Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise. I only own my OCs. Anything recognizable is not mine.

We do what we have to when we fall in love

We say what we need to get out, when it's not enough

Whether it's to yourself

Or looking at someone else…

"What are you doing?" Astoria's high voice shakily cried. "Put that down! Those aren't yours!" She raced into the Draco's doorway and grabbed the papers out of my hands. Daphne, as usual, was right behind her, a satisfied smirk present on her snooty face.

Whenever the girls stood side by side, it was almost difficult to tell them apart. They both had honey blonde hair that contrasted quite indifferently with their pale complection. Daphne had brows rather like a man, straigh and thick, making her look as if she would never be happy. She was tall but rounded, very curvacious. Astoria, however, was tall and thin, almost too frail looking. Her large bosom, though, was another story. With a tiny waist and a large breast, she seemed to be a pureblood prize to be won.

I guess, in the eyes of the pureblood community, Draco could not have chosen better.

Sighing at their dramatics, I spun on my heel to leave the room. I didn't plan on being polite unless there were witnesses that I cared about seeing my innocence. Obviously, Daphne didn't count.

"Don't walk away from me, Remington," she shouted, grabbing my arm and pulling me back. I twisted my arm out of her grasp, giving her a slightly appalled look. Part of me screamed that getting on Astoria's bad side - or moving more onto Astoria's bad side - was a bad move. But, another part of my just wanted to kick the living shit out of her.

And I wasn't a violent person.

Pansy entered the room, flicking her thick side fringe out of her eyes, and then rolling her icy blue orbs at the evil pair of blondes. Her black yoga pants pooled at the floor, a grey sweater covering her shoulders and a Slytherin scarf wrapped around her neck, fluffing her hair. She sighed, stepping in front of me and glaring right at Astoria, who was much taller than her - especially in heels. Her protective stance made me want to smile. Maybe I was good at making friends after all. Besides, I needed an ally if I was staying here the rest of the week.

"Oh, please, Parkinson! Like you would trade your friends for that boy stealing whore!" Daphne said, laughing like a maniac. She flipped her blonde tresses over her shoulder and winked at me.

I wanted to vomit.

"Oh my God, Daphne?" Pansy said a bit more harshly, her temper flaring, but she still kept her facial expression completely emotionless and cool. "Shut up, forever."

Daphne looked even more enraged, her eyes lighting up ferociously. She jumped forward and grabbed Pansy's forearm too quickly for Pansy to move. I saw fear flash in Pansy's eyes, but it was quickly replaced with her usual detached gaze. Daphne seemed to notice this though, and she seemed extremely happy about it, a wide smile spreading across her shallow cheeks.

"I'm not the one who did the unspeakable and did not have the audacity to tell my best friend!" She said tauntingly.

"We aren't friends."

Her tone was deathly. She didn't raise her voice one bit, a tight and terrible whisper. Fear struck me, and a sadness that I did not know what to do with, for whatever Pansy had gone through to loose her so-called best friend. Her eyes cut Daphne deeply. No one in the room moved.

"Pans," a deep voice intruded. Blaise walked into the room, giving Daphne a look, and then reaching for Pansy. She accepted his embrace willingly and only then did I notice she was crying. Sobbing, was a better word, rather hysterically. It frightened me to see her so vulnerable. I never wanted to see her this way again.

She opened her mouth slightly, and I hoped for a witty remark. However, all she let out was a cracked and whimpered: "B-Blaise-"

He cut her off quickly, quieting her with a soothing sound. His lips made quick work of her cheek, neck, and hair. He mumbled to her for a moment, directly into her ear, before she nodded. He covered her up in his arms as she sobbed openly.

"I suggest you leave the room, Astoria, before Draco finds you snooping through his things," Blaise said quickly. Before Astoria could correct him or say something in refute, he continued. "And you, Greengrass, I suggest you get out before I smack that smirk clean off your face."

He was serious and that scared me most of all. I understood his anger, but I was not aware that pureblood culture had not changed since before the war. Or, at least, not much. I had been slapped by a few pureblood men, just for the fact that I was half-blood and tended to speak out of turn. That, and the fact that I would not disclose Rose Smith's location to anyone.

It wasn't any help, of course. They had found her anyways.

Once the girls had exited the room, Blaise gave a sigh and inclined his head at me, a sincere expression on his face. I nodded, trying to smile at him, before he lead Pansy out of the room and down the hall.

Slumping back onto the made bed, I closed my eyes and thought about what had just happened.

"Having a bad day?"

A door slammed, and Lucius Malfoy stood in front of it. He showed no signs of humor, on raising a perfectly crafted eyebrow in question. He seemed genuinely concerned, but I had pretty much had it up to here with these damn purebloods. I didn't think I could stand anymore emotionless conversations and then random bouts of energy. I knew I could not stand seeing either Greengrass girl again today.

"I wish to go home."

Lucius pursed his lips, tapping his foot slowly on the wooden floor. He shook his head, as if I was not allowed to go home. I was about to object in the most disrespectful of ways, but he pressed a finger to his lips and walked to the closet.

"I have purchased you a dress for this evening's party. It's champagne in color, a pretty lace fabric. I hope you will receive it with a slightest bit of thankfulness."

He pulled a dress out of the black wooden closet. It was indeed champagne, lace and looked too small to be considered a dress. He tossed it towards the bed where I rested. It soared over the bed, hanging midair next to me, waiting.

"I suggest you dress quickly. I believe a Miss Parkinson wishes to see you in her chambers down the hall to the right. She will help you with the rest of your appearance."

With a light nod, he laid a small box on the table and exited the room.

Reluctantly, I dressed. The dress fit loosely, thank Merlin, but it was still very short, far above my knee according to my standards. Jonathan would have said something sarcastic about my morals if he saw me, but he would apologize after I tried hitting him, and tell me I looked lovely.

Opening the door, I walked swiftly down the hall to Pansy and Blaise's room, eager to get away from the leering portraits that lined the hallways. They all muttered insults about my blood status, but was able to ignore them. Until a portrait of a very familiar-looking Malfoy stopped me. He looked just like Lucius.

"Excuse me, my love, but you seemed to have forgotten your footwear."

I stopped, walking back a couple of paces. The bright smile of a longhaired Malfoy greeted me. He seemed too nice, too endearing, not to be up to something. I curtsied lightly, remembering the pureblood manors I'd been taught during my stay. Always curtsy before any pureblood males and those of authority.

"Thank you, sir. I am in your debt," I said, a bright smile on my face. "I am Elizabeth Remington."

The man smiled, locking his eyes on the ring that hung from my neck. "I know. I have heard much about you, Miss Elizabeth Remington. That ring was my lover's ring. You look much like her, my love. Forgive me, but, you are not pureblood, am I correct?"

"No sir," I said hotly. I crossed my arms and tossed my hair, ready to defend my blood status. Like I said before, I'd had it with the purebloods.

The man pursed his lips lightly, staring at me intently. He had the signature grey eyes of the Malfoy family, blonde hair that fell to mid-chest in light waves. His cheekbones were high and, for an older man, he was execptionally good-looking. The way he looked at me, it was as if he had seen me before. Or that I was some fair object or piece of art to be studied. It was strangely refreshing.

"Do you know, my love, if you might have a relative named Theodosia?" He asked, a pleading tone hidden in his drawling voice.

I shook my head solemnly. "I'm sorry, sir. I would not know if I had. I lost my parents at a very young age. I do not wish to disappoint you, sir, but I cannot give a rightful answer."

He nodded. "You look similar to my Theodosia. Dark curls, though hers were much curlier that yours, ivory skin, though hers was much milkier than yours, and pink cheeks, though hers were much lovelier that yours."

I did not take offense to his comparisons of this woman and me. He seemed a bit lost in his memories of the girl, and I truly wondered about her and what had happened to her. Especially considering she wasn't married to Abraxas. Nor was she Lucius' mother - at least, not that I would infer. But, in this messed up pureblood community, almost anything was possible.

"But your eyes," he continued. "That is where Tossa has truly won. Her bright green eyes always mesmerized me." He sighed, looking at me, yet seeing someone else. "I am sorry, my love, to have distracted you. I just had to know if you were her descendant. I am utterly in your debt for the amusement you have brought me, my love."

"Pray, what is your name, sir?" I asked, completely polite. "I understand you are either from the Most Superior House of Malfoy, or the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black?"

"I am a Malfoy," the man stated proudly. "I am Abraxas Demetrius Malfoy, son of Demetrius Flavius Malfoy, and father of Lucius Abraxas Malfoy."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mister Malfoy." I curtsied.

He nodded. "Until we meet again, Elizabeth." And with that, I quickly walked the rest of the way to Pansy and Blaise's room. I knocked lightly on the door, bouncing on the bare balls of my feet. Pansy opened it, smiling brightly for me. The sight of her sparkling teeth made me extremely happy.

She was dressed beautifully again, a cream high-low skirt that fell to a point in the back, ruffling around her smooth, tan legs. Her short navy jacket had a high collar that ended up her neck, showing off her tanned, flat stomach. A small diamond sparkled from her bellybutton. It seemed like a rebellious thing she might have done; gotten a muggle bellybutton ring to make a statement of some kind. Merlin knows what the statement might have been.

"You look amazing, Pansy," I whispered, suddenly feeling inferior yet again. She smiled in actual thankfulness for my compliment. "Will you fix my hair?"

She nodded, still not speaking. I followed her into the room, very similar to Draco's old bedroom where I was staying. She began to curl my hair around her wand, heating it gently. Still, I couldn't take the silence. Just when I thought I was going to scream at her, Blaise walked out of the bathroom.

"Pans, love, can you help me?"

She smiled gently at him. "Come here."

I watched them inquisitively, noticing the pure love that enter Blaise's eyes as he looked down at Pansy. She fixed his tie slowly, smoothing it with her delicately petite hands. He took them from his tie when she was finished and kissed each finger softly. The moment was, again, so intimate, I had to look away.

Once Pansy had finished fixing my hair, and I had retrieved my heels, we all descended the staircase. It felt reminiscent of last evening, but this time, as I had been informed, we would be dining outdoors.

The rose garden was beautiful and, surprisingly, warm. Spells were placed all around the garden to keep it a comfortable temperature. I spotted Draco standing with Astoria, Daphne and Theodore, who looked worse than he had the night before.

Damn. Even Draco in casual wear was dressy. At least, to me.

In a way, it was refreshing to see boys who knew how to dress. Jonathan could barely dress himself and I allowed him the miss-matched clothing, as I was much too focused on more important matters: Rose's recovery, as well as mine. Not to mention, that was not a highly important factor to me.

Astoria looked different than usual. There were no brightly-colored outrageous-looking dresses. She wore, instead, a black velvet dress with a huge, grey satin bow on her right hip. The dress fell to her knees with big, poofy polka-dotted sleeves. She wore heels that looked as if she were walking on two sharp icicles with diamond embedded into the heel.

Daphne clung to her side, an ugly pink collared dress with a huge bubble skirt. Her black pumps and pink rose earrings matching perfectly. She looked like a bratty little girl, her pink painted lips set in a deep frown, her eyebrows colored a bit too harshly, and her arms crossed defiantly. She looked like a mean baby doll, a bright pink bow sticking up off her high ponytail.

"I hate her," I whispered, crossing my arms as well, before I could help it. "She's such a mean person." My statement sounded like something Rose would say, as she had always hated to curse.

"Oh fucking hell," Pansy whispered, her lips forming the words like she'd just given a beautiful prophecy. "She's a little bitch, is what she is. Damn, love, just say it."

I felt a strange comfort at her words. She looped her arm through mine as Blaise left her side to be with Draco. She knew I was most likely reluctant to go over to him and for her support, I was ever thankful. Upon seeing Theodore, I remembered something that Rose had asked me to do. I tried to make polite conversation, though I mainly listened to everything they were saying.

"Theodore," I whispered, once we reached a lull in the conversation. "May I speak with you privately? Just for a moment."

He nodded, allowing me to take his arm and walk with him far away from the group.

"I've been given a letter from her. She wanted me to give it to you," I whispered. "I didn't read it, if that is what you're thinking." I shoved the crumpled paper into his hands and sighed. He tucked it into his pocket, patting it lightly as if it were a precious gem. And to him, that is just what it was.

"Why haven't you come to see her?" I sudden spurted out. "She thinks you're ashamed of her. Or that you're angry with her at not remembering and being so frightened of you. But, what was she supposed to do, Theodore? She had been tortured for hours!"

"You think I don't know that?" He rounded on me, the first sign of emotion I'd seen all week from him. "You think I don't feel the pain you feel-"

"You don't feel the pain I feel, Theo! You weren't there! You didn't hear her screams! You didn't see all of the blood," I gasped, crying and falling backwards. "There was so much b-blood."

Draco suddenly appeared, grasping my waist gently. We were immediately swarmed by the others in our group, along with some guests and a few of the adults - including Mister Malfoy. Astoria was glaring at me, pure hatred seeping through her gaze. I couldn't blame her, though. This was probably more affection that he had ever showed her. Draco steadied me, giving Theodore a look that said it all: this conversation was over.

I felt bad, looking back at Theodore as Draco lead me inside. He had not been ready to discuss anything that had happened to Rose. The truth was, he probably would never be able to talk about what he had seen. I knew I was not ready, but curiosity killed the cat yet again. I still had not learned my lesson.

"Draco, please," I started when we were settled into his room. I was not in the mood for one of his lectures. "I do not need you to tell me. I shouldn't have spoken about it. I knew better."

Draco shook his head. "No, love. That is not why I have asked you to come up here. I need you to tell me I am doing the right thing. That marrying Astoria is going to make everything okay and make everything normal again. Tell me that you will stay here, you will still be mine, even if I marry her. 'Cause, Eliza, I'm scared. I'm so fucking scared and I just want someone to tell me that what I'm doing is okay. Tell me that for once in my entire fucking life I'd doing something right."

I wanted to cry at his desperation. He was crying, tears falling gracefully down his cheeks. It made me recall finding him in the Prefect's bathroom during our sixth year.

I crept down the hallway, hoping for a nice, quiet bath in the Prefect's bathroom. It was usually unguarded and unused by anyone. Besides, if worst came to worst, I would tell Filch that Ali had left her feminine products here and asked me to retrieve them.

Upon entering the bathroom, however, I paused.

He was crying, rather hysterically. Tears poured into the sink as he seemed to release all of his pent up emotions. I did not know what to do, as we had barely spoken after Slughorn's Party. He had, however, stuck up for me and my friends now if we were ever being picked on. He didn't ignore me now, instead he acknowledged my presence very politely. Sometimes a nod of the head, and others an estranged greeting. When we found ourselves alone, he would move close to me and look as if he wanted to say something, but instead would shut his eyes tightly and leave - usually leaving a light brush of his hand over my arm or waist in his wake.

"Draco," I whispered, coming up behind him. His head spun up and he locked eyes with me in the mirror. Taking a deep breath, I watched as his shoulders moved gracefully beneath his shirt when he turned around to look at me with a broken and distraught look.

He didn't say a word, but grabbed my arm and slammed me against one of the stall doors, his mouth latching onto mine. His lips were rough and passionate against my own, almost like we were long-time lovers never to see each other again.

I was in love. I would never want anyone but him. I'd made my promise long ago: I'd stay by his side forever more, no matter what sacrifices had to be made. I didn't know what was coming over me, but I couldn't help but want to cry and laugh and scream all at the same time.

I loved Draco Malfoy and would never stop.

My heart clenched painfully as I uttered my next words: "Of course."

Everybody lies, lies, lies

It's the only truth sometimes

Doesn't matter if it's out there, somewhere, waiting for the world to find

Buried deep inside

Everybody lies

You guys are amazing! So, I know it has been a while since my last update, but I have been so super busy with the first weeks of school. Hope some of you guys are still with me! I will try to update again this weekend (since it is three days)!

The song for this chapters in Everybody Lies by Jason Walker. Same singer as the first chapter. I absolutely love him and his music.

Thank you so much to those of you how have reviewed! I am so excited that you guys are enjoying the story. Please keep reviewing! It inspires me to write longer chapters!

Anything you want to see in the next few chapters? Any person or pair you wanna see more of? Let me know! Just PM me or leave it in a review!

Lots of Love,

Lillie