This story is slightly off-canon already and I expect it to strongly deviate from JK Rowlings original thoughts and character conceptions as it grows longer.

Since this is my first story ever I will be thankful for any comments, please critique!

Obviously, I do not own Harry Potter, neither do I financially profit from writing fan fiction.

- Chapter One -

Snow was falling thick on Hogwarts Castle. At only six in the evening the sun had already set hours ago, still it seemed as if it had not risen for days. But the more unpleasant it was outside, the more warm and cosy the Slytherin common room appeared to its students.

It was an exceptionally quiet evening in the dungeons. Most lower-grade students had already left for home over the Christmas holidays. Still a quiet hum of uneasy excitement was in the air. A handful of boys were sitting about fully dressed up, trying to kill time until the girls were ready.

Tonight was Yule Night. Up in the girls' dorm, the young ladies were getting ready for the ball. There was chaos all around, loads of fashion and beauty stuff was scattered all over the floor, nervous giggling sounded from the room.

In between this hustle and bustle, Pansy stood in front of the mirror. Calmly she lined here eyes, applied some eye shadow and traced her lips in champagne beige before she slipped into her dress. It had been a lucky find: The simple yet elegant gown of pitch black silk concealed the missing curves and accentuated her collarbone and shoulders.

"Wait, I'll help you in," one of her roommates hurried over to arrange the cloth and close the zipper.

"Oh, thanks."

Pansy did not care much about the Yule Ball. While the other girls had started making plans weeks in advance and some of them could even hope for a little romance to develop from tonight, for Pansy it had all been clear already. She would go with Draco, and she liked it, no doubt. Still that was what everyone expected and she somehow felt like this was the main reason why he chose to go with her.

"You look fabulous," a girl hurried past, "Draco will love it."

He might love my looks, but ...

"Sure."

People tended to think they were a couple, when actually both of them were rather lonely. A relationship would have implied care and desire, tenderness and affection. But that was not what it was like. They did not have much in common, did not spend hours talking about everything under the sun, let alone share joy or worries. Pansy knew that Draco was not the one to openly express his feelings, but he could have at least expressed something. Instead, he preferred to make her feel like she was just any girl, easily replaceable, just so he was able to say: "No, I'm not a loner, and I'm attractive. I've got a girlfriend, see."

However, there was one crucial thing that connected them: understanding. Out of nowhere, there was an inexplicable mental intimacy between the two of them; they somehow seemed to know each other incredibly well. It was obvious to them how the other one felt, what they thought or what they would do next and both of them were aware of the invisible bond that connected them. It was a mystery to Pansy why Draco did not at all commit to or engage in their special relationship.

"It's ten to eight. We better hurry." The girls were almost out the door. "Pansy, are you coming?"

"You go without me, I'll be right there."

Pansy sat down on her bed and put on her pumps. They made her feet burn like fire within minutes, but she always felt a lot older and more grown up in high heels. Then she leaned head first and reached out for the chest under her bed. Beneath a stack of dusty old magazines a little jewellery case appeared. Pansy grabbed the silver charm bracelet inside and eyed it for a moment. It was the most precious thing she owned, both materially and immaterially, and it still looked exactly the same as back when her mother had worn it, and she had been wearing it a lot.

Although the bracelet was made from pure silver it bore heavy wear-marks: the chain itself was gravely tarnished from constant skin-contact, some of the charms were dented, scratched or missing a gemstone. Pansy was not sure whether or not to believe in a deeper meaning behind the sparkling pendants. Most of them were ordinary items, others rather mysterious-looking symbols.

She often wondered what kind of person her mother, Iris, had been. Her father had met her mother only twice before she gave birth to their daughter, but after Iris's unexplained disappearance he had taken great care of the girl. So far Pansy had not met anyone who had known her mother well enough to provide a detailed image of her personality.

Pansy put the bracelet around her wrist and got up to check her makeup one last time. Even though her looks were not what one would call natural beauty, she had brought out the best in her. At only sixteen, being attractive was vital to her; it gave her a feeling of superiority and power. In a world with so little backup and support she had to take care of herself.

- . -

"There's something you need to know … about Pansy … and you. It's …," Iris stammered. She did not know how to bring home the message. "You remember that night, last year. You and me. Well …"

"Oh." There was a pause. "Are you serious? - Are you sure?"

She nodded.

"Well, that's …" He needed a minute to collect his thoughts. "That's amazing! Isn't it?"

"I … I guess." The woman felt relieved. She took a deep breath. Her words had just made Marcus the father of her baby girl.