Draco sighed and sat down opposite to Pansy who seemed lost in thought unlike the blushing bride they expected. Rather she was silent tearful and dull not once trying to get his attention.a Draco felt his mind wander to the time before ball when he knew about how he was betrothed to this girl! The common room fier was warming them himself and Blaise, "Who is it your going to ask to the dance Dragon?"

"Aah got my eyes on this French hottie she would be a stunning catch! What about you?" Blaise smiled, "Already got my catch third year desperate to go for the dance said yes."

"Why third year?" Blaise smiled raising his eyebrow, "Oh... you sure she would?"

"That's step one!" Draco allowed himself a hearty laugh when an owl tapped the window, his father's. "Why would father send me Mertus? A note for me what's so urgent?"

Draco,

Your marriage is fixed with Pansy... her uncle and aunt just left. When you come for your brake a ceremony shall be done but this is a binding contract.

All I can tell you for now is that you have to take her to the dance and ensure few photos are clicked enough to be spotted in the media. Her dress is to be taken care of with yours mother is sending magazines. Please make sure they compliment each other - it needs to be photogenic. Money being transferred to your account!

I am sorry son - but the curse is now on you!

Dad

That was enough for him to know that Narcissa was involved! She always liked that girl... but something bad had happened that's this engagement. He would get the contract soon and read it up. So much his head knew but none was known to his heart, his heart spoke differently. She had taken away his chance to enjoy a chance to love anyone. Any possible chance to have something real was lost that moment! Anger pulsed through him and it just burst onto Pansy - unsuspecting and unaware. "YOU JUST SPOILED EVERYTHING FOR ME YOU SLUT. NO ONE WANTS YOU BUT YOU GOT YOUR FAMILY TO BAG ME INTO A MARRIAGE CONTRACT what were you having as a backup plan selling Rita a few pictures with comprising images?"

"Draco? What are you talking about?" tears filled the poor girl's eyes but there was nothing she could have done since everyone began looking at them her eyes filled with shame as she looked at the floor unable to see anyone. "Your family signed a deal with mine our marriage."

"They fixed our marriage? When? I... I had real idea." Suddenly it felt as if the entire world had just been destroyed around her. Yes she liked him but she was not ready for anything like like this, it was a little difficult for any of them to handle. She silently accepted the terrible fate holding on to what ever grace was left within her before rushing to the safest spot to cry - the corridor by the library. It was small room but set with an excellent set of been bags, a room known to few interested learners - in her case the subject being charms. This was were she worked on her charms or looked through various magazines of fashions across time enjoying the knowledge regarding clothes. This was were she sketched her designs and this was were she felt safest - the space of dreams. Now it had become a spot for crying as all her dreams came crashing in front of her and the guy she did have a crush on just called her a slut! The one word no virgin could ever digest certainly not one as pure as her. "Pansy!"

"What do you want mudblood? Potty and the Weezle got bored and moved on?" the answer she got that day was the first look into the real deal, shiny eyes grew cold and a naturally cold smile replaced those warm ones she had always envied. Had the two warriors not been attached with her by the shoulders and hip men would have swept her off her feet by now and taken her away from the elf rights movement she had been running. Even Draco fancied her so much could be told, this girl was none of the above. She was cold and calculated in her every action almost death like. "Doubt those two would ever but they are not my only male friends but lets not talk about me darling let us talk about you..."

Stretching her hand she lightly moved her hand locking the door and moving a dark blue bean bag in front of the girl positioning them for a conversation. She sat crossing her legs and leaning back with a grace of a queen, "I have a solution to this mess you're in baby but its going to cost you."

"What Granger a membership in your house elf club?" Rolling her eyes the brunet said the least expected, "Ahh luv the name is Ameliya Hermione Riddle short Meya."

"You cant be it would mean your his - his..." The other girl finnished the sentence, "Daughter yes I am and I have a deal you can benifit from, so listen up."

The next half hour Pansy listened quietly as the locked door and the sunlight disappeared from sight! All she registered though was what was said to her by the dark lord's daughter. A plan of clarity and thought out in angles including hers. "That's not your plan whose is it?"

"Ron's elder brother William happens to be the man behind these ideas. The mastermind behind recruiting of magical power. How did you?" Pansy smiled relaxing for the first time, "It was way too detailed for just one person to get it done. That and I had noted you chatting up a few first year in my house since third year. The pattern became clear soon, most were from families involving dark arts and highly disturbed victims. Pressurized by family and pushed away by those around. You knew how to make them comfortable and there were times when I had overheard conversations between them too mentioning a Meya now I know who they were talking about."

"I had you underestimated you are more than just a connective point. I have a quisiton for you though. Can you keep a secret?" Pansy nodded, Meya sighed and continued, "Can you keep a secret from my father?"

"You know that he can - I mean he is a..." Meya nodded, "Would you like to be trained as a spy? You may not hold an important position and obtain direct plans but there some things you can help in. Small things but they could create a huge difference during the war. Are you willing?"

"If there is anything worthy I can do I am willing to do it but what about the marraige contract?" Thinking for a minute she finally spoke, "I would need a little external aid on it but something we will work it out. There are no issues that can not be worked out!"

"You sound extremely confident how?" a smile ripped across her face getting up, "You will know soon enough, Pans but for now tell me what are your preferences in everyday jwellery like?"

"Aah chains and pendent happen to be my favorites why?" Meya nodded, "Can you do double chains?"

"Ofcourse why?" thinking for a minute she took a deep breath, "All right then your nana would send you one via owl tomorrow wear it all times. Keep it connected to your skin you eill feel the heat and you will know that we are contacting you. There is somethings uou will have to learn to communicate but that will be covered in two three sitings."

"Who with there are others?" Meya sighed before answering, "You have the jwellery on you nobody can ever see inti your mind at least not what you have placed in a box."

"Sorry?" Pansy looked suprised, "Pansy we have little time in hand and a few soldiers need to get trained properly because you and few others are going to be on the front line. It is bad yes but we can handle everything but we will be part of a bigger team. Someone to help us through every single tough step. Its tough but we kids need to stick together."

"I will take your word for it then Gr- I mean Riddle." Rolling her eyes Meya stretched out her hand, "Meya call me Meya."

The start of a beautiful friendship and one she missed when Draco called out, "Pans which one do you want for the wedding?"

"I - I dont know it was always Meya who planned the food you remember that first lunch we had with her?" Harry sighed, "Yes she had made a zingy salad, chicken broth with French salad and white pasta too. Desert she gave..."

"Hot chocolate!" Draco smiled before finally looking at his fiancée with a sense of frustration, "You miss her too dont you?"

"More than anything in the world she knew how to put up the perfect party music, food and entertainment everything she was mind blowing seasonal, fresh and fitting the groups." Pansy continued to open up for the first time in their long engagement finally showing the emotion which was hidden away, "Do you love her?"

"Yes I do love her Draco but not the way you think it was something wonderful there but no romance. No lust certainly and not even a little friction here ir there. What we did have though was trust and a sense of belonging were I could open up about everything even if things were too tough. I wanted her to be there as the brides maid so that she could help plan everything out. She always told me she will be there to help me out during my wedding despite everything... every time I helped her. She spoke of nights when it became complicated about simple things like clothes or menues. Entertaining people or even simple games that made everything facinateing once we spoke about hair styles for nearly two hours."

"Two hours? Really you spoke for nearly two hours just about hair dos when?" She sighed, "Aah that was before her dad came out. That morning after meeting her father she came to us, Lavender, Parvathi, Padhma and I we had a private brakefast and she cried all night to reduce the pain. She changed herself that summer played it out like a glove both sides... but things got so complicated. It was terrible!"

"Meya was more than my comander she was a special friend who had always known how to mannage every mess. We admired her from afar but once we got close we just loved her but not in the romantic sense. Just like you!" Dracos smile spread for the firdt time as he continued talking, "Brakefast was always a fuss a big one. She loved being fed something very personal but when it was just us she could be a baby. Always fussy Blaise once took her lunch up to her and fed her. It became a routine thing dinner, lunch, brakefast sometimes even tea. Remember the first orientation lunch she made us?"

"Boiled corn chopped, then there was garlic bread, a mixed salad of some sort, spiggetie with meat balls and rosted potatos. There was also some chopped fruits too. All that for who was it Severnus, the headmaster, her and yeah Blaise, Meya and us."

"Yeah, she was suppose to work on our menus too!" Draco laughed for the first time around her aloud and free, "Was there any work to be done by you?"

"Look pretty!" that was the first time he looked at his fiancée for what she was rather changed to from the girl who plasters make up to a girl who was genuinely beautiful not stunning but beautiful. Simple unlike his mother, he had grown to like her. Did she was the big quistion they were to be married the next year!

Year - seriously? They were looking into meues and dresses from now on. Why? To show interest and not have the contact shoved against their noses again. Draco felt even more lost than before upon the situation but said nothing. "Can we go? I dont like any of them."

"Yeah! Umm I had plans with Ginny today too. The reason I came was because Ron wanted the birthday cake ordered for Remus." Drwco nodded, "Have you?"

"Yeah Pansy I have been meaning to apologise to you. I had behaved -" the reaction was least expected, "You acted based on information which was partially true. I never set my family on you never would."

"Thats a lesson I need to learn!" when they went over she noticed something highly odd, "Draco that blue bird do you think you have seen it before? It is not a local."

"Must be a bird thats lost its way come on." with that they walked away to the nearest floo spot allowing them to go back to Diagon Ally where Ginny had agreed to meet them, "Tom hi has Ginny come over as yet?"

At Pansys quistion the bar tender looked for a moment before answering, "Aah miss she had left you a note, she said she will meet you soon."

Pansy,

You were right that seem bad we are looking into it. Can't put it on paper or afford showers of owls. Meeting in our place seven P.M sharp. Bring Draco and everyone else. Mums' tackling dinner.

Pass word personally!

Ginny

Pansy folded the note and ordered a strong drink, Draco raised his eyebrow, "Pansy its in the middle of the afternoon. Your drinking?"

"We need to go around the gang inform dinner's at seven there." Draco chose to be silent knowing that such situations happened to be a messed up. Their first stop was professor or Ancient Runes whose reaction was, "Terrible simply terrible I shall be there magic of this kind would need rune support. Allow me to set things in order and I am all for the cause."

So said the case with Kingsley though his angle was different, "This would cause a big problem for us we can't spare any aurors right now nor can we ignore this she is his daughter but she is also a war hero I will have to make it there. Rita would have a field day with this, we need to keep it hushed up."

"Ginny said the same that is why we came personally. We wanted to ensure nobody knows this... please be there at seven." Once everything was done that was when finally, Draco asked the big question. "What did Ginny mean right that day?"

"I had a hunch Meya was missing for far too long before we found her in an obvious spot. There was something off about the whole thing I could not put my finger on it till few weeks ago during that fashion show. Those models were not human but spelled mana- life size dolls dressed up to show. They had been operated via a spell!" Draco nodded understanding, "One looked a lot like Meya except for the hair. That's when I realized maybe there is spell work involved!"

"I think I can understand now, if Meya was dolled up like you said then there was something or someone helping out did they not?"

"Why don't we visit her healer they will be having answers they were testing her for months!" Draco nodded, "Pansy before that we are going to need some truth potions."

"I arranged it for this entire set up. I had to work through challenge after challenge to ensure safety. Few things are always been at hand no matter what... come on let's go. Wormtail will meet us there!" Draco whipped around surprised, "Why Wormtail?"

"He was free and Severus would have killed him before anyone else could even take up one question!" Draco nodded he was certainly surprised at how insightful she was but more that he had never noticed this fact. "So what was it like..."

"What was what like?" Pansy whipped around, "We have around half an hour to kill we can't kidnap healers without help or a plan. So tell me what was it like to be her female confident?"

"The best feeling in the world, nobody accepted me not my family, I had no real friends my girlie gang were around me only because of the family name and money. Same reasons I was engaged to you... She was my first real friend one who had shared everything with me fashion tips to her nightmares."

"Really?" Pansy smiled, "We had several hot coffees at nights. We had discussed how you love her too several times she offered to move away so that I get more space in your life."

Suddenly in a dark room the very conversation appeared, except it was viewed into a mirror with a lady with long thick hair watching it. She was dressed in "She does sound more amazing than I expected!"