Heartchains

Chapter 14

Hermione blushed as Pansy held her hand, leading her to one of the desks in their room. She let go, charmed the desk to the center of the room and pulled a chair onto either side. Her bag floated into her hand, opened, and the contents serenely floated onto the table. A bamboo mat unrolled itself and the nail polishes (or nail paints as magic folk called them) and other nail tools aligned themselves along the edges.

"It's a charmed bag." Pansy said, seeming to feel the need to explain.

Hermione sat down, opposite to where Pansy had sat herself. She slowly laid her hands on the mat, stupidly feeling self-conscious about her nail inadequacy.

However, Pansy seem unfazed by her stubby, bitten nails, instead looking at them as an artist would a blank canvas.

Which, Hermione pondered, was sort of appropriate for this situation. Pansy was, of sorts, an artist, and Hermione, her canvas. Hermione shook away the thought of Pansy using, well, other parts of her as a canvas. She had no time to entertain those thoughts, especially not to her roommate. Indeed, she had other activities to devote her attention to.

"Well?" Pansy asked, lightly hitting Hermione's hand.

Hermione smiled sheepishly. "Could you repeat the question?"

Pansy rolled her eyes. "I asked what color you'd prefer."

"Oh, um, I was hoping you'd choose for me? I don't really know much about nails. Or fashion for that matter."

"I'm sure anything would look lovely on you." Pansy said, she blushed vibrantly but Hermione didn't notice, for she was too busy blushing herself.

Pansy distracted herself with looking at all her colors and Hermione took the opportunity to take in her features.

Pansy's hair was crumpled slightly, but it still looked flawless in the way that only Pansy Parkinson's hair could. Most of her make-up was gone, Hermione had charmed it off last night, after placing her on the bed, so Hermione got to see her in her natural state, that is, without make-up. Hermione wanted to scream because she was still as, if not more, beautiful without enhancements. She couldn't help but let her eyes linger along her lips, her round, plump lips. She didn't let her eyes stay for longer than a few seconds for she feared that she might do something rash. However, her eyes, Pansy's jade green eyes, retained her gaze. She was so unused to the sight of Pansy's eye without the layers of makeup she so copiously covered her eyes in. Hermione tended to dislike this fashion choice, but on Pansy, she seemed to make it look delicate. Hermione was so busy looking at her eyes, that she didn't notice that they were staring right back at her.

"Is there something on my face?" Pansy asked, the question not sounding genuine.

"No, I was just..." She trailed off, unsure of what say. "Admiring the view." She said, before she could think about it.

Pansy looked away. Hermione didn't know what she was expecting. It wasn't like she had declared her undying love (the thought made her mouth dry and heart rate speed up) for her. But then why was her heart beating so fast? Why was she both eager for Pansy's response and dreading it.

But then Pansy did something unpredictable.

She smiled. Not only that, she smiled and then she laughed.

"D-did I say something funny?" Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"No, no," Pansy said, holding back her laugh. She put a hand over her mouth. covering her smile. 

"Actually,  you did say something funny, hilarious even!" Pansy said, voice raising slightly. "The idea that someone would, quote unquote, 'admire' the view of me, is, well, hilarious. What is there to admire?" Pansy mimed wiping away a tear and continued, "Anywho, I think I'll begin to prepare your nails for painting." With a fluid wand-wave, she accio-ed the nail-cleaning lathers and some fluff balls. 

"I do believe that you have these in the muggle world?" Pansy said, taking Hermione's hand and lightly scrubbed at her nails. 

"Yes, but it smells a lot worse," Hermione replied, remembering the eye-watering scent.

Pansy hummed in response. And then it was quiet for a while; the two of them just sitting in comfortable silence. Soon, Hermione's nails were finished being cleaned and polished.

"Now, for the fun part," Pansy said a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. She picked up a few bottles, inspecting them. Finally, she picked one and charmed the rest of the bottles off the table.

"This royal red would look lovely on you, Hermione," Pansy said, holding up a glass bottle filled with sparkling, deep red liquid. It looked like liquid garnets. 

Hermione nodded and Pansy picked up Hermione's hand once more. 

A few moments went by and Hermione was left to contemplate their last conversation. Pansy had said that she saw nothing beautiful about herself. Of course, those weren't her exact words, but that was basically the synopsis of her response. Hermione was troubled by this. Pansy was beautiful. It was a fact. That was why Hermione felt so...well why she felt the way she did around her. How could she, Pansy, refute the fact that she is perfect in every way?  More importantly, how could Hermione fix that?

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AN: I'm so sorry!! I had multiple AICE and AP classes and they got very demanding. I'm on summer vacation so I'll be able to work now!! Except the two weeks that I'll be in China. (June 19-July 3)

Thank you guys so,so,SO much for sticking along. You have no idea how much this means to me. :3