Pansy was sitting in a booth at the Three Broomsticks for a regular Sunday brunch. Somehow she had allowed Theo to drag her to the pub. Currently while everyone was enjoying the get together after almost a month, Pansy sat straight in her chair, stiff as a board. She had anticipated some moments between the new couple will be observed but Pansy had promised she will not cry over it but keeping that promise was proving a bit difficult. When she entered the booth she was welcomed by Hermione. "I have so much to tell you. I am so glad you are here" she had said and then went to sit beside Draco Malfoy.
Pansy had watched emotionlessly as Draco kissed her hand and held it near his heart. This was just the start of the brunch, Pansy reminded herself and concentrated on finishing her plate and getting the hell out of there. It seemed to Pansy that time was in a standstill for her. She watched, bonded in one frame as the people around her laughed. She saw them having wine and enjoying themselves. She saw hands, holding each other on the table.
Pansy felt the numbness when she noticed that a blond was spoon feeding a brunette across from her. Pansy tried to brush it off. She lifted her glass of wine. She needed something for her dry throat but the glass never reached her mouth. The glass slipped from her shaking fingers and stained her dress. All the eyes were on her now. She was aware of gray eyes watching her. Gray eyes that held compassion and warmth. She wanted to reach for them but as she stood up the room began spinning.
Pansy tried to grab hold of something but nothing was near. She saw Harry but he was far away. She tried call for Theo but then everything went white.
Pansy remembered seeing white when she woke up. She observed white linens and white walls around. She realized she was in infirmary of Hogwarts and very hungry. Before she could process anything else Madam Pomfrey appeared and forced some potions down her throat after which she lost consciousness again.
"It's been two days Madam", it was Draco's voice that she heard first. He was yelling at someone. "Still you are not allowed inside Mr Malfoy" Madam Pomfrey replied. Pansy registered that she was still in the infirmary. When Pansy tried to sit up Madam Pomfrey came in a jiffy and helped her. She had driven out all the Slytherins who were there. " How are you feeling child?" she asked. "I am okay, I guess" Pansy replied unsure. After a few more potions and glass of water Pansy asked, "What happened?"
"What do you remember?" Madam Pomfrey asked. Pansy said thinking a little, "Three Broomsticks, Sunday brunch… I don't remember much." "Well you were brought here by your friends on Sunday. I have given you potions to restore your health. There is nothing major. But you were terribly exhausted and hadn't eaten anything for days." Pomfrey explained.
Pansy asked, "What day is today?" "It's Wednesday dear." "I have been here for three days" Pansy exclaimed. "Yes. And you don't worry I have written a note to your mother informing about your condition. She will be happy to hear from you." Pansy groaned and slapped her head. "Can I leave now" she asked. "Yes" replied Madam Pomfrey "but do not take any stress and take a spoonful of this potion everyday for five days" Pansy pocketed the potion and left the infirmary.
Pansy stepped out of the infirmary to be tackled by Blaise and Theo. " What the hell" Pansy said alarmed. "We are sorry, didn't mean to scare you" Theo said. "Are you okay?" Blaise asked. "Yeah I am alright" Pansy replied. "But what happened? I don't remember drinking so much wine to be knocked out for 3 days!" Blaise said, "We don't know either. One moment we were talking and all was good. Then some wine spilled on your dress and you dropped dead. Just like that" "What did Pomfrey say?" Theo asked.
"She said something about stress and exhaustion." Pansy said off handedly, walking towards the great hall. "Harry was right about the calming draught." Pansy heard Blaise. "What?" she turned on her heel to look at Blaise. "Harry said to keep a calming draught at hand, if you feel any stress." "Your mother told him to." Blaise supplied.
"and he told the whole school" Pansy muttered under her breath.
"Hey Pansy" Blaise chimed behind Pansy. She was trying to keep up with her work which she had missed but all the time someone or the other would come up to ask her about her health. "What Blaise?" Pansy said irritated, not looking up from her essay. "What are you doing?" he asked cheerfully. "Nothing much." Pansy replied shortly. "You are making notes?" Blaise said horrified. "What has happened to you?" "Blaise, will you shut up!" Pansy tried to calm him down.
"Pansy you are making notes and yelling at friends. This is this reason you were unconscious for two days!" "I am not yelling at you Blaise" Pansy sighed. "No, you are. Why are you taking so much stress? You know what? Let's go outside." "What? No" Pansy said trying to return to her work. "Snowball fight is a very good stress reliever. Let's go" he said excitedly. "I am not under any stress. I don't want any snow ball fight" Pansy said.
"Okay. Then why don't you do something that is your stress reliever?" Pansy looked up at him. Unknowingly Blaise had reminded her. That night Pansy brought out her brushes and colors and sat down on her desk with a canvass. She had an excellent view of the starry night with the grounds beneath it covered in snow. She decided to paint the canvas as such. But after many attempts, she gave up. Somehow every one of her portraits was missing something. Her brush strokes were uneven or colors were not perfect, or the canvas was shifting too much.
Then she remembered Mrs Gobblestone's advice. Now she understood what was missing. She was emotionless. Pansy was detached from her object, her muse, Draco.