Ashes of Regret

Harry's eyes scanned the dingy room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings, as his mind struggled to process the events of the previous night. Pansy Parkinson, the girl he had known as a spoiled, entitled Slytherin student, and a Death Eater's wife, sat beside him, her expression soft and concerned. "P-Pansy," Harry stuttered, his voice rough from disuse. "What...what happened?" Pansy's cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink as she looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. "We...you were upset. You were angry. I was...drawn to that." Harry's gaze fell on the faint marks around Pansy's neck, and a wave of guilt washed over him. He had been so caught up in his own emotions, he hadn't considered her, hadn't thought about her feelings or boundaries. "I'm sorry," Harry muttered, his eyes dropping to the floor. Pansy's hand touched his arm, and he flinched, surprised by the gentle gesture. "Don't be sorry, Harry. I...I liked it. I like it rough." The words caught Harry off guard, and he looked at Pansy, really looked at her, for the first time. Her eyes, usually cold and calculating, seemed...vulnerable. "It was my first time," Pansy continued, her voice still soft. "I'm sorry about the way I treated you at school. My parents...they instructed me to follow Draco, to do as he said. But I didn't really...like him. Not like that." Harry's mind reeled as he processed Pansy's words. He had always seen her as a one-dimensional, cruel girl, but now... "I was drawn to you last night," Pansy said, her eyes locking onto his. "You were angry, and you said things that...that I agreed with. You said the world was rotten and needed to burn. I felt the same way, Harry. I still do." In that moment, Harry realized that he wasn't the only one whose youth had been stolen. Pansy, too, had been a victim of circumstance, forced to play a role she didn't want to play. Pansy's gaze never wavered, and Harry saw a glimmer of understanding between them. For the first time, he saw her not as a Death Eater's wife or a Slytherin student, but as a person, flawed and complex. The air was thick with tension as Harry searched for words, for a way to make sense of it all. But for now, he simply sat there, his eyes locked on Pansy's, and let the silence speak for itself.