Pansy wasn't a fan of Hermione Granger, but even she glared when Featherbottom stood up in a high level meeting and dared to state outright that a woman couldn't do as well as Minister as a man. She was prepared to vote for Granger for another term just to spite the man, but she hadn't been prepared for Granger to stand up and put him in his place.

"I'm sorry if you feel as if you were passed over for the job, Mr Featherbottom. I'm sure that if you hadn't once been accused to stealing your department's funds, you'd be where I am now."

Featherbottom stammered out a defense of himself.

"Those reports were never proven. The nerve of you to mention it when it's not relevant to the issue at hand."

Pansy found herself staring at Granger in a whole new light. As much as she wished to stop it, she felt incredibly turned on. She looked down at the table, clenching her fist in her lap.

Why could she never like someone she stood a chance with?

It wasn't a nice, single person. No, now she could hardly look at the married Minister for Magic who she'd tormented their entire childhoods.

She fled the second the meeting was over.

Months passed, and Pansy's new awareness of their Minister for Magic didn't disappear. Each time Hermione's office door opened, Pansy's eyes would snap to it from where she sat at her own desk, waiting to see what would happen. If it was because she was looking out for juicy gossip, perhaps she wouldn't have been as furious with herself as she was.

But her preoccupation with Granger wasn't just at work; it haunted her outside of it too. On her days off, she would often find her mind wandering to what Granger might be doing, and far more often than she'd like to admit, she'd imagine what she and Hermione might be doing together if circumstances were different.

It was becoming increasingly difficult to keep up the cold politeness they'd fostered since Pansy had joined Hermione's force of lowly minions at the Ministry. The first time she'd smiled along with her nod, she had internally betrayed herself for the rest of the day, but it had held repercussions, not least of which was Hermione smiling back.

Somehow, Pansy and Hermione grew of become, if not friends, then at least co-workers who were friendly with each other.

Pansy still wasn't sure what possessed her to invite the Minister, of all people, out to lunch, but she'd done it, and by some miracle, Hermione hadn't been too busy that she'd simply turned her down out of necessity.

No, she was sitting across from Hermione Granger in a small cafe trying to make small talk, and she hated every second of it.

Though the snowy weather outside was far from pleasant, Pansy had half a mind to flee into it and never come back for work. It would have been less tortuous than navigating her way through careful conversation that didn't reveal the less than appropriate thoughts that often filtered through her head during nights at home alone.

"How's life for you then?" Pansy asked, not having to work to add a slight tingle of bitterness to the question. "We all know about Weasley's frequent visits to your office."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but the way her lips quirked upward didn't seem to hint at offense.

"Things are good," Hermione said. "Rose graduates Hogwarts soon, which is difficult to believe."

Pansy gave a noise of agreement, though she'd never met Rose for herself. She'd heard from others that the girl was the perfect combination of her parents, and Pansy couldn't decide how that made her feel.

"What about you?" Hermione asked, lifting a spoonful of soup to her lips.

Pansy didn't know how to answer the question. Her life wasn't like Hermione's; she didn't have kids or a spouse to carry on about. That had never bothered her before. It still wouldn't have if it had been anyone but Hermione sitting across from her. She didn't want her longing to be heard in every word.

She shrugged, doing her best to appear unaffected.

"It's the same as always," she said. "I don't have much to complain about."

She bit at the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from adding, "Except that I don't have you."

She shoveled pasta into her mouth, and as she swallowed, she willed her emotions to go with it.

The snow had cleared by that night, though the air was just as bitingly cold as Pansy sad on her back patio and stared up at the stars.

For all the bite she showed other people, she'd always been a hapless romantic. She developed crush after crush, but not one of the people who she shone her affections on ever liked her back. After decades of more of the same, she felt doomed in love.

A star streaked across the sky, earning a gasp from Pansy. She stood, staring at the spot on the horizon where it had disappeared. It was the first time she'd seen one for herself. Biting her lip, she wished for her feelings to fade soon and, if she could add to the wish, for her to never fall for someone again. There was too much pain and inconvenience involved.

She was much better off without it.

Prompts:

Hogwarts Challenges and Assignments

Seasonal - Flowers: Camellias - (character) Pansy Parkinson

Seasonal - Winter Prompts: (weather) snowy

Seasonal - Days of the Year: Make Your Dream Come True Day - Write about wishing on a star.

HPFC

OTP Boot Camp: Ron/Hermione - hapless

Word count: 902