Green Eyed Monster 2

Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. Please don't sue.

"No." Pansy said firmly to Hermione's inquiry.

"Oh come on. You wouldn't even have to stay long."

"No."

"Two minutes, tops."

"No."

"It would be good for your karma." Hermione said, grasping at straws.

Pansy arched her eyebrow.

"If it's such good karma, why don't you do it?"

"Because if I did it, he would just think I'm performing my duties as Head girl. He might think it means I pity him."

"Where as coming from me, it would mean absolutely nothing. I have to tell you, that doesn't sound very karma friendly."

"It would mean something to him."

"I don't even know what I would say."

"Just tell him that what he did was very brave and that you're proud of him."

Pansy looked at the boy in question. Hermione could tell that she was giving in, so she put the final nail in the coffin.

"Please? Do it for me?"

Pansy sighed in defeat.

"Fine, I'll do it, but you owe me." She said as she walked towards the only occupied bed. Sitting up in said bed was Ian Copeland, the obnoxious first year who'd interrupted her and Hermione's bathroom romp earlier that year. Pansy couldn't say that she cared for him anymore now than she did then but she would play her part.

When he saw her approaching, his back straightened, his chin lifted and his right eye flashed. Apparently he remembered her too. As she got closer, she was able to get a better look at him. His head and left eye were covered in bandages as well as his right leg. She didn't know what had happened to him, she hadn't bothered to ask, but behind that Slytherin pride she could see more than a little bit of pain and a twinge of fear.

"The Head girl told me what you did today. You were very brave." She said sincerely as she walked to the side of his bed. "I want you to know that I'm really proud of you."

His visible eye widened at what she said and she smiled kindly. Deciding to put icing on the cake, she leaned over and kissed the bandages above his eye.

"Sleep well." She whispered before turning to leave. She wasn't surprised to find Hermione waiting for her with a smile on her face. As she neared her, Ian called out hesitantly.

"Pansy? Hermione?"

When they both looked at him, he smiled at them and said,

"Thank you."

Pansy nodded and they left him to get some rest. Once outside the infirmary Hermione spoke.

"That was very nice of you. You seem to be even better at making children smile than you are at making them cry." She teased but when she looked at her, Pansy was string at her with an arched eyebrow.

"What?"

"He calls you Hermione? When did he start doing that?"

"So I may have spoken to him before you arrived."

Pansy's eyes narrowed.

"Why do I get the feeling that I've just been suckered into playing 'mommy' to that kid with you?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm sure you don't." Pansy said, her eyes still narrowed for a moment before she sighed. "What happened anyway?"

"He was caught in a Hippogriff stampede. He's quite lucky to have gotten away with his life."

Pansy stayed silent to hear the rest of the story.

"During a doubles 'Care of Magical Creatures', someone set off a noise grenade in the Hippogriff pen."

"That sounds like a Slytherin thing to do."

Hermione glanced at her.

"When the Hippogriffs broke free, Ian pushed another student out of their path."

Pansy blinked.

"That doesn't sound very Slytherin at all."

"I know, that's why I asked you to talk to him before you knew what had happened. I wanted you to make him feel better, not just about his injuries, but about what he did as well."

"You used me." Pansy replied, an amused smile on her face as realization dawned on her.

"I'd like to think of it as encouraged you." Hermione amended.

"No. You used me to convince him that what he did was 'ok' for a Slytherin."

"It was 'ok'. What he did was right, no matter which house he belongs to."

Pansy rolled her eyes.

"Was it at least another Slytherin he rescued?"

Hermione faltered.

"Hermione?"

"It was a girl from Ravenclaw."

Pansy laughed disbelievingly.

"Are we sure he was sorted into the right house? You have more Slytherin attributes than he does right now."

"I don't see what the big deal is. You would do the same for me, right?"

"Not in my first year, I wouldn't have. If I hadn't been directly involved with the grenade, I would have been on the side laughing."

At Hermione's steady look, she continued.

"I'm just being honest. I'm not saying I would do that now."

Hermione walked towards her until their faces were just inches apart and said,

"Oh I know you wouldn't my love, because if you did, you would be left to take care of our little Ian all by yourself."

With that said, she gave her a soft peck on the lips and walked away, leaving a very stunned Pansy behind.

End