The entire Slytherin Common Room was in a buzz. The day of the Ball has finally arrived. Girls sat in groups on the plush green lounges and winged chairs giggling and whispering, shrieking with laughter, excitedly comparing notes on what they were going to wear to the Ball and who they would dance with. The boys too were very excitedly talking and planning their attire for the evening.
The tension surrounding the bet that had kept Pansy on edge for the past months melted into nothing on the day of the Ball. She had won the bet. Tonight she would be wearing the dress she so desperately loved, the dress that had put her into so many awkward and embarrassing situations and created confusing thoughts. But now she sits on the couch with her friends, her body at ease.
"I wonder who Dumbledore has organised for entertainment," says Millicent
"The Green Harlets apparently" replies Pansy while adding some nail polish to her perfectly sculptured nails
"What?!" yelp her friends in unison, disbelief and excitement etched on their faces and voices
With all the commotions and shenanigans of the bet, Pansy has forgotten to tell her friends what Granger had said that night in the abandoned classroom.
"How do you know that?" questions Tracey
"I don't for sure. Granger told me that's what Brown told her".
"Oh really." says Daphne with a mischievous smile "did Granger happen to tell you anything else during your times together alone. Now that you're so close and all"
Pansy can feel her cheeks flush red with embarrassment "No she didn't actually" replies Pansy ignoring Daphne's insinuating comments and focussing on her nails
"What's going to happen between you and Granger now anyhow?" asks Millicent
"What do you mean?"
"Well now that you guys have been nice to each other, you seem to be getting on ok"
"Things will go back to exactly how they were before this bet," says Pansy not wanting to admit her feelings towards Granger may have changed, "Anyhow, I need to start my beauty regime for tonight. I dibs the shower first" she says getting up and making her way towards the bathroom ignoring the looks her friends gave her.
Pansy's toes flinch only momentarily as they touch the chilled tiled floor in the shower, before the warm water begins to cascades down her body, her mind replaying the question Millicent had asked. What would happen now? There's no reason to be nice to Granger anymore, in fact, the Slytherin's would expect her to be mean but there's a big part of her that doesn't want that anymore. She did enjoy teasing Granger in the library the other day, but that was different it didn't have that nasty edge her usual teasing had.
She closes her eyes leaning her head against the tiles and lets the droplets fall on her hoping they wash away her conflicting thoughts and feelings.
Pansy along with every other Slytherin girl spend the rest of the afternoon prepping and preening for the evening. Her nails done, her body moisturised with her favourite fragrance, her make up completed to perfection highlighting the small tinges of green that were sprinkled in her eyes and her hair styled into long wavy curls that tumbled over her shoulders like a wave, a far cry from her page boy hair cut days. All that was left to do was to slip on the dress.
"What time is it Mils?" asks Pansy
"7.25"
"Ah so we still have 22 minutes then"
"What?" asks Millicent "the Ball starts at 7.30, in like 5 minutes".
"Yes, but we can't arrive straight on 7.30. We need to be fashionably late so we can make a grand entrance. Seventeen minutes late is perfect, it's enough time that everyone has arrived but not too long that people are already in their groups and no longer paying attention to enters the Hall." explains Pansy who was now pulling out her dress from the box.
Butterflies flutter excitedly in her belly as she holds the dress before her. The fine trace elements of green and silver shine and dance against the black material beautifully, magic is embedded into every delicate thread.
The dress glides over her shoulders and shimmers over her hips, perfectly hugging her curves. The low cut front and back offering just a small classy taste of what lies beneath. The dress screamed elegance and seduction at its finest, tantalising all the senses. Pansy twirls and feels like she is floating on air, it perfectly moves with her body, the allure of the dress was completely hypnotising.
"You look beautiful Pansy" says Daphne "the belle of the ball. I still think that dress would have looked good on me too thou" laughs Daphne who is wearing a stunning emerald green ball gown which perfectly suits her blonde hair and fair skin.
"Thanks Daphne, you look great too," says Pansy sincerely
"Shall we go ladies? We'll need to leave soon if we are going to be exactly 17 minutes late" laughs Tracey
"Let me just put my shoes on, and we can go"
Pansy feels like every fiber of her being was vibrating with anticipation as the Slytherin friends make their way to the Great Hall. They had all decided to go dateless to the Ball, that way they didn't have to be tied down to entertaining their partner for the entire evening. They were all deliriously happy.
"Time check," says Pansy as they arrive at the giant wooden doors to the Great Hall
"7.46"
"Perfect, shall we," says Pansy pushing through the doors
Pansy tingles from her head to her toes as the entire room turns to stare at them. Happiness poured out of her like sunshine, glowing from the inside out as people gasped. She could hear the whispers and gasps of awe as she walked past
She was having the exact effect she wanted. She couldn't help but smile as she saw some of the boy's jaw drop and girls gape as she walks past.
"Pansy, you look divine," says Blaise taking her hand and kissing it "you better save a dance for me"
"Of course Mr. Zabini"
"And me," says Theo
"I'm not sure you deserve a dance after everything" jokes Pansy
"Don't be like that Pansy, it was just a little game. Plus you won if the looks everyone are giving you is anything to go by" smiles Theo
Pansy casts her eyes around the room, and surely just as she hoped all eyes were on her, but her interest lay in finding only one person.
A group of Gryffindor's huddled together, catches her eye. Weasley was sitting on a chair looking glum and slumped over, not that Pansy could blame him he was wearing those atrocious and old dress robes that he wore to the Yule Ball again. Next to him, dressed in far better robes was Potter but looking equally glum. Pansy's heart jolts to her throat standing beside them smiling widely was Granger. Her hair sleek and shiny, twisted into an elegant knot with only a few perfectly placed strands cupping her face. A far cry from the everyday bushy mop she normally sported. Her Royal Blue dress fitting her beautifully and highlighting her figure smashingly. Pansy got that tingly feeling all over again as Granger looks to her and smiles sweetly.
"Ladies, Gentlemen," says Professor Dumbledore standing at the podium wearing bright purple dress robes with gold edging, hushes the crowd instantly. Peering over his half-moon spectacles he says "well what are you waiting for? Dance"
And with those words, the Great Hall candles that usually lit the Great Hall were transformed into thousands of tiny lights being powered by real fairies. The house banners were replaced with giant dancing figurines. It was magical.
"May I have the first dance, Ms. Parkinson?"
It was Draco. He looked dashing in his high collared all black robes, but Pansy couldn't help but notice the sadness and worry in his eyes.
"Why of course Mr. Malfoy. Shall we" says Pansy holding out her hand
A few years ago being asked to dance by Draco would have been the only thing that she could ever want, but now she wasn't sure. They were more friends than anything else.
"I wasn't going to come tonight," says Draco looking over her shoulder into the distance
"Why not?"
"I might not even be at Hogwarts next year, with everything that's going on. You kno-" Draco cuts his sentence short
"Draco?-"
"Let's just enjoy tonight and show these Neanderthal's how it's done like only Purebloods can do" he interrupts spinning her around the dance floor, obviously not wanting to talk about what is on his mind
Pansy knows Draco is intimating that You Know Who is back and may be in power by next year. The thought sends an involuntarily shiver down her spine, particularly with the look Draco can't hide in his grey eyes, but like Draco said she tells herself let's not worry about it tonight.
The worry for her friend soon disappears as song after song she is invited to dance. She feels more confident than ever, her movements flowed with dazzling grace, the dress flowing with her actions like ribbons in the wind, all eyes on her with the swaying movement of her hips and the alluring twist of her body. She was on top of the world.
"I need a drink" she calls out over the loud music after her seventh dance in a row and makes her way to the refreshments table.
The table is filled with a feast of sweet and savoury delights. As much as she would love to gobble down one of those tempting creamy puffs there is no way she is risking getting this dress dirty. Instead, she opts for the safe option of a cool refreshing glass of fruit punch.
"Are you having a nice time?" comes a gentle voice behind her
Pansy's tummy tumbles as she turns to see Granger standing there with a wide smile.
"I am, and you?"
"Yes, but the boys are not very interested in dancing," says Granger nodding towards a gaggle of Gryffindor boys seated at a table in a heated discussion about Quidditch no doubt
"So I was almost right," says Granger
"About?"
"Your dress. There's Slytherin green in your dress"
Pansy can't help but laugh, Granger had to always be right "I hardly think this sprinkle of green means you were right. So you like what you see?" Pansy asks cheekily
"It's umm it's very-" Granger stumbles over her words "yes" she finally manages, her cheeks instantly turning a shade of pink. "I was wondering if, umm maybe -"
Whatever Granger was going to ask Pansy never found out as the dense docile tones of her fellow housemate Vincent Crabbe interrupts her.
Standing to her side is Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, both holding large plates overflowing with food.
Vincent and Gregory were not the sharpest wands in Slytherin and what they lacked in intelligence they made up for in sheer size, both big and round. Both were wearing green robes which she heard Potter say made them look like giant moss boulders and she couldn't really disagree.
"Whatcha doing Pansy? You don't have to be nice to the Mudblood anymore the bets over. Omffph what?" says Vincent as his fellow sidekick Greg Goyle elbows him in the ribs.
"It's a secret remember? We can't talk about bets" says Greg slowly
Pansy's stomach drops, she hopes against hope that Granger didn't hear. "Just go or I will tell everyone you told the Slytherin secret," she says through gritted teeth in annoyance. Her words have Greg and Vincent scurrying off but not before grabbing another cake each.
"Granger don't listen to them, they - " Pansy tries to explain turning to Granger. The mixed look of anger and hurt stopping her in her tracks
"I knew you were up to something" spits Granger. "A bet. You were being nice to me because of a bet. You, Pansy Parkinson, are the vilest human being that ever existed" she says before turning.
Pansy watches as Granger walks very slowly and erectly towards the exit to the Great Hall. Her stomach feels heavy like she's eaten a cannonball. She hadn't planned on telling Granger about the bet. To be honest she hadn't planned on anything much to do with Granger and their awkward friendship after the Ball.
"Pansy you ok?" asks Daphne who has saddled up beside her along with Millicent and Tracey
"Vince told Granger about the bet"
"Merlín those two are dense" quips Tracey
"Maybe you should go see if she is ok?" says Millicent in barely a whisper
"Why would I do that? I don't care about Granger" says Pansy with more bravado than she felt
"Well, it has been rather nice not to always be fighting with them," says Daphne nodding towards the Gryffindor's "you never know when we might need them on side"
"And technically the Ball hasn't ended, so the bet still stands, Daphne could strip that dress off of you if you preferred, " says Tracey jokingly
"Fine" huffs Pansy "I'll go but only because you're all making me," she says as her friends smile behind her back
Pansy walks down the hall her belly full of dread, the sound of the music from the Ball slowly fading away as she weaves through the corridors.
What in Merlin's name does she even say to Granger and how on earth is she actually going to find Granger anyhow.
Pansy stops suddenly as she sees Granger sitting on the bottom of a step, alone except for a small ring of twittering yellow birds circling her head. She really is good at spell work thinks Pansy, she looks beautifully angelic with the tiny birds chirping away, it takes a moment for Pansy to regain her composure.
"Go away," says Granger in a harsh voice
Guilt oozes through Pansy as she sees some tears form in Granger's eyes. Pansy really has no idea what to say to Granger all she knew is that felt terrible for upsetting her.
"Your...birds they are er — really good. . . " says Pansy cautiously walking closer to Granger
"I said go away"
"Look, Granger -"
"Oppugno!" came a shriek from Granger
To Pansy's horror, the tiny flock of birds that were circling Granger like a halo came racing towards her faster than the Hogwarts Express. She barely has time to cover her face and duck as the tiny birds pecked at her hands
"Aaarrrgghhh Granger stop" yells Pansy as the birds continued to peck at her. She couldn't even reach for her wand, or else they may peck at her eyes "They hurt" she yelps as she tries to swot them away while still trying to protect herself
And just as quick as the birds attack commenced it ended. Slowly Pansy peaked up from behind her hands. A few tears were flowing more freely down Granger's cheeks, who was still sitting on the bottom step. She's bloody mental there's nothing angelic about her at all thinks Pansy, sending birds to attack her like that.
"You are a horrible, horrible person Pansy Parkinson. Absolutely horrible" sobbed Granger
"Listen-" Pansy begins her heart still racing from the attack
"I should have known. You are vile, nasty - do you enjoy being this mean creature?"
"Wha-" Pansy attempts to speak as she walks closer to Granger. She needs her to calm down. And really Granger should apologise to her for attacking her.
"You are heartless, mean just plain cruel. What do you have to say for your self?. It's true what they say, Slytherin's are evil."
The air around them cracklings with electricity, annoyance now pulsating through Pany's veins as Grangers words strike a nerve. Pansy hated that perception of her house and friends that she loved dearly. She opened her mouth to defend her house but Granger was not letting her get a word in edgewise. And as odd as it sounded despite being agitated and angry by Grangers words and actions she couldn't help but think how pretty Grangers eyes were as they shone brightly from the tears and the passion of her speech.
"Gran-"
"Don't you Granger me" she lectures
Pansy is cut off again. She can feel the blood pumping fast through her veins, Granger has a way of vexing Pansy to the point her toes curl. This is impossible, thinks Pansy, she wanted to grab Granger by the shoulders and shake her into silence. Emotions overruling logical thought.
She has no idea when she was within arm's distance or what possessed her to do what she did, but she before her brain could catch up to her actions she leans down and kisses Granger to shut her up. All else falls silent.
The kiss lasted no more than two seconds but long enough to shatter Pansy's world around her. There was a horrible, swelling, billowing silence as Pansy pulls away. Granger was staring at her, mouth agape in silent shock. Pansy's heart momentarily freezes, her back stiffens at the realisation of what she had just done. She opens her mouth to speak, but no words will come out, although her mind is howling like a banshee.
Panic surges through her veins like electricity. Her brain in complete overload, a tight discomfort squeezes in her chest. Her stomach constricts, she feels the urge to be sick. She does the only thing she can think of she turns and runs, runs to escape, runs to hide.