AN: This is written for the 10 drabbles, 10 topics challenge on the HPFC forum. The prompt that I am using is for a serious topic, which is anorexia. This drabble exploded itself into a short multi chaptered story. This little chapter is in response to the challenge.
All her life Pansy was told that in order to be beautiful you must be thin. She compared herself constantly to the girls lucky enough to be thin and good-looking, and wished with all her might to be like them.
I am an ugly, pudgy girl, she would tell herself whenever she sat down at the Slytherin table and all her favourite food would arrive. At first it was a fleeting thought, but just the same she would eat less than usual. However, now that thought was so ingrained in her head that she refused to eat at all.
"I ate a big meal before." She would tell her friends to explain away her lack of appetite. Her friends would give her a concerned look, but would drop the matter as they returned to their meal.
When she began to lose the pounds, she celebrated. At last she was losing the weight that made her look hideous. At first, her friends congratulated her for losing the weight. She discovered that boys were paying more attention to her and she felt so beautiful, so light that she thought she was air.
However, her confidence was crushed the moment she caught sight of all the thin girls in the Great Hall. She felt ugly when she was near them. Even with all the pounds she lost, she could never be like them and she hated herself again.
"You need to eat," said a quiet voice on her right. She started and turned to find Draco Malfoy, his grey eyes concerned.
"I ate a big breakfast..." she started.
"No you haven't," said Draco interrupting her. "I've been watching you for awhile. You haven't been eating, and if you are, it is barely enough."
"I told Professor Snape my concerns," he continued on. "After lunch he wants to meet with us."