Disclaimer: All canon characters, plots and situations from the Harry Potter series belong to JK Rowling. I make no profit from this story.

Beta Thanks:

Cosmoswithchaos

Ladyparongsny

rooOJoy

A/N: Small time hop. I apologize for the shorter chapter, but I needed a filler.

And on a serious note…

I like to believe that those of you reading this story

- a femslash - are either part of the LGBTQ+ community or supporters and allies. This chapter is written during the midst of the Orlando Shooting, and with tears in my eyes I want to remind everyone that LOVE IS LOVE. Don't be an Astoria. Where I normally place song lyrics, I'd like to post a poem by the beautiful Madison Paige. She's a huge inspiration to our family! #ForOrlando


She Keeps Me Warm

Chapter Eleven

It's heavy in the air tonight

not on behalf of the rain

yet as hollow as shells

on the ground.

This is not the first time

they speak of such hate

but they've never yelled

quite so loud.

For pigment or preference

unaccepting indifference

to me just is not ever a thought

But at this point I am begging

surrender this hating

It was INNOCENT PEOPLE you shot

To flatline a pulse

to induce pain and hurt

is not ever a way to be heard

Although it spreads fast

like a fire or storm

it proves useless, outdated, absurd

But to all of MY people

you know who you are

do not take to the closet to hide

We must stand taller

in the name of the fallen

They may take our pulse

but they can't touch our PRIDE


October skies had quickly faded, and soon November was among them.

Hermione was tucked away in the library - per usual - reading, as she so often did when Pansy was otherwise engaged. They had plans to meet up with Draco and Ginny shortly, so when she heard a body sink into the chair opposite hers, she assumed it was the girl in question.

"I still have an hour to myself and my book," she mumbled around a smile.

"Hermione," the voice responded, much deeper than the soprano she had expected. "Can we talk?"

Her head snapped up, and she locked eyes with Ronald Weasley. To say she was shocked would be an understatement. It had been months since her supposed best friend spoke more than a few words to her.

"Um," she stalled, glancing around the area for any hope of a distraction. Coming up short, she sighed, conceding to his request. "Sure, Ronald."

"Look," he began. "I've been a right prat…"

Hermione snorted, cocking a brow as if he couldn't state anything more obvious.

Ron pursed his lips. "You don't make this easy, you know!" He ran a hand through his shaggy locks, eyeing Hermione with a look of tired resignation.

"I'm sorry. I was awful. Inconsiderate. I've been a shite friend, you know? Harry's been trying to tell me for a month now, but I was too stubborn to listen. I was just so confused and couldn't believe what I was hearing." He paused, as if contemplating his words.

Hermione felt her guard slipping with the yearning need to console the boy she'd once been so fond of. She scolded herself quietly, reminding herself that she didn't need to let people walk all over her. She could forgive without caving in.

"I mean, come on, 'Mione. You've never given the impression you weren't interested."

As quickly as her wall began to lower, it shot back up and locked into place. Her nostrils flared at the insinuations he was throwing at her.

Of course Ron mucks everything up, even something as simple as an apology!

Hermione was tired. Tired of the drama, tired of the fighting. She was happy with her new revelation, and no one - certainly not Ron - was going to bring her mood back down. She didn't need to explain herself to anyone, because this was her journey, her self discovery. If they couldn't accept her - all of her - then they needn't be in her life.

"It's fine, Ron. Really." She wrung her hands, ready to get this conversation over with. "Look, I'm with Pansy. I'm with her. I need to you understand and accept that if we are ever going to move forward."

He sat quiet for a minute, and Hermione couldn't help but wonder if this was it, if they were really done. She'd had this man in her life for years and grown to love him as if he were family. The thought that he could just walk out of her life made her almost sick. She watched his face, trying to read his expression and held her breath as he opened his mouth to speak.

"I love you, Hermione. I always will, and if you are happy - truly happy - then I'm happy too." His smile was sad, but it was there, real. And she knew he was telling the honest truth.

She stood, foregoing her book in light of his response and moved around the table to pull him into an embrace. Her heart felt slightly lighter, and she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She felt the tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, and knew that she was almost out of this cage her heart fought to escape.

"Thank you," she mumbled, words muffled into his sweater.

oOoOoOo

That evening, Pansy entered the Great Hall, chatting easily with her roommate.

She and Daphne had rekindled their friendship after the Hogsmeade fiasco. After a long heart to heart, she'd been surprised to find the girl was hurt by Pansy keeping secrets from her. It turns out that Daphne had suspected for a long time, but didn't push the situation because Pansy seemed intent on ignoring it, or hiding.

She motioned for Daphne to carry on ahead without her, so the witch smiled at her in slight confusion, but made her way to the Slytherin table alone. Pansy took a deep breath before moving herself towards a sea of Red and Gold.

She found Hermione at the center of the table, lost in conversation with Potter and to her surprise, Ron. She moved behind the girl, toying with a curl that had slipped from her plait before leaning down to speak in her ear.

"Mind if I have a seat?" she whispered. Hermione leaned back into her touch, and Pansy couldn't help but nuzzle her neck in return.

Catching her off guard again, Ron stood, offering her his spot as he moved down the long table before settling back down beside Harry.

Pansy smiled nervously, stepping over the bench and smoothing her skirt as she eyed the lions surrounding her. She felt Hermione reach out tentatively before grasping her hand in her own.

She spent the dinner hour warming up to Hermione's friends. They'd included her in their conversations and even had the decency to seem genuinely interested in what she had to say. She'd gotten as bold as to put an arm around Hermione's shoulder, running her fingers lightly over the girl's skin, back and forth. No one seemed to blink an eye at the movement, though she wasn't blind as to miss the slight clenching of Ron's jaw.

The evening went so well, she couldn't help but think she may just start spending all her meals at the Gryffindor table. She would never ask Hermione to come to hers, though she knew the girl would more than likely offer.

As the food began to vanish from the tables, students started to stand and collect themselves before retreating to their respective commons for the night. Just as Pansy stood, hand extended to her witch, the last person she wanted to deal with appeared.

She eyed Astoria with bored indifference, hoping that she would pass without causing them too much trouble. "Ah, it's the Butch Brigade!" she motioned to the couple, and her Slytherin friends laughed in a chorus of ridicule. "Isn't this just cozy, girls?" she crooned.

Pansy pinched the bridge of her nose in an attempt to stop the impending headache Astoria always caused. "Walk away, Greengrass," Hermione growled from her seat on the bench.

"No," Pansy spoke with a finality that made Hermione snap her gaze in her direction.

"No," she repeated, shaking her head at the younger witch before her. She reached down and pulled her wand from its holster and tried not to smirk as Astoria visibly flinched, as if she expected Pansy to attack.

She took a deep breath, calming her nerves and mentally prepared herself for what she was about to do. She let her eyes drift over everyone in the room, and cleared her throat loudly to catch their attention. Casting a Sonorus charm on herself, she began with the words she'd been dying to speak for years.

"I'M GAY, SO YOU CAN ALL GO AND PUT YOUR RUMORS TO REST BECAUSE I WILL NOT HIDE IN FEAR, AND YOU CAN'T SILENCE MY PRIDE WITH YOUR VICIOUS WORDS." Her voice boomed across the span of the Hall, and she glared pointedly at Astoria, who looked ready to explode.

Pansy tapped her wand to her throat, mumbling Quietus to return to her normal volume. "If you've got something to say, you ought to do it now because I don't plan to repeat myself again."

Murmurs hummed across the Great Hall, and she caught sight of the Ravenclaw Hermione did a number on. He shifted awkwardly in his seat, but otherwise kept his mouth closed.

"It's not our WAY!" Astoria screeched. "You're a Pure-Blood, why can't you act like it?"

Hermione stood and grabbed Pansy's hand. The Hall had grown quiet as everyone hung onto their words, clearly expecting a response from the couple. The silence was broken as a shout came from the Slytherin table.

"I think they're cute!" the wizard shouted out. That caused an uproar of laughter, including her own, and soon others were chiming in their support.

"We are equals," rang Ginny's voice from the Gryffindor's behind them.

"Love is love!" called out a tiny Hufflepuff, who blushed fiercely when the Hall whistled and hollered their agreement.

"Love is love," Hermione whispered at her side before leaning in and brushing her lips across her cheek.

The energy in the room was running wild, and a loud scratch from a chair at the High Table turned eyes toward that direction. Dumbledore had stood, eyes twinkling down at them all.

"Let us remember - if nothing else in this long or short life, be true to your conscience, to the dignity of your hearts."

oOoOoOo