Disclaimer:

While you might like what you see

This cleaned out girl's no place to be

'Cause while I write out from my head

(I duly hope you rightly led)

The characters I use through loan

Not one of them is my true own

Henceforth the rhyme where I bemoan.

-Achicagoil

Epiphany

Rated: PG-13, or your site's equivalent of

By: Achicagoil

Part One: Finding a New You

Section One

Pansy Parkinson glared out the window with strong distaste to the passing scenery. This would be her seventh trip to that hell-filled castle for another year in which she would be subjected to That-Place-Where-Learning-Is-Mandatory. This time, Father had stooped to the level of threats for her grades this year, hoping for only the best from his only daughter. Or at most, mediocre, if she was willing to get her head of hair gel long enough for a portion of her studies. "You either make at least four N.E.W.Ts or I'll see to it that you are betrothed to Vincent Crabbe before this time next year. His father's been soliciting about you lately. The two of you would have deliciously thick offspring together. Infantile monkeys with your hair, his forehead, and a brain from the collective rubbish of the parents' own." Father had a luscious way with words that only caused headaches in her delicately made-up head.

In turn, Mother had also been adamant about her future. "What would the Malfoys think if you only managed two N.E.W.Ts, like the eldest Bullstrode girl?" Kamalia Parkinson had questioned from in front of her mirror that morning. "Nothing at all good could quite come from that. You do mean to couple with the Malfoy boy, don't you?" Pansy had been horrified to hear her mother giggle during the application of lipstick. "Those Malfoys know how to make their men. Strong, handsome, and well financed. I just hope young Draco takes after his father more than that Narcissa. The Blacks have insanity in their family, you know. Look at Bellatrix. She ended up with a Lestrange. And the eldest sister copulated with a mudblood. Absolute waste of a family tree, that one."

Pansy had left her mother to vent. It was the only way of keeping the woman happy. But to think. Marrying a muggleborn. You wouldn't find her stooping so low as to end up with the rejects of wizarding society, if you could even call mudbloods that. Wizarding. More like hyped-up muggles if you asked her.

Her concentration was broken by the sound of her compartment door sliding open and she turned to the three figures standing in the doorway. Pansy's heart leapt into her throat as she fixed Draco Malfoy with her most sultry smile. He too seemed shocked to find her there and stepped back, trying to decide whether or not to close the door before she realized he was about. Too late. That smile was fixed at him and he wished to ooze into the carpet before she fixed him more of her attention. Or, worse yet, her voice.

"Why, hello, Draco. What brings you around these parts?" she questioned, twirling her hair around a finger and crossing her legs. He pointedly winced as her skirt hiked up her leg even further.

"You see, Pansy, there's this place. It's called 'school', you might have heard about it before. It's also referred to as 'Hogwarts' and 'hell'. I'm required to go there nine months out of my year, just like you. However, unlike you, I'm required to pull at least six N.E.W.Ts or suffer disinheritance. My father made that very clear to be before leaving out manor. Doesn't want me slandering the Malfoy family name." He gave her a pointed look that went straight through the empty recess of her mind to bounce back. Both Crabbe and Goyle snickered, having understood the pointed 'slandering' comment he had made. She merely grinned even more.

"Indeed. But surely there are benefits to this 'school' place you mention. Like the people who are also required to attend it with you? Maybe certain female housemates, perhaps?" She stood slowly, thrusting out her chest as she continued to twirl the curl around her finger.

He took an involuntary step away from her, hoping to place more room between the Self-Proclaimed School Wench and his breathing space. "If you mean Millicent, she doesn't seem all to interested in me. I think she somewhat fancies Potter's girlfriend, that blood-traitor Weaslette. I wouldn't wish to be her." Draco looked around frantically. "Oh, Blaize is in the compartment several down. I will see you at school, then, Pansy." He nodded at her and hasted off down the hallway of the train, the not-so-casual glance over his shoulder to make sure Crabbe and Goyle were following, and more importantly, that she wasn't.

Pansy huffily sat back down in her chair and sulked. What a way to start the new school year.

The following weekend found Pansy wondering to a new part of the castle she had never before visited, having been chased out of the Slytherin commons by an angry Blaize and a frustrated Draco. She was surprised to find herself in front of the large, oak doors that led to the library.

Never before had she seen such a large amount of books and so many Ravenclaws in one place. She meandered over to the closest rack to read the titles of some of the literature offered. A History of Animagi. A Brief History of Time. Former Headboys and Girls and Where They Are Now. Popular Goblin Revolts of the Medieval and Renaissance Ages. The history section; Pansy didn't know whether to be amused by the irony ("A paper on a pre-18th century goblin lord of choice, twelve inches, by Monday" for Professor Binns. Pansy knew she would end up copying tits and tats from a blackmailed Hufflepuff) or disgusted by her ill luck in finding one of the most boring sections of the library.

Turning to leave, a tattered book on the nearest study table caught her attention. To say the book was well past its prime was a friendly way of putting things. The cover had been bent, torn, twisted, and rained upon to its last limits. Pansy could only just make out the engraved lettering on the leathery front, the gold lettering long since peeled and flaked off. Epiphany. The subtitle read 'A Way to Better Thyself and Thy Role in Life Without A Blood Sacrifice'. Pansy skeptically flipped through the weather-beaten pages, looking for something catchy to call to her attention. The table of contents listed chapter titles that Pansy would have expected from a self-help book out of her mother's personal library, not one found in Hogwarts. "'Finding a New Self: Coming to Terms and Doing Away With Thy Imperfections.' 'Making Choices: For Thyself, By Thyself.' 'Staying to Thy Terms: Others Are Thy Paved Walkway, Not Vice Versa.' What kind of self-help rubbish is this?" she asked herself as she threw the book back down.

"Oh, are you not taking it then?" a voice asked. Pansy looked up to see the ever-bushy head of the new Head Girl gazing inquiringly at her. "I had hoped to find a copy of that here. Morganna Le Faye's books are hard to come by, and that one in particular is a difficult catch." Hermione Granger reached down to take possession of the book but Pansy was quicker.

"Actually," Pansy spat, snatching the book from Hermione's open hand, "I was just about to check the book out for a bit of light reading. It's difficult to fall asleep, what with the racket Draco's cronies pass amongst walls. They snore like trolls. This is just what I need to help me sleep. Another's view on perfection might aid my problem."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "But you would know all about perfection wouldn't you, Parkinson. You just threw the book down, you weren't even going to take it until I showed obvious interest in the material," she retorted.

"Indeed, did I?" Pansy turned to walk away. "I just wanted a better look at the cover. I'll be going now. All this conversation with a Gryffindor has left a terrible feel in my gut. I feel nausea coming on."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, also turning away. "Right. If I'm lucky, that book will actually deem you a worthy victim of its spell. Stupid bint."

A letter from Pansy Parkinson to her mother:

Pansy Parkinson, to:

Mother, Lady of the House

The main Parkinson Manor

Somewhere, Scotland

Mumsy Darling

School is okay I guess. The train ride was long and I didn't feel like looking for Draco so I just sort of sat in my compartment I guess.

Why do you and daddy make me go to this place when you no I enjoy home much better. The Hogwarts house elfes don't let me pick on them as much as Hattie does. When I try to kick them into working if I can find them their alowed to use magic on me to protekt them before running away again.

Millicent says I shouldn't kick the house elfes anyway its bad for my posture, so I made her nose hair grow and she got stuck to that stupid Weasley idiot and had to go to the hospital wing to become untangled. I told Professor Snape that my wand backfired and I had truley meant to warn her that Weasley was about to ruin her potion and got in her way so Snape took away fifty house points and gave both Weasley and Potter detention for interfering with anothers potion. Ha.

Next time you visit Diagon Alley could you pick me up some more rose scented lotion because some of mine spilled in my trunk and the rest of it I used to ruin Weasley's potion I sliped it in when he wasn't looking.

Has daddy talked to Master Malfoy latly? Draco seems to be avoiding me and I wanted to know if he new why.

I love you!

Pansy

A letter from Draco Malfoy to his father

Draco Malfoy, to:

Lucius Malfoy, Lord of the Manor

The Rosewood Manor

Destination Unplotable

Father,

If that abomination to the female kind interrupts my conversations, my study, my personal living space ONE more time, I will see to it that the mop she refers to as 'her hair' will hang limp from her head for the rest of her pathetic existence. In fact, I might pull the same trick she did to Bullstrode and strangle her with her own nose hair. And push comes to shove, I will have Goyle sit on top of her 'by accident' and she will be suffocated.

It seems accidental enough, correct? They couldn't possibly blame me for such a death.

Also, could you have mother send more sugarquills? Said Abomination to the Female Kind has managed to 'confiscate' the ones I received before term and insists on sucking them suggestively while I'm trying to concentrate during Transfigurations.

Send my regards to the Higher Ups

You son

A letter from Lucius Malfoy to Jasper Parkinson

Lucius Malfoy, to:

Jasper Parkinson

Parkinson Manor

Scotland

Subject: Your daughter

My son informs me that your daughter insists on stealing his property and using it as a means of bad foreplay from across a busy classroom.

I am aware that she is across the country from your watchful gaze and even tighter chastity belt (figuratively speaking, although it may be a good idea), but do try to keep a hold onto your daughter. You wouldn't want her to make a bad reputation for your family name, now would you?

Sincerely,

Lucius Malfoy

A letter from Kamalia Parkinson to her daughter

Mother, to:

Pansy dear

Hogwarts Castle

Outside of Hogsmeade

Pansy darling,

I am ever so happy to hear your school year is starting decently!

Take care not to upset Veronica's daughter too much! We're quite the close friends! In fact, we had tea together just last week and she was just saying how Millie looks up to you for your intelligence and good looks!

Your father seems to have received a letter from the Malfoys and wishes me to inform you that the Malfoy boy seems to need time to figure out the kinks in your relationship! Perhaps you ought to settle down and daydream from a corner while the young boy undergoes a bit of rough thinking as how to progress your relationship!

And do stop stealing his sugarquills. Men are such children when it comes to their candy!

I love you with all my heart!

-Mother

More to come later?