"You look…confused," Daphne sat down next to Pansy in the common room. "You've not quite been yourself all week."
Pansy slumped, "Ignoring the bloody obvious," Daphne grimaced, knowing they were all more on edge now the Dark Lord was back. "I need to get someone a Christmas present I don't bloody know what to get them."
"Oh! Oh, is this the mysterious person who's stolen Slytherins Queen Bitch's heart?" Daphne crowed, looking excited. "Does this mean you're finally going to tell us who they are?"
"Not yet," Pansy whispered, a shuttered look taking over her face as the very real fear of what would happen if anyone found out hit her again.
Daphne stilled next to her, "Pans…why won't you tell us?" she asked softly.
Turning wide fearful eyes towards her friend Pansy bit back a sob. "It's not safe," she whispered.
"Oh Pansy sweetheart," Daphne murmured, wrapping her arms around the other girl as a nauseous feeling shot through her. "What have you done?"
Across the room, Draco eyed them with something close to sadness. He knew exactly what Pansy wasn't saying, or he thought he did. He wasn't aware the witch had given in to her but he knew Pansy and her interest was…obvious if you knew where to look. He moved silently, sitting down next to them.
"Meeting in ten minutes. Room of Requirement," he murmured, sending a pointed look at Blaise and Theo. They nodded imperceptibly. "Bring Mills."
As he got up and strode out of the room, no one questioning two of his friends flanking him, he wondered how the hell to go about this.
"Well?" Pansy fidgeted nervously, eyeing Draco.
"I hear you're in need of a Christmas present."
Pansy froze, "Draco." Her tone held a warning he knew he'd do well to heed, his eyes automatically darting to the hand clenched around her wand.
"Relax, it's been obvious since fourth year. Although I wasn't aware you had persuaded them to give you a chance."
Pansy smiled slightly, a soft look on her face. Several eyebrows rose at the uncharacteristic expression. "Fourth year," she shrugged. "Christmas."
"Ah." Draco nodded, understanding washing through him, "That explains a lot."
"Going to share with the class?" Millie demanded, her face creased in a scowl.
Pansy's eyes shot to Draco, the fear back on her face but he nodded, "You can trust them," he reminded her. "You know that you can trust them and… I think between us we can make this Christmas gift spectacular."
Taking a deep breath, Pansy began to explain.
Pansy smiled softly as the door to the Room of Requirement opened and her witch slipped in. "You made it!"
"I promised didn't I?" came the tart reply that was belied by the fond smile as she reached down and kissed her.
Pansy sunk into the kiss, revelling in the comfort that she only felt here. Minutes later, curled into each other on the sofa, Pansy twisted, picking up the package from the table beside her. "You're really hard to buy for, you know that?" she informed her before she thrust the beautifully wrapped box at her, "So Merry Christmas. You better bloody appreciate it."
The other witch's eyebrows rose as she sat up properly. "Are there air holes?"
"Well it would hardly do to kill your gift before I gave it to you now would it?" Pansy demanded haughtily, fighting the smirk at the look of intrigue stealing over her girlfriend's face before she pulled the bow, revealing the gift within.
"Pansy," she breathed, her eyes wide, focused on the box in her hand.
"My friends helped," Pansy admitted shyly, "Surprisingly they don't disapprove. I…they were a bit confused initially but once I explained your ah…fondness for impenetrable glass they were just amused. Other than Blaise, he was terrified."
Hermione snorted, feeling her cheeks heat before she smirked, pulling Pansy in to kiss her. "Thank you," she murmured, "It is definitely… unique."
"I thought you'd prefer it to jewellery." Pansy shrugged.
"Oh, I definitely prefer it to jewellery," Hermione gave a wicked little laugh, waving sarcastically at her gift.
Inside her miniature glass enclosure. Delores Umbridge screamed.