Chapter 8: Why does love surprise us?

Pansy woke groggily and looked around. She lay in a soft bed with satin sheets in a large dark room. Black velvet curtains were draped on one side of the room. Pansy got up and walked to them, stumbling slightly before yanking open the curtains. Light poured in through the window panes which stretched almost the entire side wall. The room was golden, bed sheets shining in the light. A fireplace was in the wall opposite her bed, its flames licking the wood.

The windows overlooked a beautiful forest to the side and off to the left a vast ocean. She could only guess she was in a small castle. It was a breathtaking view.

Pansy looked down to find she was only wearing a silk nightgown that draped ever so slightly onto the floor. It was a beautiful forest green with a spaghetti strap top and a slit up each side to her mid thigh.

"Where am I?" she wondered aloud. Without thinking, Pansy walked to the double oak doors that housed off her room and crept open one. She heard muffled whispering a little down the long broad hallway and her feet walked soundlessly toward it. Its walls were a dark wood that looked like it was just freshly polished. There was a long deep green rug set down the entire hallway as well. The voices became louder as she came closer to another double door set. One of its doors was ajar slightly as she leaned lightly against the other.

"Since when did you care about her?" a voice floated to Pansy causing her entire body to stiffen.

"Since she was to become my wife," another voice replied. Pansy knew those voices as well as the back of her hand. Her eyes narrowed and she moved so she could see inside the room. It was very similar to the one she had woken up in only this one had a theme of black instead of gold. Draco sat on a large bed, Celeste sitting next to him wearing only a very revealing satin nightgown.

"And so you're willing to give up what we do for her? That isn't like you Draco. I know you want me and you will never be able to leave."

Draco turned to face her so Pansy could not see his face. "Let me point out to you Celeste that I never intended to make this," he gestured to both of them, "an us. You were merely to satisfy me. That is all. I will not be like my father in this respect. Once I am married, she will be the only one who I will have."

"But you aren't married yet, are you?" Celeste countered. And then her lips met his and Pansy felt as though she were going to be sick. Her surprise was not at Celeste's actions however. It was how she felt about Draco's words that made her cringe. But first, she had to figure out what she was doing here and why. Her head still pounded from where her father had struck her. That alone was enough for her to seriously worry. He had never hit her before.

She walked back to her room and shut the door closed to make it sound as if she had just left. She then proceeded down the long stairway which ended in another hallway. This one was lined with pictures of what she guessed to be the owner's family. One frame held a picture of the Malfoy family as it was today. Her heart skipped a beat. She was in the Malfoy mansion. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Being here meant that she would have to face Draco's father once more. The thought made her shiver almost violently. This time Draco might not be there to help her.

"You shouldn't walk around by yourself," a soothing voice said behind her. Pansy turned around quickly to face Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's mother. Her beauty was surpassed of any Pansy had seen. Her first thought was Veela but that didn't seem right despite the close resemblance.

"I'm sorry. I just woke up and I..." she trailed off, biting her lower lip.

"Don't worry about it. I know it must be a bit shocking to wake up here especially in your case. Come with me. I'll fix you some breakfast." She didn't give Pansy time to protest and instead took Pansy's hand and led her to an enormous kitchen.

A large round glass table sat to the side, its top already filled with breakfast foods.

"Draco and his father are always late risers. I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see them down her for another half hour. So please, help yourself."

Two house elves bustled past them as Narcissa spoke, their clothes simple rags, heads bowed. Narcissa paid them no mind, instead ushering Pansy to sit at a place setting. Pansy did so and picked out a large muffin to nibble on. How was Narcissa so sweet as this? She had expected much different.

"Not as late as usual," came a voice from the doorway. Narcissa looked up and smiled.

"Good morning Draco. Have a seat and eat something."

Draco barely glanced at Pansy as he sat next to her. Narcissa smiled again, though it seemed strained and then nodded.

"I'm going to go out to the garden if you need me. Tell your father that is where I will be when he wakes up."

Draco nodded and then watched as his mother left the room. He took his time in taking a good amount of food for his plate.

"Mind telling me what the hell I'm doing here?" Pansy asked once Narcissa was gone. Draco looked at her and then seemed to take in her morning attire. His hand slid to her knee but she pushed it away.

"Stay the hell away from me you bastard."

"Don't you dare talk to me like that."

"Too late. If you want someone you can feel up at any time of the day try Celeste. You looked comfy enough with her this morning."

Draco's eyes narrowed and then his face suddenly softened, a smile playing on his lips as though holding some silent joke. "Are you jealous?"

Pansy's cheeks flushed. "Go to hell Draco. Have you not figured out that I want nothing to do with you?" She stood and looked down at him. Draco stood then and seemed to tower over her. He had certainly grown tall in the past few years.

"Do you honestly think you can get out of this Pansy? If you haven't figured it out yet, we don't have much of a choice. Why are you being so damn stubborn?"

"Because I hate you and I don't want to be with you. I-"She stopped, realizing what she was about to say and felt tears come to her eyes at the thought. But no, that couldn't be and she knew it. It was too late for those feelings to come rushing back so strong.

"You what?" Draco asked, leaning down so his face was a mere inch from hers. She narrowed her eyes and turned around but he grabbed her arm, flinging her to face him again.

"Let me go," she growled low. Draco didn't respond, only looking into her eyes with a desire in his eyes that would make any girl melt. But she kept her feet planted and gazed back at him steadily.

Draco's eyes flicked up to where the doorway was and Pansy took the opportunity to yank her arm free. When she turned again, Celeste stood in the doorway, an odd gleam in her eyes.

"Good morning Pansy," she sneered. Pansy surprised herself by how calm she felt.

"Good morning Celeste. I trust you slept well. Actually, I hope you slept at all. I mean being a slut is hard work. I bet you it kept you up late last night."

Celeste's mouth opened to counter, her entire body stiff, but Pansy simply shoved her way past her ex best friend.

"Have fun with him Celeste. Though don't be disappointed when he gets bored with you and throwing yourself at him."

"You would know," Celeste called over. Pansy simply paused in her steps to turn and look back. A smile crossed her lips.

"Ah, but my act got me closer to being in this family than your honesty in trailing him. Though I suppose that isn't saying much considering your reputation."

Pansy opened the door to her room and took a deep breath. There, sitting patiently in one of the arm chairs in front of the fireplace was Ciarda.

"Oh joy. Is everyone I least want to see here today for me or was I just lucky?" Pansy said with dry sarcasm. Ciarda didn't look at her, only stared into the flames.

"Lock the door and sit down." For some reason, Pansy obeyed. It wasn't like there was much else for her to do. Maybe she would get some answers at least. Once she had gotten comfortable in her chair Ciarda let out a long breath.

"I'm here to help you Pansy which is something I never thought I'd do. But you've changed haven't you? You're not the same girl that you were and now you're beginning to realize you deserve more. But Pansy, you were born into this world with a specific purpose. Though I know you don't want to believe it, Draco will become a big part of your life whether you want him to or not." Finally her gaze drifted from the fire.

"Have you ever heard of a divination called scrying?" Pansy furrowed her eyebrows.

"Yes. Normally you use a special scrying stone or bowl of water to see the past, present, and future. But not everything you see is true, only possibility."

"Good, you're not as stupid as I thought."

"Hey I-"

"It's a compliment." Ciarda interrupted. Pansy felt her face soften as she looked at Ciarda. She was beautiful and innocent and yet her eyes seemed to show that she had been through much pain and horror in her life. Pansy kept silent.

"I'm not sure if what I'm doing is the right thing, but I believe you need to see this. You need to see what's coming." Ciarda stood and then walked to sit in front of the fire. In her hand she held a candle which she lit quickly and placed in front of her folded legs.

"Come and sit in front of me." Pansy did as she was asked and their knees touched lightly, the candle burning between them.

"Have you ever scryed with fire?" Celeste asked. Pansy shook her head.

"Well then it will be a good experience." Celeste's voice was a whisper and she leaned over the candle. Pansy did so as well and the tops of their heads touched. Their breathing slowed and soon was in unison with each other.

Ask the candle to show you your true future. And relax, let yourself see what the flames want you to see. Ciarda's voice spoke inside Pansy's mind. She didn't have time to wonder how Ciarda could do it because as she stared into the flames, the flame grew bright and brilliant and she felt sucked into its depths.

As if in a dream Pansy's vision cleared but what she saw confused her. She was outside in a dark clearing looking at a large circle of hooded men. The man in the center was who caught her eye the most. His grotesque features made her sick to her stomach.

"My Lord, I present to you my daughter," said one of the hooded figures. Pansy's breath caught in her throat as a small figure stepped forward. Her own face was flickering in the soft moonlight. A full moon, Pansy realized dimly.

Pansy watched herself bow before the horrific figure.

"And My Lord, I present to you my son," Lucius's voice spoke clearly as two other figures stepped forward. One put down his hood, revealing Draco's face. Pansy watched herself and Draco stand next to each other, heads bowed in front of him.

"We present them to you for your blessing to their marriage my Lord," L.Malfoy continued. Pansy gasped and fell backwards knocking the candle down. Ciarda smacked her hand on the small flame and there was a small sizzling sound. When she picked her hand up it had a small burn mark that matched the one on the rug they were sitting on. Pansy backed up a few steps, a tear falling down her cheek. She had known her father was not the model wizard but to be working with HIM of all people.

"I have to go..." she refused to look at Ciarda, running to the door. When it opened her mother stood poised to knock. Pansy looked behind her, but Ciarda was gone. Her mother bustled past her, a black cloak draped over one arm. Her small sniveling frame rushed to her closet.

"You will wear your silk black dress Lucius was so kind to buy for you and this cloak. I will dress you properly. And pick up that candle. I don't know where you got it but you will not get another. So put it away. Well hurry up!" Her voice was shrill and demanding, and Pansy obeyed shakily. She barely registered her own movements and stared blankly at her face in the mirror as her mother French braided her hair in a circle around her head like a halo.

"I will not marry him," she said too softly for her mother to hear. And then to herself. I will not marry him...And a picture flashed in her mind of the one person she could call now. The only person left she could trust. And she knew what it is she had to do.

(A/N: Herm...I didnt really like how I did this chapter. Its mainly put in there because im still deciding on the ending. :p but you didnt need to know that. Anyway thank you everyone for your comments! You guys are awesome. Sorry it took so long to update! Hope you guys enjoyed it and thank you eric for your sweet review :)

ze: dude..that would be the easy thing! Come on. If everyone took the easy rode out on a story they would all be pointless. Sheesh. Have a little faith. :)

Saturn's Candlesticks: lol just wait and see ;) you never know how these things turn out.

Harryptaxd204: thanks for being honest :p I know i need work.

Randomly Various: you get two comments from me in the same A/n.. Feel loved lol anyway thanks for the comment. Love you :)

And anyone else who had read or reads this (which is hopefully more than I think) , thank you for reading!)