A/N: Hey y'all, so I have a new mini fic. It should be about nine chapter and is a past-Dramione and past-Hansy but is NOT HEA for these couples. Chapter two had already been posted on Ao3 and I will be posting chapter 2 here in the next day or two. As a trigger warning, this fic touches on child loss, toxic past relationships, and harmful coping mechanisms.
As always, enjoy!
Chapter 1
Pansy had made several mistakes in her life. More than she would like to admit but through the years, and through her friendship with Hermione Granger, she was able to forgive herself.
Several of her mistakes, however, were those she was thankful for. After all, some of those mistakes gave her Camellia, her daughter.
Though at some points Pansy cursed herself for daring to sleep with Harry Potter during her 8th year, she cursed herself even more for having the audacity of falling for the man. She hated that she was used then left heart broken when Potter left her for Ginny Potter nee Weasley. It wasn't like she shouldn't have see it coming. He may have slept with her over the corse of their final year, but deep down Pansy knew that if the redhead came back into Potter's life, he would leave Pansy in a heartbeat.
It wasn't long after graduation when Pansy discovered her condition. After several potions and tests she knew she was carrying Potter's child. Not that she would have ever told him. No. It would have been foolish to put her in the position of homewrecker to the Golden Couple.
Her family disowned her for having a child out of wedlock— she was spoiled goods in the Pureblood world after all— and so Pansy did what Slytherins did best. She ran. She found her self in France before not long before her daughter came screaming into the world.
The young mother thanked Merlin and any god that would listen that her sweet little girl looked nothing like her father.
Apart from her bright green eyes of course.
She raised her daughter in France as best she could, hopping between jobs and studying for her Charms Mastery while she watched Camellia grow. And along the way, she was reacquainted with Hermione, which in itself was a blessing.
But this. This was a mistake. They should have never accepted the consulting positions at Hogwarts. And if they did, they should have never let Camellia come with them. They both knew that Camellia had no desire to be homeschooled when she had the chance to attend Hogwarts, even if it was for such a short time. She had been more than happy for the change
Pansy took in steady breathes in and out, willing herself to calm down before she fainted into the dirt and ruined her dress.
"We'll be fine," Hermione said, looking much like she'd rather be on a broom then walking up the steps to their Alma Mater, "it's not like we haven't faced worse."
Pansy's lips turned down but she said nothing.
The pureblood may have been apprehensive about returning, but Hermione was another story. The muggleborn was haunted by what had happened in Wizarding Britain and what she had left behind.
"You're right," Pansy said, "it's only two years. Camellia will graduate then we can go back to France."
She watched Hermione nod.
They made the rest of the trip in silence. The anxiety started to erode any sense of calm Pansy had mustered up. She wondered how her daughter was doing on the train ride to Hogwarts. Camellia might have been sixteen, but according to Hermione, she had her father's temperament which— if Pansy remembered correctly— got Potter in to a lot of trouble in their Hogwarts days.
Two years.
They could do two years.
McGonagall had asked them to consult on new curriculum and Hermione felt much too indebted to the new Headmistress to say no. This move was supposed to grant them closure. This was supposed to bring them some kind of peace.
Another deep breath.
They were close enough to now see doors of the castle.
"We can do this," Pansy heard Hermione whisper to herself. Pansy's arm stretched out and she held Hermione's hand tightly.
They had faced everything together since meeting again. They were each other's best friends, each others confidants.
Hermione released a shaky breath at the sight of the Headmistress at the threshold waiting for their arrival to welcome her new professors.
"It's been a long time," the older witch told them.
Hermione simply nodded, "I didn't think that we would ever be back here but we couldn't say no."
"We're happy to be here," Pansy said.
Headmistress McGonagall nodded and gestured to the entrance, "Let me escort you to your rooms before the students get here."
The two witches followed Mcgonagall into the castle. Hermione's chambers were first. They weren't far from the Gryffindor common room, and though she wasn't the Head of Gryffindor, it was best to have her close to the tower.
Hermione promised to see Pansy at the Sorting before she disappeared into her room.
After thirteen years of friendship Pansy knew the witch needed time to herself before such a busy event.
"I'm glad you two said yes to my offer," McGonagall said, scoring Pansy down to the Dungeons, "I was worried that we couldn't have enough time to prepare for the new regulations by the time they came around."
Pansy gave a snort, "I doubt that Hermione would allow that. Not to mention I think it's a good idea for Camellia to see where she's from, where her mother and aunt grew up."
McGonagall nodded, her lips turned oddly, "Hermione is a loyal one, isn't she?" the headmistress said with an odd inflection in her tone, "And I'm looking forward to meeting your daughter."
Pansy gave a tightlipped smile, "She's very happy to be here. She wanted to come to Hogwarts when she was eleven… it just wasn't a good idea then."
"And now?" the Headmistress asked.
"I cant say," the black-haired witch replied.
The rest of the walk happened in silence, only the echo's of their footsteps to fill the silence.
When Pansy was finally left alone, her shoulders finally relaxed. She hadn't been this tense since her mastery.
The witch explored her new rooms until it was time for dinner. The dungeon wasn't as damp as she remembered them being. The fireplace was stocked with wood to burn and room was oddly inviting for being somewhere so ominous. The kitchenette was also stocked with a few necessities and Pansy was happy she didn't have to have meals every day in the Great Hall.
Pansy was sure that Camellia would like to visit.
She took a deep breath, changed into her robes then headed to the Great Hall. The halls were still familiar to her, the hauntings of the past whispering in her ear.
Hermione had yet to arrive so Pansy waited by the doors, scanning the hallway for the other witch. She heard the carriages of the returning students pull up when she finally say the curly-haired witch's figure appear.
"We're nearly late," Pansy scolded.
Hermione sighed, "Sorry, I lost track of time."
The smell carried even in the hall.
Firewhisky.
Fantastic. Hermione was drunk.
At least she didn't look it.
Pansy pulled Hermione to the Professor's Table by her sleeve, not bothering to say hello to the other Professors. They quickly sat and Pansy started to count the seconds until her daughter was to be sorted. Camellia may have been a 6th year, but she was riding in the boats with the first years.
Hermione pulled a flask from her robes and Pansy could see why, the children of old friends and lovers' were here.
Pansy reached over and took a health sip from the flask before handing it back.
Camellia was easy to spot, of course. She was nearly a head taller than the first years, her straight black hair decorated with the sparkling broach Hermione had gotten for her. Pansy spotted Hermione's lips turn up at the sight of her goddaughter. Camellia lit up at the sight of the women at the Professor's table. She gave a small wave in their direction and Hermione waved back.
One by one the new students were sorted. Finally, Camellia was called.
The young witch looked nervous walking up to the stool. The tension was high in the Hall. Who knew that the disowned Parkinson heiress had a daughter?
Camellia seemed to take the silence in stride. She flipped her straight black hair behind her shoulder and kept her head held high.
Pansy wasn't surprised when the hat shouted out "Gryffindor". The table to the far left erupted in cheers and Camellia walked down to meet her house mates.
Damn. She owed Hermione five gallons.
The rest of the students were sorted— most notably Albus Severus Potter in Slytherin, Rose Weasley in Gryffindor, and Scorpius Malfoy in Slytherin.
All the students were cheered on as they took their seats.
The sorting ended with a child named Alec Zabini taking his place at the Slytherin table.
McGonagall stood, "Good evening and welcome to our new students!" she said, excitement clear, "Before we begin, I would like to introduce two new professors, Professor Parkinson who will be consulting on Charms and Professor Granger who will be consulting on Potions to get class up to par with the new international regulations."
Pansy stood immediately giving a small bow to the students and fellow professors. Hermione on the other hand took a moment, using the table to steady herself as she stood. She gave a quick hello and sat back down.
The headmistress waved her hands and the feast popped onto the tables. The oohs and aahs of the first years brought a smile to Pansy's lips.
To be a first year again would be a gift.
Dinner came and went and Pansy bolted to Camellia before the prefects had a chance to usher her away. Pansy crushed her daughter to her, holding her tightly.
"How was the train?" Pansy rushed out, "Not to bad I hope. Make any friends?"
Camellia chuckled, "It was okay, mum." She pried herself out of her mothers embrace, "People were kind. There was no trouble, I promise."
"I told her you would be okay, but you know your mother," Hermione said from a few steps away. She gave Camellia a softer her, pulling away with a smile, "Gryffindor suits you, love."
Camellia beamed, "And mum owes you five gallons."
Hermione laughed. Music to Pansy's ears.
"That she does," Hermine put out her hand, palm up, and wiggled her fingers, "pay up."
Pansy rolled eyes and dropped the amount into the witch's palm.
The Gryffindor prefect called for Camellia who eagerly left without a second thought. She was going to well at Hogwarts.
Pansy turned to Hermione.
"Before you say anything, I used a breath freshening charm before I came down here," Hermione said, "and I'm mostly sober now."
Pansy huffed, "Just be careful."
Hermione already started to walk away, "I always am—" she sang, "I'm knackered, and I have classes bright and early so I'll see you at breakfast."
Pansy rolled her eyes. Of course she would be exited for classes. The damn bookworm.
