First and foremost, a thank you for the following reviewers, because your words are encouraging and you took the time to tell me what you think about my story so far: Melora, Mis, Allison, conh3, Venus_rising, Shadow Priesstes, CulmsyTonks, Stephanie, Fragorl, Noona1, CupcakeChan95, mehr03, Sly-88, and last but not least, bucktooth (your reviews are so helpful and thorough! thanks for reviewing both my stories!). Hugs for all of you! I hope you and the rest of my readers enjoy this next chapter. Hurrah DM/PP!

Early morning found a worried Pansy trying intently to shove a still-groggy Draco out of her private chambers. But he hardly seemed to budge. No he was in fact placing all of his weight against her. This of course unnerved her, which in turn amused him to no end.

"Draco! Get the hell out of my room," she demanded as she vainly tried to push him towards the door.

"Pans, it's 6 o'clock in the morning," he grumbled, still enjoying her annoyance at his reluctance to leave. "Why can't I sleep in longer? I'll leave in an hour."

"No! Impossible! I don't want you exiting my room when half my bloody dorm is wide awake and bustling! Then they'll see you for sure, and Salazar knows what miserable conclusions they'll come to."

His eyes snapped wide open. "Miserable? Oh come off it! They'll probably think you spent a lust-filled evening with yours truly. I would consider you lucky," he taunted.

She scoffed. "Like I said, miserable conclusions." She stopped her efforts at evicting him and crossed her arms. "How would you like it if I slipped out of your room in the wee hours of the morning for every guy in your dormitory to see?" she asked indignantly.

He threw out his chin. "Don't be daft. Everybody knows you're my best friend. Even if they did think anything of it, they would never say anything about it. We don't make gossip like girls." He expected another retort from her, but only a short period of silence followed.

"I . . I'm your best friend? Really?" Pansy was grinning from ear to ear.

"NO. Just, well, you know what I mean," he argued, weakly.

Still, she grinned.

Draco heaved a sigh. "Well don't go running your mouth off to Nott. He thinks he's my best mate."

"Yes," she added somberly, "He would be devastated to know that he is not, in fact, Draco Malfoy's best friend."

"I hate your sarcasm the most, did you know that?"

"Yes, you mentioned that when we were nine years old I believe."

He stretched out his arms and expelled a yawn. "You are aware that it's Sunday? That no student, let alone a Slytherin, gets up at 7 o'clock. Well except maybe Granger, but she's got nothing going on in her life anyways."

Yes, it did slip her mind that today was in fact Sunday. "Well a lady can't be too careful," she insisted. And then, without so much as a knock, her door flew open. It was Theodore, already dressed and groomed. His commitment to hygiene fully on display. He donned a cardigan and scarf to fight off the blustery weather already apparent through Pansy's high window.

"There you are, mate," he exclaimed, shoulders sagging with relief. "Thought I'd have to search every room on this side to find you. Morning, Pansy."

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Theodore!" Honestly, this was too much, she thought.

"Hm? Oh," he said, nonchalantly, as if entering her room was nothing to make a fuss over. He made his way over to stand next to Draco. "Well, when Draco is not in his bed in the mornings, there are 2 scenarios that could have played out: Either he willingly spent the night with a girl or he got drunk and unwillingly spent the night with a girl. Regardless of which situation, it's up to me to go find him and rescue him before any emotional attachments come to play." He explained all this while straightening out the collar of his shirt.

"That's why you're my best mate, Nott," Draco said, casting a wink in Pansy's direction. The temptation to gag and roll her eyes reared its miserable head.

No doubt Malfoy's been in here, talking about how he wants Astoria back," said Theodore.

"How do you know that?" asked Draco, who was sure Pansy was the only one he'd discussed the issue with so far.

"Please. You insult my intelligence when you ask such stupid and pointless questions." A smug look instantly appeared on his face.

Draco merely shrugged his shoulders. "Who am I to question the all knowing?"

Theodore took a moment to look around his surroundings. "Dear Salazar, Parkinson! This room is more disastrous than the last time I was here. Have you no shame!" he cried.

Pansy surveyed her room. It was rather untidy. "I was in a rush yesterday morning, and I got back rather late from my date, er, thing with Aurelius," she explained. "Shame we can't have our own private house elves here in Hogswart."

"SO. It was a date," said Theodore. Curse his ability to pick up on small details, she thought.

"Hmph," replied Pansy, putting on her best stoic face. "Whatever." There was just no use trying to deny it any longer. Besides, didn't Aurelius himself call it that? She looked down on the floor of her room. It was littered with books and discarded clothes. Then her eyes snapped up to the two deviants standing in front of her. "Wait, what do you mean by 'the last time' you were here? You have never been in my room prior to today, Nott."

Theodore cleared his throat as Draco looked away.

"Isn't that so?"

They tried hard to avoid her gaze. Draco stuck his hands in his pockets and Theodore idly fiddled with his scarf.

The next thing to come out of Pansy's mouth was angry screaming. "You've been in my room! Without me knowing! When? Argh I'll kill you both!"

"It was Draco's idea!" Theodore explained, pointing his finger at the accused.

"What! Liar! No it wasn't. It was your stupid dare!" shot Draco as he shoved Theodore.

"You bloody idiots!" shouted an enraged Pansy who was frantically looking around her room for something she could maim the both of them with.

"Murder in her eyes," commented Draco.

"Snarl in her throat," observed Theodore.

They both looked at each other.

"Plan C?" offered Theodore.

Draco nodded his head. "Yep. Book it and run like there's no tomorrow!" he whispered as the two scrambled quickly out of Pansy's room.

Draco saw a statue headed straight for his face before he closed her door shut. He heard it break as it smashed on the other side of the door and it was accompanied by more threats and insults from Pansy.

"We'll see you at breakfast, darling!" shouted Draco through the door. They both laughed as they ran down the stairway and into the common room. Theodore headed straight for his favorite chair while Draco deposited himself on the couch.

Theodore breathed a sigh of relief as he made himself comfortable. "Malfoy, don't you think you should wash up? Perhaps a change of clothes is in order? You've been wearing those since yesterday. And it's rather disgusting."

"You nag like my mother," retorted Draco.

"Unlike your mother, I actually mind the state of your breath."

Draco was about to say something but Theodore was right of course. He got up. "Alright, if it'll get you off my back," he said as he started to climb the stairs.

Theodore meanwhile had procured a book and was leafing through the pages. He made no response as Draco trudged up the stairs to the boys' dormitory. It would be another hour before Draco descended again, accompanied by Blaise.

Theodore look up from his book as the two approached him.

"Well, Zabini, by the shine in your eyes I presume Malfoy has taken it upon himself to catch you up on this morning's travesty?"

"I told you, no, warned you, not to go through with that dare," remarked Zabini, humor in his voice.

"If Nott hadn't slipped with that comment, she would have never known we were ever in there!" insisted Draco.

"Relax. It's Pansy. By the time she comes down from there, she'll have already forgiven us. And in my defense, Malfoy, if you had just chosen 'Truth' instead of 'Dare', we never would have had to sneak in her room in the first place, you git!"

"No one ever chooses 'Truth', you dolt! It's no fun!" Draco shot back.

"Hate to break it up, lovebirds, but where in bloody hell are Crabbe and Goyle?' asked Blaise.

"Oh. They'll be down. I overheard them arguing down the hallway when I went up," said Draco.

Sure enough, five minutes later, the two bulky teens came stomping down.

"Crabbe, get your head out of your arse. There is no way cherries jubilee is the better dessert," argued Goyle.

"And I'm telling you, you lunkhead, that it's better than pĂȘches louis!" retorted Crabbe.

"You're mad!" exclaimed Goyle, reaching the bottom of the stairs, with Crabbe not far behind.

"Maybe you're mum just doesn't know how to prepare it right!"

"You leave my mum out of this or else," threatened Goyle as he turned to face Crabbe, shaking his fist in the other's face.

"Or what? You'll make me taste her cherries jubilee?" Crabbe snorted, not even flinching.

"Ah, the never-ending battle of desserts," sighed Theodore, shutting his book. Blaise merely rolled his eyes, as if to say 'not this again.'

"Oy! Save the fights until at least after breakfast!" yelled a familiar voice.

They all turned their eyes to the other set of stairs just in time to see Pansy descending. She stifled a yawn and ran her fingers through her hair. She made her way over to them.

"Pans, you look absolutely rav-" started Draco.

"Oh, shove off, Malfoy. You and Nott are still on my shit list. But for the sake of harmony over breakfast, I'll forget about it for now," huffed Pansy.

Crabbe and Goyle exchanged looks, confused about what she was talking about. They merely shrugged their shoulders at each other.

"How was your date yesterday?" asked Crabbe.

The question instantly put Pansy in a better mood. "Went well enough, I suppose," she answered. "Not that I'd tell any of you ninnies the details."

"You hurt us with such withdrawal," said Theodore, putting his right hand over his heart.

Draco snickered. "I suppose we'll just have to ask your female friends when you tell them. Oh, wait."

"You don't have any," finished Zabini. They all laughed.

Pansy made a face at them and Draco threw his arm over her shoulder. "Alright luv, let's go get some breakfast now."

"Yes, yes, you think you're all hilarious repeatedly bringing up that fact." Pansy tried to remain indignant but it was no use. It was so hard to stay mad at any of them.

They chattered away as they made their way along the narrow corridors of the dungeons. Eerie green light dotted the semi-darkness until they were well above ground level. Weak sunlight burst forth through the large windows they passed, but clouds were already moving in to block all signs of warmth. Figures from paintings stopped in their tracks to watch them go by. Pansy and Draco led the way, followed by Theodore and Blaise, who in turn were shadowed by Crabbe and Goyle. Their shoes scraped along the stones of the old castle and somewhere high above their heads they heard the grumble of the Bloody Baron.

Blaise and Theodore were speaking in hushed tones, meaning only one thing: Blaise wanted something illegal and was asking Theodore for help in procuring it via Mr. Nott. Pansy could hear Crabbe's barking laughter behind her. Draco still had his arm casually slung around her shoulders, whistling a tune only he knew. A few students were up and about, but one in particular caught her attention. It was Aurelius, and he was walking straight towards their direction.

Pansy let a small smirk form on her face as Aurelius kept walking closer and closer. Something was wrong, however, because he didn't even seem to be looking at her. He was looking past her, ignoring her. Odd, she thought. He must not notice it's me yet, she assured herself.

But as the distance between them shortened, she noticed his strides became longer and more hurried. And yet he still would not look at her. When their paths finally crossed, he did nothing but continue on to his destination. Not a 'hey' or a 'Parkinson' or any other signs of acknowledgement. Not even a passing glance!

Pansy immediately stopped in her tracks, disturbed to be at the receiving end of Aurelius' cold shoulder. Draco stopped alongside her, puzzled at her sudden stillness. The four behind her had noticed the interaction, or rather lack of, between the two.

"Pans? Oy, what's the hold up?" asked an irritated Draco.

"Malfoy, you git, that was Nova," said Theodore.

Draco sneered and crossed his arms. "That's the bloke everyone thinks is on par with me? He's got nothing going on for him! He's certainly not as good looking as I am."

"You are such a nitwit," said an exasperated Blaise. "The point worth noting is not whether he's more attractive than you, you vain, pretentious bastard."

"It's that he's completely ignored Parkinson," Theodore said.