Round 3, Challenge 3 - Voting
Voting day! :) (And don't worry, your feedback from last week is coming later today!)
Read over the drabbles and choose one most favorite and one least favorite drabble. While reading, keep in mind the prompt and word count restrictions. Once you've chosen, put the number of each drabble in the corresponding box at the end of this post. Please remember to put number of the drabble and not the name; it makes it a lot easier for us to keep track. Each most favorite vote will receive +1 point and each least favorite vote will receive -1 point. The drabble with the most points will win the challenge! Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
If, at any point in time, you have a question about the voting procedure, please contact indaze22 or me ASAP. Thanks.
Enough babble, onto the drabbles!
PROMPT: Determination vs. Hesitation
"Nothing is given to man on earth - struggle is built into the nature of life, and conflict is possible - the hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen." -Andrew Bernstein
WORD COUNT: 300-499 words
#1
TITLE: Midnight Madness
AUTHOR: kandykanemel
WORD COUNT:339
RATING: PG
WARNING(S): none really
“Relax Potter, no need to be nervous.”
“I’m not nervous at all Pansy. I just don’t understand why we-“
“Potter we’ve been planning this for days. No one is going to find out, we’ll sneak in, take a look at our files and it will be over quick as a flash.” Pansy said smoothly as she walked ahead, the light from her wand illuminating the pitch-dark hallway.
It all started out as Harry’s idea really. Employee evaluations were never taken lightly at work. Almost every was agitated, angry, nervous or just downright terrified about how their job performance was being graded. Pansy herself was more nervous than she let on.
This year the rumor was one of the new employees hired in last month was sent in as a spy working for the ministry. Of course that caused tensions to rise even more. Poor Seamus Finnigan looked like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Everyone was paranoid and on edge right now.
“Potter your hair looks more horrid than usual. You must be stressed like the rest of us.” Pansy teased him while they were drinking coffee in the break room. Harry never seemed to have the same anxious feelings as everyone else during evaluations. Of course The Chosen One would never have to worry about losing his position…at least that was what Pansy told their co-workers.
“Well I’m the same way during all our evaluations. Just better at hiding it than most.” He replied accidentally putting salt in his mug. Sometimes I get so nervous I want to sneak a peak at my evaluation after it’s turned in.”
“That’s brilliant Potter.” Pansy beamed.
So that was how Harry was roped into breaking into their boss’s office in the middle of the night with the intent to read their evaluations.
“Pansy I think this is a bad idea.” Harry tried one last time to convince her to call this thing off.
“Never thought I’d hear that from a Gryffindor.” Pansy teased.
Harry saw his evaluation first.
#2
TITLE: I'd Do Anything For Love
AUTHOR: scarletladyy
WORD COUNT: 382
RATING: PG-13
WARNING(S): Swearing
"Pansy," Harry called quietly but firmly. "We need to talk."
"Not now, Potter," Malfoy spoke for her, hands in his pockets as he stood by her side looking smug. "We're busy."
"I wasn't talking to you," Harry said through gritted teeth. "Pansy, can I please just have five minutes?"
Pansy shook her head and turned away from him.
"This is important," he tried to stress. "Very important."
"Look, Potter," sighed Malfoy, looking amused and annoyed at the same time. "She doesn't want to speak to you. Leave her alone."
Out of sheer desperation, and not really knowing what else to do, Harry blurted out what he had wanted to say in private. "I want a baby. Our baby."
"What?" Pansy said, spinning around quickly. "What did you just say?"
"I want us to start a family together."
Pansy smiled. "You mean it? I thought you were too busy with work..."
"Screw work," Harry almost yelled, trying to avoid the piercing gaze Malfoy was sending his way. "You're my wife. It's more important to me that you're happy, and I know I didn't want to, but... now I do. I can't lose you, Pansy."
"Thank you, Harry," Pansy said with a big grin on her face as she ran to give him a hug. "Though it took you bloody long enough to figure it out!"
"He's slow, what do you expect?" Malfoy chipped in.
"Shove off, Malfoy," retorted Harry. "At least I have a wife."
"Not this again, boys. It's getting old," said Pansy, hitting Harry playfully on the arm. "I'll be back in a moment, just going to the ladies."
"Potter, do you realise how close your wife was to leaving you five minutes ago?" Malfoy said when Pansy was just out of sight.
Harry shrugged. "She isn't now. I love her, and unlike you, I'd do anything for her. Enlighten me, did you ever plan to tell her how in love with her you were?"
"Fuck off," Draco spat. "She's never seen me like that."
"Don't give it if you can't take it," Harry muttered as Pansy headed towards them. "Pansy! Are you ready to go now?"
"'Course," she said, kissing Malfoy on the cheek before departing. "Thanks for everything, Draco."
Malfoy smiled weakly as they walked away. "Anytime," he whispered.
#3
TITLE: That's What Friends Are For
AUTHOR: little_dollface
WORD COUNT: 354
RATING: T
WARNING(S): language
“You’re coming, aren’t you?”
Pansy huffed. “To another boring Ministry function? I’ll pass.”
Daphne pouted for a moment, then her eyes lit up. “I heard Potter’s going to put in an appearance.”
“We had an agreement, Daphne!” Pansy scolded.
Daphne just rolled her eyes, ignoring Pansy’s implied death threat. “Oh, please, as if never speaking his name is going to suddenly make all your feelings for him up and disappear.”
“I don’t have feelings for him!” she screeched.
“Sure, you don’t. It’s so obvious.” Daphne chuckled to herself, shaking her at head at Pansy’s over-the-top reaction.
Pansy grumbled as she sat down next to the pile of dress robes strewn on Daphne’s bed. “You really think I should go?”
“Yes. You know you want to see him.”
“But he doesn’t want to see me. He made that clear.”
Daphne pushed aside some robes, making room to sit down. “Still, it doesn’t change how you feel. You want him. Go and get him. Make him want to see you again.”
“I don’t want things to be like that with us. And I’m not groveling. I didn’t do anything wrong. He’s taking what happened with MacLaggen out of context and refusing to even listen to me! ”
“No one said you had to grovel. You’ve snagged him once before and you can do it again.”
Pansy smiled. She remembered how it had felt, the headiness of new love, the teasing games of cat and mouse. And even after the rush of those feelings had faded, it was replaced by strong, soothing moments of love and comfort. She’d been happy, truly happy with him.
“You’re right. Damn it, Daphne, savor this because I won’t be repeating it anytime soon, but you are right.”
Daphne glared. “Brute determination really brings your claws out.”
Pansy only grinned in response.
“So, you’re going then?”
Slipping on a dress robe, Pansy replied, “Nothing could stop me.”
Daphne checked her hair in the mirror and then quickly grabbed Pansy’s arm. Before Apparating them away she, smirked and said, “I probably should have mentioned before that MacLaggen is going to be there too.”
#4
TITLE: Not Worth It
AUTHOR: swimnsail
WORD COUNT: 353
RATING: PG
WARNING: Some angst.
Harry grabbed her elbow, steering her determinedly to the nearest empty corridor, ignoring Pansy’s hisses of protest. He stopped after about the fifth empty hall they reached and turned to face her. “So, that’s it?” He asked angrily.
“What’s it, Potter?” She snapped.
“You know damn well what I’m asking, Pansy!”
“Do I, Potter?” Her eyes flashed with fury. “Do you mean, are we through?” She gestured angrily between them. “You’re finally acknowledging that there was an us at least,” she scoffed.
“There was, right up until I find Malfoy practically brandishing papers of ownership over you!”
Pansy saw red at this statement. “I don’t belong to anyone, Potter. Not you, not Malfoy, not anyone. Understand?”
Harry stared down at her unblinkingly.
“You want to know why we’re over, Potter?” She asked mockingly. “If there even was an us.”
“Do enlighten me,” he sneered.
“Hesitation.” She spat. “Every single thing, you hesitated. The first conversation we had, walk, kiss, supposedly introducing me to your friends. Nothing was ever done without it! I couldn’t do anything without you bloody hesitating! And I’m sick of it. I can’t deal with it. Draco may not be the perfect person for me, but you know what? At least he’s determined to get what he wants. Where you ever determined to get me, Potter? Was anything done without hesitation?” Her eyes pleaded with him to acknowledge at least this simple fact.
Harry searched her dark eyes, trying to convey how he felt, and feeling the same suffocating fear that he had every-time he looked at her.
She shook her head and laughed harshly. “Even now, you’re hesitating. I was just never worth it to you.” She shook her head once more, subconsciously trying to shake him out of her head, turned on her heel and walked away.
Harry slumped against the wall. I’m hesitating because I’m not good enough for you, and I’ll never be. All those times we were together, I was just waiting for you to end it, because the truth is, I was never worth your time. No matter what you tried to say otherwise.
#5
TITLE: That Meddling Auror or Weasley Needs To Learn To Mind His Own Business
AUTHOR: laiksmarei
WORD COUNT: 373
RATING: PG-13ish
WARNING(S): Language
They’re all watching me, the cunts. I can feel their eyes burning holes in my back of my head. I want to slap Weasley until he can taste my fingerprints. One little slip, and now everyone’s got the dish. Well, except for Potter. He knows fuck all when it comes to anything outside of his own personal bubble, but that’s not the point, really.
No, the point is that right after the briefing this morning, the Ginger Menace (make note, he shall be known as this henceforth if I have anything to say about it, and believe me I‘ve got plenty to make known) walks right up to me, ear-splitting grin right smack in the middle of a sea of freckles, and nods toward the object of my affection curiosity.
“Dare you,” he says and smirks, no doubt determined to make me squirm. How juvenile! Yet, in only two words, seven small letters, Weasley goes from Ginger Menace to strategist extraordinaire. Damn.
What is it with guys, anyway? I just know that if it had been Draco I'd been lusting looking after for these last few months, there'd be sympathetic glances coupled with a bit of gossip. But because it's him, I get smirks, dares and schoolboy gesticulations when I exit the room. Do the guys really think that will work? And what is with Neville standing there, like he's flanking Weasley. I catch his eye, my jaw set and nostrils flaring. He quickly backs off. Smart boy.
When I look back, Potter's walking towards us, a curious yet light expression on his face. I just know he's going to ask what's going on. Weasley is so going to down for this.
I glare at the room at large and lick my lips, trying to think of something to say, anything, for when the inevitable question comes. The words form on my tongue, but I fumble when Kingsley’s voice cuts across the room.
“Weasley, you're with Longbottom tonight. You two,” he nods in our direction, “come with me. I’ve got a case for you."
Potter follows me out into the hall, and I bite my lip, praying to Merlin, Circe and Nimue above he won't say anything, yet wishing deep down he would.
#6
TITLE: And then, She Knew
AUTHOR: cyyt
WORD COUNT: 462
RATING: PG
WARNING(S): None.
“Harry James Potter! You cannot be serious!” a highly-irate Pansy Parkinson shouted.
“C’mon, Pansy, it’s not that bad…” Harry wheedled.
“I’m telling you this: I will not get onto that contraption!” Pansy said haughtily. “This was a mistake, Harry Potter; I should have never acquiesced to your request.” She turned to walk away.
“Wait, Pansy!” Harry caught her wrist, tenderly but steadfastly.
“I know I shouldn’t have done this behind your back, but just answer this question: Do you dislike it because you fear it? Because I see you sometimes, watching us play Quidditch. It seems like you want to fly, but something’s holding you back.
“We might not have been together for long, but I know you. You never let anything stop you. You conquer things; you’re unstoppable. Why is this any different?”
Pansy looked straight into his eyes. “Because… I’m afraid.” Her voice was so quiet, so small, that Harry had to lean closer to hear. “Because no one will be there to catch me when I fall.”
“You won’t fall, Pansy. I won’t let you,” Harry said, moving his hold on her wrist to the hand, threading his fingers through hers. “Something like this shouldn’t stop you.” He held out his beloved Firebolt, the one his godfather had given him.
“Swing your leg over,” he instructed. She looked at him tentatively but did as he said.
Harry did likewise, and then he adjusted her arms around his waist.
“Now, hold on tightly. We are going to fly!”
She gripped his midsection firmly; her knuckles were bone-white.
“Relax, Pansy. Your feet can still skim the ground,” Harry said soothingly.
Pansy opened her eyes slowly. It was true.
“Is it alright if we fly a little higher?”
Pansy nodded; her cheek was pressed to his back.
And so, they flew higher steadily. Each time, Harry would ask for her approval before flying higher, and soon, they could see over the trees.
“This is truly amazing!” Pansy couldn’t help but to gasp. “It’s like seeing the world through a whole different perspective.”
“And that’s why I love it so much,” Harry said.
They flew for what seemed like hours, and finally, when they reached back to the hill they’d started from, the sun was setting, filling the sky with a myriad of pinks, oranges and yellows.
“Thank you, Harry,” she said. She gently pressed her lips to his. Then, she pulled back, shooting him that saucy wink he knew so well. “Next date, it’s my turn to choose, Mr Potter.”
“Whatever you wish, Miss Parkinson.” Harry laughed, a deep, rumbling sound. “Pansy,” he said, sobering up,” I want you to know, you don’t have to be afraid of falling. Because there will always be someone there to catch you.”
And then, she knew.
#7
TITLE: Second Chances
AUTHOR: akinriahtram
WORD COUNT: 473
RATING: G
WARNING(S): None
They weren’t supposed to change each other’s lives more than they were destined to. They were enemies. She was to manipulate him. He was to die so they could accomplish their goal.
But he was the Boy Who Lived, so he had defeated her Lord.
After their last parting, she thought she’d never see him again. Four years masquerading as a muggle, Pansy never thought she would catch a glimpse of his messy hair and supernatural green eyes out in the streets of Paris.
“Harry...” The familiar word rolled out of her mouth so naturally.
Pansy decided to make a detour to avoid the confrontations.
“Pansy!”
For a second, she was going to turn around. She wanted to hug him. To keep herself from turning, she convinced herself that it was all a delusion. A hand grabs her shoulder and whirled her around. A masculine body embraced her and she smelled the ever so familiar smell that only belonged to him.
“Pansy, I’ve finally found you.” He murmured into her shoulders and she noted how his voice had deepened over the past four years.
It took all her effort to shove him away.
He looked at her, confused.
“Why?”
“We were never meant to be together, Harry.”
Harry frowned and his eyes knitted together in frustration.
“Why?”
“What?”
“For Merlin’s sake, I searched everywhere, for the past four years.” His hand brushed through his hair to show his frustration. “Why must you care about what others think of you?”
“Congratulations. You’ve found me.” She replied sarcastically. “So now that you found me, we can all go back to our own previous lives. It was nice seeing you, Harry.”
She forced herself to walk past him, ignoring the bewildered look on his face. She didn’t answer his question. It wasn’t that she cared about what others think of her, she just didn’t want to ruin his glorious status.
The legendary Boy Who Lived and the Former Death Eater.
How ironic.
However, his hand snatched her arm and pulled her back, causing her to stagger.
“Listen, Pansy!” He glared at her. His eyes were fierce.
“I told myself that I would find you, and when I find you, I would court you. Even if the whole world thinks our relationship is wrong, I don’t care. I’m willing to give everything up for us. So will you, Pansy Parkinson, marry me?”
She stared at him, eyes widened in alarmed when he kneeled down and took out a velvet box.
“Stand up, Harry. People are staring.” She hissed, but he paid no heed to her words.
She groaned in frustration at his stubbornness and then her eyes widened in realization.
Harry had always been waiting.
He had always been waiting for her.
What will you do now, Pansy?
A pretty smile slowly emerged on her face.
It was her turn to step forward.
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Poll Round 3, Challenge 3
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Round Three, Challenge Three
Determination vs. Hesitation
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Round Three, Challenge Three
Determination vs. Hesitation
Vote for your favorite drabble at NOW!
Click the banner to be taken to the voting post!
Read over the drabbles and choose one most favorite and one least favorite drabble. While reading, keep in mind the prompt and word count restrictions. Once you've chosen, put the number of each drabble in the corresponding box at the end of this post. Please remember to put number of the drabble and not the name; it makes it a lot easier for us to keep track. Each most favorite vote will receive +1 point and each least favorite vote will receive -1 point. The drabble with the most points will win the challenge! Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
If, at any point in time, you have a question about the voting procedure, please contact indaze22 or me ASAP. Thanks.
Enough babble, onto the drabbles!
PROMPT: Determination vs. Hesitation
"Nothing is given to man on earth - struggle is built into the nature of life, and conflict is possible - the hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen." -Andrew Bernstein
WORD COUNT: 300-499 words
#1
TITLE: Midnight Madness
AUTHOR: kandykanemel
WORD COUNT:339
RATING: PG
WARNING(S): none really
“Relax Potter, no need to be nervous.”
“I’m not nervous at all Pansy. I just don’t understand why we-“
“Potter we’ve been planning this for days. No one is going to find out, we’ll sneak in, take a look at our files and it will be over quick as a flash.” Pansy said smoothly as she walked ahead, the light from her wand illuminating the pitch-dark hallway.
It all started out as Harry’s idea really. Employee evaluations were never taken lightly at work. Almost every was agitated, angry, nervous or just downright terrified about how their job performance was being graded. Pansy herself was more nervous than she let on.
This year the rumor was one of the new employees hired in last month was sent in as a spy working for the ministry. Of course that caused tensions to rise even more. Poor Seamus Finnigan looked like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Everyone was paranoid and on edge right now.
“Potter your hair looks more horrid than usual. You must be stressed like the rest of us.” Pansy teased him while they were drinking coffee in the break room. Harry never seemed to have the same anxious feelings as everyone else during evaluations. Of course The Chosen One would never have to worry about losing his position…at least that was what Pansy told their co-workers.
“Well I’m the same way during all our evaluations. Just better at hiding it than most.” He replied accidentally putting salt in his mug. Sometimes I get so nervous I want to sneak a peak at my evaluation after it’s turned in.”
“That’s brilliant Potter.” Pansy beamed.
So that was how Harry was roped into breaking into their boss’s office in the middle of the night with the intent to read their evaluations.
“Pansy I think this is a bad idea.” Harry tried one last time to convince her to call this thing off.
“Never thought I’d hear that from a Gryffindor.” Pansy teased.
Harry saw his evaluation first.
#2
TITLE: I'd Do Anything For Love
AUTHOR: scarletladyy
WORD COUNT: 382
RATING: PG-13
WARNING(S): Swearing
"Pansy," Harry called quietly but firmly. "We need to talk."
"Not now, Potter," Malfoy spoke for her, hands in his pockets as he stood by her side looking smug. "We're busy."
"I wasn't talking to you," Harry said through gritted teeth. "Pansy, can I please just have five minutes?"
Pansy shook her head and turned away from him.
"This is important," he tried to stress. "Very important."
"Look, Potter," sighed Malfoy, looking amused and annoyed at the same time. "She doesn't want to speak to you. Leave her alone."
Out of sheer desperation, and not really knowing what else to do, Harry blurted out what he had wanted to say in private. "I want a baby. Our baby."
"What?" Pansy said, spinning around quickly. "What did you just say?"
"I want us to start a family together."
Pansy smiled. "You mean it? I thought you were too busy with work..."
"Screw work," Harry almost yelled, trying to avoid the piercing gaze Malfoy was sending his way. "You're my wife. It's more important to me that you're happy, and I know I didn't want to, but... now I do. I can't lose you, Pansy."
"Thank you, Harry," Pansy said with a big grin on her face as she ran to give him a hug. "Though it took you bloody long enough to figure it out!"
"He's slow, what do you expect?" Malfoy chipped in.
"Shove off, Malfoy," retorted Harry. "At least I have a wife."
"Not this again, boys. It's getting old," said Pansy, hitting Harry playfully on the arm. "I'll be back in a moment, just going to the ladies."
"Potter, do you realise how close your wife was to leaving you five minutes ago?" Malfoy said when Pansy was just out of sight.
Harry shrugged. "She isn't now. I love her, and unlike you, I'd do anything for her. Enlighten me, did you ever plan to tell her how in love with her you were?"
"Fuck off," Draco spat. "She's never seen me like that."
"Don't give it if you can't take it," Harry muttered as Pansy headed towards them. "Pansy! Are you ready to go now?"
"'Course," she said, kissing Malfoy on the cheek before departing. "Thanks for everything, Draco."
Malfoy smiled weakly as they walked away. "Anytime," he whispered.
#3
TITLE: That's What Friends Are For
AUTHOR: little_dollface
WORD COUNT: 354
RATING: T
WARNING(S): language
“You’re coming, aren’t you?”
Pansy huffed. “To another boring Ministry function? I’ll pass.”
Daphne pouted for a moment, then her eyes lit up. “I heard Potter’s going to put in an appearance.”
“We had an agreement, Daphne!” Pansy scolded.
Daphne just rolled her eyes, ignoring Pansy’s implied death threat. “Oh, please, as if never speaking his name is going to suddenly make all your feelings for him up and disappear.”
“I don’t have feelings for him!” she screeched.
“Sure, you don’t. It’s so obvious.” Daphne chuckled to herself, shaking her at head at Pansy’s over-the-top reaction.
Pansy grumbled as she sat down next to the pile of dress robes strewn on Daphne’s bed. “You really think I should go?”
“Yes. You know you want to see him.”
“But he doesn’t want to see me. He made that clear.”
Daphne pushed aside some robes, making room to sit down. “Still, it doesn’t change how you feel. You want him. Go and get him. Make him want to see you again.”
“I don’t want things to be like that with us. And I’m not groveling. I didn’t do anything wrong. He’s taking what happened with MacLaggen out of context and refusing to even listen to me! ”
“No one said you had to grovel. You’ve snagged him once before and you can do it again.”
Pansy smiled. She remembered how it had felt, the headiness of new love, the teasing games of cat and mouse. And even after the rush of those feelings had faded, it was replaced by strong, soothing moments of love and comfort. She’d been happy, truly happy with him.
“You’re right. Damn it, Daphne, savor this because I won’t be repeating it anytime soon, but you are right.”
Daphne glared. “Brute determination really brings your claws out.”
Pansy only grinned in response.
“So, you’re going then?”
Slipping on a dress robe, Pansy replied, “Nothing could stop me.”
Daphne checked her hair in the mirror and then quickly grabbed Pansy’s arm. Before Apparating them away she, smirked and said, “I probably should have mentioned before that MacLaggen is going to be there too.”
#4
TITLE: Not Worth It
AUTHOR: swimnsail
WORD COUNT: 353
RATING: PG
WARNING: Some angst.
Harry grabbed her elbow, steering her determinedly to the nearest empty corridor, ignoring Pansy’s hisses of protest. He stopped after about the fifth empty hall they reached and turned to face her. “So, that’s it?” He asked angrily.
“What’s it, Potter?” She snapped.
“You know damn well what I’m asking, Pansy!”
“Do I, Potter?” Her eyes flashed with fury. “Do you mean, are we through?” She gestured angrily between them. “You’re finally acknowledging that there was an us at least,” she scoffed.
“There was, right up until I find Malfoy practically brandishing papers of ownership over you!”
Pansy saw red at this statement. “I don’t belong to anyone, Potter. Not you, not Malfoy, not anyone. Understand?”
Harry stared down at her unblinkingly.
“You want to know why we’re over, Potter?” She asked mockingly. “If there even was an us.”
“Do enlighten me,” he sneered.
“Hesitation.” She spat. “Every single thing, you hesitated. The first conversation we had, walk, kiss, supposedly introducing me to your friends. Nothing was ever done without it! I couldn’t do anything without you bloody hesitating! And I’m sick of it. I can’t deal with it. Draco may not be the perfect person for me, but you know what? At least he’s determined to get what he wants. Where you ever determined to get me, Potter? Was anything done without hesitation?” Her eyes pleaded with him to acknowledge at least this simple fact.
Harry searched her dark eyes, trying to convey how he felt, and feeling the same suffocating fear that he had every-time he looked at her.
She shook her head and laughed harshly. “Even now, you’re hesitating. I was just never worth it to you.” She shook her head once more, subconsciously trying to shake him out of her head, turned on her heel and walked away.
Harry slumped against the wall. I’m hesitating because I’m not good enough for you, and I’ll never be. All those times we were together, I was just waiting for you to end it, because the truth is, I was never worth your time. No matter what you tried to say otherwise.
#5
TITLE: That Meddling Auror or Weasley Needs To Learn To Mind His Own Business
AUTHOR: laiksmarei
WORD COUNT: 373
RATING: PG-13ish
WARNING(S): Language
They’re all watching me, the cunts. I can feel their eyes burning holes in my back of my head. I want to slap Weasley until he can taste my fingerprints. One little slip, and now everyone’s got the dish. Well, except for Potter. He knows fuck all when it comes to anything outside of his own personal bubble, but that’s not the point, really.
No, the point is that right after the briefing this morning, the Ginger Menace (make note, he shall be known as this henceforth if I have anything to say about it, and believe me I‘ve got plenty to make known) walks right up to me, ear-splitting grin right smack in the middle of a sea of freckles, and nods toward the object of my affection curiosity.
“Dare you,” he says and smirks, no doubt determined to make me squirm. How juvenile! Yet, in only two words, seven small letters, Weasley goes from Ginger Menace to strategist extraordinaire. Damn.
What is it with guys, anyway? I just know that if it had been Draco I'd been lusting looking after for these last few months, there'd be sympathetic glances coupled with a bit of gossip. But because it's him, I get smirks, dares and schoolboy gesticulations when I exit the room. Do the guys really think that will work? And what is with Neville standing there, like he's flanking Weasley. I catch his eye, my jaw set and nostrils flaring. He quickly backs off. Smart boy.
When I look back, Potter's walking towards us, a curious yet light expression on his face. I just know he's going to ask what's going on. Weasley is so going to down for this.
I glare at the room at large and lick my lips, trying to think of something to say, anything, for when the inevitable question comes. The words form on my tongue, but I fumble when Kingsley’s voice cuts across the room.
“Weasley, you're with Longbottom tonight. You two,” he nods in our direction, “come with me. I’ve got a case for you."
Potter follows me out into the hall, and I bite my lip, praying to Merlin, Circe and Nimue above he won't say anything, yet wishing deep down he would.
#6
TITLE: And then, She Knew
AUTHOR: cyyt
WORD COUNT: 462
RATING: PG
WARNING(S): None.
“Harry James Potter! You cannot be serious!” a highly-irate Pansy Parkinson shouted.
“C’mon, Pansy, it’s not that bad…” Harry wheedled.
“I’m telling you this: I will not get onto that contraption!” Pansy said haughtily. “This was a mistake, Harry Potter; I should have never acquiesced to your request.” She turned to walk away.
“Wait, Pansy!” Harry caught her wrist, tenderly but steadfastly.
“I know I shouldn’t have done this behind your back, but just answer this question: Do you dislike it because you fear it? Because I see you sometimes, watching us play Quidditch. It seems like you want to fly, but something’s holding you back.
“We might not have been together for long, but I know you. You never let anything stop you. You conquer things; you’re unstoppable. Why is this any different?”
Pansy looked straight into his eyes. “Because… I’m afraid.” Her voice was so quiet, so small, that Harry had to lean closer to hear. “Because no one will be there to catch me when I fall.”
“You won’t fall, Pansy. I won’t let you,” Harry said, moving his hold on her wrist to the hand, threading his fingers through hers. “Something like this shouldn’t stop you.” He held out his beloved Firebolt, the one his godfather had given him.
“Swing your leg over,” he instructed. She looked at him tentatively but did as he said.
Harry did likewise, and then he adjusted her arms around his waist.
“Now, hold on tightly. We are going to fly!”
She gripped his midsection firmly; her knuckles were bone-white.
“Relax, Pansy. Your feet can still skim the ground,” Harry said soothingly.
Pansy opened her eyes slowly. It was true.
“Is it alright if we fly a little higher?”
Pansy nodded; her cheek was pressed to his back.
And so, they flew higher steadily. Each time, Harry would ask for her approval before flying higher, and soon, they could see over the trees.
“This is truly amazing!” Pansy couldn’t help but to gasp. “It’s like seeing the world through a whole different perspective.”
“And that’s why I love it so much,” Harry said.
They flew for what seemed like hours, and finally, when they reached back to the hill they’d started from, the sun was setting, filling the sky with a myriad of pinks, oranges and yellows.
“Thank you, Harry,” she said. She gently pressed her lips to his. Then, she pulled back, shooting him that saucy wink he knew so well. “Next date, it’s my turn to choose, Mr Potter.”
“Whatever you wish, Miss Parkinson.” Harry laughed, a deep, rumbling sound. “Pansy,” he said, sobering up,” I want you to know, you don’t have to be afraid of falling. Because there will always be someone there to catch you.”
And then, she knew.
#7
TITLE: Second Chances
AUTHOR: akinriahtram
WORD COUNT: 473
RATING: G
WARNING(S): None
They weren’t supposed to change each other’s lives more than they were destined to. They were enemies. She was to manipulate him. He was to die so they could accomplish their goal.
But he was the Boy Who Lived, so he had defeated her Lord.
After their last parting, she thought she’d never see him again. Four years masquerading as a muggle, Pansy never thought she would catch a glimpse of his messy hair and supernatural green eyes out in the streets of Paris.
“Harry...” The familiar word rolled out of her mouth so naturally.
Pansy decided to make a detour to avoid the confrontations.
“Pansy!”
For a second, she was going to turn around. She wanted to hug him. To keep herself from turning, she convinced herself that it was all a delusion. A hand grabs her shoulder and whirled her around. A masculine body embraced her and she smelled the ever so familiar smell that only belonged to him.
“Pansy, I’ve finally found you.” He murmured into her shoulders and she noted how his voice had deepened over the past four years.
It took all her effort to shove him away.
He looked at her, confused.
“Why?”
“We were never meant to be together, Harry.”
Harry frowned and his eyes knitted together in frustration.
“Why?”
“What?”
“For Merlin’s sake, I searched everywhere, for the past four years.” His hand brushed through his hair to show his frustration. “Why must you care about what others think of you?”
“Congratulations. You’ve found me.” She replied sarcastically. “So now that you found me, we can all go back to our own previous lives. It was nice seeing you, Harry.”
She forced herself to walk past him, ignoring the bewildered look on his face. She didn’t answer his question. It wasn’t that she cared about what others think of her, she just didn’t want to ruin his glorious status.
The legendary Boy Who Lived and the Former Death Eater.
How ironic.
However, his hand snatched her arm and pulled her back, causing her to stagger.
“Listen, Pansy!” He glared at her. His eyes were fierce.
“I told myself that I would find you, and when I find you, I would court you. Even if the whole world thinks our relationship is wrong, I don’t care. I’m willing to give everything up for us. So will you, Pansy Parkinson, marry me?”
She stared at him, eyes widened in alarmed when he kneeled down and took out a velvet box.
“Stand up, Harry. People are staring.” She hissed, but he paid no heed to her words.
She groaned in frustration at his stubbornness and then her eyes widened in realization.
Harry had always been waiting.
He had always been waiting for her.
What will you do now, Pansy?
A pretty smile slowly emerged on her face.
It was her turn to step forward.
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