Title: Ties That Bind
Author: Chiyo Javaid
Warnings: Slash (guy on guy ... eventually), coarse language and Character Death.
Summary: "It's all secrets and lies, do NOT believe him."
Note: Well, here's chapter one!! This is a repost, so the starting note has changed. And the ending one altered slightly, so read threm again if you are ... anyway ... hope you likey!! I know it may seem confusing right now, but everything will be cleared up eventually! And some things will be dealt with soon, in the next few chapters, actually. For others, you may just have to bare with me on them!!


chapter one
not a dream


Pansy Parkinson was a very clever girl. She knew she wasn't the prettiest of the bunch, and she relied on her cunning nature and the ability to argue her point, wherever needed. She worked hard, received grades considered worthy of a Slytherin and was friends with the right people. Over time, she had managed to work her way deeply into the fold of the Malfoy's. She was not involved with Draco romantically, in any way. No, he was like the brother she never had. Narcissa adored her, and Lucius enjoyed her quick wit and her ability to hold her own in a conversation. Artemis was one of her best friends.

She knew everything there was to know about the Malfoy's – everything. Their hopes, dreams, fears and secrets.

Oh, she knew their secrets well indeed.

She knew so much, Narcissa had even talked of officially making her one of the family. As it had always been planned.

But that plan had been sunk the moment Draco and his twin had been born. The twin, and her intended, dying mere hours after birth. Narcissa and Lucius had never even seen the body – the Healer insisting it would have been much too traumatizing – and they had taken the body away before it had been discovered.

She had grown up, always feeling empty, knowing, that her intended had died before he had a chance to live. Muggleborns and other wizards – who let the old traditions die – really had no idea the mark that made on a person. An intended was a precious thing, and to lose one … you just never felt quite the same again.

She had started to think about it all the other day – wishing it weren't so, but knowing, that if by some miracle, Serpens was actually alive, it wouldn't be the same. They would be close, yes, but they would never be true intendeds again. They would go their separate ways when it came to marriage and so on. Pansy had missed out, and seeing Draco and Astoria, just made it slightly more painful. Even Artemis, who had never even met her intended – who was on a mission for the Dark Lord in another country – had some sort of weird connection with him. It was all very depressing.

And this was why she was doubly confused on this marvelous day, when the burn associated with the presence of your intended, returned.

She was sitting quietly outside Florean's in Diagon Alley, slurping thoughtfully at her chocolate nut ice cream, when a mild, burning sensation twisted itself about her body, filling her insides with an intense longing that surprised her. She had never felt anything like it, but she knew what it was.

Her intended was somewhere near.

Now, Pansy was a smart girl. She realized that Serpens was dead. But she was also smart enough to notice the obvious flaws in Narcissa and Lucius's explanation. She had questioned it ferociously on those days when she longed for a boyfriend – someone to love, and to love her. She may a Slytherin, but she was only female, after all.

And she was also smart enough to know that, in the wizarding world, damn near anything was possible!

Eyes wide and hopeful, she glanced about her nervously, as if someone had heard her revelation and planned on contradicting her, or some other such nonsense.

The Alley was packed – a nice surprise. With the Ministry warning against Voldemort and his return, you would think everyone would stay indoors, windows shut, blinds closed, and doors locked – not that that would do much good to them.

But no, instead, they had opted to shop in tight packs in the middle of the day – apparently to stock up, so they wouldn't have to shop again for a very long time. Already, Pansy was starting to see students from Hogwart's, hurrying about the alley with what appeared to be their entire family, getting their school supplies and anything else that took their fancy.

It was very hard to pick him out amongst all the shoppers, but Pansy did it in hardly any time at all.

He was standing hopelessly outside the bookstore, staring at the shop, packed almost to bursting point, and seeming to realize there was no way he would be getting in there any time soon.

He looked exactly as she'd had always pictured him. He was fairly tall, and Pansy suspected that if she were to stand next to him, he would be about a head taller, with light blonde hair – not as platinum as Draco's – but close. From what she could see, he looked more like Narcissa, with smooth, pale skin, and softer, rounder features, rather than Draco's pointed ones. To Pansy, he looked like an angel.

Suddenly nervous, Pansy gulped, shaking ever so slightly as she rose from her seat and began to make her way over to him. A small voice in her mind kept telling her to turn back – that this was some sort of trick, and she should turn around now and forget it had ever happened – but Pansy was a smart girl, and she knew that the feeling coursing through her body at this very moment was not a lie.

"… Uhm, excuse me?" she said, voice shaking. Immediately, she stood up straighter and cleared her throat. She was a Slytherin after all.

The boy turned around, and opened his mouth in surprise. Pansy took note of his light blue eyes, and almost smiled. Definitely like Narcissa.

"Yes, well, I would like to talk to you?" she said, half asking rather than saying, gesturing back to her deserted table, which she realized too late, had been taken over by a group of Gryffindor's. The boy raised an eyebrow and started at her questioningly.

Blushing slightly, Pansy sighed. "Or maybe that one?" she asked, pointing to another, available table.

The boy nodded, eyes holding little suspicion – a little, but not enough to outright refuse. Pansy barely managed to contain the squeal that threatened to escape past her lips. Instead, she nodded tersely, and led the way.

Once back at the table, she took a deep breath, and dived right into it, knowing that if she didn't, she would chicken out.

"Serpens?" she said hesitantly, hoping that she wasn't wrong, as much as she knew she wasn't. There was always the seed of doubt in matters like these.

Serpens' eyes widened in surprise, nodding before he could stop himself.

"Uh … yes," he said awkwardly, watching Pansy suspiciously. "How do you know?"

Pansy sighed. "I don't know how much you know about matters such as these, but I was your intended," she said. As expected, no light of recognition appeared in those light blue eyes – light as the sky on a perfect summer's day. She sighed again. "It's an old wizarding tradition, only seen in old wizarding families these days – if then. Each of the Malfoy children was given one. I was yours. Draco's is a girl called Astoria Greengrass – you know of her?"

Serpens nodded.

"Yes, well, she's Daphne's younger sister …" Pansy said unnecessarily. "And Artemis has a guy called Jakob Jugson-"

"Artemis?"

Pansy stared at Serpens in surprise. "Yeees? Artemis? Your sister?"

She stared at she stared at Serpens warily. "Uh, a question, how much do you even know about your family?"

Serpens gazed at her warily – she could see what little trust there had been wavering. "Look," she said. "Weak as the connection may be now, after so long, I am still your intended, and you, mine. I wouldn't betray you, not ever."

"I suppose …" Serpens agreed slowly. "But … what exactly is an intended?" he asked, curiosity colouring his voice.

"An intended is someone picked for you – usually before birth – by your parents. A little-known ritual is then carried out, and the two intended are bonded. They are given a very special connection. But, if they never meet, or they are away from each other too long, the connection weakens. That's why I'm so surprised I can still feel ours …" Pansy trailed off wonderingly, and Serpens shifted slightly in his seat.

He knew why.

"Okay," he said. "… would that be the kind of … burning feeling …?"

"Yes," Pansy nodded. "You can feel it, too?"

Serpens nodded. "Yeah, ever since I walked into the Alley this morning …"

"Here for your school books, then?" Pansy asked, curious. Serpens looked surprised.

"No … I've been staying in the Leaky Cauldron …"

"For how long?"

Pansy was concerned. Why wasn't he with his family?

"Since about a week after school let up?"

Pansy looked up at him sharply.

"School? Meaning … Hogwart's?"

Serpens glanced up, startled, and his eyes widened.

"N-no …"

Pansy decided to let it go for now. It was obviously a topic that shouldn't be discussed in the middle of Diagon Alley. And Serpens didn't look very ready to talk.

"You haven't even been to see your family, have you?" she murmured, changing the subject.

But she would find out.

After all, he was her intended, and she was very clever.

Very clever indeed.


Note: So, here it is!!In my original Note, I mentioned that I wanted three reviews for another update. I have two, so I only need one more! Then I can post the next chapter, which I will start writing onced I repost this one ...

REVIEW REPLIES! (If you left a review, look here!!)

terrorofthehighway: Thank you! I hope you continue reading, liking, AND reviewing!! -throws cookie- For being the first review, that is!

ImmortalInk: Lol. Nice.

- Chiyo, xx.