CHAPTER SEVEN: In Denial

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All the silence in between sound

You say you lost your way

And we'll explain ourselves

In a language we cannot speak

Right before you said you want to make it up yourself

I forgive this time

I'm lost we are one

You and me together in denial

In Denial – End of Fashion

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Pansy yawned and flicked through the massive pile of parchment in front of her. It was late, very late, and she was still distinctly damp from her swim with Harry hours earlier. Her dark hair hung in damp strands around her face, and her eyeliner was probably running down her cheeks. Once they had dragged themselves out of the warm water of the waterfall, she and Harry had managed to locate their way out of the forest surprisingly easily. However, wide-awake with the excitement of their swim, they had decided to sneak into the library to finish up their project, while they had the motivation to do so.

"So we have… three pages of pictures, 8 pages of facts, a title page and a contents page," Pansy informed Harry as she flicked through a stash of parchment in front of her.

"And a diagram" Harry added, fishing through his notes and passing the diagram to her.

"And a diagram" Pansy repeated, placing it on the pile, "that's enough right?"

"More than enough" Harry replied, "We just need to bind it all together somehow."

Pansy pushed her damp hair out of her eyes, "that shouldn't be to difficult, there's bound to be a book on binding charms here somewhere." Pansy paused thoughtfully, "or worse comes to worse you can always ask Granger."

Harry nodded, "I can try, but she's so hard to get a hold of now days. She's always off with Zabini working on the project."

"I know what you mean, if I didn't know any better, I'd have to say everyone is actually enjoying this project" Pansy mused, "I was talking to Millicent yesterday, and even she has stopped degrading Longbottom. Its rather worrying."

"Speak of the devil" Harry said softly.

Pansy turned just in time to see Millicent and Longbottom emerge into the small deserted section herself and Harry were already occupying. Pansy narrowed her eyes in confusion watching as they chuckled to themselves before disappearing into the muggle history aisle.

"What in the world are they doing here?" Pansy questioned, "its four in the morning."

"Do you get the feeling whatever they're up to has nothing to do with the project?"

Pansy turned back around to face him, "if your thinking what I think your thinking…"

"You're thinking it too?"

Pansy shook her head, "no way. Millicent would never."

Harry smirked, "I guess there's only one way to find out."

Pansy watched as Harry got to his feet, "hey" she protested, "that's in invasion of privacy you know."

Harry looked at her, "well if they're not doing anything then it wont be an invasion at all. Now are you coming or not?"

Pansy sighed, curiosity getting the best of her, "fine".

Together they walked over to the Muggle History aisle and Pansy peered down it. It was so long, the end of the aisle was nothing but shadows.

"C'mon" Harry waved her forward and together they creped down the aisle. Pansy was beginning to think they'd disappeared into thin air, when suddenly they came close enough to make out two dark shapes at the very end of the section. Pansy made a face and looked at Potter who stifled a laugh with difficulty. They walked closer until finally Pansy could finally make out the shapes.

It was Millicent and Longbottom all right. Beside her Harry had slapped a hand over his mouth to keep from giggling. Pansy however didn't find it very funny, because there at the very end of the section was her best friend and the lump of the school passionately making out completely oblivious to anyone else.

"Oh that's fucking disgusting," Pansy whispered, closing her eyes and opening them again, hoping she was imagining things, "is the whole school going crazy?"

Harry took his hand away from his mouth and chuckled, "they look cute together."

"Cute?" Pansy repeated, "cute!"

"Shhhh" Harry whispered still chuckling, "lets go." He grabbed Pansy's arm and dragged her off.

"Oh I'm going to give Millicent a piece of my mind" Pansy fumed, once they had emerged back out into their study area "Draco and Brown and now her and Longbottom?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, "what? Malfoy and Lavender, I didn't know that."

Pansy rolled her eyes and slumped into her chair, "believe it."

"So does that mean you and Malfoy aren't having sex anymore?" Harry questioned.

Pansy nodded, "yes it does. Apparently he's serious about her."

"Well that does make sense" Harry mused, "Lavender has been going on about some mystery guy for a while. I always just assumed she was making it up."

"Draco's her man" Pansy confirmed, before resting her chin in her hand, "So we have, Blaise and Granger, Brown and Draco and Longbottom and Millie. Looks like Dumbledore is getting his good inter house relations wish."

"We don't know Hermione and Zabini are together."

Pansy huffed, "please, no girl can resist Blaise. He's gorgeous, and he's got a personality to match. If Granger's resisting his charms then kudos to her."

Harry blinked, "Merlin Pansy, maybe we should jump on the band wagon and go make out in the potions section."

He was joking, but Pansy decided to play with him a bit, "do you want to?" she asked seriously.

Harry looked like a deer in headlights.

Pansy chuckled, "I'm kidding. Come on Casanova lets get going. I'm tired."

Harry sighed in relief and began stuffing his notes back into his bag. Pansy carefully placed their project into her bag, and zipped it up before they both walked towards the exit. Once out in the hallway Harry threw his invisibility cloak around them both, and silently they walked the well-known path to the Slytherin dungeons.

"So I guess this will be our last meeting huh?" Harry asked, when they were out of the main corridors and down in the lower floors.

Pansy blinked, he was right. She had become so used to his presence over the past couple of months she hadn't even thought about what would happen when the project was over. "I guess," Pansy mused, oddly disappointed by the idea; "but then, we still have to present the project to the class. You wont be getting rid of me that easily."

Harry chuckled, "I should have known, I…" he trailed off, "do you hear that?" he whispered.

Pansy halted and strained her ears, footsteps… but not only one set. "Yes" she murmured quietly, "what do you…"

"Shhhh" Harry shushed her, before he pulled her over to the side of the corridor.

"Students out of bed Albus" came a voice, and Pansy only had a moment to wonder who it was before McGonnagal rounded the corner.

Pansy gasped, not only McGonnagal, but also headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Snape and Filch. Filch looked most unimpressed and was walking behind the group sneering at Snape's back.

"Miss Bullstrode and Mr. Longbottom will un-doubtfully have to be punished" Snape remarked silkily as he strolled towards them.

Harry stiffened, and Pansy immediately knew why. Snape was walking very close to the wall and if they weren't careful he'd run straight into them. Pansy was just wracking her brains of a way to get out of this, when Harry grabbed her arm and pulled her flush against him. Pansy squeaked in surprise and Harry placed a hand over her mouth to keep her quiet, while his other arm pulled her as close to him as possible.

"I might suggest Headmaster" Filch continued, "that the chains in the dungeons…"

"No need for that Argus" Dumbledore interrupted, "it will be up to Minerva and Severus to decided Mr. Longbottom and Miss Bullstrode's fate."

Pansy closed her eyes horrified. She didn't know what was worse, Millicent and Neville getting caught or Snape who was drawing closer and closer to them. He was going to run right into them, any moment now.

"Severus" Dumbledore said suddenly, grabbing the potion masters arm and steering him away from herself and Harry, "I would suggest a detention and some house points removed."

Was it Pansy's imagination or did Dumbledore wink in their direction?

"Of course headmaster," Snape replied.

Pansy let out a sigh of relief, "looks like we left the library just in time" she whispered as the teachers rounded the corner. She looked up at Harry and was about to say something else when she froze.

Pansy swallowed, her question dying on her tongue as she looked into his green eyes. She had never been this close to Harry before, his face was mere inches away from her own and she could feel the length of his body pressed against hers. His arm was still wrapped around her waist pulling her close and she found herself desperately wishing he'd never let go. Pansy felt her breath hitch in her throat as she looked into his face. His brilliant green eyes sparkled in the low corridor light, and his black hair was sticking up in every direction. She let her eyes drift over his face taking in his strong jaw line and high cheekbones, before drifting down to his Adam apple, which bobbed up and down as he swallowed nervously.

Pansy stared at him; it was almost like she was seeing him for the first time. In this darkened corridor at four in the morning, and underneath the invisibility cloak, he wasn't Harry Potter the boy who lived, and he wasn't Harry Potter star Quidditch player. He was just Harry, the boy she had come to know over the past few months. The boy she trekked with through the forest, and swam with in the waterfall, the boy she bantered with over sex, and smoked in front of. It suddenly didn't matter all the much that he was a Griffindor and she was a Slytherin. All that really mattered was that they were standing here together now, and neither seemed particularly interested in moving.

Pansy bit her lip and ever so slowly reached up a hand till her thumb was brushing over Harry's cheek. Marveling at his baby soft skin, Pansy stood on tiptoes and softly brushed her lips over Harry's jaw line. If possible Harry pulled her even closer against him. Encouraged, Pansy let her fingers drift into Harry's jet-black hair, silky smooth and still damp from their swim. She trailed a line of kisses along his jaw line, but when she reached his lips Pansy pulled back slightly and looked into Harry's eyes. He looked back at her steadily for several long minutes before he cupped her face and ever so slowly bowed his head till his lips were mere centimeters away from her own.

"Do you want this?" Pansy breathed suddenly.

"Yes" Harry whispered, his warm breath puffing across her lips. Without allowing her to respond he closed the distance between them.

Harry's lips were warm and caressed hers gently with pressure so light it left Pansy's head spinning. His hands were soft and gentle, one, which slid along her cheek to caress the back of her neck and the other, which ran lightly up and down her back. The lack of pressure was maddening, and Pansy wrapped her arms around his neck deepening the kiss.

It was an amazing kiss. All thoughts of Harry being inexperienced flew out the window when his tongue touched hers. They kissed for several long minutes until Pansy broke away gasping for air. Resting her forehead against his, they both caught their breath before Harry placed a line of kisses down her neck. He gently sucked at the hollow beneath her ear and Pansy panted softly at the sensation, shivers running down her spine as he gently nipped at her ear lobe. Dragging his lips back to her own he kissed her over and over again.

Unable to resist the sweet temptation, Pansy's hands slid under the hem of Harry's jumper to trail across the cool skin of his stomach and chest. His hands drifted lower on her back, trailing across her bum, pulling her hips against his own. Pansy gasped pulling her lips from his when she felt his manhood pressing against her. Staring at him breathless for a moment, Pansy slowly ground her hips against his causing him to groan.

Pansy crashed her lips back to his kissing him desperately.

"Now Miss Bullstrode I suggest you get back to the Slytherin commons before you make an even bigger fool of yourself."

The voice drifted slowly into Pansy's senses, but when the voice registered in her mind herself and Harry sprung apart just in time to see Professor Snape round the corner with Millicent in tow. Panting heavily, Pansy tried to control her breathing, as Snape and Millicent walked past, completely oblivious to the two invisible teenagers.

Waiting until they rounded the corner Pansy turned back to Harry, "I should go," she whispered.

Harry nodded, "ok" he replied breathlessly.

Standing on tiptoe Pansy brushed her lips against his once more, before she slipped from under the cloak and hurried off towards the Slytherin common room.

TBC

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Authors Note: And so they finally got together. Lovely. The chapter of this story belongs to an Aussie band called End of Fashion.

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