Daphne threw her arms around Harry. He fully returned the hug. Despite his eyes still wet with tears an indelible smile spread across his face. Elliot Greengrass descended the stairs, yet again showing up at the wrong time. He crossed his arms. "Oh, good, Harry, you are still here. We have some unfinished business to discuss. If you will accompany me back to my office," Elliot said.
"What is this about?" Daphne inquired. Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped open just a bit. She didn't trust her father.
"That is between Harry and me," Elliot insisted. Then he turned to Vera. "I will need you for this as well."
"Don't worry. I won't let him hurt Harry," Vera assured Daphne.
Harry, Vera and Elliot returned to Elliot's office. Elliot explained exactly what he and Harry had agreed to before and asked her to perform the unbreakable vow between the two of them.
Vera looked at Harry questioningly. "Why on earth would you agree to this? He can not be trusted." Vera pointed to her brother and tried to talk Harry out of this.
"I will get my wife to do this!" Elliot stamped his foot against the floor.
"Fine, I will do it!" Vera gritted her teeth.
Elliot faced Harry and grabbed his hands.
"Do you Elliot, agree that if Harry wins the tri-wizard tournament you will release Daphne from any and all future marriage contracts." Vera waved her wand.
"I will," Elliot nodded. Streams of magical energy emitted from her wand.
"Do you also agree that under no circumstances will you interfere or sabotage Harry in the Triwizard tournament," Vera added.
"I will," Elliot agreed. He gritted his teeth and was starting to regret picking his sister to do this.
"Do you agree that you will keep Daphne in your will even if she marries someone you do not approve of," Vera said.
"I will." Elliot didn't want to agree to that one, but at this point he didn't feel he had a choice.
"Do you Harry agree that if you lose the Triwizard tournament, you will break off your relationship with Daphne and give your invisibility cloak to Elliot Greengrass," Vera said.
"I will," Harry agreed. He was happy Vera was selected for this as she did a good job protecting her niece.
Several hours later
By dinner time, everyone returned from the party. Draco and Daphne sat comfortably on the couch in the Slytherin common room making small talk and laughing. Daphne made things clear that he was still her friend, but Harry was her boyfriend. Draco pretended to be ok with that.
"I'll bet you miss your parents already," Draco gave a bit of a chuckle.
"With every stunner spell so far," Daphne laughed. "Actually, as usual I miss Sniper more then I will ever miss my parents."
"Given the name your father picked for him, Sniper is a surprisingly friendly cat," Draco said.
"Lucky for you, you are not a mouse," Daphne said.
"If by some miracle you do become my wife, we will definitely have a few cats," Draco said firmly. Daphne thought he was kidding, but of course Draco was dead serious. They both laughed as Pansy rounded the corner and walked right in.
"Well, you two seem chummy again. Must have been some party." Pansy crossed her arms and fixed a glare on Daphne, yet again wanting to kill her.
"Yeah, I couldn't stay mad at him forever," Daphne let out a small laugh.
"What is Potter going to think of that?" Pansy asked with a raised brow, which earned her an intense glare from Draco.
"Harry doesn't tell me who I can and can't be friends with," Daphne retorted.
"He isn't going to like it," Pansy said with a coy grin. She had every intention of rubbing it in his face.
"Well, what he doesn't know…" Draco began. Draco was going to say won't hurt him, but Daphne interrupted.
"On the contrary, Harry thought I should make up with you," Daphne said.
"What?" Pansy and Draco said in unison.
"You are kidding!" Draco exclaimed. He looked down at his hands and felt a queasy uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach he couldn't quite explain.
"Nope," Daphne smiled at him and expected him to return the smile, but her smile faded when she realized he didn't. "Is something wrong?"
"Ah, no. I am just, ah, tired from the party and I really should be going." Draco faked a yawn. "Good night Daphne." He deliberately ignored Pansy as he left for his room.
Pansy watched him leave with her eyes firmly fixated on his ass and a grin on her face. She even licked her lips. Once he was out of sight she turned to Daphne. "You are letting Potter tell you what to do," Pansy declared with a hint of accusation in her voice.
"No, I simply asked his opinion," Daphne said. "Please not this again. I have told you a thousand times, Draco and I are just friends."
"Yeah, I get it… I think I will go wish your sister a happy birthday," Pansy said.
Astoria's room
Pansy pounded on Astoria's door. "Open up!"
Ordinarily, Astoria would have ignored her, but this time she actually wanted to talk to her. As she grabbed the crystal on her necklace, the stone turned blue. "The door isn't locked. Come on in," Astoria called out.
Pansy barged right in and slammed the door behind her with a loud thud. "Thanks for not inviting me to your party!" Pansy frowned.
"Any time! I would tell you the owl ate your invitation, but we both know that would be a lie," Astoria grinned. She looked over at Pansy with her arms across her chest then she asked, "What do you want?"
"It seems Draco made up with the bimbo," Pansy said.
"My sister is not a bimbo!" Even without the mindreading crystal, Astoria would have known she meant Daphne. "But that is wonderful news!" Astoria smiled.
"I don't care how you do it, but you are going to break that up," Pansy demanded. "Or else…"
"Or else what?" At first, Astoria took on a smug expression, but that expression changed to one of utter dread as she realized Pansy knew who posed as Professor Snape and stole a book from the library.
"I tell Professor Snape it was you who stole that book out of the library," Pansy threatened.
"Interesting theory." Astoria did her best to lie. "Do you have any proof?"
"Yes," Pansy lied. She was confident that the mere accusation would be enough to have Astoria questioned and a truth serum used on her. Even though Pansy didn't say any of that, Astoria could read her thoughts and she knew Pansy was right.
"What do you expect me to do about it?" Astoria asked.
"Just tell her Granger is blackmailing you," Pansy said. "I will give you three days. If you fail, I go to Professor Snape," Pansy threatened. "So, you better think fast!"
Daphne's room
Not long after Pansy left, Astoria paid her sister a visit. "Remember when you asked me if I were being blackmailed," Astoria began. Daphne nodded. "Well, you are right. I am."
"By Hermione?" Daphne looked on horrified not wishing to be right about Hermione forcing her sister to sleep with Draco.
"No, not Granger, Parkinson," Astoria clarified.
"Why would Pansy make you sleep with Draco?" Daphne asked.
Astoria couldn't help it but to laugh. "No, I didn't sleep with Draco. The whole getting blackmailed thing only just happened a few minutes ago," Astoria clarified. Then she filled Daphne in on everything Pansy had said.
"I can't believe she would do that," Daphne squeezed her pillow a bit too hard and a few feathers popped through. She thought about it and she remembered Pansy insisting she tell Draco he has no chance with her in the rudest way possible. "Maybe I can. Fine she wins this one." She laid down on her bed and buried her face in her pillow.
"No, actually she doesn't," Astoria said. "I will beat her to the punch. I will tell Professor Snape exactly what I did… But not before I ruin any chance Pansy might have with Draco."
Daphne looked up. "No, you can't do that. You will be expelled!"
"I know, but I would rather get expelled then let that witch control me. If I give in now, she will just keep doing it…"
"Point taken. Wait! I could tell Professor Snape that I did it," Daphne suggested. "Then she won't be believed if she tattles on you."
"No! Think about that. You are the only one who as already been cleared of this. You were seen talking to me when I did it!" Astoria reminded her.
"Oh, yeah," Daphne thought for a few moments. "I could say I put you up to it, so I should be the one to be punished for it instead of you."
"Again, no! They would just expel both of us," Astoria reasoned with her.
"Yeah, I guess you are right," Daphne admitted half-heartedly. "You did this for me. I just don't want you to get in any trouble for it."
"It is not your fault. You tried to talk me out of it, remember? I wish I had listened." Astoria gave her a hug.
Draco's room
After Astoria finished her chat with her sister, she visited Draco next. She contemplated using the necklace to read Draco's mind, but decided against the idea. If Draco was gushing over her sister, that would not be something she would want to hear.
"Listen, I know the party was awkward for you, but thank you for coming anyway. I really appreciated you being there," Astoria said.
"Yeah," Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. "At least Daphne isn't ticked at me anymore."
"Yeah, that is one of the things I wanted to talk to you about," Astoria said.
Draco groaned in frustration. "Please don't tell me she changed her mind."
"No, not Daphne, but somebody else is less than thrilled about it," Astoria said.
"No matter what he said, I will bet Potter hates it," Draco snickered.
"Not Harry, Parkinson," Astoria clarified.
"Yeah, well that is her problem, not mine," Draco shrugged that one off. "I am not so happy with her right now. Don't ask. So, if she has a problem with it, I don't care."
Astoria's hand hovered over the stone as she contemplated using the necklace, but then she decided not to out of respect. "I wouldn't care either except for one thing. She is trying to blackmail me into breaking you and Daphne up."
"What?" Draco exclaimed. "How dare she? She will pay for that, dearly!"
"I am glad you and my sister made up. I already told Daphne that I am not giving in to her demands. I am going to tell professor Snape exactly what I did," Astoria told him.
"Oh, you don't need to do that. Your future brother in-law will take care of it. Just be sure I get the credit for it from your beautiful sister," Draco declared. His expression went dark.
"Oh, of course, I will." Astoria forced a smile. She had a crush on Draco ever since she met him, and she couldn't help but to feel a little jealous over Draco's obsession with Daphne. She started to feel a bit of guilt. She really wished she could simply turn off her feelings toward Draco and be a more loyal girlfriend to Ron, but her emotions didn't work like that. But she could do something: focus her thoughts on the matter at hand, "You think you can make Parkinson back down?"
"Trust me! I have a bit of influence over Parkinson!" Draco wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Yeah, I know you do," Astoria smiled. She enjoyed having Draco's arm around her, but that nagging guilt of trying to be a loyal girlfriend continued to gnaw away at her, but she did her best to maintain her focus. "I know it means almost nothing to you, but if you could get Parkinson to back down, I would really appreciate it too."
"Trust me, get your sister and meet me in Pansy's room in about 15 minutes," Draco said.
Pansy's room
"Pansy!" Draco called out as he pounded on her door.
Pansy's heart skipped a beat as she heard his voice. "Just a minute," she called out sweetly. She sprayed herself with just a touch of perfume and straightened up the sheets just before answering the door. She expected him to be upset that Daphne no longer wanted anything to do with him. She thought she would comfort and seduce him, but when she opened the door, his eyes narrowed at her. She could practically feel the hate radiating from him.
"How dare you! Do you really think I am going to let you blackmail Daphne's sister?" Draco raised his voice.
"What, no I didn't," Pansy lied.
"Don't lie to me. If you tattle on Astoria, I will tattle on you," Draco gave her a cold stare. "Do you really want to be up on rape charges?"
"You can't charge me with rape," Pansy said.
"Professor Snape said I could!" Draco decided not to tell her that he also said he would be unlikely to win the case. "Deceiving someone into going to bed with you is rape."
"What?" Pansy gulped as her eyes opened wide. "Fine, I won't tell," she begrudgingly uttered those words and then folded her arms. She did find one silver lining in that though. She wouldn't have to give in to Draco's blackmail anymore because she could threaten to tell on Astoria if he tried.
Daphne and Astoria showed up and lucky for Pansy, they didn't hear their conversation. "Draco convinced me not to tattle on you. For now."
"How?" Daphne crossed her arms.
"He has agreed to be my date for the Yule Ball," Pansy lied.
"What?" Astoria questioned.
"I did?" Draco asked as he could feel the anger building, as his head swayed side to side. Draco was furious with Pansy. There was no way he had agreed to that. Daphne was the only girl he wanted to go with. He would rather skip the event entirely over going with someone else.
"Wow! Thank you," Daphne hugged Draco.
Pansy began to get fuming mad. She didn't think that through very well. 'Get your hands off my man,' Pansy thought to herself.
"I can't believe you would do that for me." Daphne smiled.
"Of course, I would do anything for you." Draco returned the smile. He enjoyed the hug, but the thought of going with Pansy, ewwww, no, just no, but if Daphne was this appreciative, he would put up with her for one night.
Astoria let out a huff of annoyance. This was definitely not what she wanted. "No, I can't let you do that. You shouldn't have to date her. I know you don't want to. I will just tell Professor Snape the truth." Astoria left quickly.
Draco grabbed Pansy at the shoulders. "Make her change her mind or no dance," he said. He gently raked the tips of his fingers across her throat.
Pansy immediately got the meaning of that. She knew not only would there be no dance, but she would be up on rape charges if she didn't stop Astoria from telling Snape.
Draco raced after Astoria. "Please reconsider. One date with Pansy isn't the end of the world," Draco said. Pansy and Daphne both followed closely behind.
"It wouldn't just be one date. If we give in to her now, we will be doing it for the rest of our time at Hogwarts. She will just keep doing it. I don't want you becoming her slave," Astoria said.
Draco grinned. "I will promise to be your date for the Yule Ball and she will promise never to tattle on Astoria."
"Right, I promise!" Pansy nodded with a smile showing all of her teeth. She had no intention of keeping that promise.
"I trust you about as far as I could throw you…." Astoria said. "Without using magic that is!"
"Oh, come on! Please," Pansy pleaded.
"Yeah, we will make it an unbreakable vow. Magically enforced," Draco said. "That way she can't change her mind and tell on you later."
"Right," Pansy forced a smile. Then she glared at Draco as she immediately realized exactly what he was doing. 'You son of a bitch!' she thought to herself as she realized with Daphne and Astoria as witnesses to this, she couldn't ask for protection from Draco tattling on her.
Draco faced Pansy and grasped her hands. Astoria pointed her wand. "Will you Pansy keep my secret and never tattle on me?" she asked.
"I will," Pansy nodded. A thin band of red energy wrapped around Pansy's hands.
Astoria grinned with a bit of a smirk Pansy didn't like. "Do you Draco, agree to take Pansy to the Yule Ball, so long as she is willing and able to go with you," she asked.
"I will," Draco said firmly. A thin band of red energy wrapped around Draco's hand as well.
"What happens if we break these vows," Pansy asked.
"You die!" Astoria smirked at her.
"What?" Pansy screeched.
Astoria laughed unsympathetically. "You should have asked that question before the vows were made," she said exactly what Pansy was thinking.
A/N
I would like to thank everyone who favorites, followed or reviewed this story. I would also like to thank CSGT for helping with this story.