Pairing(s)/Character(s): Pansy/Blaise, Pansy/Draco, Draco/Astoria
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.

Chapter 2

They begin quietly by holding hands as they walk to classes. And just like Blaise expects, no one looks twice at them.

Even Millie, who loves gossiping, simply asks, "When did you two start dating?"

Pansy bites her lip, not sure how to answer that. Thankfully, Blaise has no such qualms. "It's a pretty recent thing. I realized I didn't want to lose my chance with Pansy so I asked her out." He shrugs as if it's no big deal.

Pansy blushes, glancing at Blaise out of the corner of eye."

"That's kind of sugary sweet. It makes me teeth hurt due to the sweetness. Oh well." Millie shrugs. "I kind of hoped to have a chance with you, Blaise, but I always knew I couldn't compare to Pansy in your eyes. Congratulations."

Pansy's eyes widen. "What?" she asked uncomprehendingly.

Millie smirks. "It has been kind of obvious to everything that Blaise has wanted you for the last couple of years. How could you not know? You're supposed to be an observant Slytherin."

Pansy looks at Blaise who now seems to find the wall utterly interesting. She turns back to Millie and thinks fast about how to answer. She knows this is something her and Blaise would have talked about if they had actually started dating, so she comes up with the best possible reply and says, "I knew he liked me for awhile, but I hadn't realized how long."

Millie tilts her head to side. "Oh, I guess he wouldn't want you to know how long he wanted you. It kind of makes him look pathetic."

Pansy forces a smile on her face as Blaise shifts uncomfortably beside her. "Right. Pathetic. Millie, Blaise and I need to get to Ancient Runes. See you at lunch." Grabbing her pretend boyfriend's hand, she drags him away from the smirking Millie.

They walk in an uncomfortable silence, and Blaise is the one who attempts to break it. "Pansy, about what Millie said –"

"Is it true?" Pansy interrupts.

Blaise's eyes are troubled, or at least Pansy can tell they're troubled. A normal person wouldn't be able to see it, but Pansy and Blaise have always known when the other one was upset. It's an effect of their long-standing friendship.

"Blaise!" she implores.

"I don't know what you want me to tell you," Blaise says defensively.

"The truth. It's that simple."

"It's not that simple," Blaise argues. She raises an unimpressed eyebrow, and he sighs dejectedly. "Fine, the truth is that I do have feelings for you. I've had them for a long time, but for you, it has only have been Draco and I accepted that. I knew you thought of me as a best friend, and I was okay with that. As long as you were still in my life, I didn't need anything else."

Pansy nods. "Then how could you agree to be my pretend boyfriend? If I knew of your feelings, I wouldn't have even asked you. I don't want to use you to make another boy jealous. That isn't fair to you."

Blaise takes her hand and gives it a slight squeeze. "Don't worry about it. I agreed, didn't I? I could have said 'no' if I thought it would be too hard."

"Why did you agree?"

Blaise's smile holds a touch of wistfulness. "I want you to be happy, even if it's with another guy. And for some reason, one I still don't understand, you want Draco. I know our relationship will be fugacious. I know it won't last, and I'm prepared for it to end. Once Draco realizes what's right in front of him, I know you and I will be over, and you and Draco will be reborn. And I'm okay with that because I know you'll be happy."

Pansy puts a hand to her stomach. It feels as if it's churning. "I don't feel right about this," she laments.

"I know my own mind, and I want to do this. Trust me when I say I know I can handle it."

Pansy searches his eyes for signs of deceit. Slytherins might be good at lying, but Blaise has never been able to get away with it when it comes to Pansy. She doesn't see anything that says he's being dishonest, so reluctantly, she agrees to continue with the plan, under one condition. "I'll agree, but only if you are honest if it gets to be too much for you."

"I promise."

Pansy nods, satisfied. "Good."

Hand-in-hand, they continue on to Ancient Runes. They past by Draco, who is looking at the two of them oddly, and collect two seats that are next to each other. They're both ready to learn.