Finals are over! Now for some sweet, sweet sleep! But before I retreat to the land of slumber, I'll leave you with this chapter. I hope you enjoy! Thank you, my lovely friend, Mcal, for being an awesome beta on this story!

JKR is still the owner of the whole Harry Potter thing, I'm just doing this for fun!

Chapter 16

Draco focused on the rhythm of his footsteps down the hallway as he made his way to the dining room. It felt like ages since he'd taken a meal with his mother.

Save for a few short conversations, mostly centering around their concerns and suspicions about Pansy, he and Narcissa had spent little time together since the incident in Pansy's rooms. It was a sad commentary on ones life when your own mother-with whom you share a house-must owl you to arrange a meal in said house. It was imperative that Pansy move out.

Distractedly, Draco pushed through the double doors of the dining room, covered the obnoxious distance to the table and fell into the chair at the head of the table. His mother had insisted he occupy that seat as it was only right that the head of the family do so. He'd been reluctant at first, but it was habit now.

He was alone for the moment and relished the quiet of the room, ignoring his good breeding, he leaned to rest his forehead in his left hand and closed his eyes, focusing on his breath. He heard the door open and subsequent footsteps "Mother, forgive me." He sighed not correcting his posture. "I'm exhausted lately."

"I'm sure I can help with that."

His head shot up and his eyes ripped open to see, not his mother, but Pansy. Platters of hors d'oeuvres and accompaniments floated around her head; oysters, prosciutto wrapped figs, skewers of melon and mozzarella, roasted asparagus all settled artfully along the table. Then with a dramatic swish of her wand a trimmed tied prime rib wafted into the room and landed in the dead center of the table.

He eyed the food with suspicion and then the witch standing proudly beside the table, her cleavage pushed up indecently and a smug look on her face. "Where is my mother?"

A dismissive wave of her hand was coupled with a tittering giggle. "She had something come up and thought I could offer you suitable… entertainment." She took her seat-one he noticed was positioned closer than polite society allowed and in such a manner that he was greeted with an eyeful of her chest. He pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

"If you'll excuse me, Pansy?" He started to rise from his chair.

A plaintive cry left her lips as she reached to place an insistent hand on his forearm. "Please, Draco." He froze half standing, "I worked so hard. One meal. Please… to set things right between us."

Resigning, he lowered himself into the chair and smoothed his napkin over his lap. Pansy clapped her hands lightly in front of her enhanced bosom and wiggled excitedly. Draco indulged her with a tight smile.

He suppressed a groan as she waved her wand and dimmed the lights. He even held his tongue when she prepared his plate, but he could no longer remain silent when she attempted to hand feed him a stalk of asparagus. "I think I can handle feeding myself. I've been doing it successfully for years." He pushed her hand away and resolutely ignored her pout.

Brandishing his utensils he speared one of the wrapped figs. Pansy watched in rapture. "Please, partake as well. You should enjoy the fruits of your labor," he offered, not wanting to take the first bite.

Pansy cut a dainty bit from an asparagus tip and brought the pungent morsel to her lips. Her brief distraction allowed Draco a moment to inspect the fig. Finding nothing amiss about the appearance or smell he allowed the sweet and savory flavors to meld on his tongue.

The meal continued in a simmering silence, Draco eating as little as possible, until finally Pansy broke the surface tension. "I really am sorry about the other day. I don't know what came over me?"

Draco nodded, swallowing the bite in his mouth before answering. "You've been through quite a change, but it seemed like you were adjusting well on your own."

"But that's just it. I don't want to be on my own."

"I'm not suggesting you be on your own forever."

"What are you saying, Draco?" Her voice held a breathy excitement.

Draco took a sip of wine and cleared his throat, "I'm saying, surely you'll meet someone you can build a life with." Like I did with Hermione.

The linen napkin in her lap floated to the floor as Pansy stood, her palms pressed into the table on either side of her plate. "I've already met someone." She grit out, her face a scowling grimace.

Pushing his plate away, and his chair back from the table, but before he stood he looked at the angry woman trying to burn a hole through him with her eyes. "Pansy, when Hermione comes back…"

A malicious laugh cut him off and a surprise flick of her wand found Draco lashed securely to his chair and he felt a locking charm surround the room. "Draco… poor naive Draco." Pansy began to pace around him, tapping her wand in her palm, sparks sputtering out menacingly. "You think your little mudblood is coming back? YOU ARE A FOOL!" She screamed in his face.

Draco tried to remain calm and followed Pansy with his eyes as she paced. "It's unfair don't you think? They way the world just fawns after that filthy little mudblood, the blood traitor and that ridiculous scarred orphan. It's disgusting! Our families have been pillars of wizard society for centuries, our culture steeped in fine traditions. And what happens? A mongrel halfblood think he can lead us?" She laughed, rough and disturbed. "He led us to ruin! Look at me! I'm reduced to stealing a house form loathsome muggles, and impersonating a homely mudblood swot. And you..." She stroked Draco's face causing him to flinch and press his head further back into the chair. Pansy sneered at him. "You're the worst of them all. As soon as the dust settled, there you were, 'let's all be unified. We're all magical, we're all equal'...RUBISH," she spat. "You turned against generations of your family to save your fortune and your hide and then you have the nerve consort with that trash."

"You're wrong, Pansy." He spoke calmly trying appeal to her. "And just because something has been a tradition for centuries doesn't mean it's the right thing."

Pansy scoffed, "Well, I couldn't abide it, so I took care of it."

Draco began to visibly struggle against his bonds. "What did you do?"

Pansy waved him off and summoned another dish; a trifle, layered with blood orange. With a smug smile she filled a plate with a generous amount and placed it in front of Draco. "What does it matter? Because in just a moment, your only concern will be me and my every whim and happiness." Picking up a spoon she scooped up a large bite of trifle and brought it towards Draco's lips. "I'm finally going to get what I deserve."

As Draco watched the spoon draw closer, he reached deep within for his magic. Before the cream touched his lips he felt the bonds release and he ducked to the floor. Screaming in rage as Draco scrambled away, Pansy threw the spoon down and swept the dishes from the table. Draco slid through the mess of food and ceramic that littered the floor, thankful to put some distance between himself and the deranged witch. Flipping to his back, he barely had time to duck and throw up a shield as she fired a barrage of spells in his direction.

As her spells bounced off his shield impotently, Pansy screamed in frustration. Her eyes were wild and unhinged as her wand rose in a trembling hand; the power sparked through her hair and down her arm crackling malevolently at the end of her wand. A spell was forming at her lips as the doors to the dining room burst open.

As Pansy turned to watch the Auror team, led by Potter and Weasley, Draco allowed himself a moment of relief. He sprang to his feet, assuming a dueling stance, the muscle memory from the war coming back all too easily. He saw his mother rush into the room, her elegant robes billowing around her, and he rushed to her side casting a shield charm to protect her from collateral fire.

"Drop the wand, Parkinson." Potter entreated.

Pansy laughed as she backed slowly away from the Aurors, her wand tracking over each member of the team.

"On my ready, team." Potter called.

It was then, a commotion of flapping wings entered into the fray. The dove Draco had not seen since its escape, flew into the room and straight for Pansy. It swooped at her and tried to grasp at her wand. She flailed her arms to wave it off and it dove at her face trying to peck her eyes. As Pansy tried to deter the bird, Potter called, "Hold for a clear shot."

Draco watched the scene play out in slow motion. The Aurors held wands trained on Pansy as she fought off the persistent bird. Stepping back into some of the trifle spilled onto the marble floor, she lost her footing in the remains of the meal. She swung her arms wildly, knocking the dove into the far wall. There was a distinct crack heard as her head made contact with the edge of the table. Pansy fell to the ground in a limp heap, her wand rolling away from her outstretched hand.

The Aurors rushed toward the fallen witch, as the blood began to pool beneath her raven hair, mingling with the detritus from the dining table. A call for the medic echoed throughout the room as the team rushed to assess her status.

"Draco, darling, did she hurt you? Did you eat any of the trifle?" Narcissa's voice jarred Draco out of his surprise.

"No, Mother. She bound me to the chair, but I was able to get free." He felt his mother relax beside him, but movement from the far side of the room distracted him from the commotion of the Auror medic entering and the team rushing around Pansy. The dove lay against the wall, seeminging stunned, its breaths coming shallow and quick.

Draco bent to retrieve the frightened animal and gently cradled it to his chest. He could feel the thready heartbeat and feared that it wouldn't be long with the world. Stroking it's soft feathered head, he whispered. "It's all right. I've got you. I'm here." His overwhelming sadness at the bird's imminent death left him confused, but the small gentle creature had brought him such comfort, he felt he owed it a measure of the same.

The voices of the Aurors grew louder as Pansy began to convulse, the medics scrambling to try and administer potions and stasis spells; but it was for naught. As her shaking stopped, so did her breathing. The medics waved their wands, Rennervates flying toward her, but she remained still.

Draco could feel the dove's heartbeat growing weaker, he cradled it closer and as he felt the faint pulse subside, he heard the medic. "She's gone there's nothing more we can do."

Draco cried out, "NO!" All eyes in the room looked to him, as he fell to his knees. But it was quickly that they realized he was not in mourning for Pansy, but the dove held to his heart.

Narcissa began to step toward him when a bright light burst forth from his chest, blinding the onlookers. Draco was lifted off the ground and surrounded by the pure magic radiating around him. As he drifted back to the floor, the light began to fade inward toward its origin.

And as the last of the light retreated, the room was shocked to see, not a dove held in Draco's arms, but the body of Hermione Granger.

Hope you enjoyed it! Leave me some love in the reviews and let me know what you think!