Memories of You

Pansy and Draco found themselves in the room of requirements every day now. Draco had even convinced Crabbe and Goyle to take turns watching the seventh floor. They had refused at first, but immediately dedicated their time once he had shown them his mark, and said it was for the Dark Lord. That was the kind of power Pansy hoped to achieve by becoming a death eater herself.

Being on the good side of history was a luxury she could not afford. Pansy needed to be on the winning side of history. How else would she be able to watch over Hermione? Her ties to the dark world were already too strong. Would the dark lord lose, she’d be shunned by the world regardless of her own personal beliefs. A pureblood Slytherin known to be Draco’s best friend and her parent’s daughter? Her destiny had never been in her control. Her family, their friends, everyone they had chosen to surround themselves with, everyone they had chosen to keep around their daughter believed in a higher order dictated by blood purity. Deciding to retract herself from that system, no matter how much she despised it, would simply result in the immediate death of more than just herself. She couldn’t.

This war would end in a blood bath, and only someone as great and powerful as the Dark Lord would be a fit leader in a new world. That’s what Pansy had once thought. But the more time passed, the more she saw reality draw itself, illuminated by the feelings she had developed for Hypatia. Voldemort only wanted power. He was a despicable being that terrified him. The more she allowed this truth to settle in her, the more she felt disgusted with herself.

Draco had been chosen by the Dark Lord, but Pansy would make sure her help would not go unnoticed. She’d climb up the ranks of the army faster than any witch or any wizard. She’d watch over Hermione like a hawk, the angel of death never daring to approach her. It was the only way. The only way she’d stay alive and keep Hermione safe. No one in the castle knew just how close they were to release the death eaters in the castle. No one else knew just how restricted her possibilities were. People would die, and it would be her fault.

Pansy had resisted the urge every night to grab the mirror and talk to the one she loved. The temptation was even stronger when they crossed paths in the hallways, or shared a class. But she could not let anyone know of their connection. How could she ever become a great death eater if she was suspected of being tied to a mudblood?

“I think I did it.” Draco said, lowering his wand. Pansy got up from the couch she had been sitting on. They took turns when it came to the layers of magic. Pansy had been bitter at the idea of having Draco fix the last layer. After all, she was the one that had gone to Dervish and Banges. She was the reason Draco would be considered a hero and not a failure. But her hands would feel cleaner if she let him do the honours.

Pansy used the charm that would render visible the magic state of the cabinet. A green aura appeared, only this time, it made a perfect circle around the closet, with no cracks or wobbles. They looked each other in the eyes, not knowing what to say.

“Remember, first the inanimate, then the animal, and only after the wizard.” Pansy said. Draco nodded and took a green apple out of his pocket and placed it in the closet before closing the doors.

“Harmonia Nectere Passus.” After a few seconds, He opened the closet again. The apple had disappeared.

“Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. Try to summon it back.” Pansy said, shaking in excitement.

“Harmonia Nectere Passus.” Draco repeated. The apple was back, but in poor shape. They both grimaced at the sight. Chunks were missing, and the fruit looked like it had been sitting on a shelf for a few days now. Pansy’s shoulders dropped. What had they possibly done wrong. All that she wanted was to find Hypatia and see her. She knew that the Slughorn party was about to start. Perhaps she still had time. Time to run to the mirror and beg her to not take McLaggen and take her instead to that stupid party.

“Draco, I’m going to need you to cover for me for something.”

“Anything.” He nodded. Draco knew better than to ask questions or judge Pansy’s actions. She had done too much for him.

“We’re going to run to our rooms and put on our nicest dinner clothes. We’re infiltrating a party.”

Draco smiled at her. Without adding any other words, they began running. For a few minutes, they became teenagers again. Teenagers who worried about love, and about parties. Draco let out a yell of excitement as he jumped almost an entire flight of stairs. Pansy held her stomach, laughing at her friend’s stupid actions, accidentally going through a couple of ghosts, and bumping into students. She couldn’t stop laughing, not even when she reached the great hall, and more students could see her acting like a kid in an amusement park. She was going to see Hermione. Nothing would stop her, not McLaggen, not the cabinet, nothing.

When she finally reached her room, she dove towards her nightstand and held the mirror up to her lips in a desperate attempt to be heard by the one she loved.

“Hypatia, wait! Hypatia don’t leave for the party! Please give me a second!”

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It was with great disappointment that Hermione put on her party dress. She had bought it just for the occasion, hoping that Circe would see her, even if secretly while walking down the hallway. It was short to the knees, and of a pale rose colour that did wonders to her skin tone. She was sparkly. She looked at herself one last time in the mirror and left.

___________________

Pansy screamed in frustration. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Hermione had already left for the party. Pansy let out the longest swear of her life before running to her closet. She quickly slipped into one of her halter dresses. It was silver, with luscious layers of soft fabric cascading down her hips. She didn’t have time to apply any makeup, and barely remembered to put on earrings and swap out her school leather shoes for some heels.

The west wing of the castle was forbidden for students at that time of the night, unless, of course, they had been invited to Slughorn’s party. She had no intention of crashing the party, but she knew perfectly well that she wouldn’t even be able to set foot on that floor of the castle unless she at least looked dressed for the occasion. She swallowed her frustration. Hadn’t it been for their families ties, both her and Draco would currently be sipping on a drink in the middle of the party with Slughorn himself. She had to find Hermione. Winter break was just around the corner, and she had no idea when the two would be able to speak again.

Draco had kept his promise and put on his black fitted suit, as well as his shiniest pair of shoes. They started walking towards the west wing, arms linked, their footsteps echoing against the cold marble walls.

Finally, they arrived at the party. Pansy pointed at the indent in the hallway created by a window, gesturing to Draco to hide there with her. Students were still arriving, and she could not afford to be seen.

“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing here?” he said, wiping the dust off the giant bricks in disgust before finally sitting.

“I need you to cover for me. I told you already.” Pansy replied. Truly, all that she wanted was a friend by her side in order to give her the last bit of courage that she needed.

“Is this about that girl?”

“Yes.” he nodded and looked around.

“I hope she’s worth ruining both your dress and my s-

Pansy shushed him with a swift hand gesture. Hermione’s voice. She could hear it. It was even more melodious in person, the mirror hadn’t rendered it justice. The girl was approaching, accompanied by McLaggen. Pansy froze, and the couple passed by them without noticing. She only had a few seconds to act, and she’d only be able to say a few words. She had to choose wisely. She stepped out of the wall indent and pointed her wand at McLaggen

“Confundus!” He froze while Hermione turned around briskly.

“Parkinson!”

“Hypatia, please, tell me where to find you.”

Hermione’s outraged expression turned into stupor. She stuttered, still in shock. “If you turn left at the end of the hallway I noticed that there’s a small stained glass window just outside of the party. Wait there, I’ll find you.” Pansy nodded and made her way back to the wall indent as soon as she noticed McLaggen coming back to his senses.

She avoided Draco’s gaze, preferring to stare at the ground instead. When she finally dared to look up, he was smiling.

“Is this my chance to finally admit that witch is bloody brilliant?” Pansy laughed. Her heart was lighter. She had talked to Hermione. Hermione still wanted to see her.

“I have to move locations. Would you mind being on watch while I sort this out? I really don’t want to get detention.”

“As long as you promise me to tell me everything about how this happened.” He pointed at her and at the hallway which Hermione had already exited. Pansy rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t wipe the smile off of her face.

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“Where were we? Ah yes, Ginny’s last performance at practice. By the way, you should really come see us more when we’re training, it’s really nice.”

“Harry has proposed it to me many times, but you know, Quidditch practice just really isn’t my thing”

“Did you just hear that sound? I swear I heard something.”

“Not really no!” Hermione replied, trying her best to not look thrown off by what she had just learned.

“Okay then.” McLaggen shrugged. “If you’re bored at practice, it’s because you never came when I was playing.”

Hermione discreetly turned around, taking advantage if her companion’s monologue to steal a glimpse at Pansy. The girl had already eclipsed away. Hermione shuddered. She had never noticed just how beautiful she really was. But tonight, with her silver dress and emerald encrusted earrings, Pansy looked like a meteor shower coming from another galaxy. How had she not recognised her voice? How could Pansy still love her despite knowing who she was? Hermione and Cormac walked through the door where the reception was held.

“Hermione, I haven’t told you but,” He said, stopping in his tracks to smile at her while looking at her lips, and then a little lower. “I didn’t compliment you yet because your beauty struck me like lightning on a summer day.”

“Uh, well thank you.” Hermione replied. She had heard that very same sentence repeated by three separate idiots in the school hallways before. The party hadn’t even started and McLaggen was already staring at her cleavage, using the cheapest pick up lines on the market. This night was about to be really long.

Unsurprisingly, Cormac proved himself to be worse than Hermione would have imagined. He chained compliments and boastfulness, and had yet to ask her a singular question about herself. Hermione stared at the sheer curtain that separated her from the stained glass window. She knew that Pansy was there, in the dark, waiting for her, but she could simply not get rid of her cavalier, that was stickier than a leech from the forbidden forests’ swamps, and almost as charming. She begged him to bring her his special pick from the buffet table, knowing that it would take him time to choose, before running away towards the window the second he turned his back.

“Circe?” she whispered.

“Hypatia.” Pansy revealed herself. Hermione struggled to breathe as she recognised the voice she had dreamt of so many nights. She didn’t know what to say. Now that she knew the personality hiding behind the mask Pansy had put on years ago, it had become impossible to ignore just how stunning the girl was. The freckles on her nose danced like dandelion seeds in the wind, while her eyes were greener than the Great lake on rainy days. Her lips were full, and the symmetrical dimples sitting on both corners of her mouth softened her face.

“I don’t have much time. I am not exactly welcome at this party.”

“Did you finish your task?”

“It’s a really long story, but I’d love to tell you about it. But I need to tell you, Hermione, I don’t think I’ll be able to use the mirror anymore.”

“Me neither. I don’t think I've fully grasped that the Pansy Parkinson that I know and Circe are the same person.” Hermione replied, trying her best not to blush as Pansy said her name.

“You know just as well as me where the room of requirements is, since we met there last year thanks to Umbridge.” Hermione remembered clearly the day Dumbledore’s army had been arrested. Pansy had been there, front and centre, smirking as they were dragged away into the pink teacher’s office. “

“Yes I know how to get there.”

“Meet me there after the party is over. If you wish for a place to join me, and I wish for a place to wait for you, we shouldn’t encounter any problem finding each other again. Will you come? I mean now that you know who I am.” Pansy asked, worried. She suddenly felt small, embarrassed by her crude display of emotions.

“Yes. I told you. I love Circe. And if that means loving you, Pansy, then so be it.”

Pansy didn’t have time to answer, as she noticed behind Hermione that Harry Potter was about to come join them behind the sheer curtain. She hid by the window, a mere wall separating her from the two best friends. Luckily, Harry hadn’t noticed her.

She cursed him for coming in between her and Hermione before deciding to make her way towards the room of requirements. Pansy had only been able to take a few steps before she hid back into her corner, panting.

Filch had grabbed Draco, who had been executing his duties of watch brilliantly by the collar and yelled at him.

“You thought you could come into this party without being invited and I wouldn’t notice?”

“I wasn’t even at the party, you imbecile. I was just standing outside.” Draco protested.

“Do not take this tone with me, young man. Let’s take this matter to Professor Slughorn, shall we?”

Pansy thanked the Gods and Draco. She wouldn’t have been able to endure one more obstacle between her and Hermione. Not now that they had finally found each other.