Pansy Parkinson was constantly surrounded by drooling idiots. Right now, it was breakfast in the Great Hall on a Saturday morning. It was mid-October and the buzz was all about the Halloween party coming up. Draco Malfoy and Vincent Crabbe were busy trying to get a first year to eat a handful of cursed Chocolate Frogs that would make the eater vomit for hours on end. Bloody gits. The nerve of her father making her continue her education at Hogwarts. It was a poor excuse for a school. What's worse? Half-bloods were still allowed to study magic. After all these years. Mudbloods, though, Mudbloods, should be put to death. They sickened her. She hated the blood-traitors most of all. Filthy, fucking blood-traitors. How dare they associate with those unworthy, dirty half-bloods and Mudbloods. Pureblood ran through their veins, and they're just that ungrateful? Pathetic. Next to Pansy, sat Millicent Bulstrode. She was busy stuffing her fat, pug face with toast and ham. It was a revolting sight. She tried to talk, and bits of food sprayed everywhere. Pansy calmly dabbed at her chin with a green and silver napkin.
"Try to control your animalistic instinct," Pansy said calmly with a roll of her eyes.
"Sorry," Millicent grumbled as another piece of chewed up ham shot from her mouth. Millicent was like a cross between a bulldog and a pig; horribly ugly, smelly and she ate everything in her path. Poor girl. I would have committed suicide by now if I were her.
"Yeah, I'm sorry your father mated with a potbelly pig, too," Pansy murmured under her breath. A few Slytherins near her chuckled appreciatively. Millicent froze with her bacon halfway to her mouth. Her wide eyes narrowed. "Take that back, you stupid, ugly whore," she snarled, whipping out her wand and pointing it at Pansy. Pansy let out an amused chuckle. Really? She sighed and removed her own wand. Without warning, she grabbed her fellow Slytherin by the collar of her shirt and yanked her close. She breathed in slowly through her nose, as if trying to control her anger. Millicent's own eyes grew.
"Oh, Millicent. Millicent, Millicent, Millicent." Pansy smiled darkly. Millicent gulped and averted her eyes.
"I di-"
"Did I say you could speak?" Pansy interrupted harsly, pulling on her shirt so they were a mere inch apart.
"N-no," Millicent gasped.
"That's right. I didn't. Apologize," Pansy growled. "Now."
Millicent closed her eyes tightly and muttered a weak apology before opening them. Pansy was smirking. She shoved her back roughly, causing the girl to nearly topple off the bench. The brunette picked up her full glass of orange juice and handed it to Millcent, a slow, sly grin spreading over her lips. "Do it."
Millicent knew what she meant. It was a punishment she had received often. It's not my fault you never listen.
Millicent paled. Other students from different tables had stopped talking and eating to watch the fight. "D-do I have to?" she asked, trembling.
"Do. It." Pansy repeated.
Millicent sighed, shut her eyes and poured the entire glass of orange juice over her head. A resounding gasp was heard from the few that saw, followed by laughter. Millicent sniffed and wiped the orange liquid from her eyes. It had dribbled down into the collar of her shirt. She shook her head, orange droplets flying about.
"Good girl," Pansy purred, winking at her. She could still get the freak to listen to her. "What the hell are you guys looking at?" she snapped to the remaining people who were still staring at them. The students quickly looked away. No one dared to mess with Pansy Parkinson.
"I-I-don't know why I had to do that," Millicent grumbled, cleaning herself up with a charm. "You can be s-" her voice faded away as Pansy's eyes landed on someone across the hall. A certain someone with long, red hair. There she was. Her new project. Her little pawn. Her victim. Pansy's eyes followed her hungrily as the redhead sat down and piled her plate with food.
"Of course I did my Potions essay, Hermione," Ginny muttered, sounding annoyed, although she had to hide her smile. Hermione always was worried about her. "I mean, I'm not Ron," she added, gesturing toward her youngest brother and Harry. The two boys were having a serious discussion about Quidditch. Go figure. Ginny yawned tiredly. She hadn't slept well the night before. She had heard Harry, Ron and Hermione arguing about something in the common room late at night. She'd tried to hear their words, but they were hushed and fast. Suddenly, she felt a pair of eyes on her. She snapped her head up, dark-brown eyes surveying the noisy, crowded Great Hall. Colin Creevy was busy taking pictures of the food. The snap and whirl of his camera could be heard all the way down the table. Luna Lovegood was talking with Cho Chang animatedly about something, her arms were flailing about. Draco Malfoy was scolding Goyle. Again. Her eyes landed on the person a few seats down. Pansy was staring at her. She blinked, confused. Ginny raised a questioning eyebrow, but the brunette only winked and looked away. That was odd. Why was Pansy just staring at me? Do I have something on my face? Did I get something on my shirt? Ginny quickly felt her face and looked down at her dark, red long-sleeved top. Seeing nothing, she glanced back up at Pansy. Pansy was talking to Millicent, and Millicent looked like she was about to cry. She squinted. Is she crying?
"-And I can't believe that even your brother would be that foolish," Hermione was saying, voice coming out high-pitched and shrilled. She glanced at the aforementioned redhead and sighed, shaking her head.
Ginny's mouth turned upside down. She had completely missed what Hermione was talking about. "Yeah, I agree," she said, a little distantly. What was that about?
"Are you okay?" The elder Gryffindor frowned and immediately brought a cool hand to Ginny's forehead. "You don't feel warm," she noted, searching for any signs of discomfort on her friend's face.
Ginny quickly shook her head. "I'm fine." She flashed a smile at Hermione, but the girl just stared at her. "I am," she repeated, more slowly. She sighed when Hermione raised an eyebrow like she didn't believe her. "Hermione," she leaned forward with her elbows on the table ( something her mother had taught her never to do) and swirled her spoon around in her oatmeal, "I'm fine," she said firmly.
What sort of fool did Ginny take her for? Hermione merely shrugged, deciding to let the matter drop. For now. "All right."
Ginny grinned and dipped her toast into a bowl of honey. The yellow, sticky liquid dripped down onto her plate as she pulled her arm back. Any minute now she could probably be reprimanded for not using a napkin as a bib while she ate something as messy as honey. A slow smirk spread over her glossy lips. One... She counted down in her head, chewing her toast slowly. Two... The young redhead added more honey to her toast, this time bringing her arm back a little harder than before, pulling out a great, big glob of honey and putting it in her mouth. Thr-
"Ginny!" Hermione snapped, looking horrified. "How many times have I told you to use your napkin as a bib?" Hermione chastised, cleaning up the mess Ginny had created with her wand. "Honestly, sometimes I think you do these things just to irritate me." Right on time, Hermione. Ginny smirked and swallowed the last bit of her toast. Maybe she did do things to intentionally piss Hermione off. She loved making Hermione upset. She had been harboring her feelings for Hermione for a few months now, but never had the guts to say anything. Besides, it was a well known fact that Hermione and Fleur Delacour were dating. Gag. She honestly didn't know what Hermione saw in Fleur. They didn't see each other often, but every time Ginny was around the French woman, she wanted to slap the living daylights out of her. She sighed and twisted a lock of her flame-red hair around a slender finger. As long as Hermione was happy, so was she. Sort of. She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, 'Mione, but I grew up with six older brothers, what do you expect?" She then let out a small burp. "Oops. Sorry," she apologized again. Hermione groaned and let her head fall on the wooden table with a thud. Ginny just smiled and reached across the table. "Can I have your honey?" she asked.
Across the hall, Pansy was watching Ginny's every move. From the way she had sauntered into the Great Hall with that Mudblood trailing behind her to the way she ate her toast. She watched as Ginny added more and more honey to her toast. Save some for the rest of us, Weasly.
It did not surprise Pansy when she had chosen Ginny to become her next project. The girl was almost as stubborn as she was, and she needed a challenge. Her other targets had been so boring. Millicent lasted about a week until she broke down. She was the most pathetic of them all. She cried too often and had the attention span of a rodent. Lavender had taken a little longer, but she was quickly put in her place when Ron lost interest in her. She was a little clingy. It took longer than Pansy anticipated to shake her off. Padma was an annoying, little know-it-all, whom had talked of nothing but books. How incredibly dull.
No, Pansy was done with simpletons. She needed someone whom would fight back. She knew Ginny wouldn't be afraid to let her claws out. The thought excited her. Pansy didn't bother with boys; they were simply there for her amusement.
The first step is to pick your victim. Yes, Ginny would make a lovely little pawn. Pansy smirked as Ginny began to nod at everything Hermione was saying. Every so often, she would giggle into her hands and tuck any runaway strands of hair behind her ears. Pansy's smirk grew as Ginny's smile wiped off her face. From the looks of it, Hermione had probably started talking about Fleur. Pansy could not help but snort. Ginny's crush on the Mudblood was so painfully obvious. Well, to everyone except Hermione. That girl was too busy with her head in the clouds. It was almost a sad sight to watch Ginny practically throw herself at Hermione and to have Hermione be completely unaware of the redhead's feelings. Good. Ginny was hers. No one else's. She was aware that Millicent was talking to her, but she could care less. Her eyes were transfixed on Ginny. Suddenly, Ginny got up and walked out of the hall. Hermione stared after her, but turned and started talking to Potter and Weasley.
"You do realize I could care less about what you say, don't you?" Pansy asked as she stood up. "I have things to do. Don't eat all the food on the table now, Millicent." She smirked and disappeared out of the Great Hall before Millicent could say a word.
Now, where had Ginny gone? Her eyes darted around, searching widely for the redhead. Ginny probably was not on the first floor. She could have possibly walked up to her dorm this quickly. Shewalked forward and could hear a faint, but clear sound of someone sobbing from the broom closet. It was a sign of weakness to cry, so Pansy never did. Ever. As she stepped closer, the sobbing got louder. She sighed and opened the door as quietly as she could. There, Ginny sat on an overturned bucket, head in her arms. She was so busy sobbing, that she had not heard the door open. Spider webs covered the ceiling and old, raggedy shelves. A few buckets and sponges were on the top shelf, along with a small chest. An old box sat on the bottom shelf. Something was once written across the box, but it had been scribbled out in black marker. Ginny's long, red hair covered her face like a magnificent curtain. Pansy grinned and leaned against the wall behind her, pulling the door shut with a low click. "Hello, Weasel."
Ginny's head snapped at the sound of someone's voice. She glanced up at Pansy through blurry eyes. She sniffed and wiped her tears away. "Parkinson. What do you want?" Ginny tried to sound cold, but her voice cracked. How long had Pansy been there? Had she heard her crying?
Pansy shrugged nonchalantly. "I thought I'd take a stroll around the castle. Unfortunately, I could not hear myself think with all the blubbering you were doing. What's the matter, did you find out that jock straps are only for guys? Oh, wait..."
Ginny's dark-brown eyes narrowed. Just ignore her. The youngest Weasley pulled herself to her feet and brushed off any dirt and dust from her clothes. When she looked up, Pansy was leaning against the closed door, smirking. "Shut up and get out of my way," Ginny demanded. She really wasn't in the mood today.
"Aw, you don't want to talk to me?" Pansy faked pouted and put a hand to her chest. "I am shocked, Weasley." Ginny's nose and eyes were red, and she looked like she was about to start crying all over again. "I'm not moving. So just down and talk to me." She gestured toward the bucket and flashed Ginny a wide smile. "So, why were you crying?"
Ginny sighed and ran her hand through her hair in an attempt to keep calm. "That is none of your business, Parkinson. Now, get the hell out of my way." She folded her arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow.
Pansy chuckled. This was getting amusing. "Now, now. No need to use such language. Try asking me nicely."
Ginny ran her tongue across the back of her teeth. This was getting ridiculous. "Please let me out," she said, in a calm, polite tone. She wanted to punch Pansy right in her face. She was so irritating.
"Much better. But I quite like it in here. I don't think I'll move," Pansy responded with a wink.
"Get out of the fucking way!" Ginny spat, whipping out her wand from her back pocket and pointing it at Pansy. Her nostrils flared and she gripped her wand tightly.
An amused smile spread across Pansy's lips. "Well. Someone has a nasty temper. I guess the stereotype about redheads having a bad temper is true, huh?" Before Ginny could react, Pansy reached out and yanked Ginny forward, catching her by surprise, and wrapping her arms around her waist. "Don't you think you should relax a little, Weasel?" she whispered.
Ginny's eyed widened slightly. What in the world was Pansy doing? She looked down at Pansy's arms around her waist and back up to her face. Her usual smirk was replaced with a small smile. "Let me go," Ginny ordered simply.
"What if I don't want to?" Pansy inquired, tightening her arms and bringing the other closer to her. She could see the fury and confusion in Ginny's eyes. They were so close Pansy could feel Ginny's heavy breathing on her lips.
Ginny frowned and tried to pull herself out of Pansy's grasp, but her grip was too tight. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"Language, Redhead," Pansy reminded her with a grin. "You should really watch your damn mouth."
At this, Ginny actually chuckled. Pansy really was a hypocrite. "Let me go before I break your arms."
"You couldn't break a board, Weasely." But Pansy let her go and watched as Ginny stepped back. She moved out of her way and pointed toward the door. "Go ahead."
Ginny shot her a glare before opening the closet door and bursting out into the hallway. It was still empty. Surprisingly. She heard a movement from behind her, and nearly jumped out of her skin when Pansy's voice was right next to her ear. "I'm proud of you, Weasley."
Ginny snorted and whirled around to face the Slytherin. She took a quick step back and smirked. "Yeah? Enlighten me, Parkinson. Why is that?"
Pansy tilted her head and brushed a lock of black hair behind her ears. Behind Ginny, other students were starting to file out of the Great Hall. She could see the Mudblood walking with the Potter boy and Weasely. "Why, it's simple," she started, turning her attention back on Ginny. "You finally came out of the closet."
All the color drained from Ginny's face. Oh Merlin. Pansy knew? Shit. That wasn't good. Trying to remain calm, she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Wow, Parkinson. And here I thought you couldn't get any stupider. Guess I was wrong, huh? I am not gay, thank you. Sorry to disappoint. But maybe you can go back to your dog over the holidays. I'm sure she misses you." With that, she flipped Pansy her middle finger, turned on her heel and stalked away.
For a moment, Pansy did not move. Then she smirked and shook her head. Good one, Weasley, she thought as she watched Ginny walk over to Hermione. She was certainly feisty. Oh yes. This was going to be fun.