The pain behind his eyeballs was intense, and he became aware of it before he'd become fully conscious. As though the pain had leeched his sleep and had grown fat from the nightmares. He groaned and pressed his face into the pillow as though trying to hide from the growing ache. Something trapped his arm against the bed, stopping him from turning away fully.

Even the glint of light through his curtains was too much. Squeezing his eyelids together, blotted out the pain for a second, but it returned with a vengeance. He pressed his free hand to his eyes, anything to relieve the pressure. He felt the weight trapping his left arm shift slightly before he heard the curtain twitch.

"Darling, drink this." Her husky voice came as a glass vial was pressed into his hand. He didn't dare open his eyes to look at it before he uncorked and downed it. The taste of pepper filled his mouth as he swallowed it. He almost gagged at the feeling as he tried to keep it down.

He felt his body start to heat up as steam began to escape from his ears. He opened his eyes as the agony through his temples cleared. He looked around the dim bed and spotted Pansy peeking up at him through half-closed lids. She smiled sleepily with her beautiful pouty lips. It took a moment for him to remember the events from the night before.

He smiled sleepily back to her as he pushed to bottle onto the bedside table and snuggled back in with her.

"Good morning," He whispered. As he tucked his forearm under her arm, pulling her tightly to him. She sighed contentedly before replying.

"Morning," She murmured back. With every second that passed his headache seemed to lessen and the fog clear.

"Did you just give me a pepperup potion?" He caught the edge of her smile as she nodded. "I thought they were only good for colds?" He replied. She shook her head as she rolled over to face him, her arms tucking underneath his so that he still cocooned her. She looked up at him, her eyes like smoke on water.

"I learned long ago that pepperup potions are the best cure for a hangover." He kissed her forehead and smiled.

"Thank you,"

"No problem." She sighed back as she nuzzled into his neck. They tangled their legs together as if afraid the other would be ripped away. "How did you sleep?" she asked, tightening her thighs.

"Like a log, you?"

"Like the dead," She grinned as they shared a heated gaze.

"I love waking up with you." He whispered as he kissed her nose. She wrinkled her nose but grinned.

"As do I," She replied as she tilted her head so their lips could meet. It was a gentle and warm press of silken lips as her skin was pressed against his own. Her mouth parted as their tongues met. A slow and gentle caress against one another. Deliberate and sensual as they enjoyed their corner of paradise.

He loved this side of her, delicate and tender, full of whispered words and warm touches. It didn't need to be anything sexual between them, just the intimacy and being able to feel her was enough.

She pulled away slowly as she stretched, arching her back within his arms. He glanced down and could see her ribs through her skin. He frowned.

"You've not been eating." He said, remembering what Theo had said as he stroked her hair.

"Neither have you."

"Yeah but I still had weight to lose, We should try and make it to breakfast this morning" He lowered his hand and rubbed the soft skin of her stomach.

"I'm pretty sure most of our year won't be there this morning, no one will notice if we don't show up," She winked playfully.

"We both need to eat something. I, for one, want energy, just in case," Neville winked back as he kissed her again. She giggled playfully as she kissed back enthusiastically.

"Can't we just stay in here and leave the world to go on without us?" She asked as they parted.

"If only," He muttered wistfully. She snorted as her mood changed, going from relaxed to contemplative. She stared up at the canopy and chewed on her lip, her brow furrowing thoughtfully. "A Knut for your thoughts?"

She sighed heavily as they turned to face him, her gaze still distant as she responded "I'm trying to anticipate our next move,"

"Our next move?" Neville asked curiously.

"I sometimes forget that you are a pureblood. How delightful it must be to go through life without having to strategise before doing anything."

"Strategise? You make it sound like we're going into battle." He started to chuckle, but it died in his throat when her face remained serious. She sat up and gripped her knees to her chest as she thought. "Love?"

She smiled brightly at the word before turning and cupping his face. "It is like going into battle." She said as the smile dropped from her lips. "Everyone out there has got the power to ruin you and to bring you down and dash your dreams. As soon as we open these curtains, everything we say and do will be scrutinised by others, and once they see our actions and hear our words, they will be beyond our control."

"You make the world sound like such a scary place," Neville frowned. He couldn't believe that was how she saw the world.

"Whereas you make it sound like such a wonderful place." She smiled back sadly. "The life of a powerful pureblooded family is like forever being on display and for people waiting for you to fuck up."

He looked at her and could almost see the weight of the world, lowering onto her delicate shoulders. It was obvious that she needed to strategise. The least he could do was help her.

"So what weapons do we need?" He asked, sitting up beside her. She smiled, wider this time as he offered her his hand.

"Thank you," She squeezed it before kissing the back of his hand before staring off into nothing again. "As soon as we step out of here, Hannah will probably write to my parents again." She said coldly.

"What did they say before?"

"My father…" She corrected. "My mother never writes. He said the usual unpleasant things and threw in a few threats for variety. He said that unless I broke off complete contact with you, I would be disowned etc. etc."

"Hannah, as you, said that she'd written to them saying that we'd had sex everywhere and lots of it."

"Yes, that was mentioned, numerous times," She said sourly.

"What did he say? Do you have to go to St Mungo's?" He asked

"He said he wanted proof that I was still… untouched." She looked away and seemed to fold in on herself. "And no, not St Mungo's, I had to go to Pomfrey instead." She whispered quietly as she pulled her legs closer to her chest. He watched as the knuckles on her fine fingers trembled and turned white.

"What?" He almost shouted, "When?" He asked as he pulled her into his chest.

"Last Wednesday, during my free periods." She sighed.

"Then what?" He asked. He wasn't sure what the test was exactly, but from her description, he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"Madam Pomfrey had to write to him to confirm that I'm still in saleable condition." She sighed unhappily.

"I'm sorry, did you say saleable?" He whispered horrified. She nodded

"That's basically what arranged marriages are. When you are a pureblood girl, you are a product that another pureblood family will want to buy. If you are sullied or damaged, you won't get as high a sale price" She sighed.

"I never thought of it that way," He said as he held her closer. Ignoring the obvious twinge in the back of his skull. "I'm so sorry!"

"Stop accepting liability!" She said as she tried to smile. "None of this is your fault!"

"If you weren't with me, you wouldn't have had to be examined again." He was horrified.

"No, If my dad wasn't such a prick and Hannah wasn't so bat shit crazy" She shook her head.

Silence passed between them as he held her close hoping to squeeze and soothe out all the bad memories, leaving only love, warmth and comfort behind. He sighed as he tried to think of something to say, anything that could help take her mind off things. He couldn't go back and change anything, but he could help her prepare for the future.

"So, what's our battle plan?" He asked as he came around to her way of thinking. This did require delicate planning and careful actions.

"Firstly, we cannot raise suspicions again. I shouldn't be here, but I couldn't just leave you on the stairs." She shook her head.

"Thank you," He replied with a shudder as he remembered his scene on the stairs and in the portrait hole. "I'm surprised you stopped, I was a mess."

"You were, but I love you, so, it comes with the territory." She said with a warm, growing smile. His heart stuttered as she said the words. He wanted to jump around the bed in celebration. "I love your dopey smile when I say something sentimental" She smirked as she touched his lips with her fingers. He kissed them, and she shook her head. "It makes sentimentality worth it."

"I love you too," He grinned as he pulled her back in for a kiss. She smiled against his lips as a blush coated her cheeks.

"So, I'm hoping that almost everyone is as hungover as you were, so I'm going to creep back to the dorms and get washed and dressed. When we're at breakfast, we shouldn't talk to each other and should really refrain from looking at each other if we can,"

"And how do you expect me to keep my eyes off you? Especially when you dress to catch my attention?" He smirked cheekily, and she chuckled.

"I can't help the fact that you are attracted to me," she raised her eyebrows haughtily "it's a bad decision on your part, really,"

"So, the stockings that you wear and the short skirts are just coincidental?"

She grinned and nodded before kissing him on the nose. He sighed. It was going to be hard enough not talking to her or looking at her, he'd had his fill of that. He knew it was going to be a lot of effort, but It was something they had to do.

"When can I see you again?"

"I'll owl you, we need to be careful and sneaky," He nodded.

"What about tonight? If it's a clear night, we could meet up at the greenhouses?"

"That's not a bad idea." She nodded.

"I wish Hannah wasn't here, without her, we wouldn't have to worry. No one else cares that we're together." Pansy nodded. She got to her knees slowly as she got ready to leave, flashing her tiny knickers. His eyes couldn't help but follow that small patch of black lace. She swayed her hips slowly before lifting his head. She looked at him and her cheeky gaze softened. Her gaze was almost painful to see, so full of love and regret and want.

"One day," She sighed, "I dream of giving you everything." She smiled sadly as she kissed him. He splayed his hands out across her back as he pressed her front to his chest. He took her breast into his mouth as he gave it a cheeky nibble. His heart skipped a beat at the sigh that escaped her mouth. She was utterly sinful and his wildest dream. He grinned as she pulled away, they were even now. He tried to remember every smell, taste, sensation of her to tide him over. She pulled away slowly with a playful glare.

"As do I," He confessed with a grin.

"I love you. I'll see you later." She smirked before peering out around the bed. She grabbed her dress and pulled it over her head before disappearing from sight.

He lay back in his bed, a strange bittersweet sensation filling his chest. She loved him back, which filled him with so much happiness he could float away on the breeze; but they had to pretend that they were still apart, which meant not being able to touch her. It was going to be torture.

The great hall was mostly subdued as the younger student pointed and laughed at the older students, most of which were hungover. A silent agreement had been made that Theo's punch recipe was banned from any further social gatherings. The only people who appeared to be unaffected were Pansy, Neville, Theo and Blaise along with a handful of younger Slytherins. Apparently, only the green and silver house knew the dual function of the Pepperup potion.

Neville looked at Hermione and wondered why she was struggling. He frowned at Blaise, catching his eye as he eyed Hermione. He shook his head, and with a roll of his eyes shrugged.

"Did Blaise not tell you about Pepperups?" Neville asked quietly as she pushed her porridge around the bowl with her spoon deliberately.

"It's not meant for hangovers," She argued hoarsely.

"No, but it is supposed to make you feel better, you should take it." He retorted. "Ask him if he has another," He urged before tucking into his sausage, bacon and egg sandwich.

Ginny glared at him, as a green tinge came to her unusually pale skin. She closed her eyes and shuddered as she sipped her black coffee. Even Luna, who was propped up against the redhead, was struggling. However, Neville guessed that her ailment was lack of sleep, nothing more. As if on queue, she yawned loudly as she put yet another spoon of sugar into her tea. He had counted about six already. He grimaced at the thought of drinking tea that sweet.

They all glared at him in turn. And he couldn't help but feel cheerful. He would need to buy Pansy flowers as a thank you in the very least. He shrugged and continued with his sandwich as his stomach growled impatiently. At the thought of her, he had to stop his head instinctively, turning to find her. She was like a magnet, drawing his eyes almost uncontrollably. He fought the urge although the corners of his mouth tugged up into a smug smile as he thought of her draped out before him in nothing but those tiny knickers.

Unconsciously, like a moth to a flame, he glanced to her. He watched as she almost silently described something to Theo. He couldn't help but stare when her eyes rolled back in her head. A few moments later, she bit her lip excitedly. He was hoping he knew what she was retelling to him. It was confirmed when Theo glanced his way. It took everything he had to not grin when Theo winked at him. He gazed down to brush off some crumbs from his lap to hide his blush.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked, her bloodshot eyes narrowing suspiciously as she pointed one of her fingers from its resting place against the cup.

"Sorry?" Neville asked, his face slowly dropping as he looked up at her. She released her cup with her right hand, leaving it to hover in her left. She wagged her finger at him accusingly.

"We have all been nagging you to eat for over a week. Now all of a sudden you are eating the largest sandwich known to man?" She swallowed and closed her eyes as she covered her mouth with her hand. There was a long pause, but she didn't finish. Neville wondered whether she was going to be sick.

"She's right, Neville," Luna said with a yawn. "Did the Grubsnorks get to you?" They all looked at her, including Ginny in confusion.

"The what?" Hermione asked,

"The Grubsnorks, they're the reason your stomach growls," Luna replied as if it was the most sensible answer.

"Yes, the Grubsnorks started to get restless," Neville replied before having another bite of his sandwich. Ginny turned away with a frown, unable to even look at him.

"She is right," Hermione whispered. "Is everything alright?" She asked before looking up at him.

"Things are… complicated. I'll tell you more later," He replied as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. She nodded as she glanced around at the table. There were too many ears that could overhear.

His mind went immediately to Hannah, and he looked around the tables for her. He frowned suspiciously when he couldn't see her. He wondered whether she was avoiding him, he knew she wouldn't be hungover, she had barely touched the punch. He frowned as he considered the night before. He wasn't sure he would be able to hold his temper if he saw her again this morning, so it was probably for the best.

Blaise, sitting next to Hermione, subtly slid a vial towards her, and this time she took it. She pocketed it before others could see what it was. Her eyes caught his gaze before she rolled her eyes and winced. Neville took a generous gulp of his cooling tea before picking up a chocolate pastry. He was ravenous.

As he reached for the treat, movement from the head table attracted his attention. Professor McGonagall had stood and looked around the great hall, Her lips set into a grim line. This didn't bode well.

"Good Morning, Students," She shouted, her voice bouncing off the walls. The announcement drew hisses and gasps from the suffering older students and snickers from the younger ones enjoying their misfortune. "Happy November," She started. "Please can every student that went to the Eighth year party last night please remain behind after breakfast. Thank you." She nodded before returning to her seat.

They all looked at each other with confusion as they waited for the lower year groups to filter out.

Once they had left. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick moved closer, their faces stony and serious as they surveyed the gaggle of students slumped over their breakfasts.

"Good morning party goers. I trust that everyone is feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning." She said sarcastically before continuing. "There has been an incident, and I need to ask you all some questions while we investigate. If you could all accompany me to Professor Flitwick's office, I will conduct my investigation there." She stood as she waited for them to stand and move before she led the way from the great hall.