The sun was scorching down on her shoulders, the heat sinking into her black robes. She was standing toward the back of the crowd, not seated, head slightly bent so that her thick dark bangs covered her eyes serving almost like a mourning veil. On either side of her stood Crabbe and Goyle, muscled arms pressed against her, making her feel even more hot, though she would rather feel their protection than nothing at all. The two oafs had opted to stay back and watch over the rest of their gang, left behind as Draco had fled. Behind her stood Blaise Zabini, Tracey Davis, Daphne Greengrass, and Theodore Nott. Usually Crabbe and Goyle served as bodyguards for Draco, but since he had gone into hiding, Pansy became the unofficial leader of the most-hated students in Hogwarts.
They were not welcome here, at the funeral for a man that had been murdered by some of their own. It was evident in the way peoples shot outright hostile glares toward them, making harsh comments and all but drawing their wands on them.
"Why are we here again?" Daphne breathed quietly, her breath tickling the hairs on the back of Pansy's neck. "Everyone wants to attack us."
"It's all part of the game, Daff," Pansy murmured back, keeping her body unmoving so as not to sweat further. She silently cast another cooling charm on herself. The minister was still going on and on in his speech about their slain headmaster. "They are waiting for us to slip, waiting for us to show some sort of discrepancy, anything to prove where we truly stand."
"We don't really stand anywhere," Blaise muttered darkly, which was unfortunately also true. They didn't have the mark, yet they also weren't exactly opposed to it either. Time simply hadn't presented itself, they hadn't needed to openly declare themselves to anyone, though they silently sided with their pureblooded families.
"How much longer?" Tracey sighed and leaned against Theodore, who grudgingly let her. Her two friends looked more like siblings than boyfriend and girlfriend, but Pansy still had to admit they were attractive. Both tall, slight, with glossy brown hair and alert blue eyes. Theodore was bookish, sarcastic, and rather hard to strike up conversation with. Tracey was pouty, gossipy, and quite keen on becoming a housewife, which she would be soon. She and Theo were meant to be married within the year, have been betrothed since before they could walk.
Almost all of them were betrothed in fact.
Daphne and Blaise would be married within the year as well. Daphne, blonde and willowy with glossy eyes and slightly air-headed demeanor, flirtatious with almost every man she came across. Blaise was Hogwart's resident Casanova, going through witches like water, though his heart remained true to Daphne, no matter how skewed. It was easy for him to win over women, with his smooth dark skin and soulful green eyes, perfect smile that could charm anyone. They were a toxic couple, loving to each other but also constantly at war because they both could not remain faithful no matter how much they promised.
Millicent would marry Goyle. They were both obedient, big-boned, and tall. Millicent didn't say much, but she was loyal and always defended Pansy above anyone else. Goyle wasn't much of a talker either, and he too tended to put his duty of protecting Draco above all else, though everyone once in a while Pansy would catch him being sweet and affectionate to Millie. They both genuinely liked each other, it was a very comfortable match. Goyle was her favorite of Draco's friends, and Millie was the closest thing to a best friend that she had.
That left Pansy and Draco, who were betrothed since birth, and Crabbe, who would most likely marry Daphne's little sister, Astoria, in a few years.
Pansy and Draco were fascinating in their own right, having grown up together as best friends, always aware that they would be married as soon as they were of age. Draco was arrogant, dramatic, and hot-tempered. Pansy was Machiavellian, dark, and haughty. They were well-matched, something that their elders praised whenever they were seen together. Pansy might as well have introduced herself as a Malfoy the moment she started school, because everyone in the wizarding world knew exactly whom she would marry. However, there wasn't much romance between she and Draco, as they truly operated best at frenemies, occasionally betraying the other, but also sacrificing others to benefit each other.
She was slightly peeved that Draco had fled the night of Dumbledore's murder, not even a week ago, and left her behind to keep their friends out of trouble. She had entered the common room where Crabbe and Goyle were pacing, they had quickly ordered her to go up to her room where Tracey, Daphne, and Millie were sleeping and bring the girls down to the common room for the rest of the night.
"Fine, but where's Draco?" She kept protesting as they all but forced her into the staircase leading to the rooms.
"Draco left," Goyle rumbled in her ear, "Pans...where were you?" She had remained silent at that, no longer fighting the brutes as they physically pushed her up the stairs toward the room, enchantments in place that prevented them from following her. She had roused her three sleeping friends, whispering, "we have to stay together tonight, Draco—it didn't work out, he had to leave." Daphne had whimpered and tears had fallen, Tracey, too. Millie didn't cry, but she certainly looked nervous and had quickly gathered blankets to bring with them. Pansy remained silent.
The plan had been simple enough, yet backfired horribly. Draco had raised a shaking hand to deliver the final blow, the last unforgiveable curse, and had choked. Her own deep green eyes had turned dark as her lips parted, frozen, and she listened to Bellatrix Lestrange screech at her nephew to finish the job. Severus Snape had pushed past her, shoving her aside, and she had pulled herself up off the floor of the tower, watched as a brilliant green light flashed and Albus Dumbledore fell from the tower, to his death. She had already been drunk, drinking herself silly before they had gone up there, but now she felt like everything was moving too fast around her. The world had exploded, Draco was in shock, as was she, and she had gotten to him, wrapping her arms around him pulling him back as The Order of the Phoenix arrived and they began battling. Taking Draco's hand, they had fled alongside Bellatrix out of the castle and onto the grounds as Harry Potter himself chased them, screaming at them. She had fallen.
Staring up into the eyes of an enraged Potter, she had expected him to kill her, but instead he had just shook her head in disgust and walked away.
Bellatrix lit Hargrid's hut on fire, and she turned her head to watch as brilliant scarlet and orange flames lit up the night sky, she thought she saw a shooting star. She was waiting for Draco to come back for her, but he never came. She finally got up and went back to the castle, unseeing, mind roaring around her, not realizing where she was going.