AN: I will be posting this fic primarily on my ao3, which has the same username. So if you do enjoy please head over there to continue reading. P&P inspired but set in the 1840s/50s
I'll give you a quick breakdown of all the main character's ranks before we begin:
Cormac is a Duke
Draco is the son of a Marquess
Harry is an Earl
Daphne & Astoria are the daughters of an Earl
Pansy is the daughter of a Viscount
Ron & his siblings are all the children of a Baronet, which is not a peerage
The post arrived whilst Pansy and her father were eating breakfast in the family dining room. There was a multitude of letters for her father, to which he wrinkled his nose and set aside to read at a more agreeable hour, and a singular letter for Pansy. She recognised the handwriting immediately and abandoned her breakfast in favour of news from her best friend.
Dearest Pansy,
I promised I would write to you as soon as I arrived in town, and I'm keeping my word; my luggage is still being unloaded from the carriage as I pen you this note.
I imagine you will be eating breakfast by the time this letter reaches you and I hope that your day is free of social engagements. I have missed you dearly whilst I was away at university and I hope to see you as soon as possible. If you are not busy today, perhaps you could visit for lunch? My mother will not be making any social calls today so a companion is not necessary.
I must wash and dress, which will take me around an hour, I imagine. If you are able to call today please send your response immediately and follow soon after.
Your friend,
Draco Malfoy
"Draco is home from university!" Pansy announced to her father. He deemed this news worthy of lowering his newspaper, and smiled at her faintly.
"That's wonderful darling, will you be calling on him later?"
"Immediately after breakfast, I imagine," Pansy replied. "That is, if you do not mind?"
"Of course not dear, you know I've always favoured Draco."
Pansy resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her father's endorsement of Draco and immediately penned a note in reply to Draco's letter informing him that she would call on him midmorning.
By 11 o'clock Pansy was being helped from her carriage by a Malfoy footman and shown into the manor.
"Lord Malfoy is in the library. Do you require assistance finding him?" the footman asked.
"No, thank you, I can manage." Pansy knew Malfoy Manor almost as well as her own home, having spent much of her time there since the age of five. They had been best friends for so many years that those around them speculated that they would marry once Draco graduated from university.
"Very good, Madam." The footman said with a bow, as Pansy made her way up the grand staircase.
She didn't bother to knock on the heavy oak door of the library, instead allowing her shoes to announce her arrival on the hardwood floors as she approached Draco. When he saw her his face split into an enormous grin and he stood to greet her. Ignoring formalities, Pansy threw herself at him and his embrace lifted her from the ground, he spun her around before releasing her from his arms.
"Oh, Draco I missed you so terribly!" Pansy told him. "It's incredibly dull here without you."
"You think this is dull?" Draco rolled his eyes at her, pulling her onto the window seat they had occupied so many times before. Pansy briefly recalled a vision of them in this very seat years earlier, their feet not even reaching the floor below.
"Try going to university," he continued dryly. "I don't see why father insisted upon it, I'm inheriting the estate whether I receive and education or not."
"You don't realise how lucky you are," Pansy told him, tucking her legs underneath her as she settled comfortably on the cushioned seat. "You get to go out and lead a life of your own. You're making new friends and doing things I could only ever dream of doing whilst I'm cooped up here waiting for someone to take pity on me for long enough to wed me."
"Don't be silly," Draco replied, poking her in the boning of her corset. "As if anyone could pity you, you're positively fear-inducing."
Pansy laughed at this and the conversation moved on easily.
"Mother's estranged cousin is moving into Grimmauld Manor later this week." Draco told her, glancing out of the window to the manicured gardens below.
"Do you mean Sirius? I thought he was disowned?"
"No, his mother wanted to but his Uncle, Alphard, was the head of the family and refused to disown him. He married recently and I think he wants to reconnect with mother and Aunt Andromeda."
"Not with Bellatrix?" Pansy asked with a wry smile.
Draco laughed. "I expect you'll meet him at some point, there's been talk of a ball being thrown before he and his husband leave on their honeymoon."
"Oh, I do love your mother's parties," Pansy sighed contently. "And it's been so long since I've danced."
The conversation moved to more trivial matters, Draco regaled Pansy with tales of his time at university and Pansy told Draco of the goings on in Guilleton, the village in which they both lived.
"You will be here for Daphne's wedding at the end of the summer?" Pansy asked.
"Yes, mother has told me all about it. The Duke of Argyll if I hear correctly."
"That's right, I am to be one of her bridal attendants."
"Perhaps someone will snap you up right there on the spot when they see you looking so beautiful."
A while later, Draco led Pansy from the library toward the dining room, where the servants had already prepared a place for her at the table. Narcissa and Lucius were already seated but stood to greet Pansy with almost as much enthusiasm as they did their own son.
"We really should see more of each other, Pansy dear," Narcissa said conversationally as she set her napkin on her lap. "We've missed you whilst Draco was away. You must come by for tea one day."
"Thank you, mother," Draco said humorously, as he was served roast beef – a favourite of his in order to celebrate his return from university.
Narcissa waved an airy hand at him with a smirk. "Oh, you know what I mean Draco darling."
"Won't you stay for dinner Pansy?" Narcissa asked her as Pansy prepared to leave a few hours later.
"Thank you for the kind offer Lady Malfoy, but I'm not dressed for it and I don't like to leave father to dine alone if I can help it."
"Oh call me Narcissa dear, we are friends are we not?" Narcissa told her, patting her hand. "You're such a thoughtful daughter. We must have you and your father over soon."
"Oh I'm sure he would love that." Pansy smiled before bidding Lucius and Draco goodbye and departing the manor.
On Thursday, Pansy had tea with the Greengrass sisters, the two wealthy daughters of The Earl of Orford. It was a warm day so they sat in the gardens enjoying the sunshine.
"I've heard," Daphne – who was infamous for always knowing the gossip – began, "that a new gentleman is moving into the neighbourhood. Lord Potter, I believe. Apparently he's the Earl of Dorset and I've heard he's very rich."
"I've heard he's destitute." Astoria sniffed, taking another cucumber sandwich.
"Well if he is rich," Daphne remarked, "he's mine."
Pansy laughed at this. Not only was Daphne lucky enough to be marrying for love, but Cormac was the 8th Duke of Argyll, Pansy doubted this newcomer would be able to outrank him in Daphne's eyes.
"Don't be greedy Daphne," Pansy chided cheerfully, "some of us don't have men clamouring for our hand."
Daphne scoffed, "Of course you do, just not to your face."
"Now that is ridiculous." Pansy rolled her eyes, "How can I marry anybody if they don't ask me to."
The next morning at breakfast the Parkinsons received an invitation cordially inviting them at a ball held at Grimmauld Manor the following Saturday.
"Lady Malfoy's estranged cousin recently married and moved back to the manor." Pansy informed her father.
"I thought he was disowned?" Robert frowned as he folded his newspaper.
"So did I, but I suppose that wasn't the case." Pansy replied, unwilling to explain the confusing situation to her father.
She spent the rest of the morning choosing a dress for the ball; summer had hardly broken and of consequence her light summer dresses were packed away amongst sheets of tissue paper and the heavy smell of disuse. She eventually settled on a blue satin dress with a low neckline adorned with lace.
Pansy and her father were announced upon their arrival at Grimmauld Manor.
"The Right Honourable The Viscount Parkinson and Miss Parkinson."
Pansy tried not to twitch as she descended the stairs, her hand grasping her father's elbow for support, the eyes of the majority of the room on them as they made their entrance. Draco met them at the foot of the stairs and offered her his arm, exchanging brief pleasantries with her father before escorting her away to find a drink for the both of them. They greeted Daphne and her fiancé Cormac Maclaggen, Astoria, Blaise Zabini, and Theodore Nott before Draco steered her towards his parents and his aunt, who were conversing with two handsome men.
"Pansy, this is my second cousin, Lord Sirius Lupin and his husband, Lord Remus Lupin." Draco introduced the two men and Pansy tried not to giggle. "Sirius, Remus, this is Miss Pansy Parkinson."
"It's a pleasure." Pansy smiled warmly at the two men, dropping into a perfect curtsey.
The man on the right, Sirius, was shorter than Remus but made up for it in intimidating good looks. His dark hair brushed his shoulders and there was a glint in his eyes and a slant to his smile, as though he knew something that Pansy did not. Remus towered over her, but his demeanour was what Pansy could only describe as softer, his hair was a dusty auburn and his eyes were brown and inviting.
"The pleasure is ours," Sirius replied, kissing her on the hand. "Draco has told us a lot about you."
Pansy dimpled, "Yes, well there is so little about him that is interesting he has to turn to his friends for help."
"Excuse me!" Draco protested, earning a laugh from the group.
"Ah!" Sirius exclaimed, interrupting the laughter when he spotted two boys heading towards them. "This is my godson, Lord Harry Potter, and his good friend Mr Ron Weasley."
The boys who had approached them looked about Pansy's age. One was shorter than Draco by an inch or so, and sported dark, messy hair and vivid green eyes. The other was tall and lanky, and was topped with a head of bright ginger hair – Pansy didn't need to have been told to know that he was a Weasley.
"Harry, Ron, may I introduce my cousins Mrs Andromeda Tonks and Lady Narcissa Malfoy, her husband The Lord Malfoy and son Lord Draco Malfoy, as well as Draco's friend Miss Pansy Parkinson." Pansy curtsied in greeting but Harry's eyes drifted right over her to settle on Draco.
"Yes," he replied. "Draco and I have met at Oxford."
A quick glance at Draco told Pansy that this meeting had not been a pleasant one.
"Draco, would you care to dance with me?" She asked him, drawing both his and Harry's attention towards her, "I haven't seen you in so long, after all."
"Of course," Draco replied smoothly, offering her his arm. "If you'll excuse us." He nodded to the others and moved away.
They danced three dances together but Pansy didn't manage to get any information out of Draco about Harry Potter or his friend. Eventually, they parted and Draco danced with Astoria whilst Pansy managed to separate Blaise and Theo long enough to dance with the latter.
"Do you think this will ever be us?" Theo asked Pansy nodding towards where Cormac and Daphne were laughing as they danced.
"Us? Married?" She laughed, "I don't think Blaise would be too happy about that."
"You know what I meant," Theo frowned at her, "Me and Blaise? You and… Draco?"
Pansy sighed, marrying Draco definitely wouldn't be the worst life; they were best friends and she would be a Marchioness one day. But, still, as she watched all her friends fall in love, she couldn't help but want that for herself.
"You and Blaise definitely," she allowed. "Are you going to ask him?"
"Don't you think we're a bit young?" Theo glanced nervously at where Blaise stood with Millicent Bulstrode and Tracey Davis.
Pansy thought about this carefully. Blaise didn't seem the type to marry so young, but she was sure that if Theo asked, he would say yes in a heartbeat.
"Not that young," she disagreed. "But perhaps whilst you're both at university isn't the best time."
Blaise interrupted them as the song ended to reclaim Theo for himself and Pansy soon found herself standing alone with Harry Potter.
"Lord Potter," she greeted him.
"Miss Parkinson," he replied, surveying the dance floor.
"Your godfather tells me that you own a business," Pansy said politely, by way of making conversation. "That's very impressive at your age."
"It's my parent's business, I am at university." he said curtly.
"Oh," Pansy replied, confused about what Sirius had told her, and asked, "Are your parents here tonight?"
"They are dead." He stated, not looking away from the dancing couples.
"I'm sorry to hear that, my mother passed away almost ten years ago now."
Harry didn't respond and, when the silence became too much for Pansy, she tried again.
"Do you like to dance My Lord?"
"If I find my partner agreeable." He replied shortly, he had yet to look at her during the entire exchange.
"Of course." Pansy replied with a faltering smile, before adding, "I love to dance. I missed the boys terribly whilst they were away, they are all such accomplished dancers."
"I'm sure Draco is accomplished at many things, excuse me." He nodded sharply, and, with that, walked away, leaving Pansy alone and humiliated.
Before she could properly process her mortification, however, Astoria approached in a whirlwind of blue silk.
"Pansy, I'm in love!" She declared, pushing a strand of blonde hair falling free from its intricate style behind her ear.
"Excuse me?" Pansy asked, more out of shock than anything else.
"With Ron Weasley! Lord Potter's friend, you met him earlier?"
"Yes I remember." Pansy felt faint.
"We danced together, and we talked and, oh he's so lovely." Astoria gushed, looking giddy with joy.
"Astoria, you can't –" Pansy broke off, she didn't want to upset her friend but her concern got the better of her and she blurted; "You can't marry Mr Weasley."
Astoria's face dropped immediately. "Why not?" she demanded.
"You're an Earl's daughter and he's the sixth son of a Baronet, be reasonable."
"Maybe I don't want to be reasonable." Astoria replied, folding her arms and glaring at Pansy.
"Astoria, be realistic – where would you live?"
"We could buy our own house."
"Tori I want you to be happy, but you were raised for more than this – I don't want to see you throw your whole life away because you think you're in love."
"I am in love."
"Just… be careful, please?"
Astoria's arms dropped to her side as she said softly, "You can never just be happy for me."
"Tori, that's not true –" Pansy reached for her but Astoria had already left in another swirl of blue silk.
Pansy sighed, she was not having the magical evening she'd envisioned, and to top it all off all of her friends were off dancing – without her.
She spotted Harry Potter and Ron Weasley talking a few feet from her and began to move towards them; she supposed it couldn't hurt to try and get to know Ron better. Pansy had only made a couple of steps towards them, however, when she heard her name and stopped in her tracks, eager to know what they were saying about her.
"What about the Parkinson girl?" Ron asked. Pansy sniffed, feeling as though she deserved a little more respect than that, but kept quiet. "She's quite pretty," Ron continued. It was hardly a compliment from the likes of him, but Pansy allowed herself to smile anyway.
"If you like that sort of thing," Harry replied, "I find her to be quite repulsive if I'm honest."
At that, Pansy gaped in the most unladylike fashion.
"Her personality and friends hand her little merit also, I'm unsurprised that Draco Malfoy attracts two-bit gold diggers."
If Pansy had been embarrassed when he had declined to dance with her earlier, it was nothing compared to the bubbling anger she felt now. She was torn between storming up to them and slapping Harry Potter across the face, and running from the ballroom to cry. Thankfully, she was saved her choice by the appearance of Romilda Vane.
"Pansy!" She greeted, with a perfect, practiced smile.
Pansy responded with her own smile, grasping Romilda's hands and kissing her cheeks, trying to keep down the tears that threatened to fall. "Romilda! Oh, how are you?"
"You're friends with Marcus Flint, yes?" she asked, a hesitant look on her face.
"Yes." Pansy confirmed with a confused frown.
"Could you introduce me? I know we've already been introduced but I'm worried he doesn't remember me."
"How could he forget you, Romilda?" Pansy smiled, but linked her arm with Romilda's anyway and led her across the room to where Marcus Flint and Terence Higgs stood.
"Marcus, Terence, you remember Miss Romilda Vane?" Pansy asked by way of an introduction.
"Of course." Marcus smiled, kissing Romilda's hand smoothly. She blushed softly, in a way Pansy had never managed to master, and the two moved closer together, caught up in each other.
Pansy turned to Terence, only half listening to his drab retelling of an incident that had occurred in House of Lords earlier that week.
Feeling eyes on her, Pansy glanced up and made eye contact with Harry Potter. He was glaring at her from across the ballroom. Pansy flushed an ugly shade of red; only minutes after accusing her of being a gold digger he had caught her conversing with two of the wealthiest boys in the room. Pansy reminded herself that she was only there to introduce Romilda to Marcus and that she did not care much for Potter's thoughts of her, but it did nothing to ease the sick feeling in her stomach.
Pansy spent the rest of the ball in a quiet, introspective mood, declining most dances unless they were with Draco, but even then she didn't really speak to him. Eventually, Pansy's father found her and they made their excuses to leave. Robert didn't bother talking to Pansy on the ride home, for which she was grateful, and Pansy retired immediately to her rooms when they arrived. She found it difficult to sleep, however, replaying Potter's judgement of her over in her head. She wasn't sure why it bothered her so much – maybe it was because he had been so quick to judge her, forming his opinion based on two short interactions, having barely spoken to her. Pansy wasn't sure, but she didn't like how it made her feel. Worry gave way to sleep after a time and if Pansy dreamt of anything, she didn't remember it when she awoke.
AN: I am only posting the first chapter of this fic on here as I mostly use ao3 nowadays - you can read the rest of this fic on my ao3 with the same username, pansystan
archiveofourown /works/11627697/
