She could feel the bitter cold stabbing at her as she sat outside on the cold stone steps of the castle, waiting, prolonging the inevitable that would come with entering those grand doors and accepting that this was where she was. She wasn't wrapped...
Grangers humming penetrated the walls of the shower, bathroom, and curtains of Daphne's bed, waking Pansy with a huff. As much as she wanted to curse the witch for interrupting her first good night's sleep in what felt like forever. She refrained, and for Daphne's sake, she decided she would act cordial.
She chose her outfit for the day, picking out a black mini skirt, and a camel-colored cashmere jumper. The sandy color contrasted with her dark hair which was now a little past her shoulders.
She scrutinized her appearance in the mirror and thought of how her mother would hate to see her like this. Pansy had disregarded herself in the months after the battle. Because she didn't care about herself. She loathed herself for having the audacity to stay alive without him. But of course, she wasn't really alive, every second that passed after May 2nd had been a blur of agonizing pain. Her long hair, grown-out bangs that she could now tuck behind her ears, eye bags, and sickly pale skin felt just. For she looked how she felt, like utter shite.
But she walked to her nightstand and tucked his silver lighter in her pocket.
One month
And until then she would put up her best effort to regain the girl Theo had fallen in love with years ago.
So for him, she would make herself presentable, grabbing her makeup bag she dabbed on some concealer, hiding her purple under eyes, using her mascara wand she expertly applied the product to her already full lashes and lastly rubbed a simple rouge color onto her plump lips.
Pansy pulled the jumper on over her lacy black bra and clipped on her Mary Janes.
Giving herself a last once over she decided to keep her hair down, tousling it up a bit, before slinging her bag over her shoulder and departing for the great hall.
She was met with a sight that would never get old. Draco sitting on the bench next to Astoria, parallel to Daphne, filling her heart with warmth and bringing an uncontrollable smile to her face.
He was dressed well, as always, a simple jumper and dark trousers, his platinum hair was styled effortlessly with a few strands askew sprawled over his forehead. But his eyes had changed, what was once bright silver had turned grey.
Pansy slid in next to Daphne catching the tail end of their conversation.
"-and Astronomy on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-12:00, with Professor. Firenze. " Daphne said.
"Class schedules?" Pansy asked
"Indeed," Daphne said "Draco's taking Advanced potions, Defense Against the Dark arts, Astronomy—
"And muggle studies" Draco interrupted.
Pansy crinkled her nose unconsciously
"It's a ministry requirement, as well as passing the N.E.W.T.s," he said
"There's one thing you don't have to worry about," Astoria said, tucking the stray strands of hair behind his ear, with a small smile. "You've always been at the top of your class, aside from Granger." Draco barked, looking at a now glaring Pansy.
"How's the new roomie?" He asked with fake sincerity and a big grin.
"Hermione's very sweet" Daphne answered before Pansy had the chance. She had always been able to look on the bright side of things, a trait Pansy admired. "She's actually invited us to join her study group." Pansy stifled a groan and repressed the incredulous look that was begging to be on display.
"I said we would both love to, the invitation extends to you as well Draco." Which wiped the smirk off his face.
"No." He responded
"I thought you said you needed to pass your N.E.W.T.s?" Pansy goaded
"Well, as the lovely Astoria has reminded everyone, I am very intelligent." He said
"Well, in that case, we could use all the help we can get," Pansy said smirking, playing the juvenile game he'd started. "In the name of house unity!"
"Yes Draco, in the name of house unity!" Daphne loaded on with enthusiasm, earning a giggle from Astoria.
"What've you got to lose?" Astoria asked
"My dignity." He retorted
"Hmm, I could've sworn that was lost in fifth-year when flint caught you shagging his girlfriend and you had to do a walk of shame in nothing but your tie?" Her statement earned the laughter of the girls and stifled snickers from Slytherins sitting close enough to hear their conversation. "But" she continued "if you have any dignity left, I'm sure joining Granger's little study group would just be too much, I wouldn't risk it if I were you."
"Fuck you, Pansy." He said, no malice behind the words and a slight grin on his face. Which resulted in more laughter from the Slytherins. Suddenly they truly felt like teenagers, unaffected by a war, in the safest place in the world. Pansy felt at home for the first time in a long time, squeezing the lighter in her pocket reminding herself of the sound of Theo's contagious laughter and the clever wit he wielded against Draco and Blaise for her own amusement. But she didn't feel sadness, it warmed her heart having a piece of him with her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
