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She Keeps Me Warm

Chapter Two

"...If you just realize what I just realized, then we'd be perfect for each other…"

(Realize - Colbie Caillat)


Pansy and Draco strolled along the corridor, making their way toward the head dorms. Dinner had let out nearly an hour ago, and Pansy spent almost that whole time pleading to see where he'd live for the next nine months. With much reluctance, he'd finally caved and agreed to give her a quick tour. Pansy watched as Draco shifted his glances between her and the students passing by. She could tell he was uncomfortable, his hands were clammy against hers.

"So who's your roommate?" Pansy dryly asked, trying her best to seem like a concerned girlfriend.

Draco scoffed. "Hermione," he muttered under his frustrated breath. Pansy walked a little slower, stood a little taller. "And I'm not pleased. I have every intent to question Dumbledore about this! Can't believe this..placing me with her!"

Pansy stopped abruptly, whilst Draco continued his walk, his hand dropping from hers. He wiped the sweat from his hand onto his dressing robe.

"Hermione? My...my Hermione? She's your roommate this year?" Pansy sputtered the words, cautious of her surroundings.

"Yeah, Granger. Unbelievable isn't it?" Draco chargrined.

"You can't ask for a new roommate, Draco! This is perfect!" Pansy jumped into Draco's arms, spinning around gleefully. She heard Draco sigh. She knew he wasn't going to fight her on this.

Pansy and Draco continued toward the dorms, staircase changing at whim. She was humming, and he was pouting. She giggled and playfully punched his arm. With no other students in this area of the castle, they were finally able to drop the fake roles of their "in love" relationship. Honestly, it was exhausting.

Of course, Pansy did love Draco. The pair had been extremely close since they were tots. It was no secret that their families expected them to marry shortly after graduating Hogwarts. She shuddered at the thought. Yes, she did love Draco… As a brother.

Two corridors later, they had finally arrived in front of the portrait that would lead them to his quarters. Tapping her foot impatiently, she spun around to see what was taking so long.

"Well… are we going in or what?" she muttered in nervous anticipation.

oOoOoOo

Hermione, curled up in the corner of the plush chocolate sofa, was basking in the warmth that filled the Head's dorm. It was Saturday evening, and she planned to relax in comfort before retiring to bed. Classes started bright and early Monday morning, and Hermione wanted to be well rested as she began her very last year as a student.

She lazily watched as flames grew and licked at the burning wood. Turning back to the large tome on her lap, she let her mind get lost in thought that only a good book could provide.

A short while later, she startled awake to the sound of the portrait hole swinging open. Smoothing down her mass of curls as best as she could, she quickly stood in retreat towards her room. She hadn't meant to fall asleep in the open, and was in no mood to have Draco Malfoy judge her rumpled appearance.

"Granger," the rich drawl of Draco's voice rang across the living quarters. "Interesting choice of… erm… Attire."

Gritting her teeth, she glanced down at her worn flannel pants and loose tank. She should have known the prestigious Draco Malfoy would be used to no less than fine silk.

"It's the weekend, Malfoy," she groaned.

Plastering a sweet smile on her lips, she turned her body to face the incomer. A slight blush grew upon her cheeks as she realized he wasn't alone.

"Good evening Malfoy," she paused. "Pansy. Lovely to see you."

Hermione watched as Pansy Parkinson glided to the very spot she had previously been napping. She plopped unceremoniously on the furniture, crossing her legs delicately. She noted her eyes slightly widened, a look of interest briefly crossed her features, and she smiled softly. "The pleasure is mine, Granger".

If Hermione didn't know better, she would think Pansy was almost being, well… nice.

"Right. Well I have a meeting with Professor Snape in ten minutes so I'll be back shortly. You girls play nice." Draco gave them a salute and turned on his heel to leave. What a strange thing for Draco to say. And it's nearly 8 o'clock...odd time for a conversation with Snape, she thought.

Hermione watched as Pansy stood up abruptly, looking as though she wanted to object. But she resigned and took her seat back on the sofa.

"He's so odd…" Hermione realized she had said that out loud and pursed her lips quickly. Pansy suppressed an agreeable grin.

"That, he is. Oddest boy I know." She laughed, running her fingers through her hair.

Hermione noticed she had a single dimple on her right cheek. She'd never realized how pretty

Pansy was. She'd only ever seen Pansy as the girl on Draco's arm.

"Hermione? Did you hear me?"

Hermione fell out of her daydream. "Sorry! What's that you said?"

"Ron..have you and Ron been together long?" Pansy asked casually.

Hermione's laughter roared from her belly as she considered the outrageous nature of the question she was asked.

"Me and Ronald? Good heavens, you don't really believe that, do you? We're only friends, Pansy. The rumors are just that - RUMORS."

Hermione gripped her cup of tea, cold now from her nap. She shifted forward, reaching for a biscuit from the silver tray on the table. Only one left, Hermione thought to herself.

She split the biscuit, offering half to Pansy. Pansy's fingertips brushed against hers.

Startled, she dropped the biscuit onto the floor. They looked at each other, both reaching down to retrieve it.

Clunk.

"Oh my days! I'm so sorry!" Hermione reached for her, rubbing her hand gently against the knot surely to appear on Pansy's forehead.

"It's okay, really." Pansy chuckled, her hand reaching to soothe her aching head, as she placed her hand upon Hermione's.

Hermione's heart raced. She pulled her hand back, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. What was she feeling? Why were her hands suddenly sweating? She shifted her position nervously.

"Right um..thanks for the company..I um.." Pansy stood to her feet and shot toward the door, racing out of the room.

Draco stepped into the room as Pansy catches his shoulder. He looked at Hermione, eyebrows raised - "Now what have you done, Granger?"

Draco turned and chased after Pansy. Confused, Hermione wonders exactly the same thing.

oOoOoOo

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.

She moved as swiftly as her feet would take her, or as quickly as the shifting staircase would allow. Her cheeks were flushed from the embarrassment, or exertion - possibly both. Pansy faintly heard the footsteps of someone gaining on her.

"Pans, love - wait!" Draco boomed.

She slowed to catch her breath, knowing she couldn't avoid him. Leaning against the stone wall, she let her eyes drop to the floor, willing her erratic heartbeat to calm down.

"What the hell, Pans? What happened?"

"She...we...then I...Ughh!" She pointed at her forehead, exposing the knot that was quickly forming.

"Oh my god! Did she hit you?!" Draco shouted, louder than he intended. He couldn't help but recall his third year, when Hermione socked him in the jaw.

"What? No, you idiot! She offered me a biscuit, and then she dropped it and we both went for it and BAM, we hit heads. Then she offered comfort and I...I freaked." Pansy was rambling at this point. Her head between her knees, she exhaled loudly.

"Wait. So after all this time, all you've wanted was an intimate moment with this girl and you finally have it and you run out?" Draco couldn't help but smirk at what just happened. She grimaced, frustrated with Draco for making light of the situation.

But he was right. I'm such an idiot. She wanted to find a very deep hole and swan dive into it.

"I can't believe I just ran out of there like that. She must think I'm just the worst. Or...oh my god. What if she knows? Do you think she knows? Or suspects? Oh my...I have to go back! I have to explain...what can I say?"

Draco giggled while his best friend stumbled over her words, talking herself in circles. He grabbed her arm before she could run back to the dorms and makes an even bigger idiot of herself.

"Pansy! Calm down! I'll talk to her, okay? I'll say you left the cooker on or something..." He did his best to hold back his laughter, and failed miserably.

Pansy laughed along with Draco, rolling her eyes at him. He pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her deeply.

"Worry not, PanPan! I'll fix this for you.."

oOoOoOo

Draco took the hand of his best friend and continued down the hall towards the Slytherin dormitories. A few Slytherins nodded toward them in acknowledgment as they quickly made their way to their dorms before curfew. Pansy tilted her head onto his shoulder.

This was his favorite time of day. Pretending or not, it felt so real to him- the way their hands fit together, or the way she fit into his arms. It wasn't real for her, no; it was simply an illusion - but to him, it was everything.

He looked down at her. She was quite a bit shorter than he was. The top of her head only just reached his shoulder, and he could see the slight highlights that flowed through her deep, dark hair. He released her hand and pulled his arm over her shoulder while she put her arm around his waist.

"Now what am I supposed to do?" Pansy looked up him.

I guess we're back to this. His daydream was over. "I'll talk to her, don't worry. I'll just tell her you were frantic about being in your room by curfew. Hermione is a stickler for the rules...if anything, she'll like you more for it."

Pansy slowed her steps. "You think she likes me?"

Draco realized he may have misspoken. "How could she not, Pans?" Pansy squeezed his waist a bit tighter.

They were alone now, just outside the stonewall guarding the Slytherin dungeons.

"Okay, so you'll talk to Hermione, and then we'll pretend this never happened. Right?"

Draco smirked a bit, "Yes, Pans. Now get some ice on your forehead before you're mistaken for a unicorn instead of a Slytherin."

Pansy laughed, elbowing him. He dramatically grabbed his side, chuckling at his own joke.

"Sleep well. I've got to head back to the commons. Even the Head boy has a curfew." He gave her a long hug and a kiss on top of the head before walking back towards the shifting staircase.

"Emeraude Deux," he heard Pansy say. The ground shook as the stonewall slid away, exposing the entrance to the Slytherin Dungeon.

Draco shook his head, laughing to himself. Emeraude Deux...he enjoyed the cleverness of the password he created. Two emeralds, he and Pansy. He shook his head, holding on to the staircase as it lead him back to the Head dorms.

Well, this is going to be interesting…

"Andobixtrious Venalous" he whispered to Madame Claire. The portrait creaked open and he stepped into the common room, preparing his lie to Hermione.

"Granger?" He scanned the room, and quickly realize she wasn't in her normal place. He walked over to the sofa, noticing the broken biscuit lying on the floor. He bent down to pick up, placing it back on the silver tray. Heh… maybe she'll forget and have it tomorrow with tea.

He sighed deeply, knowing Pansy wouldn't approve. He picked up the biscuit and dropped it into the waste bin.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Draco rapped on Hermione's door. "Granger? I mean.." He exhaled, rolling his eyes.. "Hermione. She was just worried about being in her commons by curfew. That's all, so… if she asks, I told you."

Draco felt accomplished enough. Plus, he didn't actually have to talk to her, so it was a win in his book. He yawned dramatically.

He slid his wand from his sleeve and pointed it at the burning embers of the fireplace. "Aqua Eructo!" The flames extinguished as he retired to his sleeping quarters.

oOoOoOo


A/N: Emeraude Deux! You didn't miss us slip that in, did ya? In case you missed this in our Bio, "Emeraude Deux" is French for "Emerald" and "Two". We are both Slytherins, of course!