AN: Hi! Finally here's another chapter :) Only 6 to go! Thanks to my beta again!


Chapter 10: New Challenges.


Pansy closed the door behind her before turning to the boy. The Gryffindor looked in all directions with wide eyes.

"I told you it was real," she commented taking a few steps back. Harry turned to fix his eyes on the Slytherin.

"I had heard of the Room of Requirement but had never gotten it to appear to me," he said. Pansy took a moment to appreciate how it had transformed into a great dance floor. A magical music player could be seen on a small table in the background.

"I've read that it only appears to those who really need him," she added, coming to his side. She had no intention of continuing to waste time talking about the room. "Take my hand."

Potter hesitated for a few seconds before lacing trembling fingers through hers. Pansy almost had a heart attack with that. She had felt her heart skip a beat in her chest, but she told herself that she had to control her emotions if she didn't want to ruin everything. If she threw herself into his arms right off the bat she would surely scare him, and that wasn't what she wanted tonight.

With a simple movement she let go of his hand.

"Not like this," she said. "Raise your hand and put your palm up." The boy obeyed and she put hers in place. "Hold my hand at this height and walk looking straight ahead. This way you'll have to bring Granger when we walk in the door on graduation day."

Pansy waved her wand and started the music playing. She could see his nod to himself out of the corner of her eye, then they both took a few steps forward.

"No, you can't walk as if you were going out with friends," she pointed out. "Your feet have to move so delicately that they give the impression of floating. Come on Potter, focus."

That delicate music enveloped them as they practiced a bit more, although the evident tension between them was complicating things a bit.

"Like this?"

"Your movements can be improved… but I suppose we can move on to the next step. Turn to me gracefully and put your other hand on my waist."

Pansy could see a hint of embarrassment in his eyes, a flicker of bewilderment in his expression. She looked at him defiantly. He should know that she wasn't going to tolerate him changing his mind. He could regret it as much as he wanted, but she wasn't going to let him down on her now that her effort was starting to be rewarded. He tried to hide a sigh before doing what she had said. The touch of that hand on her waist made her tremble slightly. Had he sensed it? It fit her figure perfectly, she could feel her skin burn through her shirt. Potter looked down at her as she swallowed thickly.

"What is the next step?"

Pansy put her free hand on his shoulder and lifted her chin in a gesture of self-reliance. She had to keep her composure, she was supposed to be the one doing him a favour, she couldn't seem otherwise.

"Watch my feet and imitate what I do."

Potter shifted his eyes there, seemed focused on them as she moved them slowly to give him a chance to follow her. Pansy couldn't take her eyes off him as she did so.

"Okay, I think I get it," the boy said, then he noticed her gaze. Pansy saw him move his head a little and his lips tighten slightly. She saw how he was getting more and more nervous, sensed his anguish and his mental struggle to be touching her like this. Well, at least she wouldn't be the only one on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She gestured to brush the hair from her face. Luckily she knew how to hide emotions.

"You have to be the one to carry the woman," she told him firmly. "Press my waist to indicate where you are going to move and follow the steps I just taught you."

"Will you know how to follow my movements without having to speak?"

"We girls who've been dancing since we were ten know how to get carried away... although you may need to rehearse with Granger before graduation." Pansy felt her heartbeat intensify as she watched him staring at her now. "Come on, what are you waiting for?"

Potter shook his head and squeezed her waist gently. Suddenly they were both moving around the room to the accompaniment of soft music. Pansy had to summon all her self-control not to laugh at his clumsiness when dancing, her body begging her to make fun of him even though it was clear that he had not been to a dance in his life. A few more minutes continued until a wince of pain appeared on the girl's face. In one of the steps, Potter had dropped the full weight of his body onto one of her feet and this had caused her to lose her balance and was about to fall flat on the ground. The boy's quick hands kept her from falling, though their bodies had now become close together. They could almost feel the frantic, arrhythmic beating of each other's heart. The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds before the silence got really awkward. Pansy regained her composure and he released her immediately.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to step on you," he apologized.

"You'll have to be more careful if you don't want to hurt Granger in front of everyone," she managed to say.

"Yeah, I definitely need to practice a little more."

"I'd say you need a miracle," Pansy commented with conviction. "You are lucky that I like challenges."

Potter put his hand on her waist again and waited for her to reach out to take it.

"I'm lucky," he replied, trying to put a smile on his face.

Pansy was intoxicated by his scent and the sensation of touching his body for the entire time it lasted. She did it slyly, but she did it. She needed to keep those feelings in her mind so she could fantasize a little later. She had dreamed of having him so close so many times that now that it had come true she could hardly believe it.

They both considered that it had been enough for that night when the music stopped playing. Pansy adjusted her shirt and asked:

"Tomorrow at the same hour?"

The boy nodded and she walked out the door. They hadn't been around long, but it had been long enough for everyone to be in their respective beds when she arrived. Well, all but one person. He was often the last in their common room to go to bed, and she hoped tonight was no different. She didn't want what she had discussed with Granger a few hours earlier to go wrong. She needed to keep him sound asleep until a few hours after breakfast, and if he had decided to go to bed early that day there would be no way she could cast the spell on him.

She pretended to be surprised when she walked through the door and found him reading a book on the couch. He looked at her with an arched brow when he noticed her.

"I don't know if I want my future wife to be seeing someone else so... frequently. And so cheeky. I almost feel insulted," he said dramatically but without losing the harshness in his voice.

"With a little luck I decide to elope with him and save us the trouble of that ridiculous arranged wedding."

"I won't be the one to stop you, but you don't want to see Narcissa looking for you from heaven and earth. It will be the only thing she does until she makes sure that wedding takes place." The blonde closed the book on his lap and narrowed his eyes a little. "Are you going to tell me at once who that mystery boy is? I thought you liked the Slytherins most."

"Do you think me stupid enough to limit myself?" She raised the corner of her mouth slightly, deliberately avoiding his question. "You would be surprised if you decided to try what diversity has to offer."

"You know I have… selective tastes."

"Sure, sure… aren't you sleepy?"

"No," Draco replied dryly.

"I'm going to bed. I'm exhausted," she commented mischievously. Draco rolled his eyes as he reopened the book and flipped a couple of pages. Pansy walked past him and pulled her wand when she was behind him, pointed at the back of his neck and, putting a hand to her mouth, whispered the words Granger had taught her: "Somniferous."

She turned and tiptoed into her room, but before she closed the door completely she could see him get up and stagger slightly.

"On second thought..." he said, stumbling into the boys' bedroom.


"Oh hi Ronald," Hermione said as she reached the great hall that morning. It was the first time she'd seen him since that second cold-blooded poisoning. "Are you feeling better?"

The boy was a little paler and scruffy than usual.

"Yes. At least I guess so. Madam Pomfrey says the stomach bug has hit me hard. Twice in less than a week, can you believe it? She's had me on disgusting healing drinks ever since she admitted me, I've had to lose at least ten pounds!" The girl tried to smile, but the smile felt a little too forced.

"It's good that she discharged you, she didn't look convinced at all when I visited you last night," Harry commented before popping a portion of his scrambled eggs with bacon.

"She didn't want to release me, but you know I can be very persistent sometimes. She has made me swear that I would not eat anything with chocolate or too much fat, and that I would return as soon as I started to feel bad. If I'd stay there for another hour I'd go crazy.

"Did you read the scroll I brought you?"

"Oh, sure. Too bad about the Muggle bombing, right? Madam Pomfrey has steadfastly refused to sign me up for any activity that requires physical exertion. She has suggested that I should consider activities such as photography, painting, or cooking."

"You're not good at cooking with magic, can you imagine the mess you'd do without it?" Harry scoffed.

"Don't you say you don't love the breakfasts I make for you at the Burrow." The redhead seemed genuinely surprised at his words.

"I speak with knowledge, Ron. Discard the cooking one."


Once breakfast was over and the students went out into the hall, they found a lot of stalls where some people were answering any questions and offering information pamphlets. Pansy knew immediately that they were all Muggles. She hadn't spoken to any of them yet, but she sensed it strongly. Maybe it was their clothing.

She and Theo went to the booth under the sign that said "Football" and waited behind a Gryffindor student who was signing up at the time.

"Where is Draco?" Asked his friend, looking both ways around the room. The hall was packed that morning.

"Why should I know? I'm not his babysitter," she snapped, feigning indifference. The boy in front put his pen down on the counter and spun around, bumping into Pansy fortuitously. She had already opened her mouth to curse him, but closed it quickly when she realized who it was. Potter seemed to freeze for a second, then lowered his head and strode away from them both. Pansy ignored Theo's puzzled look, stepped forward and picked up the pen.

"Hi," the woman behind the table said energetically with a smile from ear to ear.

Pansy couldn't help but raise her lips, but in an unpleasant scowl. She disliked people who started Mondays with joy and enthusiasm. Merlin, Mondays were made to hate everyone, especially if it wasn't even nine in the morning. Without responding to her greeting, Pansy wrote her name under the Gryffindor and stepped aside so Theo could put his next. She saw him stay thoughtful with the pen in his hand.

"Should I target Draco?" He asked. Pansy tensed instantly, feeling her heart skip a beat. And now what? She had no excuse to stop him from doing it, and if he wrote his name there, everything she and Granger had thought would go to hell. She watched in terror as he brought the quill to the parchment again before a voice stopped his short.

"I'm sorry, your friend must come to sign up personally." The woman shrugged. "Director's orders."

Pansy breathed again when she heard that. That damn deal would end up killing her out of disgust. She ran a hand through her hair as she read the plaque on the woman's shirt. She was starting to really like that Jennifer muggle.

"He'll end up running out of a place," the boy commented as they walked away.

"It's not something I care about."

"What are you going to do now?"

"Waiting for them to tell us when and where to start practicing that stupid Muggle sport…" She spied Granger among the crowd as she spoke. "Sitting on a bench, for example. See you later."

The girl pushed through the crowd and sat at the other end of the bench where Granger was reading a book.

"The plan is going perfectly," she said covertly.

Hermione didn't look up from those pages.

"Don't claim victory yet."

She was right. Most of their plans had ended up having some inconvenience that had delayed them in their mission. They both stayed there until the place gradually became vacant. Granger had told her that this spell made people sleep for quite a few hours, but Pansy couldn't imagine that there would be that many.

Suddenly someone appeared trotting across the hall, drawing the attention of everyone he passed. He was loosening his tie while panting like he had never seen before. The girls watched him as he ran to the booth where Pansy and Theo had signed up an hour earlier. They couldn't see his face, but they were sure he mustn't be overjoyed to hear that there was no longer a place for him. Draco scrambled through all the booths, but apparently all the lists had already been filled… all but one.

They both saw him put his hands to his head when he discovered which was the activity that he should sign up for, yes or yes. He looked really angry, almost hysterical. They could see his face lose colour as he read one of the few names on the list: Hermione Granger. His world was falling apart at the moment, but the girls gave each other a knowing look before smiling at each other. At last their plans were starting to go well.

Pansy's smile disappeared from her face as soon as she spotted Theo leaning against a nearby wall. For some reason he had decided to stare at her seriously with narrowed eyes. Far from being intimidated, Pansy immediately got up and walked away smugly. The boy took her place on the bench as soon as she and Malfoy were out of sight. At that moment nothing was heard but the echo of distant footsteps through the corridors.

"Hi," he greeted Hermione. She was so focused on her reading that she didn't notice him until that very moment. "What do you read?"

"Oh, hi." Her heart had begun to beat arrhythmically. She hadn't expected to strike up a conversation with him that day. "Nothing, I was reviewing Potions theory a bit."

"Such idiocy about Muggle activities, huh?"

"It's for a good cause," she interjected.

"Of course, I forgot you have Muggle roots… and tell me, which one have you signed up for?"

Hermione could feel his piercing gaze pierce her. Something told her that his curiosity was not accidental... and not harmless either.

"The camping one," she finally answered, looking up at him. It didn't take long for her to regret her decision.

His expression was hard and cold in equal measure. The half smile that had begun to outline was almost macabre.

"Yeah, of course" he said before getting up and walking away.


From his snorts and the way he slid into the seat, Hermione knew exactly what Malfoy was thinking at the time: that this couldn't be happening to him.

They were in the principal's office along with a pair of twins in their sophomore years from the Hufflepuff House. She was the only one standing upright in her chair. Paul, the man who had attended to them at the stall, took little walks around the office with admiration on his face. When Dumbledore finally appeared he put his hands behind his back and stayed rooted to the ground.

"Don't you just stand there, Paul," the old man said, waving his wand and making another chair appear. "Please take a seat." The principal looked at the students one by one before adding: "I see you are impatient, Mr. Montgomery," the boys nodded and laughed uproariously as they didn't stop shifting in their seats. Miss Granger, what a surprise. I thought that you would be more interested in other types of activities, such as painting or photography."

The aforementioned smiled a small smile on her face.

"I used to camp with my parents when I was little. It brings back many memories, I didn't think about the possibility of signing up for another activity that was not this."

"Oh, I see. So there is an expert in the group… yet another, I mean," the man said in his characteristic pleasant tone of voice as he looked at Paul over his half-moon glasses. The blond was the last to address. "What prompted you to join this activity, Mr. Malfoy? I can't help being curious."

He scowled a little more in his seat. His fierce frown made it clear that he wasn't there of his own accord.

"I fell asleep and had no other choice," he complained. He said it as if he couldn't quite believe it, as if he thought that the blame of him falling asleep had been some kind of plot against him. If so, he wasn't misled with his thoughts.

"Well, you sure can see the bright side and enjoy the experience." The man laced his fingers on the table gracefully. "I have met with you because, for one reason or another, you have decided to join this activity. Fascinating activity, if you will allow me the note. To ensure a better understanding of it, you will not return to the castle until Friday, but don't worry, you will always be accompanied by your monitor, Paul. He is a muggle married to a witch that I taught myself. If I'm not mistaken, they both have a girl who will be in her first year at Hogwarts next year, right?

"She is really looking forward to receiving your letter, sir."

"She will receive it, that's for sure." The old man gave him a smile. "Thank you for agreeing to participate in this extraordinary week, Paul."

"The pleasure is mine, Director. As soon as I knew the reason for doing this, I felt it was the right thing to do."

"Great, great." The headmaster turned to the students. "Paul is an expert in camping and will teach you everything you need to know so that your experience is something positive. Oh, and no wands. That will ensure you enjoy nature to the fullest. I hope you understand that my main purpose is for you to learn to empathize with non-magical people. There are thousands of people out there who don't need magic to have a great time."

The four of them handed over their wand, Malfoy reluctantly.

"Come on guys," Paul asked. "I have prepared the backpacks personally. Each of you has a tent, a sleeping bag, mosquito repellent, personal hygiene products, a flashlight... I will bring the kitchen accessories and other things that we may need. Go ahead and grab one."

When everyone had a bulky backpack on their back, Dumbledore added:

"Now you will go to your corresponding bedrooms and put the clothes that you think you will need. You can carry books and other types of non-magical objects that you want, but you will have to manage with the free space that you have left in your backpack. Then you will come back here and use a portkey to reach your destination. Any questions?"

Malfoy looked at Granger for a second before raised a hand.

"Is there any chance I can skip this activity? We haven't left Hogwarts yet and I already hate it."

The old wizard smiled at him.

"I'm afraid there isn't any."

"Great." Draco murmured.

"Any other question?"

Nobody asked anything else, so the four students left one by one and went to their respective common rooms.

"Hermione!" Said her friend's voice as she entered through the portrait of the fat lady. "What is that big backpack there?"

"I'm going camping," she commented as she watched her friends approach.

"Wow, you didn't tell us you'd sign up for that activity."

"Neither of you had asked me," Hermione shrugged. There were times when they forgot their existence, that was nothing new. "I just come to get some clothes before I go."

"So I don't see you until Friday?" Harry asked worriedly.

"I think so. But don't you worry, you'll manage my absence."

"Sure. But don't you think we should start practicing the dance thing?"

She let out a small smile.

"Try to learn by yourself while I'm away, Harry. You'll show me everything when I get back. We have the entire weekend to rehearse before graduation."


Everyone had changed their school uniform for something more appropriate to where they were going. They listened to Dumbledore as he briefed them on a few things before leaving.

"The area has been protected with enchantments to prevent any Muggles that might be around from approaching you," the Headmaster explained when everyone was ready. "Portkeys will be scattered around the place in case of extreme urgency, Paul carries a map where they are all shown in detail. However, they are programmed so that nobody can use them without the presence of the monitor, understood?"

Malfoy was the only one who did not agree, but the headmaster assumed it was due to the anger that he had to not be able to slip away from living in the country for a few days.

"Well, if you are all ready, touch that trunk in the corner and you will appear in the right place."

The Hufflepuff children were not standing still when they got around that object. It was more than evident that they had a crazy desire to start this new adventure.

"Ready?" Paul asked, looking at them all one by one. "Now!"

A superhuman force seized their bodies and swallowed them, making them disappear a thousandth of a second after having brushed his fingertips with the trunk. When they passed through that black hole that had engulfed them, they appeared again in a beautiful and calm glade. There were lush trees surrounding the area and a small river could be seen in the distance. The sun was beating down hard at that time of the morning.

"Wow, we must be far to the south," Paul commented, rising from the ground and brushing off the bits of twigs and dry leaves that had stuck to his clothes. Then he put his arms on his hips and took a deep breath through his nose. "Ah, I love nature. And this place is beautiful."

Hermione could see Malfoy grunting in disgust. He had gotten far enough away from the group that the curses he was releasing from his mouth would go unnoticed by the singing of the birds. The monitor gave the children a smile.

"You know what? My wife was also Hufflepuff. It took me years to learn to say that word," he commented, amused. "If I'm not mistaken, you are Gabriel and Ben Montgomery, right?"

"Yes," answered one.

"I'm Ben," said the other.

"I'm sure I will call you by the name of the other one very often… it's nothing personal, you should know that you are incredibly identical." The man turned to her. "And you are Hermione..."

"Granger. Hermione Granger, sir."

"Oh, call me Paul, honey. And he is Draco Malfoy."

It wasn't a question. His expression hardened a bit as he said his name. Surely he already knew about the Malfoy's fame through his wife, it was very likely that he would have hoped not to have to deal with any Slytherins during those days.

"He just needs time," she dared to say to try to cheer him up.

"Sure, it's understandable." The monitor didn't look convinced at all. "Draco! Can you come back? I'm going to start giving you directions."

The aforementioned snorted so loudly that it made a bird flap in the top of a nearby tree.


The green equipment they had been given was ridiculous. Or at least that's how Pansy felt with it on. She couldn't believe she was wearing a T-shirt two sizes larger than hers and baggy knee-length breeches. Besides, those hideous socks made her legs fatter… and how was she supposed to run with those cleats on the soles of her shoes? She could barely walk like a normal person as she and Theo made their way to the soccer field someone had made appear in the gardens.

She took the opportunity to notice that there were two other fields beyond, none the same as the previous one. The students were dressed in different ways, some carrying a kind of racket and others bouncing orange balls on the firm and uniform court. Where she would learn this new Muggle activity was on grassy ground and there were two huge goals attached to each side, both with a net at the far end.

When she finally got there, the woman named Jennifer blew the whistle around her neck and caught the attention of everyone present. Pansy noticed that she was dressed the same as the students, but in a fairly neutral color.

"Welcome to soccer class guys! My name is Jennifer and I will be your monitor this week… I have been told to say that, but I prefer that you call me coach. I am the head of the most important women's football team in all of London. I also taught my pureblood husband this sport, so I am more than capable of teaching you." The woman seemed proud of herself and her accomplishments, which gave it a rather interesting nuance. "But I would like you all to pay attention to my explanations, since we don't have much time. Today will be your first contact with this sport, tomorrow we will take action by forming teams and organizing matches. Is there anyone here who has already played this game?"

Both Potter and a couple of other students raised their hands.

"I imagine that if you know football, at least one of your parents must have a non-magical family… Let's see, you," she said, pointing to the Gryffindor. "Can you give your colleagues a brief summary of what is expected of them?"

Potter tensed a bit as he became the center of attention. His gaze and Pansy's suddenly met and they both looked at each other for a moment. Then the boy forced himself out of his reverie.

"You have to kick the ball and get it into the opposing team's goal."

"Very good boy. Great. Of course, not everything is as easy as that. There are rules and regulations to follow and a goalkeeper who will try to make it difficult for you. Next I am going to teach you are a series of movements and touches with the ball. Take one each and accompany me to the center of the field."

Pansy reached down to take hers, but when she straightened up she was met with the uncomfortable scrutiny Theo was subjecting her to. Apparently he hadn't overlooked that little moment she'd shared with Potter, and she was sure he wasn't going to stop until he found out what she was up to.


It was late in the afternoon when they reached the glade again. Malfoy hadn't stopped complaining during the reconnaissance tour of the area, he had even yelled at the children a couple of times. He couldn't stand their laughter or good humour, not when he was so grumpy. Nor had he looked at Hermione the whole time they had been there, not even when Paul announced that it was time to pitch the tents. The little Hufflepuffs (who weren't intimidated by the Slytherin's bad temper at all) seemed to pay attention for the first time when the man began giving instructions on how to ride them. Hermione listened to it too, mostly out of politeness, and Malfoy spent that time choosing the best place to settle. As expected, he didn't even know where to start when he wanted to put it together.

"Need some help?" Hermione asked him a few feet away.

When Malfoy raised his head, brushed his tousled hair from his face and saw that the girl's tent was already fully assembled, he wrinkled his nose a little. He looked around for Paul, but he seemed quite busy trying to help Ben and Gabriel.

"Stay away from me," he said threateningly. When she made a move to turn, he added: "Just tell me where this is going."

Hermione ignored his warning look and walked there with a steady step. If Parkinson had taught her anything, it was to start taking the bull by the horns. If he wanted her help, he would have to accept her conditions. She took the stick out of his hands and bent it to fit it into place. She kept pitching his tent a bit longer before harshly handing him another piece. She had decided to start treating him the way he treated her, maybe that way she would earn a little more respect.

"If you want me to continue helping you, you'll have to ask me," she said, holding his gaze.

"You are crazy if you think I'm going to do such a thing," he growled.

"Aren't you finished yet?" Paul asked from afar. They both looked at the man, who looked quite stressed judging by the droplets that fell from his forehead. He'd gotten one of the boys to have his tent set up, but the fact that they didn't stop playing with the poles made his job a little more difficult. "I'm afraid time has run out on us. It is almost dusk and we need to go find wood to make a fire, otherwise we will be in the dark in less than half an hour… Please go find some together, I will take care of the little ones."

"What about my tent then?" Draco wanted to know, crossing his arms.

"Later boy, later. Now the most important thing is to collect wood."

Hermione was on the move immediately, stepping forward and causing Malfoy to follow her into the woods. With the only sound of dry leaves crunching underfoot, they walked in silence until they began to find sticks on the ground. The Slytherin was slow to do so, but eventually he also bent down to pick up a few.

"Those sticks wouldn't catch on fire," Hermione pointed out.

"What? Why?"

"You're picking up wet branches, Malfoy. You don't have to be too smart to realize that it won't work."

"Oh, talking about things that won't work? Like your thing with Theo?"

This caught her off guard, but after the initial surprise she couldn't help but smile.

"Why are you even mentioning it? I already knew from the beginning that it wasn't going to be forever." She picked up another branch and got up from the ground. "I'm aware of what I really want. But that doesn't mean I can't have fun in the meantime."

Malfoy looked at her in a strange way. A couple of weeks ago she would never have said or done something like that, but she was no longer the same as before… and she was sure he was beginning to realize it.


AN: So that's it! Thanks for reading :) And I'll be uploading another chapter of my new story "Six" very soon! Here's the summary in the case you didn't know: Draco hears about the suicide of Hermione Granger when, out of the blue, he is taken out from his cell in Azkaban to be offered a deal. If he saves the girl, he gets his freedom back. But how could he save someone who is already dead? The answer to that mystery hides behind a secret door in the Ministry of Magic. And he only has six attempts.

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Cristy.