A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own HP, or its characters. Evelyn is all mine, and I wont give her up!

Evie POV

Saturday morning came lumbering through my life like a freight train, almost knocking me clean on my ass, and giving me nothing but a throbbing headache. Pansy was animated, to say the least, and, bless her, she wanted so badly for me to join in on the buzz, but I just couldn't. I couldn't find it in me to be excited about tonight, and I could see that it was wearing her down. I didn't want to be a moody Margaret, so I faked as best I could, ooh-ing and ahh-ing where necessary, but beyond that, I really just didn't care.

Draco and Blaise had went from touching me a few times a day; casual brushes of the arm or playing with my fingers during class - to not touching me at all. It was like they were trying to force themselves to go cold turkey, and I wasn't having any of it. As the hours ticked by, I was becoming more and more annoyed at the fact that I was being denied perfectly useable sleeping time, to spend mingling with people I really didn't know, and who I could tell, right off the bat, didn't like me. Needless to say, it was awkward as shit, and I wouldn't be doing it again any time soon.

Because it was the weekend, we were given free reign over how we spent our time.

I wanted to go to the library and check out the new stock of books that had been scheduled to be delivered three days ago, whereas Pans wanted us to go and get facials in Diagon Alley, and because she was a master manipulator, who got everything she wanted because she could, I found myself sitting in a surprising comfy swivel chair, at quarter to midday, my finger and toe nails being buffed and readied, for the French tip manicure and pedicure I was going to be on the receiving end of.

"Isn't this perfect?," Pansy's relaxed croon echoed through the salon, and I sighed, deeply, trying to find it in me to just relax and enjoy the pampering session and stop focusing on the couple of dunderheads that I was living with back at the castle. I sighed, once more, before replying, "Yeah."

Pansy scoffed, and asked, her tone incredulous, "Draco and Blaise still being idiots?"

"As usual."

She tsked, sharply, and said, turning her head towards me, her eyes shining with annoyance, "Are they still doing the 'no-touchy' thing?"

I pouted, heavily, and said, petulantly, "Clearly."

She shrugged, casually, "How about you just wow them at the Ball tomorrow? Then they'll be falling over themselves to get to you."

I frowned, deeply, and she clarified, "Its what I would do."

"Of course it is."

She simply grinned and placed the circular cucumber slices back over her eyes, and I did the same. Within the hour, Pansy and I had matching French tipped nails, and our hair was being dried, magically, our witch-hairdressers using their wands as dryers, combing through our tendrils at a slow, steady and almost rhythmic pace. Pansy asked, innocently, "Do you want to get waxed?"

Turning to face her, I said, "I haven't had one before."

She clasped her hands together, and said, "Yay! You're a waxing-virgin?"

Pursing my lips at the crude statement, I replied, "I.. Guess?"

"Alright, well here's the plan. Our nails are done, our hair is almost finished, facials, followed by a half hour waxing session, an organic skin peel and a massaging session with Marissa, my personal masseuse. How does that sound?"

"A little on the expensive side.."

She laughed, daintily, "Draco's paying for us both anyway."

"Oh," I said, shocked at the gesture, "He.. He does this often?"

She shrugged, offhandedly, "Not really, and that's why I'm making the most of it."

By the time five in the afternoon rolled around, I was prepped, primped and felt ready for war. Well.. Figuratively, of course. First I would have to eat, because weak soldiers meant I was unprotected against my mates pretty eyes, and I couldn't have that at all.

"Are you hungry?," Pansy asked with a small smile on her ethereal, gorgeous face, and I replied, equally as casually, "Yeah, how does the Three Broomsticks sound?"

She grimaced, deeply, and said, "Girl, no. We're in Diagon Alley, not Hogsmeade. We go for drinks at The Three Broomsticks because we have to, but dinner?," then she gave me a small smirk, "Let me show you how our side of the tracks lives."

Turns out Pansy liked to eat at fancy restaurants just as much as the next person.

Now, me? I'm good with a beef burger and a side of fries, but I would be lying if I said Le Stella wasn't a gorgeous, swanky bistro. It was tucked in the heart of Diagon Alley, the entire complex radiating a molten amber glow that warmed my heart with its sweet, somewhat melancholy caress.

Pansy lead me inside, and I realised that my attire wasn't at all appropriate for a place like this. A pair of skinny jeans, an oversized, off-the-shoulder sweater and scruffy sneakers really wasn't a suitable outfit for a place as classy as this, and I think Pansy noticed my discomfort.

"You're dressed fine," she said, in a hushed tone, "Wear confidence like a coat, and nobody can tell you otherwise."

She glided across the floor, her entire aura drawing the attentions of everyone in the room. They could see who she was - they knew she was a Parkinson from the way she walked, the way she talked, the way she held herself. But her friend? Nobody knew me, and I usually liked it that was, however the scathing glares that I was on the receiving end made me reconsider my stance on my anonymity.

"Table for two."

That was all it took for everyone's head to turn the other way and go back to their delicious meals. The waiter - a tall, dark haired man, dressed in a black waistcoat and a pair of smart slacks - led us over to a corner table, and said, "Enjoy your meal."

"Have a look at the menu," she said, with a small smile, "It's on Draco, love."

We spent the next hour and a half gossiping and discussing our colour schematics for our dresses and whatnot, and by the end of the meal, I found myself actually.. Anticipating the Ball itself.

"Let's get back to school. Our guys are probably going crazy," she said with such honesty that it made me smile, regardless of the negativity that I felt was attached to their names. It had been almost a full two weeks since we had cuddled together, and it was driving me insane.

-o-o-

Hope you enjoy a little Pansy & Evelyn friendship! I'll upload the next chapter too, because I've been such an asshole with uploading. Read, review and favorite!