**It's my birthday! \(^.^)/ Just thought I'd share. Anyway enjoy the chapter**

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On the next Care of Magical Creatures lesson I brought Lev up with me. Draco didn't look happy about it, not that it mattered much. Hagrid was clearly upset about Buckbeak's outcome so he didn't pay much attention to me and my puppy. He had lost the case. Although an appeal was possible there was no way this man could win an argument against Mr. Malfoy. I hugged my puppy not saying anything. Normally that was Draco's place, to be my support, but since he was the cause of this he couldn't make it better. He knew that.

I had left Draco with Crabbe and Goyle giving him some time away from me. Though he was always there for me when I needed I knew that it wasn't in his nature to be comforting or supportive; he pushed those boundaries of himself for me. It didn't help that people kept giving us looks after seeing us coming back in the middle of the night holding each other. Pansy had thrown a fit that night and I barely slept. For the next few days I didn't get any sleep actually. I hadn't thought it was possible but she had gotten even more insufferable

Draco had it rough enough though. He was stuck between putting up a tough appearance and not making me upset with him. He had talked to his father, mine had confirmed that, but it hadn't helped much. I hated that he put up that front but then again it was no different than mine. I pretended to have warm heart while he pretended not to have one. That's why I couldn't be too mad at him

Towards the end of the lesson Lev ran off somewhere and I followed slowly. Since he had done a good enough job of keeping quiet during the lesson I thought it was a good reward to let him run around. That and I could give Draco some time to be "himself". Behind me I could hear mumbling as he made remarks to Crabbe and Goyle who looked glad he was back to his "normal" behavior. They knew that he acted differently around me although I was sure they thought it was because he didn't want to upset my family like Flint had after the last game. Thinking enough time had passed I started heading back… just as Hermione slapped Draco

I stopped in my tracks too shocked to get closer. What had he said? Hermione had been very touchy on the subject of Buckbeak lately so that was probably it. She had helped Hagrid make his case and probably would've won it if Mr. Malfoy hadn't been the one going against them. I could see the self-control it had taken her not to vent to me about Draco after I'd asked her not to. Maybe all the bottled up anger and frustration from not being able to speak to me, Ron, or Harry about this made her act. Once I collected my thoughts I went over to them a little faster.

"Hermione!" Ron said weakly as he stopped her from slapping him again

"Get off, Ron!" Hermione started pulling her hand away. She pulled out her wand making Draco step back. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him needing to know what to do. He caught my eye.

"Go" I mouthed pointing to the castle. I didn't know what he had said but I didn't want this to turn out worse

"C'mon" Draco muttered and he, Crabbe, and Goyle all left

I waited until the Gryffindors had gone too before following the boys to the dungeon. It wouldn't help to talk to Hermione now. She looked furious and would only fight me if I defended Draco. And of course I would defend Draco. She didn't know him like I did.

Back in the dungeon Draco sat on one of the couches in the common room rubbing his cheek, looking annoyed. Pansy was by his side standing over him; probably one of the causes for his annoyance

"Are you okay?" Pansy asked looking at him frantically. Her hand hovering over his face wanting to touch him but afraid she would hurt him. "I'll kill her! Does it hurt, Draco? She is dead!"

"Shut up and leave" I called to her. Both their heads snapped over to me as I walked to them. I didn't have time for her behavior right now. My temper had been running thin since the invitation arrived and I was not in the mood for Pansy. Well I was never in the mood for Pansy but much less now. "I need to talk to Draco"

"You think I'm leaving him with you?!" she screamed standing in front of him as some type of human barrier. As if that would stop me. "This is your fault!"

"How?" I stood in front of her laughing without humor. I had tried to avoid her or ignore her comments since the night in the Astronomy Tower with Draco but I didn't know how much longer I could stand it.

"She's your friend!" Pansy shrieked. "Stinking mudblood, you're no better! Might as well just put a badge on your robes saying blood-traitor!"

"Hey!" Draco shouted at her shutting her up. She looked surprised he would use that tone with her but before he could say anything more she was blasted against a wall. Lev didn't take too kindly to her words either

"You filthy mongrel!" she yelled at my puppy. Around us most of the students looked over. I silently picked him up and put him next to Draco on the couch. I motioned for him to stay and walked over to Pansy ignoring the silence that had taken over the dungeon. "Aren't you going to do something you stupid –"

Before she could finish I put my arm to her chest pinning her back against the wall. Her back lay flat against it as we stood only inches away from each other. She had pushed too far. Her eyes widened as she saw me slowly taking out my wand. She stumbled over for hers but it slipped and fell on the floor. The noise of it hitting the ground echoed through silence

"Do not call me a blood-traitor." My voice was icy but even and it looked like it scared her

"Well then don't –" she broke off with a gasp as I pushed her further into wall again. I could feel her heart beating against my arm but I didn't care. I hated that word

"I am not finished" I threatened. Slytherins started to crowd around to watch but I ignored them. I was angry and when angry I could care less about consequences. I knew that wasn't good but, like I'd said, I didn't care. "Now I want you to listen very, and I mean very, carefully do you understand?" Pansy nodded. "I do not like the phrase blood-traitor. I do not like to have my dog be insulted. You do either of those things again and you will regret it. Do I make myself clear?"

"Or what?" she challenged but I could hear an undertone of fright. She looked around waiting for someone to stop me. I could see that there were a few prefects standing by watching to make sure I didn't go too far. I smiled at her, but it wasn't my usual friendly one

"I read a lot of book, Pansy. You've seen me. I spend a lot of time practicing what I've read in those books. That, you haven't seen. But I could show you. I could show you every jinx, every hex, every curse that has been forbidden to teach at this school" I said pressing my wand to her cheek.

"You'd get expelled!" she yelled trying to squirm from under my grip

"Yes, I would. But I don't care. I am quite nice, Pansy. I was nice to you when we first met, but you pushed me. You've kept on pushing ever since and know that if you push me too far I will not be accountable for my actions. Now, I don't like you and you don't like me but we've managed this far. I'm warning you, keep pushing and it won't be pretty"

I let go and she slid to the ground; her legs were too weak to hold her. I walked over to Draco, grabbed his arm, and pulled him up the stairs to his room. He and Lev followed silently as the rest of the common room burst into sound. I saw Millicent running over to Pansy from the corner of my eye.

Slytherins watched as we left looking either amused or frightened. It was no secret that my father allowed me to read of forms of magic that would make their skin crawl; hell, he encouraged it. It was mostly for precautionary measures but I knew them all the same. It had originally been planned that I go to Durmstrang, who welcomed Dark Arts, but after my brother's leave we all figured Hogwarts was a better choice. My brother had gone to Durmstrang and it was probably not the best idea for me to go there too. Something told me hearing constant comments and rumors about my brother wouldn't have allowed me to keep my temper for long. School was for learning not for fighting after all. Then again…

As soon as we reached his room I sat Draco on his bed and stood in front of him with my arms crossed

"Look about Granger –" he began but I put a hand up to stop him

"Deedee I am beyond angry right now. I just threatened someone. I suggest you don't bring that up just yet." He nodded and sat in silence. For a while I didn't say anything, just paced around the room trying to calm myself. Lev sat on the floor watching as I moved back and forth across the floor. It took some time but once calm enough I sat down next to Draco with a sigh and rested my head on his shoulder. I felt him relax under me once he knew I was calm. Or calmer at least

"I can't believe you just did that" he said with slight humor weaved into his tone

"It's not like you haven't seen it before" I replied. As a child I was horrible enough to threaten people on an almost daily basis. Even for something as meaningless as they over baked the cookies a bit too long. Albeit I was more likely to actually do something affective now, but they were still threats

"It's been years" he answered smiling at the memory. He had always found it funny that I would talk to people like that. Most took it as he was just being vile but I knew it was because he found it funny that a little girl would stand up to grown men for something as trivial as sweets. But, admittedly, he was horrible too

"I know" I sighed

"You really hate that word don't you?" he asked turning his head to look at me. I turned mine to him and nodded

"I really do…" I had heard enough people call my brother that to drive me mad. The fact that someone would be considered a traitor just for associating with Muggles seemed outrageous. But then again my opinion of that was more biased than other purebloods'

"You know she's probably going to tell someone" Draco warned but I just sat up and shrugged

"I doubt it. She looked scared of me. But even if she does I don't really care"

"You really are a terror" he chuckled making me smile at him

"I know" I said and turning to Lev. I smiled at him and patted my lap inviting him up to join us. Without hesitation he ran over to us and found himself a comfortable spot there. He looked as happy as Draco. For once they didn't look upset to be this close to one another

"What will your mother say?" Draco asked after a note of silence. I laughed at the question; we would always ask each other this when we got in trouble as kids. We'd try to figure out our parents' reactions to our misdeeds and whoever got the closest won. It was the game of two spoiled children who often misbehaved

"She'll complain about how that isn't ladylike behavior"

"And your father?" he asked raising an eyebrow. I laughed again

"Pretend to be angry then ask me if I scared her and buy me something for standing up for myself." That was actually how I got most of my book collection at home so I wouldn't be surprised if that happened

"Sounds likely enough. Now we wait" Draco smiled. I shook my head knowing I would get it right

"I have messed up parents" I grumbled and he laughed. "You're still not off the hook you know"

"I know" he sighed but kept his smile on me. I couldn't help but smile back. I honestly didn't believe Pansy was going to tell anyone and it's not like I would let being expelled stop me from using magic. Either way I think she learned her lesson today. As nice as I was, I had a temper too. Pansy hadn't known me when I was younger; she hadn't seen that side of me before. I'm sure others had mentioned it to her though maybe she thought they'd all just been rumors. But now she knew better. I warned her, anything from here on was up to her