Disclaimer: Harry Potter ain't mine, unfortunately.

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Astoria's POV

"We're going death eating." I told Pansy, my heart thundering in my chest.

My trepidation was not unfounded.

Pansy went crazy. She started screaming and crying at me, her fists flailing weakly, tugging on my arm; snot and saliva flying in the air. It was a terrifying and altogether disgusting sight.

"Hold yourself together!" I yelled, pinning her to the ground and slapping her, hard.

"How could you?" Pansy whispered, tears leaking from her eyes. "How could you do this to me? You know... you know what happened to me the last time! I can't do this anymore!"

"No one's asking you to join." I snarled. "I'm just resigning from my role of pretend in this stupid game of yours."

"Why are you doing this?" Her voice cracked at the end, even as she tried to give me her most venomous glare. Pathetic. I was not cowed.

But I could not stop my stance from softening, and my hardened expression relaxed slightly against my will. 

"Theo." I said simply.

Pansy was quiet. When she finally looked up at me I could see the resignation in her eyes. 

"I understand." She said softly. "You love him."

I nodded, my head bowing infinitesimally.

She sighed. "I trust you have Draco Malfoy locked in the most secure ward in St. Mungos?"

I grinned ferally. "Better. I have Hermione Granger with him in the same room, just to drive him mad. Also, he's Halfblood now, because I allowed the Mudblood to transfer some of her blood into his veins... further mental torture for him... Believe me, Pansy, he will be crying for you to save him by the time you get to him."

I sneered a little at her. "That is if you still want him. He's a suicidal pathetic crybaby now. Had to endure his whining in the hospital. Damned annoying."

"Of course I don't want him!" She said, panic written all over her face. "He's... he's a despicable bastard, and I want revenge on him!"

I looked down pityingly at her pale skinny form splayed on the ground. "Oh, Pans. You have to get over him sometime. You may be able to fool yourself for now, but you sure ain't fooling anyone else."

She scowled at me, furious. "Just go! Go join Theo and his bloody goons, and see where that gets you!" 

"Farther than you'll get me, at any rate," I said spitefully. "it's not like you're getting anywhere, are you?"

She sputtered. "How dare you - "

"No, Pans, it's true. You're still stuck in the past, and I am so ready to move toward the future. Now give me the money, and I'm leaving." 

She stood up slowly, glaring at me. "Fine." She bit out. "We'll go to Gringotts. The last bits of my once considerable fortune are yours."

For a moment I thought of relenting, of saying that she could give the money to me another day, but I knew I couldn't. "Squandered all of it on store-bought Dreamless Sleep?" I sneered.

She blanched, her face paling until it was almost ghost-like. "No... No..."

"I've known for ages, Pans."

"I said no."

"Pans... you have to stop. You know you have to." I tried.

"Let's just GO!" She yelled suddenly, pointing at the Floo powder in a jar on her desk. "The faster we get this done, the faster I'm rid of you!"

I shrugged and strode towards the fireplace. I tried. 

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Hermione's POV:

I grabbed his shoulders and shook him, hard. "Draco! Dammit Draco, wake up!"

I expected him to smirk at me and open his eyes, laugh at me for being so daft and easily deceived, make another jab at my blood status...

He did none of that.

Instead he lay limply on the floor, his eyes shut, unconscious; if I focused hard enough I could almost see the ghost of a smile on his face...

I leapt to my feet and ran to where I remembered the door to be near. 

I slammed my fists against the white walls and yelled as loudly as I could. "Emergency! He needs medical treatment! Please! Emergency! OPEN THE DOOR! OPEN THE DOOOOR!"

Nothing happened.

A/N: Ayyy... new chappie for ya all wonderful people :) Hope you enjoyed :)