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Pansy honestly felt like she was moments away from throwing up as she stalked her way back to the 8th year common room. Because how else was she supposed to feel when Weasley had her hands all over Hermione, it was like she was losing her when she hardly even had her to begin with. Obviously she wasn't an idiot, she'd feared for this from the very start, but just seeing the look in both of their eyes... it wasn't going to be long, and she knew it. And if it was going to happen, she needed to be at her coldest, which meant she had to vent out all of her feelings before a confrontation.
"Pansy... hey..." When had she started crying? When had she actually allowed herself to start doing that? Fuck, this already wasn't going according to plan, no... instead she was crying and Daphne was hugging her instead of telling her to hex Hermione.
"I think Hermione might be over me." She sighed, hating how defeated her voice sounded, hating even more the deafening silence followed by uproarious laughter from her friends. Yes, because losing the first good thing since the war was over was hilarious.
"Mate... no offense, but you sound like a bloody idiot." Theodore said, and she looked over at him, wanting to hex the smug grin right off his face because what did he know about love? He'd dated Daphne. That was a red flag in and of itself.
"And who gave you the authority to say such a thing?" Pansy asked, her tone clipped as she wiped the tears from her cheeks and leaned against the wall, ignoring all of the concerned looks she was now getting... Damn, she'd really hoped to just catch Daphne, maybe Draco... now this felt like an ordeal. Theo held up his hands in surrender before he leaned forward, looking at her with such sincerity that she thought she might vomit.
"Look. Face the facts, Parkinson. She pursued you, she wouldn't have done that if it wasn't in her master plan. This is Hermione we're talking about. The girl who has used a time turner to take every class she could." Theo said, and Pansy raised an eyebrow, suddenly less heartbroken and more confused... what did Hermione's academic achievements have to do with any of this? Was Theo really already grasping for straws? She felt Daphne rubbing circles on her upper back and thought of hexing her, it felt too humane... but she didn't.
"How does that factor in?" Pansy asked, and Theo shrugged, leaning back in his seat again, like it should be obvious. But nothing he said was ever obvious, so Pansy knew she was going to need some clarity on this one.
"She's a planner." Theo said, and Pansy looked at him doubtfully. That didn't mean that she was in Hermione's plan... she was probably just a pit stop along the way, nothing major in Hermione's life.
"Sometimes plans change." Pansy said, and Theo shook his head, giving Pansy a look that clearly read 'you're being a fucking idiot'
"Not this one." He said, and Pansy shook her head. Why did he sound so sure? How would he even know?
"You literally cannot prove that." Pansy groaned, resting her head on Daphne's shoulder. She let it happen for a second, let Pansy have her pity party, and then she gently shrugged her off. More conversation then, great.
"What did you see that was so damning anyways?" Daphne asked, and Pansy heaved out a heavy sigh. This was going to sound so dumb, and she knew it.
"She was hugging Weasley." She said, and Daphne gave her a look and shoved her away with a sigh. Well, there goes the comforting friend, and here comes the Daphne Greengrass she knew and loved.
"Oh Merlin, you're acting like an insecure child. She's always hugged Ron-." Pansy shook her head. Because Ron she could understand better, they'd literally saved the world together... there was a bond there. But Ginny? Different.
"Not Ron. Ginny." Pansy said, and the room was quiet again for a long moment. Great. That was very helpful.
"Okay... they're friends too." Daphne reminded her, which was not the point of it all...
"But she's just so.... ugh. She's everything I'm not." Pansy huffed, and Draco cocked his head, raising his hand slightly, like he had a question. 'Ask it then, coward' Pansy thought bitterly.
"Ginger?" Draco asked, sounding a bit doubtful, and Pansy rolled her eyes and shot him a look. For someone who claimed to be so intelligent, he really was quite an idiot sometimes.
"Successful... well liked... happy... well adjusted..." Pansy ticked each point off and felt her heart sink more and more in her chest when she looked over at Daphne, who was starting to look doubtful herself.
"Well, you've got me there..." Daphne said, and Pansy nodded. Exactly! That was a point that was hard to argue with.
"See?!" Pansy asked
"But that doesn't mean she's interested in dating Ginny." Tracey offered as the door swung shut, and they all stood in a deafening silence. Pansy could recognize that perfume in her sleep... Hermione had returned from her conversation. Pansy steeled herself for complete and total rejection, and was surprised when she felt Hermione slip a hand into hers and place her free one on her cheek, tilting her head down to look at her.
"You think I'm leaving you for Ginny?" Hermione asked, as if the whole idea was laughable. It wasn't, Pansy had just said some things that made it seem like it could really be true. She heard a shifting on the couch and saw all four of her friends on their feet, getting ready to leave. Cowards, the whole lot of them... she wanted to be one too right now, this conversation seemed serious.
"Granger! Hey... We were just leaving-." Hermione shot a glare at Draco to quiet him and pointed at the couch, an eyebrow raised. Oh. Shit. There was no arguing with that, apparently they were all going to get talked to.
"Sit. All of you." She commanded, and all four of them sat on the couch, cramped... right, Daphne had been on the floor, that's how that worked. Pansy could remember things and be logical, see?
"Right..."
"And you... Hey. Where is this coming from?" Hermione asked softly, rubbing her thumb across Pansy's cheekbone. She closed her eyes and let out a long breath, resting her forehead against Hermione's.
"You can do better then me. And she's better then me. And you looked happy-." Hermione chuckled and pressed a kiss to her knuckles before she spoke, a very easy diversion.
"I was happy, I was talking to a friend." Hermione said, and Pansy sighed. That wasn't the fucking point in all of this. The point was that Ginny could have easily been more then a friend, and Pansy would not have been shocked.
"Right, but-." Hermione cut her off quickly, not even letting her finish her statement. Okay... rude.
"No. No but. Ginny is a wonderful friend, but she's not my type and I'm not hers, at least not right now. I love you, Pansy. You. So where is this disconnect coming from, have I done something that makes me seem unfaithful?" Hermione asked, and Pansy hung her head. Of course not, but that didn't mean that it wasn't her biggest fear... she was terrified of being alone again.
"No..." Pansy trailed off.
"Have I ever said something that would even hint at me being attracted to Ginny?" Hermione asked, and Pansy chewed on her lip. Logic. Right.
"Not that I can remember." She admitted, and Hermione nodded, looking at her earnestly... but not in the way that made her sick, it was sort of cute when she did it.
"So what is it?"
"... I've never been loved like this before." Pansy said quietly, hating how earnest that sounded. Hating that that was the truth of it all.
"Oh, thats kind of sweet." Draco said, making Pansy regret the fact that she was being honest, but Hermione's glare took care of that little problem.
"Shut up, Malfoy." Hermione snapped, and Draco rolled his eyes.
"Merlin! Okay..." Draco huffed, sliding down in his seat... Dramatic. Pansy cleared her throat, catching Hermione's attention once again.
"I've never been loved like this before, and I'm really scared that I'll lose it at any moment." She explained, and Hermione's expression turned soft as she traced over the thin scar on Pansy's cheekbone as she spoke.
"You won't, I'm not going anywhere." Hermione said, and Pansy took a deep breath. Okay. Really?
"Promise?" Pansy asked, and Hermione smiled and nodded, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.
"Promise." Hermione said, and Pansy felt the knot in her chest loosening a bit.
"Brilliant..." Pansy said, smiling to herself as she tucked her head against Hermione's shoulder as she turned to face the other Slytherins, her face stoic as she pointed at them and wrapped an arm around Pansy.
"And if the lot of you said anything to encourage this little episode-." Her threat was never finished.
"We didn't. We were trying to explain to Pansy all of the reasons she'd be mental to think you were leaving her." Theo explained, and Hermione blinked, looking at Pansy with narrowed eyes. Oh. Great. That had gotten her in trouble.
"Is that true?" Hermione asked, and Pansy held her breath for a moment, weighing the consequences of lying... No. Not worth it this time.
"... Perhaps." She said, and Hermione let out a quiet laugh and smiled, looking at Pansy fondly.
"And you didn't listen?" Hermione asked, and Pansy shrugged, feeling defensive. Her friends liked to fuck around with her, they could've been kidding around.
"In my defense... I thought I was right." Pansy said, and Hermione shook her head. Fair.
"You are never right about these things!" Hermione reminded her, and Pansy paused. Okay. Maybe so... but did she have to say it like that? Obviously, because she wouldn't have gotten it any other way. Hermione was hers... and she was Hermione's.