Chapter 15

Hermione POV

It had been three days since the trip back to Hogwarts, and Hermione was officially over the tactic Ginny had suggested. Besides the fact that she couldn't stop thinking about Pansy, she'd only seen her from afar in the classes they had together, and she hadn't spoken to her since Ginny interrupted them in the post-patrol compartment on the train. How could Hermione not be overthinking something like this? Clearly, she'd scared Pansy off. She'd pushed too far, and now Pansy was avoiding her. They'd been last on the schedule for patrols this week, so they hadn't even worked together for Prefect duties yet, but this was not at all their usual routine, and Hermione was overthinking everything.

Not wanting to push things further, Hermione hadn't tried to approach Pansy regarding a study session, but it'd gotten harder with every day that had passed. She missed Pansy. A lot. She hated herself for losing control like she had, being so obvious and desperate and… Ugh! If she could just clear the air with Pansy, and tell her that yes, she does have feelings for her, but that their friendship means more to her and that she'd work on dismissing those feelings so they could continue their friendship, all would be fine, right? Right?

Hermione had been steering clear of the Room of Requirement the past few days to try and respect Pansy's obvious attempt at avoiding her, but she couldn't stay away from it for one more evening. Her studying had taken a hit, as she found it incredibly difficult to study anywhere else now. Pansy had been completely right about the library, there were far too many mouth breathers in there. Literally, all she could hear now was the annoying breathing of those around her. She'd tried studying in the Gryffindor common room, but that had also been a dead end. It was far too loud, especially seeing as no one except for her seemed to be too awfully concerned about their studies or O.W.L. exams that were quickly approaching. Ginny had been right, Ron had already come around to what had happened on the Hogwarts Express and had apologized sheepishly to Hermione the first chance he got, which unfortunately made her studying situation worse in the common room as he was constantly wanting to chat or invite her to join in a game of Exploding Snap. There was truly only so many times she could insist that she needed to study and so did he, before she grew tired of his interruptions, no matter how innocent they were.

As she walked down the 7th floor corridor, Hermione hitched her bag higher up on her shoulder as she came across the blank wall of the hidden Room of Requirement, pacing back and forth three times before the door appeared. She opened the door slowly and peaked her head in, making sure Pansy wasn't there. If she didn't want to see Hermione, Hermione would respect that. Thankfully, and admittedly disappointingly, the room was empty. Once she was inside their familiar study room and settled in at the table, Hermione felt her whole body relax. Though deep down she wished Pansy was there with her, at least this was something of a comfort to her.

Hermione had been studying alone for about two hours when she looked up at the familiar sound of the latch as well as the long creak of the door opening, and found herself staring into light green eyes. Pansy stared right back, took a deep breath, and stepped forward into the room, softly closing the door behind her.

"Would you mind if I joined you?"

Not wanting to scared her off, Hermione shook her head gently and moved a few of her books over to make room for Pansy's books on the table. As Pansy got organized and took her seat across the table from Hermione, Hermione watched her closely. Something was different. She didn't seem uncomfortable, it was more like she was guarded, protecting herself from Hermione. She had to say something, she had to explain the situation, anything to alleviate this tension between the two of them. As Hermione opened her mouth to speak, Pansy beat her to it.

"So, did everything work out with Weasley, then?" Pansy asked.

Hermione furrowed her brow, "What?"

"On the train, Weasley had been looking for you. Luckily his sister sent him in the wrong direction so she could head you off. It is nice, having her aware of our… Study partnership."

The way she'd paused before study partnership set something off in Hermione's head. What, she wasn't sure. What in the bloody hell was she doing, calling them a study partnership? Were they no longer friends now as well? Had Hermione actually ruined this?

"Oh… Yeah, everything worked out well enough with Ron," Hermione frowned.

Pansy's smile was tight, not at all reaching her eyes, "Good. Great."

Pansy flipped open her Potions text and began to read, but Hermione couldn't keep her eyes off of Pansy. What was going on? It didn't feel like Pansy was uncomfortable with what had happened on the train, and why on Earth was she putting so much focus on how things worked out with Ron? She hated Ron, so why would she care how their friendship… Oh… Oh.

Hermione's eyes widened, "Pansy?"

Pansy's green eyes flitted up from her book.

"Ron and I aren't together anymore…"

Hermione watched closely, though she didn't need to, as Pansy's eyebrows nearly jumped into her dark bangs. Her face was so genuinely shocked, Hermione almost laughed, but this truly wasn't a laughing matter.

"Oh," was all that Pansy responded with.

"Yeah, we broke up over Christmas holiday. The day before the trip back to Hogwarts, actually."

Pansy continued to stare at her, her light eyes wide as she clearly was processing what Hermione had said. Then she stood up and walked over to the lit fireplace, facing it with her back to Hermione and the study table.

Hermione took a deep breath as she turned in her chair towards Pansy, then continued, "Ginny told me I shouldn't overthink this and should just let things occur naturally, but that's not me and we both know that. I think there's been a misunderstanding here and I don't want that. I just… I don't want a misunderstanding to be the reason that we don't…" she broke off, her nerves getting the better of her.

Pansy turned to face Hermione again, her light eyes fixed on Hermione's, "We don't what…?" Pansy prompted quietly.

Hermione mustered up as much nerve as she could, wishing she could summon up Godric Gryffindor himself to give her the courage she needed, before forcing herself to forge on. She pushed out of her chair and walked over to stand just a few feet from Pansy, twisting her hands nervously as her slightly shaky voice spoke over the dull pops and cracks of the fire.

"Pansy, I like you. I realized it over Christmas holiday, and I honestly think I've liked you for a while now… I have no idea if you feel the same way. Sometimes I feel like you do, or at least could, but I also don't know if that's just my overthinking stressed out mind making me think things that aren't even remotely true. What I do know is that I do fancy you, Pansy, but if you don't feel the same, I completely understand, and I can assure you that I'll try to do whatever it takes to make you comfortable enough to not want to end this friendship. Yes, I would like to be more, but if I've misread everything and you don't see me that way, I still want to be friends, if that's okay with you… Oh, I hope it's okay with you. I know it's only been a few months and may sound completely ridiculous, but I can't imagine not being at the very least friends with you. Studying with you, talking with you, laughing with you… I just… I've never felt so understood by someone or – Or safe with someone… I need you in my life, Pansy, and I hope that at the very least we can remain friends after all I've just put out there… And I promise, I swear, I'll stop looking at your lips, I just couldn't help – "

"No."

Hermione's heart dropped, "N – No?"

"No… Don't stop looking at my lips…"

Before Hermione could even comprehend what had been said or what was happening, Pansy had swiftly closed the gap between them and pressed her lips to Hermione's. Nothing could've prepared Hermione for what she was feeling. Nothing, nothing at all, had ever compared to the feeling of Pansy's soft, yet firm lips on hers, Pansy's hands on her cheeks, pulling her in closer to her. Warmth started in her chest before spreading quickly throughout her entire body, out to the tips of her fingers and toes, and suddenly everything felt so clear, so right. This was what she'd been waiting to feel in the many, many kisses with Ron. This was the spark. In one go, Pansy had surpassed any and all expectations she'd ever had in terms of what she'd hoped a kiss would feel like, and she never wanted it to stop.

Pansy pulled away first, resting her forehead against Hermione's as a smile crept onto her perfect lips. She chuckled lightly as she stepped back, "My lipstick…" she mumbled as she brought a thumb to Hermione's bottom lip, wiping it gently. Even that sent a shock through Hermione's body.

"Don't fix it just yet…" Hermione muttered as a blush crept into her cheeks. Pansy lifted a perfectly arched eyebrow at her as her smile morphed into a smirk. "So… I'm assuming you like me as well, then?"

Pansy actually laughed out loud at this, her smile and eyes bright. "Oh, Hermione… I believe I've fancied you since the moment we met…"

Hermione furrowed her brow, "What? What do you mean, the moment we met?"

Pansy smiled at Hermione affectionately as she reached out and gently tucked a few of loose curls behind her ear. "I'm not sure you remember this, but before we were sorted, we shared a boat across the lake… We stood side by side in line, waiting for our turn with the Sorting Hat. You wouldn't stop talking about all you'd learned from Hogwarts, A History, and I'd never been so in awe of someone… From that moment on, I couldn't stop thinking about the girl with the brilliant mind and the brown, bushy hair…"

Hermione did remember. She remembered a quiet girl who was kind enough to offer a spot in her boat across the lake, who had smiled at her when she'd excitedly rattled off fact after fact that she'd memorized from her favorite book she'd read that summer in preparation of her first year at a new school in a new, magical world. It'd felt like that girl had disappeared into thin air after the Sorting Ceremony, but now Hermione knew, she'd been hiding in plain sight the entire time. Pansy had been the quiet girl with the kind smile who had been the very first person to make Hermione feel like she belonged in this new world. And finally, after years, she'd been reunited with her.

Hermione shook her head as it all hit her, her eyes widening "Pansy… Since first year?"

Pansy nodded.

"Then why were you such a bitch to me?"

Pansy laughed and shrugged, "Once I found out you were Muggle-born, I knew because of my family situation we could never be friends, let alone more than friends. But, by bullying you, I could interact with you without suspicion…"

Hermione gaped at her, "That's… I can't… I can't decide if I think that's horrible or incredibly sweet…"

Pansy swallowed hard as her eyes dropped from Hermione's, now focusing on the floor beneath their feet.

"But because I know you… I'm going to go with sweet…" Hermione said as she stepped forward, closing the small gap that had formed between them, and pulled Pansy into another kiss. Just like the first one, it felt so incredibly right.

"Since first year, Pansy Parkinson?" Hermione asked as she broke the kiss, looking into Pansy's light green eyes.

Pansy nodded and smiled, and Hermione melted. She leaned forward, pressing her lips to Pansy's again, this time letting her tongue gently swipe at Pansy's bottom lip, requesting entry. As Pansy obliged and they deepened the kiss, Hermione felt everything in her brain scream at her to get closer to Pansy, to get more of Pansy. She walked Pansy backward towards the sofa, guiding her to lay down as she herself lay on top of her. The fireplace with its quietly crackling fire bathed them both in a warm light, one that somehow made Pansy even more beautiful, which Hermione hadn't thought was possible. As she stared down at the stunning girl beneath her, she couldn't help but shake her head a bit as she tried to convince herself that this was all real and very much happening to her. Pansy reached up and cupped her face, stroking her cheek gently with her thumb. Hermione turned into it, kissing her palm.

"Since first year, Pansy?" she whispered, a bit shyly now, as if this was all too good to be true. It certainly felt as if it were a dream of some sort.

Pansy grinned as she nodded, "What can I say? Once I met you, no girl was ever going to compare. You, Hermione Granger, have never ceased to impress me… I've never considered you anything less than perfect…"

Hermione's eyes widened as she felt them well up with tears. She felt so lucky that such an incredible girl thought so highly of her, and for so long… Not only that, but she fancied her, as well… They'd wasted so much time, but they could make up for it now.

Hermione dipped her head down and pressed her lips against Pansy's in what was the most loving and emotionally charged kiss she'd ever had. When she pulled back, Pansy used a free hand to wipe the tears from Hermione's cheeks before wrapping an arm around her, pulling her down to lay with her head on her chest. Hermione sunk into Pansy, relaxing deeply as the girl's fingertips ran up and down her back soothingly. After a minute or two, her eyes closed, and she drifted off to sleep, feeling the safest she'd ever felt in another person's arms.

Pansy POV

Pansy could hardly believe what was happening. It honestly felt like some sort of dream, but no, it had to be real. She looked down at the top of Hermione's head as the girl slept soundly on her chest, and tried to accept that as proof that while it wasn't a dream, her dreams were certainly coming true. Hermione Granger, the girl that she'd fancied for so long, was in her arms. Not only that, but she was hers. She'd taken a risk and got to know Hermione, treating her with kindness, letting her in, and against all odds, Hermione had actually wanted to get to know her back. Part of her wished she'd done this sooner, but at the same time, the timing of everything felt just right.

As Pansy lay on her back, gently running her fingers up and down Hermione's spine, she smiled as she looked up through the skylight at the stars above. The parallel between this skylight and the ceiling in the Great Hall wasn't lost on her. Four and a half years ago a cute girl with wild bushy hair and a passion for learning that rivaled her own swept her completely off her feet with her knowledge, including the fact that the ceiling of the Great Hall was bewitched to replicate the sky above. Now, here they were, that very same girl in her arms as Pansy stared up at the night sky through the ceiling of the magical school. She moved her hand up a bit, absentmindedly playing with the ends of Hermione's hair as she listened to the girl's steady breathing amongst the snaps and cracks from the fireplace.

In the back of her mind, Pansy began to think about what this would mean. What would happen next? Would Hermione want to be with her, even if they'd have to keep it a secret? Would she be willing to keep this a secret? They'd never really discussed why either of them were keeping the other a secret, so would Hermione be willing to accept what Pansy would have to tell her? That her family hated Hermione just because she was Muggle-born, and that that would never change?

Pansy's heartrate began to speed up… How would they navigate this? Was this realistic, even at all? This is what had kept her from wanting to ever pursue Hermione in the first place, had it been wise to toss these concerns out the window and allow not only herself, but Hermione as well, to become this infatuated with the other? It was what she wanted, to love someone and be loved back, who wouldn't want that, but had it been wise?

She glanced down at Hermione again, and suddenly everything settled in her head. Hermione adjusted on her chest, burrowing deeper into Pansy's embrace, and Pansy's heartrate began to slow as she gently tightened the hold she had on the girl. All of the complications of the outside world could wait. They'd figure it all out somehow, someway. After all, they were arguably two of the most intelligent students in their year, and frankly, in all of Hogwarts at the moment. They could do this. One step at a time, they could figure this out. They'd have to, because now that Pansy had had a taste of Hermione, she couldn't imagine her life without her.

AN: Thank you to everyone who has read this fic, I truly appreciate it! While this is the end of this fic, it is not the end of this story. I do intend to write a sequel at some point in 2025, so check back for that! Again, thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to read and/or interact with this fic, I greatly appreciate it :)