A/N: I just sincerely hope I didn't mangle Pansy Parkinson's character in this oneshot.
Sometimes Pansy Parkinson wonders (then immediately shudders) if she should have been a Hufflepuff. Of course, then she tells herself she's a full blooded Slytherin or else she wouldn't have been sorted into that house, but Pansy knows no one has only the traits of one single house, including her.
One good example is Draco Malfoy. Ever since she was a toddler, she has been encouraged by her parents to get close to him so that he'll fall in love with her; in that way, they will get married and the Parkinson family would hold a lot of importance by being interconnected with the Malfoys. They would also get richer. But Pansy hates being almost nothing but a tool for her parents; she'll live the way she wants to, not by her parents' whim.
Not that it matters; her parents might possibly get their wish whether they wanted to or not. Now Pansy's very good friends with Draco, since they've been playing together from the age of three or four. Good friendship doesn't turn into love – it stays as good friendship. Yet Pansy wishes they'll fall in love so her parents will be pleased.
That's not Slytherin.
Pansy hates it when Draco implies on the train ride to Hogwarts in their sixth year that he's received the Dark Mark, even though he's done it for a somewhat honorable cause. He's doomed himself because his father lost the favor of the Dark Lord. He'll die and they'll never marry and her parents will never get what they want and she and Draco will never laugh together again and talk about Hogwarts and make fun of the Gryffindors and rant about Slytherin prejudice and try to figure out which mudbloods are good (like Tracey) and which mudbloods are bad (like Granger) and…and…and…
That's not Slytherin.
She simpers over Draco so everyone else will understand he's good enough for someone to want to fuss over him. So they'll understand if someone cares about him like that they'll see he must be respected and good, though it would depend what kind of good. But instead everyone thinks Pansy is infatuated with Draco instead, that she's empty headed and just squeals about him because he's oh-so-handsome and oh-so-rich. Instead they think she's Draco's slut, there to cater to his every need and whim because she has nothing else to do. And that Draco puts up with it because he thinks he deserves it.
That's not Slytherin.
Slytherin is to fall in love or not fall in love and disregard the wishes of her parents, because who cares about them, when Pansy thinks about all she can do for herself? If Pansy falls in love its her place in society that gets raised, not her parents'. Pansy will attend all the important parties and will be in a rich and well known family. She will be influential – why, she could be in the Daily Prophet! – and everyone will know her opinions, and perhaps be swayed to them as well if Pansy's persuasive enough.
That's Slytherin.
Slytherin is to feel sorry for a moment that Draco has doomed himself to death, then wonder how he can be such a thick person, to follow and die instead of to stay behind the curtain and live. To laugh at him for his foolish choices even though he has been Pansy's friend for most of her life. To recall the memories and then toss them into the garbage bin, thinking it'll be just as good to discuss the same issues with another friend.
That's Slytherin.
Slytherin is to throw away any thoughts of simpering of Draco to show people how good he is and use that time to show people how good she is, why Pansy deserves admiration and respect and like. To put on a mask to the Gryffindors to show she's not evil but brave, a different mask to the Hufflepuffs to show she is hardworking and loyal, and yet another mask to the Ravenclaws to show she is intelligent and thoughtful. To convince people she is not a slut or a whore, but an independent young woman with strong opinions.
That's Slytherin.
But no one – not even Salazar Slytherin himself – is completely and wholly Slytherin. Slytherin is just a name coined for the ambitious and cunning people, the people who want others to think well of them in any way, to get respect in any shape or form, or to accomplish their plans and even hide in the shadows to do it.
No one is totally like that. So why is Pansy so concerned?
Didn't she show herself to be Slytherin when she left the Great Hall and not take part in the battle, though every other Slytherin in her year, even Blaise and Sally-Anne, stayed, so she would be out of danger, so she would survive, so that if the Dark Lord won she wouldn't be in danger?
No.
Once again it was out of loyalty, ridiculous Hufflepuff loyalty, that she did something. She would have been fighting against what her parents supported, what her friend Draco supported, what most of the people she had known for all her lives supported. Pansy could never have dueled with someone she knew that well. Though she was a Slytherin, Pansy could not kill.
And to this day, Pansy still thinks bitterly, a frown on her face, her eyes narrowed, and her forehead creased, that she should have been a Hufflepuff.
A/N: Please tell me I didn't destroy Pansy. That's all I'm asking. Plus the usual:
Constructive criticism appreciated.