Pansy woke up well rested the next day. She grabbed her robes from the trunk and went to take a shower. After the shower she walked leisurely to the great hall. The hall was almost full. Today there was neither anxiety nor fear in her mind. She walked straight to the Slytherin table where Theo Blaise and Draco were sitting. She greeted everyone a good day. "Hey Pansy, our Draco here passed out on the sofa last night." Blaise laughed loudly.

"I know." She said pausing to look at Blaise without any humor. "I tipped him off on the sofa last night." She replied. Draco and Theo were astonished at her rude reply. They watched as Pansy picked an apple from the table and went out of the great hall.

Pansy entered the potions class just after the professor. Harry noticed that her demeanor was very relaxed today. She walked up to the desk where Blaise was sitting and eased into it. She even looked at Draco and Hermione sans any contempt. Harry was surprised by her change in behavior but he was more surprised when he saw that Pansy was actually talking to the blond, although he could not understand what they were talking about. But it was clear that Pansy was still annoyed.

The normalcy is good Harry thought concentrating back on his potions notes.

But, her behavior seemed far too odd to another Slytherin. Theo followed Pansy to the library. She was sitting on a corner table where Theo approached her. "What the hell is going on Pansy?" he asked in a whisper. "Whatever do you mean by that?" Pansy replied off handedly. "I have been noticing from a few days that you are acting very out of sorts." He said and invited himself on the seat at her side.

Pansy looked up from her book and said , "There are times when a person can be royally pissed off that may result in his or her aggravation towards others." "What are you so concerned about? Tell me Pansy." Theo said forcefully. "There is nothing to talk about." Pansy said looking down at her book. "Oh really?" Theo said as he folded his arms across his chest. "Why are you so rude to Draco? Why are you ignoring us? Why the hell are you skipping our Sunday brunches?"

"Why?" Theo asked, forgetting they were in the library. "Because I want a break." Pansy yelled. Theo was confused. Pansy groaned and placed her hands on her head, a headache approaching. She continued in a frustrated voice, "I don't want to be around Draco anymore. I don't want to see him loitering around the castle with Hermione. I don't want Harry to back me up in a corner every time I try to run. I don't want Blaise's stupidity and neither your sympathy." she panted.

"So you are leaving? Just for that? Just like that? Theo asked, now angry. "Yes I am leaving" Pansy confirmed. "But why?" Theo asked pained by her dismissal. "Because I want to forget him" Pansy replied in a whisper. "Who?" Theo asked still confused. "Draco " Pansy replied in a pained whisper.

Theo looked at her like she had gone mental. Pansy closed her book with a snap and explained. "I like- liked Draco. I have been from past many years." Pansy looked at the surprised face of Theo and told him the entire story.

"It pains me too much to see them like this. I have bearded it till now because I didn't want to lose my friends over a small crush. Both Hermione and Draco. But right now, this is too much for me to handle." She sighed and continued "I applied to a reputed art institute for an internship and I got selected. So I am going to complete my last year from that school. Hogwarts does not allow a magical art and design NEWT. So I am switching school for some months."

All the while Theo was too shocked to respond. Pansy said, "You are all my friends and I'll come back to you." She squeezed Theo's hand and took her book from the table. As she turned around to leave she saw Hermione standing behind her. It was clear from her expression that she had heard enough. She stepped forward but seemed lost for words. " Pansy….. I don't know what to say" she said at last.

Pansy held her hand and replied, "Yours is a friendship that I cherish very much. You may not understand what I am going through but let me make myself clear that I no longer like Draco Malfoy but he is still my friend. To withhold that friendship I need some time alone. A little vacation is all I require." She said smiling. Tears were shining in Hermione's eyes. Pansy hugged the girl and then said her goodbyes to them.

Seventh year

14 February

8:15 AM

Pansy woke up to the tapping of an owl on the dorm window. She got out of her bed and opened the window to let the bird in. The bird dropped a letter and a flower on the table and flew away. She opened the letter to find a hand written note in cursive.

Valentine wishes, Pans..!

The rose that rolled out of the letter was yellow.

Pansy place the rose with others in her trunk and smiled. She was confident that her decision was correct she packed her trunks and left Hogwarts that day. Her parents were to escort her to her new school for the last few months. She waited with her bags at the ice cream parlor, lost in thought. She heard a familiar voice, "Another blueberry?" she turned at the soft smiling voice. William was standing there who seeing her little smile sat in the chair in front of hers. "Hope you are not reserving for someone." He said. "I am not" Pansy replied softly. "Then let my take the liberty to bring you a double scoop of blueberry." He said still smiling.

Pansy replied, "Can't say that I do not need it so, sure!" she said smiling a little. William returned with bowls of ice cream for both and they talked for a while. He had left his apprenticeship with Olivander's to join the institute for wand making. Pansy told him where she was headed. When it was time for her parents to arrive, she took her leave from the ice cream parlor. As she was walking to streets with her bag, she was stopped by a "Hey Pansy!"

She turned around to find William Thomas in front of her. He was smiling a charming smile and blush was apparent on his cheeks. He was holding his neck with one hand nervously; from the other hand he gave a peach colored rose to Pansy.

Pansy stood there momentarily stunned. She saw the warmth in his eyes and accepted the rose causing his smile to widen. "You do know what this color signifies, right?" Pansy asked him. "I do" he replied truthfully. "Well, I'll see you around, Pansy" he said. "I'll see you around, William" Pansy replied as they both turned in the opposite direction and walked to their destinations.

…...END…