Chapter 3

Hermione POV

"I'm serious Ron. I'm not sure how much more of this I can take!" Hermione hissed angrily as she and Ron strode down the corridor towards the Great Hall. It was late at night in the middle of October, and they'd just taken over Prefect patrol from Malfoy and Pansy.

"Hermione, they were only snogging…" Ron pointed out.

"On duty! They can't be doing that while they're patrolling the castle!" Hermione exclaimed, furiously thinking back to five minutes prior when they'd walked up on Pansy and Malfoy groping one another on the seventh floor. "They were snogging up against the tapestry of the trolls learning ballet! Do they have any decency at all?"

"I love that tapestry," Ron grinned. Hermione shot him a look. "Sorry…" he apologized sheepishly.

"I just can't understand why they can't be bothered to take the role of Prefect seriously for one single second."

"Hermione… Come on…"

"What? Doesn't it bother you?"

"Not particularly, no. And honestly, I wouldn't mind a bit of snogging on patrol myself…"

"Ron!" Hermione said exasperatedly.

"What? Late night patrols are boring, there's nothing going on…"

"That's good! The entire purpose of us patrolling the corridors late at night is to make sure that nothing is going on."

"Come on, Hermione… It's been a while…" Ron whined lightly.

Hermione looked up at him, taking in his freckled face. He really was cute, and maybe there wasn't any harm in them kissing awhile, seeing as there really wasn't anything going on in the corridors of Hogwarts this late at night…

"Oh, alright…" Hermione said, standing on her toes to reach up and kiss him.

Kissing Ron had been great. Well, it had been good. Okay, it'd been fine. About as fine as kissing Viktor had been. This would've troubled Hermione more, but she figured it was just that she was stressed with Prefect duties and returning to school and it was likely all a normal part of the transition from best friends to boyfriend and girlfriend. Yes, she'd been hoping for more of a spark between the two of them when they kissed, but she was more than willing to be patient and wait for that spark with Ron. Over the past month, he'd been kind and attentive and had much better at listening to her, for the most part. He was heavily involved with Quidditch now, as he had been selected as Keeper for this year's Gryffindor squad, but Hermione liked that, as it gave her some time to prepare for O.W.L.s or read or do whatever she fancied while she was given time to unwind on her own.

"You must be joking!"

Hermione and Ron broke apart as the incredulous voice echoed through the quiet corridor. Hermione turned and saw a haughty looking Pansy Parkinson strolling towards them with an infuriating smirk on her smug face.

"You think it's alright to have a go at me and Malfoy for snogging on patrol, then turn around and do the same thing? The hypocrisy from you, Granger, the most perfect Prefect there ever was, is frankly stunning."

Hermione looked from Ron, who didn't seem to have much of a response to this, to Pansy, whose light green eyes were positively sparkling with delight in catching the two of them snogging. Those light green eyes had been haunting Hermione's dreams, constantly popping up as the past month had been filled with Pansy torturing Hermione in one way or another. Ever since she'd made the comment about Malfoy and the younger Greengrass girl, Pansy seemed intent on making her pay for it tenfold. Hermione had apologized, she'd tried the silent treatment, she'd tried to reason with Pansy in a formal sit-down conversation, but nothing had worked. The Slytherin was adamant in making Hermione's life difficult.

"Actually, I take that back. I wouldn't call what the two of you were doing snogging. More like two old friends sharing a quick peck as they parted ways after a casual tea," Pansy said, the smirk on her face growing.

Ron's ears turned red at this, and he grabbed Hermione's hand and turned to walk away.

"Come on, Hermione, let's not do this tonight…"

But Hermione stayed planted where she was. It had been over a month, and at this rate of harassment from Pansy, she'd be fully exhausted and burnt out by the time O.W.L.s came around. She could not afford that.

"You go. I think Parkinson and I need to have another chat," Hermione stated as she jutted out her jaw just a bit, staring down Pansy who was still smirking at her.

Ron shrugged, "Alright. I'll go patrol upstairs. Don't be too long, alright?"

Hermione watched Ron walk off and waited until he was around the corner before rounding on Pansy.

"What is it? What's your problem, Parkinson? I've asked you this before, but of course, you can never give me a straight answer. What is it about me that gets you all primed up to bully and harass me? Is it that I'm a dirty Mudblood, is that it?"

Pansy just stared at Hermione calmly, her face frozen on the smirk.

"Oh, excuse me, let me use your idiot boyfriend's term of endearment correctly, filthy Mudblood. Is that it? You're a pureblood and I'm a filthy Mudblood, so you've got to torture me whenever you get the chance? Honestly Parkinson, I know you're plenty thick, but that's pretty boring and uninspiring, even for you…"

Pansy stayed steadfast, her light green eyes still stuck on Hermione's dark brown ones. It infuriated Hermione to get no reaction from the girl, she wished she had that effect on Pansy when she tried to use the silent treatment on her.

"Speaking of Malfoy, how are he and Greengrass doing? Is it just the younger one, or Daphne as well? I know you and Daphne are friends, but surely, in the regal backwards society that is the pureblood community, it's probably encouraged for you all to just share men. On that note, I'm not sure who you're trying to fool, snogging him out in public as often as you can. I swear, not a day goes by that the two of you aren't snogging somewhere where the whole world can see you. What are you trying to prove, Pansy? Because it's clear to anyone with eyes that it's just for show."

That did it. That elicited that same faint flicker in the light green eyes that had started the past month and a half of continuous harassment from Pansy.

"Are you in arranged relationship or something? So, you two have got to pretend to be together while he's off with little Greengrass? That must sting, that he would fancy a third year over you, a fifth year."

Another flicker.

"I mean come on, Parkinson, even you've got to know that you'll have to do much better than that if you want people to actually think the two of you are together and enjoy being together. It's painfully obvious that he doesn't want anything to do with you, really…"

"So, should we kiss like you and Weasley? Speaking of painfully obvious… There is no way you can convince anyone that you actually enjoy kissing him. It looked as if you were in physical pain, just now."

Hermione scowled.

"Which is shocking, as I'd figure Weasley would be the one in pain. But he seemed to genuinely like kissing you, despite how rigid and inexperienced you clearly are… So, what is it, Granger? What is it that you detest about poor Weasley?" Pansy said as she closed the gap between the two of them. Her eyes were radiating emotion as she spat the painfully true words at Hermione.

Hermione was silent, staring into Pansy's green eyes as the Slytherin leaned in even closer, so close their noses were almost touching.

"At least Draco and I are on the same page when it comes to our relationship… You aren't even decent enough to let Weasley know that you don't fancy him at all… Admit it, Granger… You and I have better chemistry standing here in the corridor than you and Weasley have ever had… Deep down, you can't stand his dirty fumbling fingers groping at your Mudblood – "

"Shut up!" Hermione shouted, her anger overwhelming her. Pansy's smirk was back. "Why do you have to be such a bitch, Parkinson?"

"That is quite enough!"

Both Hermione and Pansy turned to find Professor McGonagall marching towards them looking absolutely livid.

"Miss Granger, I never thought that I would hear something like that come out of your mouth! Especially now that you're a Prefect and should be leading by example! I am so disappointed in you!"

Hermione could feel Pansy's eyes on her, and was sure that the elation of Hermione getting in trouble with her own Head of House was quite evident on the girl's face.

"And you, Miss Parkinson, using such a vile slur! I will be addressing this with Professor Slughorn, and will see to it that he discusses it with you as well."

Hermione wanted to shoot Pansy a pleased look, but knew that Professor McGonagall would certainly look down on such an action.

"I will be taking 25 points from each of you, and you will serve detention with me this upcoming Friday evening."

Hermione hung her head. She'd rarely ever lost house points for Gryffindor and had never served detention before, and now as a Prefect, she'd done both in one fell swoop. She was ashamed, and rightfully so. It wasn't worth letting Pansy get a rise out of her, it just wasn't.

"Now, Miss Granger, please find Mr. Weasley and continue on with your patrol for the evening. Miss Parkinson, I suggest you go back to your dormitory, it is far too late to be wandering about the castle without being on Prefect patrol. I will see both of you in class, and then this Friday for your detention. I expect from now on that you will both do much better, ladies."

With one final look of disappointment, Professor McGonagall left, followed by Pansy heading back to the dungeons. Tears of frustration built up in Hermione's eyes as she went off to find Ron.

Pansy POV

Pansy entered the Slytherin common room and found that Draco was waiting up for her, lounging comfortably on the large leather sofa near the fireplace. She pushed his feet off roughly and sat down beside him hard.

"Now tell me, Pansy, was it worth it, stalking Granger?"

Pansy glared at him and huffed, "She's far too smart for her own good. Somehow, she knows everything. She knows about our arrangement, she knows that you fancy Astoria, she knows we aren't actually together."

"Quite perceptive…"

"Who's perceptive?" Daphne asked as she walked into the common room and sat on the armrest beside Pansy.

"Granger," Draco said with a smirk.

"Ah yes, the love of Pansy's life?"

"Precisely."

"How about the two of you shut it?" Pansy suggested angrily between clenched teeth.

"Hey, I'm being a pretty great friend in keeping this secret for you and continuing to pretend as if we're still really together…" Draco pointed out.

"Pretty sure I'm doing you the same service… What would mummy and daddy say if they knew their only son was infatuated with someone other than who the pureblood community had decided he'd marry and procreate with?" Pansy reminded him, eyebrows raised.

"Yes, well… Thank you for that… This is a bit much though, isn't it Pansy? Fine, fancy girls, whatever, but can't you at least fancy someone easy? Like Daphne here?"

It was Daphne's turn to raise her eyebrows, "I'm easy, am I?"

"That's not what I meant and you know it…"

"Believe it or not, we've already been there and done that… Wasn't the match made in heaven we'd thought it'd be…" Pansy said casually.

"Oh, is that right…?" Draco said, a smirk spreading on his face.

"Don't be gross! Would you like me to tell Astoria that you've been having impure thoughts about her sister?" Pansy threatened.

Draco rolled his eyes, "Fine, fine… But come now Pansy… Granger? Really?"

Pansy put her head in her hands, "I know… But I can't help it! She's so tightly wound and I love nothing more than getting under her skin… And haven't you noticed how fit she's gotten in the past year? I blame that on you, by the way, with your bloody hex on her teeth…"

Draco grinned at the memory, "That was a good one…"

"Pans, isn't she with Weasley now anyway? Doesn't that give you a bit of closure, knowing she's straight?" Daphne suggested.

Pansy shrugged, "That doesn't really mean anything though, does it? She could like girls too… And besides, I don't even think she fancies Weasley, to be honest. Have you seen the two of them together?"

Draco nodded, "It is a bit like watching my mum and my aunt say goodbye after a family gathering…"

Pansy raised her hands in exasperation, "That's what I said to her tonight! See, I really don't see the two of them lasting."

"Alright, so we won't rule out her being interested in girls… But what's the plan here, really…? You're going to bully her into liking you…? Do you even want to be with her…?" Daphne asked slowly.

Pansy was quiet as she processed Daphne's annoyingly rational questions.

"I don't know… I mean, how can I? Draco and I have our arrangement and have to keep up appearances… My parents would certainly kill me if they found out I fancied girls… And to fancy a Muggle-born girl… I wouldn't put it past them to kill me and bring me back to life so they can kill me twice…"

"So… Are you trying to get over her, then?" Draco asked.

Pansy whined in frustration, "I don't know if I want to get over her… She's far too fun to wind up… And lately she's been much more keen to argue back, which has been quite the development…"

"So, let me get this straight… You fancy this girl… You're not going to actually pursue her… And instead, you're going to continue harassing her because you can't help yourself…" Daphne said.

Pansy nodded, "That sounds about right, yeah. I mean come on, even if my parents weren't liable to murder me in the middle of the Great Hall for fancying a Muggle-born girl and Granger actually fancied girls, I'm not sure I'd have much of a shot, would I? I've surely sunk myself with this bullying thing I've done over the past four years…"

"So, this is the end of it all, then? You continue tormenting her until we leave Hogwarts?" Draco asked.

Pansy shrugged, "Does anyone else have any suggestions?"

"Hmmm…" Daphne feigned thinking, "How about you be nice to her? Stop bullying her for a moment and try and befriend her? I'm sure if we all put down the pureblood expectations put on us by our parents to be awful to everyone not in our circle, we'd likely find that our classmates aren't all that bad… And they'd realize the same about us…"

Draco and Pansy looked at one another. The Greengrass family as a whole was far more progressive than most in the pureblood community, while the Malfoy and Parkinson families were by far the worst in terms of accepting anyone who was the slightest bit different. They really couldn't afford to step out of line like Daphne and Astoria could.

"Daphne, you know we can't…" Pansy muttered.

Daphne rolled her eyes, "Fine, but then stop your whining about Granger. And the two of you need to be more careful. It's painfully obvious that your snogging is for show, it was only a matter of time before someone as smart as Granger caught on…"

"Well, it'd help if someone wasn't so forceful with it…" Draco mumbled.

"I'm in much more pain that you are with this! At least you fancy girls in general! Do you know what it's like kissing boy lips when all you crave are soft, supple girl lips?" Pansy asked in disgust.

"Hey! I've been using the lip balm you bought me, and – " Draco argued back.

"Alright, I'm going to bed…" Daphne said, shaking her head and standing up from the armrest.

"So am I…" Draco said, glaring at Pansy as he followed Daphne towards the sleeping quarters.

"Don't forget to apply the lip balm…" Pansy muttered under her breath.

"I heard that!" Draco yelled while Daphne laughed.

Suddenly, Pansy was alone in the dimly lit common room. She stretched out on the sofa, her head on the armrest. She really did need to do better, as she had literally admitted to Granger that she and Draco had some sort of agreement when it came to their relationship.

"Ughhh," she moaned in frustration as she covered her face with her hands.

This really truly was a mess. She and Draco were in an arrangement in which they were to wed and produce pureblood children to continue the pureblood lines. Fortunately, they'd come to each other at the same time last year to admit to one another that neither of them were interested in such an arrangement. Draco was infatuated with Astoria Greengrass, their friend's younger sister, and Pansy was enamored with Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born girl. Luckily, each had been accepting, Draco much more so as Pansy's situation was a bit more complicated, but nevertheless, he'd been shockingly supportive from the start. Not so much with her feelings for Hermione, he had to get used to that, but definitely for her feelings for girls in general. They'd mutually agreed to continue pretending to be in a relationship to appease their parents, and would figure out what to do once they left Hogwarts.

Besides the marriage arrangement were the expectations put on Pansy by her family for the pureblood mania they were so heavily indoctrinated by. She had been raised to hate Muggle-borns, full stop. Tolerate half-bloods, sure, but hate Muggle-borns and anyone who supported them, such as blood-traitors like the Weasley family. The hate was exhausting, to say the least, and even though it'd been drilled into her head since birth, it hadn't kept her from fancying a Muggle-born. And oh, did she ever fancy a Muggle-born.

Pansy knew she fancied girls since before she started attending Hogwarts, but was wise enough to keep that to herself, as she knew her family wouldn't accept it. Her interest in Hermione Granger started before they'd even been sorted into houses. She was in Hermione's boat for the journey across the Black Lake, and stood next to her as they walked into the Great Hall. Pansy didn't know anything about the girl, besides the fact that she knew everything. Being an only child with parents who'd only had a child to up the pureblood population, Pansy was alone a lot and grew up entertaining herself with books and trying to learn as much as she could about anything that struck her interest. Hermione was intriguingly similar, and it was clear from their very first conversation about how the ceiling of the Great Hall changes to reflect the actual sky above that Pansy was taken by the other girl's knowledge and intelligence.

When Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor, Pansy still held out hope, as she could possibly be a pureblood. Many purebloods had been sorted into Gryffindor, she knew this, so there was a chance it could somehow still be alright to at least be friends with the girl. A week later she found out that Hermione was Muggle-born – and sadly accepted that there was no hope for friendship. If her parents found out she'd befriended a Muggle-born, she was sure she'd receive Howler after Howler until they'd heard the friendship had been severed. So, she did the only thing she could do in order to still maintain contact with the girl – she became her biggest bully.

Pansy knew it was terrible, but she couldn't separate herself from the girl. She teased her relentlessly, from her hair to her teeth to her know-it-all personality, when secretly she loved all of those things about her. Once she confided in Daphne, her best friend, that she fancied girls and specifically Hermione, she offered to help. She'd point out girls she thought would be good for Pansy, even if they didn't know their sexuality, just to try and get her mind off of Hermione. They even snogged a bit, an emergency action Daphne decided was necessary when Pansy was having a full-blown emotional breakdown after having watched Hermione dance with Viktor Krum all night at the Yule Ball. Nothing had helped. Nothing had deterred her from the girl, which put her where she is today. And she could tell she was starting to slip. Hopefully Hermione had been so angry that she wouldn't remember Pansy's slip-up in revealing that she and Draco indeed had an agreement regarding their relationship, but would she also forget that Pansy had suggested they had more chemistry than she did with Weasley?

"Ughhh…." Pansy let out another moan of frustration before peeling herself off the sofa and trudging off to her dormitory to hopefully get some sleep that did not involve the beautiful brunette. Eh, who was she kidding? She sincerely hoped the girl would visit her in her dreams.