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Struggling Through New Beginnings	By : HarryGinny4eva Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 31233 -:- 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
- 39
- 40
- 41
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 41

�That�s two,� he breathed in her ear as his hands tightened on her waist to pull
her even closer.

Pansy smirked up at Ron, her dimples flashing at him, �Well, if you didn�t hold
me so closely I wouldn�t be brushing against you.�

His red eyebrow lifted, �You did that last one on purpose, witch! How am I
supposed to get back to the table like this?�

Pansy allowed her eyes to flicker down to his tented trousers and smiled
wickedly, �Gee! Did I do that?�

Ron pulled back from her a little and breathed deeply. �How long is this damn
dance?�

�Not having fun?� she laughed up at him and her smile turned devilish when he
growled in the back of his throat. �You know? If we�re
careful, we could slip out to, uh, alleviate your problem, and be back before
we�re missed.�

�Let�s go!� he said turning towards the doors and pulling her along.

When they neared the table of their friends, Ron stopped and tugged her in the
other direction. Unfortunately, that change brought them face to face with a
sneering Professor Snape.

�And, where are you two headed in such a hurry?� he asked. His voice was low,
but commanded their full attention, as well as an answer.

Ron, whose entire focus had been on getting out the hall so he could be alone
with Pansy, blurted, �Damn it!� before he realized completely who had stopped
him. The glacial glare he received made him stammer, �Uh, sorry. Uh, Sir.�

�We needed air,� Pansy blurted in an attempt to answer the professor�s
question.

The glittering black eyes flitted back and forth over them and the professor�s
face formed a sneer as he said, �The courtyard for this blasted event is on the
other side of the hall, Mr. Weasley. You looked to be heading to the doors of
the main entrance. Are you such a dunderhead that you can�t find the correct
exit?�

Ron�s face reddened in anger, but it was Pansy who stepped forward with her
chin lifted haughtily. Her eyes blazed at the Head of her House, but her voice
dripped with forced respect, �Sir, I needed to use the ladies� first. Ron was
kind enough to offer to escort me. Is there some new rule, Professor, against a
gentleman escorting his date around?�

Snape�s brow lifted sharply as he fixed his stare on Pansy, but she didn�t back
down. �Of course not, Miss Parkinson. Please do not
let me keep you from your goal. I am sure though that you will hurry back to
enjoy the rest of the festivities.�

When they both nodded, he forced a smile that was scarier than his sneer, �As a
member of the faculty it is my duty to ensure the safety of all students. As
such I will wait right here for your safe and swift return.�

Both nodded and turned to do the only thing they could; go pretend to use the loo.

xxxxx

�You can stop pretending, I know you hate this,�
Parvati smiled at Theo. �I am just thankful you stayed this long.�

They�d been at the ball for almost two hours and spent much of the time
ensconced at their own table in a dark corner of the room. Parvati enjoyed
dances and dancing, while Theo did not. They had ventured out to dance a few
times, and spent a bit of time with their friends, but most of the evening had
been spent enjoying their alone time together. Parvati had just returned from
the ladies� room to find Theo drawing images in the condensation on his glass
and looking extremely bored.

�I�m not pretending,� Theo smiled at her. �I am enjoying being here with you,
love. I just really don�t enjoy dancing, as you know.�

�I know,� she laughed. �My toes thank you for not trying any
longer.�

�Ha ha ha,� he said around a grin. �So, what
did Hermione and Pansy have to say?�

�What makes you think they said anything?� she teased.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head, �Vati, you never take that long in the loo. Plus, I saw them go in after you.�

�Yes, well,� she replied. �We talked about Blaise and stuff, but, initially we
needed to calm Pansy down a bit.�

�Why was she upset?�

Parvati giggled and took a sip of her drink as her eyes sought out the
disgruntled couple at their table. They were both laughing when she finished
the story. But, Theo felt pity for them, �I surely wouldn�t want Professor
Snape watching my every step tonight.�

When she nodded in agreement he kissed her knuckles and leaned back in his
chair to loosen the tie at his throat, �So, what else?�

A few minutes later she had filled him in on the breakup of Greg and Millicent,
Blaise�s apparent real turnaround, and Hermione�s desire that Theo not return
to his room for a long while after the dance.

�What? Why not?� he asked dumbly.

�Theo,� she laughed as a blush stained her cheeks. �Surely you can think of a
reason they might want to be alone.�

�Oh! They�re going to�tonight?! Already?!� he blurted.

She shrugged and leaned more against his shoulder.

They lapsed into a silence as both contemplated the status of their own
relationship. Finally, Theo pulled away a little and turned to her, his face
betraying his nerves.

�You do understand why we can�t��

Parvati nodded, �I do. And, I want to wait anyway.�

�It�s just,� he continued nervously, �I don�t want you cursed or something
because we got carried away. I do want you. Badly.
But, my family�s curse is very strong, Vati.�

�I know, Theo,� she smiled. �We�ve discussed this before and I am still fine
with it. No sex until marriage. You, because of your family�s curse on
premarital sex, and me because I know I, as well as my parents, would be
horribly disappointed in me. When the time comes, it will be right and
perfect.�

She punctuated her little speech with a quick kiss on his lips and sat back.
Her eyes opened wider in surprise when he leaned over her and sealed his lips
across hers once again. She sighed into the kiss and trembled as his hand slid
up and down her side, each swipe bringing his hand closer and closer to her
chest. Her hands lifted to bury themselves in his hair when he changed the angle
of their kiss and his chest rested more firmly against her.

When his fingers ghosted over her through her dress, she gasped and felt a
tingle low in her abdomen. She pulled back a bit and looked at his intense
face.

�I love you, Vati,� he whispered, his desire for her expressed in every curve
of his face.

�I love you,� she answered back, meaning it from the depths of her being.

�Marry me,� he said a bit more loudly. �Say you�ll marry me.�

�Theo!�

�Not now. Not tonight. But, when this year is over, say you�ll be mine
forever.�

�I�yes,� she breathed as tears slid unnoticed down her cheeks. �But�but Theo��

�No!� he interrupted as he gripped her hands tighter. �Nothing will go wrong,
Vati. Nothing. I know it�s soon, but it�s right. I
feel it. Don�t you?�

�I�yes, but,� she whispered in shock.

He refused to hear her worries, �No, love, no buts. I�ve waited all my life for
the right person. For you. I won�t let anything stand
in our way. Not houses, parents, or friends. You are it for me, Vati. I love you
with everything I am. And, I want us to��

He paused as he seemed to think a horrible thought. She read the look on his
face and hurried to stop it before it could fall from his lips.

She laughed a little as she leaned in to kiss him softly, �I love you, too,
Theo. And, yes, I do feel it. Heck, I already know our children�s names. I
wasn�t going to say anything to stop this from happening. I was just shocked.
Plus, I wanted to stop you before you magically bound us by mistake with your
beautiful words.�

�Oh,� he breathed a relieved sigh as his eyes closed against the pain he had
felt at the thought of her refusal. �I wasn�t thinking.�

�It�s okay,� she smiled as happy tears continued to glide down her cheeks. Then
she sniffed them back and teased, �You know my father�s going to want to see a
ring though, right?�

He smiled as he leaned his forehead against hers, �And, I�m sure you wouldn�t
mind one overmuch.�

�Well, if I must,� she laughed. Then she jumped up and leaned back down to hug
him, �I have to tell Pad!�

He smiled as he watched her hurry across the room to her sister and laughed out
loud when their squeals were heard above the music in the room.

xxxxx

�Engaged?!� all five men exclaimed with varying
degrees of emotion.

�Yes,� Theo snapped. �And, you lot don�t have to look so horrified, thank you
very much!�

They sat at the table awaiting the return of their dates. Upon hearing the news
the girls had immediately dragged Parvati off to get details and they were left
to converse amongst themselves.

Harry was the first to speak, �Bloody hell, Nott! Now, Gin�s going to be all
over me for a ring!�

�Well, it wouldn�t hurt for you to show some permanent dedication to her, you
know?!� Ron said with a look of indignation on his face.

Harry blanched under his best friend�s stare, �It�s going to happen eventually,
Ron, just relax?�

Ron looked like he was going to say more, but Draco interrupted, �Excuse us,
Potter, but this really isn�t about you.�

Harry glared at Draco, but bit his tongue as he acknowledged that the blonde
man was right.

�Sorry, Theo. Congratulations,� Harry said sincerely.

�Yeah, congratulations,� Ron echoed as he reached across the table to shake
Theo�s hand.

Greg got up and came around the table to shake Theo�s hand, �Wow, mate! I can�t
believe you worked up the guts to do it so soon!�

�Thanks,� Theo laughed with a roll of his eyes.

�What I can�t believe is that she said yes,� Blaise joked from the other side
of the table. �Why on Circe�s tit would she want to saddle herself with a tosser like you?�

�Because she�s simply brilliant,� Theo answered back with a self-satisfied
grin.

Blaise laughed and said, �Well, if this is what you want, I congratulate you.�

�Thank you,� Theo smiled proudly.

They were all quiet as they stared out into the crowded dance floor until
Blaise�s next comment broke the silence.

�The rest of you do know this is going to get them all thinking about marriage
and babies, don�t you?�

Ron shrugged with a smile, �Pansy�s been on about it since day one.�

�And, that doesn�t scare you stiff?� Greg asked with a grimace.

�Nah,� Ron answered. �If we get there, we get there.�

Draco, who had been mostly silent throughout the exchange turned to Ron, �I
suppose you want a family as big as yours?�

Ron�s eyes searched Draco�s for a moment, as if looking for the insult, before
he answered, �Honestly, no. I would be happy with one kid someday. But, we�ll
see.�

�But, Pansy wants a houseful,� Blaise laughed. �Seems you�re
stuck, Weasley.�

Draco blurted, �Do you think Hermione wants�� before he could stop himself.

Harry spit his drink as he coughed violently at the thought, and Blaise rolled
his eyes as several of them were sprayed. While the others leapt out of the way
or helped clean up Harry�s mess, Ron kept an eye on Draco�s face.

What he saw surprised him enough to lean towards Draco and say under his
breath, so the others wouldn�t hear, �With the right guy, I�m sure she would
want the whole package.�

Draco�s eyes met Ron�s for a long moment before they were interrupted by the
return of their dates and the chatter about Theo and Parvati�s informal
engagement.

xxxxx

�It was just so sweet,� Pansy sighed as she
collapsed back on the couch in Harry and Ron�s common area with a dreamy smile.

Ron toed off his shoes and spelled them to his room upstairs, along with his
robes, jacket and necktie. He wasn�t sure if he was supposed to respond, or how
to do so if he was.

Pansy continued as she pushed her heels off and stretched her toes, �I don�t
even think he meant to do it. I mean he didn�t have a ring or anything. And, as
traditional as he knows her father is, I�m sure he would have done it properly
if he�d been really thinking. But, Merlin! Vati is so happy.�

Ron sat down next to her and reached up to run his hands through her hair, �Is
she now?�

�Oh yes,� she breathed with her eyes closed, as his hands moved down to massage
her shoulders. �Mmmm, that feels nice.�

He leaned forward a bit and kissed her shoulder before turning her around so
that her feet were on his lap. He wasn�t even thinking about his actions as he
rubbed her feet and watched the joy on her face.

Except for her little moans of pleasure the only other sound in the room was
the crackle of the fire in the fireplace, and Ron was loathe
to breach the quiet. But, he needed to know what, if anything, their future
held.

�Pans?� he began softly.

�Mmm,� she answered without opening her eyes, a small
smile still on her face.

�Um, where do you see yourself in, say, five years?� he asked.

Her eyes flew open to search his and then she sat up slowly and pulled her feet
from his lap, �I don�t know, Ron. Why?�

�Just wondering,� he shrugged and looked away, �what with everything that
happened tonight.�

�Ron, are you�I mean, we aren�t ready for��

�No!� he exclaimed too loudly. Then he took a breath and looked at her, �I
mean, not now. Maybe though. Someday.
I mean, I want that stuff; marriage and kids, at least one, but not yet.�

He watched her closely as she nodded, but didn�t comment.

�And, you?� he asked. �What do you want?�

�You know,� she blushed a bit and pulled her feet up under her hips as she
looked down at her hands. �I want a family; a real one, a happy, loving one.�

He smiled at her and waited until she raised her eyes to his, �So, we want the
same thing then, just not now.�

�No, not now,� she smiled.

Neither said the words they were dying to say about how they hoped it would
happen for them together. But, when he reached out and took her hand, his smile
was soft and hopeful, �I hope we both get what we want someday.�

�Me, too,� she whispered. Then she cleared her throat and looked at him
thoughtfully, �Ron?�

�Yeah?�

Pansy leaned forward so that she was sitting on her heels facing him, his large
hand in her smaller one, �I� I like you. A lot.�

�I like you, too, Pansy; an awful lot,� he said softly.

�No, that�s not what I�� she shook her head. Then she took a deep breath and
pushed her shoulders back as if fortifying herself. �I have a confession to
make.�

�Okay,� he prompted, feeling his gut twist in apprehension.

She didn�t look at him as she spoke, but her fingers continued to grip his
tightly, like she was afraid he would pull away. �I know now that I didn�t
really before. I mean, I did, but not like this. Now, I, uh, well before you��

�Breathe, Pansy,� he said over her nervous rambling. Her words had already
calmed him, as he thought he knew what she wanted to say, but he forced himself
to let her finish.

�Okay,� she said more to herself than him, as she took a deep breath and let it
out. Then her eyes rose to his again, �For the past few years, I thought I
liked you. I dreamt of you. I�well, I thought about you a lot. And, then this
year happened. A while ago I was talking to Hermione and I realized I didn�t
really know you, not the real you. I mean, I�d read a lot about you. I knew I
wanted to get to know you, but I didn�t really know you well enough to like
you. I liked what I knew of you, and who I thought you were, but not the real
you. Does that make any sense?�

Ron nodded and let her continue.

�That first night, after the Lavender thing, when we talked, really talked for
the first time, I realized how little I really knew about you. I mean, I knew
all you�d done, and I knew you from things I�d seen at school, but that night,
it was like I was meeting you for the first time.�

He reached out and pushed a hair off her face and back behind her ear, �And,
I�m guessing you liked me enough to stick around a bit?�

She giggled, but soldiered on to finish her thoughts, �Yes, you insufferable
wizard, I did. I wanted to say to you tonight, that I like you, Ronald Billius Weasley. I know you now, and I�like you�a lot.�

He smiled at her happily before leaning in to kiss her softly. Then he pulled
her closer and hugged her against his chest as he spoke, �Pansy, you are an
amazing surprise. As you know, I can�t say I thought about you or us ever
before this year. But, now I can�t imagine my days without you in them. I
really like you a lot, too.�

xxxxx

Author�s Responses: You guys are
GREAT!!!! No, this wasn�t �The Promise� chapter. Sorry. But, as you just read
there were a lot of other things that had to happen first. lol
I hope you still liked it. Thank you all!!!

From Chapter 39 - margaritama: Thank you, hon! I am really glad you enjoy the way I write, so much.
It makes me very happy, indeed.� I know
Greg didn�t find true love with Millie, but that is the way of life sometimes.
One needs to kiss a lot of frogs� He will be fine, promise. As, will Blaise, eventually.
He has a little more learning to do, a bit of confessing and a bit more
growing. Then he can start to find his own happiness. I think you and
Dreamweaver are going to have to have a throwdown
over who gets him. lol I am thrilled you liked the
part with Dumbledore. As much as Ron and Hermione needed to hear his apology,
you are right, he needed to say them. He may not be so weary now. And,
Harry/Ginny + Hermione/Draco�I love the word �SMEXY!� Thank you.

From Chapter 40

kazfeist:
That was absolutely one of the best compliments. Thank you! Glad you liked the
dresses.

LadyBlueEyes:
Hey there! Thank you so much. I know the last few chapters have been a bit
heavy, it was time for some fun and lightheartedness. You made me so happy when
you wrote �I�m glad to see that Millicent and Greg have parted ways, though
they were good for each other's ego and confidence.� Exactly! They were what
they both needed at the time, but not an everlasting type of thing. Have no fear, I won�t let my Greg end up alone. ;-) Nope. Luna
dancing with Blaise was not actually a bit of foreshadowing because I have
someone else in mind for him. lol But, I like to
believe Luna and her friendship will play a large part in his recovery and
coming to terms with life in general. Love and hugs right back at you. Thank you!

Dreamweaver: Thank you for the
compliment on the dresses. I liked Hermione�s the best, too. lol
Glad I could make you smile again at her plans for the evening. ;-) The time
and place stunk for Greg, but it was really for the best. Millie needs a much
stronger man and Greg needs a more understanding woman. He will soon find her.
:-D You should figure out when you and Magaritama can
have your jello wrestling competition over Blaise. I
am sure we could sell tickets and make a buttload of
cash! Ha ha ha ha Writing Luna is fun and challenging. It takes quite a
bit of brain power to come up with ways for her to be as honest, real, smart,
and nice as she should be. Thank you for mentioning it. I was going to leave
the ball as all one chapter, but it was way too long that way. Sorry. And, I,
of course, didn�t want to break up 42 in any way. lol
Man, I haven�t danced on a bar in months. Darn that lack of apparating
skills!! Glad you had fun, though. Thank you again, your Slyvenpuff!
;-) *nope, not enough bravery in me,
either. sigh*

angeles:
Thank you, again! And, I promise you get what you are waiting for in the
chapter 42. ;-)

margaritama: I am really happy I was able to put you in the room with the guys as
the waited for the girls to get ready. :-) I am thinking Millie saw Greg as a
means to an end more than as a young man in need of love. Yes, she was
interested, but he proved to be to malleable for her.
She needs a strong man, and he needs a softer woman. I have, I hope, found the
right person for him. ;-) As for Hermione and Draco, yes, things are
a-changing. lol And, I will tell you, the first time
is�a first time. ha ha ha Thanks, luv! I never get tired
of saying that, either!
- 39
- 40
- 41
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Struggling Through New Beginnings