Heyyyyyy.

I know I should have waited a few more days to update this story because it gives me more time to work on the next chapter (which is troubling me slightly :P silly Narcissa is ruining it!) But I was like what the heck, I'll update. So you lot are very lucky that I'm in a happyish mood.

You guys are amaaaaazing! We reached 400+ reviews, I never thought this story would become so popular, and we're still (technically) in October! (We should really get this story moving along shouldn't we?) To celebrate the passing of the 400 review barrier, I think I should share with you how popular this story is. It shocked me when I saw it, and I'm eternally grateful for every single one of you who reads or has read this story.

(At last count) This story has:

410 reviews

47,316 hits

5 C2's

217 Favourites

324 Story Alerts

WOOOOOOOOW

Thanks to the ever growing amount of people who review this story. It is nearly getting too long to list all of them! But I shall try : )

3 ~ That Romantic, pearlrose33, tfobmv18, CFCRockAngel, kama674, BustyxxxxWizard, Alice-Rathbone-is-my-real-name, dreadfuldelights, Ayriannah, cmssportzgrl, mirifaery, Fan1EdwardCullen, reina13, sweet-tang-honney, x8jessica8x, GlaudioseGoddess, Kris Rusko, kh2020, VoiletDhaliwal, VampireQueenSweet666, jayd-n33, cheerluver, zanessa troyella1032, flubbertweak23, scarredprincess and Crossy. ~ 3

Previously:

They opened the partition and McGonagall saw them.

"Finished? Did it help?" She asked.

The couple looked at each other, and then both said, "Definitely."

Chapter 20: Exploration

By the time Harry and Pansy arrived in their room, it was empty. Professor McGonagall had given them an approved absence for the rest of the day, to spend some time with each other. The other couples would have to wait until after dinner if they wanted to know about the assignment.

The couple decided to retreat to their bedroom, just in case they were interrupted by someone else unexpectantly. They looked at the room in surprise.

"It's not crap anymore!" Pansy laughed as she took in the new surroundings. Ever since the 'Draco incident' their room had been of the lowest standard, just like at the beginning of term. Now, it had cream walls, with green curtains and a red duvet cover. It doesn't sound like colours which would work together, but the shades of green and red complimented each other.

"Thank god, I'll actually look forward to being in this room now," Harry agreed, fingering the pillows- they weren't lumpy anymore!

There was a silence. How to start what was definitely going to be an awkward conversation...?

Pansy sat on the bed, resting against the pillow and looked sheepishly at Harry.

"Why don't we just ask questions about what we saw? We don't have to share anything we don't want to, although what can be more awful than our experiences?"

Harry nodded, and went to sit beside her.

"So..."

"I have a question," Pansy began, "the memory with the graveyard...why was it the part with Diggory dying and not when Voldemort actually returned? Surely that would be more frightening?"

"...Well, that whole experience was one of the worst of my life, and believe me, that's saying something. The reason is that Cedric...Cedric...was the first person I had seen die. I know my parents died when I was a baby but I don't remember it. He was murdered right in front of me, and it was a wasted life. He had so much potential, and I feel so guilty because...I made him touch the portkey with me...he said that I deserved it, but I wanted both of us to win. If I had known, I would have never let him touch it. He was wiped out because he was 'insignificant'. And I'll never forget it, never." Harry said, clenching his fists. He hated talking about that night, so much happened and remembering it brought him right back to the graveyard.

Pansy touched his arm, in an effort to comfort him. It felt like the right thing to do, and she was glad that he didn't flinch when she touched him. This was going to be hard enough.

"I never really knew Cedric. Slytherin's disliked Hufflepuff's on principal as we felt they were the weakest house, full of the misfits who didn't belong anyway else. I was quite snobbish to be honest. I guess I was pleased that he got to represent us, but I never really got bothered by his death. I was too wrapped up in my own little world. I just thought you were lying about You- Know- Who...it's shameful to admit. I can't believe how much of a bitch I was, and still can be. I'm changing though. Well, I hope I'm changing. And it's down to you. We have more in common than we thought."

"You are changing; you're becoming aware of other people, and their feelings. I'm glad we were paired together, and I'm glad that we're moving forward, not backwards," Harry smiled, reaching out and touching her hand. Pansy blushed at the contact, but didn't move her hand.

"Tell me about the first memory. What was that object? Was that truly your parents?" Pansy asked, shuffling closer, till they were almost touching.

"It was in my first year. I was prone to wandering the corridors at night," Harry laughed. "One night, I came across this abandoned classroom. I saw something inside and went to investigate. It was a mirror, the 'Mirror of Erised'. It showed your true desires. Mine of course was to see my parents again. I had no memories of them; I was only one when they died. Suddenly, there they were, along with other people who I guessed where my other relatives. One of them even had my knobbly knees! It was the first time I saw them, and I became obsessed with them. I used to go there every night, and just watch them smile and wave at me. Then, one night, Dumbledore saw me, and told me that I should forget the mirror, before it completely ruined me. Some people find the mirror and never leave; I assume some have died there. It's not a nice thought. I'm pleased that I found it, it's one of the few memories of my parents, even if it's not really real."

"But it's not like they leave you. They're always with you, deep inside," Pansy said, sincerely.

Harry laughed, "That's not something I'd have thought you would say. It's quite sentimental."

"But it's true. When my grandmother died, I felt so lost. The one person who truly cared for me was gone. There was no-one else to protect me from my father. I hated her for leaving me, but then I realised, she'll never leave me. She'll be in my memories, and in my heart. That's what got me through the time until Hogwarts."

"I was thinking. Why did none of the memories show you...with your father?" Harry asked.

Pansy paused, then said bitterly, "Because they were all the same. Of course they were all terrible, but none of them were worse than the others. I don't even remember a time when it wasn't like that. I had grown used to it. I blocked it out and became just a body when I was with him. I didn't think, I didn't bother trying to stop it...it just made it worse. That first memory was the first time I honestly remembered it. I can still feel the fear, it was terrifying. The moments before it started would be the worst...before I had the chance to detach myself."

Harry put his arm round her as she leant against his chest. It was nice to have some gentle contact, to be with someone who truly cared for her.

"I can't believe he did that to you, his own child. What right does he have to do that to someone who was powerless. You couldn't stop him. He doesn't even deserve to be alive," Harry growled.

"I'm glad you think that, as neither do I. I haven't seen my father for three years. In the holidays I would stay at a friend's house. I wouldn't stay at Hogwart's because on the outside we were a prestigious family. I had to conform to that image. When the war broke out, I knew that he was one of the Death Eaters, and I knew I never wanted to see him again. I hoped that he would be killed," Pansy replied.

"Where is he now?"

"In Azkaban, where do you think? Anyone convicted of being a Death Eater was automatically sent there. A bit odd, sending all the Death Eater's to one place where only enchantment's and Auror's stand in their way of escaping. But, at least he isn't at home anymore. And you may have guessed, but he won't be invited to our wedding."

"I understand," Harry smiled kindly. "I'm glad we can talk about this now. It's nice to feel safe, and I trust you now. If someone had said to me last year, 'In a year's time, Voldemort will be dead and you will share everything with your soul mate Pansy Parkinson,' I would not believe them. But I am not complaining, I couldn't have asked for a better life partner, I mean that."

"But what about Ginny? Surely you would prefer her over me? Didn't you go out at one point?" Pansy frowned, secretly thrilled by what Harry had said.

"Yeah, before I went to search for Horcruxes. I broke up with her though, I wanted to protect her. When we came back to school this year, she kissed me and...it didn't feel right anymore. She had become my little sister since I last saw her."

"Oh," Pansy said.

"What?"

"Nothing...I didn't know what else to say."

"Oh."

"Don't you start saying it," Pansy laughed.

"Oops," Harry chuckled before bending down to kiss her hair. Again, Pansy blushed.

"Why are you blushing?"

"I can't help it," Pansy muttered. "It feels nice."

"Really? Well how about this?"

Harry took her chin and held it gently so that it faced him. Pansy looked directly into his eyes, her heart beginning to race. It had never felt like this with anyone before. At that moment, she realised she liked Harry after all. And also at that moment, he kissed her. No fuss, he just did. It felt right...they had waited long enough. It didn't feel rushed at all. It was absolutely perfect.

"Come on," Hermione moaned to Draco, pulling at his arm.

"Stop rushing me woman!" Draco complained as his love dragged him up the stairs. Dinner was over, and they hadn't seen Pansy and Harry all day. He guessed that Hermione was desperate to know what had happened, and although he didn't admit it, he was too.

Ginny and Blaise laughed at their antics. They were ahead of them, by a flight of stairs, and watched the scene below with amusement. Ginny hoped that the assignment had gone well, and that there would be no more tension in their room.

"If you were faster, I wouldn't have to rush you! Don't you want to know what they had to do?" Hermione asked, breathlessly.

"Well if you had stopped me from having a second helping of chocolate pudding then maybe you wouldn't have to rush me, you're giving me a stitch!" Draco retorted. "And of course I want to know what bloody happened, why in Merlin would I not?"

"Stop arguing," Blaise ordered, "you are ruining the moment."

Hermione looked at him, "what moment?"

"The moment that is Ginny and I staring into each other's eyes whilst we wait for you to stop bickering and get a move on," Blaise declared dramatically. Ginny hit him playfully.

"What is it with Gryffindor woman and physical violence?" Blaise asked Draco angrily. "I'm going to have a bruise if you keep hitting that exact spot." He directed the last comment at Ginny who laughed.

"Just ignore it Blaise! If you two Slytherin's continue to do silly things, when we have no choice but to hit you," Hermione replied demurely.

"Now who is holding us up?" Draco said from somewhere up above them.

Hermione whipped around, and realised that Draco had sneaked past them whilst they were arguing.

"Draco! That's unfair! You sneaky little-"

"Darling please, if you want some Draco loving tonight you're gonna have to stop with the name calling," he smirked.

"Ooo! When I get my hands on you-" Hermione growled. She began climbing the stairs two at a time.

"Feisty when she get's going isn't she?" Draco commented to Blaise, as he climbed the stairs as well.

"Stop it!" Ginny cried, "we could be there by now if it wasn't for your arguing, besides, is this really the best place to be discussing your nightly activities?"

"You're one to talk, Ginny," Hermione muttered, reaching the passionate couple and continuing the walk as a three. Draco stopped and waited for them and Hermione ignored him.

"Hermiiiiiiiioneeeeee," Draco whined.

"What?" Hermione sighed.

"Don't ignore me," he begged.

"Well stop being a baby," she laughed.

"You're the baby," he retorted.

"PLEASE!!!" Blaise cried, "Stop arguing and walk faster! Harry and Pansy will be wondering where we are! It's taken us quarter of an hour to walk four flights of stairs!"

"Ginny, please control your man," Hermione requested, before linking hands with Draco and walking in front of the other couple.

Ginny glared at her but let it go. They were all joking anyway; it was amazing how quickly they had all bonded. She wondered how it would be with a six...a four was so much easier...she hoped it would all work out.

They finally made it up the stairs, Draco muttering that Hogwarts should install a lift, and they entered their room to find it was empty.

Ginny collapsed onto the couch at the same moment Draco did, leading to an uncomfortable moment to untangle limbs and sit as far to the sides as possible. Hermione rolled her eyes, not caring at all- why should she?

Blaise called out, "OI! Where are you two? Come out and tell us what happened!"

No answer.

Blaise walked up to their room and banged on it. "Don't make me come in there," he said warningly.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and a flustered looking Harry popped his head.

"Yes?" He asked politely.

"What were you doing in there...?" Hermione asked, having made her way to stand by Blaise. Ginny and Draco followed, curiously.

"More importantly...why is your shirt buttoned up wrong?" Draco remarked, trying not to smirk but failing miserably.

"Have you-" Ginny began.

"- Pansy is in the bathroom, she'll be out in a minute," Harry interrupted her, and closed the door.

The four shared a bemused look.

"When did they get so comfy with each other? What was that assignment?!" Blaise asked, completely astonished.

Hermione was speechless. She had expected the assignment to bring them close together, but not that close.

"I know you're all still standing there," Harry shouted through the door. The four of them jumped, and scurried back to the sofas, intending to wait there.

Ten minutes later the door opened and Harry and Pansy walked out, looking refreshed and properly clothed.

Harry sat on the single chair, and Pansy sat on his lap.

"Hey," Pansy greeted them breezily.

Four voices immediately resonated through the room.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"What was the assignment?"

"Why was Harry looking more flustered than usual?"

"What activity have you been partaking in since you entered that room?"

The other three looked at Draco, whose question had been eloquently put.

"Calm down guys," Harry chuckled, stroking the bottom of Pansy's back. Ginny was the only one to see that as she sat closest to the new couple.

"Answer my question first," Blaise said firmly, "what the hell happened to you?"

"Well, the assignment brought us together, and we bonded, just like it was supposed to. When we finished we got to talking and realised that we had things in common and...one thing led to another I suppose," Pansy replied evasively.

"You can do better than that," Draco whined."

"What was the assignment?" Ginny asked, poking Draco in the rubs.

"Damn woman and their poking..." Draco murmured under his breath. Everyone ignored him.

"The assignment...how shall we describe it..."Harry pondered, "basically we had to put three of our most special and secret memories in a pensieve. We didn't know the real reason why, we were tricked. Then our partner had to go into our memories and witness the memories we wanted to hide from them. Then we had to talk about what we saw."

"...That's actually a really good idea...." Hermione smiled.

"We know," Pansy and Harry said in unison.

"Oh god...they're going to be more annoying than the two lovebirds in the corner," Blaise groaned, pointing at Draco and Hermione.

Draco smirked and Hermione blushed, both typical responses.

"So...keep going....why did we find Harry with his shirt buttoned up wrong?" Ginny asked excitedly.

"We told you, we bonded. But that is as much as you're gonna know. We want to keep our privacy," Harry said firmly.

The four groaned and grumbled.

"Hey," Pansy said, "it's our business if you don't mind. We'd like to keep it that way. This is new to both of us and we don't want anyone-" she glared at Draco, who raised his hands in the air to declare his innocence, "- anyone to interfere with our fledgling relationship."

"Fine," four voices replied sadly.

"Now that that's over with, who fancies a game of exploding snap?" Harry asked, nudging Pansy off his lap.

A week passed by quickly and soon Hermione found it was the day of dress shopping with Narcissa. She had asked Draco whether Ginny or Pansy could go with her, but he had told her his mother wanted Hermione all to herself and they could go bridesmaid shopping later on.

Hermione had asked Ginny to be her maid of honour and Pansy and Luna had agreed to be bridesmaids.

Ron and Luna were getting along quite happily, they were friends with their roommates which was nice but Luna had told Ginny one Charms lesson that Ron missed his best friends. Ginny had told Hermione a few evenings later when they had some girl time. Hermione was worried by that but she knew it was difficult to keep up the friendships with their other friends when they had grown so close as a six. She knew she had to do it, it wasn't fair on Ron. That's why she had asked Luna to be a bridesmaid, in an attempt to reboot their friendship. Draco had asked Blaise and Harry to be his best men, but because Hermione had asked Luna, Draco had asked Ron to escort Luna.

Hermione hoped Draco and Ron could bond a little before their wedding, so Ron could be upgraded to a best man. February was months away. She had to get through two engagement parties and one wedding before it was their turn.

Because it would take up too much time, instead of being automatically invited to every single engagement party and wedding, you had to receive an invitation to come to the event, like in the Muggle world. Imagine if you had to attend every single party...there wouldn't be any time to be alone or do your work. Hermione knew that there had been over fifteen engagement parties before hers and Draco's on Halloween and she was pleased she only had to attend one- Ron and Luna's.

Hermione and Draco had already planned the engagement party, which was to be held in the Room of Requirement on Halloween. Only a select few, along with people outside Hogwarts were invited. It was going to be a small private affair, as Draco was a Malfoy, and had been taught that was the proper way of doing things.

"Wish me luck?" Hermione asked Draco, who was still lying in bed looking bleary eyed. It was 8 o'clock on a Saturday morning. Hermione had to go to Professor McGonagall's office where Narcissa would meet her and they would take a portkey to Diagon Alley. Hermione was glad they weren't taking the floo; she didn't want to be untidy on her first meeting with Narcissa without Draco.

"You'll be fine Hermione; you're getting married to her only son. She has to like you."

"Gee thanks Draco, you're so great at comforting," Hermione said sarcastically.

Draco sighed, "Come here."

Hermione lunged for the bed and curled up to his chest. It was fast becoming her favourite place to be.

"Good luck Hermione, you'll be wonderful. I'll miss you today, but it will be a good time to catch up on my work. You're very good at distracting me," he laughed softly. Hermione giggled then leant up and kissed him before leaving.

Draco sighed, and then rolled over and fell straight to sleep. It was too early for a Saturday.

LOL! I seriously had a blast writing the stairs sequence. I was completely inspired and kept writing and writing. I hope you lot enjoyed it too!

Sooooo, the next chapter will definitely have the Narcissa/Hermione meeting...then just general fluff leading up to the engagement party which will be the chapter after next...I think...unless I get totally carried away...which I hope not...because it's taken 20 chapters and we're STILL in October. I bet you don't care though ; ) just makes the story longer!

I don't know when the next update will be...I need to catch up on work because I've been busy revising for the psychology exam last wednesday- it went really well btw- and also I need to think of what the witch and her soon to be mother in law will talk about : )

I've written too much again! *sighs*

Love you all! Now, reeeeeeeeeeview pleeeeeeeeease : )