Pansy couldn't believe it. It had been 3 days since Pansy's detention but Umbridge was still giving her flak for slipping up. She was forced to do more and longer patrols. The had set and it was just a few minutes short of curfew, but she had to be out for another half-hour afterwords. She turned a corner and came face to face with the Weasley twins.
"There she is!" One of the twins exclaimed, with his arms outstretched towards her. She didn't know which one was which nor did she really care.
"The flower in the snake pit!" The other added on.
"Cute." Pansy responded with her signature scowl. Pansy soon diverted her attention to the "art" on the wall. It was a revolting pink toad with "Glorious Umbitch" Written in pink next to it.
"Do you like it?" The twins asked.
Pansy looked at it for a little while before she answered. "Stick to pranking."
"We intend to." One twin responded.
"But we didn't feel like sacrificing one of our pranks to cheer you up." The other followed up.
"Excuse me?" Pansy asked, completely baffled.
"Well we noticed that Umbitch has been giving you the cold shoulder." One twin answered.
"And that's not going to help any of us." The other twin mentioned.
"So we got to thinking."
"What would help our little flower get closer to the toad?"
"And then it hit us."
"Let her catch us."
"And hand us in."
"So let's go."
"So Potter didn't tell you to do this?" Pansy asked baffled.
"He doesn't even know were doing this." The twins answered simultaneously.
Her confusion was clearly written on her face as she turned around to walk to Umbridge's office, with the twins falling into step behind her. Pansy put on a smug smile, to fool any other prefect of inquisitor into thinking she had caught them.
"Why do you follow him?" Pansy asked during a quite patch, where they were the only ones around.
"Because he's got it in 'im to lead."
"And he's our friend."
They soon reached the door of Umbridge's office where Pansy knocked up on it. "Come in." Umbridge called from the other side of the door.
Pansy took a breath and entered with the twin following her in. "Madam Umbridge, I caught these two vandalising a hallway on the fourth floor." Pansy announced as she stood straight with her hands behind her back. Once that was said, she came to a sudden realisation. "Merlin, she actually dose look like a toad now that I think about it."
Umbridge gazed at the unlikely trio from her desk as she prepared her next sentence. "And has the hallway been restored Miss Parkinson?" She asked, already knowing the answer.
It was a large pitfall, but Pansy was trained to avoid such traps. "No, Grand Inquisitor. I felt it best to report back to you, and seek your guidance." She answered in a monotone voice.
The room fell silent again before Umbridge responded. "Very well. You are to monitor them as they clean up their mess and then can all go to your dorms. And you two. Detention." She proudly announced, clearly looking forward to watching the twins use blood quills. "Dismissed."
With that the trio walked back out into the hallway. "I think that went well George." The twin that could now be deduced as Fred mentioned with a smile.
"A complete success Fred." George responded with the same smile.
"You two are insane." Pansy commented.
"Why thank you." They both responded with a bow.
"Now, with that done. Me and Fred are going to bed." The one who Pansy originally believed to be Fred mention.
"Quite right George." The other twin responded.
"What about your "art"?" Pansy challenged.
"Simple illusion charm."
"It'll be gone by now."
"But you can check if you like." Fred and George then began to walk to the Gryffindor common room. Pansy watched them. Not sure if they were telling the truth. Once they turn the corner she decides to trust them. If only because she's tired.
The next morning.
Pansy was eating her breakfast in the great hall when a owl drooped her a letter. "Another one?" Daphne asked from beside her.
Pansy inspected the writing on the front and shook her head. "The handwriting's different." She commented.
She opened the letter without any hesitation.
Dear flower.
Last night you asked a question, but we can't help but feel it was the wrong one. But we do have a answer! Follow Harry.
Signed, You-know-who.
Pansy's head shot up and she scowled at the twins. That was not funny. That wasn't funny at all!
"What dose it say?" Daphne asked. Curious of what could have so quickly enraged her friend.
"Just some stupid Gryffindor crap!" Pansy spat as she screwed up the paper. While she wasn't impressed with the introduction, and she absolutely despised the end, it may have actually held some good advice.
Why did people like Harry Potter?
Later.
It was now lunch in the great hall and Pansy was deep in thought she had shared her morning lessons, with Harry, and like any good serpent, camouflage was her best friend. She gave the odd glance from the background and focused on anything he said. And she still couldn't find a answer. Yeah he was a natural when it came to spells, usually being one of, if the first to preform or master one, but other than that he was like everyone else in terms of attitude. She found herself delving into her memories for a answer. She had heard the stories as they passed by word of mouth, some more exaggerated than others. Pansy only ever took the single consistencies as truth. She had seen him in action during the Triwizard Tournament, and was impressed he didn't panic in some shape or form, let alone win. But what mad it all snap together was when he stopped her from tormenting Luna.
One moment all the students were as gormless as ever. The next, Harry and took charge and was ready to fight. And that was it. That is why they followed him. Not out of fear, but because he was one of them when he could be, and a fighter when he needed to be.
She also realised another thing. Fear didn't control the selfless. So who controlled her? Who did Pansy Parkinson bow to? The answer? Who ever scarred her most at that time. She was weak.
