3 Weeks Prior:

Sometimes she left two pairs of jeans, for the offday, on her tight nit bed in a tight fold. Acid Washed and Faux Lesbian Cuff, Pav's brain cells could practically explode in euphoria every time she glanced at them. But that, of course, would be entirely impractical, according to a one Ms. Hermione Granger. Pav would then attempt to reconcile.

"But Ms. Trelawney specifically-!"

"Specifically? Perish the thought! That brat wouldn't know specifically if it corkscrewed her hind rear."

"She said I'd look like a thot!"

"PARDON ME."

"See, dude? This is where I was going with it. If you didn't just cut me off like some midwife."

"Please, like I'd ever let you touch my bits."

Both students stood ground on the by their bedposts, opposite one another with their backs high (and their egos even higher). Hermione's hands jutted against her hips while Pav's fingers are in her pockets, keeping her chin dominate. She'd seen buzzcut chicks in alternative magazines do the same thing and thought it was peculiar and amazing. Intimidation mixed with a 5'0 stature. Pav thought she was destined for greatness.

"Ok, I really wanna say you 'smell like American White Castle, anyways', but like, this bitch loves a good slider."

"Well! You're not sliding on anything of mine anytime soon, Pavarti."
"I would never mess with a heartbroken girl! Perish the thought." A spark of regret pierced her spine, ice cold. Too harsh? Too heated? I am a thot, aren't I?

Hermione now carried an aspect, a twinge of a frown. Her eyes squinted, "You're an ass."

"Alright, I'm definitely a tho-"

"I'm utterly and completely happy for Ronald."

Pav noticed two years prior that Ms. Granger carried a single dimple on her right cheek. Very adorable, yet very hidden in the best of times.

Hermione's eyes dodged to the window adjacent to her bed, her profile in full view.

"You only use adverbs when you're angry about something. Double verbage when you're mad at yourself." STOP trying to be cool, dumb dumb. Say sorry. Do it. NOW.

"Like we're best friends, or something." She still didn't look at her.

"Now I'm heartbroken, what about Translucency 505? The good old days?"

"Yes. Grandstanding. Cool. Pav, you're very awesome." Everything's cold. They just stood. On their battleground. … "What did...um...Divination exactly bring out?"

"Hermione."

"Don't say you're sorry. We're fine. I mean, shit, we're not fine, but…"

Pav shuffled her heel against the brick flooring. She wished for a time when they were ok. She didn't want to admit that it was always like this. From their first meeting, it was popcorn for the onlookers to see who'd end up on top. Who'd be the cutest, wittiest, the somehow nicest yet secretly a borish windbag on the side. Hermione, instead, became an academic recluse who's part of a dynamic trio that saved lives and definitely is gonna save the entire Wizarding World and capture the hearts of newsletters and student alike. In short, she grew a backbone.

And maybe Pavarti was jealous of that.

They both are looking at the jeans, now. Hermione cleared her throat, "So, are you going to answer the question, or not?"

Pav knew it wasn't the right thing to say. Whatsoever. They met each others eyes. Pav probably would despise herself for this, but she had an aspect of a smile on her face. A twinge, maybe.

"Ok. She looked in my cup. Then my legs, and whispered in my ear that I look like a Fashion Nova Babe.

….

"You do have amazing legs."

The smile became some assortment of real.

"Fuck yeah I do."