Night's visitor

OMG! I updated! I never thought I'd be finished "so soon" but here I am!! ;O

Disclaimer: I still don't own HP.

Chapter 5 The Pansy Punishment

After having her breakfast, Hermione wandered around a bit in the household. She didn’t often have the chance to be alone in the house and she wanted to enjoy the silence for as long as she could. Somehow she ended up in the entrance hall. It was as clean and shiny as the other rooms, but on the floor some feet from the door stood five very familiar suitcases… “Oh no. Oh No” She moaned and started chewing on her bottom lip.

“I didn’t meet Pansy yesterday, and now… She’s going to be pissed!!” She cursed her bad memory, which in fact wasn’t bad - but she couldn’t really blame in on her tiredness since that would be the same as indirectly blaming it on Pansy’s ridiculous demands- and so totally pointless.

She quickly glanced at the big clockwork, hanging high up on the wall just opposite the entrance door. It showed quarter to five.

“No wonder no one’s up. It’s practically night still!” Hermione exclaimed surprised. It seemed like her early bedtime had made her inner clock confused and therefore had woken her up much earlier than usually. At the moment this might be a good thing… Now she could collect herself before she had to face Pansy’s anger.

“She left them here, didn’t allow another servant to take them- she wants to show me my “big” mistake…. Great! Now I can say good bye to more meals and a lot of new chores…” Hermione rubbed her forehead tiredly. It was too early to bring the bags to Pansy’s wardrobe and unpack them, as it would wake Pansy up but… She could carry them and leave them outside the suite, so that she wouldn’t have to do it later… And so she did.

It was a bit after five, when she was finished. Now the household had started to wake up, she could hear footsteps from different places in the house and voices that greeted each other. On her way back to her room she met Mrs Smith, who greeted her with a warm smile, though a little surprised - as Hermione usually slept till seven. As Hermione continued she also met two maids in her own age, who were yawning so big that Hermione could almost count all of their teeth. They also said hello, but their greetings were a bit cool. When they walked pass her she couldn’t help but stare at their backs until they disappeared around a corner.

She knew why nobody talked to her in this house, except for Mrs Smith and the Parkinsons. Almost immediately, as Hermione and her mother had come to this place, Pansy had decided that Hermione was to be her verbal punching bag.

Mr and Mrs Parkinson hadn’t found anything odd in this, as they thought servants to have only a little more worth than dirt- or as Mrs Parkinson once loudly said; “Why ever would I forbid my sweet darling Pansy to entertain herself?”

When everyone knew about Pansy’s dislike; Hermione found herself to be frozen out from the others. They wouldn’t have any more to do with her than what was absolutely necessary, so that they wouldn’t get in trouble too.

“Everyone here lives for himself or herself, Hermione,” her mother had calmly explained to her when she asked. Then mother had given her a hug and continued mischievously “But not for those who love each other… And I, my cute one, love you very, very much!” Hermione took a deep quivering breath, her heart hurt.

“Mother I miss you!” She blinked. Now wasn’t the time for this, and especially not in the hallway.

She turned and went to her room. ”I don’t need anyone”, she whispered quietly.
Once she got to her room, she opened her window, and climbed out on the roof.
There she stayed, lost in memories of her mother -not noticing that her new worries had made her completely forget about her previous problems with the man from yesterday.

As Hermione heard the city bell announce the seventh hour, she reluctantly climbed back into her room. The window she left open since the cool wind was soothing.

“I really don’t want to do this, what’s the point? Even if I once do something right Pansy would only find something else to blame me for!” She closed her eyes and sighed.

“Will I ever find a way from this? It feels so hopeless!” She opened her eyes again and gave the room a glare. “Stop it. Hermione Granger you can handle this! It’s just Pansy, an irritating spoilt-rotten snob!” With straight back she marched out of her room and set the course towards Pansy’s suite.

She walked as quickly as she dared. Soon Pansy should wake up and would then take a shower. What Hermione needed to do was to unpack the luggage before starting with her other daily chores. When she came to the door, with the bags outside she quietly opened the door and started to heft them inside. It was quiet from the bedroom so maybe Pansy hadn’t woken up yet.

“Or she’s laying in there listening for me to do the slightest mistake…” Hermione thought sarcastically. “Yep, that’s probably it!”

She was finished in a couple of minutes and started setting Pansy’s table. From a hidden cupboard in the wall she produced the needed plates, of course made of the finest porcelain, cutlery, in silver and green, and a crystal carafe. This done, she walked out of the room and headed for the kitchen.

The kitchen was in chaos when Hermione entered. All of the kitchen-aids where running around doing everything at the same time and in the eye of the storm stood Mrs Smith, looking like a great warrior who at the moment was wrestling with a huge dough. Even though she had her hand literally full the nice old woman took the time to look up at Hermione with a smile.

“Hello again Hermione. Pansy’s tray stands in the right corner as usual. You better hurry and take it before the bread cools and the butter melts.” Then Mrs Smith noticed Hermione unusually pale face. “Is something the matter dear?” Hermione stared back worriedly.

“No, nothing Mrs Smith.” But the old woman didn’t give up.

“It’s just that you look a bit pale today Hermione. Not to be nosy but has something happened? Is it perhaps… Pansy?” Hermione shook her head quickly. She didn’t want to tell Mrs Smith and worry the woman with her own problems.

“Oh no, I just had a very… unpleasant dream, Mrs Smith.” The woman looked relived,

“Oh a dream… I know all about them dear. Have plenty of weird dreams myself, especially in this house -whoops!” Huh? Hermione blinked confused, what did the Mrs Smith mean? Sure the Parkinsons were certainly awful enough to give anyone nightmares, but Hermione also knew that Mrs Smith was not one to be so easily affected.

“How do you mean ‘especially in this house’ Mrs Smith?” She asked curiously. But Mrs Smith looked away with a nervous look in her eyes and refused to answer Hermione. So Hermione gave up and just thanked the woman for her trouble, before exiting the room.

Climbing the stairs felt like, what Hermione believed it would feel to climb a mountain, impossible and nerve wrecking. At last she stood in front of the huge, pink, doors that lead to Pansy’s suite. She knocked politely before entering. The room was empty, to her relief, so she went over to the table and put the rest of the things in order before Pansy could come and blame her for being slow again.

Then footsteps were heard from the bedroom, and the door to it opened and revealed the ice princess.

“Well hello Hermione” Pansy sneered, dressed in green and already ready for the day with make-up and her typical hairstyle. “I so hope you had a good nice sleep last night. Because you are very much going to need it!” Pansy came over to stand in front of Hermione and glare at her. Suddenly she slapped Hermione hard on the left side of her face.

“I am so sick of your attitude Granger!” She screamed.

“I gave you an order yesterday to meet me after my trip! And you! You had the nerve to go to bed!” Pansy’s eyes burned with malice. ”Mother and father were shocked by your disrespect. Father wanted to punish you himself. And mother wanted to fire you at once!”

Hermione, face aflame from the hit, stared straight ahead. She couldn’t afford to lose this job; with the network the Parkinsons had they could, and would, probably ensure that she’d never get a job in this town again. But she wouldn’t give up her own pride, no matter what they did, and Pansy enjoyed making life hard for Hermione - far to much to let her go - anyway.

Pansy scowled when Hermione didn’t show the fear that she wanted to see. “Oh. Still the Know-It-All, Granger?” Pansy’s voice was shrill from holding back the scream. “You have been a naughty and mean girl, Granger. Only thinking of yourself for far too long!” Pansy grinned now. She was clearly looking forward to complete her little speech.

“Always knew she was a sadist,” Hermione thought wryly.

“As a naughty girl you will be punished.” Pansy concluded. “That means double chores everyday for a month! And… No meals until you ask for forgiveness for all your shortcomings and for all the trouble that you have caused me!” She actually had the nerve to smile at Hermione.

Hermione twitched. She wanted to scratch Pansy’s eyes out! Double chores were hard enough- she didn’t have time to finish the normal ones. But no food… That meant working as an animal without any energy. She could easily work herself to death!

Asking for forgiveness was not an option though. Hermione realized that yesterday had somehow become the last straw for Pansy- whom now wanted to fully break Hermione’s spirit.

“And I think she might succeed this time” Hermione thought numbly. “No matter how hard I fight against it, sooner or later I will need food… I don’t know if I have the will to die for this.”

She could run away, she realized. But when the Parkinsons make sure that she wouldn’t get another job, it would only lead to a life on the streets. And compared to that this was more desirable.

Pansy giggled. Finally she had gotten a reaction out of her imbecile maid. Hermione might not realize it but she was turning more and more white and her hands shook.
They stared at each other for a moment, Pansy with satisfaction and Hermione with resignation. Then Pansy sat down by the table and pored herself a cup of tea. She smirked at Hermione over the cup before taking a sip.

“You may start with the bathroom, Granger. The bathtub really needs a good cleaning!”
Hermione swallowed.

“Yes, Pansy.”

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ME:Thank you all for being so patient!!!
ME:... Hello?
ME:Anyone there?
ME:Oh no! Everyone's gone!! *sniffle*
ME:Well, I guess I'll have to R&R it myself then ^^'