Infatuation

By: babykelyse

A/N: A few more days and it would have been a month since my last update...sorry about that guys. So...I graduated and now I have all the time in the world to finish this story. ) and I hope to be finished with it before August because I leave for school then lol Anywho, I won't make this long, but thank you guys SO much for your support with this story. It gives me the fuel to keep writing. )

Author Responses: Slytherin-girl TF lover- Thanks ) I won't be using Draco/Ginny anymore from this point on. I think they've served their purpose lol john- Of course our Mr. Potter has been with others lol That'd be...unnatural for a man to go without for 10 yrs (excluding children of course P) He's just been waiting for her to come around...but not alone ) Cycla- Thank you ) I plan on updating a lot more now that I've gotten more time to myself. The weeks after graduating were the most hectic lol But now things have slowed down, and I finally have time to write ) The Cheshire Katt- lol No more tears for you! It'll be happy from now on, I promise! the Duke of Fenwick- Beautiful review as always ) and tell Amscray that from this point on Draco/Ginny will, in the world of fanfiction, no longer exist. They've served their purpose and now will only be a vague memory...unless you read backwards from here, of course ) CMacaB- I definitely agree D She'll be getting over her reservations soon, no worries. I want to try and keep this at 10 chapters lol I still need to finish my other fic...that I forgot about. cough ) LaBelle EvansB- Thank you ) I certainly don't want to give you a heart attack! lol It'll be happy from now on D Tiarwen- Thank you D Black's Phoenix- Thanks ) SweetSouthernGal- Lol It's okay ) I've been behind with my updating lol SlytherinPhoenixB- Wonderful! There should be more Harry/Pansy lovers out there D gilot04- Thanks ) I'll try and make this one longer, just for you ) Mistress Vamp- Thank youD demondan- I hope that's a good interesting ) Vinese- Being a graduate feels...wonderful! lol and now I'm ready for college life. Congrats to you as well for graduating ) object of my desire- Thanks )

Disclaimer- Well of course I don't own the characters. Plot, however, is mine )

Seven

Pansy awoke to a slight pecking on her hand. She rolled over to see a gorgeous snow-white owl perched on her bed. Attached to its talon was a piece of parchment. Pansy petted the owl while reaching into her bedside stand for a snack. She gave the owl a piece of bread she'd decided not to eat from yesterday's breakfast. It hooted gently, and held out its talon towards her. She took the note, and gave the owl one last pet before it flew swiftly away. Pansy decided to save the note for after she took a shower. She made her way over to her bathroom and set the water to just the right temperature. After shedding off her wrinkled clothes she'd fallen asleep in, she stepped into the cubicle and let the water pour over her aching body.

After twenty minutes or so, Pansy stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a fluffy towel. She made her way back into her bedroom and went over to read the parchment. She sat down and pulled the ribbon off the parchment and read.

Pansy,

Meet me at Madame Rosmerta's at noon.

H

Right away, Pansy knew what the 'H' stood for. Pansy glanced over to the clock and saw that it was a little after 11. Mentally, Pansy debated on whether or not she should meet with Harry. She didn't want to face Harry after what happened last night. Pansy felt her cheeks begin to burn as she thought of how she'd responded to Harry last night. Even after ten years, he still made her heart jump in her throat and her pulse quicken. With a start, Pansy came to a frightening conclusion.

I'm in love with Harry, she thought to herself.

Pansy moaned and clutched at her abdomen. How could this have happened? She barely knew Harry and already her stupid self was in love with him. She'd never tell him, of course. They were too different, he a Gryffindor at heart and herself a true, natural Slytherin. They could never be together. Resignedly, Pansy rose from her bed and went over to her closet and began pulling out various items. She could feel the tears prickling the back of her eyelids, but she steeled herself against them. She'd tell Harry that he should forget about her and move on with his life. She'd tell him they were too different, and that any sort of relationship between them wouldn't work out. She just wished it didn't hurt so much to think of a life without Harry in it.

Absently, Harry watched as various witches and wizards scurried about in their daily rituals. He took a drink of his butterbeer and glanced at the clock for the umpteenth time. He'd had a thought that Pansy might reject his request, but when Hedwig returned sans the note he'd attached to her talon, he'd been given hope. When he saw Pansy at Malfoy Manor, it was like a breath of fresh air. It'd been too long since he'd last seen her. Although he'd had more than his share of witches in the past years, none had been able to give him the rush Pansy gave him just by being in the same room. As he sat thinking, he was interrupted by the jingle of the bells on the door. Quickly, Harry looked over to the door and felt his pulse quicken.

If it were possible, she'd gotten even more beautiful over the years. Her hair was still the same shade of white-blonde with random black streaks intertwined. Her glorious figure was encased in a black sweater that set off her blonde locks, and tan slacks. Black leather boots with a slight heel encased her feet. She scanned the room and once she spotted him began walking quickly towards him. Her face remained impassive as she walked toward him, given Harry no input as to what she was thinking or feeling.

Before he could even open his mouth to greet her, she held up a hand and sat herself down. She motioned one of the young waitresses over and ordered a butterbeer and a sticky bun. After the girl brought Pansy's order, Harry began to speak.

"I know you're probably wondering why I asked you to meet me here,"

"More like demanded it, Potter."

Harry smirked at her sarcastic remark and continued.

"The truth is, Pansy, I want to know why we're playing this 'snog, then act as if I'm the scum of the earth game'."

"There is no game, Potter. It's all fun and games. For me, at least."

Harry felt stung at this, but continued on anyway.

"It isn't a game between us, Pansy. There's something between us. Something electric and something worth putting an effort towards. I know it, and I don't understand why you won't acknowledge it."

"There's nothing between us!", she shouted.

Pansy blushed a dark red, as every eye focused on her. She hadn't meant to shout. She mumbled an apology and kept her face hidden until conversations started back anew. She continued on in a heated whisper.

"There's nothing between us, Harry. There never has and there never will be. We come from entirely different worlds. You're a Gryffindor, I'm a Slytherin. You have good in you, and I have none. We're too different!"

"Why?"

" Why what?"

"If we're so different, then why did you come? You could have just sent word by my owl and we could have avoided this entirely."

"Well I-,"

"Just stop it, Pansy. If we were so different, then you wouldn't be sitting in that chair at this moment. If you didn't have some sort of good in you, then you would have just written a very nasty response instead of coming here to meet with me. If there wasn't something between us, you wouldn't be here!"

Pansy was at a loss for words. Everything he was saying was true. She already knew she was in love with him, so why was she running away from him? Why was she running away from something that was potentially good for her?

Just face it, Parkinson, she thought to herself. You're bloody afraid.

Harry reached out and drew one of her hands into his. He held tighter, when she tried to pull away. Finally, she gave up and let him intertwine their fingers. It was a perfect fit. Two hands, so different, yet they fit together perfectly. Her hands were so dainty and fragile compared to his. In contrast to his tanned hands, hers were milky white. His were callused and rough from years of Quidditch as hers were smooth and soft. So different, yet so alike.

"All I'm asking for is one chance, Pansy. Just give us a chance to see what could be instead of always wondering what could have been. Do you honestly want to go through life wondering what would have happened with us had you not run away?"

Pansy stared at their hands and wondered. Would she wonder what could have been of her and Harry?

Of course you would, old girl, and you know it. You'd always wonder what it felt like to have his arms around you, what it felt like to be loved and cherished. What it felt like to know that there was someone out there that loves you, she thought.

"No."

"Then let's give us a chance, Pansy. Don't run from me anymore. There's something special between us, and I don't want to go through life wondering what that special something was."

Before she could respond, he pulled her up from the table, and gently drew her body towards his. He leaned his head down slowly, as if asking her permission to kiss her. Pansy reached up and pushed his head towards hers, and he captured her lips in a passionate kiss. Tiny, electric bolts ran up and down her arms and throughout her entire body as he gently sucked on her tongue. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him tiny butterfly kisses around his mouth and cheek. This was where she belonged. Here, in Harry Potter's arms. Suddenly, the thought of running to him and not from him didn't seem so bad. She hugged him to him fiercely and then drew back slightly.

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, I'll give you the chance, Harry. I'll give you this chance, and so many more. I-I love you Harry Potter."

He smiled widely and gathered her into a fierce hug. The sound of claps and whistles drew them into the present and made them aware of where they were. Laughing, and smiley widely, Harry and Pansy made their way out onto the street arm in arm. As they made their way towards nowhere in particular, Harry drew Pansy back.

"What?"

"You're one hell of an infatuation, Pansy Parkinson. And I love you very much for it."

Pansy smiled and threw herself into his arms. She was home, at last.

A/N: You guys are SO going to kill me...BUT, that's it. I'm...done. Oh man, I could cry just about now lol I definitely did not intend for this to be the last chapter, but I hate to draw things out. As I was writing this, I realized that this is how I want the story to end. I know I said I was going to make this 10 chapters long, but I think this is an appropriate ending. But don't get your panties into a wad, because there WILL be an epilogue. Note: Epilogue NOT SEQUEL lol I don't want to ruin this fic by writing a mediocre sequel (like some films and such...cough) ANYWAY! lol I can't believe that I'm actually ending this. But it's a quite good ending, don't you think? It's so...fluffy I want to vomit. But, fluffy is good, and I feel that I'm rambling SO, I'll end this author note on two things. 1) Epilogue will be up soon. Probably sometime in the middle of the week. and 2) Read, review, and as always enjoy )Thank you guys SO much for your support in writing this story and my epilogue will be dedicated to all my readers as well as those who read AND review )Ciao