Beneath The Façade

Chapter 8

Just For a Moment

Harry lay in his bed that night, his thoughts drifting to his outburst in Dumbledore's office; the words came flashing through his mind, "Tears were streaming down her face, and my heart ached for her."

He rolled over on his back and closed his eyes tightly, 'great,' he thought bitterly, 'I've just given all my feelings away.'

He was frustrated with Dumbledore for accusing Pansy of the murder, but what had angered him most was that he had shared some of Dumbledore's suspicions.

The peculiar trance Pansy had fallen into, after the news of Blaise's death, had greatly alarmed him. Though, it could've of just been a state of shock, he couldn't forget the horror, and automatic guilt that flashed through her eyes.

Maybe there was more to Pansy then met the eye? She had apparated inside Hogwarts, which was impossible for a student… or anyone for that matter.

Harry turned and looked out his open window, the moon shimmering within his emerald gaze. He blinked slowly as a chilling wind swept threw.

If Pansy was not constantly on his mind, he could think clearer, and possibly figure this entire thing out.

However, he didn't want her to leave his thoughts; she was haunting him, and he did nothing to push her away.

If only he could be there for her; to comfort her sorrow, to ease her pain.

For some reason, he had an odd feeling that she needed him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Many floors below where Harry slept, in a cold, dreary dungeon, Pansy Parkinson sat awake in her bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, and the side of her head rested against them.

The candle, on her beside table, cast a pale glow on her troubled features, as she silently pondered over everything that was happening to her.

Confused and afraid, she allowed a single tear to escape down her cheek.

She was hurt and alone, and even though she had Draco, there wasn't anyone she could talk to, or seek comfort from.

The only person, whom she had really felt close to, was now gone.

She missed him so excruciatingly; He was her best-friend, the boy she had known since she was only a small child. He was the only one who understood her, the only one who always showed he cared. She could never replace him.

She wasn't sure if she could trust even Draco enough, to hold her deepest and darkest secret, but she had trusted Blaise.

'Blaise is dead.' These terrible words never ceased to plague her mind.

She buried her face in her hands and closed her eyes, in a desperate attempt to relieve the pain.

'Now, Now, it really isn't all that bad is it?'

The voice had returned, and Pansy didn't feel she could handle listening to it.

'Don't try to shut me out, Pansy dear. You're trying to push away a part of yourself.'

"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Pansy whispered miserably, "Haven't you done enough to me already?"

The tears began to fall freely down her face, as she sobbed into her trembling hands; never in her entire life had she felt so completely alone.

'Stop crying, Pansy! You're no-' but to Pansy's astonishment, the voice slowly faded as another filled her mind; A gentle, soothing voice, with sympathy and comfort present within its beautiful tones.

"It will all be okay," it whispered softly, "I'm always going to be here for you."

"Harry." Pansy mouthed silently, as her heart began to pound within her chest.

Slowly she lifted her face from her hands, as the tears began to fade.

She thought back to when he had held her in his arms, and a slight smile traced her lips; she remembered the sweet look in his eyes as he looked down into her own tearful ones.

His emerald eyes flashed through her mind, as her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, just for a moment, all of her pain was gone.

Just the mere presence of him in her mind, had made all her agony disappear, and even if it was only for a few moments, it was both powerful and soothing.

His voice had chased the darkest side of her away, which was something Pansy had dubbed impossible.

She closed her eyes and soon fell to sleep, with only one face present in her dreams.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A lone figure sat in the Gryffindor common room, facing the blazing fire; the figure was that of Hermione Granger.

A million thoughts were racing through her mind as she subconsciously twirled one of her auburn curls between her fingertips.

Did Harry really have feelings for Pansy Parkinson? It was the only explanation for his sudden outburst in Dumbledore's office.

"Tears were streaming down her face, and my heart ached for her." His words came rushing back to her head, and she blinked slowly, 'It must be true then,' she thought hopelessly, 'Pansy has captured my best-friends heart.'

"Why?" was all Hermione could manage to say, "and how long has it been?"

She only hoped that Harry realized that there was a good possibility he would never end up with her.

Suddenly Draco Malfoy came to her mind and her heart jumped with fear; she realized how angry he would be with Harry if he ever found out about his feelings for Pansy.

It wasn't that she feared Malfoy, but there was no telling what his father would do if word reached his ears.

Sometimes Hermione couldn't help but wonder if, perhaps, Pansy was merely another valuable possession to Draco.

Deep down Hermione found herself jealous of Ms. Parkinson, and it wasn't because she was with Malfoy, or because Harry liked her, it was the fact that she had two guys who liked her.

She hated feeling this way; it made her feel almost desperate. However, she was not desperate, but would feel a terrible loneliness.

Hermione guessed that this was the weakness that most girls found themselves falling into, and to everyone else it seemed highly unlikely for someone like her to share in that weakness.

However, Hermione Granger secretly wished that for one moment, just for one moment, she'd be able to feel that unimaginable happiness in her heart; that happiness which is only felt when two people fall in love.

She had read about it, she had often dreamt about it, but she had never actually felt it.

'Not everything's in the books, I guess.' She acknowledged to herself.

Hermione felt so stupid for feeling this way, and she slammed her fist on the couch in frustration. She didn't want to feel like this, she was far more comfortable and secure just sitting down and reading a good book.

Relationships meant commitment and time, something she didn't want to have to worry about. Her studies came first, and her busy schedule often drowned out all her feelings and consideration for people around her.

Unknowingly her eyes had began to tear up, and she sighed shakily; no one ever saw beneath the know-it-all, Mudblood of Hogwarts; no one ever saw beneath the rural surface; she would never let them.