Pansy's legs shook as she stood at her bathroom sink, staring in the decadent mirror above it. Her face was white and her eyes glazed. It felt as though someone had turned the lights off in her head. She knew that at that moment Draco, the only thing that had significance in her life anymore, may or may not be sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban, yet her mind was so blank she couldn't bring herself to care. Caring was not one of her strong points to begin with but when she was upset or nervous nothing in the world mattered to her. It probably was a defence mechanism but Pansy suspected that she was just a bad person.

Pansy and her family had not been accused of Death Eater activity but most of their friends had. The only exceptions were the Zabinis and the Greengrasses. Pansy had only found out about Draco's trial that morning, when she decided to visit him at Malfoy Manor. She'd found him curled up in a ball in his bathroom, sobbing. She held him for hours until he finally told her what was to happen later in the day. Of course she was hurt that he hadn't told her about such an important event but she understood why he hadn't. He was scared, terrified even, and Draco couldn't bring himself to mention it.

She turned around, walked to the shower and turned it on. She took off her robe and teseted the temperature of the water. As she started to unbutton her pyjama shirt, she heard the tell-tale crack of apparition, just outside the bathroom door. She walked out of the door, too numb to muster up the energy needed to run. He was hurtling towards her before she had time to get a proper look at him. His arms lifted her up and he span her in circles, laughing with glee. He put her down on the ground and took her face in his hands. As she looked into his handsome, smiling face, the light suddenly broke through her mind, dazzling her so much she couldn't speak.

"I'm free." he told her. "My family and I were cleared." His voice was quiet but light and as she became less dumbstruck, reality started to hit her.

"Draco." he beamed at her when she said his name and he bent down, crushing his lips to hers in a way that he hadn't in so long. It was sweet and full of content and not the bitterness and desperation that she had become accustomed to over the past two years. Whilst they were kissing Draco felt as if his world had clicked into place. Finally he was free, free of the Dark Lord, free of the fear and angst, free to carry on with his life and to be happy. It was as if they were back in their fifth year at school. Just two teenagers, who loved each other madly, gossiping and laughing with each other and sneaking kisses when they thought others weren't looking.

"Tell me everything." Pansy demanded, reminiscent of her old, curious self.

Draco explained how Potter had told the Wizengamont how Draco had saved him at Malfoy Manor and how he and his family were only staying with Voldemort to prevent him murdering them. Whilst the majority of the jury had wished for the Malfoys to be imprisoned, in the end it was Potter's opinion that counted. "Of course, everyone had to agree with Saint Potter. I thank him for saving me from going to Azkaban, don't get me wrong, but my God, I hate him." Pansy giggled and the sound sounded unnatural. She wrapped herself tighter around him and sighed.

"You alright, baby?" he asked

"I'm great," she looked up and smiled at him, so to reassure him. "Just tired, that's all."

"Well then." He lifted her off her feet again and she wrapped her legs around her waist. He carried her to her bed and laid her down before curling up next to her.

"Ah, that's better." her bed was warm and Draco's presence next to her was so relaxing that she felt her whole body unwind and all the stress she had felt in the past two years seemed to float away, as if she had let go of a balloon. Her only worry now was her and Draco's relationship and how things were going to turn out for them. She loved him so much it consumed her, but they had changed and there was no point in denying it.

"Draco?"

"Yeah?" his voice was thick and Pansy could tell he was just as, if not more tired than her.

"Promise me that we're going to try and make us work."

"Of course we are. I love you and I want to be with you and that's all that matters." He squeezed her tighter and after a few moments, his breathing became deeper and Pansy knew he was asleep. Pansy thought about what he had said and she couldn't help but think that loving someone and wanting to be with them may not be all that mattered.