Pansy and Hermione slept in shifts on a park bench the first night, but now they where desperate for some food.
Finding food and shelter without a coin in their mutual pocket would prove to be difficult, especially because they couldn't use magic to acquire the precious Muggle paper. So Hermione thought of tricking a vending machine into dropping some coins.
"Never thought I'd see the day Hermione Granger does something morally ambiguous." Pansy snickered leaning on the wall.
Hermione looked off into the distance. "When the rules break you, you start breaking the rules… your own ones in particular."
"Ah?" Pansy asked, momentarily distracted by a gust of leaves blown by the wind.
"Never mind, besides… you rather I don't?"
"No, I'm just wondering what's inside that thing?"
"Hopefully some Muggle coins." Hermione explained trough grunts. She gave up fiddling and started ramming the machine until it finally coughed up a can of soda and a bunch of coins. Hermione quickly stuffed her pockets full and threw the can over to Pansy.
Pansy found the taste of this Muggle drink too sickly sweet, but it was at least some sort of sustenance so she tried to finish it occasionally pausing to sip. Eventually she fell behind Hermione who still needed much reminding of her injured ankle. It felt a little better now so Pansy could walk by herself, though very slowly.
Wondering further into the town they happened upon a thrift shop.
"That's what we need!" Hermione announced rushing for the entrance.
Pansy was at first appalled. This was nothing like the fancy tailor shops she used to visit with her mother during the summers before the school year. Those where some of the better days, she lamented, and they always ended the day with tea and cake at one of the finer establishments of the magical world. Even hardly comparable to those memories, this was still a much needed distraction for Pansy. Worries dissipated as she browsed trough countless rows of clothing items, occasionally making a disgusted face, especially when she saw what Hermione had picked out.
"You're not done? Hurry up!" Hermione demanded tapping her foot.
Pansy had to stop herself from commenting on Granger's tacky hoodie and faded jeans. "Yea, just give me a minute." She said not to unnecessarily aggravate her. Granger really had a short fuse, that hadn't changed, but she was useful if not dependable so far.
Pansy went on browsing until she happened upon a short summer dress that really caught her eye. It was a one-piece, black with frilly edges and flowery patterns. She tried it on and it fit her as if it where tailored to her figure.
"That's not very practical." Hermione remarked tossing their old camp rags into a large dumpster behind the store. "As you know, it can get pretty cold at night…"
"I don't care!" Pansy twirled in her new outfit, instantly regretting it after she landed on her bad foot.
"At least I get to say I told you so. Let's get something to eat."
"Finally!" Pansy exclaimed. "You know we should have done that first."
"Let me remind you that we're not on some leisure trip here. We have to do things in order, and it's more important we don't look like we just escaped from you know where."
Pansy couldn't but agree with that. Her smile slowly dissipated as Granger's words plucked her out of her make-believe.
Meanwhile Hermione never left the harsh reality of the situation they where in. She knew how fragile it all was, freedom, sanity and anything else one holds dear is just a portion of the road. For now she just had to focus on survival and nothing more, however bare and desolate that seemed survival was a postulate for anything else in the future. So Hermione kept her eyes open for Death Eaters, anything else was a problem for another time.
Suddenly Hermione ducked into an alleyway pulling Pansy along with her.
"What the…" Pansy started before Hermione managed to cover her mouth.
"Get your damn hand off!" Pansy snapped.
"Be quiet! I saw a suspicious looking group up ahead, we better let them pass." Hermione explained whispering and lead Pansy further down the cellar staircase where they sat on the cold stone floor.
"Who? I didn't see anyone?" Pansy quietly protested hugging her knees and frowning.
"That's 'cause you're not looking!" Hermione snapped back.
"You're paranoid!" Pansy pushed of the wall to stand up, but Hermione pulled her right back down.
"Fuck!" Pansy cried out landing roughly on the concrete. "Why'd you do that?!"
"We're not moving until I say so!" Hermione tightened her grip on Pansy's forearm. "Or have you forgotten our agreement?"
"I haven't." Pansy gazed back hatefully.
"Good, now shut the hell up! And don't argue with me next time, or I'm cutting you loose, understood!?"
"Fine…" Pansy bit the inside of her lip and looked away. There was no way Granger would speak to her like that where it not for her current leverage. She enjoyed abusing this power, but it wouldn't be for long, Pansy assured herself.
The unpleasant exchange ushered in some silence Hermione needed to collect her thoughts. As mere minutes dragged on in that dark corner, she tried to plan ahead, who to contact, where to hide and so on but Pansy's quiet breathing kept popping into her ear. That girl could still get on her nerves faster than anything and yet where it not for her… Hermione realized. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell just now." Hermione stood up offering a hand.
"It's ok I guess." Pansy said in confusion as Hermione pulled her up to her feet.
"We just have to be very careful for a few days." Hermione explained.
Pansy nodded in response.