Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Election day - part 3
The campaign went as planed. Mr. Parkinson won the debate without a doubt because the crowd gathered at the square was cheering his name afterwards. His opponent, a short bald man, ended up hurting his chances of wining, he actually made a big joke of himself, unintentionally. In an attempt to appear taller he stood on two very big books. Of course someone snapped a picture from behind and it ended up on the cover of Daily Prophet along side the picture of Mr. Parkinson looking fearless like some sort of bronze statue.
Sure enough Mr. Parkinson won the election and there was a big party at the Parkinson manor that evening. The party was set up in the garden, in the back of the manor. It was a large garden with stone tiled paths and lots of colorful flowers. There was plenty of space as well, for the tables with food and drinks. Lots of fireflies of different colors were captured in a magical cage of sorts. Floating above the party they gave the whole place a magical look. It sort of looked like there was a Christmas party in the spring time. That's how Hermione would describe it.
Pansy however didn't join the party. She looked down at it from the window in one of the dark rooms of the manor. She watched people, most of which she didn't know, crowding around her father, the new Minister of Magic. What a bunch of suck-ups, she thought. Hermione Granger was there, of course. She had a big smile on her face while shaking hands alongside her father.
Pansy wished she could just send a fireball right at her. Though she'd probably end up blowing herself up, she realized. She hadn't used any sort of combat magic in a while.
Hermione excused herself and went inside trying to find the nearest bathroom. The house was pretty much empty since everyone was out in the garden where all the commotion was. She went for the bathroom that was next to the room she was in, that way she wouldn't get lost in the hallways of the large manor.
Hermione was washing her hands, about to go back to the party when Pansy walked in completely relaxed, thinking she was walking into an empty bathroom. She was barefoot, wearing only her nightgown.
"Oh…" Pansy exclaimed after noticing someone was there. She immediately recognized the young woman washing her hands. "What?! You're spending the night here again Granger?" She snarled instinctively.
"Yea, got a problem with that Parkinson?" Hermione retorted drying her hands on the towel.
"No, by all means, why don't you just move in!" Pansy said sarcastically.
"No, thank you." Hermione retorted with the same amount of attitude. She leaned back on the end of the sink that resembled a modern muggle one. "Believe me, my place is a lot nicer. I've got all sorts of muggle and magical devices, and furniture… I can't really describe it… you just have to see it to believe it." Hermione boasted.
"Is that an invitation?" Pansy asked provokingly.
"Yeah, you wish." Hermione retorted with a condescending smirk.
"I have a pretty good idea how you acquired all that, you probably cheated your friends out of their share or something, just like my father, you're just the same, that's why he likes you."
Hermione pushed off the sink and took a few steps towards Pansy. "Spitting out lies as usual, I see. For your information, I never tricked anyone. Sure, I had to play rough sometimes, but that's business, something you know nothing about. I earned all my wealth fair and square."
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that." Pansy said and went for the sink while Hermione went for the door.
Hermione heard Pansy mumble something and opening the faucet at full.
"What?" Hermione couldn't help but to ask, turning around half way out the door.
Pansy closed the faucet. "I said, my father will double-cross you too, sooner or later."
"I doubt that, the only reason he became Minister is because of me."
"I'll be sure to tell him you said that."
"Go ahead! I'm sure he already knows." Hermione replied calmly, reading the bluff.
"He'll double-cross you for sure. Just wait and see."
"I've had enough of talking to you. I got better things to do." Hermione left slamming the door shut a bit harder than intended, so the loud noise made Pansy flinch on the other side.
Pansy washed her face. She liked making sad faces in the mirror 'cause that's how she felt, that and unfulfilled after this little quarrel that seamed to play out without her control. Hermione would probably get what she wants concerning what she need from her father, Pansy figured, she always did. All that while Pansy herself keeps rotting away alone in this big manor, she thought looking herself in the eyes. She wallowed in self-pity while her breath slowly fogged the mirror.
Hermione didn't take it to heart as much. She took a more rational route in the analysis of this unforeseen meeting. With Pansy there was no civilized conversation to begin with, so the confines never existed, it was just raw and honest, without filtering out any words. That sort of honesty wasn't really inspiring, nothing but hate that is. Pansy just went right to it, like there was no gap between today and Hogwarts.
Not that it mattered. Hermione went back to the party and made a mental note to avoid talking to her again. She probably wouldn't have to anyway, Pansy seamed like a complete shut-in.
End of ch3-