October 30 1995 -
Tonight was Hermione's night for prefect's duty. A Monday night, nothing out of the ordinary.
"You keep to your side, Granger, and I'll keep to mine," Pansy said, her wand pointed threateningly in Hermione's direction. Yep - nothing out of the ordinary.
"Can't you just be civil for once?" Hermione asked, her wand grasped tightly in her hand for her own protection. "We need to be extra careful tonight anyway. It's Mischief Night. There are bound to be loads of stupid pranks going on all over the castle, especially now that those Weasley products have gone global." Pansy's sour expression did not leave her face.
"Leave it to blood-traitors..." she muttered.
"The Weasleys happen to be my friends, Parkinson," Hermione said angrily. Pansy simply lifted her nose, if possible, higher in the air, and continued to stroll the halls. "So rude," Hermione said to herself.
"What was that?" Pansy asked. Apparently Hermione hadn't spoken as softly as she thought she had.
"I didn't say anything," Hermione said, quickening her pace. Pansy caught up to her with little effort halting her in her steps.
"If you have something to say, Granger, speak up" Pansy said intimidatingly. "Go on." Hermione took a rather large step back from Pansy before speaking.
"I just thought that it was rude to call the Weasleys such a horrid name as blood-traitor. Just because they didn't want to join your Lord..." A red light shot from Pansy's wand as Hermione was thrown backwards into the stone floor. Walking over to her, Pansy nudged Hermione with her foot to see if she was at least still able to physically respond. The girl stirred slightly, which was good enough for Pansy. She knelt down, glaring menacingly into the girl's face.
"He is not my Lord. My parents may buy into all of that, but I have a mind of my own. Yes, there are perks to being a pure-blood but that does not make me feel as though I have the right to command or kill them." Pansy stood up, leaving Hermione in a half-conscious state. Normally she would have left her there until someone stumbled upon her but for some reason she said, "I'll send someone for you." Hermione carefully sat up watching as Pansy walked back down the hall. She couldn't understand it, but something about Pansy changed that night.
Hermione laid stationary in a small bed in the hospital wing. As promised, Pansy had sent a Ravenclaw Prefect to bring Hermione to safety. Madame Pomfrey had given her something to ease her headache, though it did give her a bit of insomnia, a simple precaution in case Hermione had gotten a concussion. Having been expressly forbidden from any reading for the night, Hermione lay awake, listening to the many sounds of the infirmary: a snoring boy a few beds over from her, pictures whispering to each other, the mild side-effects of some of Fred and George's more impressive gags...what was that? The door had opened slightly and someone had slipped in, slowly and painstakingly closing it as if they did not want to be heard. Perhaps it was just Madame Pomfrey coming to check up on her? That must be it, which was why she did not flinch when the figure crossed the room to her bed. Turning over, Hermione said "I'm fine Madame Pomfrey. My headache's gone. I feel fine."
"Good," a harsh voice said back. Hermione gasped, finally noticing who it was.
"Pansy, what are you doing here?" she asked both frightened and surprised.
"I wanted to make sure I didn't kill you," she said plainly. "And I obviously haven't, so I'll be on my way."
"No wait," Hermione said, despite herself. Pansy doubled back.
"Yes?" she asked. "It's very late, Granger. I'd like to get to sleep at some point." Hermione sat up a bit, not wanting to seem any smaller compared to Pansy than she already felt.
"I just wanted to apologize for what I said earlier. In times like these one shouldn't make sure accusations." Pansy's look of disdain did not leave her face, though it did soften some.
"Is that all?" Hermione nodded. "Good." With that, Pansy left, leaving both girls a bit more courteous of each other.
A/N: Hmmm, wrote this with my girlfriend breathing down my neck, so if it's a bit rushed blame her. Sorry about the length of the chapter, the next one is much longer, I promise.