and you're the only heaven I believe in

When Pansy wakes up, the mid-afternoon light is already streaming through the blinds and casting a warm shadow on the world around her. It's picture perfect —- too beautiful to be real. Too beautiful for her to deserve.

"Gin?" Pansy whispers, opening her eyes fully. The spot beside her is empty and despite knowing the low probability of something happening, Pansy feels her throat tighten as every sense goes into overboard and the world starts shaking and then —

And then Ginny is there, red hair flowing and eyes bright, as she wraps the two of them together into a tight hug. Pansy gulps for air as she can feel herself breath knowing that Ginny is with her, joyful and stabilizing and safe as always.

"What happened?" Ginny asks, clambering onto the bed and flopping into the empty spot beside Pansy.

Pansy smiles self-deprecatingly. "I couldn't sleep as per usual and the potions are having side-effects again. I genuinely thought these ones might last, but nope. As per usual, my body's skills in going from euphoria to a flood of suicidal thoughts is perfect for late nights."

"Nothing new then." Ginny lets out a laugh and Pansy smiles genuinely at her girlfriend this time. She's glad Ginny doesn't pity her — they're both messes, but that's why they work. The war broke them both in different ways, but Pansy would go through it all again if it'll mean having her wild, daring Ginny.

Pansy stretches, waiting for the familiar cracks of her body as it releases tension. While she distracts herself, Ginny slides out of bed, sidestepping the mess of quidditch uniforms and skirts on the floor, and sits at their desk before pulling out parchment.

"Writing the Daily Prophet to report our amazing night, babe? Or is it your mother? Because I have drastically different things I want to contribute to those letters." Pansy cackles as Ginny snorts, sticking out her tongue childishly at her.

"To your great surprise, I'm sure, I'm not actually reporting the details of both our insomnia and sex life to the prophet. Nor to my mother." Ginny smirks as Pansy mimes vomiting.

"Take it back, or I swear to Merlin, Weasley— don't you dare joke about that."

Ginny doesn't look the least bit apologetic as she answers. "I'm actually writing Hermione to cancel dinner plans —- I didn't sleep well tonight and the forecast predicts another bad night today."

"Well, isn't that great." Pansy bats her eyelashes innocently. "The two of us, a bed… whatever should we do?"

Ginny snorts. "Has anyone told you that you literally have no game whatsoever? Like, at all. You're like a fourteen year old boy who makes tentacle jokes and thinks that pretending to have a muscle cramp in your pants is a good way to pick up girls."

Pansy peers up at her girlfriend wickedly. "Oddly specific, hun… slept with a lot of fourteen year olds? Because personally, I prefer just getting them into bed with my pure charm. Not sure you can achieve that though."

"Oh, that's it, Parkinson," Ginny growls, abandoning the parchment and launching herself at her girlfriend. "Don't you even dare. I challenge you to see who's really better in bed."

"Bring it."

…

Pansy smiles softly as Ginny flops down beside her, curling up. Ginny looks beautiful exhausted as she closes her eyes and inches even closer.

"You're such a gryffindor, babe," Pansy whispers. "So bold, so brave."

"Psh." Ginny opens her eyes just to roll them. "It's getting late and I'm tired. Go to bed, Pans. I'll be here to make fun of in the morning."

Staring at her girlfriend, Pansy is overcome with a wave of emotion. This is why she became a better person — to be worth of Ginny Weasley. To be the kind of person Ginny would be proud to be with.

"You were supposed to be a side effect of the drugs, you know," Pansy confesses, trailing her finger along the battle scars that line Ginny's entire body, half covered by her freckles.

"I'm not a hallucination, silly," Ginny informs her, voice sleepy and dozing off. Pansy smiles down at her — it looks like she's going to be the only insomniac tonight and she's glad, Ginny deserves to sleep and rest.

"You are a pipe dream," Pansy whispers and Ginny doesn't respond, but she breathes steadily and that has always been more than enough.

...

Written for:

Character Appreciation: House - Gryffindor

Disney Challenge: Ursula - Word; Tentacles

Shannon's Showcase: Ant vs Dec - Two characters competing against each other in a variety of challenges

Book Club: Ria Wolf -(word) awkward, (object) bed, (dialogue) "Take it back, or I swear to God—"

Showtime: Nowadays (Roxie) - (dialogue) "Isn't it great?"

Days of the month: International Women's Day - Write a story without featuring or mentioning men.

Count Your Buttons: (dialogue) "Did you drop this?" (word) Euphoria

Lyric Alley: And I'll hold you close, I'll stay the course

Tv Show of the Month: Tara Maclay - (item) skirt, (action) hugging, (dialogue) "A muscle cramp? In your...pants?"

Sophie's Shelf: skill, elation, flood, stretch, daring, wild

Liza's Loves: Write about a start

Caffeine Awareness: Galao - Write about finding a passion

Scavenger Hunt: Write a fanon pairing

Jewel Challenge: Jasper - Ring: Write about someone seeking treatment for insomnia, Bracelet: Write about a joyful person, Necklace: Write about a stabilising force within a family/relationship

Crafty Cooking Corner: Butter - Emotion: Delighted, Word - Forecast

Library Lovers: Foxhole Court - (Sexuality) Demisexual, (Dialogue) "You were supposed to be a side effect of the drugs" / "I'm not a hallucination" / "You are a pipe dream," (Physical characteristic) Scar

Muggle Art: Famous Artworks - Task 1: Write about a private and poignant moment between lovers.

Creativity month: Pansy/Ginny, Light!au

Lent Challenge: Only Female Characters

Saint Patrick's Day: Sainthood - write about a character who can seem to do no wrong