Title: The Well 23/?
Author: eidheann
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: ~600 (~18,000 total)
Summary: Where there is a wish...
Warnings: angst.
A/N: Many thanks for the comments and support. As is probably obvious to those reading, the end is swiftly approaching. I'm keeping the final chapter count as ? just because it's always somewhat uncertain how much I'm able to progress the story each day.

Draco smiled faintly at Harry, and gave him a bit of a shove to send him on his way. "You've got a Prophet reporter to deal with, you said." Harry glanced between Draco and Pansy once more before nodding and stepping back, freeing Draco from his position against the wall. After taking a moment to gather himself, he headed toward the archway, nodding at Pansy as he passed. She simply watched, her eyebrow still slightly raised. Once he had left, she pulled out her wand and waved it at the entrance, casting a privacy charm.

"Now, when Niddy told me that Mr. Draco Malfoy sir and Mr. Harry Potter sir had arrived, I thought the poor dear had finally gone round the twist. Surely my friend would not be so mad as to put himself in the position he was in a year ago when the boy wonder out there broke his heart by leaving without a word." Even though she was keeping her voice even, her cheeks were beginning to flush in a way that Draco was unfortunately familiar with. "But what do I see? Apparently I'm wrong and you are stupid enough to make the same mistake twice. Draco, what in the name of Merlin are you thinking?"

"Panse-"

"No! He broke your heart, Draco. I'm not going to ask you why you think this time is going to be different because you're not thinking. Or not thinking with anything not currently residing in your pants."

Draco sighed, "I love him. He loves me. I don't know that things aren't going to go wrong."

"Then what are you doing?"

"I'm giving him another chance."

Pansy approached him quickly, grabbing his shoulders and staring into his eyes. "I don't want him to hurt you again. I don't want to see you ever hurting like that. Give me a reason to not go into the reception and use a dozen not-quite-unforgiveables on him, and if you say anything about the shagging, I'm going to hex you as well."

Draco pulled her closer into a hug. "Thank you. I do love you, you know."

"You're not answering." Pansy wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest. "Don't think I don't notice you're not answering."

Laughing quietly, he replied "I know I'm not answering. You're going to do what you're going to do and I don't really have a lot of say over it. But I'll ask you not to. I don't think he's going to break my heart again. If he does, you can hex him then. Besides, do you really want to be caught hexing the Boy Who Lived in front of that Prophet reporter?"

"I hate you when you're right. I suppose that means I need to make nice with him."

"Only in front of witnesses, dear." He gave her a peck on the forehead as he felt her relax against him.

"You really love him, then?"

"I really love him."

"And he's determined to do this the Gryffindor way and take that bitch from the Prophet head-on?"

"He's probably sharing embarrassing details even now."

"Ugh, why a Gryffindor?"

"Because he wasn't smart enough for anything else." He smirked when he heard Pansy let out a surprised giggle. "And they're lions in the sack."

"Ugh, must you?" She smacked him on the chest and pushed him back, frowning up at him. "You know the words Gryffindor and sex don't go together."

Draco laughed, "Of course, of course. I'll remind you about that when the sprog comes and you're drinking wine again and pestering me for details."

Pansy huffed. "We should go make certain Potter is surviving. Not that I care, but it's probably you he's in there embarrassing."