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Struggling Through New Beginnings	By : HarryGinny4eva Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 31237 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Spoilers - I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 31
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- 33
Disclaimer: Spoilers - I do
not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from
the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter 33

Pansy watched Draco and Hermione from her seat next to Luna. She saw Draco turn
and say something to Hermione that made her blush, and Pansy grinned widely.

�Well, would you look at that!� Ginny laughed. �After
all this time, all it took was a muggle children�s game to get them to spend
time together.�

Pansy laughed, �I can�t wait to hear Hermione�s reaction to this.�

�She�ll be inwardly crazed, but will try to appear as if she�s not freaking out
about it,� Luna predicted. �We all saw her face in Charms. She�s at a loss.�

�I know,� Ginny agreed. �It must be so weird for her.�

�What do you mean?� Pansy asked as she reached for a piece of chicken.

Luna forked up some peas, �She�s used to being in control and knowing
everything. She�s completely out of her element with men, though. Like being a nargle expert in a room full of wrackspurts,
I expect.�

�What�s a nargle?� a young Slytherin girl asked from
beside Ginny.

Ginny laughed, �Oh, uh, just a small creature, nothing to worry about. So, tell
me about yourselves.�

Each of the students at their table took turns introducing themselves,
but Pansy tuned them out as she saw Ron�s table. She looked at each of the
people and saw a pretty blonde fourth year she recognized as a Ravenclaw
quidditch player, a pair of dainty and dark-haired twins from Hufflepuff. Then, to her horror, Lavender Brown and Padma
Patil. Realization brought on despair.

�They�re all girls!�

�Who�s all girls?� Ginny asked in confusion.

�His whole table!� Pansy answered indignantly.

Knowing Pansy�s fixation on Ron, both Ginny and Luna looked around quickly
trying to locate Ron�s table.

�Ugh! Lavender?� Ginny exclaimed.

�The twins are very pretty,� Luna added.

�Thank you, Luna. I hadn�t noticed!� Pansy snapped.

Luna smiled benignly, �You�re welcome.�

Ginny rolled her eyes and stretched to look at the rest of the people at Ron�s
table. �Well, at least the rest are children.�

Luna took up a bit of her potatoes before she added, �If it helps Cindy and
Sandy are both gay and Ron really can�t stand Marietta. She always scores on
him and rubs it in. Not to mention she betrayed the DA back in fifth year.�

Pansy turned to Luna with hope in her eyes, �And, the blonde?�

Luna shrugged, �No idea.�

Ginny reached out and patted Pansy�s hand, �She can�t hold a candle to you,
Pans.�

�Thanks,� Pansy mumbled, her eyes trained on Ron.

A third year Hufflepuff at their table interrupted to ask Ginny a question
about gaining and losing house points and Luna had started to hum to herself.
Pansy sighed and pushed her food around her plate dejectedly.

A few moments later Luna leaned over and said softly, �Actually, I don�t think
you have anything to worry about. He�s too busy watching Draco and Hermione�s
every move to pay any attention to the pretty, little blonde.�

Pansy turned to see that Luna was right and smiled when she noted the sheepish
look on Hermione�s face and the pleased look on Draco�s. Then, as if attached
by magnets, her eyes were pulled back to Ron and she sighed heavily.

xxxxx

�So, when are you going to stop staring daggers at
your last ex and focus on your first?� Lavender purred beside Ron.

He stopped himself from pushing her hand off his arm and glanced in her general
direction, �I was listening to you.�

�Well, what did I just say then?� she asked huffily.

�Um, something about class,� he guessed.

Lavender rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, �Which class?�

�Does it matter,� Ron mumbled under his breath. Then he turned to fully face
her, �Look Lav, I��

She interrupted him with a smile and leaned closer, pushing her chest up with
her arms to enhance her cleavage, �I know. You�re not really over her. I knew
the rumor that you broke up with her was a lie. Oh, my poor Ronnykins.
I�m here for you.�

�No, Lavender, it wasn�t a rumor. I did break up with her,� Ron assured her.
�And, I thank you for wanting to, um, be there for me, but, I uh��

�You�re just not ready to date yet?� She sighed. Then she leaned closer and ran
her hand down his arm to his hand, �That�s okay, Won Won, I�ll wait for you.�

Ron tried not to look horrified as he sputtered, �Uh, Lavender, I�um��

�Hi, Ron,� a soft voice interrupted from behind. �I, uh��

He turned to see a flushed face Pansy standing behind his chair, her eyes
moving from his face to Lavender�s hand on his. He was so happy that he didn�t
have to continue his conversation with Lavender that he turned and stood with
wide smile.

�Hey Pansy, what can I do for you?�

He almost laughed when her eyes lifted to his and her blush deepened, but he
kept his face as clear as possible. He knew she was interested in him. How
could he not? She placed himself in his path as often as possible and seemed to
be everywhere he was. He�d even seen her watching his quidditch practices from
a window in the castle. She was pretty, smart, and seemed to be quite a good
friend to Hermione and his sister. He hadn�t paid any attention to her before
this year, hadn�t given her any thought at all until she�d tried to turn Harry
in the previous year. Then he hadn�t given her more thought than to hate her
for what she�d done.

Over the summer months his anger had faded during his many talks with Harry and
Hermione. He�d come back to school hoping to see changes, good changes. But,
he�d never given any thought to making new friends or opening himself up to new
experiences. He�d planned for things to just be better.

Getting to know Pansy and her gang of Slytherins hadn�t been in his plans at
all. But, as he�d admitted to Harry, he was glad he�d found out that both Greg
and Theo weren�t such bad blokes. He gave no thought whatsoever to Millicent,
but had been surprised by the other two males of their group. Blaise, the only
Slytherin he�d ever thought might not be evil, had become the world�s largest
ass and the �blonde ferret� had morphed into some sort of new thing. He wasn�t
the egocentric prat he had been in the past, and it
was getting harder by the day to dislike him. The three things that kept Ron
from actually befriending Draco were their shared history, Draco�s interest in
Hermione, and Harry�s continued hatred and mistrust of him.

Pansy had been the biggest surprise. She made him feel things he�d hoped to
feel with Hermione. When she turned those dark blue eyes on him he wanted to
grant her every wish. And, when she blushed and stammered as she was doing now,
he wanted to kiss her shaking lips.

��so, I thought we could maybe start tonight. If you want, that is. If not,
then��

Ron realized he�d been paying no attention to what she was saying, but took a
guess, �Pansy, that sounds great. We can start studying for Charms any time
you�re ready.�

He blinked at the radiant smile on her face as she looked up at him adoringly.
He didn�t know what he�d done to warrant her interest, but he was glad for
whatever it was. He�d let everyone think he was oblivious as he�d sorted
through his thoughts on it. He�d also had to check with Hermione to see if
she�d be upset with him if he started to date. Their conversation had been
awkward as they�d both tried to get the other to admit to wanting to start
seeing people first, but they�d done it. Now, he just needed to figure out his
next moves.

�I can study anytime, Ro�Ron,� she said softly, her eyes never leaving his, her
cheeks aflame.

Lavender had finally had enough and put her hand on his arm. She�d already lost
Ron to Hermione and she wasn�t about to let some Slytherin slut get him. She
stood and leaned into his side, �Well, Parkinson, he�s eating right now, so
you�ll just have to wait!�

Pansy�s eyes flashed as she turned to Lavender, �Why don�t you let him speak
for himself, Brown!�

Lavender stepped away from Ron and planted her fists on her narrow hips,
�What�s it to you, Parkinson?�

Ron saw Pansy pale, but then she lifted her chin to pin the slightly taller,
but slimmer woman with her intense stare, �What�s it to you, Brown?!�

Ron glanced around to see several students staring as the women�s voices rose.
He�d never had two women fight over him before and a part of him wanted to make
sure everyone saw, but the other part was embarrassed at their display. The
worst thing Hermione had done to him out of jealousy was send birds to swarm
his head, but at least she hadn�t done it in front of the whole school. �Uh,
ladies��

Both ignored him as they stepped closer to one another.

�Well, as his friend, a fellow Gryffindor, and someone who happens to know him intimately, I think I have a right to
protect him from greedy, money-grubbing, Voldemort-loving bitches like you!�

�How dare you!� Pansy screeched.

�Oh, I dare, you late side-switching skank!� Lavender
screamed back in her face. �Do you think everyone doesn�t know what you�re up
to? Cozying up to Ginny and Hermione! Pretending to like Ron.
We know it�s all a setup. You and your pathetic, POOR Drakey Poo planning and scheming.
Well, I will not let a former Death Eater and his Slytherin slut, get their
claws into my��

�SHUT. UP. You stupid bitch!� Pansy�s voice rang out
silencing the screaming woman. She slowly moved closer to Lavender and her
voice dropped until it was just a hiss. �You will NOT sully my friendship with
Ginny and Hermione by trying to spread your evil lies! They know me and like
me, so screw you. And, leave Draco out of this. He hasn�t got a damn thing to
do with how I feel about Ron! All you want is your prize back! Now, that he�s
rich and famous and single again, you figure he�s all yours again. Well, wrong,
Brown! He doesn�t belong to anyone! He can figure out who he wants to be with
without your help. But, I can assure you he wouldn�t go back to you if he was imperiussed! Who knows what diseases he might pick up!�

The sound of Lavender�s slap rang across the now silent room. The sight of
Pansy Parkinson being slapped by Lavender Brown, as Ron Weasley stood by
looking lost as to what to do, would be gossip fodder for days.

The slap, the silence, the teachers coming to their feet, the growl from
Lavender, Ron heard none of it. All he heard was the shocked gasp from Pansy as
her head was forced to the side. After a month of wondering, Ron�s decision was
instantly made.

He stepped between the two and pushed Pansy behind him, �If you ever raise a
hand to her again, you�ll be sorry. Your jealousy, while ego-stroking to me
when I was younger, is simply ugly now, Lavender. Leave Pansy alone and grow
up.�

He turned to Pansy and lifted a gentle hand to her face, �Are you okay?�

Her eyes swam with unshed tears as she nodded. But, before she could speak
Lavender stepped forward.

�But, Ronnykins��

Ron stepped away from her outstretched hand and moved closer to Pansy as he
spat, �My name is Ronald. That nickname was silly back then, Lavender. It�s
just pathetic now.�

He put his arm around Pansy�s waist and turned to leave the table. Only then
did he realize that most of their friends had come to stand near them. His eyes
collided with Draco�s and held. He felt Pansy stiffen next to him and ran his
hand up and down her side a bit to reassure her.

�I think we�ll grab something in the all-house common room tonight. Pansy and I
need to study after we get her face healed,� he said to the group, but his eyes
never left Draco�s.

Ron refused to look away from the blonde man he�d come to not hate completely.
He didn�t know what it was he saw in the other man�s eyes, but he knew he
needed to stand his ground.

Everyone else waited to see what the two former enemies would do. The low
murmur of voices was heard all around them as people speculated on what Draco
would do to Ron or vice versa.

Finally, Draco, his eyes still on Ron, said softly, �Pansy, do you want to go
back to the Slytherin common room instead? We can take care of your face
there.�

Pansy shook her head and smiled softly at her former fianc�e, �No, Draco. Thank
you. I think I�Ron will�I�ll be fine.�

Ron finally broke eye contact to look down at the little witch at his side.
When her eyes met his, he smiled softly. But, then he noted the handprint on
her cheek and his smile fell as he reached up to slide his finger gently over
her cheek, �I�ll take care of her.�

Without another glance at the stunned faces around him, he walked Pansy out of
the doors of the Great Hall. Both maintained their silence as they walked out,
unsure what to say, now that they�d practically declared themselves a couple in
front of the whole school. It wasn�t until they reached the doors of the
all-house common room that Pansy finally breached the silence.

�Thank you for what you did back there.�

Ron turned to look down into her eyes and his stomach clenched at the adoration
he saw in her eyes.

�Don�t thank me,� he said softly. He took her hand in one of his and ran the
other gently over the soft skin of her abused cheek, �If it wasn�t for me, it
wouldn�t have happened.�

She shook her head, �No, it��

�It was my fault, Pansy,� he said over her, �because I
spent too much time thinking about you and me, but not doing anything.� When
she gasped, he smiled a little, �You thought I didn�t notice? I did, Pansy. I
noticed. I just wasn�t sure what to do about it.�

Pansy looked up at him when he didn�t say anything else. He was looking at her
as she�d hoped he would. �And, now?�

�And, now,� he smiled, �I�m done thinking. I�m ready to see where this
goes.�

�Really?� she asked.

�Really. But, first, we need to heal that cheek,� he
answered.

�It�s fine. It doesn�t even hurt all that much.�

Ron lifted a red brow to express his disbelief, but only said, �Well, I don�t
want her handprint messing up your pretty face any longer, so may I?�

Pansy blushed at the compliment and nodded.

When he�d performed the charms to heal both the swelling and the pain, he
smiled down at her, �There. All better. Now there�s nothing to distract from
those beautiful eyes.�

Her mouth dropped open in shock, but he could see the smile forming as he
turned away.

�Come on. I missed most of dinner and I�m starving,� he said as he took her
hand and pushed the doors to the all-house common room open. He heard her happy
laugh as he pulled her to the back to order some food from the elf behind the
counter.

xxxxx

Back in the Great Hall food was consumed, but no
one really paid much attention to what they ate. The conversations all swirled
around speculation on what had occurred in their midst. From her table in the
front Parvati stirred her tea and watched Lavender sit dejectedly in her chair.
She knew her friend was dying of humiliation from being so publicly rejected.

�I should go talk to her,� she said to Theo.

He ran his thumb over the back of her hand, but didn�t comment. When she turned
to look at him he was frowning and shaking his head.

�What?� she asked.

�Nothing,� he mumbled.

�Tell me,� she insisted.

He looked at her for a moment and sighed, �It�s just depressing. Pansy has done
nothing to most of these people. Hell, she never did a thing to anyone until
her mistake last year. Now, that�s all people know of her. That�s all they see
and she suffers every day because of it. She�s made amends, and she deserves to
be happy. Why can�t people just leave her alone?�

�Theo,� Parvati began, �not everyone thinks like that. Most of us have gotten
past it and begun to see who Pansy really is.�

He shook his head, �But, most see her, and Draco, and the rest of us, too, I
guess, like that. You heard her, �a former Death Eater and his Slytherin slut�.
That�s how people see us. That�s all they�ll ever��

�No, they, we, don�t!� she talked over him. �Yes, Theo, I know there are people
whose minds won�t change, no matter what, but they don�t matter! Can�t you see
that? The only ones who matter are the ones we love and who love us. There will
always be purebloods who hate those with mixed heritage and muggleborns,
and, of course, those of us who fought for them. And, there will always be
those of us that fought who hate pureblooded bigotry and those that can�t let
go of it. But, we have to prove them wrong by showing them that blood means
nothing. It�s who we are and who we prove to be that matters.�

He turned and looked into her eyes for a long while before he nodded. Then he
grinned and joked, �Says the pureblood to her pureblood boyfriend.�

She smiled softly, �Says the very proud blood traitor to her side-switching
boyfriend.�

He clasped her hand tighter, �Do you think these labels will ever go away,
Vati? Will we ever be able to just be us?�

She tightened her grip on his hand as she shook her head, �You�re smarter than
that, Theo. As long as we have been on this planet people have found a way to
make their differences an issue. When they didn�t have any, they made them up.
Those that want to stay angry and hurtful will never let it die. Those that
want to move on will.�

�Like Blaise,� he said more to himself than her.

She nodded, but didn�t answer. Blaise was a sore topic between them and as
such, they normally didn�t talk about him.

�Go on. Go talk to her,� he urged finally. �I�m okay. Just thinking too much, I
guess.�

�Well, stop and eat your pudding,� she smiled softly.

He nodded and she stood to go to her friend. Before she could leave he reached
out and grabbed her hand again.

�I love you, Parvati Patil,� he said clearly, his
eyes searching hers, even as he blushed.

Parvati smiled as tears sprung to her eyes. They�d been together since school
started, and it was assumed that they were in love, but neither had actually
said it out loud. Without preamble she leaned down and kissed him softly on the
lips. She ignored the giggles and catcalls from those around her as she
straightened and looked him straight in the eye.

�Theodore Nott, I love you, too. Very much.�

He grinned happily and gave her one more kiss before she turned, �I have to go
talk to Lavender, but I will wait for you after dinner. Maybe we can go for a
walk by the lake or something.�

�I�ll be waiting,� he answered with a pleased smile.

As he watched her walk away, admiring the sway of her hips, he shook his head
in awe. It amazed him that he had spent seven years at school with his other
half and not known it. She, a Gryffindor through and through, a woman who had
fought against his family for her beliefs and the lives of her friends, loved
him. She was his anchor; his sanity in a sea of change. She�d not only given
him a chance, she�d become his closest friend, his confidante, and she owned
his heart.

xxxxx

Author�s Response: Thank you so very
much. Your reviews keep me going. I don�t know if any of you act, but I am in
tech week this week, so things are way past crazy with work and the show. But,
we open on Friday, so life will get back to normal soon, and I can answer your
reviews on time once again. Thank you for your patience and the gift of your
reviews.

bLondpierogi: Thank you, hon! I don't know where it came from in the recesses
of my brain, but I am glad you liked it. lol Thank
you!!

marie: Thank you!

PutrescentQueen: No worries, I
just thank you for letting me know you are reading and still enjoying. I am
glad you liked it.

margaritama:� �GOO ALERT! HUGE SIGH!�
I loved that. lol Your review was so dead on in your
predictions, it was almost scary! lol Have you read
this before? Are you in my head? Scary place to be, I warn you! ;-) I can�t
wait to see what you think of some of the other stuff coming. Ron�s blank look
was about him trying to figure out what he was feeling at seeing them together.
He wasn�t happy or sad or angry, just there thinking. �Oh, I think the queue
for the Dramione roller coaster is open and I'm
buckled up�� loved that, too! Just so you know �our sweet, innocent little
Gryffindor� isn�t so sweet. She�s been a good girl long enough. ;-)

kazfeist: Thank you very
much. I missed the Lupins, too. :-)

Jullsy: You will get your
wish sooner than you think. ;-) Thanks, hon! Good
luck in your move.

Dreamweaver (the
last few chapters):
I am really glad you enjoyed reading the ball, almost as much as I enjoyed
writing it. I guess in my head in order to be able to put up with all the crap
�pureblood princesses� are supposed to put up with, I
imagine them drowning their sorrows in alcohol. And, I would guess that it
would start at school with all the pressure they�re faced with in presenting
themselves properly. I imagine a lot of �fun� Slytherin parties where the later
it got the more truisms slipped out. lol I am glad you
didn�t fall out of your chair swooning a their dance, but tickled pink that I
could make you want to do so. :-) You think Harry is a butthead now? Just wait.
Tee hee hee

I
will admit that I do not like the character of Lavender Brown. In the books she
rubbed me the wrong way, and nothing in fanfiction
has helped. I simply don�t like the chit. It was fun to get to write her in all
her slutty badness. Glad you liked the rest of the ball, too. :-)
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Struggling Through New Beginnings