Voldemort supporter loose somewhere near Hogwarts, determined to recruit a new generation of massive idiots before the year's end. Because of this, the Ministry wants me to spy on my own friends in exchange for allowing me to get my hands on what should be mine by birthright. Oh, and if that doesn't curdle your milk, Pansy dear, I married and shagged Hermione Granger last weekend and now the girl is quite literally under my skin, though lately I've been wishing she were in my pants instead. Yes, Pansy! I am the victim of magic, luck and hormones most foul! I can't stop thinking about that puffy-haired harpy. I want to speak to her, touch her, stare at the freckles on her nose when they come out under the sun. I want to pet her stupid cat, I want to make her smile, blush, watch her push soggy pancake around her plate... "
There' s nothing going on," Draco replied, in a voice that had gone slightly thick. Pansy narrowed her blue eyes at him.
She proceeded to run her hand through her perfectly maintained bob. When it came to Pansy, this was what passed for frustration. "Fine, keep your secrets, Malfoy. You know I'll find out in the end, one way or another."
Draco snorted. "Yes. Tell me something I don't know." He crawled over to a nearby chesterfield, pulled off his school tie, stretched out across the leather and covered his face with his newspaper. The front page story was about a burst water pipe at a Diagon Alley magical menagerie. The harried looking business owner was busy ferrying ferrets, bandicoots, a boa constrictor and a shoulder load of owls out of the flooded shop.
"Ok. I've only been madly in love with you since second year," was Pansy's casual response.
This time, the silence lasted a good, two minutes, at the end of which, Draco announced, "Well, fuck
" Pansy rolled her eyes. "Good thing I wasn't expecting flowery declarations"
"You don' t want me, Pansy. I' ll cheat on you. I' ll be mean and nasty and you' ll hate me forever." She did not seem surprised or flustered by any of this. "I know. Only because you don't love me back. Not that way."
"You and I, we're not bred for that sort of thing. People like us join into contracts, not vows of everlasting love. I adore you, but I'd stomp all over your greedy little heart," he told her.
She raised her chin. Draco could not help but notice that her nose looked even briefer when she did that. "Who says I'm greedy?"
He raised an elegant blond eyebrow in response.
"Fine," Pansy sniffed.
"I' ve got nothing to offer anyone right now," he added, earnestly. "We were at a disadvantage the moment our fathers became Death Eaters. If we have children, they wouldn't know any other life apart from one where people will be suspicious and afraid and distrusting. He failed us, Pansy, Voldemort failed us the moment he fucked up his own, grand vision. He's a lost cause. I consider myself lucky to have realized this before I end up like my father...banished, crazy and yet still managing to look deadly sexy in a silk dressing gown." There was a quizzical note to Draco's voice.
"Yes, but you still have your lands and your title coming to you eventually!"
Pansy insisted. "My family, on the other hand, has lost nearly everything that was worth something to us. We're living on a rented estate, for Merlin's sake! The Parkinsons are pariahs. I have nothing left to lose except you, Draco, and really-" she knelt beside him so that he would look at her "-I never had you in the first place."
"Pansy..."
She cut him off with a raised hand. "I'm not propositioning you. I'm just not one for change. I liked life the way it was when we first came here. I liked having pretty things and money and a family history that meant something to the rest of our world. I liked you the way you were.
Draco gave her an exasperated look. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm still the same person."
"Will Tandish Dodders attest to that?" she countered tartly.
"You can't possibly want me to be the enormous tosser I was when I first got here! I've improved with age, I tell you. In any case, I can't turn back time!"
"No, you can' t," she agreed. She smiled gaily, kissed him on the cheek and rose to her feet, which in Pansy terms meant