I was starting to worry, what if Granger hadn't been able to properly fix it? I paced back and forth. Weasley was still unconscious, his mouth was open and his shirt was somewhere hidden. I could kick him. He was tall so he took up a lot of space in this tiny tent. Not to mention that he smelt bad. Well hell... I probably stunk too. My hair was due for a Washing that much was for sure. I went to find Granger. She wore the pants in the team so she was going to find me a hot spring. She was outside with Harry, stuffing her face with a banana.

"Granger," she looked up at me, "I stink. Where are we supposed to bathe?" She finished off her banana.

"I was just about to go, I'll show you on my way." She gathered her clothes and led me through the woods and down a narrow path. Hidden in the brush was a hot spring, steaming and begging to be lounged in. I stripped readily, never one to be shy around other women, and stepped into the pool. She did the same and leaned into a rock on the other side of the pool. There was an awkward silence until she dipped under water, drenching his curls. Then she pulled out the holy substance. Shampoo. I watched her lather her hair in envy, but I wouldn't break. I used the meager bar of soap from my bag and began cleaning my body. She rinsed the shampoo and went in the bag again. No...if she had it I was crack. I glared at the bag, daring it to give her the one thing I couldn't live without. Then there it was...conditioner. She smirked at me before going to work. I fidgeted before trying to turn on my Slytherin charm.

"Granger-,"

"Nope."

"C'mon!" I insisted, "just share the damned hair products." She thought about it before smiling devilishly.

"I don't think I will." She said calmly.

I attacked her. There was no shame in my game. I launched myself at her going for the shampoo. It would be mine. She shrieked and went under water, taking the conditioner with her. There was a ton of shrieking and cursing and screaming until I caught her between a rock and a ledge.

"Please just give me the damned conditioner!" I screamed. She grinned again and sunk underwater. My hands slid around when I tried to grab hold of her slippery form she popped up again and waved the conditioner in front of my face.

"Frisky aren't you Parkinson?" She was baiting me and I didn't care. With one hate filled lunge I caught her. I wrapped my legs around her narrow waist and smirked down at her.

"Caught you,"

She shrugged, "I guess you did. Now get off of me before those perverts get any ideas." I turned to see Draco and Weasley nearly drooling from the bushes. I pushed off of her, snatching the conditioner as I went, and snorted.

"Perverts," Granger packed up shop just as I was moisturizing. Now that I caught her she shared her limitless bounty with me freely.

"Wait for me Granger, I can't find my way out of here alone." She rolled her eyes, but waited nonetheless. Since she let me use her stuff I taught her a wandless drying charm. I found Weasel next to Blaise enthusing loudly about Quidditch. Draco looked bored, but listened to Potter's rambling all the same. What was the world coming to? Loony Luna and Weaslette were off hunting for berries so for now we were at a stand still. Granger was going on about making it to the giant spiders by midnight if we really pushed. I rolled my eyes. The girl had no chill mode.

"Granger it's nearly midday, let everyone have a little fun, then tomorrow you can go all drill sergeant." She glared at me but agreed. She was gone before I could say another word. Draco looked up as she walked by.

"Here to claim for boring friend?" He asked. She rolled her eyes.

"I was actually here to confront you on peeping," she said coolly. He grinned slyly at her and I joined her.

"Don't forget Weasley," I said, my arms crossed over my front.

"Oh I have something for him," she assured me. I stood beside her, both of us were glaring bullets.

"Oh come now Hermione," her name sounded perfect on his tongue. I quickly struck that out, "we heard screaming and we came to help."

"Like gentlemen," Weasley added. Granger nodded as if it all made sense now.

"I think some embarrassment is in order." She decided. Before she could say another word Draco had tackled her. She groaned beneath him. Weasley and Potter were up in seconds, yanking my friend off of the girl. He struggled against them.

"Keep your mudblood mouth shut," he growled. She smiled up at him.

"I don't think I will." She stood and brushed off the dust.

"If you don't I will magic that pretty little mouth of yours shut." He growled. She shrugged and stood on a log.

"Can everyone hear me alright?" She asked, she delighted in watching him squirm.

His expression went from rage to fury to uncontrollable rage to desperation in a nanosecond.

"Hermione PLEASE! I'll do whatever you want!" She looked at me.

"Pansy?" I couldn't stand seeing him look so terrified. He was my best friend and long time crush. I needed him to be okay.

"Let's give him a chance," I said. The relief that flooded his icy grey eyes struck me. My head swam with the pain that struck me every time I looked into them. I could never have him. He told me that plain as day. He would never be mine! I didn't listen to the verdict, I just moped back to my tent with every intention to cry myself into oblivion. I silenced the tent just as Weasley came in, concern in his pale blue eyes.

"What's the matter?" I shook my head.

"Get out Weasley," he stepped closer, "I mean it!" My voice held no venom, no base. I sounded lost even to myself. When his arms went around me I crumbled to pieces.

"Tell me the truth Pansy. I won't repeat it." He assured me, "you looked so hurt out there. I'm just trying to help." He insisted again.

"I'm in love with Draco," I sobbed, his hold tightened around me, "I have been since the hat hit his head and called him a Slytherin. And he will never love me back."

"Shh.." He rubbed my back through all of the ugly crying and didn't recoil when I accidentally snotted on his shirt. When my sobs turned to whimpers he let me go and dug in his bag for something.

"Eat up," he offered. He had a bar of honey dukes' chocolate in his hand, "I got it for Hermione... see I know what it's like to be in love with someone who won't love you back. It's rotten I admit, but they mean enough to you you stick by them."

"Why?" I asked, my mouth was full of chocolate, but Weasley didn't care.

"Because you know how much it will hurt them to see you go. And when you love someone you can't bare to hurt them...no matter how much they hurt you." He planted a small kiss in my forehead before leaving the tent. Bloody Gryffindors and their big hearts.

I'd fallen asleep in my chocolate wrapper. The only thing that woke me up was a row between two unidentifiable males.

"...you will stay away from her. She's mine!" The first yelled. The second one scoffed at that.

"So she's property to you? I'm not trying to marry the damn girl I'm just trying to be her friend! Maybe undo some of the damage you've caused!" There was silence and then a great impact. I raced out of my tent toward the two fighting boys. Draco had attacked Weasley first, but when it came to fists, Weasley bested Draco. I shot forward, trying to break up the struggling men. Granger was with me, although she went a more barbaric path. She yanked Weasley's hair and sent a foot into Draco's chest. I took the opening and shoved Weasley back. He hit his butt with a thud and she dragged Draco backwards.

"If you're going to start a fight be able to fight," Weasley taunted. Draco nearly took Hermione's arm off going after Ronald and this time it didn't go in his favor. With a well placed punch Ron hit his back and it seemed as if his rage consumed him. Blaise and Potter pulled him back this time and Hermione followed him, placing both of her palms on his chest.

"Calm down," she said soothingly. He took one look at her and his anger melted. He released the tension in his muscles and with one last hateful look he swept off. I helped Ron up -it felt so right calling him Ron I couldn't quite go back to Weasley yet- and helped him toward our tent. I dabbed at the cuts and scrapes on his arms using a few of our bandages.

"How do you prissy women stand it?" He asked finally, "being claimed as property and never as people. Id never claim Hermione like that. I love her but she isn't mine. It's like he's objectifying you." I shrugged.

"You must know the teachings Ronald. You are a pure blood. In the wizarding world a woman is merely an accessory. For instance... I am like a perfect porcelain doll for one reason. To look good. When my mum picks a husband for me he'll inspect my dowry, he'll want to know how I run my house, he'll criticize every inch of me and maybe if I'm worthy he'll take me as his bride. I'm already too skinny. I'm not meant to bear too many children and definitely not boys. That's why Hermione is so perfect. That's why Draco wants her. He can look past her blood status because she will bring him an heir. That's why he says he can't love me."

"And what if they hate you for who you are but love how you are."

"Then you change," I told him simply. Just how I did for Draco.

"I could never ask a woman to change for me," he said absently, "and if I only had girls...I'd love them all senseless. I'd treat them like the princesses we were. I can't imagine the need for a dowry, because I'd marry for love. No amount of money will change that." He flinched when I applied too much salve.

"It sounds ideal," I admitted wistfully, "marrying for love and all of that. Ideal, but unrealistic. If I want to continue living the life I've grown accustomed too then I will tell him I do in the summer."

"Who?" He asked quietly.

"Blaise," I answered.

"He's not so bad," He admitted.

"But I don't love him. He's fun, but he's not for me." We were quiet a little longer and I sat beside him with a heavy sigh.

"What if he calls off the marriage?"

"Then I'm free until they find me a new suitor."

"And if you marry before then?"

I shrugged. He stood and went for the door. I was on his heels fully prepared to stop him from being an idiot. He barged in Grangers tent to see Draco stuff something behind his back.

"Don't you know how to knock, Weasley?" He passed something to Granger who stuffed it in a bag. She sat in front of the bag like a defender.

"There's no door," he said simply, "what happens if a girl gets married without permission?"

"Before or after her groom ditches her?"

"After."

"It's like a get out of jail free card. Most pure blood parents think they know what's best for their daughters. If her husband to be cancels on her the parents believe her to be in a state of emotional distress so they can marry whoever. Even Muggles." Ronald was on to something. I squeezed his bicep. Now all I had to do was make Draco fall in love with me. I squealed in delight.

"But how are you going to get Blaise to cut off the marriage? You're running the risk of social exile. He'd never run his family name through the mud like that, friend or no friend."

"What if he fell in love?" Hermione asked.

"He is a bit emotional," Draco allowed, "but Pansy you're suggesting something crazy and selfish. You want him to risk being black balled throughout English High Society just so you can 'fall in love.'" I hung my head, maybe it hadn't been a great idea, but the idea of marrying for love had left me feeling so light...

"Malfoy do your parents love each other?" Granger asked. He answered easily as if the truth didn't bother him at all.

"No."

"Now look at yourself. Do you want your Godchild to be like that?"

"Don't go talking like you know me," he snarled, but I cut in before he could get too angry.

"She's right," I said boldly, "you wouldn't know love if it bit you on your arse." Draco looked to Weasley.

"And your mum...isn't she subservient to your father?" He seemed a tad unsure now.

"No. My mum bends to his will out of love and he is just as helpless against her as she is against him."

"And you Granger, how do the Muggles do it?"

"My mum gets whatever she wants," she said matter of factly, "Pansy is your best girl friend...isn't she?"

"Of course."

"And you love her, don't you?" Ron pressed.

"I...I guess so."

"So help me help her...please." There was a tense silence.

"And if they find out that I was apart of this...I could be exiled too."

"You'll always have us," I tried, "I'll always love you." I admitted softly. There was more heavy silence and then finally he smiled at me.

"And I'll always love you." The words made my stomach twist into little bite sized knots. Weasley and Granger started planning. They would trick Ginny into meeting him, they would alter the lighting, strike up the band...anything it took for him to love her. Our trip home was postponed, why wouldn't it be when my happiness was a kiss away. All while they planned I planned how to get Draco to love me. He'd gone to find Potter at Grangers request. She was changing him too quickly for my liking. Little things like him using please or doing her small favors. It was little, but it was unflinchingly significant. He returned with Potter in tow, this time he added to the conversation. They were both chatting easily about how bossy Granger was.

"You say that she's bossy, but I think you just want to be her friend." Luna said dreamily. Granger cocked an eyebrow at this.

"Is that so Luna?" She crossed her fingers at the bases, "do go on."

"He's changed marginally to better suit you. It's what purebreds do. They shift to fit the person they want to impress." She sat beside me, "Pansy has done it many times."

"Don't address me like you know me," I snapped.

"I don't know you, but I know your kind. If we're to make that special someone love you then we need to know who you really are."

I shifted in severe discomfort, all eyes were on me. I tried to ignore the weight of his quick silver eyes, but in the end they proved to be too heavy.

"She'll tell us if she wants to." Granger said calmly, "and if she doesn't want to then that's her business."

"Always the defender," Draco said with frustration, "speak Pansy. What have you been hiding from me all of these years?"

I gaped at him and he snapped again, "speak!"

"I...I..."

"Back off Malfoy," Weasley said dangerously, "she doesn't owe you anything."

"Oh doesn't she? I'm risking my last name and consequently my family to protect a scrawny. insecure, multi personality bint!"

"Malfoy!" Granger screamed, "stop being a prat! Everyone does it, they bend themselves to better serve the people they are around out of love for the other person."

"And you. Have you changed yourself for them?"

"I did once..." She admitted, "but I realized that I wasn't put on this earth to please either of them. That's why I became who I wanted to be."

"So you're telling me that it's perfectly okay to pretend since you were 12?" He snarled. My heart raced with anticipation. Loony just had to open her stupid mouth. I watched her stand in the same defensive position. He was a head and shoulders taller than her making it easy to glower down at her. She glared furiously up at him their tempers were an even match.

"I'm telling you to let it go. You're bloody intimidating! I can't blame her! If I grew up with you I might be insecure too. You're condescending, you're rude, and you're heartless. I can love myself so fully because I know I will always have Ron and Harry backing me up. The poor girl doesn't have that. You're the reason she lied Malfoy, so get your bloody ducks in a row and stop being such a bloody git!" She screamed. He glared down at me next.

"Is it true?"

I faltered again. His gaze seemed to crush me.

"For heavens sake Parkinson. Speak!" He yelled. I nodded weakly.

"It's true." He stared at me as if I'd grown another head before he stormed out of the tent.

"He's such a git," Granger snapped. She knelt in front of me, "are you okay." I nodded again, ignoring the traitor tears running along my face.

"You like him don't you?" Again I nodded, before burying my face in her chest. She responded as I knew she would and wrapped her arms around me.

"I'm going to really lay into him," she snarled. She wiped my tears and passed me to Weasley. She stormed after him like a war Goddess and Ron barely had the presence of mind to follow her, dragging me behind her.

"This could end really badly. They both have tempers. I'd be surprised if they both came back." We could hear Hermione shouting from somewhere in the woods. She was beside herself with rage, screaming and ranting on my behalf. I barely had time to react.

"Sectumsempra!"

"Protego!" A barrier formed in front of the girl causing Draco's curse to bounce back. She stared at him in shock.

"You pathetic animal!" She shoved him and came back with blood on her hands. He grimaced, then his legs gave out and he hit his knees. I wanted to run to him, seeing him hurt tore at me like little knives, but Weasley held me back. After a few moments of glaring her expression softened and she tore his ripped shirt away.

"I really should leave you to die." She muttered as his breathing grew shallow, "but I'm not hateful like you are." She placed her hands on his slashed chest and focused. I could feel the healing magic bud in her hands. He watched her in astonishment as she pulled her bloody hands from his now healed chest.

"Better?" He nodded slowly.

"I'm sorry,"

She stood up and kicked him into the pond, "I'm not. And if you ever try to curse me again I'm going to castrate you." She stormed off with a flick of her hair.

"Oh, thanks Pansy," she called as she headed back up the hill.

The next chapter should still be in Pansy's point of view. Review please. I'll be updating Saving the Weasleys by the end of the day hopefully.