I don't know why it's so easy to slip into the minds of so-called bad characters, but it definitely troubles me. Please review if you have something to say, criticism included!

Pansy Parkinson really, truly cared about two things. They might be the only two things she would ever fight to protect in this world or the next, and as a Slytherin, she would do anything to make sure they were safe: her school and herself.

They said no one wanted to see Hogwarts fall. No one wanted the school's literal and figural foundation to crumble. That still didn't answer the question of why they were bringing the battle here.

Pansy stared at the table, holding Blaise Zabini's hand as the stupid ex-Gryffindors explained about battle plans and evacuating students and magical protection that was useless if it wouldn't even keep Him out -

and her pale, cold hand jerked out of Blaise's as His voice filled the hall.

"I know that you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile."

Cowards across the hall screamed.

"You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood. Give me Harry Potter, and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and you shall be rewarded. You have until midnight."

Pansy barely had to think. Trembling only slightly, she stood up and pointed an accusing finger at him. "But he's there!"

The school turned their eyes on her in a kind of furious spotlight.

"Potter's there! Someone grab him!"

Nearly every Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw rose to their feet and pointed their wands simultaneously at her heart under her gleaming Head Girl badge.

They were all staring her down like she was the traitor here instead of the saviour. All they had to do was give him a worthless boy, and there would be no death, no bloodshed. All they had to do was hand over a cowardly seventeen-year-old boy.

"Thank you, Miss Parkinson. You will leave the hall first with Mr. Filch." McGonagall was all but screaming GO KILL YOURSELF. "If the rest of your house could follow."

Pansy, who hadn't sat down, turned on her heel and stormed over to Filch. She was completely unremorseful. Hogwarts would fall, there was no doubt about that now, and it wouldn't be her fault. When the night was over, they would wish they had listened.

She exchanged a look with Blaise that told her that he felt exactly the way she did. She had provided a solution. They had ignored her.

Slytherin house, the only house that believed in the sanctity of the castle, left with no regrets.

If you have something to say about this, reviews mean the world to me.