.
"Wait a minute!" Hermione protested. "I don't need a makeover!"
"We've been wanting to give you a new look for years," Parvati informed her. "And we will not take no for an answer."
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"Ron, help! Where should I take her?" Harry asked, panicking.
Ron shrugged. "I dunno. Why don't you ask one of the girls? They're into that romantic crap. What do you care, anyway? It's just a dare."
"Kissing Hermione was just a dare, too. But she was almost sitting in your lap this morning," Harry pointed out, partly to distract Ron, and partly to let the redhead know he wasn't as stupid as they evidently thought he was.
Ron shrugged. "I like her," he said simply, his ears bright red. "She likes me."
"She likes you? Now there's a surprise." The sarcasm was lost on Ron, whose expression became one of awe.
"I know," he agreed. "I never would have thought she liked me back. I think I might ask her to go with me to Hogsmeade this weekend."
"Good. I heard the Ballycastle Bats were going to beat the Appleby Arrows. What d'you reckon?"
"No way." Ron declared. "The Bats may have a good Seeker, but they've also got new Chasers and Beaters this year. Arrows are gonna win for sure."
Harry sat back, a relieved smile on his face. He'd successfully diverted Ron's attention from the reason he was so nervous about the date with Ginny. Truth was, he didn't know why he was, and didn't particularly want to know.
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On his way to the Owlery, Draco ran into Pansy Parkinson, a girl perfect for the job he had in mind. Much better than an anonymous letter about Potter and the Weaslette, for while Pansy as a gossiping hag, she was a scrupulously honest one, and hard to ignore.
"Oi, Pansy, did you hear? Potter and the Weaslette are dating," Draco said, an appropriate sneer on his pointed face.
"Really?" Pansy's pug-like face lit up. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. Potter's smitten. So's Weaslette. It's sickening. Well, must be off." Draco headed to the kitchens for a celebratory cup of tea and piece of cake. The news would be all over Slytherin within the hour, and he could set his trap.
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"Sit." Parvati pushed Ginny down on one of the vanity stools, Lavender doing the same to Hermione. "Now, let's see, where to begin?"
"Gosh, I don't know. There's so much to be done! They really came to us just in time," Lavender replied dramatically.
"Hey!" Hermione protested.
"I second your hey and raise it to an 'oi'," Ginny said, glaring at the older girls.
"Sorry, but it's true. Ugh, look at Hermione's hair! It's so frizzy! Do you even condition it, Hermione?" Parvati asked, scrunching up her nose in distaste.
"Yes," Hermione said indignantly.
"Lav, go check what she uses. And get our things. This is going to be a challenge."