"C'mon Pansy get up we have to go to class"
"No. I don't feel well" says Pansy burrowing herself deeper into her soft mattress and pulling her fluffy quilt right up to her chin. She even added a small cough for effect, which only resulted in stifled giggles from her friends.
Pansy could feel the heat rise to her cheeks in embarrassment, she knew it was a lame reason but it was the only one she could think of.
Still completely mortified and confused from her incident in the infirmary with Granger, Pansy has decided that the best course of action is to continue avoiding Granger, along with everyone else by feigning illness and staying in bed until this whole fiasco was over and things could go back to normal. Anytime she thought of being stuck to Granger, or someone asked about the sticking charm had her blushing as red as a ripe tomato and hoping the earth would open up and swallow her whole.
"Pansy, it's been two days."
"Maybe she needs to back to the infirmary?" offers Millicent, a distinct hint of laughter in her voice
"You know" she hears Tracey say, and just like Millicent, there's a defined hint of playfulness in her tone that has Pansy bracing herself for what's to come "the Sorting Hat did take a little longer deciding where Pansy should go. Maybe she should have been placed in Hufflepuff after all?"
"It did not" gasps Pansy indignantly, dramatically throwing down her quilt.
Laughter erupts amongst her friends fuelling her already embarrassed feeling.
Still laughing Daphne tugs at Pansy's quilt "C'mon Pansy. You can't stay in bed forever. The professors won't let you get away with another day"
Pansy's shoulders droop in defeat "Fine, I'll meet you in the common room" she says relaxing her grip to the quilt.
Dressed and prepped, Pansy slumps towards the common room, her belly full of anxious dread.
"My goodness Pansy, you're not going to Azkaban you know." Laughs Daphne "straighten your shoulders, or else they'll put a matching statue of you next to that one-eye humped witch statue on the third floor." she laughs
Azkaban would have to better than this torture thinks Pansy at least in Azkaban the Dementors take away your soul and all feelings.
"Only a few more days" offers Millicent encouragingly "you've done so well so far"
Shrugging her shoulders "let's go"", might as well get this over and done with" says Pansy
Her shoulders still slumped, Pansy walks slowly and reluctantly towards the Great Hall. Pins and needles tickle the soles of her feet, heat permeates at the nape of her neck, how on earth is she going to look at Granger in the face after what happened and without revealing the thoughts she's been having.
She takes a deep breath as they arrive at the large ornate wooden doors leading to the Great Hall. Keep your head high and don't look at the Gryffindor table she tells herself. Her palms are clammy, she takes a deep breath and straightens her shoulders as Tracey pushes through the door.
Don't look at the Gryffindors, Don't look at the Gryffindors Pansy repeats to herself determined to walk straight to the Slytherin table and look nowhere else.
"Looks like Granger isn't here," says Daphne nodding towards the empty spot at the Gryffindor table
"Maybe she is sick too and had to go to the infirmary" laughs Tracey bumping Pansy with her elbow
"Shut up," says Pansy ignoring her friends jibe and she walks briskly towards her usual seat.
Despite being relieved, Pansy can't help but wonder where Granger is, perhaps she too is trying to avoid Pansy and the whole awkwardness of the situation.
By the time breakfast ends and Granger fails to show, Pansy is sure that it is exactly what Granger is doing, it's the only logical solution given the situation, and if they were both trying to avoid each other then this would work perfectly, particularly since their first class of the day was transfiguration with the Gryffindors.
Her entire body jumpy and on edge, like someone had just injected Pepperup potion directly into her veins. Nervous energy courses through her with every step she takes towards Transfiguration lesson. Granger may skip meals but there was no way she would skip a lesson.
Taking a deep breath Pansy unsuccessfully tries to reassure herself that her Slytherin classmates wouldn't dare try anything to humiliate Granger and encounter the wrath of Professor McGonagall, but there was only a few days to go before the Ball, the pointy end of the bet, who knows what they had up their sleeves or how desperate to win they were.
Drowned in her own thoughts Pansy barely registers her arrival at the Transfiguration classroom until she bumps so hard into someone rushing from the classroom that it almost sends her toppling over. A snide comment is poised on her lips until she realises the person standing before her is Granger.
Feeling like someone has just punched her in the throat, all coherent thought and ability to speak escapes her. Images of Granger lying beneath her, her leg pressed firmly against her crotch come flooding back like a tidal wave. Her cheeks radiating heat like a hot pan.
Instinctively she steps to the left at the same time Granger does, then both to the right blocking each other's paths in an awkward dance that fuels the uneasy tension in the atmosphere.Her entire body on fire with anxious embarrassment, Pansy wishes the ground would swallow her up.
"Sorry" squeaks Granger "I was just, umm" Pansy notices she takes a deep breath to steady herself before saying "good to see you're feeling better"
Pansy's mouth is almost too dry to speak, she nods like an idiot and croaks out "huh"
"You've been sick the past few days?" says Granger with an inquisitive look on her face
"Uh huh," says Pansy, her body on fire, she can feel her friends staring at her waiting to see what she would do
"Right well.." says Granger twisting some sheets of parchment in her hands that Pansy had not noticed until now "I took some notes from the classes you missed for you" she quickly adds holding out the parchments towards Pansy "you don't have to read them I'm just thought you took notes for me so..." she trails off
Pansy feels painfully out of place, like a Hippogriff in a crystal shop, she's acutely aware that her friends are watching the exchange intently, her mouth and brain refusing to cooperate to at least thank Granger. She knows she should say thank you, take the parchment but instead she only manages an uneducated "ok" as she takes the parchments before another awkward silence begins.
"What Pansy means is thank you, that's very nice of you. She's still feeling a little under the weather, we've barely been able to understand her ourselves, isn't that right?" says Daphne coming to Pansy's rescue while nudging her with her elbow
"Oh, yes right, still not great. Thanks for the notes" Pansy hurriedly rushes out desperate to get away
"Ladies, are you intending on attending my class today or just to loiter in the hallway?" comes the stern voice of Professor McGonagall from behind Pansy
Pansy's breaths out she has never felt so relieved to see a professor in her life before
"Sorry Professor, I was just giving Parkinson some notes"
"That's very good of you Ms Granger" says Professor McGonagall peering over her glasses with scrutiny.
Not that Pansy could blame her, the rivalry between the Slytherin's and Gryffindors was legendary, exchanging notes would be highly unusual behaviour, they were more likely to be exchanging hexes.
"Now that you have exchanged notes, do you think you can manage to attend my class?"
"Oh yes, sorry" answers Granger swiftly as she turns back into the classroom towards her seat followed by the Slytherin's and the watchful eye of Professor McGonagall.
"That was really smooth Pansy" jibes Tracey Joyfully as they take their seats
"Leave it" replies Pansy through gritted teeth, fully aware she has made a fool of herself in front of her friends and Granger
Transfigurations class ends to Pansy's relief without any embarrassing events, but she can barely recall what the lesson was about. She spent most of the class trying to avoid looking at Granger which made her only want to turn to look at her more. In fact, she was certain at one point Granger may have caught a glimpse of her looking over which did nothing but send a new wave of burning heat over her body.
"Are you going to read Grangers notes?" asks Daphne casually later that evening in their dormitory as she prepares for bed "I suspect her notes would be very good".
Pansy takes a sideways look at the parchments lying on her bedside table. She hasn't looked at them yet, trying to put the whole embarrassing moment behind her. "They would be good" Pansy whispers aloud to no one in particular, taking the parchment and un-scrolling it gently.
As expected Grangers notes are extremely thorough but Pansy is captivated by the discernible style of Grangers writing. It was as if she had a window into Granger's private thoughts and feelings.
Pansy always felt that handwriting can tell so much about a person's personality, Blaise has large writing which matches his large bold personality perfectly, Millicent, on the other hand, has petite tight writing which again suits her introverted personality. She was always trying to make herself smaller.
The shapes of the letters Granger has written are unique, remarkably strong, written with confidence yet still delicate and rounded oozing softness and femininity. A complex and intriguing combination, that leaves Pansy cocking her eyebrow with interest as she analyses the letters.
"You should thank her" interrupts Tracey "it's the nice thing to do after-all"
Pansy is fully aware Tracey is trying to be funny, but she does have a point. It is customary to send a thank you card or note when someone bequeaths you a gift, it doesn't mean anything else.
Leaning into her bottom draw Pansy finds her quill and pretty green parchment which she saves for thank you moments like this.
Granger, she begins to scribe before pausing. What in Merlin's name does she write? she wonders. Chewing on her bottom lip, a myriad of thoughts passes through her mind, starting off just with Granger seemed rather harsh but then again she didn't want to give the impression that she actually liked Granger, she was after all a know it all Gryffindor. Deciding to be polite Pansy writes
Dear Granger
Thank you for the notes. They are very well written. They will come in very handy.
Kind regards
Pansy Parkinson
There straight to the point polite but without any emotion thinks Pansy done and dusted, I'll send it in the morning, she decides before snuggling down into her bed for some sleep.
After some deliberation and hesitation, the gentle but impatient peck from her owl encourages her to tie the short note to its leg, the next morning in the Owlery.
She watches in admiration as her beautiful owl, Achelois, with its golden tan feathers spreads its wings and soars off to deliver her note.
A bout of uncertainty strikes the moment Achelois leaves the owlery, had she written too much, had she not written enough. There was no way what she wrote could be taken out of context, could it? Could it give a hint of the thoughts and dreams she has been having? Perhaps she should have ended just with regards, and left out the word kind, did that provide too much information, familiarity?
By the time Pansy arrives at breakfast she has convinced herself she has made a grave mistake. She races towards her friends desperate for advice on how she intercept her owl and the note before Granger receives it.
The look on their faces has her stopping in her tracks, particularly when Daphne gives her a devilish wink. The air around the Slytherin table is thick with what can only be described as excited anticipation. Whispering amongst themselves their faces are alight with enthusiasm.
A panicked realisation courses through her - the bet. They had planned something momentous, something wicked and they were all in on it, her entire house. Her body flares with heat, how on earth can she get out of this, her only course of action would be to turn and run. Her nerves are like shots of electric current racing through her veins.
"Pansy, quick sit down or you'll miss the show" urges Daphne moving over so Pansy can sit down next to her
"You're going to love this" says Millicent smiling broadly
Pansy's legs tremble as she sits beside her friends she's just about to ask what is going on when she nearly jumps from her seat in shock as the doors of the Great Hall burst open which is closely followed by shrieks that bounce off the cold stone walls around the entire hall.
A very naked boy wearing only a mask races through the Great Hall. raucous laughter, wolf whistles, and cheers erupt, loud enough to rival that of the Quidditch World Cup Final.
"It's Theo" Tracey manages to say, in between cheers "he lost the bet, you were supposed to have lost your temper and hexed Granger by now"
Pansy claps loudly as tears of laughter stream down her cheeks, her sides begin to ache as Theo races past the Ravenclaw table with the tiny Professor Flickwick attempting to chase him, waving his arms about, but his small legs are unable to keep up as Theo gives a final salute to the Slytherin table before racing out the Great Hall.
Pansy cannot control her laughter, she instantly feels relaxed, Theo had lost the bet that meant he would not be planning any more pranks at Pansy expense.
"Who to?" says Pansy gasping for breath
"Me" replies Millicent proudly
"Mills, you're the best"
The entire Great Hall was still in an uproar, abuzz with raucous antics, the twins from Gryffindor were standing and clapping their hands furiously, the girls from Hufflepuff had their faces buried in their scarfs attempting to look shocked but were giggling hysterically. It takes at least three green firecrackers exploding from Professor Dumbledore's wand to bring silence to the energetic room.
"Professor Snape," Professor Dumbledore says calmly, "would you mind checking on our friend, it is rather chilly today I would hate for someone to catch a cold".
And with that Professor Dumbledore sat himself down putting an end to the frivolity.
The noise may have quietened but all the students were frantically chatting amongst themselves, this was the most exciting thing to have happened in the Great Hall since the Tri-Wizard tournament.
Pansy's heart jolts forwards as glances towards the Gryffindor table, Granger is trying her best to be composed and disapprove of the antics but failing. A smile is plastered on her face. Her perfectly shaped lips send an involuntary shiver down her spine Granger's honey brown eyes are glowing creating an unusual sensation in the bottom of her belly, she looks beautiful, stunning even. Pansy quickly looks away with a blush not wanting to be caught admiring Granger.
It was only when Pansy hears the screeching and flapping of hundreds of owls swooping in through the windows to deliver the daily mail that her panic resurfaces - the note.
Pansy watches with bated breath as her majestic owl swoops in, she tries to catch Achelois eye hoping to stop the delivery, but an owl with a mission is practically impossible to intercept.
She watches as Achelois drops the note in Grangers lap, her nerves becoming frazzled by the second as Granger takes the note with a quizzical look and slowly begins to read.
A warmth of indescribable happiness fills Pansy that she can't help but smile a very small smile when Granger looks towards her and offers her a sweet grin. Unsure what to do, Pansy begins to butter her toast, unable to understand why she is smiling so much
The morning's naked antics set the tone for the day. The halls were filled with jovial banter and laughter, with everyone chuckling and giggling about the naked streak. Speculation was rife on who it could be, and no one from Slytherin was talking - this was their little secret.
By the end of the day, walking towards the Slytherin Common Room, Pansy feels almost light, like a giant weight had been lifted from her shoulders with Theo losing the bet, and everyone was still caught up with the streak no one had time to concentrate on pranking Pansy. Another day down only a few more to go.
Pansy, Daphne, Millicent, and Tracey walk into a room full of laughter. Blaise is standing on one of the emerald green armchairs with one hand up in the air as if he is in a theatre production, before chanting
"My name this Theodore NottAnd I have a very small..."
"Shut up" huffs Theo throwing one of the oversized plush velvet pillows towards Blaise, making him tumble into the armchair in a fit of laughter.
Pansy can't help but laugh along with the rest of the Slytherin's at Theo's expense.
"Mental note, don't bet against Baulstrode" mumbles Theo under his breath, wincing in pain a little as he wiggles on the lounge
"What's the matter with you?" asks Tracey still laughing
"Tell them Theo" laughs out Blaise "this is brilliant"
"Shut it"
"Tell us Theo" urges Daphne who too can't suppress a giggle
"It's nothing, just...when Snape came looking for me I had to hide behind a statue that's all" says Theo a deep crimson blush colouring his cheeks
"He's...he's..." Blaise struggles to say gasping for air in between bouts of laughter "he's..."
"Oh don't bloody hurt yourself Blaise" scoffs Theo "Fine! I had to squeeze in between a statue and the wall, it was a tight squeeze and so..."
"He's scrapped his bum and who knows what else against the stone wall. He's got wall rash" blurts our Blaise in complete delight at his friends' misfortune, tears of joy streaming down his face.
Laughter once again erupts throughout the Common Room, Pansy herself has to clutch her sides from the pain that only a deep laugh can bring.
Pansy was still laughing when a school owl with a red note between its beak swoops into the Common Room dropping the note on her head before flying off.
Taking the note she begins to read, the letters blurry due to her tear-streaked eyes, but there was no denying who it was from, Granger. There was a faint smell of vanilla coming from the parchment, she wanted to bring the note to her face and inhale deeply to be sure, but that would be completely inappropriate with everyone around.
Dear Parkinson
Thank you for your note.
I'm glad you found them useful. On another topic, I have seemed to have forgotten the name of that product you mentioned for my hair. If it is no bother, would you mind reminding me of it, please?
Kind regards
Hermione Granger
"Poor Granger, she thinks she has made a new friend she's going to be devastated after the Ball when you go back to being mean to her". says Tracey who has just finished reading the note over Pansy's shoulder
Feeling like someone had just punched her in the heart, guilt oozes through Pansy's veins like slow burning lava. She hadn't thought of that. What happens after the Ball, yes she had wanted things to go back to the way they were, but now she wasn't so sure. In fact, she wasn't sure about anything.
"Well that's life," says Pansy trying her best to maintain an aloof demeanor in front of her friends.
Tucking the note in her cloak pocket she shoo's some second years off the lounge so they could torment Theo a little longer.
Later that evening in bed, Pansy quietly pulls the red note from the cloak and reads it once again. Checking to see her roommates were not watching her, she draws the parchment closer to her face and inhales. There were definite traces of vanilla scent and something else Pansy couldn't quite place. Chewing on her bottom lip she wonders whether this is the perfume Granger wears.
Reading the note yet another time, Pansy concludes the note is formal but polite and there was an open question in there regarding the hair product.
Technically Pansy didn't need to reply she could just ignore the request from Granger but that wouldn't be very nice, besides a little part of her wanted to converse with Granger again.
Pulling out another sheet of green parchment Pansy begins to scribe.
Pansy can't help but smile at the new note in her hands. Two days had passed since Pansy had received her first note from Granger, and since then another two had arrived. The notes were mild banter, short and polite. Pansy had simply replied with the name of the product that Granger should use in her hair, and also offered a makeup tip or two, namely pending what colour dress Granger was going to wear, stick to one colour pallet, it was important to match eye colour makeup to the colour of your robes but not be necessarily identical. Violet eyeshadow combined with a violet dress and lipstick would be horrendous.
In between their notes she had discovered Granger was planning on wearing a royal blue dress, which Pansy thought would actually really suit Granger's skin tone.
The latest note now in her hand had that tinge of Granger anger and frustration which Pansy found quite amusing. Granger had asked what Pansy was wearing to the Ball, and of course she had refused to tell her, it was a surprise.
Are you honestly not going to tell me after I have told you what I am wearing? Read the note inner hand.
No formalities, just that one sentence. Pansy could just imagine the sheer look of indignation and frustration Granger wore as she wrote the note, it made her smile and feel as if she was playing a wonderful game.
Taking another piece of green parchment Pansy writes. That is correct.
She could barely contain the laughter imaging Grangers reaction to this note. Granger was renowned for having a feisty attitude, she wore emotions well and truly on her sleeve, this latest note would definitely rile her up and it delighted Pansy to no end.
Pansy never received a reply note from Granger, but strangely she did not feel bad, in fact, it was quite the opposite she felt playful, teasing Granger had always been one of her favourite past times, even if this little tease didn't have the malice her usual taunts had.
Pansy's tummy flips in nervous excitement when she sees Granger the next day with her head buried In a book studying furiously in the library. Despite the little part of her telling her to walk away, there was still time for someone to humiliate her and Granger she can't help but walk towards Granger. Her body buzzing with electric energy.
"What's the matter, Granger, struggling to figure something out?" teases Pansy
Her stomach takes another flip when Granger looks up at her with at first with an annoyed look that turns quickly into amusement. Pansy had never noticed how Granger's eyes had a certain playful twinkle to them, then again most of the interactions had been strained to say the least
"Some things are not that hard to decipher" says Granger leaning back in her chair with a grin
"Oh really. Is that so". replies Pansy now leaning on the table with both hands flat on the top. She's unable to keep the smile from her face
"Of course" says Granger confidently knowing full well Pansy is referring to their last letter to each other and not the homework before her "it would have to be green, the colour of Slytherin"
"Oh. Interesting. Is that why your dress is blue because you're in Ravenclaw?" smiles Pansy broadly
Her smile widens as Granger opens her mouth to say something but promptly closes it realising she had no comeback. Her logic had failed her.
Pansy's legs tingle with joyful excitement she had cornered Granger who obviously hated being outwitted.
Pansy stares at Granger in silence, tension building between them like hot lava ready to erupt through the earth's crust. They stare at each other intently daring the other to make a move, to say something. The air around them thickening with electric tension. The twinkle of challenge in Granger's eye makes Pansy smirk playfully. Pansy's hand twitches as she is overcome with the temptation to reach over and touch Granger's hair again.
"Pansy." calls out Daphne from behind her looking between Granger and Pansy with interest "Are you coming to our next lesson?"
"I'll leave you to it then," says Pansy pushing off the table, turning and walking out with Daphne.
Excitement blazes In her chest as she visualises Granger sitting there, her arms still folded with an annoyed defeated look on her face. She could feel Grangers eyes little tiny daggers in her back follow her out of the library and just for good measure she makes sure to walk tall and sway her hips just that little more.
"You seem to be getting on ok, you didn't hex each other," says Daphne casually
"Mmmm" replies Pansy smiling, the latest encounter with Granger feeling energetic and content.
"There's still time before the Ball I suppose, " says Daphne
"Desperate to get your hands on my dress are you?"
"Something like that" smiles Daphne sweetly
Pansy could barely concentrate on her lessons for the remainder of the day. A cluster of tiny energetic butterflies flutter in the pit of her stomach as she thinks of their innocent encounter in the library, which quickly morph into visualising Granger beneath her in the infirmary.
Pervasive thoughts wondering of the softness of Grangers lips plaque her, feeding an insatiable ache in her very core that keeps building as the day progresses.
By the time she reaches Professor Binn's dull History of Magic lesson, her thoughts and fantasies are completely consumed by images of kissing and tracing her fingers along Granger's body so much so her entire body feels alight with fire leaving her blushing furiously.
She never really been one to fantasise about others before, let alone a woman or Granger, but today she let her imagination run wild.
"Pansy" where are you going says Daphne after their final lesson of the day
"Back to the common room" replies Pansy confused
"We have dance lessons with McGonagall" reminded Tracey
Pansy had completely forgotten about the dance lessons. Professor McGonagall had provided dance lesson prior to the Yule Ball during the Triwizard Tournament. She obviously was not impressed with some people's ability to perform the correct steps and decided to hold another two dance lesson prior to this Ball as a necessity. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students had one of the lessons, which left Gryffindor and Slytherin students together for this lesson. Why Hogwarts continues to try and force these two houses together unnecessarily is something Pansy will never understand.
"But we know how to dance" moaned Pansy "we were raised knowing the correct steps and etiquette"
"Well not all of us had the exact same upbringing," says Daphne casting a sideways glance at Tracey "we are all going," she says pointing her thumb towards Millicent and Tracey "it'll be fun"
"Fine let's go" grumbled Pansy, who would have far preferred going back to her room to practice hairstyle options for the upcoming Ball.
When Pansy and her friends arrived at the Great Hall the tables had been pushed against the walls, with the benches in front so they could be seated. As to be expected Slytherin sat on one side and the Gryffindors opposite. Pansy couldn't help but note that most of the Gryffindor boys, particularly Weasley and Potter looked rather peaked, like they would rather be fighting trolls than be at a dance lesson.
"Now" began Professor McGonagall "The upcoming Ball is an opportunity for us all to – er – let our hair down,' she says, in an almost disapproving voice.
Pansy couldn't help but smile. Professor McGonagall, with her hair in a tight bun, looks as though she had never let her hair down in her life.
'"Just because we do not have international guests at this Ball does NOT mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behaviour, particularly when it comes to dancing. Now we do have more girls than boys, so we will need to take turns and rotate partners, so some girls will need to wait until a boy is available"
"Excuse me Professor," says Bridget Featherstone a fellow Slytherin "I have a suggestion"
Pansy's stomach drops, the last time Bridget had a suggestion she spent hours writing up school notes for Granger while she was in the infirmary with her pink strawberry coloured face.
"I'm sure some girls won't mind pairing up" continues Bridget " In fact, it might be good an idea for a pureblood who was raised knowing all the steps like I don't know, Pansy, for instance, to be paired with a Muggleborn, like ummmm Granger" she says in faux innocence
Sniggers and giggles wave through the Slytherin's. The Gryffindor's straighten their backs in protest. Pansy could feel her face instantly redden in embarrassment. Her insides twist and spin. Bridget was going to be one of the first people she would throw her wrath and revenge at once this was all over.
Pulling courage from Merlín knows where Pansy clears her throat and sits tall before speaking
"I would be delighted to assist if you think that is appropriate Professor," she says
Pansy sees Millicent raise her hand before saying "I'm also happy to assist, as is Daphne" she says nudging Daphne who had a shocked look on her face before answering "yes of course"
Pansy has to suppress the urge to jump up and hug Millicent for trying to help and support Pansy, even if deep down she knows Millicent is doing this to win a bet.
"Very well, that is very kind of you. Five points to Slytherin House for your generosity"
Pansy could tell it pained Professor McGonagall to award the points but how could she not, with this kind gesture from the Slytherin's.
"Well, perhaps Ms. Greengrass you could pair with Ms. Lewin".
Jessica Lewin was a quiet Muggleborn in Gryffindor. The thought struck Pansy like lightning, Professor McGonagall was pairing Slytherin's with Gryffindors. Logically it made sense, Gryffindor had more Muggleborns than Slytherin's but Pansy's heart was racing faster than a galloping hippogriff at the thought that she might actually be paired with Granger.
"Ms. Baulstrode with Ms. Jenkins" continues Professor McGonagall "and Ms. Parkinson" pauses Professor McGonagall. Pansy's feels her heart stop for a brief moment "perhaps with Ms. Granger. Come along then let's get started. Everyone else please pair up"
Pansy's insides twist and wriggle like her stomach is riddled with snakes as she stands and makes her way towards Granger. She can feel everyone's eyes in her, expecting her to explode in disgust.
"Come on Granger. Let's teach you how to dance" says Pansy in the best aloof voice she could possibly manage despite the thundering of her heart against her chest.
"Now students pay attention. Gentlemen and - err - ladies, take the lead by placing your hand on your partner's waist" says Professor McGonagall nodding towards Pansy and the Slytherin's.
"What are you doing Granger?" says Pansy as both Pansy and Granger place their hands on each other's waist and trying her best to ignore the electrifying shiver that crawls down her spine at Granger's touch.
"I'm perfectly capable of dancing, thank you very much, so there's no reason I can't take the lead" replies Granger with a hint of indignation
"But I'm supposed to be teaching you"
"Like I said I'm perfectly capable -"
"Everything alright Ms. Granger" Professor McGonagall irritated voice cracking them to attention like a whip
"I was just saying, I am capable of taking the lead" whined Granger
"Well given Ms. Parkinson has kindly offered to assist, I think it's only fitting she take the lead don't you?" she says peering over her glasses at Granger
"Yes Professor" replies Granger meekly
Pansy's stomach lurches as though she has tripped on a step going downstairs when she slides her hand around Granger's waist, while Granger places her hand gently on Pansy's shoulder. Her mind in a spin she has to concentrate very hard on not stepping on Granger's toes.
They advance, retreated, spin around the room, the people around her become a blur.She finds herself in a different world, a world where her emotions were becoming unleashed, a world where she was slowly falling for the honey brown eyes staring intently at her. The air around them seemed to be thickening, making it heavy to breathe. Her attraction to Granger is growing creating that type of heady trance that draws a butterfly to nectar.
"Oomph"
Pansy feels a sharp push into the middle of her back, thrusting her forward into Granger, instantly snapping her back to attention.
"Mr. Longbottom" chips Professor McGonagall "Watch where you are going"
"Sorry Professor". says, Longbottom
Pansy drops her hand from Grangers' waist like a hot poker. She shifts uncomfortably under Granger's inquisitive and intense state"
"Err -" she begins
"Everything alright Ms. Parkinson?" asks Professor McGonagall.
Pansy can feel the eyes of everyone in the room on her, waiting for her to erupt. Her body fèels on fire, every fiber of her being wants to turn and run from the Great Hall, from this situation, from these feelings. She desperately needs to get away.
"Yes, Professor" she manages to answer, thinking fast "I just err don't think Granger needs lessons. She knows the steps". she says quickly
"Very well. Swop with Mr. Longbottom, I'm sure his partner's feet could do with the respite."
Instant relief floods her body as she quickly turns from Granger to face Longbottom's partner, Jennifer Squish, appropriately named thought Pansy given her face looked like she had missed the wall at Platform 9 3/4 and run into another wall - a few times - with her flat little nose. At least there was no chance of falling for her thinks Pansy as she takes the lead and begins to dance.