By DracosDragon969

Rated: M (FOR A REASON PEOPLE)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. They all belong to J. K. Rowling.

Chapter Thirteen

Life Choices

The entrance to the Slytherin common room was as much a guarded secret as to where Voldemort's lair was officially located. And if one were not paying close attention to his or her surroundings the entrance could easily be missed, for it was not guarded by a portrait like all of the other houses but by a large serpent that remained coiled into the concrete walls unless awoken properly.

Pansy inconspicuously took out her wand to tap the wall that would grant her entrance into her common room.

A large silver serpent emerged from the wall and demanded the password in an irritable voice.

"Pureblood or Death." Pansy stated clearly.

"Ennnnnnter." The serpent declared as it uncoiled to reveal the entryway.

"Where have you been?" Intoned Draco in a curious voice from where he was sitting on a dark green sofa. He had assumed Pansy was upstairs asleep like so many of his other housemates.

"None of your business." Pansy stated as she crossed the room intent on heading up to her dormitory without talking to the blonde.

"Are you ever going to talk to me again?" He questioned, his silver eyes pleading with Pansy to accept his unconventional apology.

"Should I?" She stated icily. "What you said hurt me more than you know. My father is always trying to influence such decisions in my life. I won't have you doing so as well." She said dangerously her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Pans I care too much to see him hurt you." Draco stated in a defeated tone.

"Draco… I know you feel you have to protect me from everyone and everything, but I'm not a little girl anymore. I can take care of myself."

"I know that." He stated more to himself than to the girl standing before him. "Professor Snape was looking for you earlier." Draco stated changing the subject.

"What time is it?"

"Almost ten o'clock, why?" Draco questioned.

'Bloody Hell' she thought as she raced up the stairs to her room, she was late for her meeting with Severus and that could only mean complete and utter exertion on her part when she finally arrived. She headed for the shower not caring who she awoke. Sixteen minutes later she found herself heading for the potion classroom.

Rounding the corner Luna Lovegood looked to be at first glance in a sort of trance, the girl in question was doing a mixture of a dance walk with her eyes closed. It was a wonder she hadn't walked into any walls or anyone else for that matter. The young Ravenclaw was wearing a wizarding headphone set and singing horribly off key to a song by the new wizard band Strange Occurrences.

Deciding that this charade had went on long enough, Pansy walked over and tapped the girl on the shoulder bringing her back into the reality of this world.

"Sweet Merlin you scared me." Luna stated as she clutched her heart, her owl earrings flapping widely.

"And your making my ears bleed." Pansy said as she gave the girl the best glare she could muster this time of morning. "Surely that off key drabble you were shouting couldn't have constituted singing."

Luna paid little attention to the insult that was given and returned a large smile in the direction of Pansy. "The song was stuck in my head and you know how it is when you have a song…"

"What are you doing down here Lovegood?" She questioned cutting the girl off mid sentence. "You do realize that this is the dungeons."

"I was looking for Ginny."

"And just why would a Weasley be in the dungeons on a Sunday?"

"I went by the head dormitory to look for her and Hermione stated Draco was down here so I assumed Ginny..." She trailed off.

"I don't know what you're on about Lovegood, but know this…saying Draco and Ginny in the same sentence is a death decree just waiting to happen." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Besides Draco left twenty minutes ago and from what I could tell without the presence of a Weasley tagging along."

"Oh." Said Luna.

"Now I believe it best you run along. The dungeons can be most unforgiving to those who do not belong." She said turning away from the girl.

Pansy shook her head Luna Lovegood was really something. She didn't dislike the Ravenclaw on the contrary she found the girls carefree attitude to be most refreshing and if not for the house robes the girl wore Pansy could have seen herself befriending her if only to hear the entertaining comments she came up with.

"Pansy!" A male voice shouted from behind her. Pansy turned to face Kai who surprisingly looked much more appealing then she cared to admit.

"Hi." He stated with a large smile, one that did not fit his face at all.

Pansy immediately became wary, one thing she hated to see on a fellow Slytherin was a smile for it meant most often than not that the wearer was plotting something.

She watched as he looked her over hungrily and after clearing her throat a small blushed tinged the outskirts of Kai's ears. "Well yeah I…" He took a deep breath. "I was wondering if you would do me the great pleasure of accompanying me to the Halloween Ball?"

Pansy stared at him in disbelief, of all the people to ask her this question it just had to be the one she least wanted to go with. "Not to be rude Kai, but I think I'll pass."

"Don't tell me you have a date already." Kai sated his smile never leaving his face. "You're not going with Draco, because he has to escort the mudblood and Blaise has already told me he's taking a girl from Ravenclaw."

"I see you have done your research, however my answer still stands. So if you'll excuse me."

"Don't tell me this is about that bloody Gryffindork?" Kai said as he took lengthy steps to back Pansy into a neighboring wall.

"What are you on about?" Pansy stated. "Clearly I have no interest in a Gryffindor."

"But you see I know for a fact you do. If one is paying attention he or she would see the stolen glances in the hallway, the winks you share when you think no one is looking, and the double takes you give each other in class. Surely you don't take me for a fool?" He questioned rhetorically. "He'll never be good enough for you." He whispered into her ear, his breath making her ears twinge out of interest or fear she did not know.

"That's your opinion, not mine." She said flatly. She inwardly cursed herself for allowing someone like Kai to find out her secret.

"No my dear that's societies opinion, but you've obviously forgotten that." He allowed a finger to trace down her cheek as he continued to stare at her lustfully. "He may be a pureblood, but he and his family will never be associated with wealth or power." He allowed a seductive grin to grace his face. "The kind of wealth and power you and I have been accustomed to since birth."

"Money and Power isn't everything." Pansy stated defiantly. "Besides...I have enough of both."

"You can never have too much."

"You know I assumed that after our second meeting in the Great Hall you would realize I'm not like most girls."

"Is that so?"

"Yes…quite so."

"I'm sure you realize your father will not be pleased with the company you keep." Kai stated getting back to the mater at hand.

"I can assure you my father will be no more disappointed than he usually is." She said cocking her head to the side her eyes clouding over in anger.

Kai found himself stepping away from Pansy and for the first time since he had arrived at Hogwarts he realized why the witch before him was desired for the Dark Lord's plans. "Think about what I said." And with that he turned and headed fro the Slytherin common room.

"Certainly you know how to tell time." Severus stated from the front of the classroom as Pansy entered.

"Uncle Severus…" Said Pansy in her sweetest tone using the name only she was allowed to call him when outside of class. Although Severus was not her biological Uncle, Pansy had come to respect her professor as a sort of second father figure. "Forgive me for my tardiness I overslept and loss track of the time."

She slipped off her shoes as she heard the shrinking and then levitation spells of the large work desk behind her. Raising her hands towards the oak potion door and placed several silencing and confusion spells to ensure privacy.

"Expeliarmus!" Severus shouted from behind her and with quick thinking she managed to dodge the blue streaks of light aimed at her.

Taking her wand from her magically concealed pocket she tossed it at Severus barley concealing her smirk. "All you had to do was ask."

"Surely you don't think your enemies will ask for your wand sweetly."

"No, but then again no one knows my secret."

For as long as Severus and Pansy had been meeting (since she was ten) he had always insisted on wearing the black robes he taught class in. He face was always masked with a look of indifference as if the duel they were going to participate in was merely something to occupy his time.

"I don't plan on taking it easy with you." He said warningly as he took up his stance.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Pansy stated as she mirrored the man across form her.

"Incendio!" Snape bellowed as a bright orange light left his wand heading in the direction of Pansy.

Pansy mumbled "Flamma Congelo." As a tingling sensation of red and orange flames engulfed her body. "Finite Incantatem." She said clearly and watched as the flames around her disappeared.

Snape took this time and shot two spells in her direction, the first of which she side step, but the other had allowed a small gash to appear over her left eye.

"Impedimenta!" Pansy stated as she felt the fresh cut. The power of the spell caused Severus to sail into a neighboring wall with a loud thud.

"Stupefy!" Severus yelled as he picked himself off the floor with a grunt.

"Protego." She snapped in the direction of Snape, but he easily sidestepped the attack.

"I thought you weren't going to take it easy on me."

An hour later Pansy had received additional cuts to her lip and shoulder, she could feel the surfacing of bruises on her thigh, right cheek, and her lower abdomen. Severus on the other hand was sporting a gash on his arm, a black eye, a bump on his head, and was also now starting to limp out of the way of spells she had cast in his direction. All in all the entire duel was going well.

Pansy was beginning to wheeze due to the pain from her stomach and knew that she would need to end the duel soon. "Silenco!" She shrieked her palms raised in the direction of Severus.

As the yellow light hit him he realized his defeat, he vaguely heard the cutting curse she fired right after but felt the effects immediately in the form of blood dripping down the front of his face.

"Pertificus Totalus!" She hissed and watched as Snape fell to the floor with a loud thud, the look of astonishment on his face sent the girl into a fit of wheezing giggles as she simultaneously released the spells.

"Now that you have had your laugh for the day maybe we can proceed to more pressing matters." He stated as he stood up and proceeded to head into his personal potion storage cabinet. He appeared minutes later with a jar of what seemed to be full of…

"Frogs?" Pansy questioned in a wheezy tone. "Why would we need frogs?"

Upon hearing her voice, Snape pulled a vial from his pocket and handed it to Pansy whom drowned it in one gulp. There was no need to question exactly what she had been given for she could feel the effects almost immediately.

"You my dear will be practicing the unforgivable curses on frogs with wandless magic today."

Pansy shook her head repeatedly. "I can't."

"Now as I recall for the past two weeks we have been studying these particular curses."

"And as I recall for the past two weeks I have failed." She stated angrily, her tone not so much directed towards Severus but at her failure. "If I couldn't place them on you, what makes you think I will be able to do so with frogs?"

"Your failure was to be expected, your magical ability is rare to say the least and must therefore be practiced…"

"Uncle Severus I don't think I will be able to do this…" She stated as she watched him immobilize a large frog that was trying to hop into a dark corner. "To perform an unforgivable you already have to have a lot of anger, you're asking me to do this as well as keep my magical energy from overpowering me emotionally."

"Correct."

"Will I be able to do that?"

"Only one way to find out." Severus said as he stared at the girl before him, she really had come a long way. "But given your background, I think you will do well."

"Will I feel drained after performing the spell?"

"My research has shown that most likely you will feel even more drained than usual."

"Than why must I learn this?"

"The beginning of a war is in our mist you must be prepared."

"And learning to perform unforgivables wandlessly will prepare me?"

"Yes and it will make you a more valuable solider to the dark." Severus stated seriously.

Pansy allowed that thought to settle with her. A solider for the dark, did Severus really think she would serve Voldemort dutifully after what he had done to her family. She had already made the decision that she would join, but only after she had thought up a way to secure immunity for herlself and friends after the light won. For she had no doubt of whom would be victorious, Potter's track record with the dark lord spoke for its self. And there was no way she was going to allow herself to riot away in some cell for a choice she made to protect her loved ones.

"…the snag will occur with the killing curse…"

"A snag!" She exclaimed cutting Severus off, having not heard anything he had said prior. The last thing she needed to happen was for her to accidentally kill herself from the spell backfiring.

"Well there is always the chance the spell could backfire."

"Has anyone been able to perform the killing curse wandlessly?"

"Only one, but that was ages ago."

"And now you want me to try it!"

"Well obviously not today." Severus said briskly. "But yes in the future you will be asked to perform the curse, though that won't occur until after I feel you will be able to execute it accurately."

"Who was the last person to perform it?"

"It was a long time ago." He said all the while healing Pansy's earlier bruises to the best of his ability.

"How long is a long time ago?"

"Long enough for several people to unsuccessfully try afterwards."

"Your not going to tell me are you?"

"Not a chance." Severus stated with a smirk. "Now let's see if you can make the frog hop towards you." He allowed his eyes to take in Pansy's returned look of defeat. "You can do this." He stated reassuringly. "Or maybe a young woman such as yourself is more fit for keeping a household in order than preparing for combat." He pulled out his wand as if he were about to end their lesson for the day.

"I don't believe I said I was giving up."

Severus lip began to curl upward at finding how easy it was to convince her to continue.

"Oh and Uncle Severus…" She stated as an afterthought. "Reverse psychology is something you try on Gryffindor's and Hufflepuff's."

She heard Severus mutter the counter-curse to his earlier immobilization spell and watched as the frog tried to find an exit. "Imperio!" She screamed and seconds later found herself within the mind of the desperate frog 'walk towards me' she thought but the spider was by now pushing her back out. "It's not working."

"Try again." Severus demanded from his position against a wall a few feet away from her.

She tried again and watched as yet again she lost her connection with the small creature, although it wasn't as fast as with her first try.

"Better…" Severus drawled as he shrank the frog and placed it back in its box. "…but I think you need a rest. We shall try again Tuesday after your prefect duties." And with that he began summoning the shrunken work desk. "Now would you like to tell me what kept you up late last night, no doubt playing the piano?" It was a known fact to the head of house that when angered or saddened the girl before him would release her frustration by playing the piano.

"I… have you…argh this is so frustrating." She said aloud while Severus just smiled and gestured her into his private living area. After their many meetings it was not uncommon for Pansy to find herself adjourning to her professors' room to talk about a variety of subjects. At first she had found that their talks had been more impersonal such as quidditch, school subjects, and the social lifestyles of various pureblood families. However, lately Severus only wanted to discuss if she had reached a decision in regards to serving Voldemort.

"Have you ever been in love?" Pansy questioned before Severus was able to lead their conversation into talks of dark marks and lords.

Severus looked at her, confusion shown on his face. "Where is this coming from?" He stated as he summoned an antique tea set from his kitchenette.

"It's just a question thats been on my mind." She stated as she took a steaming cup of tea from Severus outstretched hand

"You have inquired about my love life."

"No… no… just love in general." Pansy stated trying hard to hide the blush that was tingeing her cheeks.

"Was I ever in love?" Severus questioned aloud to himself. "That's a very complicated question."

Pansy took a sip of her tea. "It's a very cut and dry question, unless of course you were in love with a muggle born."

Severus chuckled, however his mirth not exactly reaching his eyes, but Pansy was hardly paying attention to his facial features to recognize his discomfort. "I was infatuated once…" Severus stated. "But at such a young age I thought it was love."

"So what did you do to get her attention?"

"I did the only thing I could to impress her." He stated. "I became a Death Eater."

There was a pregnant pause. "Oh I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pried."

"Don't be… I don't regret what I did." Severus stated as he inwardly felt disgusted with himself, but he needed to know where her loyalties lied before he revealed himself as a spy for the light.

"Well do you mind if I ask who the girl was?"

"Actually it was Bellatrix Black." He stated placing his tea cup on his floating saucer. "However we both know she no longer goes by that name."

"Yes, I guess she doesn't."

"Speaking of which, have you made your decision?" He questioned in hopes of changing the subject.

"Yes and No." she stated quietly.

"Our Lordwill be calling upon you soon in hopes that you have made a decision."

"I'm sure he will be." She spat.

Severus gave her a double take after hearing the venom in her voice, maybe she would be willing to help the light he thought.

"I'm sorry…it's just… I really need to think about this." She stated quietly as she started to walk towards the door. "I'll see you Tuesday night after my prefect duties." And with that she left her potion professor alone in his cold living quarters.

A/N 1 My thoughts on the chapter-I loved it and hated it at the same time, is that possible. I love Luna and I promise to have her in future chapters (LOL owl earrings). I hated the whole Kai and Pansy talk but I just couldn't leave it out. I know you all were wondering where I went and believe me I was thinking the same thing. Hopefully I won't ever have to leave you for as long as I did again (tries to duck the steady stream of flying tomatoes) but I can honestly say that chapter 14 iscomplete so I will be posting it soon. Oh and thank you all so so so so much for reviewing, I am currently wiping away the stream of joyful tears (so keep reviewing). I really don't have a lot of time to review each and every review but just know that I read them all and enjoyed the comments that you wrote.

A/N 2 Oh and as far as Severus becoming a death eater for Bellatrix, that's only half true there are other factors that come into play obviously that will be told in future chapters. Now as a group lets all look disgusted at the thought of Bellatrix and Severus making out, one...two…three SHIVERS Uggghhhh. Lol.