I am so sorry that this chapter took so long to post. It true what they say "when things happen, they happen in twos and threes." I've had a very busy couple of months. Unfortunately had to deal with the death of two of my grandparents being the worst of it. The best being that I found out in January that I'm pregnant and my wife and I are gonna be parents. I promise I haven't abandoned the story, I was just set back for a while.

Chapter 10: And this is how our life begins

"Ok that settles it." Pansy stated as she looked from the mouse tank back to her girlfriend who was currently feeding Artemis, who had just returned from a delivery, a few treats.

Hermione turned her look from the owl to Pansy. "What settles what?" She asked as she gently scratched the birds neck before walking over to her lover. She wrapped her arm around Pansy's waist as the taller girl pointed into the tank. "That Coco obviously takes after me and Belle takes after you."

Hermione quirked an eyebrow at her girlfriend then looked to the mice. "What makes you say that?" She noticed that one of the males practically had his nose pressed against the glass, his gaze focused completely on Belle who was being protectively blocked by Coco. Coco appeared to be clawing at the glass that stood between her and the male.

Pansy smirked as she gestured to the male mouse. "Alphie is obviously in heat and has his eye set on Belle, Coco doesn't seem too pleased by how he's staring at Belle. Look at how she's standing in front of her and she keeps flashing her teeth at Alphie."

Hermione smirked then rolled her eyes as she pulled open the side hatchet and carefully reached in taking the curious Alphie into her hands. After affectionately petting him for a few moments she pulled at some of the loose bits of fur. At Pansy's questioning look she placed the small white mouse back in with his friend before looking at her. "I thought that it might be more beneficial to the female changing potion if I had hairs from him while he's in heat, it can't hurt. I'll take some from one of the girls too once one of the them goes into heat for the male potion."

Pansy laughed as she took her girlfriend's smaller hand into her own and pulled her out of the room. They were met outside the door to the corridor by Crookshanks who sat still peering past them into the owlery. It seemed Artemis wasn't the only one that had taken a delectable interest in the four rodents.

Hermione shook her finger at the cat. "Crookshanks you leave those poor mice alone." The offending cat at least had the decency to lower his squashed in face to the floor in shame before following his mistress down the stairs and into the potions lab.

Pansy moved down the hall and into the room that she and Hermione now shared. As she crossed the room towards the bed her eyes closed in on a black garment bag laying on Hermione's side. She knew that hidden inside was her girlfriend's Halloween costume, something she had been forbidden from seeing. The brunette had insisted that she had to wait until Halloween night.

Pansy smiled in gleeful knowledge that tomorrow night she would finally be able to see the outfit that her girlfriend had kept hidden for the last week. Taking a quick peek at the door, she tiptoed towards the bed.

"You're getting absolutely ridiculous you are!" Hermione huffed on the other side of the door as Pansy quickly jumped away from the bed. Hermione opened the door then moved to sit on the bed. Pansy leaned against the dresser "Who is?" She questioned.

"Crookshanks that's who." At the sound of his name the cat in question came strutting into the room and leaped up to sit next to his beloved mistress, nuzzling his head against her thigh. "There'll be none of that mister. No amount of sucking up will get you those mice."

Pansy giggled as she sat next to her love and picked up the garment bag letting it swing from her fingertips. "Ready to show me what I've been dieing all week to see?" Her lecherous grin caused Hermione to grin as she shook her head.

"No, not till tomorrow. Until then you'll just have to continue to live in suspense." Standing up she took the outfit from her lover's hand before slowing leaning in to place a short kiss at the corner of Pansy's mouth. She pulled back with a smile at the look on the taller girls face, her eyes closed and lips pursed as she sought out more contact.

With a giggle she turned and walked over to her wardrobe, placing the item inside before returning to her seat. Hermione sat with her legs crossed as she casually scratched the top of Crookshanks head.

The corner of Pansy's mouth turned up as she looked her girlfriend up and down. The two had only woken a half hour ago and neither had yet bothered to change out of their night wear. While Pansy was wearing a pair of green cotton drawstring pants and a black tank, Hermione was only wearing an oversized white cotton t-shirt. The bottom of said shirt rising well past her thighs as she leaned slightly back.

Hermione, being obliviously to the attention that was focused on her, began to gently swing one of her legs back and forth as she continued to dote on her cat. Pansy could only take so much and before Hermione knew what hit her she had grabbed the Gryffindor by the waist, pushed her down and pinned her to the bed. "Pansy wha..?"

Pansy pressed her lips against her lovers and kissed her deeply. After a moment or two Hermione finally began to respond and she slid her hands up and down Pansy's sides.

Pansy in turn had one hand beneath the white tee, caressing a flat toned belly and gradually going higher till she came into contact with a soft breast. Hermione moaned into the kiss as her lover gently squeezed while moving herself between the brunette's legs. "Oh Pansy..." She whispered.

After the two girls had showered and shared a large filling breakfast they decided to play a few games while cuddling together on the couch.

A little after lunch their attention was drawn to the knocking at the door. Hermione went to open it and found Neville Longbottom standing on the other side. "Hey Hermione, are you ready to go start working on the decorations?"

Hermione nodded before turning towards the library. "Yep let me just get my notebook and we can go."

As Neville stood there waiting Pansy approached and offered him one of the freshly baked chocolate chips cookies that Hermione had taught her to bake early. "Heya Neville"

"Hey Pansy. I bet you can't wait till you see what Hermione has done for the Halloween decorating huh?" He smiled as he took a bite out of the cookie.

Pansy smirked back "Actually I have a bit of decorating of my own planned." She whispered as she spotted Daphne coming down the walk way. "And here comes my co decorator. Hey Daph, you have excellent timing." She said as Daphne stopped at the door. "Hey Pans...Neville. So can I ask why you wanted me to come over yet?"

Pansy held a finger to her lips as she heard Hermione finally emerge from the library with her notebook in hand. "Alright I'm ready Neville. Oh hey Daphne, what brings you here?" She asked as she lightly embraced the Slytherin in a hug.

Before Daphne could get a word in Pansy spoke up. " Uh I asked her if she wanted to come over to play video games and keep me company while you were gone."

Hermione immediately accepted this answer and nodded her head "Oh ok, well you two have fun." and she leaned in to give Pansy a brief kiss before heading off towards the community center with Neville.

As Pansy shut the door she found Daphne standing behind her with an eyebrow raised. "Oookay...now do you wanna tell me what the real reason you asked me here is?"

Pansy smiled as she raised a hand. "Wait here I'll be right back." With that she ran up the stairs to her room as Daphne waited. When she returned she stood in front of her best friend and pulled out the ring box from behind her back. "It's for Hermione...what do you think?" She asked timidly.

"Pansy it's beautiful! When did you get it!" Daphne screamed as she plucked the box from Pansy's hand to examine it.

Pansy immediately snatched it right back before her best friend could accidentally drop the precious item and lose it. "Careful with it!"

Daphne rolled her eyes in response before leaning over Pansy's shoulder to look at it more closely. "When are you gonna do it?" She asked excitedly.

Pansy turned her head slightly as she grinned. "Well when I bought it last week I had originally planned to wait till after graduation"

The shorter Slytherin girl moved in front of her best friend. "And now...?" She smiled with anticipation as she urged Pansy on with a pointed look.

Pansy bit her lip as she looked down at the ring in her hand. "Well...I...I was kinda thinking..."

Daphne squealed. "Oh My God! You're doing it tomorrow night aren't you!" Then clasped her hands together as she jumped up and down.

Pansy blushed as she shut the lid of the ring box before looking up cautiously to her friend then back down to the ground. "You don't think it's too soon do you?"

Daphne took in the terrified features of her green eyed housemate. She placed one hand on Pansy's shoulder and used the other to pull her face up to look her in the eye. "Anyone who isn't blind or just plain stupid can see how much you two love each other. You guys have that kind of love that most people only dream about. You have the kind of love that only grows more intense the longer you're together. You two belong together." She pulled back before giving Pansy a playful nudge. "Besides, why prolong the inevitable eh?"

The two laughed softly as their shoulders bumped when Daphne moved next to her. She pulled Pansy into a sideways hug before laying her head down on Pansy's shoulder. "I can't believe that you're gonna propose to Hermione tomorrow. It seems like yesterday that we were just two little girls floating in a boat across the black lake to get sorted, following Draco around like puppies and teasing your future bride about her hair."

Pansy's shoulder shook with her silent laughter before she laid her own head on Daphne's. "Yeah I know. If you had told me then that I would fall in love with the 'bushy haired know it all' I probably would've died laughing. But now...I can't imagine my life without her."

Daphne sighed with a smile. "So how are you planning on asking her?"

Pansy pulled away and pointed at Daphne. "That's where you come in. I have the perfect way to propose to her, thanks to Hermione's dad."

Daphne's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You told her parents that you were planning on proposing?"

"Actually I was asking for their blessing and they said yes, then her dad helped me come up with ideas while her mom kept her busy shopping when we met up with them in London." Pansy plopped herself on the armchair in front of the fireplace and waved Daphne to follow.

Daphne sat and crossed her legs while propping her head in her hand. "Oh do tell, I have to hear how that conversation went."

"Well..."

Pansy, Hermione and the brunettes parents were enjoying a wonderful lunch while taking the time to get to know one another. The group had been retelling youthful stories and clearly enjoying the company. Pansy quickly grew to adore Hermione's parents in a very short time and the same with them.

Hermione excused herself to go to the ladies room and immediately Pansy leaned in closer to her parents. "Mr. and Mrs. Granger I...I want you to know how much I care for your daughter. I know that Hermione told you how long I've had a crush on her but the truth is...I've been in love with her since fifth year."

The elder Grangers smiled at one another before turning back to the nervous girl. Mrs. Granger gently reached over and place a hand over Pansy's. "We know dear, it's so obvious in your eyes whenever you look at her. She has the same look in her eyes when she looks at you."

Pansy smiled and her eyes shone before Mrs. Granger pulled her hand back. Mr. Granger leaned back into his chair. "We couldn't be happier that our daughter has found someone that cares so deeply for her." He smiled at her as she shyly looked down at the table cloth.

Pansy quickly peeked over her shoulder to see if Hermione was coming back to the table yet. When she realized she was still in the clear she turned back to her girlfriends parents before she began to play with the imaginary lint on the table cloth. "I'm really glad you both feel that way because I-I...have something I'd like to ask you."

The Grangers gave each other a knowing look before nodding at Pansy to continue. The tough Slytherin ice princess was quite literally shaking in her boots. "Well the thing is...I really love Hermione. She's done more for me than anyone has in my life besides my Aunt and Uncle. She means so much to me and I'm pretty sure she feels the same way about me..." They nodded their agreement. "...So I wanted to...ask...for your blessing...to propose to her."

The two adults smirked and began to giggle at the girl's nervousness. Mr. Granger placed a hand on Pansy's shoulder. "Relax Pansy, we aren't going to bite your head off. My wife and I might not be able to magically read your mind but we had a feeling that that's what you would be asking us by the look in your eyes."

Mrs. Granger leaned forward to look Pansy in the eyes. "You have our blessing Pansy. We couldn't ask for better for our Hermione. I mean you both are still young yet and I'm hoping that you're planning on waiting till you're both a bit older before actually getting married but you have our blessing to ask."

Mr. Granger nodded along enthusiastically. "By the way Pansy, have you told your parents about your plans?"

Pansy looked down to her hands that were folded over her lap. "Um...My parents and I aren't exactly on speaking terms. Actually they were given life sentences in Azkaban prison." She looked up at the twin expressions of surprise. "They were on the bad side during the war and they were never very good people. My Aunt and Uncle took in both my brother and myself, though I won't be living with them once I graduate seeing as I inherited so much money when my parents were put away."

She looked earnestly into their eyes. "I'll have more than enough to give Hermione anything she'll ever need, even though I know she would never ask for anything." All three smiled at that comment, Hermione's parents especially knowing how independent their daughter had grown to be. "The point is she'll want for nothing. I'll always be able to provide for her, whether she wants it or not."

Mr. Granger smiled as he took a sip of his tea. "I have no doubt about that Pansy and I'm sorry about your parents."

Pansy shook her head. "I'm not, the best day of my life was the day they were arrested. It finally allowed me to live my life and it gave my brother the opportunity to start his better than I did."

Mr. Granger nodded his head in understanding before deciding to move onto a happier topic. He clapped his hands and began to rub them together with a wicked smirk on his face. "Well we'll have to plan a get together so we can meet you're Aunt and Uncle as well as you're brother but in the mean time tell me when and how do you plan on popping the question to our little girl?"

Pansy's face broke out into a beam. Just as she was about to discuss some of the ideas she had thought of, Mrs. Granger suddenly and loudly cleared her throat while looking over Pansy's shoulder.

Hermione appeared out of the corner of her eye and took her seat. The conversation had picked up from where it had left off when she had left the table.

Before long the four had paid the bill and began to walk around London. Mr. Granger hinted to his wife to take Hermione into some of the stores and while the girls were browsing for clothes He and Pansy put their heads together to come up with the perfect proposal plan."

"Hermione's dad was actually the one who finally convinced me to propose sooner rather than later. He said that there was no point in waiting seeing as how we're already at the point of our relationship where most people want to be when they get engaged." Pansy sat with a smile lingering on her lips as she stared at the ring sitting in the box.

Daphne sighed. "You're lucky that you're going to have such fantastic in laws. If Luna and I ever get to that point I'm gonna be stuck listening to the origins of wrackspurts straight from the source."

The girls laughed as Pansy pocketed the ring then looked back at her best friend with a strange expression on her face. "One odd thing did happen though when we stopped at the Leaky Cauldron for a drink after going to Diagon Alley to restock on some supplies."

Daphne's ears perked as she sat up straighter. "Oh and what's that?"

"Well you remember Marcus Flint, that bloke in our house that was five years older than us and got held back his seventh year...two years in a row." Pansy pulled out her wand and aimed it at the fire and silently cast a spell to make the fire grow larger.

At Daphne's nod she continued. "Well he was there talking to someone. They were huddled in a corner like they didn't want to be seen. I was on my way to the restroom and I overheard some really strange bits of the conversation."

The small group had been at the tavern for a few minutes and after ordering their drinks Pansy excused herself. As she walked towards the back of the tavern she caught a familiar face in the corner of her eye sitting at small table hidden slightly in the shadows.

Marcus Flint still looked shifty and shady at twenty three years old. He was sitting with an older gentleman and the two were leaning towards each other and talking in hushed tones.

Pansy barely paid attention to the two as she passed by the table towards the bathroom. However she was within hearing range as she passed and she couldn't help but overhear what was said, and what was said caused her to turn the corner and pause to listen more.

"The bloody beasts didn't work you imbecile so what's your next brilliant idea!" The older gentleman angrily whispered to the younger of the two. Marcus shifted side to side in his seat and he was looking like he was beginning to perspire. "I'm sorry uncle I was sure it would work and that the whole thing would have been closed and everyone sent home."

The older man looked even more angry now. "How many times have I told you not to call me that in public boy!" He hissed. Marcus flinched and his downcast eyes looked at the table before him. "Forgive me sir, it was a mistake" his voice shook with fear.

"Remember boy that what you called me maybe true but I am someone more than that, someone much more important than that." Marcus nodded his head in understanding and he peered back up at the man he called uncle. "So what are we going to do Sir?"

The man placed his hand below his chin in contemplation. "I have a plan, but unfortunately it is something that we will have to slowly instill into the atmosphere there and it will take time. We must cause dissent amongst them, they can not continue to unite together as they have been or else we will never get to them. He may have had somewhat of the right idea of what our world needed but He had been wrong about the mudbloods. We will finish his work they way it should have started and to do that, we need to get you inside so that you can begin to stir things up. When you're in you'll also be able to began to work on winning your own 'prize' and finally bring some stability and power to our family..." He stopped suddenly and looked around before nodding his head in the direction of where Pansy was hiding.

Marcus quickly got up and began to make his way to her. Pansy pulled away from the wall and half ran into the ladies room. She went to use the loo so that if Marcus was brave enough to actually enter she wouldn't look so suspicious just standing there, but he never came in.

After Pansy finished and cleaned herself up she left and made her way around the corner, discreetly looking toward the table which she now found empty. She frowned and made her way back to her girlfriend and future in laws.

"Ok...That is more than odd, that is downright creepy." Daphne sat transfixed at Pansy during her retelling. "Have you told anyone else about what happened?"

Pansy nodded. "I told Hermione the next day, we've been trying to decide whether we should tell Professor McGonagall or not. What do you think?"

Daphne bit her lip and stared at the fire before turning back around towards her best friend. "Well...I mean they didn't really say anything. Even though I think we're both thinking the same thing about what they were saying."

Pansy looked intently at her as she whispered "He who must not be named...they want to finish what he started..." Daphne nodded back. "I don't want to take the chance that this is something big without telling McGonagall, I'm gonna go see her on Sunday. Maybe she can say something to Kingsley and he can keep an eye on the little wanker."

Pansy crossed her own legs and leaned back. "Now as to the reason I asked you to come. I need your help with a little project for tomorrow."

Daphne smiled back "If this has anything to do with you proposing to Hermione, count me in."

Pansy leaned forward and Daphne followed her lead. "It is and here's what I need you to do..."

The remainder of the evening was spent with the two working at putting Pansy plan into action while Hermione was away. Daphne left a little before eight, taking the project to her dorm with her so as not to risk Hermione discovering it.

The next morning after Hermione had left to complete the finishing touches, Daphne and Astoria arrived to continue the work from the night before. Astoria squealed just as loudly as her sister did when she entered the dorm and nearly crushed Pansy in a bear hug.

The invitation for the party had stated that the Halloween grounds would be open to enter at seven o'clock. Until then a disillusionment spell had been placed so that only those working on the grounds knew what it looked like until the unveiling. The grounds around the community center were all being used as well as the building itself.

Part of Pansy's plan was to sneak onto the grounds and use a portion of it. She had tried to get in last night but found that the grounds had been heavily warded, by Hermione herself no doubt. So Pansy decided to make use of her new friendship with Ellen Urqhart.

The girl had been so grateful to both Hermione and Pansy for helping her and Portia during the dragon attack that she was willing to do anything to help them with anything. It worked in Pansy's favor since Ellen was the head girl for Slytherin. She met up with her early in the morning just after Hermione left and explained her plan.

The three girls made their way through the woods following Ellen's lead. "Ok after we get through those trees there we'll hit the wards around the grounds. Only the people involved with the Halloween celebration are able to walk through it but you three should be able to get through if we all link hands."

She had been right and as soon as they got through all four ducked behind a tree. The entirety of the grounds had been taken over, there was a big area in the middle that had been cleared for dancing with a stage set up for the band. There were booths set up everywhere with games and different building had been assembled ad what looked like different haunted house.

Ellen turned towards them as she pointed her finger. "Don't get caught, because it'll be my arse on the line." She then point towards the open space between two of the game booths. "The woods behind those two booth were accidentally added to the ground wards and will have the enchantments set up to go off when the grounds open up. You can use that area since no one will be over there. When you're done just walk through the ward into the woods, it'll let you out without me just not in. Good luck!" She winked at Pansy and took off to the center where the dance floor was.

Pansy signaled for the other girls to follow her and all three silently moved from behind booth to booth. Astoria was bringing up the rear as she protectively held the leather satchel that was slung around her shoulder close to her body.

Once the girls were out of sight they began to scope the area out. Pansy walked to see how far into the woods she could get before she came upon the wards. She turned back around and headed back towards the other girls. "Alright I know how to do this. First we're going make a path into the woods. I know this area pretty well and on the other side of the wards there are these huge boulders and the path is going to end there. For now let just clear the trees on this side of the wards a little bit and start the pathway."

The other two nodded as bags were set down and each pulled out their wands. Pansy had a clear picture in her head as to where the borderlines were for the pathway and made a temporary line of white light with her wand to show the other girls. All three then began to point their wands to any trees or bushes that stood in the way.

Astoria raised her arm and aimed her 10 inch reddish ash wand towards a rather large oak tree directly in the middle of the path. "Bratus Vitam!" The tree began to shake and then pulled it's roots out of the ground. Astoria pointed her wand to an area of the woods that was off the path and with that the tree began to walk on it roots towards that spot. Once there it dug it's roots back into the ground. Astoria thanked it with a short bow of her head, surprisingly the tree gave one back before becoming still again.

This continued till all the trees and bushes were removed. As the two sisters began to line the pathway with the project from the night before, Pansy aimed her wand to the willow trees that ran along the pathway. She twirled her wand in a circle "Signum", and all of the trees began to bend over the path.

With another wave and a whisper of "Ramus Crescente" the braches of the trees grew longer till the hung like curtain threads throughout the path. Pansy nodded with a smirk and the three moved through the ward and continued their work till they came to the boulders.

It was finally seven and wards were about to be let down as the whole of the village as well as the visiting students from Hogwarts stood just outside it's borders, anxiously waiting to be let in. The Hogwarts students hadn't even been allowed to see what had been done inside of the community center. A wall had been created leading all those coming through the floo straight out a back door.

As the wards collapse everyone stood in complete awe at their surroundings. Ron stood next to Lavender on his right with his arm around her waist. He wore a shirt of light chain mail with a long sleeved silver shirt beneath it. His black pants were tucked into dark green dragon skin boots and around his waist a silver belt holding a sheathed broad sword. He turned towards Harry on his left with a huge grin on his face "Wicked!".

They all began to enter the grounds in hoards, some running straight to the booths that held games while others went straight into a haunted house.

Harry and Ginny, who had dressed as zombies with matching torn and dirty black dress pants and white button down shirts, pointed to a large dark purple makeshift building covered in webs and what appeared to be blood dripping from the windowsills. The four friends made their way towards it as they took in the rest of the decorations.

The air around the grounds had been charmed so a thin veil of mist surrounded you in every direction, not enough from preventing one from seeing ahead of themselves but enough to create eerie sense of suspense around. The ground was covered in an even thicker fog and every so often they got the feeling that someone was standing just behind them.

The surrounding trees with their orange, red and gold leaves were covered with thick cobwebs. Most were currently occupied by a dozen or so live ravens and a few bats while others had a random figure hanging by a rope.

Some of the spaces of grounds were covered my grave markers and when someone went to close the dirt of the ground rose up and one of the Hogwarts ghost popped out. Ron turned to Harry and his sister with an impressed look on his face. "I can't believe they actually got the ghost of Hogwarts to help out!" They all nodded in agreement.

They came upon a small black booth with a number of students crowded around the window. When they looked in themselves they could see that the students were tossing rings onto severed hands that were lined up on planks, the fingers still moving around to make the toss more difficult.

Another larger both held all different sorts of goodies inside. Students were lined up to buy an assortment of candies and drinks. The candies went from the usual like chocolate frogs, cauldron cakes and licorice wands that you'd find at Honeydukes.

There were also more original treats like clear small bowls filled with chocolate pudding and covered in chocolate cookie crumbs made to look like dirt covering a grave. A vanilla wafer cookie sticking out of it with R.I.P written on it with black icing. Inside the chocolate pudding were gummy worms that had were charmed to wriggle through the 'dirt'.

They passed another booth that held a tub filled with what looked like blood, students were reaching in and pulling random body parts out. Each body part had a different prize written beneath it.

Finally they came up to the dark purple building. Ginny began to look around the crowd "Well this is where they said they would meet us, so where the hell are they?"

"Hey guys!" Draco popped out behind they.

"Ah!" The four screamed as they clutched their hearts. Ginny smacked his arm "You Stupid Git! I nearly had a heart attack!"

Draco and Astoria giggled as she placed a hand on Ginny's shoulder. "Calm down Ginny...it is Halloween after all."

Ginny smiled as she wrapped an arm around her friend's shoulder. "Haha, that it is. How fantastic does this place look by the way!"

Draco nodded while looking around. "Yeah, you know for someone who had no interest in decorating the Halloween party Hermione did an awesome job of it." They all nodded their agreement.

Astoria looked around. "Where is Hermione by the way, I thought she would be with you lot."

"She's helping the band set up backstage for the first set of songs." Said Daphne as she and Luna approached the group from the front.

Ginny looked from the stage back to Daphne. "Where's Pansy?"

Daphne flashed a grin to her sister. "She's...busy finishing up a project she'll be along shortly."

Ginny began pulling on Harry arm. "Well let not just stand here waiting, let's start on those haunted houses!" The rest yelled out with their excitement as the group continued down to the purple building.

Two hours had passed as the time had been spent between screaming and yelling while getting the wits scared out of them in each of the haunted houses and winning prizes at the game booths.

Hermione had kept her promise and done an excellent job on stage. She had been so good that the majority of the students and a few of the ghosts had stopped to listen to her sing.

With her part finally being done she introduced Sage Stretton to take over her part as singer for the night, then she jumped off the stage and into the waiting arms of her girlfriend.

She looked to each of her friends. "So what do you all think?" She gestured around to the entire area.

"Bloody brilliant" Exclaimed both Weasleys. Ginny began waving around a stuffed toy bat. "Look at what Harry won for me." She pointed towards a booth where a few students were throwing mini pumpkins that were enchanted to look like they were on fire at glass bottles stacked in pyramids on platforms. She took a firm hold of her boyfriends. "He has a fantastic arm, won in for me in one go!"

Harry in turn began to blush as Ginny nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck before he cleared his throat. "You all did a really amazing job Hermione, the place looks great!"

Pansy snaked her arm around Hermione waist. "From what I heard we really have you to thank for all of this. The haunted houses, the games, decoration...according to my sources were all your idea."

It was Hermione's turn to blush now. "Only part of it Pansy...Neville, Ellen, Mandy and Eric were a big part of it to. Though I will admit that the only thing that Andrea was good for was assigning everyone a job...except for herself."

The group laughed as Pansy took Hermione by the hand and looked deeply into her eyes. "Come for a walk with me?"

Ginny groaned "Oh...but I wanted us all to go back into the vampire haunted house together now that Hermione is free."

Astoria and Daphne, after having seen the look in Pansy eyes, immediately ran interception. "Let them go for their walk Ginny, they've barely seen each other all day. We'll go when they get back." And with that the two pulled her away as the boys, Lavender and Luna followed close behind.

Pansy held her arm out to Hermione. "Shall we?" The brunette happily closed her hand around Pansy's upper arm as she was led away from the stage area and towards the back of the Halloween grounds.

Daphne and Astoria followed the two with their eyes then looked to each other and giggled. Ginny looked suspiciously from one to the other. "Alright you two, what's going on?" Everyone else looked at the two girls, curiosity brimmed in their eyes.

Daphne sighed before looking to each one then settling on Ginny. "If we tell you, you have to promise to keep it quiet...at least till those two say something."

Everyone nodded before huddling close as Daphne began to whisper quietly to them. Everyone else around were frightened half to death when a high pitched "Oh my god!" Squealed out of an excited female redhead.

Hermione followed Pansy as the dark haired Slytherin led her past all the booths and towards the woods.

Pansy glanced over at her girlfriend and subtly took in her costume. Hermione wore a three layered ruffled white dressed that ended at her mid thigh area. It had long off the shoulder bell sleeves with a black leather corset over it. Her black leather boots came up to just under her knees and laced up the back. Two large gold hoop earrings adorned her ears and a black belt hung loosely around her waist with a sword dangling off the side. A black bandana tied to the side as her golden brown locks flowed out from beneath it completed the erotic look.

She smiled when Hermione caught her staring. "Have I told you yet how delicious you look?" Pansy smirked ravenously.

Hermione smiled back. "No, but now you know why I didn't want you to see the costume before hand. I was afraid you'd tear it off of me with your teeth, before I even got the chance to wear it today." She giggled.

Hermione then took in Pansy's own appearance. The Black leather pants hugged tightly to Pansy's shapely legs. Her own black leather cuffed boots stopped mid calf. A white long sleeved shirt with a tie just below her breast was covered by a long black trench coat, buttoned at the waist. Her black leather pirate hat tilted to one side as her hair billowed in the wind. Hermione had to bite her lip in order to hold in a moan.

Pansy, recognizing the glint in her girlfriend's eyes had to stifle her giggle. Hermione finally turned to look at their surroundings and found that they were no longer on the party grounds but instead had entered the woods. "Pansy...where are we going?"

Pansy moved Hermione's hand into her own and intertwined their fingers together. "It's a surprise, just trust me." She winked.

The two continued to walk till Hermione noticed a light up ahead. As they stepped through the finally group of trees Hermione found herself at the beginning of a path lined with jack o' lanterns. However, instead of the scary carvings that the pumpkins at the party displayed, these had been carved with images of beautiful flowers.

Hermione gasped in awe. "I don't remember this being here." She turned to look at Pansy who just shrugged back. "Why don't we follow it and see where it takes us." Hermione nodded and let Pansy guide her down the path.

Pansy was beginning to get a bit nervous, her forehead had a thin line of sweat forming. While one hand held tightly onto Hermione hand the other started to clench and unclench with tension.

She looked over to Hermione who was just taking in her surroundings with wonder. Looking at her beautiful lover chased all her nervousness away. "Hermione...I've been wanted to tell you something for a while now."

Hermione looked back over to her. "What is it Pansy?"

Pansy took a deep breath before looking back over at her. "Every moment that I've spent with you have been the best moments of my life. I never thought I deserved to be as happy as I am with you."

Hermione held on Pansy's hand tighter as she leaned her head on her shoulder. "Me to Pansy. I never would've thought that you'd be the one that I could be this happy with. I wouldn't change it for anything in the world."

The two were approaching the end of the path and Pansy slipped her hand into the inside pocket of the trench coat. "I'm glad you feel that way Hermione. I love you so much and all I can think about is how much I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you."

With that they came to the end as they exited the path and came to clearer area with three large boulder laying together. Pansy moved behind Hermione as her girlfriend looked at the display.

The ground was covered with orange and yellow flowers. On top of each of the boulders sat more carved pumpkins, each set spelling out different words. On one boulder three pumpkins sat together spelling out Will, the second boulder held the word you and the third and lowest boulder held the words Marry and Me.

Hermione's hands shot up to her mouth and she finally pieced together the entire sentence. She quickly turned around to find Pansy behind her lowered to one knee. In the palm of her hand sat a box and inside the box a beautiful ring.

Pansy let go of the lip she had been biting as she took in Hermione's reaction to her surroundings. "I know we've only been together for a short time Hermione...but I can't imagine ever loving anyone else the way I love you. I can't imagine ever wanted to spend my life with anyone else and being as happy and fulfilled as you do. All I do anymore is dream about us being together forever...in a big house with a family of our own. Hermione...Will you do me the honor of marry me?"

Hermione stood their speechless as observed everything Pansy had done and plan to make this perfect. Before she could stop herself she fell onto her own knees, her heart pounding in her chest, and threw her arms around Pansy's neck. "Yes!" She began to place kisses all over Pansy's neck and face as she repeated her answer over and over before looking right into Pansy's eyes and smiling. "Nothing would make me happier to marry you Pansy. I don't care how long we've been together...you're the one for me and you always will be."

The tears that Pansy had been trying so desperately to hold back broke free and as they began cascading down her cheeks she took Hermione's face into her hands and kissed with everything she had in her.

After a few moments Pansy finally managed to pull the ring from the box and slipped it onto Hermione's fingers. She kissed the ring on her now fiancée's hand as the two stared lovingly at each other.

Their beautiful moment was torn from them when a sudden piercing cry cut through the air. The two girls broke their gaze to look at the direction it came from. With a quick nod to each other the two stood and ran towards the source.

Pansy was only a few paces ahead of Hermione as the two weaved through the trees following the sound of screams when they came up to a dark figure holding onto someone dressed like a green fairy.

Hermione, instantly recognizing who the fairy was began running faster. "Sally-Anne!" The dark figure that held onto her from behind popped it's head up in the girls direction. Their features undistinguishable, hidden beneath a large black hood. Sally looked towards her friend. "Hermione! Help me!"

Suddenly a loud crack filled the air and the two stopped mid stride. Sally-Anne and her captor were both gone while Pansy and Hermione stared dumbfounded at the space where they once stood.