Better Be Slytherin
XXVIII
Boys Will be Boys
"Watch where you're going, Mudblood!" Pansy snapped viciously at a Hufflepuff student from the same year and bumped into her on purpose while passing each other in the corridor. Daphne and Queenie laughed cruelly, and they all entered the Transfiguration classroom.
Draco only rolled his eyes at the girls. They were unbelievably silly. He had grown a humungous anger for Pansy over the last couple of days, after figuring out she had snogged Nott as well as all her game-playing – yet, for some inexplicable reason it had made him want her more.
As the students settled down, placing their bags and books by their seats and bringing out their quills and parchments, McGonagall began the introduction of today's lesson. When Theodore Nott slumped down into the seat next to him, Draco flinched. He hardly even wanted to be at this lesson, particularly not with that complete and utter twat! His presence had Draco grumbling, unable to focus on whatever the professor was saying. The fact that the boy next to him had kissed his Pansy had him seething inside with anger. It didn't matter at all that Draco had split up with her – she was supposed to be his! It wasn't as if he had broken it off because he had wanted to – he hadn't the possibility or time to be with her, with everything that he was supposed to do.
They had had sex. She had been his. He briefly wondered whether she had had sex with Nott as well. Immediately the thought brought a wave of nausea over him and his knuckles and jaw clenched. Images of Pansy writhing beneath someone else; moaning in that sexy little way she did with him; spreading her legs for someone else; touching someone else's chest; running her hands over someone else's shoulders... all of it disgusted him enormously.
Just then, because McGonagall had finished her introduction, everyone began reaching for their books to read the assigned pages, and a movement caught his attention: Theodore Nott's greedy hand was snaking its way closer, and Draco watched in horror as he grabbed Draco's book, brought it nearer to him, opened it up and began browsing in it to find the right page.
Draco's eyes were wide open, slowly turning to stare at Nott, who froze, looking dumbfounded. For a few seconds, they stared at each other – before Nott averted his eyes and slowly looked down onto the book in his hand, and then back at Draco, haltingly beginning to understand.
"Oh, was this yours...?" Nott began, but Draco interrupted him.
"Trying to take everything that's mine, are you?" he hissed viciously.
A surprised Theodore Nott hastily tossed the book down and grabbed his own and hid behind it.
Draco rolled his eyes out of irritation and turned back, and just as he grabbed his book, he accidentally caught Pansy's eye. She was smirking contently.
The slag. To hell with her.
The entire school-day passed without her speaking to Malfoy, and finally, after dinner that evening, she snuck up on him in the common room and whispered in his ear.
"Jealous, are we?"
He twitched, surprised of her presence, and looked slightly annoyed when he hastily turned around to look at her. Pansy only smirked contently.
"What would I possibly have to be jealous of?" he said in a short, chilly tone.
Pansy rolled her eyes and nudged his arm, aware of how taunting she was. "It was only a book, Draco, really," she sneered.
She could see how irritated it made him – his entire face was twitching and he was clenching his jaw, yet he seemed determined to not show it, because he only ordered her "move," shortly.
It only amused her.
"Oh, sod off," she grinned widely and didn't falter one bit. Then he looked up at her and glared – almost intimidating her. "Just move off will you!"
She did not obey him at all – instead she moved closer, noticing how Draco suddenly looked unsure of himself as she did so, and slowly moved her head near his, before leisurely placing a delayed kiss on his cheek. She felt his face stiffening.
Then she simply pulled away, threw him a teasing smirk, and tossed her hair over her shoulder as she turned around to saunter back to the sofas in front of the fireplace where her gang of girls were sitting, watching, leaving Malfoy growling behind her.
Draco pulled himself together, swallowed harshly and rolled his eyes, irritated for her to have an impact on him, and even more irritated at himself for not being able to conceal it.
"She's doin' it to wind you up," he suddenly heard a voice say. He turned around and saw Callum Yulley, unusually not accompanied by best friend James Yardley, looking slightly amused. "Gonna get messy, I expect."
And he jerked his head towards the sofas where Pansy was eyeing Draco hungrily, as if he were a fresh pumpkin pastry.
The next night after some heavy hours of work in the Come-and-go-Room, Draco decided to play Pansy's own game and beat her at it. Nobody made him feel unsuperior! Returning to the common room after practising spells on the cabinet, he spotted her brown hair from afar. She was in the other end of the common room, just by the fireplace, and from what it seemed, gossiping with Greengrass and Davis. He hurried up to her sneakily – Greengrass spotted him but had no time to warn Pansy before he crept up behind her and placed a strategically warm peck on the back of her neck, while sliding his hands onto her hips.
Pansy jumped and gave a shriek while Greengrass and Davis sceptically raised one eyebrow each. He ignored the girls, as Pansy instinctively turned around, rapidly.
"Oh, it's you."
He had hoped for more enthusiasm, especially after trying to tease her by placing his lips on her body. He gave a chilly smile, not giving away too much, and raised his eyebrows slightly.
"What do you want?" she went on, not wasting a second. Greengrass sniggered. Draco didn't falter, yet rolled his eyes.
"Just thought I'd get your opinion on something," he lied, still playing it cool.
Pansy raised her eyebrows disbelievingly. He gave her a dazzling smile in response. Finally, she turned back to her friends.
"See you in a bit, yeah?"
They giggled and sauntered off at her demand. Pansy turned back to him. At once, he took his chance and continued his game – moving closer to her and putting his hands on her lower back.
"What do you think you're doing?" she snorted disdainfully and swatted his hands away. It didn't scare him off at all – on the contrary he put his hands back and teasingly said: "What? I thought this was what you wanted."
Pansy snorted again and distinctly pulled back. "What made you think that?"
"You flirted with me last night," he lowered his voice and said in a taunting tone. "Isn't that right?"
"Did not..." she emphasised, planting a disgusted look on her face. Draco just laughed in a low voice and leaned in, placing a hand on her cheek, looking at her. She couldn't disguise the surprise on her features, and it looked like she enjoyed having him close.
"I'm debating whether to kiss you or smack you in the face," she muttered. Draco laughed again and moved in towards her mouth to kiss her. She pulled away.
She suddenly felt weak, realised why she had been in love with him in the first place – she felt her upper hand slipping a bit, but hastily stifled the feeling.
"You don't want to smack me in the face," he teased and moved in to whisper a few dirty words in her ear. It caught her by surprise and she pushed him away, hands on his chest.
"Ugh, you're so bloody full of yourself," she said, irritated.
Draco hid his grin. "Would you prefer it if you were full of me?"
Pansy gave him a disgusted look at once.
"What?" he smirked widely.
Suddenly, without warning, she roughly pushed him back, her hands over his collarbones, so quickly he hadn't the time to react before he felt the harsh, uneven surface of the stone wall painfully dig into his back, grunting in pain and shock. She, like always, took his breath away.
She shot him an icy stare. "I'm getting really sick of you," she spat. Getting angry, he rolled his eyes at once.
"Get off me," he muttered, but he didn't move. She purposely nudged his shoulder again, pushed him against the hard wall once more, with her left hand.
"Was there a reason you came up to me?" she snorted impatiently, her hand still on his shoulder, holding him back.
In an effort to regain the upper hand, he composed himself and began sneering. "I'll tell you if you come down to the dorm with me."
She sceptically raised one eyebrow. "As if."
It was his turn to move away, and he grabbed her arm and tugged her along. "Just come with me."
"I'm not going anywhere with you." She immediately pulled her arm out of his grip. "If you didn't have anything to speak to me about, then I've got things to get back to—"
"You don't want to come down to my dorm?" he casually asked, wishing she wouldn't leave. He was frustrated at the fact of sharing her with Nott and wanted to make her his again as soon as possible. He wanted to claim her.
"Erm, no," she emphasised, as if disgusted.
"Fine," he replied curtly. "My father says never to chase someone, so have it your way then..."
Pansy started sneering at once at his comment.
"'My father says'," she mocked him in a silly, child-like tone of voice. Draco felt his cheeks go warmer. "Well if that's what daddy says then I suppose you ought to get to it."
"Tease," he muttered. She just smiled mischievously. He couldn't help but to move closer, he could smell her from the close distance, she smelled sweet and girly – something he wanted to bury his head into. He could remember exactly how her skin tasted and felt against his hands and his own body...
She must've noticed the way he looked at her because she began grinning. Now closer to her, he could almost feel her bodily warmth oozing towards him. Just another step and they would be touching.
Just then, she gave him her special smirk and slowly turned around, towards the stairs going down. He studied her as she moved, and then she turned around, just a few centimetres from his body, and gave him a look, daring him to follow her. And he obeyed.
He placed a hand on her lower back, walking just behind her, following her as she made her way to the stairs – his heart suddenly beating forcefully, almost painfully, in anticipation.
"Bloody tease," he mumbled at her as he followed her down the stairs. He could barely make out her content smirk before she took another step. "Stop teasing me."
She took her final step and they came down to where the staircase ended and there were two doors – one to the boys' dormitory and one to the girls', and they were away from prying eyes as nobody from the common room could see them anymore. She turned around to face him at once. "I'm not teasing you, Draco," she said and rolled her eyes. "It's not my fault you're madly attracted to me."
He couldn't play or pretend anymore so he wasted no time, and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Then let me fuck you."
The words sent a jolt of excitement through Pansy's lower abdomen. He'd never said anything like that to her – he had never been that open with her about what he wanted to do to her. She was intensely aware of his breath on her neck and the way his nose brushed her ear when he said it. Yet, she didn't want to give up her upper hand and she certainly didn't want to show him she wanted him, so she composed herself.
"Get off me," she muttered, but in a very low voice. His arms snaked in around her waist, and he was so close.
"Make me," he mumbled back, and continued stroking her waist with his hands, moving them down towards the hems of her shirt, and she allowed herself to enjoy it for a second or two until his hands crept inside her shirt and was finally touching her naked skin. Closer than they'd been for several months.
That was when she pushed him away. And suddenly he looked like a child caught with his hands in the biscuit jar – his face a mixture of surprise, disappointment and shame.
"I'm going to bed," she said casually. "Night night."
And without anything else, she made her way into the girls' dormitory and left.
He groaned loudly. To hell with her.
Draco kept telling himself – and her – that he despised her.
"Pansy, leave me alone" and "You're so bloody annoying!" were heard over the course of the next few days.
Each time, she merely smirked and rolled her eyes – and when she moved in to kiss him suddenly and confidently, his heart started beating faster. Moving closer and touching her lips on his, he knew that she knew exactly what she was doing – he knew it too, yet he couldn't deny it, deny her. Forcefully, firmly, she knew she had control. Still, he could do nothing but to slither his arms in around her body, drawing her closer, hating himself for letting her know he wanted her.
As if time stopped; as if nobody else was in the common room; as if The Dark Lord wasn't out there gathering followers to take over Wizarding England; as if he and Pansy had never split up; as if Theodore Nott didn't exist; as if worries of his mission, of homework, of teachers, of parents in Azkaban, didn't exist; as if even basic needs such as sleep and nourishment were excessive, that was how he imagined he felt as a consequence of kissing Pansy again, finally, after all this time, all these months without anything.
It was as if a light had gone on within him – her smell circling around him almost dizzying him, her small body within his arms soft and warm, it was as if for once she allowed him to enjoy her without pushing him away. In his mind he pictured her lips around his cock... and perhaps returning the favour to her, he wanted to grab her by her hips and drag her knickers off and go down on her, something he'd never done whilst they'd been together.
He wanted it to continue, that was all he could think – he wanted to do nothing else. It was as if this thought procured an alarm bell within Pansy, for a movement of hers broke his short bliss.
Pansy playfully trailed away and when he speedily opened his eyes he knew at once that she could see everything – how she made him feel, what effect she had on him, what that kiss had just done to him. He felt as if a cloud of rain had poured over his head. He unwillingly gave out a low sigh.
Suddenly the distance between them were poignant and very obvious, suddenly she was a stranger again.
Pansy just looked at him with unfazed confidence for several seconds that felt like hours. He stared back at her motionlessly, but lingering in all sorts of confusion and wonder.
It was as if she manifested her power by not breaking eye contact. Two could play that game, he reckoned, yet finally he rolled his eyes and thereby lost. It unsettled him.
"You silly thing," she then said teasingly, and reached out to pinch his arm. He frowned.
He briefly wondered whether he had lost everything – the stupid game, his pride, his cool as well as he'd lost Pansy.
Simultaneously Pansywas certain he only wanted to kiss her because of the long time gap, the jealousy with Theodore as well as the natural male lust. Nothing else.
He picked up her legs and placed them in his lap. "Comfy?" he asked her confidently.
"Yeah." Every sound that escaped her breathless mouth was a turn-on for him. He worked himself and hopefully her up by playing with her hair, stroking her leg, up her thigh, and looking over at her all the time... He himself couldn't tell if it was out of care or lust.
"You make me mental," he mumbled and she giggled in a practiced sort of coy way.
"Don't smile like that or I'll eat you up," he threatened, laughing.
"You'd better not," she laughed, nudging his arm. Always the tease. He couldn't help but to grab her and pull her closer so that their bodies were touching and her warmth and her scent were oozing towards him.
"Nott fancies you," Draco commented, casually stroking the side of her face.
Pansy only gave her teasing smile. "Well, who am I in bed with right now?"
Draco merely smirked and finally he moved in to kiss her, blissful and dizzy, sudden and odd. And she kissed him back. Finally, he thought, finally she succumbed. He kissed her harshly, firmly, knowing exactly where he wanted it to lead. He broke away and kissed her cheeks, all over her face, her neck, while his hands were casually stroking her sides and back. He heard a muffled groan escape Pansy's lips. He switched positions – pulled her down over him as he leaned back. They kept on kissing passionately; he knew she couldn't keep away. He felt a jolt go through his lower abdomen, and he was hardening. He had to be inside her. She wouldn't stop touching his neck and his chest, holding him tight while he had his hands on her hips.
"I want to see you," he mumbled in between kissing. His heart was pounding in his chest out of adrenaline and he was growing harder and harder by the second. He roughly pulled of her top and she giggled when she saw the lustful look in his eyes. He flipped her over harshly so she was on her back and she brought her leg up to urge him closer. He noticed she was getting excited as well as she was unbuttoning his shirt sloppily and quickly, before he threw it away and grabbed her skirt to toss it off as well. The only thing now between them was his boxers and her knickers... "I want to get inside you now," he mumbled hoarsely, still while kissing fiercely. He fumbled with her bra and got it off, and had a look down at her naked chest. He shook his head and grinned. He kissed her breasts and down her stomach and thighs, teasing her. He placed a kiss on her knickers, and then tugged at them and she let them take them off and toss them aside. He was rock hard and afraid to burst soon, but he wanted to pleasure her so he began placing kisses all around her pussy, hearing Pansy's breathing deepen and feeling her body heave, before beginning to lick her slowly. A sexy little moan escaped her lips, and he loved the fact that she enjoyed it. He was really good at this, it seemed.
"Fuck me..." she moaned loudly, clearly pleased with what he was doing between her legs. He loved it when she talked dirty to him. He was afraid he might come soon, but he couldn't wait any longer, he needed release, he needed to get inside her now, so he ascended and gave her a wet sloppy kiss and noticed her looking rather quite pleased, yet breathless.
"Come on," she groaned achingly, teasing him, and he laughed and pushed her down, making her giggle, beginning snogging her roughly at once. He moved his hand down towards her pussy and began pushing two fingers in and out of her in a very quick pace, warming her up, until finally he took them out, pulled his boxers off, grabbed his erection and guided it towards her. It was getting difficult to hold his excitement in. He roughly pushed it in and they both groaned simultaneously, his heart beating like a drum. He moved in and out slowly a couple of times, adjusting, and then settled on a very quick pace, his balls slapping against her bum with every fast thrust. He grabbed her thigh and pushed it up so he could have further access, pushing himself even deeper, and increased his pace to a frantic thrust, to the sound of her moaning.
"Fuck, yeah, that feels so good," he groaned darkly, until finally his lower abdomen gave a jolt, and he jerked his cock into her for a few final, slow and hard thrusts as he came. The look on her face was pure satisfaction from having him come in her.
Then he woke up from his dream with a stir and realised he had soiled himself in his sleep, all alone in his dormitory.
Pansy was nowhere around.
The fact that Pansy didn't make fun of him for being shorter than her when they were younger made him like her. Draco did, and look at that – he took his girlfriend. Pansy didn't, so he took her, and she didn't mind. There were plenty of things Theodore disliked about her – the people she surrounded herself with for instance.
He had always liked her, even though she was bold and annoying and Malfoy's leftovers. From the beginning, he hadn't wanted to admit to anyone, let alone himself, that he fancied her. He was intrigued by her all through fifth year, he supposed, looking back on it. It was the time when girls became more interesting while puberty did its job. He looked at her plenty, but he hadn't dared to speak to her – he supposed she found him odd. Pansy was not like any other girl he had known. She bold girl with her pug-nose who found Malfoy to be the funniest bloke in the world. She walked confidently, swinging her arms – she didn't have the most impressive personality, but she had a memorable one. Theodore spent a long time of his first Hogwarts years watching her without her noticing it – she was busy being watched by Malfoy and enjoying it.
But as Malfoy got more and more distanced (Theodore was rather sure he had gotten a mission from the Dark Lord, yet he wasn't jealous because he knew it was only for Lucius' failure – it was a punishment. And Theodore knew he would get his moment, as soon as he finished school he would take his Dark Mark), Pansy started noticing Theodore's looks more and more. He remembered the first time she smiled at him, while having a pumpkin muffin in the common room. She began returning his looks more, and she began speaking to him. Finally they were hanging out, and Malfoy disappeared more and more out of the picture. He was away late at night and they hardly saw him.
When they finally kissed after a few Butterbeers in the common room, his longing felt satisfied for a while. Then he wanted more. The problem was that when Malfoy found out – he wanted Pansy to be his again. And suddenly, the non-pretty, bold, annoying, haughty and not very clever girl was chased by two boys. And his fascination grew even more, wondering how Pansy got to be so popular and well-liked in Slytherin despite not having the looks or personality. She had some sort of radiant power, he supposed.
Her unavailability made him crave her. Malfoy was a smug, immature, cowardly little bully. What in Merlin's beard did Pansy see in him?
He knew Pansy still saw herself as friends with them both, while the boys saw themselves as her only boyfriend, which was, naturally, problematic. Every time Theodore was around, Draco tugged on Pansy's arm, and oblivious Pansy went with him. The next time, Theodore asked her first, about her essay for McGonagall, and then he had locked in a conversation with her, and Malfoy stayed on the other side of the common room, sending them both glares.
Theodore found it unfair that Malfoy was all over her now only because someone else had begun showing interest in the girl. Theodore actually had feelings for her, so he reckoned Malfoy should back off. Malfoy only wanted her because someone else wanted her – he wanted her to be his, or so it seemed. However, he hadn't been able to escape to notice the fact that Malfoy actually seemed to like her – once he caught them in a brief hug in the common room. Malfoy held her close and smelled her hair, his eyes closed. Theodore slowly frowned. When Pansy ignorantly pulled back, Malfoy looked just slightly dizzy, and when she walked away, he looked after her a second too long.
It made Theodore even angrier.
How odd it was to think that less than a year ago, when they both had troubles with their fathers, Malfoy had almost looked up to him. They had been equals, almost friends. But Malfoy's possessiveness had ruined that. And Malfoy had even seemed to get Potter out of his head, and instead focused all his hatred on Theodore. And all the while, Pansy was completely oblivious. The ditz.
In the common room, on a rainy Tuesday night, he approached her, goal-oriented.
At once, a vicious hiss was heard. "Don't speak to her!"
Both Pansy and Theodore looked up to see Malfoy's face screwed up in malcontent. Luckily for Theodore, the threat only seemed to make Pansy keener to speak to him.
Almost defiantly she quickly said: "Err, he can speak to me if he wants to. Who do you think you are?"
It pleased him greatly. Reaching over a dark and damp Butterbeer bottle towards Pansy without saying a word, Malfoy interrupted once again.
"She doesn't want to have a drink with you, Nott. What a stupid bloody surname anyway!"
He ignored Malfoy's pretend-amused laugh.
The common room was loud with the sound of the Hobgoblins singing loudly from the WWN and the Slytherins' voices. Draco had taken a night off from working on the cabinet to make it to the small party, and was sitting holding a big glass of Fire Whiskey in the sofa, in-between Vincent and Zabini. He tried to ignore the awkwardness between him and Theodore Nott who was sitting not too far away. He glanced at Pansy who had mostly been with her friends all night, ignorant of the dark looks Draco and Nott occasionally sent each other.
He was annoyed with her – all this utter bollocks had forced him to forget about his task. Naturally, he had to sort everything out. It was all Pansy's fault, really.
Gregory and Vincent weren't much help either, as they, clueless of everything that was going on, simply were discussing the Apparition lessons and Gregory's difficulties.
"I jus' dunno what I'll do... the test's in two weeks and..."
Gregory sounded anxious, but Vincent firmly tried cheering him up. "You'll do it, mate!" he said, nodding for a long time. "Bet you it won't be that difficult. You managed last Saturday, didn't you?"
"Well, yeah, but I Splinched myself, didn't I..."
Ugh. Draco recoiled at the memory. Greg's entire right pinky had been left back at the castle when they were to Apparate down to Hogsmeade. They had to run all the way back up and into the Great Hall, while Gregory was screaming crying, to find his ruddy finger and then rush him off to Madam Pomfrey to mend him, while Gregory's face was beginning to shift between green and purple and on the verge of vomiting.
"You've just got to focus more..."
"Hello, boys," said a derisive voice loudly. It was Miles Bletchley, naturally, followed by Callum Yulley and James Yardley. "Quite a party, eh?"
Draco gave him a slightly sarcastic smile, while Gregory, Vincent, Zabini and Nott nodded in agreement.
"Whoa, you lot are in a good mood," commented Miles sarcastically. Draco did not answer, but sipped his drink.
"Well," began Vincent. "Greg's having problems Apparating... he's quite bothered."
"Why bother?" commented Yardley as he threw himself down into the sofa and leaned back, sipping a Butterbeer. "I couldn't be arsed to do it myself, just flunked it."
"You did?" said Zabini, frowning in his usual haughty manner. "You broom-head, so you won't ever be able to Apparate in life? It's only about the best thing about being a wizard."
Draco stopped listening as the boys all discussed Yardley's stupidness and Greg's Apparition problem. He really could not care less. Instead, he focused on getting plastered.
Pansy gave a disdainful, shrieking laugh from the other side of the common room. Draco watched her, frowning irritatedly.
"So, why is she over there?"
Draco turned. Miles was looking at him expectantly, a grin on his face. Draco frowned as if not knowing what he was talking about, and Miles nodded towards Pansy. Draco rolled his eyes.
"And not here with you," Miles went on. "You're well chummy, aren't you? Best mates and all that." He sniggered. Draco sneered but felt irritated. In what way was this bloody Miles Bletchley's business?
"Never been that."
"Yeah?" Miles gave a laugh, looking like he did not believe Draco. He turned away and Draco finished his glass of Fire Whiskey much too hastily. Disgusting.
That was when Pansy sauntered over. The silly bint. He wondered a second, with an angry gnawing feeling inside, if she would sit down next to him or next to Nott. She chose to sit down next to Draco. Ha.
"Hiya," said Pansy to him as she sat down in the sofa. "Can I have some?" She nodded against his Fire Whiskey bottle. He shrugged. She poured herself a glass. Draco felt the effects of his own Fire Whiskey starting to increase.
"Are you having fun?" she asked casually. She was not looking at him.
Draco gave a short, sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, right."
"You're so boring," she commented, smiling tauntingly.
"Sod off," he said. He noticed that she was close, leaning over him slightly. He ruffled her hair to make her angry. He failed. She only gave her shrieking laugh and pushed him away playfully. "Draco!"
They drank more. Then, as the room began to feel warmer and softer, he was suddenly hugging Pansy, wanting her to place herself in his lap. But she did not.
"Come here," he said, drawing her in, feeling like the entire room was a bit blurry. Pansy rolled her eyes, and as he pulled her closer, she accidentally knocked out a bottle of Butterbeer. It spread all over the table and dripped down on her feet. "Draco!" she accused, disgusted expression on her face, trying to get the wetness off her feet.
"What? That was you, clumsy bint," he teased.
"Because you pushed me forward!"
"All right, don't get your knickers in a twist." He was seeing two of her.
"My knickers aren't in a twist!" For some reason, she sounded irritated. That only made him irritated as well. And he did not know why or how, but suddenly he spat out, "Oh, yeah, but you like it better when Nott snogs you?"
He did not know where it came from all of a sudden, and he regretted it as soon as he blurted it out. He did not want to show it affected him. Pansy looked properly surprised.
"What?"
"Yeah," Draco slurred. He was drunk, and already ashamed.
"Why would you even ask that?" she said, with her eyebrows raised as if disgusted. Bitch. "I didn't even know you were about to kiss me."
Not really knowing what he was doing, he grabbed her face hard and turned her to him, giving her a forced, harsh, sloppy kiss. She made him so angry, yet he could not keep away from kissing her. Damn her. She pushed him away with her hands on his chest, frowning as if very irritated. Draco hiccupped.
"You're the only prick I've snogged in the past couple weeks, trust me on that." Pansy was stone hard and uncharacteristically cold. He felt his blood starting to pump out faster. Who the bloody hell does she think she is? Pansy simply rolled her eyes and got up to leave, but without thinking, he grabbed her wrist. He was angry.
"Draco, just leave it!"
That was when they noticed Theodore Nott, who apparently had been watching on, seething, getting up furiously. "Malfoy!" he said harshly.
Draco and Pansy both looked up – surprised. For a split second, Draco reckoned Nott looked like he had no idea where his own courage came from.
"And where did you come from? Go read a book or something, Nott," Draco said, definitely feeling himself sobering up.
Nott simply looked at him, slightly shaking his head. Draco got the feeling that Nott just lost all respect for him – that was what it looked like. And perhaps that was what made Theodore realise he had nothing to lose.
"At least I've got something behind my forehead. And at least I know when I'm embarrassing myself."
He dared?
"Do you find that funny, do you, Nott?" Draco got up from the sofa, despite Pansy's attempt. He was getting angrier. "Well, I do not."
Theodore merely sneered.
"Draco," began Pansy saying demandingly, as if to stop him, but Draco had rose from the sofa.
"Stop smiling." Draco was glaring angrily at Nott. Pansy grabbed his arm to hold him back, but he harshly pulled out of her grip. "What's your problem?" he directed at Theodore.
"You're my problem, Malfoy," said Theodore, surprisingly firm. Draco tried to maintain his calm as he walked closer to his classmate, hoping he was being threatening. A few older Slytherins were watching them casually.
"Oh, really? Yeah?" said Draco tauntingly. He barely noticed Zabini, Gregory and Vincent getting up, wondering what was going on.
"You're such a child," said Theodore slowly, keeping his derisive eyes locked on Draco's, whose blood started to boil by that last remark. Draco definitely felt more sober now. Adrenaline was beginning to pump out through his veins. He got even closer and was trying to stare Theodore down.
"Merlin, don't tell me you're going to kiss now," commented Pansy sarcastically. Draco had almost forgotten she was there. Slag.
"Say that again and I'll curse you so bad your own bloody mother won't even recognise you," Draco snarled, staring at Theodore, not bothering to show he'd acknowledged Pansy's comment. He considered pulling out his wand. Then he started sniggering. "Oh, right. Your mum's dead."
He did not know what happened for a second – he knew he had gone too far; which had been the point – and suddenly he felt Theodore Nott jumping on him. His head felt ready to blow up as something collided with his face very hard. Pansy shrieked and her hands flew up to her mouth, while everyone around gasped, suddenly realising that there was something going on.
"What the fuck?" commented Miles Bletchley who seemed to be the only one capable of speaking.
Draco staggered back, surprised, bringing his hand up to his lip. It was pounding and felt hot. There was blood on his fingers. Theodore's punch was surprisingly powerful. Shocked, Draco hastily began to compose himself and through his fury he began to smirk. Everyone around was watching. He shook his head slightly, and then suddenly pushed away Blaise and jumped at Theodore furiously, accidentally pushing Pansy out of the way on his way to Theodore (he did not care, she might as well have that one). They were both on the floor in a second and Draco kept on punching him with his fists, pouring in as much hate as he could muster.
"Draco!" Pansy cried, completely outraged.
"What the bloody hell are you lot doing?!"
In the chaos, their friends hastily reacted – Blaise, Vincent and Caecus Warrington hurried to tear the two of them apart. Draco could not tell who was who, yet he kept on punching. Finally, the others managed to break the two of them up and keep them apart. He stumbled to his feet; he was being dragged up by Warrington, while Blaise had a grip on Theodore who was shaking with anger, trying to get loose to reach Draco again.
Pansy came rushing forward to Draco, and put her hands on his shoulders, her grip firm and surprisingly strong. She seemed angry, to say the least. "What the bloody hell are you doing?!" she barked. "Draco!" She had placed herself between him and Nott so that he would not attack again. "Calm down, will you!"
"WHY ARE YOU DEFENDING HIM?!" roared Draco at Pansy, finally acknowledging her presence for the first time in the fight. Then he broke out of her grasp, crashing towards the boys' dormitory. He was still shaking out of anger, he could not stand to look at that prat's face any longer, and he did not want to look at Pansy either.
"Bloody hell!" Pansy exclaimed, shocked at him screaming at her, and obviously finding no answer to his really quite valid question. He felt like he was radiating hate, and he could not stop it. He realised Pansy was following him through the common room.
"Draco, calm the bloody hell down! What's wrong with you?"
He kept on hurrying towards the dormitory, not bothering to turn round to look at her. "Shut up, Pans," he muttered, his jaw clenched, as he reached the staircase leading down to the dormitories.
"You're acting mad, you are. He's done nothing to you!"
Suddenly he had enough. Slag.
"STOP – PRETENDING – LIKE – YOU DON'T – ENJOY – ALL – OF – THIS!" he roared at her. The room fell silent. Pansy looked frightened. Her face turned red and she hastily glanced towards the cluster of people in the common room. Theodore (who was finally on his feet) and Blaise were both looking very sour.
"Keep your voice down, will you? People are staring," she hissed, glaring at him. Draco rolled his eyes angrily and turned around, started walking down the stairs towards his dormitory. Pansy hastily followed, not daring to glance back to the common room.
"Draco, stop!" she raised her voice, demandingly.
"Give it a rest! You created all of this; you're the one who dated the tosser."
"One date, for Merlin's sake!"
"Right." Draco was shaking. He wanted to push her.
"Yes! Although I don't know why I'm defending myself, because I've done nothing wrong! You split up with me!"
"What's that got to do with anything?" He finally stopped and turned to look at her, glaring. They could not be seen by the others anymore, which made him realise they were actually alone, in a private conversation, just between the two of them.
"You're just a selfish little boy!" she went on, ignoring him. She looked murderous. "You didn't want me when you could have me, but as soon as someone else comes along..."
"That's not true," Draco interrupted. "I don't want you."
He felt satisfied when he saw how Pansy took it. She looked taken aback. "Then why do you even care that I dated him?" she asked, and he heard how she was choking on a breath, her voice about to break.
"I don't," he emphasised. "Leave me alone, will you."
He opened the door to his dormitory, hurried inside and shut the door hastily in her face before she had time to say anything.
For a couple of days there was awkwardness in the air between the two of them. They went about their lives as they normally would – she attended lessons and meals whereas he spent his time away probably working on his secret mission or whatever it was he was doing by himself – Pansy hadn't the strength to care or even wonder anymore. They didn't say a word to each other during these few days, right until Thursday evening. She was sitting with Goyle and Blaise – she and Greg were splurging over pink cupcakes, with several other students around. Theodore was probably in his dormitory reading, and the girls were off showering, when Draco arrived through the magical opening, his blond head lightning up the dark wall at once.
Her eyes snapped over and she straightened up.
He walked through the common room and as he passed the sofas round the fireplace which they were occupying as usual, on his way to the dormitory, Pansy spoke up, calling after him: "Malfoy!" he stiffened and stopped.
She felt nervous. They hadn't spoken in days and he was probably still angry with her. Although she did not think she deserved it. As he turned around, her heart started beating faster.
His eyes met hers, and she quickly said: "Can I have a word?" showing no emotion. She was too afraid to, as well as how accustomed she was to never show emotion, fighting for the upper hand, never show weakness. He didn't reply instantly, leaving her feeling unsure of herself (although she would never show it), and he looked angry. Well, not inviting at least. Then he rose his eyebrows, giving her an irritated look, like he didn't care, gave a slight shrug of his head and she hastily got up to follow him.
They walked to a dark corner of the common room, by the stone wall – the same stone wall she had pushed him up against a few days earlier – there he stopped and turned to her. They just looked at each other, and then she raised her eyebrows, giving a half-smile, finding the situation awkward.
"What?" he snapped.
She looked away. And sighed. "Draco, I... I don't want us rowing."
He rolled his eyes right in her face. It hardened her expression. She frowned, her lips tightening.
"I haven't even done anything wrong," she muttered.
"Don't even start," he groaned. It aggravated her.
"I haven't! What've I done? You're the one who assaulted Theodore, for nothing, nonetheless—"
"Assaulted?" he sneered.
"Yeah, assaulted!"
"He deserved it," he muttered darkly.
"You're incredibly immature, has anyone ever told you that?"
He gave her a glare. "You're one to talk."
"What have I done, Draco? What?" she challenged. "What is it you're so angry with me about, if it's not that I snogged Nott?"
"Piss off." Draco moved to leave, but she grabbed his arm. Hard.
"NO," she demanded. "Tell me."
He just stared at her.
"You can't, can you?" She shook her head. She looked away, looking as if she might start crying. "You can't just tell me you were jealous. You can't just tell me... how you feel about me. That you... that you..."
He stared at her coldly. "No, Pans, I can't. Because I don't."
Her mouth was slightly open and she looked shocked. That was the last he saw before he turned and left.
He made it to their Prefect patrols for once, paler than usual and with his white-blond hair looking slightly dirty. It surprised her greatly, hearing him call after her as she left the common room. She knew she should have reported him to Dumbledore or Snape a long time ago, but she had known better. As they had not talked for a couple of days, she found it odd, though.
"You going to stand there and stare all evening or are we going to get this over with?"
"Always so charming," said Pansy, rolling her eyes and turning away from him as he caught up with her. "What are you doing here, anyway?" She could not help the tone that slipped out – well, she was irritated with him.
"Just reckoned I should pull my own weight."
"You've never reckoned that before."
Draco only snorted, a small smirk on his features.
The continued to check the corridors and empty classrooms. An hour later, they had checked their entire area for disobedient students, but as usual there was nothing. The castle was quiet, the dungeons slightly chilly and the tone between them had grown a bit more casual – she was not irritated anymore.
"You should apologise to Theodore," said Pansy and tried to sound stern, glancing over at him. Draco snorted.
"Why in Merlin's name would I?"
"Because you punched him!" remarked Pansy accusingly.
"He punched me first," muttered Draco. "He's a prick."
"He's actually well sweet sometimes," said Pansy and glanced over to see how Draco would react. Draco merely grinned.
"Nice one."
Irritated with the lack of reaction, Pansy snorted and looked away. "Still think you should apologise…" she muttered.
"Who could blooming well be bothered? Come off it, Pans," Draco commented hastily. Then he started smirking. "Now, can we please stop talking about Nott?"
She looked up at him; he was already looking at her. It sent a tingle through her body and she could not come up with any witty retort. Suddenly he moved towards her, making her back up. He moved closer and she was up against the wall, nothing between them but the heat radiating from her body. It was long since she had been this close to him, except for when she was teasing him the other day, and it made her heart beat fast.
"Pansy, I like you," he mumbled hoarsely in her ear. It was warm and made her heart beat faster. The attraction that had always existed between them but which she had desperately tried to block away the past months was suddenly bursting – she could not deny having thought about and wanted this the past few months. She really wanted to kiss him. But she was afraid he would go away again. "Like, fancy."
"I know," she breathed with a small quirky smile.
"You know, you didn't have to snog Nott to get me back," he said in a low voice, slightly teasing. Pansy would have been offended and angry with his self-absorption if the circumstances were different, but just rolled her eyes and slowly looked up at him. His face was closer than it had been since September; it felt completely new again, uneasy, as if she did not know what to do with him anymore.
"That's what you think I've been doing?" she snorted, and she hoped he did not hear her heart beating.
"Yeah," he breathed. "You're trying to make me jealous."
"Sod off," she mumbled with a slight grin. His hands were at the wall, his arms outstretched in the way of her leaving, not that she wanted to. "You were though," she commented teasingly. He wiggled his eyebrows and grabbed her sides.
"A bit," he admitted and moved in to kiss her, but she turned her head away.
"Let me kiss you, will you," he smiled slyly. "You drive me mental," he mumbled.
She moved close to him and placed a small kiss on his cheek. "Patrols are finished," she mumbled.
"Yeah?" he mumbled. Pansy grinned. He snaked his arms in around her, pulling her closer, and suddenly she could feel his smell, her cheek pressed against his chest. She felt him peck the top of her head, which send a tingle through her body.
"Sleep in my dorm tonight," he mumbled in her ear, tightening his embrace. She smiled against his arm.
"In your bed or Nott's?" she teased. He pushed her away and messed up her hair with his hand. "Sod off," he told her, shaking his head but with a small crooked smile. Smirking, she nestled herself back into his arms.
"You make me mental," he repeated. It made her heart jump and blood heat up, even though she suspected he meant it sexually. Her insides were trembling with want. "You make me mental," she emphasised back. "But you just want to get into my knickers…"
"No, Pansy," he said in a tone as if she was thick. They were still embracing. "I want you. Not just tonight."
"Yeah?"
"I want to be with you, silly. I want you to be mine."
Her insides shaking and her heart beating faster than ever, she beamed blissfully and leaned her face upwards, close to his, and he came closer, she finally let it happen, she let his lips come closer, and they kissed.
She had waited so long to hear those words. It was not just because of Nott. It was not.
At breakfast the morning after, Pansy could not eat. Her mind was occupied with Draco's scent, the feel of Draco's bare chest upon her, the texture of Draco's hair and every sweet, loving word he had said last night in bed. He was her prince, he was perfect. She was so happy. He was finally hers again, and nothing else mattered. She thought about it the entire breakfast, flustered and heart pounding.
When suddenly a large owl appeared with a big wrapped package in its beak, and hovered above the Slytherin table, until it sped down towards Pansy. Surprised, she looked up, as Tracey Davis quickly grabbed two goblins of pumpkin juice and moved them out of the way, so that the owl wouldn't knock them over. The dark brown owl released its package on the table, carefully, without spoiling anything. Pansy put down her cup of honey-sweetened rooibos tea.
All the girls leaned forward in anticipation – hopeful.
"Who's it for?" Daphne hissed excitedly, and boldly reached for the large package. The owl reacted quickly, and scurried forward to bite her hand. Daphne screeched and quickly recoiled her hand. Pansy casually picked a card she just discovered.
"What's it say?" came Tracey's voice from behind the card. It was bright red and smooth with a sparkly pink heart shape on the front. Pansy opened it up.
'Sorry'
And at once, she knew who it was from, no matter how surprised it made her.
"What is it, Pans?" Daphne inquired curiously, but received no response.
"Blimey, look at these flowers, will you!" Queenie exclaimed as she ripped open the shiny wrapping paper. The owl flapped its wings wildly and squeaked, losing a few feathers.
And out from the parcel, she pulled very fresh, blood red roses. The largest roses Pansy had ever seen, she hastily thought as she was handed them by Queenie, not to mention they smelled heavenly. Tracey was gaping at her, envy on her features.
"Why are you getting roses?"
Unwillingly, a small smile had crept upon Pansy's face when seeing the card, and it only increased when she saw the roses.
"And look!" Daphne exclaimed, as Pansy peered into the package and pulled out the rest of the content - a pink, heart-shaped box with a bow on top.
"Cupid's Pure Gold Chocolate!" gasped Queenie, reading the label.
"Is it Malfoy?"
"Why's Malfoy owling her flowers? Valentine's Day's over," Tracey wondered.
"You do know this has edible gold in it?"
Sorry – it echoed in her mind. She never thought she'd get any kind of apology out of him.
Pansy was shaking with excitement. She felt blissful. "Yes, it's Malfoy! Who else would it be?" she gave them all a dazzling smile, and the girls began feasting over the very expensive chocolate.
Draco came up from behind and put his arms around her, in front of all Slytherin table to see. As he nuzzled her neck and she giggled blissfully, for a split second she felt as though she had for the first time experienced love.
