Chapter 3

Disclaimer: unfortunately, I don't own anything.

Hey, this is the third chapter (I know what you're thinking, finally!). Anyway, sorry if this one was rushed, I was tired of filler chapters. Just to tell you, yes, although the main characters are Draco and Pansy, this isn't really much of a romance story, it's actually an adventure with some Dransy goodness thrown in. Thanks for reading!

"Why, Dahlia, what expensive jewelry you have! Surely it isn't yours?" Pansy asked, smirking, while Dahlia's smile faltered, to be replaced with a scowl.

"Oh, always the charmer, Pansy. I wonder, how does Crimson…avoid trouble with the…crowd she associates herself with?" Dahlia replied, plastering a smirk in return.

Pansy knew Dahlia was referring to the second generation of Death Eaters. Although Voldemort was gone, his long-time supporters decided to have monthly meetings to discuss Voldemort's initial plan, and to accept and reject members in the Malfoy home-which doubled as headquarters- and in Hogwarts. It was a secret and very exclusive group, and the few important leaders personally picked the lucky few to be accepted. First, though, they had to pass initiation. Using the Cruciatis Curse was not enough. People had to use the deadliest curse of all. Avada Kadavra.

Of course, some Slytherins and Ravenclaws had decided to walk away, thinking the group too cruel to be in. But the Malfoy children were expected to be in the group, and to take over as leaders when the old ones graduate from Hogwarts. Pansy had decided that Seductra was too young for the Death Eater's group, although it seemed like Seductra was the one most ready and prepared to be accepted. Scorpius was one of the group leaders, and Crimson was dating Skipp Elderwild, who was the group leader as well.

Pansy smiled proudly. "Crimson always manages to find a way to…weasel out of things, don't you darling?" She concluded as she caught Crimson's eye from across the table.

The guests had stayed overnight, and were enjoying a brunch feast comprising of glace au four, cream salmon with capers, elf-made scones, quiche Lorraine, French toast drizzled with raspberry coulis, and many others. Discussion and commotion was at a high, and everyone was enjoying themselves. Everyone but Pansy. Indeed, she knew who had cursed Ronald Weasley. Now the remaining question was: why? Had it had something to do with Draco sneaking into their bedroom in the morning?

Yes, Pansy had dragged herself up out of bed, and deciding she needed to cheer herself up, she silently traveled into Seductra's room. She was already awake, with a big wool travel cloak draped over her shoulders as she bent over to whisper to the plants. As soon as Seductra saw her mother, she immediately said, "It's father, isn't it?" Pansy had shaken her head sadly, although she knew she couldn't lie to her smart daughter. Pansy always considered Seductra as the special one, Crimson as the vivacious girl, and Scorpius, a duplicate of her husband.

Pansy snapped out of her thoughts by a house-elf.

"Ma'am? It's Master Malfoy. He needs to speak with you." Dahl informed. Pansy inclined her head, and stood up, smiling apologetically to the ladies surrounding her. She hurried over to her husband's side, and together, entered the lounge room. While Pansy sat stiffly on the chaise, Draco paced back and forth in front of her.

"Pansy," Draco started, as sweat started collecting on his upper lip. "About last night, when Ronald was cursed…well," He looked at her apprehensively.

Pansy just stared at him coldly, waiting for him to confess. She would not beg for the explanation.

"Well, Pansy. I think it was Freddy that did it."

Pansy looked at him disbelievingly. Why would he lie to her face? "Nylt? Freddy Nylt? Why would he want to hurt Ronald?" Pansy asked. She decided to humor him. Unfortunately, he thought Pansy had taken the bait.

"Well, remember when Freddy asked Ronald for that loan? He was going to use those Galleons to transport those illegal Starburr Puffs from Venezuela. You know, the ones that bite."

Pansy scoffed under her breath, but just loud enough to let Draco hear it as well. "Nylt is 97 years old. He would have that covered. Besides, who would go to the Weasleys for help?" She laughed, marveling in her own wit.

Draco laughed too, though it was forced. If only Hermione kept her maiden name. "Well, I'll have a talk with him, about how to treat people right."

Pansy objected, saying she would have that chat, and together, slid open the sliding glass door that separated the dining room from the lounge. Pansy sat down, making sure to smooth her navy blue knit dress with the sweetheart neckline and tie waist. Glancing over to her husband, she saw Draco let out a big sigh, one of relief. Pansy sighed as well, although the meaning behind it wasn't the same as Draco's.

*******

Some of the guests had left, although most of the Death Eaters stayed to have a meeting later on in the day. To most people, they were merely strolling through a beautiful garden, full of flowers and plants of all sorts, such as peonies, daffodils, but most of all purple and white pansies were everywhere you turned. To the Death Eaters, though, hidden deep beneath the field of pansies, was the corpse of a man named Lord Voldemort. Only few people knew about it, and the ones who did were careful not to step on that piece of land. However, Seductra, being the brave one, stepped on one single peony, waiting for her mother to scold her. Pansy was staring into space, though, not caring about Seductra stepping on the grave of a wizard who once almost took over the whole wizarding community.

"Mother," Seductra pouted. "When are we going to do something exciting?"

Pansy lashed out, irritated. "Oh hush up, Seductra, and go find your sister, I need to talk with her."

Sulking, Seductra fixed her emerald necklace and walked over to the Death Eaters Youth group. The fifth to seventh years were lounging, sitting on the ledge of the fountain, and on the green grass.

"Why, look who it is. Carrot head!" said Skipp, a dashingly handsome boy of seventeen, with freckles on his nose and chocolate-brown hair covering his blue eyes.

Everyone laughed, until Seductra shot a death glare to the general group, her right eye slightly twitching. They quieted down hastily, clearing their throats. After all, it was embarrassing to be scared by a fourth year. Smiling happily, she directed her words to the prettiest girl in the group, her sister Crimson.

"Mother needs to speak with you."

When Crimson didn't reply, and merely laughed at Skipp kissing her neck, Seductra sighed, and rumpled her hair a bit.

"Immediately."

Crimson waved her off, treating her like an irksome fly. It was only until Seductra gave her a withering look, that she replied.

"I will meet her whenever I feel like it." Crimson stood up anyway, because everybody knew not to mess around with Pansy Malfoy. Everyone but her own husband, that is. As Crimson dodged the guests, waving hello to acquaintances, she eyed her father, talking passionately about the illegal immigration of Romanian house elves, which didn't really like to serve their masters, and tended to poison their master's afternoon tea.

Although their parents wouldn't admit it, the Malfoy children saw that their marriage was disintegrating. Being smart and cunning wasn't enough to save a couple's future. Putting on the superior smile their father had taught each of the children, she glided towards her mother. Sighting her eldest daughter, Pansy brightened a little.

"Crimson! I need you to run a little errand for me." Pansy needed something to distract her, even if it is a little childish teenage drama love triangle. "You like Rose, don't you?" Even though Pansy knew the answer-they were practically sisters-she still wanted reassurance.

"Yes…" Crimson started. Then recognition washed over her face. "What did Scorpius do this time?"

Scorpius was quite the ladies man, and he just couldn't stay still in a relationship, and most of them were short. However, Scorpius and Rose were much like Draco and Pansy when they were in Hogwarts. Their relationship was much like a tug-of-war game and pointless mind games, and pretty much it came down to them getting married in the end.

"Crimson dear, I need you to reason with Rose. She's meant to be a branch on the family tree! That beautiful face would do wonders on our family tapestry wall." Pansy directed.

Crimson nodded obediently, and walked towards Hugo, the brother of Rose, although with heavy freckles taken after his father, and reddish brown hair and dirty fingernails. As Crimson asked where Rose was resting, Pansy smiled triumphantly, just for the feel of it. She felt that her world was shattered, but her brain was playing the façade a little bit longer, that everything was perfect. Pansy felt a slight tap on her shoulder, and turned around to face the russet-colored eyes of Hermione Granger-Weasley.

"H-hello Pansy." Hermione refused to look into Pansy's auburn orbs.

"Hermione. Don't you look twitchy." Hermione didn't defend herself and Pansy took that as a sign. "Well? Do you have something to tell me?" Pansy knew it wasn't entirely her fault, but it felt good to be mad at someone.

"Well, Pansy. Yes, and your husband probably didn't tell you either. But for the sake of my children, I have to get this off my conscious. Please, Pansy, don't get dramatic." Hermione fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.

Pansy softened at the sincere face of her supposed enemy. At least she had the guts to confess. Who said Ravenclaws didn't have balls?

"Don't worry, I wouldn't dare throw a fit. In public that is. After all, this is the social gathering of the year." Pansy sniffed.

"Yes, it is. I'm honored to be invited. Anyway, the point of this is…"

"Pansy!"

Everyone near Draco snapped their heads towards him, rubbing his forearm. Even though every other Death Eater was mirroring his actions, Pansy only had a glance from Draco to know what happened. Pansy quickly abandoned Hermione and her confession, hurrying over to her husband.

Pansy quickly offered herself to be his support system, and with Draco leaning on her, she half walked and half dragged her husband inside, away from the prying eyes.

"Draco? Is it…him?" Pansy whispered, staring at his pained face.

He nodded once, and her pre-children actions kicked in. She took care of him for about five years after the fall of Voldemort, and she was used to this behavior. Running outside as fast as her high heels could take her, she rushed through her little speech, telling the guests that she had had a wonderful time, meanwhile, she was thinking of the man underneath her garden, and not meaning a word she had said to her guests. As the filed out of the backyard, and into their mansion, she caught Mr. Elderwild's eye, Skipp's father, and turning away from him, ushering her guests out.

As she bid goodbye to Rue and Dahlia's children-who indeed had a beaver's front teeth-she was wondering what would happen after the last person closed her front door.

A/N~ So, I hope you liked it! Any predictions on what might happen next? If you don't reveiw, you don't care! Thanks for reading!