A/N- First things first- I went to reread chapter 10 after I posted it and I noticed that after each of my responses, my smiley faces were half there! I had made them with an equal sign instead of a semi colon and they got screwed up. So…yeah that's my story. They look like ")" after every personal response...but they're supposed to be smiley faces, so I'll see if this works: "-D" .

Okay- I feel better now that I addressed that- got to get through the troubles of life one step at a time. (just kidding). So I meant to get this up like a day or two ago…but my mother made the mistake of actually agreeing to rent 8 Mile for me when I asked her a week ago. I must of have now watched the movie like 11 times. Crazy man… And then Saturday I was gonna finish it, but I was asked out to the mall/movies. And then Sunday night I was REALLY gonna do it…but I went to a cook out and when I got home my dad wanted to watch Coach Carter. (excuses…excuses…) :)

But, each fantabulous review (….fantabulous…ha) you sent made me feel great!...but then I felt bad that I kept putting it off…so I got to it. So that's a huge thank you to everyone for making me get my lazy ass up and write more! (Claire and Deztine…you two had me crackin up for some reason.) haha Love all of you soooooooo (the o's could go on forever, but then where would the chapter fit?) incredibly much!

Disclaimer- sighs what's the point of writing this every single chapter? Oh yeah- I forgot- so I don't get sued. Damn- life's a bitch…:)

C10- Not wanting to stop an angry woman, Pansy followed Aleesa to the door only to abruptly bump into her. Looking over her shoulder to see what caused Aleesa to stop, she found Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini staring back at them.

Chapter 11-Arguments at Aleesa's

Draco and Blaise had just reached the eleventh floor, which Aleesa's office was held on, after running up all eleven flights due to the broken elevator shaft.

"This is not how I wanted to start my day! It's bloody insanity!" Draco yelled as they ran past the nervous receptionist. Though it was a blur, it looked like she was frantically waving her arm, not succeeding in alerting them that Aleesa was in a meeting.

Ignoring her, they approached the door heavily winded, and as Draco reached to knock, the door was yanked open violently with a furious woman standing still at the sight of them.

"And it just got worse." Blaise whispered aloud to himself as him and Draco stared back at Aleesa and Pansy.

Thank God no one else was in the hallway, and even if they were, they probably would have ran back into their offices and peered at the four through their windows. It looked like a show down. The only thing between the two pairs was the foot of space used for the doorway.

Draco never took his glare off of Aleesa. He didn't notice her whole appearance really because he just stared into her eyes. They now were puffy, yet unmistakably dry; kind of like dirt after it hasn't been touched by water in weeks. Her ashen face surprised Draco, yet he didn't let that emotion show. No matter his initial shock, he kept a stern gaze with her as she returned it with the same aggression.

After what felt like an eternity, but somehow still not long enough, Blaise hesitantly spoke (naturally…).

"Hey uh, I'd love to keep this staring contest for the next year but um, I'm kinda tired from running…so do you think we can come in?" He chuckled nervously as he looked from Draco to Aleesa, neither acknowledging his presence, nonetheless his words. "Er---right." He said retreating back a step.

Pansy, feeling oddly uncomfortable, also realized she wanted to sit…and that the doorway wasn't the best place for the lashing that would surely be taking place in minutes. "Yeah, Blaise is right. Let's all take a seat."

Aleesa narrowed her eyes at Draco quickly before turning on her heel and walking back into the room, sitting behind her desk. Pansy followed suit and stood off her right shoulder. Blaise and Draco walked in behind them and sat in the two chairs positioned across from her.

Aleesa ran her fingers though her hair to get it out of her face. She looked down, blinked a few times as if to clear her head, and sighed deeply (not dejectedly but in a frustrating way). After a second of self composure, she looked up and spoke.

"Where is she?" Aleesa asked relatively calmly.

"That's not your concern." Draco responded, leaning back in his chair and lazily resting his elbows on the arms of the chair.

"Very well. What do you want?" She pressed. And it was obvious that hate was behind her words, no matter how she tried to mask it.

"You know what I want."

"No I'm afraid I don't." Aleesa sat back and crossed her legs.

"Look. I know you have something of mine and I want it back, now."

"It's not yours, it's mine."

"Why are you so damn difficult? You saw what was on there and I want it back before it falls into the wrong hands."

"Who's hands are the 'wrong hands'?" she asked, already knowing the answer but since she was royally pissed at him, using her fingers as quotations gave her small delight in pushing his buttons.

Draco rolled his eyes at this stupid game they were playing. "Lucius."

"Hm….now see this is a problem because 'the wrong hands', as you say, are located on the same man that I need to deliver this to. So…now I'm stuck. I mean, I could do what you want me too…I could give you back the bracelet and you can run off with your precious Hermione into the bloody sunset. Or, I can take it to Lucius and let him do with it as he pleases…with of course some of my suggestions." She smirked and raised an eyebrow, awaiting his response.

All she got was a fuming look from Draco. As he was about to open his mouth to retort, she continued…

"I choose the latter."

"Look you little bit-" Draco seethed rising to his feet only to be roughly pulled back down from Blaise at his side.

"OKAY…Draco you should sit and let me do this." Blaise smiled shoving his friend back into the seat. Draco shot daggers at him; this was his problem and he wanted to fight his own battle. But, looking at her, he figured it was probably better for him to calm down before he did something rash again.

"Yes Draco, sit down and calm yourself. It's not too nice to be calling your wife such names." She smirked.

"I don't. I've never called Hermione anything of the sort." He smirked right back as he watched Aleesa's expression change to fury, as while she jumped up from her seat, ready to pounce on him. Fortunately, Pansy was at her side in a second to seize her by the waist and pull her back down.

"What the hell! Look, I know this is stressful times but let's handle this in an adult, civilized, wizarding manner." Pansy proposed.

"Okay fine." Aleesa started through clenched teeth. "Let's duel."

Both Pansy and Blaise froze and looked at each other as if that was the most ridiculous suggestion made. Clearly she wasn't in her right state of mind…which wasn't entirely false. But for them to duel each other? Of course she was joking, right?

Blaise snapped his head towards Draco in hopes of some declination to the idea. But instead, Draco burst out laughing.

"You want to…to duel…me?" Draco asked in short breaths.

"Yes. It's the only way to handle this. If I win, you leave. If you win, I'll give it to you." She answered ignoring his laughter.

Draco stopped and stared at her, "You're serious?"

"Completely."

"Er- okay, fine. But one more thing."

"What?"

"If I win, you have to tell Lucius the wedding is off…And not because I told you too. You wanted out of this marriage as much as I did."

"Fine."

"Good."

"But."

"But…?"

"If I win…she disappears."

Draco took a deep breath then answered, "Fine."

"Draco, are you sure you want to be wagering this on Hermione's life?" Blaise whispered disbelievingly, leaning over the arm of his chair.

"I won't loose." He answered harshly.

"So if you two girls are done conversing, I'd like to get this started--." She said standing up and pulling her hair into a low ponytail.

"Oh shove off Aleesa and give us a damn minute." Blaise shouted making her freeze in place, amused at his outburst.

"Okay, one minute."

"Wait you're gonna do this now?" Blaise asked.

"Um…Yes?" She looked at him like he had three heads and a green tongue. "Unless there's a problem…I mean, I'm sure it can wait until the week of the wedding." She mocked.

"This isn't right. I mean, honestly, I'm all for cursing this broad into oblivion, mate--" he said looking at Draco. "--But I don't think this is the best time."

"Oh I think it's the perfect time for this broad, as you so nicely put it, to teach Draco a lesson." Aleesa spat.

"Oh and who are you, my father? You're going to teach me a lesson-?"

"Well someone ought to because you don't seem to realize that you're getting in this marriage whether you like it or not. Hermione is a thing of the past and soon she'll just be a forgotten memory-."

"Why don't you shut the hell up Aleesa and get you're wand ready." Draco bit back spitefully as Pansy and Blaise followed both around the room, trying to talk them out of this.

Draco was casting silencing spells everywhere as Blaise followed him frantically, talking his ear off, with Pansy mirroring his efforts with Aleesa.

"I am so sick of her…talking to be like that…who does she think she is? 'Teach me a lesson' like she's better than me or something…worse than Hermione…I swear…" Draco murmured to himself.

"Draco she's not worth it mate. I mean, it's Aleesa, we can finish this some other way. Killing her won't solve anything and it certainly won't help your problem. What good will your relationship with Hermione be if you're locked in Azkaban--?"

"I'm not killing anyone."

"Okay…okay good to know. But why don't we just grab the bracelet and run?"

"Blaise do you see it anywhere! If that was an option it would have already been considered."

"Give me time, I'll find it."

"What do you think I agreed to this duel for? It's whole purpose is for time."

"Oh and here I thought it was because you hated her and wanted to kick her arse, silly me." Blaise said sarcastically.

"Hey, she proposed the idea. It's her fault she didn't think it over carefully. Finally her mistakes are going to benefit us."

"Hopefully." Blaise mumbled.

"And I'm not kicking her arse, she is a female. I was brought up better than that."

"What happened to 'getting a little rough' yesterday?"

"That was different. Not saying this excuses it, but it had to do with Hermione's life. I was so enraged out of my mind it didn't matter who it was."

"It's okay Draco, I don't care. And she's not a female dude…she's Satan spawn…that has no sex."

"Who? Never mind--look Blaise. All you have to do is summon the bracelet when neither Pansy nor Aleesa is paying attention. When you have it, just apparate to that hotel we passed down the street that's on the corner. Get room number 406 and I'll be there as soon as I can. Oh, and get Hermione too."

"Where is she?"

"Either at the ministry or at a restaurant down the street called 'The Vineyard'."

Across the room-

"Aleesa what are you doing?"

"I'm closing the blinds and dimming the window glass. Wouldn't want people to see random lights thrown everywhere would we?"

"I mean with this. Dueling Draco? You know he's going to win."

"That's why I'm not really going to go through with it."

"What?"

"This is going to buy you time. I need you to grab the bracelet and use the portkey in here to go to the manor."

"Where is it?"

"In my third draw on the right. The portkey's that notepad on the floor."

"Can't I just apparate?"

"You're going kinda far...it'll take to much concentration and energy to apparate right now, and you have short supply of either."

"Thanks."

"Don't take it like that. I just mean with everything that's about to happen…and it is going to happen quickly. Both Draco and Blaise have good reflexes. So just grab it when he's unguarded and go."

"What about Blaise?"

"Forget about him. I'll deal with him later."

"Can't I just grab it now? They're across the room."

"No Just wait. You'll know when. But activate the portkey now so when the time comes you can just touch it and be off."

Draco cleared his throat from across the room in hopes to get Aleesa's attention.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Are you?"

The two slowly moved the chair's from in between them, keeping their eyes burned into each others. Slowly, Draco and Aleesa backed up to opposite sides of the walls, holding their arms with the wands at their sides.

"Wand at the ready." Draco commanded, and both held it up to their faces, much like Draco did in his second year against Harry Potter.

Suddenly, Blaise snapped his head across the room after he saw Pansy bolt to the other side of the desk in hopes to reach the drawers. Thinking quickly, Blaise yelled "Stupefy!" watching Pansy freeze in place and fall over to the ground, and ran out of the room with a pen and paper in hand.

Both Draco and Aleesa quickly glanced at each other, and then darted to the desk area. Draco was over by Pansy in three swift steps but lost his footing after Aleesa jumped barbarically on his back.

"Get off!" He shouted as he held her around the legs, trying to stop teetering. They fought like that for about two minutes as Draco swung them around the room, falling onto couches and the desk to make her let go.

Aleesa had jumped on him, knowing he'd reach the drawer first, all the while cursing Pansy for acting to soon and giving away its location. Thinking quickly, because she knew Draco was too busy trying to pry her off, she drew her wand from her pant pocket and yelled "Enervate!" aimlessly, hoping it would somehow hit Pansy.

The curse lifted and Pansy sat up, briefly looking around at the chaotic scene before her, trying to remember what she was supposed to be doing. She couldn't see Blaise for the desk was obscuring her vision, but she could both see and hear Draco and Aleesa, screaming on top of each other. Looking over to her left, she crawled over to the third drawer, and opened it, seeing it in the back behind two books. Reaching for it, she heard Blaise yell "Accio bracelet!" as it swiftly moved from beneath the tips of her fingers and shot across the room. 'Shit!' Pansy thought as she looked up and instantly threw a curse at Blaise, "Impedimenta!". Blaise staggered backwards, falling over an overturned chair, and hitting his head when he landed.

Pansy quickly summoned the bracelet back to her, ran over to the portkey, and yelled, "Aleesa I got it!" before letting it pull at her naval.

Both Draco and Aleesa stopped struggling when they heard her scream. Aleesa got off Draco and arrogantly smiled to herself after seeing his more-than-annoyed-now-turned-worried face. He got up and walked over to Blaise who was currently…sleeping.

"Blaise get up." Draco said hitting his shoulder.

"Ugh." He responded with his arm slug across his eyes.

"Blaise…get up." He said more forcefully.

"Okay just give me a second." Blaise shifted uncomfortably but then sat up slowly. "I hate Parkinson."

"What'd she hit you with?"

"Impediment Curse."

"It was that strong?"

"I hit my head. That did more damage then she did."

"Well she took it. I think she took a portkey to the manor."

"Maybe that's just what they know you'll assume…so they really went somewhere else. Or maybe, they knew you would think they were headed there, but would figure they'd be stupid to hide there so you'd go look somewhere else…while they actually stayed there cause it's the obvious choice."

"Or maybe you hit your head harder than you thought." He said sarcastically. Standing up and turning around he continued, "I know they're going to Luci—shit."

"What?"

"Aleesa's gone too."

"Oh. They went to the manor."

"Thank you Blaise. Now c'mon!"

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

The house elf was ushering Aleesa and Pansy throughout the house while they quietly talked to themselves.

"So what's the plan?" Pansy whispered.

"We'll reveal what's recorded and then see what he says." Aleesa whispered back smirking.

"That's it? What's the point of that?"

"Think of how bad it'll look when the poor, innocent, wife-to-be of Draco had caught him being unfaithful…" she joked by pressing her hand to her chest in fake depression. "…what will that look like to Lucius? Certainly it would give him excuse to see fit that the mudblood is finally disposed of, and, it would permanently secure my spot in this family…and maybe a bit extra something for my discovery." Aleesa added as an afterthought while grinning and making a money gesture with her fingertips.

"And…me?"

"You?"

"All I helped you with…all of my services--"

"—will not got unnoticed." She reassured.

"Brilliant." Pansy smiled.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Draco and Blaise had arrived by portkey behind a tree right outside of the manor a minute or two after Aleesa. Thank Merlin Pansy wasn't smart enough to go to Lucius' office immediately after her arrival, or else him and Blaise might have never been able to beat them. Seeing the house elf shut the front door behind the women, Draco (knowing his own house) and Blaise apparated inside to a point right just outside (and a little down the hall) of the deadly office.

Not a second later, Pansy and Aleesa were rounding the corner, eyes widened and mouth slightly agape at the sight of them.

"Thank you. You may return to your duties." Draco said to the house elf. It bowed it's head in submission and disappeared into the kitchens.

"What…how did you get here?" Aleesa fumed.

"Hm, too bad the person you're trying to see is my father who lives in my house so I just happen to know where I'm going." Draco spoke as if he was explaining this to first years.

"Well, too bad we have what you need and we're already in your house so we can just walk right by you and be on our way." Aleesa mocked.

Blaise stared down at the floor saying in one quiet breath, "Bitch…"

"You two aren't giving that to him. You see, without that bracelet, you have no evidence…and then it's only your word against mine and his." Draco warned.

"I think our word is better."

"Sorry, but as much as he hates me, he wouldn't trust you over me."

"Well let's just go find out, shall we?"

Aleesa moved to continue down the hallway when Draco stepped in front of her. She moved to her left while Draco moved to his right, blocking her path. She looked at him, shaking her head disapprovingly and chuckled, "Darling… move."

"Aleesa…no."

Aleesa rolled her eyes at him irritated and yelled, "Lucius! Please come down here! Draco and I have something to show you!" She finished with a smug smile.

Draco turned his head around to look at the door behind him, then turned back to face Aleesa while smirking, "Stupid bloke can't hear you. Ever since that night seven years ago, he put silencing charms around these walls so that I wouldn't ever 'disturb him by trying to save his victims lives' again. But, he didn't consider the fact that now he couldn't… hear…anything…" Draco's voice became slower and softer as he spoke his last words; his eyes widened in hate and fear. Aleesa turned around knowing what made him and Blaise go quiet, and haughtily smiled at the sight before her…

"Well son, that's why I relied on another sense. One of sight…You see, I have a constant surveillance around this house…and I heard you have some explaining to do. Please if you'd all so kindly proceed to my office." Lucius Malfoy smirked with evident fury behind his eyes. Although he just addressed everyone, he only looked at Draco.

"Father, let me talk to you alone first--" Draco started.

"No son…I insist."

2nd A/N- I'm sorry I didn't have Hermione in this chapter. That wasn't intentionally…it just happened…but she'll definitely be in the next to hear what Lucius has to say…oh goodness! I can't wait! ) Can anyone guess why Blaise left! (if I just didn't give it away, lol)