Prompt: 7; Pain
Word Count: 400 exactly u_u
A/N: I had to chop a good deal off this one, so if it ends kind of abruptly, I apologize in advance. Must find something to do with that broom closet scene . . .
-x-
Even though there was a red handprint across her cheek, a scratch on her temple and her hair was snarled from when Parkinson grabbed at it, pain was the furthest thing from what Ginny was feeling. In fact, as both girls faced two irate Heads of Houses (well, irate in McGonagall's case; more like disdainful in Snape's), Ginny only felt a supreme sense of satisfaction when she surveyed Parkinson's steadily bruising eye and split lip. Suffice it to say that Parkinson looked a lot worse than she did.
"Ms. Weasley and Ms. Parkinson, what on earth prompted you to resort to Muggle duelling in the corridors?" McGonagall demanded. She was one step away from planting her hands on her hips, Ginny was sure.
"She insulted my family!" Ginny began hotly.
"I only said no Weasley would ever be good enough to date a Pureblood," Parkinson returned, inspecting her nails. Unlike her face, they were still in pristine condition despite having raked over Ginny's temple a few minutes ago.
"She called me a nasty, freckled thing and said Draco –"
"Draco would never waste his time on someone so obviously beneath him, and she told me some things I can't possibly repeat –"
"She's a rotten liar! She said he was getting what he wanted elsewhere and that -"
"Draco really does get around," Pansy ended with a nonchalant shrug.
"And she called my mum fat!" Ginny ended triumphantly.
Ginny and Pansy had been talking on top of each other, around each other and through each other's tales, but Professors Snape and McGonagall seemed to get the general gist of what transpired. At Ginny's last remark, McGonagall's lips thinned while Snape's curled, but it was McGonagall who spoke first.
"Such behaviour was entirely unwarranted. You will both make public apologies to each other at the next assembly and since you both seem to enjoy Muggle duelling, you will heal the Muggle way as well. I have instructed Madame Pomfrey not to dispense a drop of magical aid for your benefit. I expect it will take about a week before those bruises heal, Ms. Parkinson," she finished dryly.
Parkinson's expression was comically outraged, but she quelled at a glare from Snape.
"Really, Ms. Parkinson," he drawled, "I expected a better class of behaviour from one of my own students."
Parkinson's reply was a sullen, defeated scowl and both girls were dismissed forthwith.