A/N Thank you everyone who reviewed: Jolie Anderson, Felicity, Nefer Tawa, Crystalline Lily, Tenshi Mahou, Chirista, Jaded, Draco's Lover, Wondergirl, Alexandra, Lilie Blaze, and Lazy Little Yellow. I really appreciate the reviews. Also sorry for the typos and mistakes in the past few chapters, one of these days I'll reload them – until then sorry.
"Shh. There he is." Pansy giggled.
Millicent put down her glass of pumpkin juice. "Where?"
"No. Don't look."
"Are you really going to do it, Pansy?"
"I might." Pansy said coyly looking at Potter laughing with Seamus and Dean.
Pansy thought back to last night's conversation with Draco. She had sidled up to him where he sat reading a piece of parchment. He crumpled it before she could make out any details. "Letter from home?" she had asked.
"Father's upset with me again. He doesn't understand why I don't make friends with Potter, worm my way onto the light side, so I can later betray him. Hell, if I were a girl, he'd probably order me to shag the speckled git."
"Draco, I'm sure he doesn't mean"
"Father's a great strategist" Draco went on. "Still, I have my pride. Let Potter have the spotlight while he can. Someday Voldemort will curse the git into oblivion and then it won't matter that all of Hogwarts will be staring at Potter and the girls green with envy at his girlfriend."
Pansy couldn't remember what soothing comment she had made. Her mind had been filled with images of herself in designer robes, hanging on Potter's arm. Lucius Malfoy was powerful. Her father always talked about the importance of alliances. Maybe…
Pansy stood up abruptly. "See you later Mil." She said quickly before heading in Potter's direction.
****
From his seat at the other end of the Slytherin table, Draco watched Pansy head for Potter. Last night he had wondered if he was laying it on a bit thick, pretending to have received a letter from Lucius, but as usual, Pansy didn't question his statements. "Stupid bint." He thought. "Hermione knows better than to trust me implicitly." His eyes followed Pansy's too-casual progess across the room. Although Draco's true objective was to win Hermione. He didn't particularly want Harry to win the bet. Reflecting that Pansy's clinginess would repel even a desperate Potter, he did his best to convince Pansy to chase after Potter. Hopefully, confronted by Pansy's unsubtle flirting, Potter would forget his goal and run in the other direction.
He wondered what his father would say if he knew. Very possibly nothing. The best lies are always based on truths and Lucius had been disappointed, in the beginning, at Potter's rejection of Draco, and Draco's subsequent actions. On the other hand, Lucius would never approve of Hermione. The Malfoys had married well for centuries. Draco shuddered. He hated disappointing his father. Sure he whined, and complained, and didn't work as hard as he should, but he knew his parents loved him. Then again, he had never truly done anything to degrade the Malfoy name. "I won't worry about it." Draco decided. "After all, I'm trying to save myself. If Voldemort is defeated again, as he probably will be, I don't want to be the last of the Malfoys, rotting in Azkaban."
Pansy had bumped Potter, draping herself across him. The look on Potter's face was priceless. Where was that Creevey creep when you wanted him. Draco would love having a photo – although he'd have to charm it so Pansy couldn't rip it up, Well, there was no need to stay any longer. Pansy had just stalked off leaving Ron to punch Harry in the arm. Harry looked at Ron, a flush creeping over his face as he realized exactly what he had done.
Should he say something? Why not? Walking past Potter, Draco smirked "Smooth, Scarhead. Even when I beg Pansy to talk to you, you louse up the opportunity. "
