Part 2

Chapter 1

Pansy woke slowly, and with dreary sight, it was a tired awakening that left her blurred and unable to take anything in. She knew, somewhere in her head, she was very grouchy. It had to be early, "Blasted body clock", but she was still tired.

She realised that she wasn't as comfortable as she expected to be. Not uncomfortable, she knew that wherever she was she was happy about it and didn't want to get up, but it wasn't to her beds usual level of comfort. She breathed in a fresh scent of earthy grass and broom handle wax that made her tingle inside. She smiled as she felt the hand that lay on her lower back fall and caress her round rear.

Pansy's head jolted up with a squeak as she realised someone was touching her. The sound woke some sleeping giant under her with a start. Quickly rubbing her eyes, she looked down to see Weasley's tired face, covered in a mix of their trails of red and black hair. She froze realising she'd woken from being asleep directly on top of him.

With a whimper Ron retreated an inch backwards into the cushions of the old couch in which they had lay on, now becoming aware of their situation. Pansy leaned up on her arms and Ron's eyes diluted in shock, seemingly unable to decide where to look he turned his head to look at the room instead. He simply raised a hand and pointed at her chest.

Pansy recoiled as she realised his signalling was to bring her attention to the fact that she was naked. Gathering up an armful of a blanket that was strung over them she recoiled, taking stock of herself. Unable to be happy about finding herself in this kind of situation she at least found relief in the fact that she was only naked from the waist up. Pulling the quilt though meant that she now revealed that he too was naked from the waist up. The sight of his chest and stomach unshackled of its burdensome clothes made her own eyes widen.

There was a beep on Ron's watch, it alerted him to the fact that it was early, but he knew it wasn't early enough and soon they'd miss breakfast and start of lessons. They both wrestled to get covered up and dressed. As they did Ron realised, they'd come to the Room of Requirement in the night. They'd slept on a large soft couch that was centred in the room next to Hermione's table and chair.

Pansy looked around the room in fleeting wonder as she'd never seen the place before. It was short lived as she followed him to the door. "Why can't I remember anything from last night after-…", she blushed as she recalled the flight where they'd kissed. She didn't know how long they toured the castle locked together, but the memory was potent, the sort that had electricity flowing over her again.

Ron couldn't help but stare at her as they reached the door. She did the same as they faced off with simple smiles. He'd felt what starlight was truly made of last night and now it was over. The feeling of her lips on his sensitive injured one remained with a perverted sting that he enjoyed.

There was another one of their trademarked long silences as they stared at each other without a single word ready to be spoken. Knowing there was no time and going with that same feeling that had worked so well for him this year, he went with the first thing that came to mind.

He gently took her hand, leaning down he raised it to his lips where he traced a single kiss on the back. He noticed the pink in her cheeks and the dilation of her pupils, it was enough. Holding the door open she stepped outside, and he followed.

They both parted, going separate ways as they made for a pacy change of clothes. As they left there were several long backwards glances over their shoulders. With only Pansy stopping to stare in fascination as she noticed the door they'd just exited almost vanish as it remained only a second longer, bleeding into the brickwork and disappearing.

Walking on Pansy had quickly registered they were on the Seventh floor on the corridor with the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. In fact, the hanging was directly opposite the door that they'd exited, or she thought they'd exited. She was still confused and intrigued by the strange place. But in understanding, she knew she had to rattle her way through every passageway she knew of to get to Slytherin in good time.

Finding the dungeons easier by using the entrance on the other side of the castle she reached the Common Room as stragglers watched her in confusion out of uniform so late. Hurtling to her dormitory she found she was alone and cursed. Realisation hit her that Tracey would be worried, and it stabbed at her.

Panting at the speed in which she'd reached the Great Hall, now in uniform, she paused to catch her breath. As she did the shouting match that was ongoing pulled her further into the room and she saw the Gal's stood fast opposite Draco, Millicent, Blaise and Nott. Tracey was desperately trying to get at Malfoy while Liza held her around the waist. Draco looked to be shocked into inaction, but he was as vocal as they rallied threats back and forth.

"I swear, I swear it Malfoy, if you've put a finger on her, I'll have your bollocks for earrings!" Tracey spat with a wild venom.

"I told you I haven't seen your little tart, I wouldn't want it touching me while you've been sniffing round her, unless you decide to join in", for all of Draco's cockiness he seemed as riled as Tracey did. His voice sounded just as angry and vicious. Millicent seemed poised at his elbow ready to grab rather than focus on the other girls.

"You're a vile sad little boy, you can act as tough as you like, but your just a little boy who hangs around with other little boys", Tracey sneered.

Nott took a step forward, as he did Harrier came to Tracey's left, her hand in her robe, "watch who your talking to you stupid Dyke!" Nott rang out.

This forced Harrier to pull out her wand completely. Liza, still with the one arm around Tracey unsheathed hers with her free hand. Farah came striding forward next to her brandishing her own.

Blaise pulled his wand along with Nott. Draco started to look wild eyed as he stared off with Tracey, Millicent remained at his elbow ready for him, but one hand remained close to her wand as they all faced off.

But Millicent's voice echoed out, "back on your lead Nott, don't make it worse", and she almost spat the words as she bored red angry eyes into him.

Nott reacted without thought, snapping back at her, "shut up Milli! You don't tell me what to do".

Next Millicent did have to react, as the shout brought a violent reaction from Draco who span on his feet and made a half lunge at Nott. As she put her arms round him, to hold him fast he screamed, "don't you talk to her like that".

Draco turned back to Tracey with a pink blotchiness to his face now that he'd gotten so riled up, "you need to watch your back" he spat viciously. This prompted Harrier also throw an arm around trace to stop her bolting as she went wild in retaliation.

This brought a sinister grin to Draco's face, "I'll send you Pansy's best when she's back where she belongs",

The switch in his taunting goaded the girls into reacting as Harrier and Farah drew back their wands in the air.

The door opened with a bang and everyone jumped.

"ENOUGH!", Professor McGonagall's voice rang out as she'd come hurriedly from within the great hall. The doors closing behind her Pansy could see as many faces stood trying to get a look at what was causing the scene. "Dare I ask what the meaning of this is", she asked, looking from each faction. The Gals slowly stowed their wands away and Liza released her grip on Tracey.

"Professor, he's done something to Pansy, I don't know where she is, and I know he did something to her last night-…".

McGonagall's eye's flickered with a potent fear as she heard a student was missing but quite as instantly her eyebrows fell back into place with a complacent smirk on her face as her eyes rested on Pansy's.

"Miss Parkinson, would you care to inform your friends that you're not in peril?"

Everyone in the Hall turned to see her stood looking shocked by the scene. Tracey leaped into action and slammed into her, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her into her fiercely. Pansy felt awful to see that her best friend had tears in her eyes and that she was the cause. Pulling back, they told each other that they would speak later without use of a single spoken word or subtle shake of their heads, but Pansy made sure to grip her hand as tight as she could.

"Very well, we end this here and now and if I hear any more on it I shall be informing Professor-…" McGonagall paused as she turned to find the Slytherin head behind her, "Snape", she finished gently.

"Professor", she acknowledged her curtly, "I dare say I, as well as the rest of the school, heard enough of the shouting to have a general idea of what has been going on". Both teachers nodded at each other.

"Miss Parkinson, your absence?", Snape asked cooly.

"I had a bad night's sleep Professor, I stepped out in the night for a walk to tire me out and again this morning", she lied.

There was a mild nod of the two Professor's heads as they heard this, "well as needed as it might have been, out of hours is still out of hours, five points from Slytherin".

"I hope you find it appropriate to punish Davies too Professor", Draco ground out with a bitterness in his voice.

"Mr Malfoy", McGonagall purred with a diluted malice, "I dare say that Miss Davies had ample reason to believe that you were the cause of her distress, the mere fact that Miss Parkinson is now with us doesn't negate this. I suspect five points from Slytherin might do you well to adjust your attitude".

"Professor", Snape acknowledged McGonagall politely, "if I might deal with punishments pertaining to my own House".

"Of course", McGonagall replied without a flicker of ignominy.

"Thank you, Professor,", he again bowed his head to her before turning back to Draco with a much sterner face. "As the Professor quite rightly suggested, Five points from Slytherin, learn to control yourself Mr Malfoy". Snape turned to Pansy, "Parkinson can have five off too, out of your common room after hours and Davies, five from you for what I imagine would have been an embarrassing letter I'd have to write to his father explaining why he was beaten bloody by a girl if you'd have gotten your hands on him".

He looked the room over entirely, "I imagine the rest of you we can thank for not having this spill out any further. But understand this, we do not want a repeat of this morning again, from any of you". With a pause he looked from the group to McGonagall and back again, "and I highly suggest you take on board that this year at Hogwarts is not the year to be drawing attention to yourself, don't let it happen again".

From the look the two teachers gave each other Pansy took the meaning behind this to have something to do with Umbridge.

A second later and they both took steps towards her and Tracey.

"Miss Parkinson, is there anything you'd like to tell us, in confidence?", McGonagall caught her off guard with how gently she asked the question, "or to either of us individually?"

"Thank you, Professors, but no, it was just a stupid mistake of my own doing".

As she said this, she spotted on the other side of the room by the doors leading from the Grand Staircase that Weasley was stood watching her. At what point he'd entered and become a spectator she didn't know. She struggled not to allow the smile that threatened her to emerge.

The Gal's started to surround her as the Professors took to shepherding the other faction into the Great Hall. Pansy watched with a mild amusement as Weasley and Draco noticed each other and began glaring as much as possible until they reached the doors and Weasley swore at him loudly.

"Five points from Gryffindor Mr Weasley", McGonagall shrieked out, "I heard that, it was completely uncalled for!"

As the girls turned to her, she caught the sight of Tracey's bloodshot eyes which she finally allowed to burn question after question into her. Before she spoke though, Tracey paused with an angry and hurt expression as she raised a finger to Pansy's face, finding the mark that was still present from where Draco struck her.

With the whole of the night before now on her mind, tears began growing in her eye, she whimpered pitifully to them all as she started to cry, "Death, Teacups, Dresses".

There was an echo of confused looks from them all until the realisation hit them. Each putting an arm round her they dragged her off round the corner.

Ron jumped as he felt the weight of Ginny as she collided with him. She was alone, abandoning her group to come and sit with her sibling.

"Spill!"

"Spill what?", Ron said drawing out the inevitable.

"What have you done", she asked casually as she ripped open a pastry. "Look your leaving a mystery that even Seamus could solve here. You're at one end of the table, them two at the other end", she tilted her head but went on when he wouldn't answer. "Alright, your already bust lip has recently been re-opened by the looks of it, last night considering it was fine when you left me. So, why'd Harry hit you this time?"

There was a silence as he looked away from her, not wanting to be drawn in. Ginny waited a few moments and started to look from him and his lip, to where Harry and Hermione sat, she realised, they weren't even looking at each other.

"Ron you didn't!" Ginny covered her mouth, "please tell me you haven't done something stupid".

He glared at her as he turned to quieten the racket and attention she was stirring.

"What happened?" she hissed.

"We sort of, had a moment".

"A moment!"

"Will you shut it, please" he hissed.

"So, in this moment did you tongue your best mate's girlfriend or not!" Ginny shocked him by how angry the idea made her. It was a complete reverse of how she seemed to be the night their relationship was outed.

"Not, of course I didn't, I wouldn't do that for Merlin's sake!"

Ginny considered him and saw the genuine pain on his face, she laced her hand through his arm, "tell me".

Ron admitted to being caught in a lingering moment with her that pulled her to him and drew his lips threateningly close to hers. She admonished him for this but allowed him to go on. The fact that they'd both pulled away, the holding each other reassuringly, even the challenge to kiss her just to make her see that they knew it wasn't what they wanted.

"And how much of it did he see?"

"I don't know", Ron grumbled, "I know he only hit me the once, but I allowed it".

She frowned at him.

"What?"

"No one hits you Ron", Ginny warned.

"Gin, he had every right", Ron moaned, "Merlin I can't do right for bloody wrong here".

"I don't care", she warned him again, "Weasley's don't go letting anyone put one on us, even if you did deserve it", she added the last with venom.

"I just told you I didn't kiss her", he hissed.

"Go tell that to him then!" Ginny hissed back with more viciousness, "Ron it's a crap situation. On one hand you shouldn't be letting yourselves get so close. Its great you both moved past whatever it was between you, but the flip side is you've broken Harry's trust, you both have".

"But she's my friend, we all said we didn't want it to change us. And we stopped to keep his trust and protect their relationship".

"Firstly, no!", she glared at him, "you two don't get to carry on the same, it's always going to change you. You both have unresolved feelings and attraction, you don't put yourselves in inappropriate situations that can breed…", she punched him repeatedly in his large shoulder trying to give him a dead arm, "…this, exact, type, of problem!"

"Secondly you can't expect the word of both of you saying, wait Harry, we realised we didn't want this, and it's all resolved now, to outweigh the sheer horror of seeing his girlfriend caught up in his best mate's arms".

"Shite", he moaned as it all hit him.

"Shite", she agreed, stroking his arm supportively now he understood where they'd gone wrong.

She let a few moments pass before turning on him again, this time for gossip purposes. "So, what was going on with the Slytherins? How come you lost us Five points? And why do you keep looking up for Parkinson?".

A smirk crept onto his face that he tried to hide but Ginny noticed, and her mouth fell open, "oh shite! what, have, you, done, now!" she snarled, rhythmically thumping him again.

Downstairs in the corridor used by all the Hufflepuff's, Liza leaned over and tickled the pear on the portrait of the bowl of fruit. The pear transformed into a green handle, and she led them in through the fixture as she swung it open.

Pansy had never stepped foot inside, neither too had Tracey and Farah she noticed by the shock at the sheer size of the place as they entered. They were swamped by a sea of overly helpful elves offering every kind of favour they might need.

"How long do we have?" Harrier asked sharply.

"Twenty minutes tops, thirty at a push but we'd all better have an excuse", Liza stated factually.

"Very well", Harrier and Pansy moved through the sea of Elves with little thought for politeness and sat themselves down without thanks, even ushering some to move. "You, a pot of Coffee, some toast and porridge".

"Of course Miss" the little elf squeaked, and they all began to scatter into helping ready their request as quickly as possible.

"Wait!", Pansy barked, her voice shaky as she'd already began regaining some control after her little cry. Some of the elves stopped and turned, "and a pot of tea", she said sharply.

Liza sat with her hand pinching at the bridge of her nose. She took a place opposite Harrier and Pansy. But Tracey and Farah stood gripping the backs of the chairs, each of them staring daggers at the other two who sat blinking at them in bewilderment.

"What?" they both chorused.

"What the hell was that", Farah spat.

"That was disgusting!" Tracey said in astonishment.

There was a thump on the table and a sharp low hiss that seemed to shatter their eardrums as it screeched out. "ENOUGH!" the sound echoed through the room and took everyone by surprise, including the Elves who jumped in fright.

Liza stood, slamming her hands on the table as she did. Pansy's mouth, like the others, fell open. She was in disbelief as Liza's eyes had physically darkened to a shark like blackness, cold and devoid of compassion.

"Sit", Liza whispered, when no one moved and just looked at each other in shock she repeated that same blast of sound. "SIT!", the shriek was likened to a scream in the wind. Pansy felt the hairs on her neck stand and spark. She saw that as Liza released this blast of sound her beautiful pearlescent skin, that only hinted at its green colour intensified. It transitioned in that split second from its softness to a sharp angry green around her neck like an animal's threatening crest.

Everyone sat and she placed her palms on the table, glaring at each of them.

"I'm sorry", her words were strained, Pansy watched as Harrier slid her hand to Liza, but she recoiled. "I'm worked up from that confrontation with those idiots". She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, settling herself.

"I will not sit and watch my sisters pick each other apart when others are so ready to do so". They all remained silent, "Girls", she turned to Tracey and Farah, "you need to forgive Harrier and Pansy, this is a cultural difference. They were both raised around this kind of", she paused, "attitude". "To them a house elf is just another appliance, and it's presence is dismissible to their minds eye".

She looked at the other two, "you two need to remember this isn't their way. Remind them it isn't a cruelty, and that you wouldn't willingly be so callous".

"Excuse me!", she turned to get all the elves' attention and they all stopped to look over to them, the nearest running to assist. "I just wanted to say, I'm very sorry about my outburst, I hope it didn't scare anyone. Also, my friends would like to say something".

Liza turned and glared at Tracey and Harrier. They turned to the elves on mass and blanched, slowly they found their voice.

"Err, hello".

"Yes, erm hello, just to say we didn't mean to be rude".

"Yes, and thank you for the breakfast?", Pansy finished the last aiming the question at Liza. She knew that for Harrier, like herself, this was just bizarre. Being asked to thank an Elf, it just wasn't done. But looking at the other two's faces, she felt she might understand their reaction.

She nodded and patted Harrier's hand as she sat.

There was a long silence as the elves brought their order over, each of them offering a small thanks in return.

Realising they only had so long and knowing the ability she had to always find amusement in things Tracey allowed herself to giggle until she started laughing aloud.

"Bloody hell Liza, you scared the piss out of me".

Slowly they all began to laugh. "Liza" Pansy spoke up, "was that your, err…".

"My Heritage?", Liza suggested, Pansy nodded, "yes dear it was. I can't always shake off that kind of, anger, after it's built up like that. I'd apologise again but I guess it's sort of worked settling us all while we wait to hear from you, when your ready".

Again, fascinated by her, Pansy gave her a smile. She was right though, she needed to get on with telling them before they were out of time.

After barely eating a single piece of toast she took to warming her hands on her mug of tea as she told them about the meeting with Draco. Pansy felt for Tracey's hand under the table and clutched it warmly as she got to the darker part of the confrontation. She took the time to address them all as she recanted, word for word, his threats, and the barrage she'd fired back at him as she lost control. Each one of them looked shocked at what they were hearing.

Tracy's rear raised out of her seat when she recalled the slap that he landed across her cheek. It was only when Liza took hold of her hand that she stopped rising out of her chair and sat back down. Either warning or reassurance, it halted her.

"How bad is it?" Pansy asked them all quietly. After hearing herself retell the story she originally felt a worry that she had said too much and gone too far with him. But then an even more powerful dread took her, and she turned to Harrier, finally getting that it was her she really wanted to hear from. As the paralytic doom took hold of her, like it had the night before.

Harrier spoke first, her hand finding Pansy's she quietly answered. "I don't know Pansy, but I'm frightened half to death hearing this. You're certain he said 'asked', or did he say he was 'going' to ask Lucius?".

"He's already done it; I could see it in his face".

"Wait a minute", Tracey scoffed, "I'm sorry but why are you both bricking it? She's not actually going to marry him are you, I mean they can't make you". Tracey lost her confidence as Pansy gave her a blank look, "can they?"

Pansy and Harrier gave each other another terrified look, their faces sad and frozen.

"I'm not hearing this", Tracey laughed, "this is bull, they can't make you-…".

"-Tracey", Liza warned gently, "sit, down". Again, she offered her her hand as the girl realised, she'd started rising out of her chair again.

"But Liz", Tracey pleaded, "you know they can't".

Liza smiled at her as she tried to sooth her again.

"Actually", Harrier spoke up but looked petrified in doing so, she eyed Pansy who nodded as if to reassure her it was ok. "Well, Pansy and I can pretty much be used as our parents please, when it comes to purity betrothing. It is changing for the better but, well our families sort of still have a foot in the dark ages and…some more so than others".

"Could you run away", everyone turned to look at Farah.

Pansy smiled, "my first thought actually", her voice still sad.

Tracey jumped on this, "yes! You come live with me with my mum, she'd hate having two of us to deal with, hilarious!". She frowned as Pansy shook her head, "No Pansy its great, honestly she'll love you and your so small you'd fit in a shoe!"

"Tracey!" Harrier pleaded with her. And again, she exchanged another look with Pansy as Tracey again backed down, angry that they were getting nowhere.

"Your asking her to abandon her family, more than that her status and heritage". Harrier paused nodding, "and I know, honestly, I do. What family, if they can do this to her? Or treat her as she's been treated? Well, ours actually. And again…I know, you believe Pansy doesn't care about any of that, but love, we really have duty and honour burned into us as soon as were old enough to. Were taught family is everything, even if it's no kind of true family by an outsider's perspective, it's all we've ever known. She'd be a pariah in her own community. And again, yes, she'll always have us, but this is a huge thing to comprehend".

Farah now linked her fingers in with Tracey's giving her a sad smile. "Their right", she said sadly, "I've got magical parents, but I was raised as a muggle, by an interracial mother and father. I've never had to worry about such things. But I've seen firsthand what arranged marriages can do to people. "I lost my own grandmother and almost all my other family before I was born, all because my mother ran from hers to marry my dad. Its as sad as it is beautiful".

"He should have hit you harder!" Tracey seethed as she fixed Pansy with an angry glare. Standing abruptly, she stormed away from them, "nock some bloody sense into you", they heard her mutter as she disappeared through the portrait hole.

Pansy's head dropped defeated as she Tracey left, leashing out as she did. She wasn't angry at her, just upset her situation was effecting them all so much.

Farah started to rise to go after her, but Liza put a hand on her shoulder. "Let her go love, we'll give her some space".

"You don't think Draco will actually go through with it now though do you? After the way he spoke this morning? If he believed any of what she told him", Liza asked Harrier.

"It wouldn't matter", Harrier shrugged. "Draco has always feared Lucius and disappointing him. I think even if it were true and she'd been with a thousand men, he'd sooner marry her to hush it up than have his father think he asked for a bad match".

Harrier frowned though, deep in thought. "What?" Liza quizzed as she saw the look.

Harrier glanced at Pansy, whom she now had her arm around, fearful of further upsetting her. "I'm just not sure Lucius would think her a poor match even if it were true. The house of Parkinson has always been one of the weightier names on the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Its only because Arachnus drank and flitted away their wealth that their not a true power anymore".

Pansy flinched hearing her father's name but remained silent as Harrier went on.

"But Lucius would be very willing to link with the Parkinson's and absorb their tree as Arachnus would have no male heir to continue the name. It would fall under Lucius and even with him being the coin, he'd inherit the titles and purity". "Think of it this way, if he wanted power, he'd approach my father. He's one of only a few with bigger pockets than Lucius. But were only interesting to him through our lost names. The House of Light is considered Pure and high ranking, but we were never on the Sacred Twenty-Eight as our lines were a mix of the Blacks, and Sayre's in America. When Cantankerous Nott published the Sacred Twenty-Eight, he dismissed our house as any links to the states were seen as bourgeois for some inert reason. But our history is strong through the links with the Blacks but more so as the Sayre's beginnings are linked with Slytherin".

She scoffed when she finished, "but what the hell would I know, I'm a woman, were just there for the breeding", she tightened her grip on Pansy.

There was a long and sad pause, "time?" Harrier asked with a cold indifference.

"Would you believe me if I said we've only been here ten minutes", Liza mocked.

"Well, nothing quite as exciting happened to me last night before you all rush to ask me", Farah said prodding at her teacup.

Pansy smiled at her.

"Anyone else then?" Harrier turned to Liza, "I never ask you enough, your always so busy looking after everyone else".

"I was with you all night, you wet blanket", she smiled back.

"Well, I slept with Weasley last night".

There was a pause where no sound was made but for the gentle bustle of the elves behind them. Then a smash as Farah's cup hit the floor and the Elves sprang into action.

A/N

So, the possible next chapter in the story if it is to continue. I'm writing this the same date of publishing so I don't know how this will be received yet so we'll see.

For clarity's sake, I don't think it needs saying but Ron and Pansy have taken to bed and done what teenagers do, but they haven't had sex. I don't rule that out as I've drawn from a lot of personal realism and it happens, a lot, maybe too much in some of our cases. Point is its whatever is right for the story and the characters down the line. But in the hear and now, no they haven't gone that far. They've enjoyed each other and don't remember much about it.

The part that got me writing this chapter was Pansy and Harrier. I don't know if it's come across in this story as its not like there's a calendar, but I've tried to root it Canon in the 90's. That said, Pansy and Harrier's shared knowledge and experiences in pure blood families in that time period, I can't help but feel that there's a lot of richness that you could go into there and I'm intrigued by the idea of Pansy's resistance to possibly being sold off for marriage.

Again, its a route, if there's an audience.

But I cherish these characters and would never needlessly abuse them.

Also, (Chapter 21) (Part 2, Chapter 1) thoughts on how, you might continue in that context.