Damaged Goods by slytherin_after_dark

Chapter 16

- NOT MY STORY!! ALL CREDITS TO @slytherin_after_dark ON A03!!
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She wasn't a morning person, so having Pansy storm into her room at 7 a.m. wasn't exactly what she'd call a gentle wake-up call.

"I brought you everything you need," Pansy said as she carried two large bags inside.

Hermione was too tired to even form words she just blinked slowly, watching the Slytherin girl take her wand and with a few spells, her room started to decorate itself.

Slytherin duvet cover and pillows—though not the cheap kind she had seen. Was that satin or silk? Then a throw blanket with the Slytherin symbol in rich velvet was placed on the bottom of the bed.

Emerald green blankets were draped over her favorite reading chair in the corner. Everything looked expensive and tasteful. Slytherin mugs and notebooks. There seemed to be nothing that wasn't green or proudly displayed a snake.

When it was done and her room had transformed into what she could only describe as a catalog image of a Slytherin dorm, Pansy turned to her with appraising eyes.

Hermione awkwardly pushed her hair to one side, trying to tame her mane.

"What's your style?" Pansy finally asked.

"Style?" Was that something she should have thought about? "I don't think I have one."

She smirked. "Clearly."

Say what you want about Slytherins but they were always impeccably dressed. Coming from filthy rich parents certainly helped. Pansy was always effortlessly chic in a way that Hermione knew she could never be.

"Here, put this on. We'll work with it," she said as she placed a bunch of clothes into Hermione's arms and shoved her toward the bathroom.

It wasn't even her first day in the Slytherin uniform so she really didn't understand what the big deal was. When she walked out of the bathroom, Pansy sighed. First, she loosened Hermione's tie. Then she placed a headband in her hair. Another quick spell put some makeup on her. She felt like she was her personal doll.

"All right, let's go," she said when she was done.

"Going where exactly?"

"Someone has got to show you the ropes."

Without allowing for any more questions, she started walking at a rapid speed. Hermione followed, trying to keep up with her.

"Rule number one: Make your own rules. If you can't think for yourself, you're not a Slytherin," Pansy said with cool authority as they walked down the hallway. Hermione knew where they were headed. The common room. She had avoided it so far on purpose. It felt like it would make it too real to actually call the Slytherin common room her new home.

"Rule number two: Fight fire with fire or you'll get burned.

Rule number three: This house is family and we stick together...unless, of course, a better opportunity presents itself."

Hermione wanted to shake her head. Slytherins. Only—she was one now.

"Rule number four should go without saying: Don't ever wear red and gold." Her dark eyes shot over to Hermione as if to confirm she got that.

"Yeah," she sighed. "Obviously."

"Rule number five: It doesn't matter what you do as long as you don't get caught."

They stood in front of the common room and Pansy waited for Hermione to walk up to it. She took a few steps forward and the massive door with a snake carved out of wood, opened. Even during the day, the common room looked magical and Hermione took it all in for a moment.