An agreement to avoid mutually assured destruction

"I presume the Polyjuice Swap task means that I'll be drinking Polyjuice with one of you two, correct?" Hermione asked pointedly.

The Slytherins looked at each other for a moment before Pansy responded. "Yes. I'll be drinking it with you. You'll turn into me, and I you. Why?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "Because we could utterly ruin each other. If either of us drank potion and ran off the castle grounds, or even up to the hospital wing, we could absolutely destroy the other's reputation."

Pansy just raised an eyebrow as she continued to look Hermione in the eye.

"I want us to make an arrangement... An unbreakable vow that neither of us will leave the castle, so I can't ruin your public image, nor you mine." Hermione finished quickly.

Pansy got a cruel, wicked smile. "And why would I do that, Granger? An unbreakable vow to risk my own life? And besides... You're forgetting," she motioned to Daphne and Millicent, "I have them to hold you down during the swap."

Hermione's eyes widened. She hadn't thought of Pansy using backup to keep her from doing anything. "Well... what if... What if I promise to be an obedient pet and do nothing without you three's say so for 24 hours starting tomorrow at noon? Would you do it then?"

Daphne perked up. "We could just do that anyway!"

Hermione was really scared now... It hadn't occurred to her that they'd **** her to either hold or play the few cards she had here.

"How about..." Millicent started. "We make the unbreakable vow, but in exchange... You not only be Daphne's pet for that 24 hours, but you ALSO swear that you won't enter the Room of Requirement without permission from one of us. And all of this is part of the same vow so if any of us break it, we're dead."

Everyone turned to stare at Millicent, jaws dropped. Hermione's mind was getting fuzzy, but she tried to think through it. Losing a place to practice wandless defense magic would be a hefty loss, not to mention the loss of an avenue to get clothes and having to live entirely as a pet for 24 hours. But still... it was when nobody else was in the castle... And as long as Ginny came through with those robes, she still had those few socks and shoes for when term started, even if she wouldn't have access to any burned garments anymore.

"... You would really want us, all of us, to make that deal, Millie?" Pansy asked, stunned at Millicent's suggestion.

"Well, we know you've been in the room of requirement, Granger," Millicent continued, "And we'd rather you NOT be using it, whatever has become of the room since Vincent's accident."

"I kinda like that idea, too, Pansy..." Daphne piped up.

"Do you like it because you think it's smart, or because you just want Granger to be your pet for a day?" Pansy asked her suspiciously.

"It can be both..." Daphne retorted. "Besides, we know Granger can be clever. Wouldn't you like it if we had a backup plan in case she decides to run off the grounds and disapparate to Diagon Alley in your body?"

Pansy thought for a moment. "... Fine. Fine. Who will be the Bonder?"

Daphne and Millicent looked at each other. "You do it, Millie..." Daphne said, sounding like she was conceding something she really wanted.

"Y-you sure, Daph?" Millicent asked, surprised.

"Yes. If it means you'll trust me, go for it."

Hermione understood. The other Slytherins weren't quite so trusting of Daphne due to how fond she was of Hermione. By letting Millicent be the Bonder, this would ensure that Daphne wouldn't mess up the spell at all.

"Well," Hermione said, just as fast as she had spoken before, "Let's get started then..." Hermione couldn't quite understand why she was so ready to accept this deal... She felt her mind go foggy. It's probably just nerves, she thought to herself. Just worried about the consequences. She held out her hand for Pansy.

Pansy set a clean napkin to the side. "Remember, Millicent, three terms and questions must be made and agreed to, or the spell won't work." She clasped her hand in Hermione's before Millicent placed the tip of her wand over the hands.

Pansy spoke first. "Do you, Hermione Granger, agree to act as Daphne Greengrass' pet for 24 hours, starting from the strike of noon tomorrow to the following day?"

"I do..." As Hermione uttered the words, a tongue of flame flew from the wand and wrapped itself around their hands.

"And do you, Hermione Granger, agree to not enter the room of requirement until the end of the school year, unless you are given permission to enter from me, Daphne Greengrass, or Millicent Bulstrode?"

"I do..." Hermione replied, and a second flame issued from the wand, weaving and interlinking with the first.

Hermione spoke up for the vow this time. "Will you, Pansy Parkinson, agree to not draw attention to those who have yet to see me naked during the Polyjuice Swap, in exchange for these conditions, doing everything in your power to keep both of us inside the castle and away from eyes and ears of those who know nothing about what has happened so far during this Easter Break?"

After a brief pause, Pansy closed her eyes. "I will." A third and final flame flew, twisting with the others to bind the hands under a thick, firey chain until they extinguished in a few moments.

Without uttering another word, the four girls ate their dinner, Hermione wondering what she had gotten herself into...