Pansy wiped her brow and blinked back the drops of sweat that trickled into her eyes. She could do this. Only a few more punches and it would be all over.

She took a step back and steadied herself before breathing in and launching herself forwards with all her might, one fist raised in front of her and the other closer to her face. Pansy hit the punching bag as hard as she could and immediately continued to do it with her other fist, slamming into the hard, raspy fabric repeatedly and feeling her knuckles burn. The satisfying sound it made upon contact almost made all the pain worth it; she loved that sound.

She wasn't sure how long she was taking, but she was going to punch until her arms dropped to her sides on their own.

"Hey, Pansy."

Pansy groaned and stopped reluctantly, panting heavily as the turned to the side to look at Ginerva. She was wearing a blue flowery dress that Pansy had never seen before, but that contrasted sharply with her combat boots. Pansy's already ragged breath got caught in her throat at the sight.

"Sorry to interrupt," Ginerva said as she approached Pansy, who was suddenly very aware of how old and worn her training shorts were, and then she remembered that her sports bra had a big stain in the front and wished she had worn something else this morning.

Pansy managed to catch her breath and straighten up in time to look at Ginerva up close. Her blazing red hair was tied back, but a few strands fell into her face as she spoke. "Here's the list for Saturday," Ginerva said as she handed Pansy a yellowish sheet of paper. "I think it's all in order."

Pansy barely glanced down at the list before murmuring a quick 'thanks' and looking back at Ginerva. "Where are you going?" she asked before she could stop herself.

Ginerva blushed slightly. "Luna's taking me out. There's a new gallery opening in Brooklyn and she thinks it's going to be the next big thing."

"Oh," Pansy nodded, sweat dripping from her face into the paper. "Good."

And then Ginerva gave Pansy one of the brightest smiles she had ever seen. "See you tonight!"

She started walking away and Pansy looked down at the paper in her hands because she didn't want to be caught staring at her. Again.

"Wait," she called as something in the list jumped out at her. "Who's Hermione Granger?"

Ginerva spun around before heading upstairs, her hair and dress whipping around her. "Oh, she's a friend of my brother's. She was getting her degree abroad and returned last week. She seemed down so I invited her."

If it had been anybody else telling her this, Pansy would have crumbled the paper in her hand, thrown it to the side, and gone on a long and loud rant about how this wasn't a place that offered weekend entertainment to any girl who had puppy eyes.

But this wasn't just anyone.

"Okay. Have a good time Ginerva."

She smiled brilliantly again. "Come on Pans, call me Ginny."

Pansy sighed after Ginerva left and she walked over to pin the list to the board next to the stairs. All the regulars were coming this Saturday. Well, all but Spinnet who had finally gotten that job in LA and moved out the day before. Pansy still had a headache from her going-away party.

She wondered if Ginerva was good friends with this Hermione girl. She trusted her judgement, of course, that's why she didn't say anything to her about carelessly inviting people without consulting with her first. That, and the fact that Pansy didn't seem able to say 'no' to her.

Ginerva had arrived exactly a year after Pansy had the first Fight Club meeting. They didn't call it Fight Club back then, but they didn't really call it anything. She and her best friends, Daphne and Millicent, started practicing boxing among each other after getting assaulted by a group of men right outside Pansy's place. Sure, it was all about self defense at first, but very soon Pansy realized how much she enjoyed the thrill of fighting, and it seemed like her friends agreed, because they started to get together to do just that with increasing frequency until it became a weekend tradition between the three of them.

It wasn't until Millicent invited her coworker Hannah who had recently left an abusive marriage that they realized the potential of their fighting meetings. There were hundreds of women out there who could really benefit from what they were doing; learning self defense, enjoying the boost of adrenaline and endorphins, and taking care of each other.

Pansy took the house her grandmother left her and turned it into a women's shelter. The fighting was only part for some of them, a close group that had formed over the years and that very rarely included a newcomer who usually didn't stick around. It certainly wasn't a hobby that everyone could handle.

Apart from Fight Club, Pansy also taught boxing and kickboxing lessons Mondays and Wednesdays.

Ginerva showed up at their doorstep one evening in January; shivering, alone, and broken.

She had suffered mental abuse from an older man whose name she refused to speak at first, and it had been going on for too long. Far too long.

They took her in and helped her heal as much as possible. Pansy had been impressed and mesmerized by Ginerva; she was unbelievably fierce, witty, and electric, but also so beautiful and soft that Pansy had a hard time not falling for her within the first month of her stay.

She also adored Fight Club.

Ginerva decided to stay and work in the shelter alongside Pansy, and that was almost a year ago. She couldn't believe time had gone by so fast, just like she couldn't believe she hadn't acted on her feelings for Ginerva and now it was too late.

Luna Lovegood arrived last summer. She had been left homeless after her father passed away, and Pansy remembered with cruel clarity the way Ginevra's eyes lit up when she met Luna, all long blonde hair and big eyes.

Pansy stared at her reflection on the mirror on the wall and bit her tongue. She was almost the exact opposite of Luna Lovegood; her choppy dark hair didn't even come close to her shoulders and her eyes lacked an innocence she couldn't help. Pansy looked down at her sweaty, tired body and smiled.

She was also a much better fighter than Luna.

Is not that she didn't like the girl, because she did. Luna was a perfectly lovely person and had done many things for the community and for Ginevra. She would also begrudgingly admit that they made a good couple. It was just that...

Call me Ginny.

To Pansy she would always be Ginevra.

.

Saturday arrived, cold and breezy like the past few winter nights. Pansy was getting ready by cutting her fingernails and bandaging her knuckles like she usually did, while listening to some music to pump herself up.

She knew Ginevra and Luna were already down in the basement setting it up, so she could take her time getting ready and not having to third-wheel next to them, despite Luna's insistence to join them each and every time.

By the time she left her bedroom to go downstairs, someone was already ringing the doorbell.

"Coming," Pansy called out as descended, hoping it was Daphne and Millicent, or at least the Patil twins, who she also really liked.

Instead, she was greeted by a large mane or curly brown hair when she opened the door, followed by a rush of wind so strong that most of thar hair ended up getting blown into Pansy's face.

"Fuck, I'm sorry, shit, oh my God."

The girl in front of Pansy struggled with her windswept tangled strands a moment longer and then Pansy was actually able to see her face. Her red nose and cheeks contrasted nicely with her dark complexion, and she wore an annoyed frown as she tied up her impressive mass of hair into a ponytail.

Apparently, Pansy had been rendered speechless by unexpectedness of the situation, and the girl spoke first, offering Pansy a firm hand. "I'm Hermione. Hermione Granger."

Oh, so this was Ginevra's friend. In her head Pansy had pictured someone very similar to Luna, which she now realized was absurd because she was pretty certain there was no one similar to Luna Lovegood.

"Hey, I'm P-"

"Pansy Parkinson," Hermione Granger said with a fervent nod. "I know about you, of course. The work you've done with this shelter is truly remarkable."

Pansy felt the corners of her mouth jerk, but more out of amusement than anything else. Ginevra hadn't said what kind of degree this Granger girl was getting, but Pansy guessed right then that it was something very intellectual and nerdy like Literature. She noticed the red and gold scarf wrapped tightly around the girl's neck, most likely representing the university's colors, as well as the well-ironed navy slacks and brown oxfords which all together made her look like she was arriving at a lecture, not a secret fighting meetup.

"Thanks," Pansy replied politely as she turned to the side. "Come on in."

Granger smiled and wiped her feet on the entrance mat before stepping in. "Thank you. It's so terribly cold tonight."

Pansy nodded her agreement and led Granger to a hanger where she could leave her winter attire. Pansy wasn't at all surprised to see that under her heavy coat she was wearing a flannel button up.

"This place is beautiful," Granger said while looking around. "I'd love a tour, perhaps after the...you know."

Pansy saw the opportunity and launched herself into it.

"Shhh!" She clamped a hand over Granger's mouth and looked dead serious. Granger's eyes widened. "First rule of Fight Club, don't talk about Fight Club," she whispered furiously before stepping away and watching Granger's panicked expression.

There was a still silence that stretched for a few seconds before Pansy broke into laughter.

"Fuck, I couldn't resist," she blurted out through broken laughs. "Sorry, but you should have seen your face."

Pansy was slightly surprised to find Granger glaring at her, her brown eyes narrowed. "Very funny. I thought for a moment you were going to kick me out into the cold."

Pansy turned in her heel and started leading the way to the basement. "You would have to do a lot more to be the first woman to be kicked out of this house, Granger."

.

The first fight of the night was always the most tense one. It was almost as if it went down in slow motion, and everybody watched with bated breath as the first two girls of the night started hitting each other. The atmosphere changed dramatically once two of them step into the middle of the circle; laughter and friendly greetings die out and business-like seriousness settles in, as well as a deep sense of camaraderie that Pansy has never felt elsewhere in her life.

They all knew they couldn't root for either fighter, nor help them in any way unless someone got badly hurt, but when you're in there fighting, you feel like everyone around you has your back, no matter your opponent. And when you're out in the circle, sharing the experience of watching someone beat their feelings away is eerily bonding. A connection is made whether it's your first time or your fiftieth, and that first fight sets the mood for the entire night.

Sometimes the fights were more proper and technical, specially when new girls wanted to practice the moves Pansy has taught them. Other times, mostly during summer, there was energy and excitement bouncing all over the place, and these made for some of the most entertaining fights.

And then there were the nights that she feared and anticipated at the same time. Nights when as soon as you walked into the basement, you knew something important was going to happen. The air was usually thick with electric emotion, and sometimes Pansy knew exactly why. Maybe someone had a particular terrible week at work, or a fight with their significant other. Perhaps the weather had everyone feeling down, or current politics were a bitter pill to swallow, but no matter the reason, these were always the most cathartic of sessions.

And Pansy's favorites.

Tonight didn't feel like one of those nights.

Daphne and Cho Chang had drawn the shortest straws, so they were up first. Like Pansy, Daphne was considered a senior in these grounds, but Cho wasn't too far behind, having joined them a year and a half ago. They had fought each other before, so their moves were precise and calculated, their bodies working together like a well oiled machine.

Pansy had a hard time concentrating in this particular fight, and without meaning to, her eyes wandered over to Ginevra and Luna, who stood opposite her, holding hands and watching avidly as Cho hit Daphne square in the jaw. Pansy's insides squirmed as if she had been the one taking the blow.

Shaking her head, she quickly glanced away, and her eyes landed on Granger. Pansy had almost forgotten there was a new girl today, but she was glad for the distraction. Watching someone new react to their first fight was always interesting.

Granger still hadn't changed out of her clothes, so she looked odd standing next to the others most of who wore only shorts and sports bras. She was hugging herself as if it was cold, but there was no possible way that was true when Daphne and Cho were going so hard. Her eyes were wide and unblinking and she seemed to be biting her tongue, and Pansy smirked to herself. Perhaps she was realizing that this wasn't for her and would back down when the moment came, which was a shame, but Pansy would be able to rub it in Ginevra's face for inviting someone who couldn't handle the heat.

Granger gasped and Pansy looked back at the fight, where Cho was doubled over in pain, Daphne's fist still attached to her stomach in what looked like a devastating uppercut.

"S-stop," Cho muttered weakly before falling to her knees and, clutching her middle.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Daphne had grabbed her around the upper arm so she wouldn't fall too hard, and then she was helping Cho to her feet. Everyone around them started cheering and some of them came up to help and clap them on the back, congratulating them for an excellent fight.

Cho collapsed in the sofa by the wall, but seemed to be feeling better and even managed to smile up at Millicent, who had brought her a glass of water.

"Alright," Pansy clapped her hands together and walked over to a table where the rest of the straws were, packing them together before wrapping her hand around them. "Let's see who's next."

Everyone but Daphne and Cho gathered around her, even Hermione, to Pansy's surprise. They each took a straw out of her hand and then displayed them on their open palms for the rest to see. Pansy was so used to all of the rituals that accompanied the fights that she never got nervous or anxious anymore, but as her eyes scanned her own straw and those around her, her heart suddenly started to hammer inside her chest.

"There you go Hermione!" Ginevra exclaimed. "You got Pansy!"

Pansy's fist closed around her straw and nodded before stepping away from the circle to get in position and stretch a bit. She usually didn't mind fighting a new girl, on the contrary, the unpredictability and wildness of someone who had never fought before made the experience far more interesting and exciting than some of her other fights. But Granger had shown nothing but restraint and hesitation tonight, which made Pansy think that her heart wouldn't really be in it. Fights without passion were never worth it.

Pansy bent over to touch her toes, bending one knee and then the other to stretch her legs properly. The rest of the girls were chatting and moving around as they waited for the two fighters to be ready, and when they scattered away from where they had gathered with the straws, Pansy looked up to try and see if Granger was preparing as well.

Her mouth dried up so violently that she thought she would choke on her next breath. Granger was finishing unbuttoning her shirt easily with just one hand as the other reached up to the back of her head to release her hair from the ponytail. A cascade of brown curls fell heavily on her shoulders just as the last button popped off, revealing Granger's naked midriff. Pansy slowly straightened up, unable to take her eyes away from the girl across the room as she shrugged off the shirt and stood in her bright green sports bra. Her hands came up to the top of her slacks and unzipped them. Nobody else seemed to be noticing Granger, which made Pansy feel even more like she was watching something private or intimate and she was behaving like a creep by letting her eyes linger on the skin underneath the clothes.

Pansy shook her head and focused her attention back on stretching her arms overhead, looking up at the ceiling. It wasn't just the display of Granger's body that momentarily shocked Pansy; she wasn't expecting her to be so shameless and confident now that the real moment had presented itself. Granger looked nothing like the girl Pansy had first seen on her doorstep, clumsily trying to get her hair under control and dressed like she was about to teach a sociology seminar.

When Pansy couldn't pretend to be stretching her neck back any longer, she lowered her gaze and found Granger right in front of her, matching green leggings, barefoot just like Pansy, and with a slight smirk that sent Pansy's heart into turmoil again. The only thing bad thing that Pansy could see about her right then was that her knuckles weren-t bandaged, which she would definitely regret later.

"I don't pretend to win," Granger said and shrugged one shoulder. "But I'm glad I get to learn from the teacher."

Why did Pansy had the suspicion that she would totally be a teacher's pet?

Pansy matched her smirk. "Let's start the class then."

"Oh wait," Granger said as she bent forward, letting her hair fall in front of her and tying it in a large bun at the top of her head before straightening up again. "Now."

Pansy got into position, elbows at her sides and fists in front of her chest and face. She barely registered the rest of the girls taking their places around them as Granger copied her pose. "Take the first hit," she told her, nodding her head encouragingly.

Granger seemed slightly nervous at the instruction, but then a second later her face hardened and Pansy saw in her eyes one of the most deeply focused looks she had ever seen. Granger's turned her body slightly to the right, bringing her fist back and then throwing a quick punch to Pansy's upper arm. Pansy didn't block it because she wanted to gauge Granger's strength, which wasn't bad considering this was her first time fighting, but Granger looked like she exercised regularly.

As soon as Granger retreated, Pansy smiled and threw a right hook to the side of her head before she could even realize Pansy was attacking. Granger groaned in pain and stumbled several steps back, almost falling over Padma Patil. When she steadied herself, she looked up at Pansy with shock as she rubbed her reddened cheek and jaw.

Pansy was feeling that bolt of energy surging through her, and she bounced from foot to foot and beckoned Granger to come back. The fire that lit in her brown eyes increased Pansy's excitement.

Granger came up to her and immediately ducked, avoiding Pansy's punch and connecting her fist, hard, with Pansy's right thigh. It was a bold move to go for the legs when they were usually not a weak spot, but it worked because Pansy was so surprised that's where she decided hit. She let out a gasp and backed one step away before composing herself and charging towards Granger, who was prepared this time and put both her arms up to cover her face, where Pansy was very much intending to hit. Pansy's knuckles hurt terribly when they made contact with Granger's forearms, but Pansy lost no time in attacking Granger's stomach with other fist, and Granger's mouth fell open as all air had been knocked out of her. Pansy retreated slightly, knowing by now that Granger wouldn't take long in surprising her again.

Granger straightened up and moved carefully closer to Pansy, her arms raised and prepared to protect her face. Pansy allowed her to attack and began blocking every punch that Granger threw her way. "Come on Granger," she said, goding her on. "Give me hell."

Pansy thought she might laugh, but instead Granger grunted loudly and began punching faster and more frantically. Pansy's forearms were starting to get sore from all the blocking and her knuckles itched for some action, so she captured one of Granger's fists in her hand with a speed she knew Granger wasn't expecting, and in fact she was so surprised that she lowered her guard and Pansy was able to punch her in the nose.

A chorus of ow's and ah's erupted around them, but Pansy could only focus on the girl in front of them, who closed her eyes in pain and swiped her hand under her nose to see if she was bleeding.

"I won't make you bleed just yet, princess." Pansy smirked, and the way she saw Granger bite her tongue angrily sent a shiver down her spine.

Pansy raised her fists again as Granger stepped back. She shook her head as if trying to focus and continued to grimace in pain. "Can we kick?" Granger asked, in a voice so collected and formal that she might as well have asked a professor.

"This is free territory, you can do anything you want," Pansy said and heard Millicent chuckle. "But you should know that's my speciality."

Granger nodded and reached to touch her nose once more before advancing rapidly on Pansy, landing a surprise punch to her right hip. It must have hurt Granger much more than it hurt Pansy, because she lost her balance for a second, holding her fist with her other hand.

Pansy doubled over, rubbing her hip bone and staring at Granger's fist. By now she had been certain Granger was a smart girl, so she didn't understand why she would do something as stupid as hitting her there, when it was obvious it would damage her more then her opponent.

A second later, Pansy understood why.

While not letting go of her right fist, Granger balanced her weight on her back leg and with the other kicked Pansy hard across the stomach, sending her down to the floor instantly.

Pansy was so shocked that she barely registered the gasps from the other around them. All she could do was stare up at Granger and wonder where she had gotten all that nerve. It was such a stupid and brave mood that she didn't know what to focus on.

Granger seemed satisfied with herself, but Pansy got to her feet in a second. Granger was clever, but not strong enough to keep Pansy on the ground.

"The new girl has balls," one of the twins said; Pansy couldn't distinguish their voices if she didn't look at them. And right now she only had eyes for Hermione Granger.

"Was that good form or-" Granger began in her academic voice again, and Pansy lost it, throwing herself forward and hitting as hard as she could right above Granger's chest and beneath the clavicle, a spot she knew was killer and worrying, as you usually think you've been punched directly on the breast.

Granger's jaw dropped as she looked down at herself and then back at Pansy. But Pansy wasn't going to give her any more chances; she was done being soft with her. Before Granger could even move, Pansy threw a right hook to the jaw, left uppercut to the stomach, and finished it off by kicking her in the shins and sent her tumbling down.

Granger curled up in the floor, inhaling sharply and hugging her stomach, and for a second Pansy worried that she had went overboard. She knew some of the other girls were probably thinking the same, specially Ginevra. She was always critical of Pansy's treatment of the new girls down here. What they needed to understand, though, was that they came here to fight. There was always room for talking, helping, and soft healing in other spaces. When Pansy does her classes, she's teaching; there's corrections, explanations, discussions, and even hugging sometimes after. Ginevra is always there to talk, offer advice, and cook you a hot meal. Luna does therapeutic painting and dancing. Daphne offers psychiatric services. Millicent knows every female attorney in town. They have something for every woman who has stepped foot in their house, and they will continue to do it for as long as it is needed.

But once they go downstairs, it's time to sweat, breathe, and bleed for the fight. This is not a teaching moment; it's a living moment. And you don't do it unless you're mentally and emotionally prepared to face what it means to beat the shit out of someone, having the shit beat out of you, and then walk up and be as close, or even closer to them than before. That's why this group had formed like a family, and each Saturday night they seemed to grow closer, and it was hard to start from zero and understand that.

Pansy was about to offer Granger her hand to help her up, but with unexpected resilience, she stood back up, wobbly but stubborn, and faced Pansy with her slowly swelling and determined face. Pansy sighed. She could already tell Granger wouldn't quit until she could no longer stand.

And she hated herself for liking it.

Pansy gave her a chance to find her balance before striking again, going for her face. Granger avoided it by an inch, it might have even been some lucky shifting thanks to her instability, but she couldn't dodge Pansy's next punch to her upper arm. She groaned in pain and then launched herself on Pansy, throwing her whole body weight at her as she attempted to hit Pansy's face. Pansy had been ready, though, and wrapped her hand around Granger's raised fist. Their faces were inches apart and it was easy to see the frustration and effort coloring Granger's face; Pansy could almost hear the gritting of her teeth. She thought about smiling at her because goading her would be fun, but she didn't want to let her guard down in front of her anymore.

And indeed she had been right not to do it, because seconds after Granger tried to punch her in the stomach with her other fist. Pansy caught it as well, and with both her hands trapped it was just a matter of who could hold out the longest.

Pansy thought about twisting Granger's arms back and hold her in a lock, after all she had been practicing some wrestling moves lately, but then the thought of holding Granger so close to herself made her feel like it would be wrong, and as if on cue, Pansy's eyes strayed from Granger for the first time during the fight. And she found Ginevra.

She was looking at Pansy with a worried smile. Something along the lines of I'm not sure this is okay but I trust you. And Pansy's concentration wavered.

Granger brought her knee up and connected with Pansy's crotch, grunting and looking furiously at Pansy, as if angry she had looked away for a moment. It hurt badly, but Pansy was able to stand it and still maintain her grip on Granger, who she now guessed had been taught how to fight men. She wondered what her story was.

As she brought her knee down, Granger was even more unstable, and Pansy seized her chance to finish this. She ground herself well on one leg and stuck the other between Granger's, her calf pushing against Granger's stable leg. Granger looked down and then up, realizing that Pansy had her immobilized, and with just one more push she'd be knocked off her feet. Granger resisted though, her body strong and shaking against Pansy's control, but after a few seconds she realized there weren't any clever tricks that could get her out of this one.

Her expression changed, and she looked at Pansy with respect and admiration, the same look she probably gave her university professors, and Pansy couldn't believe that she actually blushed at the sight.

How pathetic.

She narrowed her eyes, feeling angry at this new chick who had wandered in here acting like she didn't know a thing but turning out to be a big know-it-all who pretended to fool Pansy during her first fight. Well, this Harvard Princess better keep practicing.

Pansy finished what she had started and Granger fell down sideways, hitting her elbow on the ground.

"Stop," she said, raising her hands with a grimace. "I'm done."

Pansy nodded. "I know."

The girls around them began to clap and cheer.

"Nice work, Hermione!" Ginevra said, and before she could help Granger up, Pansy did it herself. After all, it was Fight Club protocol.

Pansy pulled her up by the arm she knew hurt less, and then offered her hand. "Good fight," she said in a low voice.

Granger smiled at her. "I hope I get you again next time."

Pansy returned the smile politely, handed Granger over to Ginerva, who waited for her with open arms, and turned around to dry off.

They always say they can't wait for next time, but they never return.