The you I never knew I needed

Chapter 8

    Later that night Pansy Parkinson sits curled up against one of the dark corners of the slytherin common room. The shadows mask the view of the tears that have been streaming down her face for the past hour. She has her knees pulled up to her chest but doesn't bother brushing the tears away.

    The tears mixed with runny mascara leave behind little trails where they had fallen. Everyone else had gone to bed but Pansy remains huddled in her little corner, engulfed in shadows. She had been so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice the soft sound of foot steps coming towards her.

"Parkinson?"

    She turns further away from the noise as soon as she recognizes his voice, not wanting him to see her like this. He takes another step closer but she shrinks further back into the shadows.

"Are you crying?" He asks, crouching beside her with a concerned expression.

"No." She lies. "I'm eating crabbe's chocolate and I didn't want him to see me. Go away Theo."

    He's about to stand back up when he catches her sniffle and leans closer, trying to see her face through the darkness.

"Is this about Dalia?" He asks, lowering himself all the way to sit beside her.

"Don't be a f*cking idiot Theo I said go away." She hisses, only turning to look at him for a second.

He sighs. "Sorry darling, but I know you a hell of a lot better than that. What's the matter?"

She goes silent, looking down at the floor. In her mind she had all the words of what she wanted to tell him, but as she tried to let them out they died in her throat.

A second later she began shaking her head not sure how to get it all out. More tears escape, rolling over the same wet and mascara smeared lines the others had then falling to the floor.

"Hey- Pansy Parkinson you listen to me." He says softly, his hands finding her cheek and gently brushing away her tears.

She briefly glances up at him while drawing circles on the floor with her index finger.

"Whatever happened... I'm here for you." Theodore continues.

    She exhaled a shuddering breath trying to get herself to calm down, but her breath was caught in her throat as the painful memory from earlier today sent a sharp and painful reminder straight to her heart.

    Her head crashes into Theo's side and she cries into his shirt. He gently wraps an arm around her, and rests his chin on top of her head while softly patting her back.

"Let it all out. You'll feel better, I promise." He whispers.

    Her crying continues, only now a little harder and her hands are now shaking uncontrollably. Her body begins to tremble as she cries, and Theo pulls her closer.

"It's goin to be alright." He assured her.

    She nodded gently, trying to reassure herself as well.

-

After she had managed to calm down they walked to his dorm, to talk in private. Theodore had a room to himself after most people left hogwarts for the rest of the semester. The room was dark, except for the small light the lantern on his nightstand gave off.

They sat on the side of his bed that was closest to the light. As he looked closer at her, he noticed bruises along her right arm.

"Did she do that to you?" He asks, gesturing to it.

She quickly pulls her sleeves down and over her arms, then crosses them defensively. "N-no. Not exactly-it was my fault. I made her upset with me." She stumbles with her words.

He scoffs. "Parkinson what the f*ck? Are you serious right now?"

"Leave me alone Theo, it's my fault and I have to deal with it." She turns away.

He catches her shoulder, turning her back to face him. "Don't. That is a load of rubbish and we both know it. Now tell me what happen exactly the way it happened."

She huffs, lowering her eyes as she speaks. "Well Dalia has just been in a bad mood lately- worse than normal. A-and I may have spoken out of turn. And it made her really angry. Then she began shouting these horrible things at me." Her voice wavers as she feels her control slipping, causing more tears to come. "And then.. we- we got into another fight. And she threatened to break up with me if I didn't do something she asked me too. And I ask why she couldn't just do it herself and she threw a stool at me."

"Oh my- I'm so sorry." He whispers, pulling her into a hug. "Don't blame yourself though. She shouldn't have hurt you like that."

"It's my fault Theo."

    She digs her nails into the palms of her hands, trying to keep herself from breaking again. Her voice becomes shaky and unsteady as she continues.

"I always do this. I always ruin everything because I just can't keep my mouth shut. Last week I told her I loved her and now she tells me she hates me and I'm worthless. Maybe if I would just shut my d*mn mouth I wouldn't make her so upset."

Theo gently let's go to look at her. "Don't say that. It isn't your fault. Trust me."

"Then why does she do it? Why does she act like she fancies me one day, and then act like she hates me another. It's bloody confusing and- and I'm so tired of it. I just want to be loved." She cried. "Is that too much to ask for?"

"Of course not, and I don't know why she does it but I can assure you it isn't your fault." He says softly.

"How do you know that for sure?" She asks. Her eyes stare back at his, desperate for answers.

He gives her a soft smile. "I just know."

-

After things had settled down again Pansy lay curled up beside Theo, resting her head against chest.

For the next half an hour, despite their efforts to try and get some rest their minds kept spinning.. worrying about things to come.

"Hey." She whispers.

"Can't sleep?" He asks.

She shook her head. "Have you heard about Callum? Apparently he had a huge breakdown and tore the bathroom apart, then afterwards put it back together as though nothing had happened."

"Where'd you hear this?" He glances down at her.

"I saw it."

"You mean you were spying on him?" He tilts his head.

"I wouldn't call it spying- and anyways Dalia asked me to." She responds.

"That's a bit creepy, don't you think?"

"Oh hush." She huffs, turning over to face the other way.

"Good night Parkinson."

"Good night."

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Love you all! Again, thank you all so incredibly much for reading! Don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts on the chapter <3