Disclaimer: All canon characters, plots and situations from the Harry Potter series belong to JK Rowling. We make no profit from this story.
Beta Thanks:
Cosmoswithchaos
Ladyparongsny
rooOJoy
A/N: We had a blast writing this chapter. A few of funnies and bit of what's to come later ;-)
She Keeps Me Warm
Chapter 4
"...Deep in my bones, I can feel you
Take me back to a time only we knew.
Hideaway..."
(Roses By The Chainsmokers )
The room was still dark as Pansy stirred from her slumber. It was early; she'd always been one to rise before the sun, but of course, the Dungeons were always dark.
She slipped her wand out from it's resting place beneath her pillow, giving it a sharp flick at the
wall beside her bed. The torch lit with a soft crackle, giving her just enough light to trek to the washroom. She quickly located her slippers and paused to make sure her roommate hadn't woken. The soft snores coming from Daphne Greengrass were confirmation enough, and she quietly slipped past her sleeping form and into the lavatory.
Standing in front of the mirror, she frowned at the dark circles beneath her eyes. She had stayed up entirely too late, her encounter with Hermione playing an endless loop in her mind.
She turned on the sink, splashing cool water on her face before grabbing her toothbrush. After rinsing her mouth, she picked her wand up off the counter and cast a glamour charm to hide the proof of her late night.
"Fascino!"
Pansy snatched a brush from the shelf and ran it through her smooth, dark locks. After applying a bit of makeup, she snuck back into her quarters to dress for the day.
Another year of pointless classes, she thought. Her father had never cared much about her grades, considering he planned to sell her off to the highest bidder once school was over.
"Anything to enhance our wealth and status!" The bitter words of her father rang through her mind.
She smirked. What would Daddy Dearest think if he knew his perfect Slytherin daughter licked her lips for a kitten and not —
Her thought was interrupted as Daphne suddenly spoke, hoarse as if her vocal chords weren't quite awake. "Good morning, Pansy".
Pansy grabbed a fresh uniform from her armoire, angling her body to give the girl a small wave.
They hadn't been particularly close over the last few years. Because you distanced yourself from everyone, her mind scolded. It's hard pretending to be someone you aren't and not let your guard down. No use denying the truth.
How ironic.
Dropping her silky nightgown to the floor, she kicked off her slippers and stepped into her skirt. She buttoned up a crisp white shirt and pulled a gray vest over her head.
Pansy stepped in front of her full sized mirror and with nimble fingers, effortlessly looped her tie. Watching her hands push the knot up tight, her mind slipped into a daydream…
Her hands traced along Hermione's outer thigh, thumbs lifting up the fabric of her perfectly pressed skirt. Pansy felt Hermione's breath tremble as she slid her fingers towards the apex of her thighs—
"Hello? Pansy?" Daphne cleared her throat.
Pansy felt her cheeks grow warm; she knew exactly where her thoughts were headed. Damn Daphne interrupting my perfectly good—
"Are you coming or—"
"Or what?" Pansy snapped, irritated that she couldn't hear herself think with Daphne's excessive chatter clouding her mind.
Realizing she was probably overreacting, she muttered an apology. She tucked her wand into the holster on her thigh, picked up her school bag and made her way towards the door. She couldn't be bothered to see if Daphne had followed behind her.
She entered the commons and immediately spotted a head of platinum blonde hair on the nearest couch. She approached, eyeing a bored looking Draco while Daphne's little sister simpered at his side.
His attention immediately directed towards the girls, and he pleaded with his eyes to get him away from this leech. He stood, moving in close to Pansy's side.
"Astoria! Find someone in your own year to harass," the elder Greengrass rebuked.
"Preferably one not already spoken for," scoffed Pansy, rolling her eyes.
Astoria leveled her gaze on Pansy, giving her a sly grin.
"My mistake," her grin turned into a wide smile, flashing two rows of perfectly straight teeth. "I was under the impression things had… changed."
Pansy blanched. What the hell did that mean?
She felt Draco lean in, heard the words he whispered but couldn't seem to tear her gaze off the smirking Greengrass girl.
"Pans!" he hissed with a bit more force. She snapped back to reality, schooling her features behind a cold mask.
"I came to walk my beautiful girlfriend to breakfast," he smiled, offering his arm.
She accepted, shooting one last stiff glare at Astoria before exiting the dungeons.
oOoOoOo
Hermione Granger glided between the two long tables, mingling with the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws on either side of her. She'd made sure she was up bright and early to greet students as they came down for breakfast.
It was Monday, and today she would begin her last, first day as a student at Hogwarts. She had stayed up way too late, tossing and turning over yesterday's events.
Ginny had proved to be an excellent distraction. They'd spent the majority of their Sunday wandering the school grounds, visiting with Hagrid and Fang, as well as reviewing their course material for the upcoming semester —That was Hermione's idea, of course.
She let her eyes sweep across the Great Hall, lingering on the Slytherin's table longer than she cared to admit. She'd spent nearly three hours lying in bed last night replaying the almost kiss in her mind before she finally drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Hermione shook her head. This is ridiculous, she thought. She walked back towards the giant doors of the Great Hall. As another group of students wandered in, she stopped dead in her tracks. There she was…
Pansy.
Pansy's hair was perfectly placed, every tress shining against the light of the sun beaming over the Great Hall. Her skirt was pressed, every pleat matching the one before. Hermione couldn't help but study her; she was perfection…
Oh my god. She ducked her head down, doing her best to hide the redness of her cheeks. Pansy was looking right at Hermione.
She turned on her heels, nearly taking a tumble in the process, and slid into the seat beside a sleepy looking Ron. She could feel her cheeks burn as he eyed her suspiciously.
"What's going on, 'Mione?" he inquired. "You've been acting off since yesterday morning."
Pull yourself together!
She willed her breathing to calm before she formed a response. "I'm perfectly fine, Ronald," she grinned. "In fact, I'm fantastic!"
Liar, liar, robes on fire…
Turning her face away, she let her hair fall forward, concealing her features. She didn't want him to see the frown that marred her face.
Pansy Parkinson took only two days to completely derail her.
oOoOoOo
Pansy paused in the doorway of the Great Hall. Of course she would come face to face with Hermione before she'd even had a chance to get a cup of tea in her system. What better way to continue her perfectly horrible morning than to scare off her crush by merely being in the same vicinity?
She hated to acknowledge the truth, but it hurt receiving the cold shoulder. Hermione could feel their connection; Pansy refused to believe otherwise.
And what the hell was Astoria on about earlier? She felt that icy fear flow through her veins again. Was she spying? Did she see the library encounter?
If there was one person who could take a rumor and spread it quicker than Fiendfyre, it was Astoria Greengrass. The petite blonde had always been in the shadow of her older counterpart, Daphne. Pansy thought back to all those summer nights they'd refused to let the younger girl in on their plans. Could she really be holding a grudge?
She stiffened, making her way towards the long table of Slytherins. She had to maintain her role of perfection amongst her peers, and having her head down as she walked past the Gryffindor table wasn't something a royal would do.
Pansy slipped onto a bench and reached for a slice of toast. She smiled at Draco as he poured her tea, adding two sugar cubes, just as she liked it. Ever the gentleman, that Draco Malfoy.
He began to put a plate of food together, and she used his temporary distraction as opportunity to really study him.
Draco had always been handsome, but over the last year he'd really grown into his features. Towering over her at just over 6 feet tall, his shoulders had filled out, and he'd let his hair grow long. Held back by a leather cord, his platinum locks made his appearance strikingly similar to that of his father, Lucius. But unlike the elder Malfoy's cold gray eyes, Draco's were warm, and staring right back at her.
She startled, quickly turning her eyes away. She wasn't blind. She knew that he was a good looking bloke. It would be a lie to say she hadn't pleaded with herself to wake up and feel a real attraction for him… or for any man. Life would be so much easier.
She finished her toast, wiping at her mouth with a linen. Past the table of seventh year Ravenclaws, she could spot the back of Hermione's head. She found it particularly odd since she'd always sat on the other side of the table, facing Pansy.
Pansy felt a slight twinge of jealousy as she watched Hermione tip her head back in laughter. Ron was showing off one of the new practical joke objects from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. She rolled her eyes, resting her chin against her palm. She hadn't even attempted to hide her annoyance from those around her.
Standing abruptly and looking over to Draco, "I'm done here. Walk me to class?"
He stood, taking the hand of his fake girlfriend. They made their way past the tables and into the hallway. Hands entwined, they continued to the staircase towards their first class: Non-Verbal Charms with Professor Flitwick.
Of course, her very first class was shared amongst a score of Gryffindors.
For once, I hope not to see Hermione in a class. She crossed her fingers, silently wishing for a spell to make herself disappear.
oOoOoOo
Hermione entered the Charms classroom, chatting away animatedly with Harry and Ron. She snagged a table at the front of the room with a perfect view of the chalk board. She placed her quill, parchment, and wand neatly in front of her.
Charms was one of Hermione's favorite classes, though she excelled at every course Hogwarts had to offer. She smiled to herself, admiring her own consistent honors throughout her years at Hogwarts. She was top of her class and had no plan to surrender her title this year.
She sat up a little straighter, remembering Gryffindor students shared this class with the Slytherins, and that meant somewhere in this room sat Pansy Parkinson. She willed herself not to turn her head and scan the room.
Professor Flitwick walked from the back of the classroom down the center aisle. Using all his force, he managed his way up the two steps to reach his position.
Professor Flitwick was part goblin, so he stood only three feet tall. He twirled his finger around the edge of his handlebar moustache, nervously.
I suppose students aren't the only ones to get first-day jitters.
"Ah hem…" Flitwick cleared his throat respectfully, "…Students, welcome back to Hogwarts! I'm Professor Flitwick, and as always I'll be teaching you about charms and how they're useful to you. This year, your final year, we'll be focusing on Non-Verbal Charms."
After six years at Hogwarts, Flitwick still introduces himself...
Hermione held her wand, flicking it at her quill.
Compaviti! Her quill inked itself and took notes as Flitwick spoke about the importance of silently enacting charms.
"Now, before everyone gets settled into their current seat, I'd like to mix things up a bit!" Hermione looked down at her things with a frown. She was pretty settled as she was. "As you exit these halls at the end of your final year, you'll notice it doesn't matter what House you belong to. It's important to get to know everyone, regardless of the color of your tie."
Flitwick's moustache twitched as he prepared himself for the undeniable backlash he was about to face.
"We will be alternating seats by House. Every Slytherin student will be sitting next to a Gryffindor student." The class grumbled disapprovingly.
"Ronald! You'll be sitting next to… Gregory Goyle." She looked over at him as his face twisted. "Miss Granger, you'll be sitting next to…"
Please not Pansy! Please not Pansy!
"…Pansy Parkinson." She pursed her lips as Pansy slowly made her way down the center aisle and slid into the vacant spot on the bench next to Hermione. She watched from the corner of her eye as Pansy neatly unpacked her supplies from an expensive-looking tote. It seemed like their desire to ignore the other was mutual at the moment.
Hermione patiently watched as the Professor assigned the rest of the class. She smirked as Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter sized one another up from their shared bench.
At least I won't be the only one miserable this term, she thought dryly.
Professor Flitwick instructed them to read the directions on the blackboard and attempt the charms non-verbally. Looking up at the board, she rolled her eyes. Lumos, she cast silently and proficiently. She smirked, knowing she could do the basics expertly. She'd been practicing nonverbal spells the whole summer.
Hermione spent the majority of her free time reading and studying to further her education; growing up with muggles put her at a huge disadvantage. She didn't even know magic existed until the summer after her eleventh birthday. She was determined to cram as much knowledge in her head as she could. No one would ever be able to tell her she wasn't as good as the pure or even half-blood witches and wizards.
Taking a quick survey of the room, she noticed only a few other students had successfully created light nonverbally. She made eye contact with Draco Malfoy, whose wand was lit brightly. He gave her a cocky grin.
Not one to be outdone, she waved her wand and silently shouted Accio Charms Book in Draco's direction.
His eyes widened as he watched his book zoom off the table, shooting across the room into Hermione's waiting hand. Applause rang through the small classroom, and she glanced up to see Professor Flitwick clapping merrily.
"Well done, Miss Granger! Five points to Gryffindor," he beamed gleefully. She stood to return Draco's textbook, but stopped when she felt a slight pressure. She glanced down in barely concealed shock to see Pansy's hand wrapped around her wrist. She blushed, quickly pulling away. Pansy, unfazed, cocked a brow and muttered,, "Nice work, Hermione".
oOoOoOo
"Class dismissed, and once again, fantastic job Miss Granger! You've got such a natural talent for this!" Flitwick cheered, stepping carefully off of his box.
Draco huffed dramatically, pushing his way through the crowd of Gryffindor and Slytherin students.
Filthy Mudblood! Who does she think she is trying to embarrass me?
He made his way down the hall. His face was flushed, and his brow was rimmed in sweat. He pulled a strip of leather from his bag and tied his hair back.
"Draco! Slow down!" He slowed his pace, finding an empty bench between two columns in the third floor hallway. Pansy sat next to him, placing her hand on Draco's knee. "What's wrong with you? Why are you storming out of class like you've gone mad?"
Draco inhaled deeply, knowing instantly that he was going to regret his words as they dripped from his lips. "Your little Mudblood girlfriend is what's wrong with me! She's a petulant child! Can't believe she had the cheek to pull a stunt like she did!"
He watched as Pansy sat up straight, pulling her hands back into her own lap. "Wow, Draco. Seriously, what is your problem? What has she done to make you hate her so much?" Pansy shouted back at him, her brows wrinkled in anger.
"Pansy! She isn't one of us. She will NEVER be one of us!" They were both standing now, facing each other. Their faces turned shades of red, both doing their best not to say things they'd regret.
"You know what, Draco? I hope she never is one of us! Because if being one of us means holding blood purity over what really matters, it's nothing I want to be a part of! And if that's all you care about, I don't want anything to do with you either!" Draco stepped back, doing his best to absorb what his best friend was saying to him. Her words resounded in his ears.
Pansy pushed past him, knocking his tall slender frame into the column. He slammed against it, sliding down onto the floor. Draco watched as the girl he's loved since childhood walked away from him. He pulled his legs into his chest, resting his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands.
Dammit, Draco. What have you done?
oOoOoOo
A/N: Poor Draco! I know, I know… We're sorry!
