Title: The Well 5/?
Author: eidheann
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~600
Summary: Where there is a wish...
Warnings: angst
A/N: Continuation of my first attempt at writing/posting/sharing HD. Thank you for the feedback and support thus far.

There was no further response from Granger, beyond an owl acknowledging the receipt of the notices he sent. The weekend passed slowly, his mother left her room once to go for a walk through the garden, alone but for the subtle attention of the house elves. Draco wished for nothing so much as the ability to time-turn the previous week, go back to before the letter from Azkaban, or conversely ahead to after the Memorial. Each second seemed slower than the one previous, slower than the first week after visiting the Well.

The morning of the Memorial dawned cool and drizzly in Wiltshire, but was sunny and perfect in France. He almost wished the two were reversed. Grey weather matched his mood, and would be more fitting for saying goodbye. It was surprisingly well attended. For all he had been imprisoned, his father retained a number of friends, and his mother had become closer to them in her solitude. His mother was lovely, a porcelain statue of grief surrounded by the green flowered field around her. Pansy was there, she had said nothing, simply holding his hand through the ceremony and lighting of the ceremonial fire.

It was after, once all the guests had left and his mother had portkeyed back to the Manor that she finally spoke.

"How are you, Draco?"

He longed to lay this, everything at her feet, but knew he couldn't. Instead he gave a faint broken laugh, allowing some of his grief to finally show. "As well as can be expected. And yourself?"

She shook her head, "I'm serious, Draco. I haven't heard from you in a year. I know you finally left Potter-"

"Stop, Panse.."

She frowned but continued as if he had said nothing, "- because last I heard he was shacking up with one of those Weasleys in Romania... Training dragons or something."

"Stop."

"And you've done nothing but study and hide out in the Manor ever since. Draco..."

"What? He left me! You were right! Are you happy now?" The mask he had been holding together so carefully over the past month shattered, and he felt tears running down his face at last.

"Of course I'm not happy, you idiot! You are my best friend, I can't stand seeing you like this. I hate Potter for what he did to you. But you can't let him do this, you need to get on with your life!" She gripped the sides of his face, forcing him to look at her, her expression nearly as broken as his.

"I can't. I love him."

She sighed, brushing tears from his cheeks with her thumbs. "I am so sorry, dearest. So, so sorry." She pulled him to her and held him, rocking quietly as his tears slowed and stopped. He sat, enjoying the feeling of someone finally touching him, holding him before she broke the silence again. "This... isn't entirely altruistic on my part, Draco."

He laughed briefly, more genuine than he had earlier in the conversation. "Of course, I would never accuse you of being altruistic, Panse..."

"I want you to marry me."

He sat up, frowning at her. "What? I don't think-"

"I want you to marry me, Draco. Now. Soon."

He shook his head, "Panse, it may have escaped your notice, but I'm gay. And in mourning. And you've been seeing Theo since Hogwarts."

"I've been living with Mother. Draco, I need you. I'm pregnant."

He stared at her, mouth falling open in shock. "Theo?"

She nodded, watching him carefully. "Yes, it's his. He... We... I left. He doesn't care."

He took her hand and squeezed it gently. "Does he know?"

"He doesn't care," she stood up and began pacing, and he knew he'd get no other response to his question from her. "Draco, I wouldn't ask you this if it wasn't an emergency. You know that. I need you. Before I begin to show."

He gave a faint nod. "Alright, Panse. Alright."