Title: Potions, Dungeons, and Firewhiskey

Author: Fab_fan

Rating: PG

Summary: AU crossover. Two households both alike in dignity...

Disclaimer: None of it is mine.

Bianca blinked her heavy eyes repeatedly, hoping if she kept doing it, they might somehow turn lighter and not feel like they were attached to a magnet and about to be superglued shut.

She had been up all night trying to finish another long potions essay. It was her worst class, and she knew if she didn't get her marks up, she'd be in serious trouble. So, she sat down in the common room before the roaring fire with her quill and parchment paper, determined to write the best paper on antidotes ever. After four hours she had reached the bottom of page two. The assignment was for five.

A loud yawn formed her mouth, and the tall girl brought a hand up to cover it. After a glorious sunrise, she had finally finished the paper of doom. She decided to forgo the few hours of sleep she could possibly get before class and take a shower and get breakfast.

That's how Bianca ended up sitting alone at the expansive Gryffindor table, a plate full of scrambled eggs, toast with strawberry jam, and sausage in front of her. She was almost certain no one else in the castle was awake besides Nearly Headless Nick, who flew by as she collapsed on the bench at the table. She had greeted him with a slurred hello and sleepy wave.

Picking up her fork, the brunette awkwardly stabbed at her eggs. She pricked a fluffy mound and brought it to her lips, chewing gently. She fought down another yawn and scooped up another mouthful. Her friends wouldn't be up until right before transfiguration, so she would be by herself until she dragged her body to the classroom.

Thinking about how much she hated potions at that exact moment in time, Bianca pitched forward, her exhausted body begging for rest. She shook her head and blinked harder. She could do this. What was one night without sleep? Every Hogwarts student had done it at least once in their academic career.

The soft sound of shoes clapping the floor caught her attention. Bianca frowned in confusion. Who else would be crazy enough to be awake this early in the morning? She didn't remember seeing anyone else in the Gryffindor common room. Maybe a Ravenclaw? They were a studious bunch, to say the least.

Setting her fork down, she braced both her hands on the table and twisted her body to the side. It took a second for her eyes to focus, slowed by the lack of sleep, but what they did see caused them to widen. She swallowed harshly and a red tinge started to form at the base of her neck.

Frankie Stone ambled into the Great Hall, robes flying behind her. She absently adjusted her green and silver tie, mumbling inaudibly to herself. Sensing the gaze, she glanced up, clear hazel eyes meeting glazed brown.

Bianca quickly looked away, focusing back on her plate of food. She lifted her shoulders slightly, embarrassed at the red tinge becoming more and more apparent. She ducked her head down and began shoveling eggs into her mouth, barley chewing before swallowing.

Frankie paused briefly but kept walking, not acknowledging the other girl. Bianca secretly watched her sit down at the Slytherin table, piles of bacon and pancakes appearing along with a pitcher of orange juice. Frankie silently munched on a strip of bacon and poured herself a glass of juice.

Bianca had never been up this early. When she went to breakfast, it was always right before class and with her group of friends and fellow classmates. The Gryffindors stuck together, especially her class. She had never seen Frankie at the meal before. Actually, she only really saw the Slytherin in the halls or in potions, which the two houses shared. It seemed like this was a normal routine for Frankie, to be eating alone this early. She didn't seem bothered at all by the lack of people or noise. Peeking up, Bianca noted the ceiling had changed to show a bright blue sky with a few clouds merrily floating about.

Bianca's interactions with the other girl had been rather interesting over the years. The first time they ever met, Frankie had been standing in the middle of King's Cross Station staring at the wall that led to Platform 9 ¾. She had been dressed in rather drab muggle clothing – ripped blue jeans, a worn Ramones t-shirt, and ratty sneakers. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back in a messy bun. All she had on her was a small pack bursting at the seams and a bundle of papers. She watched as one of the students, who would later be sorted into Hufflepuff, walked right through the wall. Face contorting in confusion, she swiftly looked at the bundle of papers, back at the wall, then to the papers again.

Kissing her mother and uncle, who was also her stepfather, goodbye, Bianca cautiously approached the girl. She was obviously new to magic, or at least the Platform. The young girl thought it weird there was no one else with the girl, a parent or sibling, but she let it go and focused on her.

"Hello." Bianca greeted.

Frankie jumped and faced her, "What?"

Bianca didn't react to the rough tone, "Are you going to Hogwarts?"

Frankie looked around suspiciously, "You know what that is?"

Bianca nodded, "Of course. I got my acceptance letter this year. It's my first year. I was so excited to get it."

Frankie nodded along, "Right."

"Are you a first year too?"

"Uh…yeah…I guess." Frankie looked back at her papers.

Bianca leaned over. The papers were instructions on how to get to Hogwarts. "I can help you. We can go together."

Frankie scoffed, "I got it."

No she didn't. "We can go together. It'll be fun. We can ride the train there. Maybe we'll even be sorted into the same house!"

"Sorted?" she was getting more confused. Actually, she had been in a state of confusion since the moment an owl landed beside her on a park bench in London. Then, some guy in really wacky clothing appeared and started talking about some crazy school. Whatever. It was better than she where she was.

Bianca smiled softly, "Are you a muggle?"

"What did you call me?" Frankie glared.

Bianca raised her hands, "It's nothing bad. It means you're not magical or know about our world."

Frankie dropped the glare, "Yeah…I am…was…something. But, I'm supposed to go to that place you mentioned…Hodgetorts."

"Hogwarts." Bianca corrected.

"Whatever." Frankie looked at the wall. "How do we do this?"

Bianca grinned and grabbed her hand, ignoring the flinch, "We just walk right through there."

"Uh huh." Right through a wall. No problem at all.

"Ready?" Uncle Jack had already brought her trunk to the train, so all she had to do was board.

Frankie took a deep breath and bounced on the balls of her feet, "Yeah."

They began walking.

Three-quarters of the way there, Frankie abruptly stopped and pulled back.

"It's a wall!" she exclaimed at Bianca's look.

Patiently, Bianca led her back to their originally spot and they tried again.

They got through on the tenth try.

That had seemed like ages ago. They rode on the train together, Frankie keeping a tough scowl on her face all while studying every single thing she saw. Her loud curse at the chocolate frog had Bianca laughing for half an hour.

They had been split, though. Bianca was sorted into Gryffindor, the family's house. Frankie went to Slytherin, where she was coolly greeted by the purebloods who didn't recognize her name.

Overtime, Frankie blended in with the house of Salazar. She could be found sneaking down the halls, playing pranks on unsuspecting students. She had joined the quidditch team, showing an aptitude for flying. She excelled at the seeker position, more than once sending an opposing seeker into the stands with her daredevil technique. Many in Gryffindor booed her tactics, but no one in Slytherin cared. As long as they won, what was the big deal? Many said she was just as bad as the rest of the snakes. It was rumored one could stand and watch the points drain away from Slytherin whenever she was awake.

Bianca didn't see any of that, though. The girl at the other end of the room just quietly ate her food and read the morning's Daily Prophet. Bianca looked away as Frankie turned the page, her eyes roaming the room.

Soon, others entered the area, and Bianca was drawn into a conversation on the merits of the minister's newest endeavor. The next chance she got to look at the Slytherin table, Frankie was gone.

Bianca trudged out of the potions classroom, having endured another lecture on how she was going to fail if she didn't try harder. She was trying. Potions just wasn't her cup of tea, so to speak.

The sun had set before she could leave the dismal dungeon, so the area was even more dark and gloomy than she was used to. Shivering at the feeling it gave her, she picked up speed.

"Come on, mudblood." sneered a voice.

Halting, Bianca pressed up against the cold wall. She peeked around the corner to see three figures huddled together.

"Yeah, come on." Another voice joined in.

"Knock it off." Frankie's voice filtered in.

Bianca's brow furrowed. Did those two boys call Frankie a mudblood?

"What's the matter?" the first boy asked with a snicker.

"The matter is that you two morons are in my way." Frankie growled.

"Watch who you're calling a moron, mudblood." There was a small shove.

"Don't touch me again or I'll break your arm. Now get out of my way."

"Where you going?" the second boy said.

"Where do you think, stupid? The common room." Frankie gestured.

"No, you can't be." Said the first tone, "You see, only purebloods are allowed in there. You know, real magical people. Not filthy little mudbloods like you."

Bianca felt her hackles rise. She knew there was a lot placed on blood purity in Slytherin, but Frankie was one of them. No one should talk to her like that.

"And it isn't for unintelligent nitwits like you, but they still let you in. Now, how about you run along before I hex you to next week." Frankie whipped out her wand, pointing it directly at the first boy.

It was silent for a moment.

"Whatever, mudblood. You better watch your back. Those traitor friends of yours can't protect you forever, and that one wand won't either." The boy got out before slouching away, the other boy beside him.

Frankie kept her wand trained on him until they were gone. Then, she muttered, "You can come out now."

Bianca startled at the statement. Was she talking to her?

With a sigh, Frankie mumbled "Lumos" and a beam of light shot out of the tip of her wan. She idly pointed it at Bianca, "What are you doing down here?"

How had she known she was there? "I was meeting with Professor Snape."

"You shouldn't be here. A Gryffindor in the dungeons is bad, this late is just dumb."

Bianca bristled, "I had to talk about my assignment."

"Yeah, yeah. Next time be a little more careful, alright? Those boys would have stunned you till your arms fell off." She turned and began walking…away from the common room.

It clicked, "You weren't going to the common room."

Frankie shrugged.

Bianca followed her, "You knew I was down here. You were the last one to leave after class when Snape asked me to come in after all of my classes."

Frankie extinguished her light and kept moving.

"Frankie, did you come down her to look out for me?" Bianca grabbed her arm and spun her around.

"Hey, back off." Frankie jerked her arm back.

"You did, didn't you? You knew those boys were going to be here, so you made them leave."

"Like I would do that for a Gryffindor." Frankie chuckled. "Why don't you go back to your little tower and pathetic friends. I have a match tomorrow, and I don't need you taking up anymore of my time."

Bianca reached out and snagged the shoulder of Frankie's robe, pulling her close.

Their breaths hitched at the same time.

Bianca flashed back to the end of fourth year. The one time after their first meeting, when they did more than see each other in class or the hall.

When they had stumbled into each other in Hogsmeade, the last class trip before they all went home.

When, on a belly full of butterbeer, they had engaged in a few illegal shots of firewhisky courtesy of Frankie.

When, behind one of the stores, they had kissed until Bianca felt like her legs were jelly and her body was floating on a cloud.

Feeling the spark and burst of encouragement she had back then, Bianca crashed their lips together, eliciting a moan from the blonde. Their lips met again and again, smacking wetly as teeth clashed. Hands urgently grasped at clothing. Bianca grabbed Frankie's tie, urging her even closer.

"Wait…wait." Frankie broke away, panting heavily.

Bianca captured her lips in another heated kiss.

Frankie kissed back, getting lost in the feelings coursing through her veins. Her hands dug into Bianca's sides, itching to feel the flesh underneath the layers of material. Bianca threw an arm over her shoulder, their bodies smashed together.

A clanking sound brought Frankie's mind to a screeching stop. It felt like ice was poured down her back. She staggered back, putting as much space as possible between them with Bianca's hand still on her tie and arm covering the breadth of her shoulders. So, not much.

"Bianca, stop." Frankie gasped. She knew she should look around for any spies, but her eyes were riveted to the beauty in front of her.

"Frankie?" Bianca fought for air. Her body was singing, screaming for more.

"We have to stop." Her body begged to push the warm form up against the stone wall and replay Hogsmeade all over again.

What? Do you…am I?" Did she do something wrong? Was Frankie not feeling what she was?

"We can't do this here." If a Slytherin saw them, there was no telling what they would do with that information - two girls kissing, especially a Gryffindor and a muggle-born Slytherin.

Calming, Bianca glanced around, understanding what she was being told. A dark dungeon hallway near the Slytherin common room was not a good place to be for any Gryffindor.

"You should go." Frankie indicated the way out with her head.

"Come with me." Bianca fixed the rumpled green and silver tie.

"I have a match tomorrow. We are not going to lose to Hufflepuff."

Bianca rested her hand on the knot of the tie, "Just for a little bit. I want to spend some time with you."

Frankie rolled her eyes, "Bianca…"

"Frankie, we've done this twice now, and…I don't know about you, but I want to keep doing it. We should talk about this. About us."

"Us?"

"Us." Bianca nodded shyly, "I want there to be an us. Don't you?"

"You're a Gryffindor."

Bianca pushed a strand of dark brunette hair behind her ear and playfully tugged Frankie's tie, "I remember when you didn't even know what sorting and houses were."

A rueful grin, "When you thought I'd walk right through a wall without any problem."

"You did it. It took us ten times, but you did it."

"It was nuts! You crazy people were telling me to walk through a wall."

"Crazier than a Slytherin dating a Gryffindor?" Bianca smiled hopefully.

"Date?" Frankie raised an eyebrow.

"That's what people who make-out more than once do, isn't it?" Bianca had a cheeky grin.

"That wasn't…we weren't…" Frankie stuttered.

"We weren't?"

"Whatever." Frankie looked away, her cheeks heating up.

"Can we talk about this? We can go to the astronomy tower." Bianca added the clincher, "Unless you're scared."

"I'm not scared of anything." Frankie cleared her throat, "The match…"

"I won't keep you out too late. You'll be able to do those sly seeker moves of yours with no problem."

Footsteps.

"The astronomy tower, you said?" Frankie began to walk. "No one should be up there at this time."

The next day Frankie was ten minutes late for the match. If anyone happened to be strolling the stairs and halls near the astronomy tower, they would have seen a very disheveled Slytherin and Gryffindor rushing about with bleary eyes and ecstatic grins.