All right. I suppose you feel far too grown up to let Mother try to solve your problems for you. Fight your own duels, then - but not literally, in Professor Carrow's case!

I hadn't thought of Pansy in quite that way before, not in so many words. But you may have the right of it.

Perhaps you do need to give her attention, to reassure her that your disapproval was not total. She told your father that these other 'friends' have supplanted affection she feels lacking from you - not that you did anything wrong, I'm sure. If Miss Perks is so scrupulous, however, then I would suggest a two-pronged attack. Restore your affection to Pansy and she may come back, but convince Miss Perks that she could also benefit from your acquaintance and you win her ally to your cause, n'est-ce pas? Then she will also counsel her to sensibility.