Sorry it took sooo long to update, I had alot of places to be these past weeks and then I went to my brother's USMC graduation in Paris Island and thats a ten hour drive from where I live ;_; Then I have even more work now that im home that I have to get done because I've been running around the country doing this and that, and neglecting my work, which I need done by Monday. No sleep for me... :rants:

Heres the next chappy! Hope you all like~

MANY THANKS to my 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: frostykitten and harrypotteranddraco

Thankies, guys! So, here we go~

Chapter Eight

Best friends Can Heavy a Burden

"Oh, yes. A lovely shade of crimson, wouldn't you say, Cat?" Bellatrix murmured, dark eyes set on the corset she was inspecting. Catrina nodded, paying little attention to her friend.

Narcissa sat watching the two from a chair by the fire place. The three were currently staying at Catrina's newly furnished mansion. It was a great relief for Narcissa, since her own home was being overrun with Death Eaters.

She felt like the third wheel, what with Bellatrix and Catrina being the best of friends. But it had always been like this, even when they were girls.

"B-but, Belly, I want to go t-too!" Narcissa whined, tugging on her older sister's robes. Bellatrix frowned down at the small blond. "You aren't nearly old enough, Cissy."

"B-but-"

"Hey, kiddo, don't cry." A voice chirped. Sniffling, Narcissa turned to see Catrina Gray grinning down at her. The blond's eyes widened. "Cat?"

Catrina ruffled Narcissa's hair, crouching down to face the seven year old. "You'll join us in four years, okay? When you come to Hogwarts, we will be the unstoppable Slytherin trio."

Narcissa listened to Cat's words, almost transfixed. "But, if you wanna be a good Slytherin, you can't cry, can you? Slytherins never cry!"

Narcissa sniffled, rubbing at her red eyes. "But-"

"I'll let it pass this time, Cissy." Catrina winked. "But you have to promise me that you wont ever cry, kay?" The brunette lifted out her pinky towards the younger witch, a wicked grin on her face.

"I'll be the best Slytherin ever, Cat! Just like you and Belly and we will all be the best together!" Narcissa wailed, tackling Catrina.

Catrina laughed, and managed to get the small blond one off of her. Bellatrix was smiling softly at the scene, one of the few times she would her entire life.

"Lets go, Cat. My little brat of a sister must have some studying to be attending to if she wants to be the best." A smirk played on Bellatrix's dark lips. Catrina returned the smirk, before winking at Narcissa.

Narcissa watched them go, laughing with each other. The best of friends since birth. Narcissa wanted to be Catrina's best friend more then anything.

Bellatrix looked over her shoulder at her sister.

Narcissa frowned.

"Cissy, why don't you come over here and help your tasteless sister pick out a corset?" Catrina whined from across the cozy room. Narcissa's blue eyes looked over lazily at the two witches. They sat comfortably on the couch, corset laid all about them.

It was that time of the year when Bellatrix went through the ones she'd keep.

"You know she couldn't bear to part with one." Narcissa yawned.

Cat grinned. "Yes, but you know she has to pick special ones for when she sees the Dark Lord."

This was another thing that greatly disturbed Narcissa. Her sister and Catrina had a sick obsession with Lord Voldemort.

She'd always assumed it was the upbringing. Her family always held strong beliefs about muggles and mudbloods, but their soft spoken, yet very firm mother had made sure it wasn't an obsession, but merely an opinion.

Narcissa was especially close to her mother, along with Andromeda. Bellatrix followed their father around like a lost puppy, sneaking into private meetings whenever the horrid man was home. Her sister acted more like a young boy then a blossoming girl. The only thing they could really connect with each other was about Catrina.

Catrina's parents, Antoinette Gray and Edward Gray were good friends with her parents. Coincidentally, Bellatrix and Catrina were born mere hours from each other, so it was expected for them to be the best of friends.

Their parents set up play dates, and sleepovers. When the girls were only two, Andromeda was born. She was always a quiet girl, and the twosome paid no attention to her plainness. When they were four, Narcissa was born. Her blond hair fascinated them, and they lugged the baby around on many toddler adventures.

Around the time to start Hogwarts, Catrina's parents had been sent to Azkaban for crimes against muggles or something of that nature. Narcissa hadn't a clue what home-life was like for Catrina, but the girl seemed not a tad bit upset over losing both parents.

This was also the same time Bellatrix became interested in the Dark Arts. Their father began to treat Bellatrix like the only son, by taking her on business trips and into meetings with his associates. Narcissa's once beloved sister began to get a little twisted, whilst Narcissa was protected by their fretful mother.

The family was a little disappointed when the courts awarded the custody of Catrina to the LeStrange's. This did, though, secure the bond between Gray, LeStrange, and Black. Narcissa believed that Catrina had set up the marriage between Bellatrix and Rodolphus.

The LeStranges also had interest in the Dark Arts, and ties with Voldemort, so it makes sense that after all the homes Catrina knew worshipped and praised Voldemort, she would as well. This just tore her away from Narcissa and closer to the twisted Bellatrix and her "Lord".

The only squabble Narcissa remembered between the two, was about a certain male...

"But, Belly, I really do love him." Narcissa stopped in her tracks, pressing to the wall. Her sister and Cat were taking a stroll through the castle, as usual.

"Cat, he's an idiot. Plus, he's Cissy's age! How scandalously dumb of you."

Catrina sighed, grabbing Bellatrix's arms and swaying to imaginary music. "Oh, but he's so sweet. And kind. And he has intriguing opinions, as well as his family is held in high regard with the Lord."

Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "Cat, I will not forgive you if you marry him!" She unlinked their arms and scowled at her best friend. Catrina frowned.

"Why, do you like him?"

"Absolutely not!" Bellatrix gasped. Catrina chuckled. "Okay then, whats the problem?"

Bellatrix crossed her arms, and looked away. "Nevermind." Narcissa watched as her stubborn elder sister fled the scene, leaving Catrina all alone.

"What is it with your family, nosy and stubborn?" Catrina said lightly, smirking back at Narcissa over her shoulder. Narcissa blushed. "I- I didn't mean to spy, but I was just-"

"Curious?" Catrina laughed, turning to face the blond. "I don't blame you. Your sister and I rarely fight."

"What were you fight-"

"Bryson Maeve. The love of my tragic life. Bellatrix is a little jealous." And before Narcissa could reply, Catrina had left almost as quickly as Bellatrix.

Andromeda was disowned soon after this, for being with a muggle man, and Narcissa never saw her again.

Bellatrix married right out of Hogwarts, as well as became a Death Eater with Catrina. When Bryson and Narcissa had graduated as well, Bryson proposed to Catrina, and Narcissa married her fiance, Lucius.

They were, much like her own son and Catrina's daughter, betrothed at birth. But with far less complications and much more love.

Narcissa was always head over heels, and she knew her Lucius would always return the feelings. It was most convenient, since the Malfoys weren't too in with the Dark Lord as was Narcissa, and were extremely wealthy and influential. But the neutrality changed. When she married Lucius, her father and Bellatrix had their fangs sunk into him by the time she was pregnant with Draco. They were feeding him thoughts, and soon he was a Death Eater.

It broke her heart.

A few days before Draco was born, their family was given the unfortunate news of the death of the Maeves. Bellatrix went even more mad with grief, but she never cried. Her parents were fairly upset, as were the other members of her faimly for a while.

Even the birth of Draco didn't manage to cheer them up completely. But they got over it, and didn't cry. Slytherins never cried.

Her husband told her that Voldemort was extremely upset with this loss. The Maeves were probably the most influential wizarding family out there. They had bonds with many, Gray, Black, LeStrange, Maeve, Potter, Weasley and others. Bryson had family that ranked high in the Ministry and Catrina was especially bred by her bloodlines to be the perfect Death Eater. She was the most loyal, and extremely clever and dedicated.

Some said that the Dark Lord even loved her somewhat, in a warped kind of way, since she was a child. Catrina's daughter was foretold to bring Voldemort to power. Even the greatest would fall to their knees.

A witch who would posses pure and tainted magick equally, and know how to use it. A witch who had influence.

"There's a letter from Draco." Bryson stated, entering the room in a hurry. Narcissa jumped out of her chair, and made her way to the fellow blond. "What does it say?" She snatched the letter away, possibly scratching the man with her long nails in the process.

Dear Mum,

The pig squealed, and the princess knows. She decided to take a nap then and there.

~Draco.

Narcissa's eye twitched in annoyance. The pleasant idea of her strangling the loud, obnoxious, Parkinson girl to her death came to mind.

"What is it, Cissy?" Bellatrix whined, grabbing the letter out of her sister's hands. Bryson whispered the message in Catrina's ears as Bellatrix read it.

Narcissa bit down on her lip, thinking.

Draco shouldn't have told his best friend. Best friends can only make the burden heavier, even with pure intentions.

Honey eyes met with jade. Hermione groaned, sitting up from a strange bed. She ran a hand through her hair and yawned. "Harry? What am I doing here?"

Harry frowned and tilted his head to the side, motioning towards someone. Pansy smiled apologetically at the girl and gave a shy wave. Hermione furrowed her brow. "Whaa..?"

Then it hit her. "Oh." Pansy shook her head wildly behind Harry's back, indicating Hermione kept quiet. Hermione looked straight at Pansy and pouted, but eventually nodded in agreement.

Harry watched her amusedly. "Why were you in the library with Pansy?" He asked, watching her carefully.

"I was-"

"She was helping me study. You know, for Potions n stuff." Hermione frowned, but said nothing about Pansy's statement.

There was an awkward silence between the three before Ron entered the Hospital wing, munching on some red vines. Pansy gave Hermione a pleading look.

"Hey, look who's up." Ron said, smiling brightly at Hermione.

"Hey, look who's eating. But thats not much of a surprise." Hermione countered, smirking slightly. Pansy coughed, before excusing herself from the room.

Ron gave Pansy a weird look, before coming to sit on the side of Hermione's bed. "I suppose I'd faint too, after spending some time with that snooty princess." Hermione scowled at him.

"Ron, that's not..." But she gave up on it. She didn't see how the two of them could ever work out, Pansy and Ron were from two completely different wizarding families. House wise and blood-wise. As were her and Draco.

It was impossible. Romeo and Juliet tried it out, and it didn't work so well for them, now did it?

The witch was still shocked at Pansy's little bit of information. How could she be engaged to the ferret, of all people! He was a symbol of everything she loathed! An arrogant, self-centered, spoiled, whin-

"Earth to 'Mione!" Harry called, waving his hand in front of her face. Hermione gave a weak smile. "Sorry, I've got alot on my mind, lately."

Ron snorted. "When don't you?" Hermione glared at him, then turned her attention to her more polite best friend.

"I think I fainted because I've been overworking myself, as usual. No need to worry, I'll try to relax." Harry's eyes dug into hers, speculating this statement, before nodding his approval.

"You get some rest, alright?" Ron sighed, ruffling Hermione's hair. Hermione smiled reassuringly and watched as her two best friends left.

She was now free to be alone with her thoughts.

She'd decided it would be best not to inform her friends of this apparent engagement to the ferret. It would be best if they were not involved. She preferred situations ended without bloody resolutions.

Plus, if they did get involved, they'd be too close to Voldemort. This dawned on Hermione. This situation was too close to Harry. She had to distance it from him.

Yes, friends would heavy the burden.

"Draco, this is Pansy." Pansy peaked shyly at Draco from behind her mother's robes. Draco stared at her unemotionally, gray eyes looking right through her. Pansy flinched and hid herself.

She heard little footsteps come towards her, and her mother pushed her forward.

Cowering, Pansy looked at Draco, who looked calm, collected, and cruel.

"This is a girl." Draco said, looking back at his mother. "I don't wanna be friends with a girl." Pansy then began to cry, loudly and annoyingly. Draco looked back at her in suprise.

He tugged on one of her dark braids. "Idiot. Slytherins don't cry, ever."

"Draco, I'm sorry." Pansy whispered, nudging her friend. He leaned on the castle wall, in the shadows near the hospital wing. She couldn't see his eyes. She desperately needed to see those eyes, forgiving her.

"Pansy." He ground out. "This could cost me everything." Pansy hung her head low.

"I know...It's just she got me so mad and-"

He reached out and hugged her. "Why didn't you tell me about you and Weasley, Pansy?" Her dark eyes closed, placing a hand on his chest, and distancing herself from him, then looked back up with her eyes watering. "Its been kept a secret so long, I thought it didnt matter. When you told me about Hermione, I was going to tell you, but I didn't want-"

"Shut up. Your an idiot."

Pansy laughed and nodded her agreement. "Your right."

Draco looked up at her, a smirk on his lips. She found his eyes. Stormy gray, as always.

"From now on, we are going to help each other out, okay?" Draco said confidently. "With each other's help, we can do anything we want to."

Pansy's eyes widened. "But, Draco, you have no time to help me, you have to-"

Draco tugged a piece of her hair, like he always would when they were little, signalling for her to shut up.

Tears leaked from Pansy's eyes, and she angrily brushed them away.

"Pansy, I think it would be okay if you cried, but as long as its okay that we help each other."

Pansy looked up at him warily, still rubbing furiously at her leaking eyes.

"Because, I think sometimes, best friends need each other to lessen the burden."

END

WOOT! I FINISHED! hehehe you guys better review, cuz I sacrificed alot of my work I need to get done to write this~

review please.

ciao! :P