[a/n: you are getting this as from the conversational participants perspective. In reality, after that hearing damage from Granger, they're speaking a lot louder than they think. Being only amongst themselves, they haven't realized this as of yet.]

"You know me, Pans, when I'm feelin' like thinkin'" Draco Malfoy said smoothly, "Every sign says Back Off, and they're all black and florescent orange."

Pans smirked, giggling softly at Draco's 'way with words' - it was always colorful, and often unexpected.

"Well, this long-legged... vixen? I suppose you'd call her," Draco drawled, "Walked up to me bold as brass tacks, and asked what was on my mind."

"I bet you gave her a piece of it!" Pansy snickered. Draco Malfoy's temper was legendary, and he wasn't one to take being bothered lightly.

"In a Muggle bar? Without my wand?" Draco Malfoy said, raising an eyebrow, and then grinned. "I just gave her the old brush-off, saying I was bored."

"And that wasn't the last of it?" Pansy asked dubiously. Most people, in her experience, could take a hint.

"Well, she called me a liar, straight out." Draco Malfoy said.

"Well, that must have been a new experience for you!" Pansy giggled. She was well aware of just how much lying Draco did, and just how many people eventually caught on and said something about it.

"From someone I'd never met? I'll say so." Draco Malfoy said, "I didn't tell her, if you know what I mean, but I started talking..."

Pansy was somber again, as she nearly whispered, "What about?"

"Choices," Draco Malfoy said, shoving his hands into pockets. "We do, you know, have to make some - and soon."

"I can never guess what you're thinking, Draco, you know that." Pansy snapped back crabbily.

"I... I won't let him use me to blackmail my parents." Draco said softly, almost stammering, his voice somehow firm and shaking at once.

Pansy could do nothing else other than pull Draco into her arms, and, for a moment, they were just as close as when they were six, and Draco had skinned his knee while falling from his broom. For a moment, at least, Pansy was the brave, strong one. The one to lean on. She knew it wouldn't last, it never did.

"She told me that I should trust in my doubt, and that so long as I was asking, I was thinking..." Draco Malfoy said, looking up at Pansy from within her embrace. "Would you believe I told her that I was supposed to want to kill her?"

Pansy blinked, temporarily nonplussed. "How much did you have to drink?" she hissed.

"All told? I think about twenty glasses. And they were strong." Draco Malfoy said.

"How is it that you were still able to talk?" Pansy demanded, concern ringing in her voice.

"Did I mention that I started before noon? She was talking with me after dark." Draco Malfoy said, as Pansy's eyes bulged.

"Draco Malfoy!" she said, hitting him over the head. "You scared me half to death!"