mirror // pansy parkinson

twenty-two

— third person's point of view

Winona Pomfrey wasn't a particularly bad person, Carter had to admit.

Well, he was still bitter for the fact that Win, who grew to be a sisterly figure towards him, could not seem to fathom or notice Greta's monstrosity. She happily became a fiddle for the woman to play with.

Carter didn't blame her for she was no older than twelve when she was taken in by Greta. It was only sensible for her to pledge her whole life to Greta since she was cast away by her own family. Carter still didn't know why or how, but he didn't dare to press on it. After watching how badly Win was shaking from fury upon seeing the nurse from Hogwarts, Carter started to become aware of his actions around the older girl. 

But...still...

'Carter!'

Carter swallowed a lump in his throat, looking in front of him. There was Win, wearing a black pinafore, running towards his direction, her face contorted in anxiety.

Speak of the devil.

'Is Pansy awake?' The girl asked him hastily, seemingly out of breath.

'No,' he lied without a trace of hesitation. 'She's still asleep.'

'Why is she sleeping so long for?'

Carter gaped at her. It was rare to hear even the slightest of weariness or frustration from Win's voice.

She must've realised his startling reaction because her tensed shoulders slumped almsot immediately. She heaved a sigh, opened her mouth to say something but instead yawned widely. It was then when Carter finally realised the bags under her eyes, looking darker than her own hair- which was fixed up in a bird's nest. 

'Oh, before I forget, Greta asked one thing of you, to inform her in case our Pansy woke up.'

Carter's urge of pointing out her tired features died down. He simply nodded.

'Alright.'

'She also said something about another patient coming,' Win continued with confusion in her voice. 'Do you...well, got any idea who the patient might be?'

Carter just stared at her blankly.

Another patient?

Wasn't it too early?

He clenched his fists. Frustration, anger and fear boiled in his veins. He hadn't forsee this coming. Had Greta planned to execute two at once all this time? It couldn't be, since Carter was so sure he'd gotten every plan of Greta written down in his mind.

Then it hit him.

He lifted his eyes, locking gazes with the other girl and shook his head.

He managed to hide a triumphant grin.

The evil mastermind is panicking.

'It's weird, isn't it?' said Winona, frowning. 'But whoever it was, they might come sooner than I thought, sincr Greta asked of us to prepare a room ready immediately.'

'It's unlike her,' Carter agreed, not letting any emotion slip into his voice. 'Don't worry, Win, I'll get a room ready in no time.'

He smiled brightly as reassurance, walking past her.

'Carter.'

Her voice echoed quietly across the corridor. Carter stopped to a halt and turned, raising an eyebrow.

'Ah—yes?'

Winona's luminous dark gold eyes eyes cut through him.

'She's awake, isn't she?'

Carter's blood ran cold.

He fumbled for words.

'What—no, she's not,' he said, an octave higher, snickering meekly, 'I already told you she's not.'

Winona looked at him lovingly, like how a sister would look like her little brother.

'Ever since Ray's death,' she began softly, 'you've been different.'

Normally every time the name Ray was mentioned, Carter wouldn't acknowledge it and just walk away.

But this time he faced Winona tensely.

'Don't,' he snarled, 'say his name.'

'And when our dear Pansy came around,' she continued, completely ignoring Carter, 'it seems as if your angst era has ended. You became a new person— someone who laughs and smile and make people around feel at ease.'

Winona raised an eyebrow. 'And I asked myself, what happened to the boy I used to be afraid of?'

The boy I used to be afraid of?

This wasn't new to Carter. Winona had been afraid of him, and he damn well knew that. Before Pansy, everyone (patients, past healers, Winona) was cautious and aware around him. His eyes back then wasn't a beautiful shade of blue like Pansy had said, they were the color of frost in a bloodshed.

'His death started to change you,' she said solemnly, 'and Pansy was the one who changed you wholly. It's as if—'

Winona smiled.

'It's as if Pansy turned you into that little Alexander Greengrass running around in the halls again.'

———

Visible tension hung in the air and Draco was convinced that if the silence dragged on, he could grab the i solidly in his palms.

Granger looked as if she wasn't sure how to respond. Draco held her stare for one uncomfortable minute.

Then she threw her head back and—

Laughed.

Caught off guard, Draco felt blood rushing to his face.

'A-are you laughing?'

'You are hilarious, Malfoy,' she said, her chest rising and falling from laughing too hard. 'Oh, god, Oh, Godric—if I ever hear that melodramatic line again in my dreams, know that it's your fault.'

'I beg your pardon?'

Granger laughed again, this time nearly slapping poor sleeping Astoria's arm.

Draco flared with fury. Never had Granger made fun of him that he actually felt offended.

Was he really too dramatic?

No, he wasn't, he was a Malfoy. Enough said.

'You dare ridiculing me, mudblood?' he spat.

'Ohhh,' she drawled like drunken man, 'yes, I dare.'

She giggled— oh, dear god—and stood up from Astoria's side.

'Anyway,' she started shakily while grinning, 'yes, I am knowledgeable in curses. Apparently I've just started to. It was Madam Pomfrey that confide me in with those. Said she needed my help for something.'

'She needed a mudblood's help? For what?' Draco never thought the nurse would ever stoop that low.

Granger suddenly looked regretful that she had said that. Regaining her calm expression, she said casually,

'Well, the reason is confidential. So confidential that she needed a bright witch's help.'

She jabbed a finger at him.

'Not a bright wizard.'

Granger laughed and walked out from the infirmary.

Draco scowled, watching her leave.

He glanced at Astoria who was peacefully sleeping on the bed. He wondered what she was dreaming of.

Confidential. Draco hated that word.

'Well,' he said to himself, 'it won't stay confidential for too long.'

a/n— hello everyone feel free to get mad at me for my shitty updating schedule xx

blame school istg theyre stressing me out fr