The Most Impossible Soulbond

A Glimpse At Heartache

So, it was the Triwizard Tournament her father had hinted at recently, which would be happening this year. Rather exciting, though Pansy wasn't too keen on the foreigners they'd be hosting. The rivalry between the major magical schools across Europe was well-founded, after all. British pride would ring true in the end.

She was glad to be back in the Slytherin Dungeon with its grand chambers, underwater windows and regal tapestries, though she'd be lying if she said that she hadn't immediately fled into the girl's dormitory as soon as dinner was over. The billions of eyes trained on her, like pinpricks on her skin, the mutters and whispers throughout the entire Sorting Ceremony – she couldn't take it. She was being judged and that just felt wrong in every conceivable way.

Pansy Parkinson did the judging and not the other way around.

She couldn't stand it.

"Are you alright?" Daphne asked when she followed her into the girl's dormitory, the half-bloods, Millicent Bulstrode and Tracey Davis, and that muggle-born, Sophie Roper, following in tow. Worry was audibly tinging Daphne's voice.

"Not really," Pansy admitted easily, her tone not betraying the queasiness she felt in her stomach or the painful way her heart was beating against her chest. "Just about everyone in the common room was staring and pointing." She went to her bed, where the house elves had sorted her luggage already. "Not that I can blame them," she added with a sigh. "This soulbound is so terribly queer."

"If you didn't like it then why did you do it anyway?" Millicent asked her, making her wrinkle her nose in distaste.

"I didn't choose this, you sow!" Pansy snapped at her with a vicious glare, making her flinch. She was disgusting.

"Not so proud now, are you?" Tracey Davis added smugly. There was a glint of gratification in Davis's eyes and it infuriated Pansy.

"What did you say?" Pansy took a step towards the girl, staring down imperiously at her. She had a few inches on the half-blood, but Davis wasn't the least bit intimidated by their height difference. Her short, choppy brown hair framed her wide cheekbones and narrow chin limply. Davis glared defiantly at her and Pansy was so close to hexing that expression right from her face. "Care to repeat that?"

The air in the dormitory was suddenly tense. From the corner of her eye, Daphne was groaning and covering her face, Millicent stood awkwardly next to the cast iron heater in the centre of the room, and Roper was lying comfortably on her bed, lazily eyeing them with mild interest.

"Gladly," Davis said, flipping her side bangs away, the corners of her lips just the slightest bit upturned. That little, insignificant rat was actually enjoying this. "You finally got that stick removed from your arse and got knocked down from your pedestal. Your pride is worth nothing anymore. You're where I am now and I am loving it."

"No matter what the circumstances are, I'll always. Be. Your. Better," Pansy hissed back at her, jabbing a finger into Davis's, admittedly sizable, chest with each, punctuated word. "Don't you dare compare yourself to me ever again."

"You don't scare me, Parkinson," Davis replied, shouldering her way past her. "From how I see it, we're pretty much equal now."

"You little–"

An arm on her shoulder prevented her from doing something incredibly stupid on her very first day back. She glanced at Daphne, who gave her an earnest and warning look, shaking her head softly. Her best friend then nodded towards her bed, gently pushing her towards it.