Insane House Competition: (pairing) LavenderPansy

365 Prompts Challenge: (food) Chocolate Frogs

Resolutions: Write a pairing you've never written before

Bath Bomb Appreciation: Lavender Musk (write about Lavender Brown)

Yule Ball: Write about someone known for their beauty

Sticker Challenge, Malfoy Manor: Write about a Pureblood

Word Count: 599

Pansy doesn't know what brings her back to Hogwarts when the fighting is finally over. Well, she knows exactly what it is, but she can't bring herself to voice it. It's so very wrong, and she isn't quite ready to admit that she isn't the perfect Pureblood she's meant to be.

She keeps her head down, but people still notice her. Angry whispers follow her throughout the castle, but she forces herself to ignore them. She deserves the sneers and hostility.

By some miracle, she makes it to the hospital wing without any confrontation. Now, her confidence fades. She almost wants to turn back and face all those angry students and let them do their worst. Anger is so much better than what's waiting for her behind those doors.

After several moments, Pansy takes a deep breath that does nothing to steady her nerves. She has to do this. The girl she loves more than anything in the world is in there suffering.

Parvati glares at her when she reaches the bed, but she doesn't speak. Pansy is sure the Gryffindor has a lot to say, but this might be Lavender's deathbed. Now is not the time. "Nice is you to finally show up," she snaps instead.

"Can we have a moment alone?"

Parvati looks like she wants to protest. Her mouth opens but quickly closes again. She shrugs wildly before prodding a slender finger against Pansy's chest. "I never liked you. After that stunt you pulled in the Great Hall, you're lucky I don't hex you into oblivion," she says, her voice low and dangerous. "But I know she loves you, so I will allow it."

Before Pansy can even thank her, Parvati stalks off, muttering darkly under her breath.

Pansy moves closer to the bed, and her heart breaks. Lavender has always been so beautiful. She's taken so much pride in her clear, creamy skin and honey blonde curls. Now, her face and body are marred with raised scars. The blood has been washed away, but Pansy can imagine how bad it must have been.

And she had been a coward. Pansy had been so quick to give up Potter; she'd been more than happy to run away. Lavender had been brave and bold, and Pansy realizes now that she truly doesn't deserve the beautiful girl on the bed.

Lavender's eyes open. Her lips quirk into a small smile that quickly fades as she cries out.

"Careful," Pansy cautions, gently pushing her fingers through Lavender's curls.

"You came back," Lavender whispers.

"Of course I did. Couldn't leave the love of my life to suffer, could I? I brought you something." Pansy digs in her purse before pulling out a few Chocolate Frogs. "Chocolate always makes me feel better, even if it's just a little bit."

Lavender reaches out and takes one. She feels the foil away and carefully nibbles at the sweet. Pansy watches, her heart breaking.

She should have stayed. If she had been there, maybe Lavender wouldn't have gotten hurt. She tries to tell herself that it isn't her fault, that war has casualties, but she still blames herself.

"I was a coward," Pansy whispers.

Lavender takes her hand. "You did what you thought was right," she assures her. "It wasn't a good choice, but it came from the hard. Besides, you came back."

Pansy sits on the edge of the bed and presses a chaste kiss to her lover's forehead. "I'll always come back for you."

Lavender's thumb brushes gently over Pansy's knuckles. Though smiling pains her, she looks content. "That will be enough."