The silence was unnerving to say the least. It had been hours since Malfoy and Hermione had departed for central London, and both Ron Weasely and Pansy Parkinson were, on edge. Immediately after breakfast, Parkinson had departed for Sirius' bedchambers and hadn't resurfaced until 4pm, even though they were supposed to be working straight through the morning. She had taken a quick shower, barely spared a thought for Ron Weasely who was definitely off somewhere sulking, and then headed down to the dungeons of Grimmauld Place to check on her potions.
Pansy was proud of the concoctions she was able to achieve and she felt a sick sort of gratification that many people relied on her to create them in order to live. It was no secret that she was an ego-maniac with an agenda all of her own, but in the last six months, Granger, of all people, had convinced her that making a difference in the world, in a positive way, really did have good effects. Her breasts looked lovelier than ever, her hair had grown out, the wrinkled frown that had marred her face disappeared, and she had lost the pugish features of her childhood. Pansy thought it was safe to say that Hermione Granger had made her an even more beautiful person, and for that, she was grateful.
At the moment, however, she was anything but grateful.
It had been well past dinner time when she had just finished adding a sprinkle of common powdered rue to Harry and Neville's batch of Felix Felicis, before flooing it to the Ministry, when that bloody ingrate of a ginger came slamming into the dungeons scaring her half to death. He had almost destroyed the potion, and given her a heart attack in the process. She immediately jumped into action in order to save her work, while Weasley stood there like a savage, breathing down her neck. What Hermione ever saw in him was a mystery to her.
Funny enough, Pansy felt jealous as hell, deep down, in a place where she would never commit; Ron Weasely had a brooding sort of sexiness about him. Nothing compared to Draco, of course, but it seemed that their fling was long lost, considering he was mildly obsessed with Granger. Pansy snorted, that was putting it lightly.
Ron's head jerked up at her less than lady like noise and raised a questioning brow. He had been down here pestering her ever since Granger had left with Draco and by now it had to be well past midnight.
"What?" He spat. "What now?" She indicated to the potion in front of him.
"Keep stirring vigorously." He huffed in annoyance and turned back to the smoking cauldron, muttering something about snakes. Pansy shot a sneer at him and with deliberate malice she replied.
"So…your pathetic plea to split up Granger and Draco fell on deaf ears?" Weasely steadily ignored her gaze as he slammed the ladle into the sides of the pewter with all of his might. "No? Potter didn't bend to your every insecurity?" She taunted, viewing him with grim determination. There was nothing that irritated Pansy more than pent up feelings. Ron shot her a death stare, accompanied by, what she thought to be, a pretty impressive snarl. For a low- class peasant.
"Piss off you fucking cunt." He whispered. She raised her eyebrows at that.
"My, my Weasely, such language. I hope you don't kiss your mother with that mouth." Surprisingly, his face split into a sort of manic grin. He turned from the potion and met her eyes straight on.
"What exactly is it that you want from me, Parkinson? My blood, tears? Perhaps my semen?" She scoffed at his audacity, her fingers twitching around her wand.
"As if I would ever want to suck on something so pathetic." She spat, her temper rising. Weasely shrugged with indifference.
"We'll, see. Never know, Parkinson, I may be the only shot you have left."
"Meaning?" She hissed, deciding that next time she worked with this vindictive git she would have to sharpen her nails.
"It's just that…you know. I mean, you must have noticed…"
"Spit it out!" She nearly screamed, almost forgetting about the potion.
Ron smirked at her with pity before continuing. "It's clear your slithering coward is trying to crawl between my girlfriend's legs, it's even more than obvious that he has lost complete interest in you. And who else would have you? Black? You think his blood will help you regain what you've lost? You're nothing but a whore to him." He snorted in amusement. "So when you look at it that way, I really am the best option that you have left." Pansy rolled her eyes, but under the surface she was seething in rage. How dare this fucking sod talk down to her.
"I'd rather die." She whispered menacingly. Ron merely shook his head and looked back at the cauldron.
"What's next?"
"Figure it the fuck out yourself." She snapped.
"My, my…" He taunted. "It seems like I've rattled your perfect composure. So much that you seem to be willing to sacrifice your own work. Shame on you." He laughed like a pig. And before he even realized there was a threat, Pansy had her wand pressed into his neck, holding his face down towards one of the open flames on her workstation.
"Say that again." She breathed. "Give me a fucking excuse." Ron realized his mistake instantly, even though his cock grew hard at the dominance she was asserting. He groaned loudly. Pansy looked down and immediately realized why.
"Wow." She laughed, letting his head go and pushing him away from her with disgust. "You really are one sick fuck, aren't you, Weasely?"
"No sicker than you." He muttered though his ears had turned bright red and he moved away from her to cover up his hard on.
"Granger not putting out?" She asked innocently. She was met with a snarl as Ron slammed his hands onto the top of a desk, all amorous intentions forgotten.
"It's his fault!" Ron cried. "He's changing her." He spat desperately. Pansy took pity on him for split second.
"You don't think they deserve each other?" Pansy questioned. Ron's brows snapped together in horror.
"What?" He gasped. "How many of those fumes have you been inhaling?"
"Seriously. Think about it. Draco thinks he's better than everyone, so does Granger. They are constantly at odds, but I assume that's because they are both way too intelligent to not give into one another's thoughts. And don't even get me started on the sexual tension, you could cut it with a Sectumsepra-"
"Enough!" Ron roared, trying desperately to cling on to the last shreds of his sanity. Pansy grinned in delight.
"Seems I've hit a nerve. I take it your outburst indicates that you have also noticed these similar occurrences?"
"Hermione is just blind!" Ron tried desperately. "She wants to see the good in people like you and Malfoy-"
"And what is so wrong with that, Weasely?" She shouted, close to hysterics. "What is so awful about giving us a chance? We are here, aren't we? We are fighting with you, not against you, so why? What? Can you not let it fucking go!?" Their chests were rising in rhythm, both agitated beyond belief, as Ron stared at her like he had never truly seen her before.
"You know, even when you were a total bitch back in school, I always thought I'd love to get my hands on you. Call it twisted, but I guess that's what it was, some sort of sick, fucked up fantasy."
She scoffed in disbelief.
"You wish."
"I did." Pansy raised an eyebrow at that.
"What is this Weasely? Your idea of an apology?"
"No." He muttered. "Definitely not. But maybe a truce." She looked at him in sheer disbelief.
"What?" She whispered.
" I dunno. " He shrugged. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm here fighting a losing battle. "
She was stunned dumb, so instead of replying she turned back to her cauldron. Her mind was certainly overworked and way too overtired. She turned up the heat on her flame and Ron copied her motion.
"What do you think?" He asked after several tense moments.
"What do I….? I think you are completely insane, that's what I think." A smiled tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"What's next?" He asked slyly. Pansy chanced a glance at him and she was positive that the look in his eyes was one of pent up sexual aggression. She was a Slytherin for Merlin's sake, she could recognize that look anywhere. Instead of replying, she waved her wand in the formation of a figure eight and exclaimed,
"Felixempra!" He copied her exact motion and words as both of their potions turned to liquid luck. Pansy wiped her brow in satisfaction.
"This is the last of it." She muttered in relief. She turned towards him and suddenly felt awkward. He was looking at her strangely.
"I…" She began. "I shouldn't have said that about Granger. I mean about her not putting out. That was…fucked up."
Ron laughed loudly. "That's what you're sorry for? Please, that is probably one of the only accurate statements you've made."
Pansy raised an eyebrow, as she quickly bottled up the potions with a wave of her wand.
"She's always pissed at me." Ron confessed pitifully. Pansy threw her hands up in annoyance.
"Of course she is! You won't give her a break for a fucking second. I would be livid if I was with someone who didn't trust me."
"It's not that I don't trust her!" Ron claimed fervently. "It's him, I can't stand."
"Well then you need to trust her judgment." Ron shrugged. They had finished cleaning up, there was nothing but silence filling the space between them. Then, just as Pansy was about to head out, find a bottle of whiskey and kinky sex with that dog, Black, Ron spoke up.
"Fancy a drink?" He was holding up a vial of pure luck. Pansy looked at him with a mischievous smile. Now that might be fun. She was the most spontaneous person she knew, after all.
"Only if you insist on retiring to the library with me for several whiskeys." Ron's gaze hardened with determination. If Hermione was going to be buddy buddy with Malfoy, sure there was no harm in him sharing a few drinks and casual flirtations with this gorgeous snake?
"Deal." He handed her a vial of the Felix Felicis and their stares met over the brim. Ron chanced a glance at her stunningly ripe body then clinked his glass against hers.
"To us." He murmured savagely as he drained the potion in a gulp.
"To getting lucky." His eyes heated at her statement and Pansy threw the warm, deliciousness of luck down her throat. The effect it had on both of them was immediate. It was as if the universe had given them a night of wondrous opportunity. Pansy's body began to tingle. Maybe this place isn't so bad. She giggled slightly as, a high on luck Ron Weasely, grabbed her hand pulling her toward the staircase. She only hoped Granger and Draco would be equally as lucky.