A/N- I personally think this is my best chapter so far. I hope you like it.


Chapter 11- To Love a Mudblood

Draco wasn't too thrilled at the Malfoy Holiday party on December 24. He stayed put on the couch by the fireplace. He crossed his arms and dazed into the flames of the fire. He was so bored at the time that he was convinced that he'd rather be in his Arithmancy class.

He was on the brink of dozing off, until he was stopped short by none other than Pansy Parkinson. He shot up and glared hastily at his ex. He didn't want anything to do with her. Especially not now.

"What do you want?" he growled.

"My mother insisted that you and I set aside our differences and have a dance, and…I forgive you anyway. I mean, it's not like I've never thought about Blaise while we were in the midst of things…"

'Zabini? Damn! I never would've thought…'

"I'm…not in the mood Pansy."

"Not in the mood? And you think I am? You can't go through with a quick dance?" She protested with anger filling her tone as she spoke.

"No."

"Well I never! You truly are a selfish son of a bitch!"

Draco stood and grabbed a handful of Pansy's hair and growled into her ear.

"You don't ever call my mother a bitch…you pathetic ditzy ex-fashion victim."

"Let go of me you goon! I know what this is all about. That disgusting Granger! Of course…I should've seen this coming. It was so obvious…all the times you've insulted her, it was clearly just an action of a subliminal outburst of affection…a-and I knew you were staring at someone in the great hall all those times, I-I supposed you were just glaring at Potter…well, hell, I was wrong there…you were just staring at the mudblood's small and undeveloped chest! And you call yourself a man? Please. Longass is more manly than you…I never thought I'd hear myself say that out loud…but I'm damn proud that I did! It's something you should know! Aside from the fact that you're the biggest arrogant, nauseating, selfish, prideful, prick that had ever liv…"

She was interrupted by a punch to her crooked, pug-like nose. She fell to the floor, screaming as blood ran from her nostrils. Of course just about everyone at in the large room turned their attention to a raging Draco and his distressed ex on the floor. Mrs. Parkinson rushed over to her daughter and helped her up, and glared at Draco.

"The bitch deserved it." He mustered out.

His father stayed where he was across the room, still threatening Draco with his dark glare. His mother walked over with her hand over her lips, surprised at Draco's sudden and obscene act of violence.

"D-draco, why did you…what happened?" She muttered out, looking scared rather than angry.

He didn't reply, simply because he didn't know how to.

Pansy had a convincing comeback.

"I'll tell you why Mrs. Malfoy. It appears that Draco here is in love with a mudblood, Hermione Granger. So he just couldn't stand the fact that I knew, and that I was just trying to help him but pointing out all of her wrongs, I mean…do you approve of this? Your whole family is pureblood after all."

Draco felt the urge to rage out on her again, yearning to punch the little rat even harder this time, but he couldn't, just not in front of his mother.

"Is this true, Draco?" She asked, silently, seeming to fear the answer.

"No! Of course not! Why would I like a muggle born? She's out of her wits mother!"

"Just go upstairs to your room, Draco. We shall discuss this later…"

He did as she said, and angrily strode up the stairs.

….

"I want a great explanation right now, Draco. Your way of violence earlier with far from necessary." His father scowled.

Draco stood up from the edge of his bed and slowly paced back and forth while avoiding eye contact from Lucius, this way he found it easier to lie.

"Alright Father, you see, Pansy has deceived all of you tonight. Not that I'm surprised…everyone will always believe the girl, but not just her…a girl in general. So I could tell you my side of the story, but you wouldn't believe it."

"Look at me Draco!" His father stated coldly.

His eyes drew up to his, seeming suspenseful, cold and pierce.

"Now, I do not give a bloody damn about what the girl said earlier. I just want to hear your cutting edge persuasive speech on what drove you to resort to such a muggle act."

Draco gulped for what must've been the millionth time that night. He didn't know what to say, since technically Pansy had told the truth. He was indeed regretfully in love with Hermione; he was even mentally calling her by her first name.

"I just…wasn't thinking straight. She was pissing me off. You know how girls are sometimes; they just drive a man crazy."

"That's no excuse Draco. Not that I really care that you laid your hand on her, em…let's just keep that between you and I…as I was saying, what was it exactly that angered you? I highly doubt that it had anything to do with a mudblood correct?"

Lucius laughed a bit at that last sentence, but Draco was far from that.

"No, of course not father."

"Good, but what was it?"

Draco contemplated quickly, fighting to make up a valid lie.

"Uh…to be completely honest…she just…refused to…do something…"

"Do wha…oh." His father stopped. The anger seemed to fade off of his face and was replaced by a look of distraught surprise.

"Well…son, how can you expect her to give in to your every demand? We may be a family of high class and greatly extended power, but unfortunately, we can't always get our way. Clearly your outburst of anger as a response to her opposition was simply ridiculous."

Draco sat back down on his bed, and at this point he just wanted to sleep and forget about everything. His pent up internal feelings were killing him, he wanted to scream out in frustration, but couldn't do so, of course not while his arrogant father was in the room. He was in enough trouble as it was.

"I apologize, father."

"Don't do so to me, Draco, I believe you need to do so to your mother, for she is the most offended by all of this."

He strode out of the room and allowed Narcissa to enter. She looked far from cross, more disappointed.

She took a seat next to her son, and being far more gentle and understanding than her husband, rested her hand gently on his back.

"Oh, Draco, It has become quite apparent over the years that you have the temper of your father." She sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't develop that characteristic."

Although he had been told many times before than he had a horrible anger problem by his classmates, he himself just didn't truly believe it.

"Well, I'm certain that your father has already lectured you quite enough this evening, but I must say one thing, you may not understand, simply because it's not possible for your kind…all males, but know this, we women can really take things to heart, more than men do, and what you did to Pansy earlier really hurt her, and I don't mean just physically, but emotionally. Draco you can't just…act out like that, no matter how angry a girl can make you. You must at least try to think…about what you're doing, and what you're about to do."

Draco had honestly zoned out on most of what she said. It was just so…disinteresting. At least Lucius had been threatening enough to grab his full on attention, but evidently, his mother just couldn't.

"I would like you to apologize to Miss Parkinson. They are about to leave, but please just do this, to help her feel better, even if you don't forgive her, just make her believe so. Okay?"

"Yes, mother."

She smiled slightly and patted his back. They stood up at almost the same time and hit the hallway. Draco strode hastily down the long and dim hallway, towards the Parkinson family. His cold gray eyes met Pansy's, showing anything but forgiveness.

She straightened herself up confidently, but Draco could still tell that she was frightened of him. This made him feel powerful. He didn't even care that it was wrong, he was proud of his overpowering angst and dark charisma towards others.

"Well?" Pansy muttered silently. Her tall and bold father stood behind her, so Draco knew not to mess this up.

He put his hand out and quickly shook her hand. "Sorry." He muttered hastily.

Her father grimaced at him, as did her mother.

"Let's go dear." Her mother spoke. Pansy sneered at Draco one last time. She turned and went out the door to Draco's relief.


He slept well that night. Better than at Hogwarts. His large and well cushioned mattress allowed him to drift away peacefully. He didn't dream about Hermione for the first time in a while, but he thought about her when he woke up. His eyes drew to the curtains, where the sunlight was just begging to be let in, however Draco preferred the darkness of his room, especially since his eyes weren't fully adjusted yet. He glanced at his clock on the dresser and noticed it was nearly noon. His parents had let him sleep in. He got up and stretched, then went into the bathroom to shower. Once he was finished he went downstairs. He gathered his presents and opened them. Now that he was older he wasn't nearly as eager to open them as he was in his younger years, and didn't care too much for what he got.

A new broomstick, the latest edition in fact, new clothes, and a set of new quills, all from some rare bird species, was all that beheld of his previously wrapped gifts. He was satisfied.

"Thank you." He told both of his elders.

He took a seat at the table, and ate his breakfast, well technically 'lunch,' but breakfast to him. His father seemed different that morning. He seemed to be giving him a distasteful glare. His mother on the other hand seemed to be avoiding him completely. Her eyes wouldn't move from the hourglass on the middle of the table. She looked a bit frightened. Draco just figured that she was still upset over what happened last night.

He sipped his pumpkin juice, and was slightly taken aback by the way Lucius was looking at him, and he had never seen him look so concerned. His mother stood up and left the room, but glared at Lucius before doing so.

He had drunken half of his glass before he began to feel strange, and almost sickly. He suddenly felt the urge to leave, and quickly. He stood, without asking his father to be excused. He turned but was halted by Lucius. His eyes met his fathers' quickly. Lucius smirked cruelly and scowled, "Feeling unwell, Draco?"

Fear struck Draco at an unbelievably quick momentum as Lucius grabbed his wrist very tightly and practically dragged him to the living room. Draco felt stranger and more nauseated by the moment. He couldn't believe it. Had his own father poisoned him?

He threw him down on a chair by the fireplace and wrapped a rope around him.

"Father, what are you,"

"You really think that I wasn't suspicious after what happened last night? C'mon Draco you should know that doesn't abide with me. I knew you were lying! It was far too obvious…you see son, lying isn't easy, well, perhaps it is, at least for us Malfoys,' but it takes practice to become good at it, and son, your deceit would've been recognized by a simpleton."

Lucius took a seat in a more cushioned chair across from him. He crossed his legs and began his plan.

"You look frightened Draco. Don't be. I only poured some Veritaserum in your pumpkin juice is all, just enough to give me some real answers."

He fought against the ropes, but no avail. The effects of the potion had weakened him as well.

"Well, let's begin, shall we?"

"Father, please…"

"Hush, Draco, wait until I ask my question."

He silenced and feared for what was to come.

"Do you feel for a muggle born?"

"Yes." Damn it.

"Isn't this shocking…after all these years of telling you just how corrupted and ridicule their nature is…oh well. How long have you felt this way?"

"Two months."

"Hmm, that's not bad, at least now I can convince to reverse these feelings for her, it has only been a short time after all…"

"Do you love her?"

"Yes." Draco hadn't even known that for sure himself.

"Intriguing. How long have you liked her?"

"Two years." Draco surprised himself again.

Lucius rubbed his forehead in frustration; he cursed to himself and then met Draco's eyes again.

"Oh Draco…it now pains me that I have more to ask…"

"Please stop. I have already told you everything!"

"No, you haven't. Tell me Draco, do you dream about her?"

"Yes."

"How often?"

"Almost every night."

"Bloody hell. This will be one arduous love-reverse…"

"C-can I go now?"

"No. I'm not quite through yet son. Time to get a bit more personal."

Draco gulped, fighting to try to hold back his next answer.

"If, in some odd reality, you two were to date, would you take pleasure in…making love to her?"

It was definitely an odd and awkward question, and Draco fought to not answer, but failed.

"Yes." Bloody hell…

"Huh…should I even bother asking you more? I'd hate to waste a good twenty minutes of that stuff left in you…I must say, I'm quite disappointed in you…"

Draco looked down, ashamed of himself. He cursed under his breath for drinking that juice earlier, then again his father would've likely found another way to get it in his system even if he hadn't drank the juice.

"Let's not waste any time, son. Now, I forget the girls name…I believe it was something peculiar, that started with an H. It sounded familiar. What was it?"

"Hermione."

"Last name?"

"Granger."

"Granger! Now I recall…that little nuisance that hangs around Mister Potter. Honestly Draco, I really would've imagined someone at least a tad more suitable to our family…but what can I expect? Just the fact that you love a muggle born makes me sick!"

Lucius stood up and paced back and forth, contemplating on what to ask next.

"Is she aware of this?"

"No."

"Good. That would be the last thing we need, a filthy blood falling head over heels for someone in our family. Were you planning on telling her anytime soon?"

"No."

"Good, but were you ever planning on telling her?"

"I don't know." Draco didn't know that anything except 'yes' or 'no' was a possible answer when it came to these kinds of questions.

"Well you bloody well better not Draco! The next time we do this that answer better be a simple 'no.' "

We'll be doing this again?! Draco fearfully asked himself.

"Tell me Draco, do you…stare at her?"

"Yes."

"How often?"

"Every class I have with her, and in the Great hall."

"Do you talk to her?"

"Yes."

"Oh, do you?"

"In a manner of insults only."

"Oh, like that doesn't give anything away. Merlin, Draco, don't you know that women can read us like books? Of course she'll eventually figure out that you like her! If she has not already…"

"Oh tell me, son, if you could have her right now, in your presence, to do whatever crosses your wrong mind with her, would you?"

A few seconds passed, the Veritaserum had been slowly wearing off, but not enough to allow Draco to hold in his answer.

"Yes."

Lucius sighed and approached Draco. He untied him and said, "I believe I've heard enough for today…I'm hesitant to take any of this in."

Draco stood, ready to flee up to his room, but was first slapped forcefully across the face by his father. He then grasped his shirt and glared into his eyes for the hundredth time that day.

"It just…disgusts me to the fullest…the fact to you feel this way for something so vile. Pfft…to love a mudblood…"