She was running, running so fast that she was almost out of breath. "We're coming to get you, Parkinson!" said an all-too familiar voice. Pansy's heart froze. How could he? How could they? She turned into a corner and stopped dead on her tracks. She was cornered. To her left were her pursuers, to her right was a brick wall, behind her was a shop, and in front of her was a dark alleyway. Without second thoughts she plunged into the darkness, praying with all her might that it wasn't...

A dead end.

If there's any God at all, he might not have forgiven her yet, for it was exactly what she prayed it not to be. Great, just great.

"Here at last, aren't we, Parkinson?" said a deep drawl she knew too well, she would recognize it anywhere.

Pansy snorted.

"Aaah, and still an arrogant bitch princess, aren't we?" said a different voice Pansy recognized too. It was husky and warm, she thought she liked it, but right now she loathed it.

"But look at you! You don't look like a princess anymore." a softer and yet unmistakeably masculine voice spoke. "You look more like a... Hmmmmm... A muggle rag."

There was a roar of laughter that followed. Pansy felt her cheeks burning with shame but she kept her ground and tilted her chin upwards, She wanted to show these pigs that they could insult her all they want, and she won't be affected anymore. She cocked one of her eyebrows at them and made a face.

The laughter stopped.

One of her pursuers stepped forward, placed his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him.

"Let go of me, Blaise."

"I remember the last time you told me that, you didn't really mean it.

"I mean it now." and with that, she spat on his face.

Zabini looked, if anything, surprised. He used his free hand to wipe away the liquid in his face, and Pansy saw, even in the dark, Blaise's face break into a devilish grin. Pansy's heart hammered in her chest.

"Do it, Nott."

The man who owned the husky voice muttered "Lumos" and they were suddenly bathed in green light emanating from the tip of Nott's wand. She saw Theodore beside Goyle, standing behind Blaise who hadn't even loosened his grip on her waist's yet. If anything, he tightened it. And then Pansy's eyes grew wide in horror. Theo was holding something in his hand that looked so much like her Yew and Dragon-Heartstring wand. With her free hand she fingered her pocket and realized, it wasn't there.

"It fell while you were running." Said Goyle, smiling like there's no tomorrow.

"We used a mist. It's a charm that makes you forget about something temporarily. We made you forget you had a wand." There was triumph and smugness in Theo's voice that made her abhor it even more.

"This is what happens to traitors, Pansy," Blaised leaned to kiss Pansy full on the mouth and her eyes bulged in shock. She was still looking at Theo, who was already grinning by now. He took the opposite sides of her wand in his hands and snapped it cleanly into two.

Tears welled in Pansy's eyes ad he pushed Blaise away with such force that he landed a few feet backwards. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Pansy shrieked, voicing out all her rage.

"NOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOO!"

"Parkinson! Parkinson wake up!"

Pansy's eyes flew open. She was lying on a white mattress, white sheets covered her from the waist down. Sitting on the bed with both her hands on Pansy's shoulders was Hermione Granger. Pansy's eyes grew wide and Hermione removed her hands.

"You were having a nightmare." Hermione said matter-of-factly, her face screwed in what looked like a grimace.

"Where's my wand?" Pansy blurted out abruptly, eyes still wide.

"We sent Dean to retrieve it from your flat -"

"You people! You people are spying on me! Why am I here? What do you need me for, huh, Granger? I went away, I stayed out of your hairs! Then now, this! THIS?" Pansy had now gotten off the bed and went to the other side so she faced Hermione. She was in hysterics, panic and anger rising up in her stomach like bile.

"Now please, Parkinson if you would just let me explain -" Hermione pleaded helplessly, trying her best to remain calm.

"What is there to explain, Granger? You -"

What ever followed "You -" had been cut off by an unexpected entrance. Draco stood by the door, with his brows furrowed, and yet wearing another one of his unreadable expressions. It was like pain, happiness, curiosity, and delight were knitted to form his elegant face. Pansy let out a strangled noise.

"I'll leave the two of you alone to talk." Hermione excused herself, relieved to get out of the room.

Draco walked towards Pansy, his eyes glued upon her face. She was suddenly conscious of her appearance. She was wearing a white long-sleeved sleeping gown that was not much of her taste but at least they felt comfortable. She would worry about who it belonged to later. Her hair was a mess, a rumpled mass of dark brown strands atop her face, she might've looked like she had been electrified. This was the wrong time to even worry, but still she wouldn't meet Draco eyes. After a few moments they were already standing a feet from each other, but Pansy's head was bent down, she was staring at her feet. They need cleaning, as soon as possible, she decided. Draco's hands suddenly touched her right arm, and Pansy jerked at the contact.

Draco sighed.

"Pans. Come over here."

Pansy did not move.

"Pans -"

"NO." Pansy looked up at Draco, her eyes wet with tears, but she blinked them away. And then she lunged forward and started ramming her fists against his chest.

"YOU TOTAL JERK! WHAT AM I DOING HERE? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE! YOU SHOW UP, AFTER A MONTH! I WAITED FOR YOU! YOU SAID WE WOULD MEET! YOU NEVER CAME DRACO YOU NEVER CAME! AND NOW! NOW! YOU COME HERE! EXPECTING ME TO MELT AT YOUR TOUCH WHEN YOU GOT ENGAGED TO MY BESTFRIEND'S SISTER BEHIND MY BACK! YOU MADE ME LOOK LIKE A FOOL! YOU..."

Pansy fell down at Draco's feet, crying so profusely it hurt. He let her hurt him, because he knew she needed it. She was right, he was a jerk. A coward. A moron. A bastard. She was sobbing and shaking and he could help it no longer. He picked her up and pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Pans. Father did the arrangement and I could not say no. I tried, I protested, but it was too late. I was too late, as always. I looked for you but it was hard. They said you ran away, they said you betrayed them."

Pansy shook her head but said nothing. Se was still crying shamelessly, her face on Draco's chest. Finally she pulled away.

"Leave me alone."

"But Pans -"

"I said leave me alone!"

At that very moment the door burst open. And there, right at the entrance was Dean Thomas, holding something in his hands.

"Good morning, Parkinson! I thought I'd bring you your... Wand."

Dean said the last word very quietly as he realized what he just walked into. Ginny appeared behind his back, tugging his left sleeve. "I told you it could wait, Dean."

"It's alright Weasley." Pansy said. "Draco was just leaving."

Draco looked at Pansy with a wounded expression on his face, but he went out anyway, scowling at Dean as he passed. "He might need some tea." Ginny said and went away with Draco as well. Dean, however, walked into the room like nothing emotional happened.

"It's your wand." He said as he handed Pansy the elongated package wrapped in white paper. Pansy unwrapped it non-too gently.

"You missed it that bad, huh?" Dean asked and smirked. Pansy looked taken aback but said nothing. And then she saw it. It was her wand, unharmed. Just as she left it in her muggle flat.

"Never thought you'd go living in a muggle building, Parkinson."

"I had no choice."

"Who were you hiding from anyway?"

Pansy looked at Dean, and he thought she saw something pass between her eyes. She shook her head. "Just some people who wanted to punish me for my bad behavior."

"Alright then. I'd go back down now. Just call if you need something." Dean turned towards the door, and he barely touched the handle when Pansy said.

"Thank you, Thomas."

He turned and gave her a wink. "You're welcome.