Magic and Mystery Coil by Allegory_for_Hatred

Needle to Match

It was several days when he next saw Pansy face-to-face, but it looked like she hadn't slept in months.

Pansy's eyes were drawn and sad, underlined by dark bags. She seemed to always be frowning. And although Dazai could say with certainty that she had never really smiled at him in the first place, there was no denying that something about her had changed. A weary blanket had settled over her, making her entire being seem limp and dreary. Even her cloak was wrinkled. All week, Dazai had spied her slumped over in her seats and not taking notes.

Though Dazai supposed note-taking would be difficult for Pansy, seeing as dominant arm was wrapped up in a sling.

Dazai had worn casts on all of his limbs before—though never all at once, mercifully. And while he knew it was hardly comfortable, it also didn't warrant Pansy's moping. Dazai thought this, now, watching her from across Great Hall.

After the dramatic resolution to Lockhart's Dueling Club, all future club activities had promptly been cancelled on the spot. And by the next morning, the tables and chairs had all been pushed back in place. Like nothing ever happened. Even Pansy's ice spell had melted from the wall.

Completely clean. Back to normal. Status quo.

Daily life had subdued into the usual grind of classes and slander that Dazai had grown used to at the start of his second year. People continued to give him a wide berth. The Daily Prophet continued to speculate. But an unmistakable tension had come over the entire school. The teachers and students alike all sensed it, and moved from class-to-class with the wariness of a prey animal waiting for something to strike. Dazai felt it too, despite, ostensibly, being the predator in question himself

Evidently sensing eyes on her, Pansy sluggishly lifted her head. She met Dazai's gaze over the other tables, and blinked once.

Dazai did the same. Last time they met eyes like this, Pansy had looked ready to kill him. This time—

Pansy pursed her lips and stared at him through hard eyes. The emotion behind her expression was indescribable. If he were anyone less, Dazai would have shivered to be the focus of such scrutiny.

But he wasn't, so Dazai merely raised a brow.

"Ugh," Ron twitched beside him. "Don't look like that. You're freaking me out."

Dazai watched Pansy for a second longer, before turning his attention to Ron. Given recent events, Dazai had once again decided to forgo the Slytherin table in exchange for the (slightly) more accommodating Gryffindor one. "I'm just looking around," he pouted, "and what do you mean, its freaking you out? This is how I always look."

Ron stuffed a ham-and-cheese sandwich in his mouth. A stern look from Hermione had him hastily chewing before continuing, "Like you're up to no good? Nah. It's creepy."

Dazai huffed. "Pansy was staring at me," he said, "I'm only returning the favor."

He glanced back to the Slytherin table. Once again, Pansy had her head pointed down to the table. Milli and Tracey kept shooting her concerned looks that went entirely ignored. Blaise was also sitting next to Pansy, but the two of them weren't speaking at all. Dazai wished Blaise had sat with him instead. But ever since the dueling club, Blaise had been hovering more and more over Pansy's sullen shoulder.

Dazai sniffed.

"Well," Hermione said from his other side, "you did break her arm. It's understandable she'd be upset with you."

"People get their arms broken all the time. It's hardly worth moping over."

"I guess..." Hermione hesitated. "But not at Hogwarts. With Madam Pomfrey petrified, there's no one here to heal her. Honestly, I didn't even know they had muggle things like arm slings on campus!"