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 is Chapter Two, and I hope you like it. I've already got Chapter Three written, and I just started writing Chapter Four, but neither will be posted for a while, as this is your second chapter (third if you count the Prologue) in two days.
Disclaimer: If I had a job, I wouldn't be broke. If I wrote Harry Potter, I wouldn't be broke. Ya clear?
Beta: I am looking for a beta. Someone who will read over my work, correct any mistakes in spelling and such, and give me constructive criticism. They need to be good at spelling and grammar, be open-minded (this is a Slash, after all) and be patient. Also, a sense of humour would be nice, lol. If anyone's interested, either PM me, or drop a line by review. Thanks.
chapter two
call me "zee"
A week had passed since Serpens had met Pansy in the alley. He had learnt that while her parents were on holiday, they had left her with the Malfoy's, as they always did, and she had been visiting the alley regularly, too upset about her own misfortunes to stay around and watch intendeds swoon as one thought of the other. It wasn't as bad as it usually was – seeing as neither Jakob, nor Astoria was staying with the Malfoy's that summer. Jakob – Serpens had learnt – was on a mission for the Dark Lord, and Astoria was staying over at her grandparents, along with her sister, Daphne.
"Damnit," he muttered to himself, as he spread butter onto the piece of toast in front of him. He was sitting at one of the back tables in the Leaky Cauldron, thinking over anything and everything that came to mind. "Really have to stop calling them the Malfoy's …"
"Yes, you do," said a grim voice from in front of him. Serpens startled, but quickly relaxed as he noticed it was only Pansy. Today, she was wearing a simple, lavender robe, atop some muggle clothes. They had both decided to go out to muggle London today, and buy Serpens some new clothes.
From what he knew of Pansy, Serpens realized this would be a long, arduous task, and he secretly feared it. He had heard that girls turned vicious when it came to shopping.
"Hey, Pan," he murmured, taking a bite of his toast. Pansy rolled her eyes.
"Must you call me that?"
"Of course, I mean, it's not my fault your name isn't very nicknamey," he replied mildly. They had only truly known each other a week, but to each of them, it felt like years, and they were already best friends. Pansy huffed.
"Oh, so sorry," she said with a slight sniff. "I'll try have my parents name me something more … nicknamey for you next time, shall I?"
"Please do."
"Ugh …"
"Well, what else can I call you?" Serpens whined slightly. Pansy hummed quietly as she stole some of his toast, thinking.
"Call me 'Zee'!" she announced happily.
"And you thought 'Pan' was bad …"
"Shut up. You're at the mercy of my superior shopping skills today, so I'd watch it if I were you," she warned threateningly, waggling his toast in his face.
"All right, let's go then, Zee …"
"Get that."
"What, no!" Serpens cried out in horror, ignoring – or possibly not even noticing – the stares that were sent their way. "Pansy –"
"Zee."
"Whatever, Zee. I can't get that!" Serpens moaned, holding the silky pink shirt as far away from him as possible. He was sorely tempted to drop it, but a nasty looking sales girl kept walking their way, as if just waiting for a chance to swoop down upon them and kick them out. They had been there for hours and hadn't bought a thing. "Why would I ever need a pink silk shirt?" he said, staring at the thing in revulsion.
Pansy looked offended. "Why, everyday, dear Serp!"
"Call me 'Pen'," he said, smirking.
"No," Pansy said teasingly, her own little smirk gracing her face. "Just trust me, there will be a time. Besides, I've decided you're gay. You need one."
Serpens stared at Pansy incredulously. "Whatever …" he muttered, adding it to the small, but growing pile. Pansy cried in joy, punching a fist in the air.
"Secret victory!" she yelled, triumphant, before regaining her composure. "That never happened," she said smoothly. Serpens sniggered as he added a plain black shirt to the pile.
"Of course, your Slytherin reputation and all …"
"Believe it."
They continued on like this, bantering happily back and forth, while the pile grew and grew. At one point, Serpens started freaking over how they were going to pay for all of it, but Pansy assured him that his parents wouldn't mind … and she had their credit card number.
"They have a credit card?" Serpens said incredulously, as Pansy had the hawk like sales girl ring it all up.
"Well, sure. Lucius does have to do dealings with muggles now and then … so, yes," she answered, smiling sweetly at the glaring sales girl as she took hold of a few of the bags, gesturing for Serpens to do the same with the rest.
Serpens shook his head. "It's like you're his stalker or something …" he said as they walked out the door.
"So, I'm gay now, am I?" Serpens said, interrupting the thoughtful silence as they slurped happily at their ice creams. They were back in Diagon and, once again, sitting at a table outside Florean's. The same table, in fact. Pansy nodded.
"Yes," she said. "Call it a gift."
"What, me being supposedly gay?" Serpens said incredulously.
"Nooo, my gift for knowing when someone is gay. Just ask Blaise."
"Zabini?"
"Yeah- wait … you know him?" Pansy said, suspicious. Serpens shifted slightly in his seat.
"Oops," he said.
"Spit it out."
"Uhm … no?"
Pansy glared at him, leaning forwards slightly. "Tell me, and I'll know if you're lying. Intended thing and all, ya know?"
Serpens sighed; pushing his finger against his nose, before seeming to realize what he was doing and putting his hand down, blushing slightly. "Okay, don't freak or anything, but … do you know what the Glamour Potion does?"
Pansy hissed, her eyes narrowing. "So, am I finally getting the story of where you've been all this time?" she said darkly, not looking at Serpens, but glaring at the ice cream in her hands. Serpens sighed.
"Some of it."
"I can deal with that …" she agreed, nodding.
"Okay, well, I've known who you are for years. I was stolen pretty much at birth and given to another family. My adopted mother had just miscarried. My kidnappers used the Glamour Potion on me to make me look like my supposed 'family', and I'd been brought up to believe they were my parents. But they died, and I grew up pretty much alone. Then I got accepted into Hogwart's-"
"Wait … you've been at Hogwart's the whole time?" Pansy interrupted. Serpens shook his head.
"Nooo, I had to go home for holidays obviously …"
"Shut up."
"Do you want to hear the rest?"
"Oh, yes …"
"Then you shut up." Serpens received no reply and he grinned. "Anyway, so that's how I know who everyone is and all. It's always why I didn't hex you that first day," he added. Pansy grinned. "But I was tempted."
"Ouch," she said sarcastically. "But you don't know everything, do you?" she said. "I mean, you had no idea who Artemis was …"
"I still have no idea who Artemis is, other than her supposedly being my sister. You never explained, remember?"
"I didn't, did I?" Pansy said mildly. "Well, I think I'd better show you!" she decided, standing up. Serpens looked up at her in horror.
"What?" he said, horrorstruck. "What do you mean, Pan?"
"Zee," Pansy corrected. Serpens ignored her. She sighed. "Serpens, you can't hide from them forever. What happens when you go back to school and Draco sees you for example? He'll freak. They'll think it's some kind of trick. But coming from me, your intended, they can't doubt who you truly are. Who were you, by the way" she asked curiously, changing the subject.
"Pansy …" Serpens warned.
"Save it, Serp. You are coming with me and that is final."
She was just dragging him off to the Leaky Cauldron, when there was a shout from across the street.
"Malfoy!"
Serpens and Pansy turned around to see Ronald Weasley striding up to them, tears streaking down his face, while brandishing a copy of The Daily Prophet. Hermione Granger followed along silently behind him, sobbing quietly into her jacket.
"What do you want, Weasley?" Pansy snapped, saving Serpens from having to answer. Ron snarled, pushing the newspaper into her chest.
"You know exactly what, Parkinson," he growled. "Read it, and tell me you don't know what's happened!"
"What are you on about?" she said incredulously.
"Harry! He's dead!"
Note: So, you likey? You kow what I likey? Reviews! I put thi up before I got my three because I three reviews, one was just on the Prologue. Can I have 5 before I post again? Please and thank yous!
REVIEW REPLIES! (If you left a review, look here).
Kirsti-Lee: I'm glad to see (for once) someone admit that they ned to read more before they can truly judge a story! Thank you!! Just for that, YOU get a PLUHIE! -throws plushi of Severus at Kirsti- Hopefully, I fixed up all the mistakes you pointed out!
ImmortalInk: Sheesh! -throws cookie- I have a feeling ima un out of cookies with you around ... -laughs- But my plushies are for good reviews!!(Not saying yours wasn't - I mean reviews with a bit of help in them, other than "kawaii story" my darling).
-Chiyo, xx.
