A week had passed since the heated confrontation, and the tension still hung in the air at Parkinson Manor like an unwanted guest. Pansy kept her head down, her days filled with strict studies and tense meals. She endured the rigid routine, her parents' cold demeanor, but the thoughts of the muggle world and the girl in the bookstore refused to fade.
On a Thursday, a ray of hope finally appeared - her parents were to attend an all-day event in the Ministry of Magic. Pansy woke to the sound of the floo early in the morning.
The moment the echoes of their departure died down, Pansy sprang out of bed, shedding the somber attire that her parents insisted she wear. Instead, she opted for something far more simple, a plain black robe.
Slipping past the house elves and ignoring the disapproving faces in the family portraits, Pansy flooed to The Leaky Cauldron once again crossing the threshold into the muggle world. The sun was a little brighter than the last time she had been here, the streets filled with the hustle and bustle of muggles going about their daily lives.
Pansy wandered aimlessly through the streets, the freedom exhilarating. She passed by muggle shops, parks, and watched as children played with strange, non-magical toys. She saw muggles huddled in front of box-like devices, their faces filled with fascination, the device projecting strange sounds and images. She took in the grand muggle structures, their design so different from wizarding architecture. And though she barely understood half of what she was seeing, it was an eye-opening experience.
At midday, Pansy found herself in front of the quaint bookstore. As she stepped inside, she spotted the girl from before behind the counter, engrossed in a book. Pansy approached cautiously, not sure how she would be received.
"Back again?" The girl's voice echoed in the empty bookstore, her tone cold and dismissive. Pansy swallowed hard, but kept her resolve.
"I... I came to apologize," Pansy said, her voice shaky but audible. The girl looked at her skeptically. Gathering her courage, Pansy continued, "I was rude last time, and... I'm sorry."
A moment of silence hung in the air, before the girl finally responded. "An apology, huh? Didn't peg you for the type."
Pansy felt a flush of embarrassment. "I can be... difficult. My upbringing wasn't... wasn't the kindest."
The girl seemed to mull this over, before finally sighing. "Alright, apology accepted. Just remember to be polite this time."
"Thank you," Pansy managed, her heart pounding in her chest.
Throughout the day, Pansy and the girl exchanged short conversations, tentative at first, then gradually warming up. Pansy learned that the girl's name was Emily, and she had a love for books that rivaled Pansy's own.
"I can't believe you don't like 'To Kill a Mockingbird'," Emily said at one point, aghast. "It's a classic."
"I just found it... tedious," Pansy confessed, shrugging slightly. "I much prefer something like 'Wuthering Heights'."
Emily shook her head, laughing. "Oh, so you like your books filled with drama and complicated relationships?"
"I guess I do," Pansy replied, smiling slightly.
As she flooed back to Parkinson Manor that evening, Pansy felt a strange sense of contentment. She replayed the conversations with Emily in her mind, marvelling at how much she had in common with the muggle girl.
Back in her room, she held onto the memory of their discussions, the feeling of being understood and appreciated for who she was, not her lineage. Tomorrow, she knew, her parents' expectations would once again suffocate her. But for tonight, she had a piece of the muggle world to cherish, a beacon in her otherwise oppressive life.
Another few days passed in a blur of studying and boredom. Pansy held on to the memories of her day in the muggle world, their warmth keeping her going. So, when another opportunity arose, with her parents again away for the day, she didn't hesitate to step back into the muggle world.
She wandered the streets, each corner revealing something new, each sight and sound filling her with a sense of wonder. She watched muggles engage with strange devices, saw children playing with unusual toys, and passed by numerous shops showcasing a variety of wares.
Towards midday, she found herself in front of a clothing store. The vibrant colors and stylish designs displayed in the window were a stark contrast to the dreary, uniform attire she was used to. On a whim, she stepped inside.
It was a small, cosy shop filled with beautiful scarves of all kinds, from colourful knitted ones to soft, elegant silks. A particular scarf, deep green with intricate patterns, reminded her of the Slytherin house colors. On impulse, she picked up the scarf and feeling the soft material under her fingers decided to buy it.
She walked up to the counter, pulling out a handful of Galleons from her pocket. The man behind the counter looked at her with a puzzled expression. "I'm sorry, miss," he said, eyeing the gold coins. "We only accept pounds here."
"Pounds?" Pansy was taken aback. She hadn't considered that the muggle world used a different type of currency. In her embarrassment, she mumbled a quick apology and left the shop, her excitement replaced with a mix of confusion and frustration
She spent the rest of the day exploring, making a mental note to figure out the muggle currency system. As the day turned into evening, she found herself back at the bookstore. Emily greeted her with a warm smile, "Back so soon?"
Pansy smiled back, feeling a strange sense of belonging. "I suppose I am," she replied.
Pansy moved further into the bookstore, the comforting smell of old books washing over her. She browsed through the shelves, picking out a book here and there, feeling the soft pages between her fingers.
Emily watched her from the counter, an amused smile on her face. "You certainly do love books, don't you?"
Pansy looked up, meeting Emily's gaze. "It's one of the few things that make sense," she replied honestly. Emily nodded, seemingly understanding.
As Pansy continued her browsing, she found herself drawn into a conversation with Emily about their favourite authors. It was a strange feeling, talking so casually with someone from a world so different from hers, yet so fascinating.
"I tried to buy something from a store earlier," Pansy confessed, leaning on the counter across from Emily. "But I didn't have the right... currency."
Emily chuckled. "That must've been awkward."
Pansy's cheeks tinged pink at the memory. "More than a little," she admitted. They both laughed, the sound echoing softly in the bookstore.
"Do you want me to show you how pounds work?" Emily asked, her tone sincere. Pansy was taken aback by the offer. She hesitated before nodding, "That would be... appreciated."
So, for the next 10 minutes or so, Pansy found herself learning about muggle money from Emily. She explained the different types of coins and bills, their values, and even showed Pansy some from the cash register.
It was entirely different from the Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts she was used to, but Pansy was determined to understand it. She found herself growing more and more interested in the muggle way of life, so vastly different from the wizarding world she'd known all her life.
As she finally left the bookstore that evening, a strange sense of satisfaction filled her. Emily's warm smile and her patient manner stuck in her mind. For the first time in a long while, Pansy felt seen and understood, and she held on to that feeling as she navigated her way back to the magical world, back to the life she was obligated to live but was slowly feeling more and more detached from.
She knew the more she explored this world, the more difficult it would be to return to her old one. But for now, she welcomed the challenge and the discovery, looking forward to the next chance she'd get to learn more about the muggle world.
Pansy made her way to Diagon Alley under the cloak of the early morning. The streets were mostly deserted, save for the shopkeepers who were just beginning to open their establishments. She walked swiftly, her destination clear in her mind: Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
Pansy was there to inquire about an idea that had been nagging her - creating a separate vault, one that her parents didn't know about. She knew it was a long shot. After all, she was still underage in the wizarding world. But she also knew that goblins had their own set of rules, separate from wizarding law.
The imposing white marble building stood at the end of the cobblestone street, and Pansy felt a twinge of nervousness as she ascended the steps. She'd been to Gringotts several times with her parents, but this was the first time she was going there on her own, with her own agenda.
Inside, she was greeted by the sight of busy goblins, their fingers flying over parchment and quills scratching away. A goblin looked up as she entered, his sharp eyes taking her in.
Taking a deep breath, she approached the gruff-looking goblin looking at her from one of the counters. "Excuse me," she began, "I'd like to ask about opening a vault."
The goblin peered at her over his spectacles, "Underage witches are allowed to open a personal vault, but parental consent is required."
Pansy had anticipated this. She bit her lip, searching for the right words and quietly said. "Is there... Is there any way to open one without my parents knowing?"
The goblin looked at her sharply. His lips thinned into a hard line. "That," he said, "is a discussion that needs more privacy, follow me."
He led her through the bustling bank to a secluded meeting room. Its interior was simple and practical, a stark contrast to the lavish grandeur of the bank's main hall. He motioned for her to take a seat at the polished wooden table.
The goblin stared at her for a moment, assessing. Then, in a even tone, he said, "Gringotts respects the privacy of its clients. However, such a request does come with... certain additional fees."
Pansy's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to agree. "I... I understand," she said, reaching into her robe and pulling out a handful of Galleons.
After a long discussion about the terms and conditions, Pansy Parkinson was the owner of a secret Gringotts vault. It was a small victory, one that gave her a sense of control she rarely experienced in her life.
After the goblin confirmed her new account, Pansy hesitated for a moment, biting her lip. She hadn't planned on bringing this up, but now that she was here...
"I have a trust vault, set up by my parents when I was born," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. The goblin raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue. "I'd like to move all the money from that vault into this new one. Current funds, and any future deposits as well."
The goblin raised a brow, a glint of interest in his eyes. "All funds, present and future, can be redirected to your new vault. However, you should be aware that all transactions from a trust vault are final."
Pansy nodded. "I understand. I'd like to do that, please."
The goblin scribbled down a note, mumbling something about documentation and verification.
As she had no knowledge of the amount she'd just transferred Pansy cleared her throat making the goblin look back at her.
"Could you tell me how much was in the trust vault?" she asked. "I'd also like to exchange some Galleons for... muggle currency. Pounds, I believe" The goblin shifted some papers around.
"Your trust vault contained a total of 5460 Galleons," the goblin replied. "There's a monthly deposit of 30 Galleons set up by your parents when you were born."
While it wasn't exactly an extraordinary amount by Parkinson standards, it was enough for Pansy. Enough for her to explore, to learn, and to gradually build a life outside the constraints of her parents expectations.
"With the current exchange rate, one Galleon is approximately 4 pounds 93 pence." The goblin continued "That means the amount transferred to your new vault is approximately 26900 pounds. Your monthly deposit would equate to roughly 150 pounds. How much would you like to exchange"
Pansy was slightly surprised by the large amount. "1000 pounds of mostly bills with a few mixed coins aswell, please".
The goblin handed her a small bag filled with unfamiliar paper bills and coins, but Pansy now knew their worth. That leaves you a total of 5258 galleons, 24 sickles and 6 knuts. Pansy nodded in acknowledgement.
The goblin looked at Pansy, a calculating look on his face. "Would you be interested in investing your gold, Miss Parkinson?"
Pansy blinked, surprised. "Investing?"
The goblin nodded, explaining how investing could grow her wealth over time. He outlined some options, detailing the risks and rewards of each. "You can choose to find someone to handle your investments, or we at Gringotts can take care of it for you."
Pansy considered it. She knew next to nothing about investing, but the prospect of her gold growing was enticing. After a moment of thought, she said, "I'd like Gringotts to handle it."
The goblin looked slightly taken aback. "You trust goblins with your investments?"
Pansy frowned, confused. "Why wouldn't I? It's common knowledge that goblins love gold. Wouldn't those who love it the most be the best at acquiring it?"
The goblin stared at her for a moment before a rare grin spread across his face. "Indeed, Miss Parkinson. You are one of few witches who show such common sense."
They spent the next hour discussing the best investment strategies for her, the goblin explaining everything in great detail. Finally, they settled on a plan and a fee - Gringotts would take a 2.5% cut of the profits.
Just before she left, Pansy turned back to the goblin. "What's your name?" she asked. "I don't believe I caught it."
The goblin looked surprised at the question but replied, "I am called Gornuk, Miss Parkinson."
Pansy nodded, giving him a small smile. "Thank you, Gornuk. Your help... It means a lot to me."
Gornuk looked shocked by the sincere thanks "I'm just doing my job, miss parkinson."
Pansy shook her head, a small smile playing at her mouth "your job was to answer my questions and exchange my money, everything else was not. Thank you."
Gornuk was left speechless. Pansy turned and left.
As Pansy left the bank, she felt a sense of accomplishment. She'd made financial decisions on her own, negotiated with a goblin, and perhaps even earned a modicum of respect from him. Her journey of independence was taking shape, and Pansy was more than ready for what was to come.