AUTHOR: Ali Cho (Hufflepuff)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: A very BIG thank you for all the reviews for the previous stories! I finally got around finishing and posting this. I had little time to do this, so please forgive me for the sloppiness. So basically this is a continuation of "Pansy's Observations" and "Draco's Yule Ball, and afterward". It's best to read those two first, before reading this.

Set in 5th year, in Pansy's POV. Features the 'very secret relationship' mentioned in "Draco's Yule Ball, and afterward". The companion piece to "Pansy's Observations" in Hermione's POV will be posted, hopefully, soon after this.

Once again, this story is cannon-compliant and not AU. Please read and review!

Pansy's Observations II

She was doing it again. Spying. She didn't know why she tortured herself like this, and she knew that she shouldn't, but she can't seem to help herself. She knew it would take her nowhere to just watch them almost 24/7, but she wanted to know how they were doing, but witnessing what they do every prefect patrol they had together almost caused her physical pain.

She had hoped their feelings wouldn't grow, but apparently, her hopes were dashed out of the window. After last year, when she noted Draco's queer behaviour around Mudblood Granger, she had taken up spying on the pair. It was 5th year now, and their secret relationship was still going strong. In fact, they had taken it to the next level.

She watched both of them during the day, and saw nothing strange or off-hand about their attitudes toward each other. He would taunt her as per normal, and she would retort as she usually would. But there were little differences here and there. His taunting seemed to be teasing rather than insulting, and his smirk was playful and adoring. He never called her a Mudblood. Not once. Granger's quips were light and joking, and when she said them her eyes would twinkle and reflect nothing but affection for the boy before her.

No one else seemed to have noticed these signs. Perhaps she imagined them, as she was focusing so hard, but she thought that was very unlikely. And even if she had imagined it, there was no way she could have imagined or misinterpreted their behaviour when they were alone.

During prefect patrols.

She had secretly duplicated Draco's patrol schedule, so she knew when and how often he had patrols with the Mudblood. To her dismay, almost half his patrols were with her. When she openly whined about it during the prefect meeting, Professors and the Headmaster explained to them, that they wanted to promote House unity, especially among the Gryffindors and the Slytherins. When the Weasel fiercely protested, saying that Draco could harm Not-so-buck-toothed Granger when they were alone, Pansy couldn't help but scoff. The animal's feelings for that bookworm were becoming pathetically obvious. She, on the other hand, was hardly worried about hexing and cursing, on the contrary, she hoped that was the case. No, she was much more worried about – other things. Like snogging, hugging, and whatever it is that dating couples do.

Her worries were justified. She could only spy on them when her shift of patrols were over, which by then it would already be around midnight. She would then sneak out and trail Draco and Hermione on their rounds. On every such patrol, starting ever since the beginning of the year, she had to eye-witness all the lovely-dovely nonsense the two lovebirds secretly did. She never imagined that Draco Malfoy would be able to shower so much romantic affection on another. And he looked more handsome than ever when he did. It made her heart ache terribly, watching them, watching him display his bloody adoration for her.

It had begun innocently enough, just hand-holding, the small, occasional kisses on the face, and light, teasing banter. But, by the seventh patrol, they had 'taken it to the next level'. Meaning; they had progressed to serious and passionate snogging, tight embraces, and heart-felt talks of their daily lives and relationship.

One particular night though, changed everything.

The day went by rather normally…

Pansy accompanied Malfoy and his two goons to Potions as usual. She never fully understood why Draco allowed Crabbe and Goyle to hang around him. They were the thickest people in their year. Probably the same reason why he allowed her, she supposed. Crabbe's and Goyle's fathers were once fellow Death Eaters of Mr. Malfoy. Malfoy Senior probably told Malfoy Junior to show them respect – well, as much respect a Malfoy can show to a bunch of trolls.

They strutted over to the dungeons and somehow found themselves behind the Golden Trio.

He made to push them apart, but as he did so, he discreetly brushed his arm against Granger's. Her lips twitched, like she was trying to suppress a smile. Pansy glared daggers at her back.

All throughout Potions, he sneaked looks at her. She was busy taking down notes, but once or twice when he caught her eye, they would share a brief smile that the rest of the room seemed to miss.

Pansy sighed. Bloody typical day, it is.

The night went by not so normally…

Pansy had trailed them to the fifth floor hallway. They were holding hands and talking, as usual. Suddenly, he backed her to the wall, and slowly started snogging her.

She didn't protest, just relaxed into his arms and let him. Her arms crawled their way up his back, to his neck and hair, and his arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer to him.

Pansy felt sick to her stomach. A sharp, acidic feeling crept to her heart, spreading painfully to her gut. Even after weeks of watching the same thing over and over again, Merlin, that bloody feeling never went away. At least the tears have stopped now.

He finally broke away, and rested his forehead against hers.

He was slightly panting, as was she. He intertwined his fingers behind her neck, and breathed softly into her ear.

"I love you."

The words echoed repeatedly in the deserted hallway.

Hermione gave a small gasp, then gladly met Draco's lips with her own; Pansy gave a small gasp, and choked back the tears.

OBSERVATION RESULT II:

There was no hope now. It was serious this time. Pansy took back her words from last year.

He didn't fancy her. That had progressed to so much more. They were in love.

-THE END-