Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.

Chapter Six

"Going somewhere, Pansy?"

Pansy stepped back from the door, her hand slipping off the knob.

"Yes," she said meekly to Draco, who was standing in the middle of the Common Room, his arms crossed and his eyes stern.

"Where?" he asked briskly.

Pansy frowned. "I don't see why I have to tell you."

"I'm a prefect, Pansy. I can get you into a shit load of trouble for this."

"And I'm in the Inquisitorial Squad. So fuck off."

"Fuck off?" Draco asked, taking a step forward. "Who do you think you are, telling me to fuck off?"

"I have somewhere to be," Pansy growled, and without another word she yanked open the door and stormed out of the Common Room. Fucking prat, she thought, trying not to stomp too loudly on the old flooring, but it was difficult when Draco always had a habit of making her so irritated, especially when she was on her way to meet Fred.

"Lumos," she muttered, and a small light appeared at the tip of her wand. Quietly, she tiptoed up a flight of stairs and down a hallway. She didn't even want to meet Fred in the room; it reminded her too much of Draco, and she was trying terribly to forget him right now. She came to the blank wall and stood. Fred was no where to be seen. Pansy stomped her foot irritably and shoved her wand back in her pocket.

"I wasn't sure you'd come," a voice said from behind Pansy. Startled, she jumped and spun around, drawing her wand again, the tip relighting. Fred grinned into the light.

"Well I told you I would, didn't I?" she asked.

"I suppose you did," he said, taking a step forward. "So, did you have a good day?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Pansy said, her face burning in humiliation as she thought about their encounter in the hospital.

"Your call," Fred said. He tilted his head and winked. "I just didn't know I had that effect on you."

"Who says!—"

"So," Fred interrupted her, looking up at the blank wall.

She sighed. "So what?"

"Have you ever used this room before?" he asked. Pansy tried to hide her blush—yes, she had used to loads of times, and she hoped he couldn't see her guilty expression.

"Obviously, or else I wouldn't know to meet you here."

"What did you use it for?"

"That's none of your business, really."

"Ah," Fred said, winking. "Perfectly understood."

"I didn't mean—"

"It's called the Room of Requirement. Whatever you want, or whatever you need, it gives to you."

Pansy gazed up at the wall. She had no idea what she needed right now.

"I don't know," she said.

"Hm. Well maybe I can think of something."

Fred closed his eyes and Pansy watched his lips move, as if he wanted to say it aloud. Suddenly, a door appeared in front of them and Fred smiled at Pansy.

"I hope this is all right," he said, opening the door.

"Is what all right?" Pansy asked, a little skittish about what Fred had asked.

"Ah. Looks fine to me," he said, smiling. "Come on in."

Fred took Pansy's hand and her heart skipped a beat, but she pretended not to notice the strange tingling sensation she felt moving up and down her arm. The room was very large now, with shiny flooring and a glass ceiling, the night sky and the stars shining down on them. Pansy gasped up at the beauty of it and closed the door behind her.

"What is it?" Pansy asked. Fred grinned and flicked his wand at a little music player at the end of the room, and a song began to drift across to them, filling the silence with a beautiful melody.

"Do you dance, Pansy Parkinson?"

Pansy's jaw dropped and she looked up at Fred.

"Are you kidding?"

Fred put his arms around her gently.

"No. I happen to be a very good dancer," he said, twirling her around once. She let go and backed away slightly.

"But we're wearing our robes," she said, frowning. Fred laughed.

"You want to dress for the occasion, do you?" he asked, and pointed behind Pansy.

Pansy bit her lip and looked around to see that a long, sparkling blue gown had appeared, along with a suit for Fred. Fred flicked his wand and the clothes appeared on both of them. He took Pansy's hand and lead her out onto the floor.

"Now, you didn't answer my question," he said, putting a hand on her waist. "Do you like to dance?"

"Yes," she shrugged. "I wish I had gotten to do it more at the Yule Ball, but Draco wanted to leave early." She rolled her eyes. "Sorry, don't mean to bring him up."

"Is he still your boyfriend?" Fred asked.

"I suppose so."

Fred twirled her around and pulled her to him, his hand stroking the back of her hair.

"And do you like him?" he asked. Pansy lowered her eyes and leaned her forehead against his shoulder. She didn't intend on answering that question right now, and he seemed to understand, because he slowed his dancing and the music softened.

"The truth," Fred said. "Why I wanted to see you."

Pansy said nothing.

"You intrigue me, Pansy Parkinson."

"Why?"

Fred paused a moment. "I like the way you speak. I like the way you move. And I like that you're not sure about things."

"Those aren't very good reasons."

"No. But they're reasons, aren't they?"

Pansy fell out of Fred's grip and the two stopped dancing. Fred was looking down at her with his hands in his pockets, his long hair messy and feral, his grin crooked.

"I should go," Pansy said, turning to leave.

"What about the dress?" Fred asked.

"Oh, uh…" she looked up at him. "Could you give me my other clothes back?"

Fred cocked an eyebrow. "I…don't know how…"

"Yes you do!"

"Sorry. Nope."

Pansy narrowed her eyes at him but his grin only grew wider.

"I'll just walk back in this."

"Not a very smart idea. Someone might see you and wonder what you're doing in those clothes."

"So? I'll come up with something."

Fred shrugged. "Maybe. But you're not particularly sneaky."

"Fine," Pansy said, and reached back to unzip the dress. She let it fall to her ankles and stepped out of it, throwing it aside. Fred's expression didn't change.

"Well now you have no clothes on," Fred said.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Because I can."

Pansy crossed her arms. "You're a git."

"Now, now, Parkinson," he said, stepping toward her. "That won't get you what you want."

"What will?"

"Oh, I could think of a few things."

Pansy rolled her eyes.

"I know I shouldn't have come. Everyone here is the same."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't get it, do you Fred? I know about this room because Draco takes me here. And Draco only takes me here because he wants to fuck me. I guess you could say that he and I are dating, but I'm nothing but a shag toy to him. You think you're so fucking brilliant bringing me here. Do you think one dance will make me want to shag you?" Pansy had tears in her eyes now, her lips quivering, but Fred's grin had been completely wiped away by a look of shock and worry.

"That's not why I brought you here at all, Pansy," he said, his eyes dark and serious. "I'm sorry you feel that way."

Fred flicked his wand at her and her clothes reappeared, but for some reason this just made her cry more. Pansy wiped her eyes and scrambled out of the room, her hands shaking when she went for the door handle. Fred hurried after her.

"No," she said when he put a hand on her shoulder. "I don't want to have anything to do with you." She said, and ran off, her boots echoing down the hall.

---

"Pansy," Draco whispered. She shot him a look before shoving her nose back into her History book, then moved out of that particular library aisle.

"Pansy," Draco said a little more loudly, his eyebrows lowered.

"What?" she asked, glaring up at him. "What do you want?"

Draco looked around the room. "I need to talk to you," he said.

Pansy slammed shut her book and shoved it into her bag.

"I don't see why you would ever want to do that."

"Don't be stupid, Pansy."

"See," she said, swinging her backpack on and standing up. "'Don't be stupid Pansy.' I'm not being stupid. I don't want to talk to you. So what? Get used to it, Draco."

It had been three days since Pansy had broken it off with Draco. When she had gotten back to the Slytherin Common Room in tears, he'd harassed her to her breaking point, demanding to know where she'd been and even grabbing her shoulders to try to shake it out of her. Finally, Pansy had gotten away from his grip and told him that she didn't want to be with him anymore. He had ignored her for the past two days, but now he was following her around, demanding to talk to her as if he had permission.

As if matters weren't worse enough, Pansy also had to avoid Fred, who had sent her four letters asking to speak to her. She had ignored all of them.

"Pansy, why are you doing this?" Draco asked. Pansy growled exasperatedly. If he didn't realize what a prat he was, she wasn't going to spoon feed him. "Pansy!" Draco yelled. Everyone in the library looked up at the pair and Madam Pince hurried over.

"What is the matter with you two?" she asked angrily. "Don't you see that this is a place of study?"

"I was studying," Pansy snapped. "Until he came along."

"Well both of you need to leave," Madam Pince said, but Draco was already out the door. Pansy felt a sting of guilt tug at her stomach. She had, after all, been seeing Fred behind his back. He had a right to be curious, even a little upset. But she had made up her mind—she had had enough of Draco regardless. He never treated as well as he should, and he always got overly upset about things. Good riddance, she thought, and trudged out of the library. She hung her head as she walked past Draco and into a hallway, deciding to take a detour to the Common Room so she could go upstairs to her dorm and study in peace.

"Whoa, sorry," Pansy said as her body bumped straight into someone.

"Pansy?"

Pansy looked up at the tall boy she had run into. Bloody brilliant, she thought.

"Isn't this how we first met?" Fred asked, grinning. Pansy groaned and shoved past him.

"I've been trying to contact you," he said, following her in step.

"Yes, I know."

"Listen Pansy, I know you're freaked out about what I said to you. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I was just teasing you. I didn't think…well…I thought…"

"You thought I was that kind of girl."

Fred shrugged. "Like I said, I didn't plan on fucking you. But I am a man, Pansy."

"No," Pansy said. "You're a boy."

Fred flipped his hair out of his eyes. "And you're a girl. So hex me for being a little curious."

"Well I'm sorry, but you've got the wrong idea entirely."

"Do I?" Fred asked, stopping in front of her at a corner. "I was under the impression that you enjoyed my company."

"I did," Pansy admitted, and tried to move past him but he didn't budge. She shoved him but he was too strong and merely smiled down at her.

"Pansy, you have to understand what you're doing to me."

She drew her wand. "Move."

"Pansy. I've been on two dates with you. I've spent the past few weeks talking to you regularly. I've seen you cry."

"Move!"

Fred ran a hand through her hair. "I've done all of that, and I'm still interested in you. Pansy, that has never happened to me before."

"What hasn't?"

Fred sighed. "I'm entirely fickle when it comes to women."

"Charming."

"What I mean to say is…you're the exception."

This time when Pansy tried to get away from Fred he stepped aside. She gazed back at him curiously.

"You can't run forever, Parkinson," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets and tilting his head to one side, his crooked smile beaming. Pansy sneered and walked away, but as she did so, only one thought was playing in her mind: I don't want to run from you.

---

Fred knew all of Pansy's classes, and seeing how he never really attended any of his own, he had more than enough time to stalk her.

"I like to call it "looking after"," Fred told George one sunny day when they were laying outside in the grass. Fred had confessed his infatuation for Pansy to George a couple of days ago; his brother wasn't very surprised. In fact, he seemed a little bored by the fact.

"You'll never get her," George said. "She's with Malfoy."

"Not anymore."

"What? You're kidding?"

"Nope. Katie saw them fighting in the library and when she asked Millicent about it, she told her that they had broken up."

George snorted. "Millicent talked to Katie?"

Fred smiled. "Millicent will talk to anyone if it involves gossip, I suppose."

"Hey Fred, George!" Ron called, walking over to them. Fred noticed that a lot of students were letting out of classes and he stood up, wondering which was the best route to take to catch Pansy. "Have you guys seen Harry lately?"

George shrugged. "I guess not. Why?"

"Well I didn't see him last night and he was supposed to do a paper with me."

"Maybe you should do your own bloody papers," George said.

"Yeah, George and I didn't have bloody Hermione or Harry to help us with our homework when we were fifth years."

"Yeah, and that's why you didn't get more than two Owls apiece," Ron snapped.

"Wasn't Harry in class today?" George asked.

"No."

"Come to think of it, he has been acting kind of shady lately," George said. Fred's mind was still spinning with routes to Pansy's classrooms when he saw a shiny head of dark hair and combat boots turn a corner—he wouldn't have to think of any. He excused himself from his two brothers and headed toward Pansy.

"No, Hermione can't help me…she hasn't been helping me for weeks…hasn't been around…" he heard Ron say to George as he walked away.

"Hey Parkinson," Fred yelled. Pansy stopped and turned around, rolling her eyes. "Hey," he said again when he had caught up to her. They walked in pace for a while until Pansy settled under an apple tree and closed her eyes, resting her head against the bark.

"I haven't been getting much sleep."

"Why not?"

Pansy brushed a piece of grass off her skirt. "I don't know."

"I think I might have a pill for insomnia."

"No thank you."

"I wish I had a pill to make you stop hating me though, Parkinson," Fred said, leaning casually against the tree. "You play so hard to get."

"It would be much easier to give in."

Fred raised his eyebrows. "Would you like to?"

Pansy could feel her face growing hot. Little conversations like this were nothing but coy exchanges, but she couldn't help feeling how intriguing it would be to actually give in to whatever Fred wanted. It would certainly take some of the pressure off her, and the confusion about Draco. Fuck Draco, she thought. Why does it always have to come back to him?

"What exactly do you have in mind?" Pansy asked.

Fred shrugged. "I'm not a planner. I'm a doer."

"People will talk."

"You're right. I do have a reputation to uphold." Fred smirked down at her.

"I don't want anything serious," Pansy said.

"Do I look like a serious guy?"

"Of course you don't."

Fred sat down beside Pansy and stroked her hair. "I just want to be around you for five seconds without you running off."

"Fine. Would you like me to cut the nasty act, as well?"

Fred grinned. "Please don't. That's what I like about you."

Pansy looked up at Fred. "You know that Draco and I broke up, right?" She didn't mean to say it, as she didn't want to give him any ideas, but she blurted it out anyway.

Fred shrugged.

"It makes no difference to me," he said. He stood up and held out his hand; Pansy took it and he tugged her up to stand beside him. "Like you said Parkinson, nothing serious."

"Right."

"We'll just be friends."

"Okay."

"And I'll just…pretend that I don't know you whenever we're in public."

Pansy crossed her arms. "Fine."

Fred winked. "For your sake, Pansy. Not mine. Can you imagine the blasphemy of it? A Slytherin and a Gryffindor?" Fred checked his watch. "Well I have to be going, I have a class, I think." He saw Pansy frown a little, but she gained her composure and smiled.

"Whoa! Now that's something you don't see every day," Fred exclaimed.

"Don't expect to see much of it," Pansy said, strutting past him. "I'm a very difficult girl."

Fred grinned. "I think I can handle it."