Entry for the "Speed Drabble" at "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments)"

Prompts: "Let me in!", "You have a bitter heart.", Hermione/Pansy

Entry for the "Ultimate Hermione Granger Pairings Challenge" at "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments)"

Pairing: Hermione/Pansy

Entry for the "Gringotts Prompt Bank"

Character Pairings: Hermione/Pansy

Unexpected Comfort

Hermione did not know why she was bothered so much by seeing Pansy jump up from her place at the Slytherin table and run out of the Great Hall, with tears springing from her green eyes as she heard Draco laughing about her.

She really had no idea why she felt worried about the Slytherin girl that had never been exactly kind to her. But she did, and out of pure instinct, Hermione stood up too, telling Harry and Ron that she needed to go to the bathroom and that she would be back in a minute.

As soon as she had left the Great Hall, Hermione sped up her pace, heading towards the nearest hiding place she could think of, and indeed, as she stepped into the small girls bathroom, she could hear loud sobs coming from one of the stalls.

Hesitantly, Hermione knocked her knuckles against the wooden door, and immediately, the sobs stopped. It seemed as if Pansy was holding her breath, hoping that the person on the other side would go soon, but Hermione did not think of that – she knocked lightly again.

"Pansy, let me in."

"Go away, Granger!" Pansy sniffled, a lot of hurt audible in her voice. "I don't need your pity."

Hermione sighed inwardly, asking herself what she was doing here, but still she continued to talk.

"You know... if I was in your place, I would like some comforting, no matter from who."

The slight click of the door being unlocked echoed from the tiles of the bathroom and Pansy came out, looking down at her shoes, as if she was ashamed of the whole situation. There was no sign of the usually mean and snide Slytherin girl that would insult Hermione if they met. All Hermione could see was an extremely sad and upset girl, make up smeared all over her face.

"I should have known that he was only playing with me. I am not worthy. Nobody finds me worthy for anything. I guess I will never be loved, and that I deserve it," Pansy mumbled and Hermione gulped, feeling a little bit sorry about all the bad thoughts she had ever had about Pansy. It seemed as if the girl had problems just like she had, and that she did not feel as superior to other people as she always acted.

"You have a bitter heart," Hermione whispered, and she could feel Pansy's body tensing in surprise as she pulled her into an comforting embrace, but it did not take long until the Slytherin girl relaxed. "Everybody is worthy of happiness and of being loved. And the persons who do make you feel like you do not deserve love or luck do not belong into your life."

It was a mystery, to both of them, why they felt so comfortable in this situation, even though the surely were supposed to ignore and dislike each other. And honestly, they would probably never find out, but that was not important at the moment, just as the rather unpleasant past they had shared.