Author's Note: Here's the next chapter! This story is getting a lot darker than I originally intended it to be, the rating will be moved up to "T". And don't worry my lovelies, Draco will be coming in soon enough, I have to build up a bit. I'm just as antsy as you are to see him! If you hadn't read it, I out up my AU for the first chapter. I hope you all enjoy this one! I'll be updating soon, I want to get this rolling. And please review! I only have like three, so if you read all you have to do is take 2.4 seconds to write a quick little something. I get more excited about writing this when I know people read this. So I might do a chapter from Draco's point of view soon, who knows. Tell me what you think! Okay, get to the story!
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"I wonder what that big potato is doing in front of my mirror. Oh wait, that's me! Ow!" I feel a sharp pinch in my side.
"Hold still and keep your mouth shut. I need to fix this before dinner." I cross my arms, despite what Mother told me.
"Ohh, is that what you're doing? Okay good, we're clear now, because I assumed you were preparing me for the Ms. Brown Bag pageant." 'Pinch.
"We must really work on that annoying trap of yours, along with that sass."
"I only learn from the best, Mother," I say in my sweetest tone. Poke. "Ow! Again!"
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop talking, Pansy? Let me loosen the material around your bust and..." I roll my eyes as I lift my arms up, allowing her access to my chest.
"Mother, if you insist on loosening this robe anymore than it already is, we might as well wrap a brown sheet around me and call it a day." Another prick. "Is that really necessary?" She ignores me.
"We must make you look appropriate for the Notts. Modest and conservative, that's the only way to go." I snort.
"When has that ever been your motto? If I recall correctly, it was always, 'Your chest is your best, that's where a woman's treasure is." She grabs her wand and casts a cut-and-seal charm to the seam of my robe.
"Four years in Hogwarts and you still haven't managed to find a husband. The mistake certainly is not in my teaching, so it must be from your slut outfits. I can't have my own blood dressing like a common prostitute, therefore you lose your right to dress yourself." I can only gape into my reflection, completely nonplussed. My so-called mother continues to flit about my robe, loosening the dingy brown fabric in the most unflattering ways, all the while muttering about, "Completely incompetent, can't even land a husband or dress like a respectable Pureblood."
Finally, Lucinda steps away, observing her handiwork. With an approving nod she says, "I suppose this will due. That behind of yours is quite difficult to cover up, perhaps it's time to implement some food restrictions." I gasp.
"Um, Mother? There is absolutely no way I am going without food again. You forced me to do that in fourth year and since then, food and I have come to a mutual understanding that no one gets left behind."
"The fat in your hips and behind seem to disagree with that understanding. No matter how much I loosen this material, it always clings to your sides. We really need to get rid of that whore body, it attracts unnecessary attention." What the hell is with this woman today? It's just insult after insult. Well, that's not unusual, but she never insults my body. That's her pride and joy.
"But Mother, it's not solely about looking like a whore, you have to act like one too. And I think I've had a pretty good teacher, don't you?" One minute, my mother's behind me doing some last minute touch-ups and the next, there's a cold, stabbing pain in the side of my stomach.
"What the-" I look down, and the tip of Mother's needle is protruding from right above my pelvic bone. "Oh Salazar, did you just- M-Mother!" She smiles sweetly and places her chin on my shoulder, tilting the needle upwards. I suck in a deep breath.
"Careful with that tongue, child. I own you and your pathetic life, so be a little more aware the next time you consider contradicting me." She pulls the needle out, and tiny drops of red lace through the eye. Wiping it on my arm, she continues nonchalantly. "The Notts will arrive in two hours. I expect you downstairs and on your best behavior. Understood?" I glare at her through the mirror. She smiles, pats my head, and gracefully walks out of the room. Pulling my robes up, I observe the red dot on my belly. It's barely an inch, don't be such a baby! Still, it hurts like a bitch. Or am I thinking of the woman who just left? I let out a harsh laugh.
"Wow Lucinda, I underestimated you. Well done." I've never known anyone colder than that woman.
How I respect her.
Knock, knock.
"What is it?" I grumble from my sprawl on my loveseat. The door creaks open slightly.
"Um, M-Miss Parkinson?" came a trembling voice.
"What?" I snap.
"Mrs. Parkinson wishes me to tell you that-that-"
"Come out with it, elf."
"The Nott family will arrive in half an hour."
I groan loudly and the house elf squeaks. Feeling a tad guilty, I look at the small elf's head peaking out of my doorway. Vaguely recognizing her I say, "Thank you, Swinkie, let her know I'll be down in time." Swinkie gasps, probably in surprise; I don't usually show any civility towards my house elves in front of my mother, she would throw me out of the house.
"Yes, yes Miss Parkinson." She bows and backs out of my room. All the way down the hall I can hear her saying, "Young Miss Parkinson is too kind, too too kind. Swinkie is undeserving of such a nice young Miss."
Throwing a pillow over my head, I sigh. Half and hour. Ugh. Just thirty minutes until I have to deal with another worthless bloke.
"What did you do to deserve this, Pansy?" I say into my pillow. Thinking it's probably time to get ready, I pull myself off the love seat and traipse to my make-up bar. Yes, make-up bar. I sit on my plush, red arm chair and instantly sink a foot. Glancing into my wall length mirror, I pull out the infinite number of make-up tools from the bar counter. Half a pound of mascara, eye shadow, eye liner, lipstick, a QuickSlik hair spell later, and I'm Britain's most eligible bachelorette. I look bloody gorgeous. It's a wonder how I'm not engaged yet. Well, not until the end of fourth year did I begin to 'come into my own'. All the way until fourth year at Hogwarts I was a little on the pudgy side and resembled a, as rumors dubbed it, pug. Then, within the course of a month, I grew six inches, lost ten pounds, grew my hair out, and the pug nose finally lost its pug. Well, it was still slightly upturned, but I like to think it gives me some extra flair.
I was also a bit of a popularity whore, being a Pureblood Slytherin and all. Daphne Greengrass, Millicent Bullstrode, and Blaise Zabini were my little loyal followers. They still are, but back then, I had to threaten and blackmail them into staying in my clique. Now, blackmail definitely is not needed. I shudder, remembering how pathetic I was. Always gossiping about the most inconsequential issues, chasing after boys, and sucking up to anybody who was a somebody. Now, I am at the top of the pyramid. I don't know exactly how that happened, puberty just gave me a natural air of confidence, I suppose. And boobs. Definitely boobs. I check the clock on my bar. 5:45. Only fifteen more minutes. I deeply, truly, genuinely hate these dinners. Ever since Mother Nature paid me in full, Lucinda has gone crazy over marrying me off to a wealthy, top-of-the-class gentleman. Every week for the entire summer I've had dinners with the wealthiest bachelors and their Pureblood parents. Lucinda hounds them for the first five minutes about their blood lineage and occupation, then spends the rest of the night being the perfect, ingratiating, lovely housewife. Dad sometimes attempts to step in and have her relax with the dates, but his help has become more seldom. I've failed exactly ten dates; if I don't suck-up to a man and put a ring on this finger soon, Mother will disown. Sure I want to get married and join the top of the wizarding hierarchy and have a bunch of little termites running around calling me "Mom", but men are just so insufferable. Either too weak or too pompous, and they all seam to dislike my personality. I suppose I don't exactly give off the housewife vibes. Life was so much easier when I was ugly.
'Knock, knock.' I look at the door through my mirror.
"Yes?" Swinkie's head pops back into my room.
"Mrs. Parkinson wishes to say that the Nott family has arrived and that you must hurry your, um, rear-end and act, um, extremely nice unless you want to... not have a very nice time tonight." I can only imagine what Mother really said.
"Thanks, I'm coming." Following Swinkie out of my room, I think about Theodore Nott. He's in my year at Hogwart's and has always been rather quiet, from what I can tell. I've never actually talked to the boy before, but he's decent looking and comes from a wealthy family. Well of course he does, or else Mother wouldn't have him over.
"Pansy, my dear!" Mother shouts happily from the bottom of the stairs. Spotting Nott and his parents, I smile just as warmly. Fake, happy mode has been turned on. "Come down and meet Clive and Nora Nott." I roll my shoulders back, place a hand on the railing, and descend the steps with the sixteen years of grace Mother instilled into me.
"Hello, my name is Pansy, it's a pleasure to meet you both," I say as I reach the poised couple.
"Hello, Pansy, a pleasure," says the tall man with stubble.
"I'm Nora, you look lovely."
"Thank you." Alright, increase the charm a bit. "And the pleasure is all mine, Mr. Nott."
"Oh please, call me Clive." Perfect.
"I believe you've already met Theodore, right Pansy?" asks Mother. I turn to Theodore and shake his hand kindly.
"Yes, we are in the same year at Hogwarts. Hello, Theodore."
"Hello, Pansy, wonderful to see you."
His voice has deepened dramatically over the summer. Well, now I won't have to listen to a high-pitched squeal everyday.
"Thank you, it's lovely to see you as well." I can see Mother smiling approvingly from the corner of my eye.
"Why don't we move to the dining room? Dinner is ready, I hope you enjoy roasted eel cuts with breaded applecorn seeds." My stomach growls softly and I walk a little quicker to the table. Eel is God's gift to the world.
"Oh, I don't eat eel, but the applecorn seeds will be just fine," says Theodore as he pushes my chair in. I stop smiling. He doesn't eat eel? WHAT? Is this boy mentally stable?
I shoot a look at Mother but she's smiling warmly at Theodore.
"I'm terribly sorry, I wasn't aware. Pansy didn't mention that."
"Because we've never talked before." I realize the statement came out a little ruder than I intended and Mother shot a dark look at me. "But it's wonderful we have this chance to get to know one another." I smile reluctantly at Theodore.
"I agree."
"So, you don't care for eel?" I ask politely.
"Well, I've never tried it, so I wouldn't know. To be honest, I'm just scared at the prospect of eating eel. It used to sting its prey, you know." He smiles sheepishly. Is that supposed to be cute? I smile in return.
"Well, crabs pinch their prey, but when you eat them, they're dead." I feel a sharp kick to my shin under the table and nearly jump out of my seat. I look across the table at a seemingly innocent Lucinda. She smiles widely, but I can see the warning behind it.
"I suppose it is a bit silly. I'm just not the adventurous type," Theodore admits. Bloody wonderful.
"No? So traveling to foreign countries isn't in your future?"
He seems to consider it for a second. "I don't like going to new places. I'm a creature of habit, you could say, so I'd think not, unless business sends me to different countries. I'll mostly be at home." Theodore smiles again, like I'm supposed to be happy that I'd be trapped in a house all the time with him. If I have a husband, he needs to travel, so either I can explore new places with him, or I have opportunities to cheat on him with cute pool boys.
"That works out so well!" Mother exclaims. Where is she going with this? "Pansy hates traveling."
"I do?" My shin gets kicked again.
"Yes, you were just telling me about how you want a husband who can stay home from time to time and take care of you, right?"
"So Theodore," I say quickly. "What business do you do?" He smiles at the return of attention. Is there something wrong with his mouth?
"Right now I have an internship at the Ministry of Magic." I perk up at that.
"Oh? And what do you do?"
"Every summer, for the past three years, I've worked at the Ministry under numerous mentors. It's really quite interesting how many different Departments there are."
"So," I begin. "What is your favorite Department?"
"Oh there are just too, too many! I've worked with dragons, in the Department of Mysteries, Care of Magical Creatures, Magical Games and Sports, and practically all over the Ministry." I lean forward on the table, propping up my elbows. I don't care if it isn't proper etiquette, this boy might actually be interesting.
"That's our Theo, we're so proud of him," speaks his mother for the first time, clasping her hands in glee.
"That's amazing! You worked with dragons?" I ask.
"Only for a day. One nearly took my head off! It was quite dangerous work, actually."
"I can only imagine," pipes up Mother. Everyone at the table was so entranced, I can practically see the seating chart for our wedding being arranged in Mother's head.
"I was putting a dragon back in his cage with a few other blokes. The dragon was extremely wild; thrashing every which way and breathing fire. So there I was, coaxing this flailing, thousand-spiked creature to return to it's abode, and after hours, when it finally does, you'd think that's the end, right? But you're very wrong. This is the point where I found my true calling." We all lean forward, waiting to hear what happened.
"As we close the gate, this fiery demon lets out a long, throaty bellow. It ricochets across the walls, because we're in a cave, mind you, and suddenly, I'm flying! Flying five feet into the air and landing flat on my back. And you won't believe what happened next. My head almost landed on a stray knife! Someone was foolish enough to leave a knife lying around! Such irresponsibility could get someone killed. This is why I want to become Head of the Department of Magical and Non-Magical Tool Safety Awareness. Having a near-death experience like mine really makes you want to make a change in society." I stare openly at Theodore, mouth hanging wide for the world to view my tonsils. I didn't even care. Theodore's father claps him on the back in pride and his mother wipes the corner of her eyes. Mother even seems a little shocked, but quickly recovers and kicks me in the shin. I straighten.
"Is that even a Department?"
Another kick. Theodore stutters for a second before saying, "Well no, not yet, but it will be! I'm going to create one and make sure such frivolousness of dangerous tools never occurs again!"
"That's really the most fascinating story I've ever heard," I say deadpan. I also move my legs to the side to avoid Mother's reprimand.
"Why thank you, I certainly try." Was this guy from Hufflepuff? The sarcasm completely went over his head. My interest deflates like a balloon and I sit back in my seat.
"Pansy would be most pleased to have you as a husband, Theodore," Mother lies through her teeth. I groan inwardly, very much done with this conversation.
"I also have a liking for the Floo Network Department." Oh how incredibly interesting. Please tell us more.
"Is that so? Pansy is obsessed with the Floo Network!" Yup, sure do Mother, just like I'm in love with busses. I zone out of the conversation, nodding whenever Theodore goes on rants about impossibly lame topics.
"I took Herbology when I was a young lad, as well." Is that something to boast about, Mr. Nott? Boring. Boring, boring, stupid, boring. I feel a jab to my knee and jump.
"What?" Glancing around the table, I realize everyone is staring at me, like I'm supposed to respond to something.
"Oh Pansy, always the joker. Theodore just paid you a very nice compliment," Mother says cooly. I turn to Nott.
"I'm terribly sorry, what interesting fact did you have to tell me?" Mother turns red, but I'm done playing the charming little girl, this dinner should have ended somewhere around when they got here.
"Well I was merely saying, Pansy, that you are looking well this summer." He smiles warmly.
"Was I looking ill before, Nott?" A dumbstruck look crosses his face.
"What? No! I merely mean you look better!" I lean back into my chair casually, clasping my hands together on the table.
"Do you mean to imply that I was worse before the summer, as in ugly? And now I look good? Or that I was hideous and have only improved to ugly? Or perhaps I still do look terrible but you're only saying I look better so as to conform with proper social etiquette, and to perhaps get laid."
The Notts gape at me and Theodore looks about ready to wet his pants. Lucinda laughs awkwardly before saying, "Oh that's our Pansy, forever joking. She'll always put a smile on your face, Theodore. But she's also capable of discussing important issues, isn't that right, Pansy?" Mother turns to me, her voice becoming icy and danger glinting in her eyes.
"Of course, Mother. For example, should women have to succumb to the customs of society and follow their husband's every whim? Should we have to breed little heathens like swine? Should we not be able to play professional Quidditch, if one brave female chooses to do so? Should we not be able to venture off freely into the wizarding world and do as we please, without regard to status or marriage or fashion? And should a woman have to be forced to sit through an entire dinner listening to possibly the most boring human being on the planet? These are very important topics, don't you agree, Nott?" By this time, I was picking listlessly at my nails, so I didn't see Mother bang her fists against the table and spring up. I did, however, see the outrage on dear Mr. and Mrs. Nott's face as they too stood up.
"I don't know want game you seem to be playing, Lucinda Parkinson, but we will not tolerate such rude behavior from some wild, uncontrollable, insolent ninny!" Clive Nott booms and hauls Theodore, who still has his mouth hanging open, out of his chair and to the door.
"Wait, no, please, she didn't-" Mother begins.
"You forgot spoiled brat!" I call, laughing as they storm out of my house. Well, I laugh until Mother turns around. The look on her face shuts me up and has me peeing. The house elves, who began clearing the table, quickly(wisely) scurry away. I wish I was them.
"How dare you," she whispers icily, stalking towards me like a cat ready to attack, behead, devour, throw-up, and re-eat a mouse. "How DARE YOU! What in SALAZAR'S name was that little stunt? Was it supposed to be cute? Was that supposed to be funny? You little whore! How dare you embarrass me like that!" I roll my eyes. Is it a bad sign when I'm no longer effected by my mother calling me a whore?
"Lucinda, please, don't be so dramatic. He was extremely-" she slaps me across the face.
"I am 'Mother' to you. However unfortunate that is. You will never address me otherwise; we represent a flawless family and you will act as such."
"How is that 'flawless family' working out for you?" Another slap. Too bad she's puny and bony with no muscle to pack behind the hits. They were actually quite pathetic, to be honest.
"I don't care if he's 'dull, tiresome, or the most boring human being on the planet'," she mimicks me. I do not sound like that! "You will be charming, poised, and flawless at all times." There was a heated silence as we glare openly at each other. "Your father will be hearing about this when he returns from his business trip in Israel tonight." I shrug. That doesn't really frighten me. "Do you see? This attitude is why you don't have a husband! It's why 'no one' can stand to be near you for more than five minutes." I laugh.
"Much like yourself?" Her palm quivers, like she is itching to slap me again. She's probably realized that they don't hurt. "Go up to your room. Now. I don't want to hear a single noise from you for the rest of the night. I'll schedule another dinner for tomorrow. I strongly suggest you 'don't' mess this one up."
"What?! Dinners two nights in a row? That's excruciating!"
"If you don't at least 'act' like the perfect woman I raised you to be, then you'll have a new definition of excruciating." Lucinda smiles sweetly, and I smile back, waltzing out of the dining room. Then I hear her shout something.
"Ah!" A searing pain crosses my back and I double over.
Mother comes into my hazy view and leans into my ear.
"Just a little reminder to be good." Lucinda laughs as she stands up and begins walking up the stairs. "Oh, and don't tell you father about this. Good night, darling." I feel the cloth around my back dampen. Cautiously touching the wound, I suck in a breath. Blood coats my fingers.
"Holy Salazar!" My mother casted a freaking cutting curse on me! The bitch! "Alright, Mother dearest, I'll show you what best behavior looks like."
Did you enjoy? What do you think of Pansy? Lucinda? Let me know dolls! Also, this is a sneak peak to the next chapter!
"I'm sorry, were you dropped on your head when you were a baby? Or were you just born stupid?"
