Snogs Galore!

Chapter Six

Pansy was once again dodging Ron by sneaking out of the great Hall and trying to reach the entrance to the Slytherin dungeons before he could catch her.

"Pansy, hold up!" He was right on her heels.

She stopped, but kept her back to him. He reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder. "You said we could talk," he pleaded.

"Ron, I just can't do this, not now. I don't understand all these feelings I'm having. If I don't understand them how can I communicate with you about them?" She hung her head. There was no way she could face him, she knew she wouldn't be able to control herself. She also knew why but she wouldn't be telling him. "Please just let me go," she whispered brokenly.

Ron put both hands on her shoulder and kneaded the muscles at her neck. "I'm just as confused as you are Pansy. I think that the best way for us to figure it out would be to talk about it." He could feel her tense up. "But for now I'll let you go if that is what you want."

"Thank you." She placed her hand on one of his and squeezed, then walked straight ahead. After whispering the password she entered the Slytherin common room without looking back.

Ron stood in silence after the stone door moved back into place. Where had these strong emotions come from? He had wanted to hold onto the Slytherin girl and never let her go. It had been hard, but he had resisted that urge. She seemed to be just as confused as he was. It should make him feel better, but it didn't.

"Are you alright, mate?" Harry stepped up behind Ron.

"I think maybe, I've gone off my trolley." Ron turned to face Harry with a haunted look in his eye. "Yesterday I wouldn't have wanted to give Pansy Parkinson the time of day. But today, she's all I can think about. Bloody hell, Harry, I was snogging her right here, this afternoon." He gestured wildly with his hands to indicate the corridor.

Harry was a bit taken back by this information. "Well, she is kind of pretty," he stammered trying to help.

"She's downright beautiful." Ron looked shocked at what he had said. "You see! I'm a complete nutter. She's a Slytherin. The green and silver should turn me off, but no. All I can think of is how the silver makes her skin glow, and the green just makes her eyes seem bluer." Ron hung his head as he headed towards the stairs.

Harry followed along silently as they made their way up the long and winding staircase.

"Not you again Weasel. Snogging in our chamber corridor again were you? Where are you hiding her this time?" Draco blocked the exit that led out into a small chamber off of the Great Hall. His eyes widened as he saw Harry behind Ron. "Oh my, this is too much. Weasel and Potty getting hot and heavy in the dungeons. Wait until everyone hears about this." Draco was doubled over with laughter.

Ron pulled his wand out and aimed it at the Slytherin's silver head. Harry stepped in between them before a curse could be muttered. "Ron go on up, I'll deal with Malfoy."

Draco wiped the tears of mirth from his eyes as he leaned against the wall. Ron's eyes narrowed as he walked around him. "If you're not in the common room in fifteen minutes I'm sending for Dumbledore."

"Don't worry, Weasel. I'll send your little friend along shortly." He turned to look at Harry and said loud enough for Ron to overhear, "really Potter, I never would have taken you for a poof." Ron merely glared once more before turning and walking away.

"You know you really need to quit being such a pain in the arse to him. It's just going to make things more difficult in the long run," Harry said with exasperation.

"But it's so much fun," Draco chuckled. "Besides, just because I've switched sides doesn't mean I have to be on friendly terms with you people." Draco pushed off of the wall, stood up straight and looked down his aristocratic nose at Harry.

Harry looked to the ground and back up again. "Draco you've got something on your neck right there." He pointed to approximately the spot Ginny had been kissing earlier.

When Draco tried to glance down to check for incriminating lipstick Harry hit him squarely on the chin. "That was for the poof comment, and leave Ron alone." Harry stalked off while Draco was left holding his bruised face.

"That was ace!" Blaise commented as he walked around the corner. "Who knew Potter had such a mean right hook?"

Draco moved his jaw to make sure it was still working. "What is with everyone lately? No one is acting as they should. Pansy used to follow my every step, now she's avoiding me. Gryffindors are hanging out in the Slytherin dungeon, and I can't seem to keep my hands off of Weasley."

"Maybe that's why he's hanging out in our dungeon." Blaise smirked.

"Ha, ha, very funny. You know I meant Ginny." Draco walked down the stairwell. "And as my mate you should have jumped in when Potter sucker punched me." He stopped to glare at his friend.

"Well you deserved it. You can't call someone a poof and not expect something in return. What's more, if I were to touch Potter it would set back my relationship with Granger." Blaise smiled as a look of sickness flickered over Draco's face.

"I told you not to mention that to me." Draco quickly went down the steps to escape his housemate.

~~~*~~~*~~~

Pansy sat in the privacy of her curtained bed. She had the bow and quiver of arrows laid out before her. Four arrows were all she had left. She had had no luck finding the others this afternoon.

Desperate times called for desperate measures. She would have to use another arrow. Perhaps the second would override the power of the first. It was worth a try at least. She would, however, learn from her earlier mistake. This time she would wound Draco first, then herself second. The remaining arrows would be left behind in the safety of her trunk as well. She wrapped them in a separate bundle with the quiver and waited to make sure her roommates were asleep. After securing her trunk with a locking charm, she placed the bow and single arrow under her pillow and fell into a blessedly dreamless slumber.

~~~*~~~*~~~

Breakfast at the Gryffindor table was a tense affair. Ginny and Hermione deliberately sat with their backs towards the Slytherin table, while Ron's gaze was transfixed on it. Harry and Neville fought for the best seat in which to view the Ravenclaw table.

This led to both of them sitting close together, bobbing back and forth to see around Ginny and Hermione. Once as Harry was reaching for his juice, his hand settled on Neville's hand, which happened to be venturing on the same endeavor. A small jolt of attraction went through them. They both exchanged looks of horror.

"Sorry Neville, you go ahead take that juice." Harry scooted away.

"No, that's quite alright. You take it. It's yours anyway." Neville also scooted away. They both refused to look at each other the rest of the morning. Instead they ate in silence, staring at their plates.

~~~*~~~*~~~

Luna pulled Ginny into the girl's bathroom before potions class. "What is it?" Ginny asked.

Luna checked to make sure all the stalls were empty, then turned to face her friend. "Neville kissed me last night."

"Neville? When? Why? How was it?" Ginny's face lit up with excitement.

Luna held her books close to her chest and looked down at her toes. "It was after dinner. I had left the Great Hall and was upset. He must have seen me leave and followed me."

"Back up a minute. Why were you upset?" Ginny was concerned. It took something big to bring Luna down. She was usually so carefree and blissfully happy.

Luna wasn't going to tell Ginny the real reason why. She had been jealous of her friend, which had confused her. "I guess just the whole mess from yesterday. Maybe it was just stress. I don't really know."

Ginny wasn't convinced but she wouldn't press, except about the kiss of course. "Okay, so how did it happen?"

"I was on my way back to my room when he caught up to me. He asked after me. Then next thing you know he kissed me." Actually, he had been wiping the tears off of her cheeks when he had leaned in and softly kissed her. It had been an awkward kiss, but so sweet. She smiled at the memory.

"I can tell by that smile, you didn't object." Ginny grinned back.

"Since I kissed him back, I would say not." Luna blushed. "I hadn't ever really thought of Neville that way before. But when it happened, it just seemed--, right."

"I'm so happy for you." Ginny rushed forward and gave her friend a big hug.

"I did notice this morning that a certain Slytherin couldn't take his eyes off of you." Luna watched for a reaction.

"Bully for him. That's not all he can't keep off of me." Ginny started pacing the bathroom.

"Sounds interesting, spill." Luna leaned up against the sink, while Ginny proceeded to tell her what had transpired between her and Draco the previous evening.

"Sounds as if you had a bit of trouble keeping your hands off him as well," Luna interjected.

"That's exactly what he said, the smug git." Ginny stopped pacing and faced her friend. "It's true though, I can't seem to control myself when he's around."

"In more ways than one. It's either passion or anger with you and him. Why is that?" Luna looked to Ginny for an answer.

Ginny shrugged, "I honestly don't know." She smiled. "But it's fun."

"Well if you figure it out let me know." Luna gathered her things. "Let's get to class before Snape decides to take house points for being late."

~~~*~~~*~~~

Pansy hid behind a tapestry waiting for Draco to come around the corner. She sucked in a breath as Professor Snape walked by. As he neared the corner he stopped to talk with Draco. Bugger! She tried to listen to their conversation. The only thing she heard sounded like 'Let's go to the headmaster's office and discuss it there.' No, no, no. That would put Draco back in the other direction and this was her only chance today.

While they continued talking Pansy aimed with the arrow. Snape's back was to her and Draco was off to the side. She could just barely make a clean shot. Whispering a silent plea she pulled the bowstring back and let the arrow fly.

At that same moment Ginny and Luna were walking by on their way to class. Upon seeing Draco Ginny dropped one of her books. As the arrow was homing in on it's target, Draco leaned down to pick up the book and Snape turned to sneer at the students.

Pansy sagged against the wall. She was awfully glad she hadn't pricked herself first. At least now, she knew, the arrow would disappear. But what would she do about her attraction to Ron Weasley. She snuck out the other side of the tapestry and headed towards her room.

Seconds before, the potions professor had felt a sting on his left earlobe. He reached up with his hand and pulled it back with a spot of blood. It was just a nick but where had it come from? He scanned the corridor with narrowed eyes but saw no one.

Turning back, he watched his student openly admire the sway of Ginny Weasley's robes as she walked away. "You realize of course she has several brothers who would enjoy beating you to a pulp."

Draco grinned up at his favorite professor. "Yes, but it would be well worth it."

They both turned and headed towards their meeting with Dumbledore. Snape gave the corridor one final sweep but saw nothing amiss. "A Slytherin and a Gryffindor. Never thought I'd see that again," he mumbled.

~~~*~~~*~~~

Professor Trelawney was on her way to her classroom when she spotted something glinting in the sun under an open casement. "My, what is that?" When she reached down to pick it up someone shouted her name and distracted her. "Ouch, that smarts." Holding her bloody finger she turned around to see who had called out to her, never noticing that the arrow disappeared.