IV
A/N: Pansy and Blaise have taken over and are moving at their own pace. The second part of that last chapter wrote itself – I suspect from now on all links with reality will be lost. Um, I also suspect there won't be many chapters left, I only ever intended the story to lead up to their first kiss and I have a feeling Blaise isn't prepared to wait too much longer ;) You may thank Bry for the hat line. She also says that I should mention the chocolate sauce/broom trick was based on a chocolate sauce/my car trick. Also, I now realise pavlova differs by country, here in NZ its a white meringue base coated in cream and usually, fresh fruit. We (and the ausies) claim it as a national dish/
Thanks to yeoldecrazy1 who came up with the banana split. Hope you get to read it after all this time :)
Disclaimer: Not. Mine.
Pansy could quite happily have throttled Dobby. From the look on Blaise's face she suspected he felt the same.
"I'm going to murder him...I'm going to take One. Hat. At . A. time..."
"Um, Blaise?"
"Mmm?"
"Won't Dumbledore be angry if you murder a house elf when we're supposed to be learning empathy for them?"
"You're supposed to be learning empathy, I'm just on detention."
"Oh, well that's OK then...Can I watch?"
"You'd be an accessory to the crime."
"Oh...You're right. Well... can we wait 'til I'm not on kitchen duty then?"
"Miss and Sir should not get in trouble."
"No Dobby, you're quite right. I was just pointing that out to Mr Blaise."
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Pansy had spent the evening feeling confused. She didn't understand how Blaise could go from being so intense and passionate to his usual humorous, laid back self in just a few minutes. While she was still struggling to speak normally after their encounter- oh, nice word, fool- he was already joking about being an accessory to a crime. Had the whole thing just been a big game to him? But she was sure she hadn't mistaken his body language and tone of voice. How could he seem so attracted to her one second and so unconcerned the next? He hasn't shown any interest since. I must have got it all wrong. Idiot- of course he played along, Blaise is just like me- can't resist a dare. But he said he'd murder Dobby? What should I expect? He's a guy, and smart enough to play the game. Oh shut up! Who argues out-loud in their head anyway?
She could ask him of course. But Pansy knew she never would. The only way to work out what Blaise's true feelings were was to play this game through to its end.
To do that, she needed a good comeback to the strawberry sauce.
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When Pansy woke up on Thursday morning the plan was fully fledged in her mind. All she needed were the ingredients. Fortunately she was pretty confident that she knew a house-elf who would be willing to help.
Dobby was waiting when she arrived in the kitchen. "Is Blaise here yet?"
"No Miss, Mister Blaise has not yet come down to see Dobby."
"Good. I wonder Dobby, if you would be willing to help me make a present for Mr Blaise?"
He actually squeaked with excitement as his water eyes bulged."Dobby would be honoured to help Miss! What can Dobby do?"
"Here's what I need Dobby: a banana, some chocolate sauce, nuts, colourful sprinkles, and ice-cream. Lot's of ice-cream."
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Blaise never saw it coming. Trailing Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom from the
greenhouses, he missed seeing Pansy appear just above head-height from behind greenhouse four as he passed. Silently she moved up behind him on her broom and at the last moment pulled up as she poured semi-melted fudge ice-cream directly onto the crown of his head. He let out a yelp as the cold goo slid swiftly down past his ears, across his neck and into his collar. He swung round toward her but she had already lifted higher and proceeded to liberally squeeze chocolate sauce over the ice-cream.
Growling, he tried to grab the handle of her broom but she was carefully just out of reach. "Hold still doll, I'm not quite finished." So saying she threw a handful of nuts and sprinkles at the sticky mess. "Don't you just look delicious" she purred. Well what passes for a purr in Pansyland.
"What the hell!"
"You're a banana split...If I can just work out where to put this." She brandished the peeled fruit.
"My clothes!"
"That's what magic's for babe...Any ideas?"
"About what!"
"The banana."
Blaise opened his mouth, hesitated and then in a completely different tone crooned "come down here babe...I'll show you exactly what to do with it." His eyes locked on hers.
Pansy blushed. Damn!...But I don't care how hot he is- he is not winning this round! "Nice try! I know exactly what'll happen if I come down there! Another time maybe? I'm late for class." She winked at Weasley and Longbottom as she flew past. They were both chuckling.
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I should have known better- baiting a Slytherin guy like Blaise...it surpases the normal bounds of stupidity. It was only ever a matter of time until he did something really horrible. But...
"Blaise Zambini I am going to kill you! Dead! Painfully!...And Slow! Agonizingly slow!" She was slightly cheered when he looked briefly perturbed.
"That's harsh babe...why, I'm almost wounded. I fancy I could almost be cut to the quick!"
"Hah!"
"Truly. Why would you say such cruel things to me?"
"The honey Blaise! There is honey in my hair! My hair! You're responsible for that."
"Sweet-" she glared and he changed tack: "Babe, you said yourself 'that's what magic's for'. It's no different to clothes."
"Like hell it isn't!"
"All's fair in love and war."
She fumed in silence. He's right, damn him. And it was brilliant... But I have honey in my hair!
"Let me help you with it." He pulled out his wand. "Then maybe, we can find somewhere else that you'd prefer me to put it." He leered playfully. Pansy was unimpressed- I am not in the mood for this!
"Put that bloody wand away. I am not letting you near my head with it. And bring me the honey jar...I need to be distracted from my hair." I suspect you could do that very well. She watched him disappear around the corner and turned to put her bag on the chair, digging for a hair tie in the inner pockets. When she straightened and turned, she found herself looking into Blaise's chest. As her eyes lifted to his he teasingly waved a small jar of amber liquid in front of her.
"Now just what were you planning to do with this?" The words were growled, low and husky. She stared at him, took a half step back in surprise.
"Um..." Is that a bedroom voice? "I think..." I think I should lick it off your chest. Shit! Not good!
"Mmmm?" He stepped closer again.
"I think- I have to go" she blurted out heading for the door. What am I doing!
"Babe?"
"Yes!"
"You forgot your bag."
"Oh. Right...Thanks...See you around...Tomorrow."
"Can't wait" he drawled and she glanced back to see him staring after her.
What am I doing! I'm running. Escaping. That's silly- I want to be caught. No, it's sensible. Blaise isn't serious, he's playing. I'll get hurt or make a fool out of myself. I'm not up to this tonight. Now. Ever. Damn! But what if it's serious? Yeah right. But maybe... Deeply confused, Pansy made her way to her dorm, where she discovered exactly how evil a substance honey could be.