Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Growing Closer
She couldn't believe what she was about to do. She had to be crazy, the deaging had to have messed with her head because there was no way she, Pansy Parkinson was going to walk straight up to Harry Potter and ask him to accompany her to Hogsmeade this weekend. She was planning on asking Harry Potter out on a date. Obviously a few weeks in their care augmented to the sudden increase of bravery but truly she was crazy.
She wasn't sure how she had found him, but there he was. Sat near the lake with Hermione and Ron. Hermione was resting against a large tree, a book in her hands occasionally glancing up to the two boys. Ron was laid down in the grass, one arm thrown over his eyes and a leg bent up at the knee. Harry was in-between the two, a golden snitch was been thrown into the air, a trophy obviously from a previous win.
As she neared she suddenly felt the bravery disappear from inside her and she all she wanted to do was run away. But she was too close to the trio now that surely they'd see her if she turned and ran.
"Hey Pansy," busted.
"Hey!" she mentally winced, her voice had come out a few decimals too high, she instantly knew Hermione had picked up on it but the two boys seemed to have missed her awkward greeting.
"Hey Pansy,"
"Parkinson,"
"Hey, erm I was hoping I could speak with you Harry."
"Sure," he said and simply turned to face her. Pansy froze, how could he have not realised she meant alone. She didn't want to ask him in front of Hermione and Ron. No way. She glanced to Hermione who was watching the whole thing and stared at her before looking back at Harry.
From her spot against the tree Hermione mentally slapped herself, sometimes she didn't know how her friends could be so thick.
"Harry, she meant privately." Boys were so dumb she thought but she winked towards Pansy.
Upon realising his error Harry's face quickly turned a shade of pink. "Yeah, sorry. Not sure what I was thinking there," he said attempting to laugh off his discomfort.
He stood and followed Pansy to a slightly more secluded spot, Ron turned to Hermione with a frown on his face. "What's going on?"
"What do you think is going on Ronald?" Hermione asked raising her eyebrows. Ron sat for a second mulling over all that had happened and then turned back to where Harry and Pansy were stood.
"Do you think she's going to ask him out?"
"Maybe, we won't know for certain until he comes back over."
Ron nodded his head, before shrugging his shoulders and lying back on the grass, "what a weird year it's been."
"Every year at Hogwarts is a weird year," chuckled Hermione and Ron just grinned.
Pansy could physically feel her stomach turning as she and Harry walked to where nobody was around.
"How've you been?" he asked first, anything to break the uncomfortable silence that was around them.
"Yeah I've been good, people aren't running from me anymore so I think my seven year reputation that I have worked so hard on has vanished."
"Sorry about that," he laughed and Pansy smiled.
"Don't think it's your fault really, my own for being such a cute toddler."
"Very true. So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Yeah," she twiddled the hair in front of her eyes around her finger. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend. If you don't want too it's fine I just thought…"
"Yeah, I'd like that."
"Really, wow that's pretty great. Erm where shall I meet you?"
"I'll meet you outside the Great Hall if you'd like? We can go about 10 o'clock if that's okay with you?" Pansy nodded and smiled.
"Great I look forward to it." She said and Harry grinned.
He wasn't sure what made him say the next sentence but it had left his mouth before he'd even registered what it could have meant. "Do you have a date for the Easter Ball?"
Pansy took a step back in surprise and her eyebrows shot to her hairline, she quickly recovered her composure and she shook her head.
For some reason he was relieved when she shook her head, something in his stomach seemed to lighten. "Would you like to go with me?"
"You asking me out Potter?" she joked with a smile and Harry laughed.
"Hey, if it makes you feel better you can tell people you asked me out first."
"What do you mean if it makes me feel better, I did ask you out first," she laughed and Harry grinned.
"Shh not so loud, just because your reputation is gone doesn't mean I want people knowing I was the one asked out and not the other way around." He teased and Pansy shook her head.
"You're mad but yeah I'll go with you."
"Great, well then Pansy it's a date."
"Who would have thought I'd be going to the Easter Ball with the Boy Who Just Wouldn't Die?" she winked and Harry laughed.
"Knew I had something I needed to stay alive for, just hope you don't kill me on the dance floor."
"Hey, no promises."
"I'll be seeing you on Saturday,"
"I look forward to it."
Harry walked back over to Hermione and Ron with a grin spread across his face, his two friends looked at one another and smirked.
"So you just got asked out by a girl?" said Ron kicking him in the leg as he sat down.
"How did you know that?"
"Well she looked awfully nervous when she came over here, asked to speak to you privately and now you are grinning wider than the Cheshire cat. I think it's pretty obvious," said Hermione and Harry scowled at her.
"Take it you said yes then?"
"She asked me to Hogsmeade this Weekend and I kind of asked her to go with me to the Easter Ball." He chuckled.
"A really weird year," said Ron and both Harry and Hermione agreed.
XXX
He could count on one hand how many times he'd seen Hermione Granger without her nose buried in a book. In the past he'd have turned his nose up at her and listened to Draco mock everything and anything he could about her, but now as he stared at her from the end of the corridor he saw her in a different light.
She was a natural beauty, she didn't hide her face behind layers of make-up and he quite liked her hair. It wasn't as wild as it was in her younger year, it had tamed slightly but he loved how it would just framed her face and the way she twirled a loose strand around her finger. It was a trait she did unconsciously and to him it was gorgeous.
"You sure about this?" Blaise asked looking at Draco, he was biting his lip but ultimately he nodded his head.
"Don't know why we are so are afraid to just go up and talk to her?" said Draco as he walked closer to Hermione.
Hermione heard two sets of footsteps walking towards her, she looked up and was surprised to see both Blaise and Draco heading her way. She bookmarked her page and smiled at them, cursing the butterflies that were fluttering in her stomach. Why was she nervous?
The three of them faced each other and said nothing, quickly an awkward silence surrounded them and Hermione felt the butterflies increase. She took a deep breath and finally spoke.
"So how have you two been?"
"Yeah not too bad,"
"Yeah good,"
"You?" they said in unison and they winced, they sounded so awkward it was clearly uncomfortable and was grateful nobody was listening.
"Yeah I haven't been too bad. Have you two heard Harry and Pansy are going to Hogsmeade together this weekend?"
Clearly they hadn't as both pairs of eyebrows shot high up their foreheads. "When did he ask her that?" said Draco shocked upon what he was hearing.
Hermione laughed and shook her head, "Why do you think it was Harry that asked Pansy?"
"Wait Pansy asked him?" Blaise said and Hermione smiled wider.
"And after she asked him, he asked her to the Easter Ball. It just sort of happened all suddenly."
"Never knew she had the balls," Draco laughed, "I'm happy for her though, she's been crushing on Potter a long time before the whole toddler fiasco."
"I didn't know that." Said Hermione, leaning forward enticed to what they were saying.
Blaise shook his head and sat beside her, he threw his arm around her shoulders and said, "Never took you for a gossip." He winked and Hermione swatted his chest but didn't tell him to remove his arm.
"I'm not a gossip but news of people I know and am fond of is always interesting, good or bad."
Draco shook his head and sat on the opposite side, "You're worse than us, that sleepover with Daphne obviously has tainted your good natured sweet heart."
Hermione laughed, "Obviously Slytherin has rubbed off on me over the last month."
"Obviously. We are here for a reason,"said Draco.
"You mean you are hear for something other than to pick on me,"
Both boys grinned and immediately Hermione saw her two sweet toddlers, it was moments like this when she realised that she missed them like crazy.
"We want a movie night? You are the only person who can watch them and we would both love to sit and just hang out and watch films. What do you say?"
"I say it's a brilliant idea, Saturday night in the room of requirements good… Draco why is your father in Hogwarts?" she asked upon spotting him down the corridor.
"I don't want to know." Said Draco, he groaned upon realising his father was walking this way. This wasn't going to be good. He was aware that Professor Snape had informed his parents of his disease and the look his father had in his eyes told him he was about to learn how unhappy he was about it.
"Father!" he greeted awkwardly.
"Draco… Blaise and Miss Granger."
"Mr Malfoy," they replied.
"A word son?" it was said as a question but the tone of Lucius' voice told him it wasn't something he could say no to.
Draco walked away with Lucius and Hermione turned to Blaise. "You think that'll be about the disease,"
Blaise grinned and nodded. "I wish I could turn into a beetle like Rita Skeeter right now."
"I know how you feel," laughed Hermione. "Can I ask you something?"
Blaise nodded, "I know one shouldn't listen to rumours but I'm curious is it true what I heard that you like both sexes?" Blaise seemed surprised by the question and took a few minutes to think how to word his reply. Hermione waited patiently for a reply.
"Yeah, yeah it's true. I think I've known for ages now but it's only been recently that I've accepted my sexuality."
"Thank you for being honest with me, she glanced to Draco and then back at Blaise. "You like him don't you?"
Blaise chuckled awkwardly but nodded, "yeah but he hasn't come to terms with his own sexuality yet."
"You two would make a really cute couple, and don't worry your secret will be safe with me."
"Thanks Hermione," he said and she smiled softly at him. They both turned to where the two Malfoys were stood to see a very red faced Draco.
"Father, what do I owe your visit?"
"Cut the pleasantries Draco, I'm sure you know what this is about!" Draco sighed and glanced down. "How could you be so foolish boy?"
"In my defence I didn't know you could get a disease."
"Never mind a disease what if you had impregnated someone?"
"I used the contraceptive spell, I was careful!"
"But not careful enough, you know the rules of the school boy. No sex! It's bad enough I find out you have a disgusting disease that you've caught off some filthy trollop but to hear you've also passed it along, it's a disgrace to the family name. A complete embarrassment!"
"I know father, and I'm sorry. I've informed the girls who I have possibly given it too. I just wish I knew who it was i contracted if from."
"Well I wish you had learnt of this beforehand. Your mother is unaware of your scandal and I think its best if it remains that way don't you agree?" He nodded, clearly relieved his Professor had only revealed the news to his father. "Now I want you on your best behaviour. School will be finished in a few months can you stay out of trouble till then?"
"Yes father,"
"Good! I shall see you when you return home at Easter Draco."
"Okay, goodbye father."
"Goodbye Draco."
As Lucius walked away Draco glanced towards Hermione and Blaise, one was trying to conceal her grin but the other he was beaming proudly. Draco walked over towards them and scowled. "Well can my life get any worse?"
"Give it time Draco, you've a few more months at Hogwarts to still go yet, you never know what could happen." Laughed Hermione and Draco groaned. He hated his life.
So I actually replanned this chapter original idea was a lil rubbish but I'm much happier with how this has turned out. I really like the Harry/Pansy bit at the beginning and well the cat is out of the bag for Blaise anyway at the end. I'd love to hear what you all thought! Not too many chapters left before it's complete!
Until next time Lottie.
