A late birthday present for Emi. PansyHermione, asexuality.

Also for

Insane House Competition: Hermione Granger

365 Prompts Challenge: asexual

Word Count: 575

Pansy loves the little moments like these. Hermione's fingers ghost idly through the Slytherin's dark hair as she reads. It's such a peaceful moment, so sweet and beautiful. She doesn't want to break the comfortable silence that hangs between them, but her stomach twists into knots. If she doesn't say this now, she may never find the courage again.

"Hey, Hermione?" Pansy pulls away from her girlfriend, tugging nervously at a loose thread in her coat.

"Hmm?" The other witch doesn't even look up from her book; Pansy resists the urge to roll her eyes.

Heart racing, Pansy grips the book and gently pulls it away. Before her girlfriend can protest, Pansy quickly adds, "I need to tell you something. It's important."

Hermione's lips pull downward into a small frown. She studies Pansy for a moment, and Pansy almost wishes that she hadn't spoken. Hermione is brilliant and amazing, but she's also the type to fret and worry needlessly. Her heart is too big, and sometimes Pansy wonders how she ever got lucky enough to have someone as good as Hermione. "Is everything okay?"

Pansy takes a deep breath. This isn't the first time she's had to have this discussion. Past partners hasn't taken it well, but her parents had been the worst. They'd called Pansy a disgrace and threatened to strip her of her inheritance.

She doesn't want to be ashamed of who she is, but that's all she's learned to associate with herself. The things she feels (or, rather, don't feel) are abnormal. Her own mother has called her a freak and a disgrace.

"We've been dating for a few months," Pansy says quietly, her voice trembling with anxiety. "I don't know how to say this. I mean, I adore you. You're perfect."

"Are you breaking up with me?"

Pansy almost laughs. There's a good chance she will be single by the end of the conversation, but it definitely won't be because she wants it. That's just the way it is. As soon as people discover how broken she is, they run away.

"No. But…" Pansy swallows dryly. Her fingers resume tugging on the loose thread. "I… I really don't know how to say this."

Hermione moves closer, resting a hand on Pansy's shoulder. Her bright eyes soften, filled with concern. "Whatever it is, I can handle it."

Pansy really hopes so. "I… I like people. I like you. But I don't…" She trails off, searching for the words. It doesn't matter how many times she's had this conversation; she always manages to stumble. "I don't have sexual desires."

"You're asexual," the Gryffindor says simply.

Pansy doesn't respond at first. She waits for the backlash while pondering this strange word. Asexual. Is it just a polite way to say she's weird? She's never heard it before.

Hermione seems to pick up on her confusion. She pulls Pansy close, enveloping her in a warm hug. This is definitely not what Pansy had expected.

"There are different kinds of attraction. You can experience romantic attraction without sexual attraction," the other girl explains.

Pansy is silent for several moments. Slowly, she begins to relax, a small smile on her lips. "So, you don't think I'm strange?"

"Not at all. There's nothing wrong with being who you are."

Tears dot the Slytherin's lashes. It's been so long since she's genuinely felt accepted. And in this moment, she knows that she has fallen in love with Hermione Granger.