a/n re-formatted a few chapters as per a few complaints, happy holidays 31/12/18

Chapter 5

Susan enters the arena

Back in the dining hall Susan Bones was seething with anger staring at the four Slytherins girls raising their glasses in a toast.

"What are they up to" she thought to herself.

She had always fancied the boy with the green eyes, but his friends were always so protective of him and so anti any other house apart from their own. But after seeing him walking arm in arm with that trollop Davis, and his argument about whom he could date, it seems he is open to dating girls from other houses. But she knows she has competition.

Susan followed some of her classmates out of the hall and started to head back to their common room when she saw Daphne Greengrass, who she knew from charms class, falling back from her friends and slowly get swallowed up by the crowd of hurrying students. When she saw her again Daphne was loitering by the main door and seemed to be searching for someone, so taking a deep breath Susan headed over to her classmate.

"Hi Daphne, you ok?" she asked pleasantly.

The blonde looked down in annoyance but quickly recovered.

"Oh, hi Susan, how was your summer?" she asked with her eyes were still searching the hall.

"Oh it wasn't too bad. My Auntie escaped some Deatheaters that ambushed her, but other than that it was quite boring. How was yours?".

Daphne pulled her eyes back to the redhead.

"you know same old thing. Glad to hear your aunt managed to escape, Daddy has always respected her, and was shocked to hear about the attack".

"Ok thank you, but let's get to the point! What's going on with Davis and Potter?" Susan asked forcefully "are they an item?".

Daphne was confused for a moment.

"no, no way. She said they just bumped into each other on the way to the dining hall." she explained while not believing a word coming out of her own mouth.

Susan could see that she was lying, but wasn't going to push it at that moment as you don't make enemies of Slytherins.

"So, what was that toast about after Harry stormed out? The timing was a bit strange!" she said.

The Slytherin racked her brains and with an audible sigh she gave in.

"We've got a little betting pool going between the four of us, involving Harry" she said quietly and then elaborated on the bet, even adding a few choice swear words about how they'd had to pay Tracey already.

Susan thought for a minute.

"Ok I want in" she said with a smile.

"You what?".

"I told you I want in, or I'm going to tell Granger what you're up to, and you know she won't like it".

"Bones, you wouldn't".

"Oh, you count on it and more. I wanted to snag Harry for myself, but it looks like I've got competition so why not make some cash out it as well!" Susan said while beaming the biggest grin possible.

The conversion stopped there as they both watched Harry and Hermione walk arm in arm from outdoors, whispering about who knew what. Harry noticed the two witches looking over and gave them a wink and a wave which made them both sigh with yearning.

"Ok Susan I'll have to ask the others, but I guess it will be fine as we don't want Granger getting on at us all year" Daphne said, watching the retreating Harry and wishing he was hers and hers alone.

"Good, now how much do I owe for Davis's little stunt, and tell her that's the last of it that she will win" she said with a chuckle "just let me know if they agree in our next class" and Susan turned and headed off to the Hufflepuff's common room.

"Shit" cursed Daphne and trotted off to the dungeons to give her friends the bad news.

"What do you mean we've got no choice" shouted an irate Pansy.

"If we don't she'll tell Granger, who'll give us a big lecture, and then all the Gryffindor's will close ranks. Is that what you want? Because then none of us will have a chance." Daphne said quietly, trying not to rile up Malfoy and his cronies who were trying to listen in.

"You're right, but why her? The busty bitch! I've seen him checking her out already" spat the pissed off Tracey as she spun her newly acquired galleon through her fingers.

Millicent just smiled.

"Well she may out do me on looks but not on these" she said pushing her vast chest out for all to see, making all the girls apart from Pansy laugh themselves silly.

Pansy just sat back gobsmacked how has it had gotent to this. Finally she had her freedom, Harry had helped and they had chatted. But then her competitive streak go the better of her. Now she has competition for the boy she had fantasised about for all these years, and not only with these girls and Bones. She knew so many girls that wanted him, and who could blame them, he was perfect. As she looked around she saw Draco staring at her with pure hatred in his eyes. What a fucking year this is going to be she thought and then turned her mind back to her plan on how to get her man.

That night Harry couldn't believe the trouble he had started. His girls were pissed because he had walked in with Tracey instead of one of them. The lads were angry because she was a Slytherin, and the female population were talking about him and how he's not considering them at all. All in all it seemed that he had pissed of nearly all of the women in the school, so he just sat down with his face in a book which he thought was a very 'Hermione' thing to do!

Just then Colin Creevey walked past on his way to collect books from his room and threw a folded up piece of paper onto Harry's lap.

Harry opened it and read;

'Dear Harry, I never got to thank you for saving me from Malfoy on the train. Could we meet in the library tonight at 8pm? Yours Pansy xx'.

Well that's something new he thought and looked at the clock. He had 10 minutes until he had to meet her. He headed upstairs and for once no one cared what or where he was going. He grabbed his invisibility cloak and tucked it away, then head down and out into the school. Only Ron raised his head and watched him with a scowl but said nothing. Harry was lucky as Hermione turned in early so no hassle there, and off he headed to the library.

Pansy was shaking with nerves. Who would've thought she would be sneaking around to see a Gryffindor boy? Especially Potter! She laughed and hoped that the people she had intrusted with the note had given it to the young Creevey boy to pass to Harry. Because if that note got to Malfoy she would be dead. Trying to sneak away with her friends watching each other's every move was hell, but thankfully somebody had set off a stink bomb which got everyone running about, which is when she made her move.

Luckily no one was in the library tonight, not on the first night of classes, just Madame Pince stalking about like normal. Pansy's nerves were starting to get the better of her and she began to think he wasn't coming, when she heard the sounds of footsteps coming towards her. Her breath caught in her throat until Harry came striding in, giving her biggest smile.

"Hiya Pansy. How's it going?" he said, as he pulled up a chair opposite her which made way too much noise for the librarian.

"Shhhhhhhh. Quiet or get out Potter!" she barked.

Harry just chuckled.

"She loves me really" he said and gave her a wink before turning his attention back to Pansy. "So, how's things going on your first day back?".

Pansy just sat there aghast. This once shy boy has just come in and started chatting away with her quite happily, like they've been doing it all their lives.

"You ok?" he asked frowning.

She nodded her head.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I was just half expecting you and Tracey waltzing on in here" she said with a laugh.

He barked out a laugh which once again got Madam Pince on the warpath.

"I never knew one simple act would cause me so much grief, and not just from my lot. It seems I've pissed off the whole school" he explained with a wry grin.

Pansy smiled.

"Maybe tomorrow you can have breakfast with me and cause a riot" she said in a half joking way which made them both chuckle.

"Sounds fun Pans, but do you think I'd survive the fallout?!" he replied chuckling.

"Ah well a girl can dream" she sighed sadly "but anyway I just want to thank you for saving my arse on the train" and she leaned forward grabbing his hands, holding them tightly.

"Well it was the least I could do" he said squeezing her hands back "we've gotta protect that arse of yours haven't we" giving her the old Potter wink.

Pansy blushed heavily while chuckling.

"Harry, can I ask you something?" she said quietly.

"Of course," he said brightly.

"Erm could you ever see yourself being with a girl who isn't a Gryffindor?" she queried.

Harrys smile faltered a bit.

"Well I never thought it would. After the debacle with Cho I thought not, but following the grief I got today from them, I am convinced I would prefer a girl from any house but mine" he spat.

A blushing Pansy stroked his hands and whispered.

"Good to know" and stared into his gorgeous eyes.

"Harry, can we be friends?".

He looked back at her and took in her properly for the first time. With her dark eyes and long black hair, she truly was beautiful. He couldn't understand why he hadn't noticed it before, but then it came to him; Draco, he thought.

He smiled.

"I would love that Pansy" he said looking deep into her dark eyes. "But first can I ask a question?".

Pansy knew this was coming, and she can't blame him after the way she had treated him in the past.

"Well I guess it's only fair" she said with a glum look.

Harry could see how her mood had dipped as soon as he asked.

"Why was Draco hitting you? You've been so close all these years. What happened?" he said slowly and kindly, gripping her hands tighter.

With a big sigh she explained everything about the contract, Malfoy's threats, that she had been so unhappy all these years, and wanted nothing more than be free to choose her own partner and friends. She saw a tear well up in his eye as he listened to her story.

"I'm sorry Pansy, so sorry. I didn't know". He then said softly. "He didn't force you to erm you know, do things did he?".

Her cheeks flushed and her love for this man only increased when seeing the care and hurt in his face for not helping her sooner.

"No, he didn't Harry, he couldn't because of the contract, not that he didn't try to convince me. But I would've rather died than give in to him".

Harry rubbed her hands lovingly.

"I'm glad you didn't, but I'm surprised they put things like that in the contract, knowing what a little shit Draco is" he questioned.

Pansy wiped a tear away from her cheek, then reached across and did the same to Harry.

"Me too Harry. Draco's Mum drew the contract up, so she either made a mistake or did it to protect me in a small way" she said with a thinking look on her face. "I found out she was a contract wife too, and she wasn't that happy at all. But purebloods have to do such things from time to time".

Harry gasped.

"You won't have to go through that again, will you?" he asked quickly.

Her head dropped.

"I hope not Harry, I truly do" she whispered.

He looked at the sobbing witch in front of him, and felt he had to make it up to her somehow.

"So, breakfast tomorrow then Pansy?" he said with a beaming smile.

Pansy's head flicked up.

"What? Are you serious?" she asked quickly.

"Well yeah, I thought you would like to. But if you don't I'll understand".

Beaming and wiping the tears from her cheeks she released his hands and clapped them together excitedly.

"Are you sure? It will cause so much trouble and it'll make many a girl jealous too" she chuckled.

Harry just gave her a shake of the head.

"oh I doubt that Pans" he laughed causing another look from the librarian "anyway I'm in trouble already, so what's wrong with having breakfast with a beautiful girl? If they don't like it they can fuck off" and barked a loud laugh before turning very pale as he realised what he had said. "

RIGHT YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED BEFORE MR POTTER" shouted the librarian "out! out!" and chased the two shocked teenagers out of the library and down the hallway.

Pansy and Harry were both bent over gasping for breath and trying to laugh as well.

"I guess the romance is over between you two" she laughed.

Harry stretched upwards pulling in air.

"That was your fault, you made her jealous" he guffawed then looked at his watch "shit we better get back before we get caught. Do you want me to walk you back Pans?" he asked kindly.

She beamed.

"Yes please, if you don't mind" she said linking their arms with Harry and making ready to head off.

"Someone is eager" he chuckled, and they started off towards the stairs and down to the dungeons.

As they got closer they heard a voice that they both recognised and Pansy looked at him with fear in her eyes.

"Draco" she whispered

She then jumped with surprise as Harry pushed her into an alcove, pulling her in tight and then throwing a cloak over them both.

"Shhh keep quiet" Harry whispered and watched as Draco and his goons walked towards them.

Pansy, despite being scared, was enjoying the closeness they had. His body seemed to be solid muscle, not surprising with all the Quidditch and fights he's been in. She pushed herself closer into him as she heard Draco getting closer.

"Where'd that bitch go to? If she's with that Potter I'll kill them both" Draco spat with his eye's darting back and forth.

"She wouldn't be that stupid Draco" said Goyle in his slow but booming voice. "Well I didn't think that of Davis, but look what happened this morning and I swear I keep on seeing Greengrass and Bulstrode staring at Potter" he said in a bitter tone "fucking ugly half blood. He'll get his alright" and stormed off with his lumbering friends.

"He's gone off me I think" Harry whistled bringing a chuckle from Pansy.

He inhaled her perfume deeply which made his body react as they do for young males.

"Er right let's get you home" he said moving Pansy away from his problem area.

"Harry, what was that" she asked looking into his eyes.

Harry blushed.

"sorry we were so close, and your perfume" he started to explain until she cut him off.

"No not that" she blushed with a smile "I mean how did Draco not see us Harry?".

"Oh, it's my father's invisibility cloak" he explained with a cheeky smile.

A big smile appeared on her face.

"that explains so much Harry, things I was told in the past. How you got out of trouble all the time" she said as she looked at Harry's beaming face. "Right here we are. Thank you Harry. See you tomorrow, if you're feeling brave enough" she said and moved forward giving him a kiss on the cheek before walking away.

Harry felt the heat from her kiss and his stomach turned over as he watched her walk away. Her hips swayed, and her ponytail danced down her back and then she disappeared into the dungeon.

"Wow what a woman" he said quietly, and donned the cloak heading back up to Gryffindor tower to think about everything that has and would happen.

"And where have you been young lady" came a voice from the darkness.

Pansy searched for the voice in the dark.

"I was in the library I'll have you know, studying" she said defensively.

A lamp flared illuminating the dorm room, showing all three of her friends sticking their calculating faces through the curtains that surrounded their bed's.

"Bullshit" said Daphne with a grin "you didn't even take your books!".

"Oh, I didn't need my bbbbooks. It was just some light reading" said a stuttering Pansy.

"Pansy, that's just as bad as Tracey saying she just woke up early" said Milly making all the girls laugh.

Pansy just held up her hands and shushed them.

"All will be revealed tomorrow, and now I'm going to bed, so goodnight" she said with a smile and a wink.

"That was a Potter wink" shouted Tracey and that started the room laughing until sleep started to claim them one by one.