This one shot is a Draco/Pansy oneshot. Set during HBP, before most of the major action. This is my first Draco/Pansy fic... so be nice... please... thank you. And thank you to Narcissa B Malfoy, for editing and putting up with my paranoia and my personal war with comma's.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, JKR owns everything...

And now on with the reading...


"Draco, stop!" Pansy called out before Draco could turn another corner.

"What do you want, Pansy?" Draco spat, finally stopping and pulling Pansy into an empty classroom. "I don't have time for your nonsense!" He was avoiding her eyes and instead, looking down at where he still had a tight hold on her arm.

It was after curfew when Draco had left. Pansy had been reading in the common room and had seen him steal out and hurry away. Concerned, she decided to follow and it took her 10 minutes before she was finally able to catch him.

"For my nonsense?" Pansy hissed. "Suddenly Draco and his precious mission is more important than everything else in the world." Her voice quivered with venom but her eyes glinted with tears, betraying her concern.

"Pansy-"

"No! You keep pushing me away! Draco, you used to tell me everything. You're paler and thinner and even Crabbe and Goyle are catching on that something's going wrong." He grinded his teeth and tightened his jaw in frustration.

"There's nothing wrong!" He declared, looking determinedly into her eyes this time. But instead of convincing her, she began silently crying.

"Draco… what is he making you do?" Draco softened his glare after hearing the deep concern in her voice.

"Pansy, listen… I'm trying to keep you safe." He held her shoulders, trying to get her to look up at him, trying to get her to listen. "If I tell you, he'll know, and he'll come to you to see how I'm… progressing. I don't want that to happen to you… You have to believe me." He pleaded firmly.

"But Draco… I want to help you. I can't stand to see you like this." At her words, Draco faltered. He didn't know what to say. Hearing someone say that they actually cared and worried for him, not out of fear of what the Dark Lord would do, but just simple concern for him, touched him. His mother, his aunt, and even Snape all wanted to try to help because they didn't think he could do the job and the Dark Lord would, in the best circumstances, kill him. But Pansy was here, wanting to help, not because Draco couldn't do it, she didn't even know what the task was. She wanted to help because of him, and that was all.

And so, he took her into his arms and hugged her tightly, murmuring his thanks into her neck. They both cried softly as they held each other in silence, fearing what lay ahead.


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