Ignoring Pansy Parkinson was like trying to find two identical snowflakes. Impossible. And it had nothing to do with the fact that she was literally assigned to showing the girl around. She had been quite adamant with Pansy after the library incident that if that's what she wanted to do, she could enjoy her rule-breaking adventures and the consequences that would surely come with it.

And it didn't have anything do with the fact that they shared AP Calculus, Chemistry, Gym (which it turned out they had both signed up for the yoga alternative offered to seniors), and study hall together.

It was Pansy's long legs and plump lips and shiny, black hair and infectious laugh that did her in. It was the way Pansy would smile at her or roll her eyes when Hermione got bent out of shape over being late to classes. It was the fact that Pansy had seemingly charmed her in that first week of school. And by Thursday, she was already looking forward to seeing Pansy whenever she could.

And Pansy seemed to have taken a liking to her too. Pansy had talked to her in every class this week and deemed Hermione her lab partner in Chemistry. Which turned out not to be such a bad thing after all, as Pansy was quite good at Chemistry.

It was a Friday, the end of their first week back at school, and Hermione found herself looking forward to the weekend. She was going to get started on her Lit paper, bang out her Calculus homework and start making her study schedule.

At least that was her plan, until Pansy spoke.

"So like, there's this party tonight. And I was thinking, you should come." the raven haired girl said casually as she adjusted the flame on the bunsen burner.

Hermione wasn't one for parties. And she knew her parents weren't fond of them either. Hermione searched through her notes from yesterday's lesson as she mulled over the idea.

"I don't know," she said. "I don't really like parties much."

Pansy rolled her eyes. She crossed one leg over the other and Hermione tried not to watch her skirt ride up a bit further on her thighs. Her slender, pale thighs. Hermione cleared her throat and looked away.

"But I'll be there." Pansy said with a sly smile.

Hermione couldn't help but smirk. Pansy had been flirting with her all week, and if she were honest, she had been flirting back. Their Chemistry teacher, Mrs. Flock, was approaching them. The two girls quickly dropped their conversation and returned to their work.

"Get the sulfur ready, Granger." Pansy said.

Hermione nodded. Mrs. Flock smiled at them, took a look at their table and continued walking. When she was out of earshot, Pansy leaned in close and whispered, "So I'll be round at your house at eight?"

Hermione was fiddling with her light blue summer dress when she heard the doorbell ring.

"I'll get it!" she shouted as she darted from her room and bolted down the stairs to her front door.

She opened the door and smiled at Pansy, who she was surprised to see dressed in a pair of dark wash jeans and a white cotton t-shirt. There was a bag slung over her shoulder and a grey zip-up sweatshirt draped over her arm.

"Hermione, dear? Who's this?' she heard her mother ask from behind.

Hermione turned around to see her mother standing in the hallway, holding a dripping plate and a dish towel. Pansy stepped inside and approached her mother, holding out a slender hand.

"Hello, Mrs. Granger. It's nice to meet you. My name's Pansy. I'm new at school, and Hermione has been such a good friend to me. She...invited me to stay the night tonight. I hope that's alright?" Pansy spoke so politely, Hermione wasn't sure this was the same girl.

Hermione's mother cocked her head to the side and smiled at her daughter.

"Well," she said. "It's always nice to meet Hermione's friends. Please, call me Jean. And of course, you're welcome to stay the night dear. I'm afraid we've already had dinner-"

"That's alright." Pansy interrupted. "So have I."

There was a moment of awkwardness between the three. Hermione's mouth had gone dry. Her mother shot her a warning look and Hermione knew what it meant. No locking doors.

"I suppose I'll leave you two, then. Let me know if you need anything." Jean said before returning to the kitchen.

Hermione grabbed Pansy's arm and dragged her towards the stairs.

"Come on." she muttered.

Pansy dropped her bag onto Hermione's bed, which was covered in dark purple sheets and several thick blankets. Hermione sat down at her desk as Pansy checked out her room. Hermione tried to avoid looking at the sway of Pansy's hips but she couldn't help it.

"Nice room." Pansy said, ruffling through the clothes of her closet.

Hermione felt this was bit intrusive but didn't feel like scolding her. Pansy had complimented her room, even though it was nothing special. Her walls were a soft, cream color and decorated with historical figures and book cover posters. Her bed was pushed against the wall with two large windows. On the opposite side was her dresser and desk.

"Thanks." she said, not knowing what else to say.

Pansy sighed and sat down on her bed. She stared at Hermione before cocking her head and frowning.

"Oh don't tell me that's what you're wearing to the party!"

Hermione looked down at her dress. "What's wrong with my dress?"

"You're kidding, right?" Pansy laughed. "It's hideous."

Hermione felt her cheeks burn and she knew they were bright red. How dare she? But Pansy was in front of her then, a finger running down her cheek.

"You're too pretty for this dress." she murmured.

Hermione shivered. Her spine tingled. She inhaled sharply as Pansy's breath tickled her nose. Spearmint flavored gum was all she could smell.

"Now!" Pansy said loudly as she stood up and clapped her hands together tightly.

Hermione jumped. The air felt cold against her cheeks in Pansy's absence. Pansy was opening her closet again and began rummaging through her clothes.

"Let's find you something to wear..." Pansy mumbled, pulling out a short black skirt.

Hermione felt her stomach fill with dread.

Pansy was finishing applying her blush when Hermione's phone buzzed on her desk. She reached out to grab it and apologized to Pansy. The other girl sighed and stepped back. Hermione thought she looked annoyed but ignored it.

She glanced down at her phone. It was from Ginny, asking if she had heard about the party tonight. She replied back that she had and asked Ginny if she wanted to come over and finish getting ready. Ginny replied back immediately with a 'yes' in all caps. Hermione smiled and placed her phone back on her desk.

"What was that about?" Pansy asked non-chalantly.

Hermione waved her hand in a flippant manner.

"Oh, nothing. I invited my friend Ginny to come get ready with us. She's going to the party too."

Pansy seemed to tense at this but it went unnoticed by Hermione. Pansy resumed in applying Hermione's make-up and remained quiet.

"Don't tell me you're angry about this?" Hermione said slowly.

Pansy's lips twisted into a smile as she set down the blush and picked a tube of dark red lipstick. She leaned in close to Hermione, just as she done earlier in Chemistry, and brushed a stray hair away from her eyes.

"Why would I be mad?"

Hermione blinked. "You just seemed a bit-nevermind. So you're not mad?"

Pansy told her to form her lips into an 'o' and part her lips slightly. She applied the lipstick and blotted at the corners with a clean tissue. She smiled sweetly at Hermione and let her hand run down her bare thigh.

"Of course not."

There was a knock on Hermione's bedroom door. Hermione cursed under her breath and stood up fast, nearly bumping into Pansy as she did so. Ginny let herself in, clad in a simple, tight black bodycon dress and matching black heels.

Hermione was about to greet her best friend when she saw Ginny's freckled face contort into something angry and demented. The girl's stare was fixed on Pansy.

"You." Ginny muttered darkly.

Hermione glanced back and forth between the two of them. What had Pansy done? she thought to herself. It's only been one week...what on Earth could she have done? Then again, after getting to know Pansy this week, there were a lot of things Pansy could have done in five days.

"What does she mean?" Hermione asked, turning to Pansy.

Pansy looked just as furious. And that was when it clicked in Hermione's head. Whatever had happened between these two, was the reason Pansy seemed angry earlier.

"You're the one who told Mr. Jones in health class that I cheated off your quiz!" Ginny screeched. "And I wasn't even the one cheating! You were, you lying bitch!"

"Ginny!" Hermione shouted.

Ginny whirled on her, red hair blazing and eyes wild. "Oh, what, Hermione? You going to defend her? She's awful!"

"I'm right here, God." Pansy said with a playful pout.

Hermione sighed and let her head fall in her hands. She pushed her hair out of her face and stared at the pair of them.

"Pansy did you seriously cheat off Ginny?" Hermione asked.

Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to be lab partners with Pansy. What if she just took credit for all of their work?

Pansy shrugged and examined her nails. "Maybe. I missed a class or two. It's health class, taking a fucking chill pill, God."

Ginny looked murderous. Hermione stepped in between them, just to be safe. Pansy looked bigger than both of them and Ginny's heavy breathing could be heard from the few feet between them.

"I got a detention for every day next week thanks to you." Ginny snarled, pointing her finger at Pansy.

Pansy rolled her eyes and turned to Hermione's mirror to study her reflection.

"Drink it off tonight, sweetheart. It's just detention."

By the time they arrived at Blaise Zabini's house, or as Hermione liked to call it, Mansion, she was already regretting inviting Ginny along. Neither of her friends talked to or looked at the other on the fifteen minute car ride. Hermione had tried to make small talk, but Pansy was too busy blowing smoke rings with her cigarette out the car window and Ginny simply sat in the back seat, scowling.

Ginny still clung to Hermione's arm as they stepped up the white stone steps. Pansy kept her lips pursed in a thin line, shooting scathing looks at the red-head out of the corner of her eye. When they stepped through the front doors, Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat. The foyer was larger than Hermione's entire house. Her heels clacked against the marble floors as she stared up at the high, rounded ceiling.

She could feel the bass of whatever song was playing and could hear laughter coming from what she thought was the kitchen. Pansy was tugging on her arm—Ginny had let go and was now staring at the ridiculously expensive décor.

"Come on..." Pansy whispered in her ear. "Let's go find drinks."

Hermione started to protest but Pansy was already walking, her nails digging into Hermione's arm. Ginny had turned around and watched with a scowl, her arms crossed over her chest. Hermione mouthed 'sorry' to her best friend, but Ginny turned away.

"Byyyyye, Ginny!" Pansy shouted scathingly from across the foyer.

Hermione took a sip of her beer, which she didn't mind the taste of, much to her own surprise. She was sitting on the counter in the kitchen while Pansy stood in between her legs, talking animatedly. There were dozens of people around them, some Hermione knew and some she didn't. Harry was busy in a game of Kings, she hadn't spotted Ron yet, and there was some boy staring at her from across the room. He winked and nodded towards the hall leading to the bedrooms. Hermione shivered and directed her attention back to Pansy and her sparkling, blue eyes.

"What?" Pansy asked, seeing that Hermione's gaze had wandered.

Hermione took another sip of her beer and set the bottle down next to her.

"I think that guy over there was trying to hit on me." Hermione said faintly.

She knew the guy, sort of. Cormac something. Hermione was ready to shrug it off. Her sexuality was a secret when it came to the rest of her school; not that she cared if anyone knew, but it was more that she just didn't feel the need for everyone to know.

"Let's give the guy a hint." Pansy said, sliding her hand up Hermione's thigh.

Hermione stared at her wide-eyed. Pansy set down her drink, nuzzled herself a little closer and grabbed Hermione's face with her hands. Before Hermione could comprehend what was happening, Pansy's lips were on hers. They were soft and bigger than hers. She could taste the cheap beer and the spearmint gum. Hermione's hands were in Pansy's hair, pulling and tugging as her lips parted and Pansy swept her tongue across her bottom lip. It was quick and hasty and delicious and Hermione wanted more, more, more.

But then Pansy was retreating and Hermione was left panting on the counter, breathless and shocked. She snuck a glance at Cormac, who stood with his mouth open and a disappointed look in his eyes. Hermione returned her gaze to Pansy, who was smirking at her. And that was when Hermione knew. She was done for.

A/N: Thank you for reading, as always. Usual reminder that the only fics I will be updating on here are this one, Last Chance and Burn. Other than that, I post strictly to ao3 now. Please subscribe to me on there!