It Started With an Insult (Hermione x Pansy Parkinson)

The Absent Slytherin

Hermione stood in the bathroom alone, trying to compose herself after Pansy had stormed away. She took a deep breath and glanced at the mirrors above the sinks, checking how much of her upset showed on her face. She sighed as she ran some water over her hands and tried to flatten her frizzy hair unsuccessfully. She could feel herself trembling. Why had this encounter with Pansy felt so... different? It had almost felt more personal. Hermione couldn't shake the feeling that she had caught a glimpse of Pansy's deepest insecurities. Something about this thought caused Hermione's heart to flutter uncomfortably. She stayed in the bathroom for a few minutes longer to process what had just happened.

...

I had left Granger alone in the bathroom, needing to be as far away from her as possible. Thankfully, the Hogwarts halls were still empty. I hand't been able to check the mirrors before Granger walked in on me, and I was sure I looked flustered and distraught. I felt my heavy breathing return, and I rushed through the halls, looking for a place where I could get a breath of fresh air.

I rushed out into the nearest courtyard, gasping for breath. I leaned my back against the closest column to me and slid down until I was in a sitting position, my knees raised to my chest. Thankfully there were no students around to witness my meltdown. This is where I stayed for the next ten minutes, contemplating my next move. I felt the knot in my stomach grow tighter as I thought about the meeting with Granger that evening. I couldn't show up to the library tonight and face her, I wouldn't. I sighed in frustration, wondering if I should simply let her win the competition. That way I wouldn't have to see her each and every evening. That way she would leave me alone, and I wouldn't have to constantly feel inferior to her. I sighed once again, knowing this wouldn't work. Granger was too insistent.. too determined. There was no way she would let me opt out of the competition at this point. Feeling burnt out and tired, I made the decision to retreat to my dorm.

Crawling into my bed, I pulled my emerald green curtains shut and curled up into a ball. I felt comfortable in my bed, it was like my own private cocoon I could retreat to at anytime I felt overwhelmed at Hogwarts. I felt overwhelmed now, and light headed.

Granger had looked so hurt when I had snapped at her. I couldn't get the picture of her face out of my mind. The flash of hurt, and the way she had unsuccessfully tried to cover it up. How could I have hurt her? Why did I feel so... guilty about the entire ordeal? My mind ran in circles as I drifted into a restless slumber.

My eyes opened slowly as I heard the sound of my friends enter our dorm. I sat up, noting that my uniform most likely looked wrinkled and my hair knotty. I pushed open my curtains and climbed out of bed. Daphne, Tracy, and Millicent all turned to look at me in surprise.

"Pansy? Have you been here all day? We missed you at lunch!" Daphne greeted me, eyeing me up and down. She furrowed her eyebrows when she realized how disheveled I looked. Tracy and Millicent didn't seem to care that I had disappeared, as they seemed only mildly curious as to why I had slept through most of my classes. Daphne, however, wore a look of concern on her face.

"Pansy.. how are you feeling?" Her deep brown eyes met mine, and I looked away. How could I tell her that I was upset over a confusing, very one sided fight I'd had with a muggle born?

"Oh, yeah, I'm feeling fine now. I wasn't feeling too well earlier today." I reassured her, doing my best to make my blatant lie sound convincing. She nodded in understanding.

"I'm glad you're feeling better, its about time for dinner- will you come eat with us?" She asked me, a friendly smile on her face. I wondered if she suspected something more than sickness. I agreed and prepared myself for dinner, trying to forget about my encounter with Granger.