Fic: Surrender, in its Place

[birdsofshore]

Title: Surrender, in its Place
Words: 599
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Author's Note: Written for sortinghatdrabs prompt #160: Pansy and any Gryffindor
This is my second attempt at writing a drabble, and I enjoyed working on it. I did not quite know myself what Pansy was up to until the end, though I find her character very intriguing and would like to write more about her one day. The quote (and title) was something I found afterwards, but I was delighted at how well it seemed to capture what I was trying to express about Pansy and her motivations, both during the war, and during the scene in this story. 


Surrender, in its Place

"At fifteen life had taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice." - Maya Angelou

Pansy sighed, and her breath misted the window in front of her, obscuring the view of the Quidditch pitch below. Harry leant forward impatiently and rubbed a patch clear with his sleeve.

"Are you sure, Parkinson? I mean, honestly?"

"Of course I'm sure. Who else knows him as well as I? Who's heard all his grubby little secrets, since we were brats, in knee socks and short robes?"

"But– he has actually mentioned me, has he? You're positive?"

"As if I hear talk of much else," murmured Pansy. "Yes, Potter, I'm quite positive."

"And– he's definitely– I mean, he likes blokes?"

"Gracious, they said you were slow on the uptake, but I never dreamt it would be this hard. Yes, dear Potter, Draco is one hundred per cent bent. He's been pursuing the contents of other people's trousers since 1994."

Harry's breath came harder as he bent to look out again, his eyes fixed on the slender, agile figure who was currently owning the sky with his broomstick.

"Christ," Harry said, as if forgetting Pansy was standing there. "I've dreamed... but I never thought...."

Pansy's expression remained beautifully blank as she watched Draco make a sudden turn, maneouvring his broom against the wind, his hair blowing around his face in a flutter of gold. She turned her attention to her perfect pink and white nails, as if bored. "Dear me, you Gryffindors do take an age to get going, don't you? I thought you were meant to be full of vim and vigour. The practice is nearly over. He'll be coming off the pitch all sweaty and... fired up soon. And here you stand, letting the grass grow under your feet."

Harry seemed to gain momentum suddenly. He glanced once more at the game in progress. Draco's broom swooped, then gained height again, his face rapt with concentration. Harry swallowed hard.

"Right. Thanks, Parkinson." He darted impulsively towards the door, then paused abruptly. "Why– why did you tell me this, now? We've never exactly been... good friends, you and me."

Pansy lifted one shoulder elegantly. "I just want him to be happy, of course. It's not like I could care less about you, Boy Wonder." Her lips formed a smile, but her eyes remained cold. Harry seemed unsure whether to take this as a joke. After a moment, he shrugged and ran off again.

Pansy's face was as smooth and expressionless as the pane of glass before her. She rested her forehead against its cool expanse for a minute, closing her eyes to shut out the sight of the game.

A wild cheering broke out on the other side of the window and Pansy's eyes opened to see Draco's exhilarated face among a tangle of players, his team mates flying to congratulate him as he held the Snitch high. She spotted Harry's mop of black hair, bobbing along to join the faces in the crowd.

"I never did say sorry for offering to hand you over to Voldemort, Potter. Not a situation commonly dealt with in the etiquette books. "Please accept my sincerest apologies for trying to let the Dark Lord murder you."" She smiled to herself. "There's no protocol for that."

"Perhaps this will do, as an apology. Voldemort's gone. Instead, I'll surrender Draco... to you."

Draco was flushed and laughing, sitting back on his broom in mid air. Harry gazed at him, as if looking at something holy.

"If I can't have him, you might as well, Potter. I know you'll take care of him." Pansy rubbed one finger almost tenderly along the glass, before turning away.

Comments

[omi-ohmy.livejournal.com]

This... this is what I wish I had been able to do with this prompt. I love how you weave it together: Pansy, Harry, the action outside the window. Everything has its own action, its own momentum. Pansy is wonderful, she is so... Pansy.

And then you have a great knack for phrasing.
Pansy's face was as smooth and expressionless as the pane of glass before her.
I had to keep coming back to this line, because I liked it so much. It makes her face blank, yes, but also cool, and hiding something too.

It feels good to finally be able to gush for you as you have for me. :)

[birdsofshore]

Thank you so much! You know I was snarling with envy when I read your witty, clever version :D

That line wrote itself. I think that femme fic was in my mind, you know the one.

You are a lovely gusher ;-)

[who_la_hoop]

Very touching :) I like your Pansy! I hope Draco appreciates her sacrifice! ♥

[birdsofshore]

I loved writing Pansy, I would like to come back to her at some point!

Draco has grown up being used to getting what he wants, but I don't think he expected this. I think seeing him happy will be Pansy's (rather double-edged) reward.

[geneva2010.livejournal.com]

Superb! Enthralling! I didn't know where you were going with this, but I absolutely loved watching it unfold. You're right, the title was perfect. Also, thank goodness Harry isn't too skeptical and believed Pansy.

[birdsofshore]

Thank you so much, geneva, I am so glad you enjoyed it.

I think Harry is good at taking leaps of faith, and I suspect Pansy can be quite convincing when she needs to be!

[marianna-merlo.livejournal.com]

This is so beautiful! I enjoyed reading it very much. Getting into Pansy's head and seeing Draco through her eyes really shows us how gorgeous and desirable he is. Sometimes Harry is too thick-headed to get it, so it was refreshing to step out of his head and look through someone else's eyes at a Drarry dynamic. I love your Harry here, he is honest and genuine, and everything that Harry should be. Pansy's story was sad, but it's the type of sad that I feel will make her stronger in the end, not the type of sad that will break her forever.

Perfection! <3

Recc'd: http://marianna-merlo.livejournal.com/38781.html

[birdsofshore]

I'm so happy you got all that from this little drabble. It's so interesting to hear how you felt about the characters; thank you for the lovely comment and the rec.

[appleling.livejournal.com]

Gah! Pansy is the best! Very cute read :D

[birdsofshore]

I do love Pansy. I'd like to write more Pansy.

Thanks for reading, glad you liked it.

[capitu]

Oh, Birds, this is gorgeous.

It started so funny with He's been pursuing the contents of other people's trousers since 1994." and then awwww. Beautiful. I love how you wrote Pansy. <3

[birdsofshore]

Hee! I do quite like this one. I think it was a bit pretentious and moody, though.

Thank you for your dear comments <3