La la la la la la! I'm on a role! :3 Can't wait to get this posted! I love you my precious readers. Hehehe. It was kind of rude of me to end on such an interesting not, hmm? I apologize. In my story, I'm not going to make Hermione the delicate little lamb. She's not going to give in easily and I'm DAMN STRAIGHT not going to make her roll over and have to be saved by Draco. Also, the Slytherins and Death Eaters and going to be all randomly sparkly and good. I might portray them in a more comedic light but they are still bad people. On that note, Draco and his little Slytherin people aren't sparkly good either. These are mean people and the only reason Draco is being so nice to Hermione(other then their bond) is because he made an oath and he intends to use her to get his father back. There aren't any real feelings as of yet, besides the bond tugging their hearts towards each other.

Sorry bout my rant. xD

Ohh,

MANY THANKS to my new beta : Stargatefan001 You are amazing for helping me out Rachael!

I'm going to start dedicating every chapter to a reviewer(s) who stands out in particular to me. (:

So, this chapter is dedicated to: mad-bout-horses-nd-cowboys and Saviloo Snape.

Thankies, guys! So, here we go~

Chapter Seven

Of Brooms and Secrets

Draco felt a hand connect with his cheek. The blond winced in pain as he fell back into his chair. Hermione sat opposite of him, blushing red. Her honey eyes narrowed dangerously on him. Her small hand touched her lips. "You foul slimy git!" Hermione gasped, standing.
Draco glared up at her, rubbing at his stinging cheek. "You didn't need to slap me! Simply, pushing me away would have been more effective!"
Hermione's eyes flared. "You shouldn't have kissed me in the first place, Malfoy! You're involved with Pansy!"
Draco blinked, then frowned. "That was Astoria's doing...she caught us in a bad moment. It's not like that."
Hermione gave him a disgusted look. "Like I should believe you. You Slytherins are all the same. Lying your arses off to get what you want."
Draco opened his mouth to defend his house, but Hermione had already grabbed her readings and left the area in a huff.
Draco groaned and ran his hand through his already messy hair. Great. One step forward, five steps back. I think she hates me more then ever now.
Things weren't looking good for Draco. Not at all.
With the honey-eyed witch, things weren't much better. What scum! He has a girlfriend and he goes and kisses me!
Younger students sensed the anger boiling in the witch and immediately moved out of her way as she angrily stomped towards the Gryffindor common room.
Buzzing of the new Slytherin "couple" could be heard.
"I heard they were engaged since birth."
"Oh, well that would be a fabulous wedding! Do you think they'd invite me?"
"They don't even know you exist!" Urgh, if only Hermione didn't exist to them. She noted the Slytherin girls all giggling, holding a picture of what seemed to be Blaise.
But, a certain Slytherin princess caught her eye qucikly. Hermione scowled. "Oi, Parkinson!" Hermione called out through the throng of students. The green one turned around curiously. Pansy and Hermione's eyes locked. The black haired wotch made her way over to Hermione, pulling her aside to an empty corridor nearby.
"You better keep an eye on your little 'fiance'!" Hermione said, crossing her arms and blushing slightly.
Pansy paled. "What?"
"He kissed me today."
"He what? That damn Weasley-" Hermione gaped. "Wait, wait, wait back up. Huh?"
Pansy froze, her eyes becoming as large as saucers. "When you said boyfriend, you meant Draco, didn't you? You saw the... picture?"
Hermione's mouth was still wide open, but she managed a small nod. Pansy bit her lip. She felt like a complete idiot. Hermione shouldn't have found out like this.
"Hermione, I am in no way romantically involved with Draco Malfoy." Pansy smirked. "He is way too wrapped up in another girl."
Hermione closed her mouth then, giving Pansy a suspicious look. "Pansy, who's name did you say a moment ago?"

"Pansy, did you say Weasley?"
Pansy mirrored Hermione, crossing her arms and pouting slightly. Hermione looked closely and saw the beginning of tears in Pansy's beautiful chocolate eyes. This puzzled her.

"Pansy, a-are you crying?" Hermione began unsurely, feeling a pang of guilt. Damn, random feelings. "Listen, Pansy, you don't have to tell me-"

Pansy shook her head slowly. "No, I think I want someone to know..." Hermione furrowed her brow. "But you can't tell a soul. Especially not him!"
Hermione was truly curious now. "Go on, then." She coaxed gently. "I won't tell a soul. I promise." And she wouldn't. It was the Gryffindor thing to do. It seemed like Pansy really needed someone to confide in, and Hermione was the one there. She couldn't explain her willingness to comfort the dark witch, but it overwhelmed her.
Pansy's frown increased, making her already darker face look like someone who was in extreme turmoil.
"I...When I was a baby, there was a spell put on me by Lucretia Prewett, before the damned witch died." Pansy began quietly, looking at the ground.
"That's Molly Weasley's aunt, isn't it?" Hermione asked. She knew the Weasley family tree. She was bored one day and had nothing better to do, so she decided to go through the Weasley family's many relatives.
Pansy nodded. "The spell was one that would bind me to the closest born son in her family." Pansy looked up at Hermione, eyes serious. "An arranged marriage."
Hermione gasped. "But, thats hardly legal! It was outlawed years ago!"
Pansy laughed bitterly. "You tell the old hag that."
"So, who's your...?"
"Ron." Pansy answered quietly.
"Oh." Hermione said nothing. Her Ron was already engaged. "Is there something you could do for it? Like-"
"The only one who can take it back is the witch who casts it. And she's dead. Made sure she got me before she went under."
"Why you?" Hermione asked, confused. Out of all the witches out there, why Pansy? Obviously, Lucretia must have noticed the prejudices the Parkinson family carried. Dooming her to a Weasley seemed extremely cruel.
"Mum says that the hag wanted to blur the lines. I don't know what she means by that, though." Hermione did. The lines between good and evil. The just and unjust. She got it.
"I..I'm so sorry, Pansy. I don't know what else to say. Does Ron know?" Tears leaked from Pansy's eyes as the witch shook her head.
"How could I tell him that? And ruin his precious life with you and Potter? He'd hate me forever. The only one who knows is my family...and you."
"Pansy, you're going to have to eventually tell him, right?"
Pansy bit her lip. "I won't if I just randomly vanish after my sixth year, right? If I just disappeared it wouldn't even effect him."
Hermione smacked Pansy on the back of the head."Don't say things like that!" Hermione's eyes widened. That wasn't her who said that. She wouldn't have reacted like a...
"Thats something Draco would do." Pansy smiled softly, through her tears. Hermione grew angry at the very thought.
"I understand then that you two are friends and all, but please do not compare me to that ferret." Pansy's eyes sparkled with mirth, which further angered Hermione.
"Anyways, I'm sure if you calmly tell Ron he'd understand and handle this responsibly." Maybe.
Pansy pouted. "But then if we do end up together it will be out of obligation, not love. I don't want that for either of us."
Hermione stared. "Then why don't you try speaking to him like a civil human being and not cackling like mad?"
Pansy shyly put her two index fingers together. "I don't know what to talk to him about. He'd probably be really freaked out if I randomly started talking to him."
Hermione sighed. "My goodness, Pansy. For all the flirting you do, you sure are acting like your completely new to the idea of it."
Pansy smiled widely. "Thats because Ron is different! He's brave and loyal, and... and funny.."
"How do you know this?" Hermione snorted. "Have you even spoken to him before?"
Pansy shook her head. "I can sense his feelings and thoughts. It comes with the bonds. I think thats why I feel so close to you, because of Ron."
That explained it. That's why she felt compassionate towards the Slytherin princess. She had bonds with her best friend. Hermione wasn't going loony! Yet.
Feeling much more relaxed, Hermione looked up at Pansy confidently. "Don't worry, Pansy. I'll help you out. But if you do anything to hurt him, I'll hunt you down."
Pansy blinked. "Oh. Thanks?"
"Mhm. Now, let's go think up a game plan."

"Blaise, you've been quiet today." Draco mused, raising a brow at his best friend. Blaise looked boredly over at Draco.
"Is it that picture, then?" Draco guessed. Blaise didn't respond, the two just continued walking in silence. Today was Quidditch tryouts. Originally, Draco wasn't going to do the sport. But, since his plans for that year had changed drastically due to a certain pure-blood princess, he was up for it.
This year, not only was he Seeker, but he was captain. This baffled the blond. Montague was supposed to be captain, not him. But, oh well.
The team wanted him as captain, and who was he to deny them? Blaise was the one actually "trying out." For the past three years, Draco had been nagging Blaise to join the team, and Blaise had finally relented since Draco was captain this year.
Blaise was a fabulous player, but he never really pursued the sport in a serious way until today. It irked him that he actually had to try out, since Draco knew how good a player he was.
He'd pointed this out to his friend who simply responded by saying, "Well, maybe some bloke comes along whos exceedingly better then you? I would want the best next to measly second."
He was already having a horrible day because of Astoria's little pictures and then his so-called best friend had to go on and doubt his Quidditch skills.
Let's just say, he was excited to smash some Bludgers. As they reached the playing field, they were greeted by a large crowd of Slytherins. Draco raised a brow, and Blaise's eye twitched. "Pansy, Daphne, what are you two doing here?"
Said witches grinned, coming up to Draco bouncing excitedly. "We came to be Beaters!" Pansy said happily. Draco scoffed and Blaise just glared. He wanted to be a beater.
"Well, you guys will have to show some muscle on the field, then?"
Pansy smirked. "So, I heard about your little kiss in the library..."
Draco glared. "Later, Pansy. Get ready to play." Pansy giggled and stuck out her tongue at him. "Come on, Daph." She said, dragging the blond girl away.
"Draco, do you think they could beat me?" Blaise asked quietly, as the two stood waiting for the rest of the applicants to arrive.
Draco pondered this before nodding. "Try for chaser mate, just to be safe."
Blaise sighed. What a life he had.
After a few minutes, Draco blew his new shiny green Captain's whistle. The wannabe players snapped to attention. "Okay, heres how we're gonna do this." He started.
"Everyone get into groups of six. Two Beaters, three Chasers, one Keeper. Obviously, I'm the only Seeker for this team."
Stormy gray eyes watched as the crowd of green shuffled. He smirked slightly at seeing Pansy, Blaise, and Daphne in a group with Vaisey and two other dark haired males. They looked like they'd be the winners. But, who knew?
"Alright, we are going to go two groups at a time. Play as if it was a real game, but without the Seekers. Who wants to go first?"
"Mee!" Pansy chirped loudly, grabbing Blaise's and Daphne's hands and marching to stand directly in front of Draco. The blond wizard arched a brow. She seemed to be in a rather good mood.
"Who wants to play them?"
A few minutes into the "game" confirmed Draco's prediction. His friends were good. Scary good. Pansy might have been small, but she could take a hit. All her psycho pent up anger made her hit the Bludgers harder then most men. She wore a grin the entire time. Daphne played as well as Pansy, if not better.
She seemed to easily glide through the air and hit the Bludgers everytime.
Blaise had suprised him by trying out for Keeper. He was extremely good at blocking. He hadn't known Blaise was skilled in that position as well, and it pleased him he wouldn't have to choose between the other chasers on their team, who were magnificent.
Their talents blew Malfoy away, and filled him with the cocky confidence that Slytherin might just beat out Gryffindor this year.
He blew the whistle. "I've made my decision. Pansy's team gets the spots."
Wails of protest echoed in the pit, but Draco glared at the whiney students, shutting them up rather quickly. "I have complete faith that they crush Gryffindor easily, so no one is to doubt me, got it?"
"But they're your friends!" A third year wailed. Draco smirked at the boy, towering over him. "Malfoys only roll with the best."

Hermione yawned. She rested her head on the table, closing her eyes.
"Wake up, honey." Hermione was hit on the back of her head with a thick book. "Ouch!" She yelped, sitting up in her chair.
Pansy smiled sweetly and sat down next to Hermione. "Remind me why I'm helping you again?" The Gryffindor Princess muttered.
Pansy chuckled. "Because you are a hopeless romantic, and a headstrong Gryffindor. Why else?"
Hermione sighed. "I suppose. And I guess I just want Ronald to be happy." Pansy tilted her head. "Do you like him, honey?"
Hermione scowled. "Why do you call me that?"
Pansy stretched out her arms, reminding Hermione much of her cat Crookshanks. "Cuz, that's what Draco calls you." Their eyes met. "He says its the exact color of your eyes."
Pansy smirked at Hermione's growing blush. "Ahem, well, anyways, did you make the team?"
"Mhm! I'm officially one of Slytherin's beaters."
Hermione nodded. "Good. Ron adores Quidditch and it gives you something to talk about for hours on end."
"Yeah. I knew Draco would give me the position. He is such a nice guy once you get to know him." Pansy said thoughtfully, examining the books Hermione had been reading.
"I doubt it." Hermione said bitterly. "He's just a plain git."
"You should really-"
Hermione gave Pansy a stern look. "We aren't here to talk about Malfoy's nonexistent good qualities, alright? Now, I've been researching this whole bond thing. It fascinates me for some unknown reason, and I think I'dlike to know more."
Pansy snorted. Hermione raised a brow, but Pansy just swallowed her laughter and motioned for Hermione to continue.
"Well, in this book, the author states-"
"Hermione, do you really hate Draco as much as you claim?"
Hermione frowned. This was going no where. "Why do you care so much about Draco and my relationship?"
Pansy shrugged, looking at her finger nails.
Hermione's eyes flared. "I know what you guys are doing!" She stated. "Ever since you found out I was pureblood you've been deadset on me transitioning into your little posse. I bet your making this up, just so I'll start to trust you and then-"
Pansy stood up, hands on the desk. "You over analyze everything, Granger!" Chocolate eyes were ablaze with passion.
"You think everyones out to get you just because your now a little pureblood princess! Draco, Blaise and I couldn't just be interested in you as a person, could we?"
"You never were before!" Hermione shot back.
"Maybe this is why. Your so controlling and over dramatic. Can't you just loosen up for once?"
Hermione was standing as well now. "Why don't you just grow up and stop acting like such a tart!"
Pansy gasped. "You didn't!"
"I did!"
Pansy looked downright furious. It seemed her straight black hair was enchanted, and almost lifting off her tense shoulders.
"You know why I came to you in the first place? Huh? It's because you are magically engaged to Draco like I am to Ronald! I thought maybe we could both benefit from this relationship. You'd pick up on the bond, and Ron would see me for who I really am. But no, you have to go and have a tantrum!"
Hermione's honey eyes were wide with shock. "What! Th-thats not true! I'm not-"
"That's the real reason we took an interest in you. Thats why Draco kissed you. And thats why I thought it would be a good idea to tell you of all people."
Hermione was silent.
"Not even Blaise or Draco knows of my engagement! And I told you!" Pansy was now ranting to herself. "Oh, I'm one dumb wiatch!" Hermione would have laughed at this new term, but she was too busy going into panic mode.
"I feel really bad for Draco, you know. He's been following you around like a lost puppy. But you won't give him the time of day, or even notice him! The poor bloke deserves someone better, like-"
But Hermione heard no more. All was black. She had fainted.

END

Once again, thanks to my new lovely beta! :3

I might update another chapter today, it depends on my schedule and how long it takes to get my chapter back. Possibly, tomorrow or later in the week but definitely it will be up next weekend. I am currently in the middle of watching A Very Potter Sequel~ It's very funny and I recommend it to you all. You can find it on Youtube if you haven't already seen it.

review please.

ciao! :P