Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.

Chapter Four

Soaked

Pansy would never admit this to Draco, but he was her best friend. At school last year, when they had been second years, he was the only person worth talking to. It was obvious that they were close; they would sneak off during free time to smoke, and they shared a sense of humor about "The Millicent Thing That We Will Not Talk About Ever" (as Draco liked to call it).

Pansy was laying outside on the grass, eyes closed, soaking up the sun's warmth when something large and feeling swooped down and hit her in the face.

"Merlin's Beard!" she yelled. "Oh, get off then," she said lazily, taking the parchment off the owl's leg. It nipped at her knuckle and she gave it a knut, cursing.

Pansy. Father says you're welcome back this summer if you like. Severus will be here this time. So will Crabbe and Goyle. Hope to see you soon.

Pansy smiled and raced back to the house.

"Mum," she said as she entered the kitchen. "Draco Malfoy has invited me back."

Her mother beamed. "Really? Surely you'll be going?"

"Well…yes, I suppose so," Pansy said, placing the letter in her pocket.

---

Two days later, after packing and spending time with her parents before leaving, Pansy was being transported to the Malfoy Manor. When the limo arrived, she stepped out to see the three boys playing Quidditch in the front yard.

"Pansy!" Draco yelled, landing his broom. "I mean, uh—hey, Parkinson."

He ran a hand through his hair, which she noticed wasn't slicked back as usual, but soft and messy. He caught her grinning.

"It was raining earlier…anyway, come on. You're just in time for dinner." Pansy picked up her things. "Don't be silly," Draco said, taking one of her bags and motioning for Crabbe to get the other. "I hope you brought fancy clothes," he said as they walked inside and they ascended the spiral staircase. He panted and shoved the suitcase with Goyle.

"Fancy clothes?" she asked.

"Something like a dress is fine," he said. "My mother is cooking a special dinner for you so we're all dressing up."

"Oh," Pansy said, stepping into her room. "Okay, I'll change, I'll be out in a few."

---

When Pansy emerged, she was wearing a pale blue dress with matching hair clips. She couldn't help noticing that Draco's eyes had an unfamiliar gleam in them as he looked her up and down.

"Nice threads, Pansy," he said, winking. Pansy tried to hide her blush. Draco looked rather handsome in his emerald dress robes, but Pansy pushed the thought away and followed him downstairs. The dining room table was lit with candles and Lucius, Narcissa, an uncomfortable looking Crabbe and Goyle, and Professor Snape, sat at the table.

"Hello," Pansy said.

Lucius smiled at her. "Good evening, Miss Parkinson."

"Well, let's eat then," Draco said, and he began to cut his steak.

"Hello Professor," Pansy said. Snape jerked his head toward her—he seemed to have been brooding over something.

"Ah—hello Miss Parkinson, how very delightful to be able to spend the summer with you," he said, his eyes darting to Narcissa.

"Pansy," Draco''s mother said. "Severus tells us you're a very good student."

"Better than Granger!" Draco piped in.

"Here, here!" Lucius announced, raising his goblet and clinking it with Draco's. They gulped happily.

"Crabbe, will you pass the potatoes?" Pansy asked. Crabbe passed her the bowl and as he brought his hand back, nudged her and dropped a note in her lap.

The lake tonight.

Pansy smiled slightly and mouthed "okay" when none of the adults were looking.

"Anything interesting happen at school?" Lucius asked Snape. Snape gave him an incredulous look.

"Why yes, Lucius, a giant serpent was released and nearly killed five students. Oh, and The Dark Lord reappeared in the Chamber of Secrets. You didn't hear?" His voice was dripping with the same kind of malice that Pansy had only grown to associate with his interactions with Gryffindors.

Lucius didn't seem to notice however, and merely smiled at Snape before taking another sip of his drink.

---

"Draco, can I ask you something?"

The four of them, Draco, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle, were walking through the woods toward the lake. It was past midnight.

"Okay," he said.

"Do your father and Professor Snape have problems with one another?"

Draco frowned and said, "I don't know. They were both in allegiance with the Dark Lord a long time ago…but ever since then, Snape and Lucius don't really speak. Snape comes here mostly for my mum."

"Really?" Pansy asked. "Are they close?"

Draco nodded, and they walked in silence the rest of the way to the lake.

Malfoy Lake stood right beyond their patch of forest, and Draco often came here last summer to fish.

But not tonight; Pansy had never been to the Lake at night, and the moon illuminated the water; a warm breeze ran through Pansy's hair and she giggled as Crabbe and Goyle went running into the water, laughing and splashing. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw a pale, smooth body run into the lake after the other two boys. Then she noticed Draco's shirt on the ground.

"Come on, Parkinson!" he yelled. Pansy sat down on the bank and wrapped her arms around her knees.

Draco stood up in the water, his body dripping, and he shook his head, his hair falling over his eyes. He pushed it back and peered at Pansy quizzically.

"What is it?" he asked Pansy. She realized that her breathing had gotten heavier and she felt a hot tingling feeling in between her legs.

"Um—er—"

Draco stepped out of the water, his pants wet and slicked to his long legs. He grinned and grabbed Pansy by the arms.

"Hey!" she yelled. But he had already pulled her into the water.

"Time for you to get wet, Pansy," Draco said. Pansy started at his words but he didn't seem to notice the innuendo.

---

"Pass it, Crabbe," Draco said. Crabbe passed him the point. They were seated around a fire, trying to warm up after their swim. Draco took a drag and passed it to Pansy. She heard a loud snore and smirked, smoke drifting out of her nostrils, when she looked over and saw that Crabbe had fallen asleep on Goyle's shoulder, and Goyle was swaying in and out of conciousness, eyes fluttering closed.

Pansy took another hit. "Tastes like you," she said.

Draco looked down at her slowly, a sly smile creeping on his lips.

"And what does that taste like?" he asked. He leaned over so that their noses were nearly touching. "Like this…?" he whispered. Pansy froze as Draco's lips pressed lightly against hers. My first kiss! she thought frantically. With…with Draco? She pulled away. Her first kiss couldn't be with Draco. It couldn't be with her best friend. He looked at her with his pale eyes, then suddenly, he was on the ground, snoring as loudly as Crabbe and Goyle.

"Oh, bother," Pansy muttered, and, putting the weed out, lowered herself to her knees and tried to drag Draco up by his shoulders. She could tell already that it was going to be a very long summer.