Better be Slytherin
LXV
Hermela Herbatius
"Dear Miss Parkinson,
You have been accepted to Hermela Herbatius Institution of Further Wizarding Education in London. Your first course - Brewing Beautifying Potions and Their Uses - will begin on Thursday September the fifteenth at 9am. You will need to present yourself for a class hearing on September the fifth to secure your spot. Further information and a list of educational material required is attached."
Pansy squealed and reread the letter again. In her giddy state, she began going through what needed to be done before this. The hearing was only tomorrow so today she would have to have an emergency shopping trip to Diagon Alley, or even call upon the seamstress Madam Malkin to come to her manor to measure her and sew something incredible on last second notice. She needed to look her best tomorrow. It was her chance to start over, to show everyone she wasn't this Dark Lord supporter everyone thought she was.
Diagon Alley was buzzing as she, Daphne and Astoria walked out of the Leaky Cauldron that afternoon accompanied by Pansy's House Elf for carrying things. They were in the process of rebuilding Gringotts, there were Goblins everywhere using their magic to refurbish the magnificent old building.
"Do you know what House you'll pick yet?" said Daphne as they walked by Flourish & Blotts. "I hear the Dragons is all boys from the magi-technical department."
"Do you even have to ask?" laughed Pansy, "I think the Unicorns speak for themselves. Apparently they have weekly pub meetings and don't participate in the Quidditch tournament."
"Oh, Pansy darling, tell me you're not wearing that!" Perpetua Parkinson exclaimed the next morning and hurried to fasten a pearl necklace around her daughter's neck.
Pansy was in her newly purchased bright pink robes which she personally loved. Pansy wrinkled her upturned nose in disdain.
"What's wrong with these? They're new! And I'm not wearing that mummy," she said and struggled with her mother and the pearls.
"How rude!" said Mrs Parkinson and stepped back. "Ungrateful girl, these pearls have been in our family for generations."
"That's the point," said Pansy under her breath, watching herself in the mirror. "I'm not like them old people. I'm Pansy Parkinson and today is the first day of my new life."
Perpetua shook her head and huffed. Pansy smirked.
She had to Apparate to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in southwest London. She appeared on a small side street next to some bins, smoothed out her robes and walked out onto the adjacing road. Rush hour was just coming to and end so black Muggle taxi cabs and red double decker buses drove past in all directions. Muggles with their umbrellas and children in school uniform brustled by. Careful not to touch anyone, Pansy made her way through and down the white Chelsea street until she saw the old building. The magical university was located inside the Muggle Royal Hospital. Once you entered you found yourself inside the wizarding university.
Pansy sauntered into the hearing with regal disdain. It was a huge room smelling of old books, with scattered tables big enough for groups. She pointed her wand onto the chair to remove excess dust before the sat down. She didn't want to get her new robes dirty. This place seemed common but she hoped there were still some people who appreciated the finer things in life.
She looked around, and noticed a few familiar faces from Hogwarts but also lots of new faces. International students and older students. It was unusual to go straight from Hogwarts to university, she knew, but it had felt right for her.
A half hour of the head teacher calling their names in alphabetical order followed. When her name was called, Pansy raised her hand smugly and looked around her to see who was watching.
Then she received her schedule.
Beautifying Potions and Their Uses was her first course, which would start in 10 days. She would have time until then to buy all her books and whatever else she needed. Then followed a list of the other courses she was doing this autumn.
Magical Journalism in Contemporary Media
Dress Robes Pattern Development
Magical Marketing and Advertisement
"As you all surely know," said the head teacher, "After two years studies, you will take your HEX exams, your Higher Examinations, commonly known as 'hexes', and if you pass you shall be fully qualified within your specific field. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, you're only just beginning. At this stage finding friends and finding your way around campus is first priority. As you may know, we have five houses here at Hermela Herbatius. You choose whichever one you wish to be a part of, if any. There is a member's fee, which is used by each house comittee for member events. The five houses are as follows - The Hippogriffs, The Kneazles, The Unicorns, The Dragons and The Nifflers. You've all been given leaflets from each house that describe their character and ambitions to make your decision easier."
The skies were just begining to darken over Diagon Alley that evening as Pansy, accompanied by Draco stepped out onto the cobblestones. They had reservations at Athena Bobbingworth's at 8 o'clock to celebrate Pansy starting university, although she technically hadn't started yet. It was all her parents idea. Holding hands, they walked along the busy street as shops were closing. Outside the Broomstick shop the owner was sweeping the ground and pointed his wand towards the sign on the door, which turned itself over and said "closed". They turned left by Gringott's and finally found the restaurant which was adoned with bushes and fairy lights. As they stepped inside, Draco let go of her hand. Pansy assumed he still found it awkward to show affection in front of her parents. The restaurant was large, but still gave its guests a feeling of privacy as each table was far away from the other and with decor inbetween. Lilac flowers hung from the ceiling and mellow music was playing.
A House-Elf showed them to the table where Mr and Mrs Parkinson were already sitting. Pansy's father was in his Ministry work robes, and Pansy's mother had a giant bird on her hat. Ugly, in Pansy's opinion. They stood as they saw them approach.
"Darlings," said Perpetua and enthusiastically air kissed both of their cheeks. Graham nodded and shook Draco's hand, while Perpetua shouted at a waiter to bring menus and drinks.
"It's a celebration," she smirked as she ordered oysters for starters and two bottles of Quigley Cunningham's Fizzy Champagne. "And make it snappy!"
"To my darling daughter, Pansy," she said when the waiter had poured them all a generous amount of champagne and placed the bottle in an ice bucket on a stand next to their table, "going to university. We are all so proud of you."
Pansy simpered.
"And to my future son in law," Perpetua went on, her cheeks red with tipsiness (which made Pansy protest "mother!"), "For avoiding prison."
Draco felt reluctant to join in the toast as he didn't feel it was something to celebrate. It made him think of his father rotting away behind bars right this very moment. He downed his glass of champagne.
"Yes," said Graham. "Good man."
Pansy smiled widely at this and Draco, taken aback, was filled with a contentment he would never admit to. They all ordered food - Draco picked the partridge, Pansy a whole lobster, Graham went for venison and Perpetua had rabbit.
"It is decided," said Perpetua once they had ordered. "Your father and I are moving to France."
Pansy choked on her champagne and Draco patted her back. "When?!" she cried out.
"In a month or so," said Graham. "I'm tying up loose ends at work and we are looking into transportation of goods. We'd also like to bring one of the House-Elves with us,"
"Which one?" said Pansy hastily, narrowing her eyes. "Not the girl one!"
Graham snorted. "Fine, it matters not to me."
"Are you sure this isn't just temporary insanity?" muttered Pansy, and her mother swatted her hand as a response.
"Stop being silly," she snapped. "You're an adult woman now, it's time to stand on your own two feet."
"None of my friends have been forced to do that yet!" objected Pansy. "I'm only eighteen!"
"It's not as if we leave you homeless and penniless," said Graham calmly. "You will stay at the manor, a House-Elf at your disposal, and you will come into your inheritance."
Pansy's grumpy face softened slightly and she looked up, her eyes suddenly big as galleons. Draco could almost hear what was going on inside her brain already - she was probably thinking of ways to spend all that money.
"I'm okay with it," said Pansy over dessert of pumpkin sorbet and sticky toffee pudding, her favourite. Draco had to fight the urge to laugh.
Perpetua smiled contently, "Honestly, dear, you will hardly notice a difference. We're only a Ministry-approved Portkey away. We'll be back for Christmas."
It was dark outside as they stepped out onto the street. Mr and Mrs Parkinson made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron to Floo home, and Pansy turned to Draco and gave him a big kiss.
"Can you believe I'm going to come into my inheritance?"
Draco laughed and gave her another kiss, "What are you going to do with it?"
"Well," she smirked, "I'm going to start spending some of it now. Let's go get a drink before we meet the others."
The went to a newly opened pub, The Hippogriff's Head, and had a Fire Whiskey each before making their way over to the Minister's Arms where Queenie worked.
"Did you hear?" said Queenie just after they'd cheek kissed. "Theodore Nott is on the run again."
"What?!" said Draco and Pansy in unison. "I thought he was working with Mr Felstead to prepare for his charges?" added Draco.
"Well, that's what we all thought," said Queenie as she locked up the pub and they started walking back down Diagon Alley. "Blaise sorted it all out for him - he was staying with the Zabinis and getting help from that solicitor. But then apparently he left in the middle of the night - he left a note on Blaise's night stand saying he 'couldn't do it'."
"When was this?" asked Pansy worriedly.
"Just a few days ago. Tracey told me," she said and gave Pansy a pointed look.
"Wow," said Pansy, pondering this.
"What an idiot," muttered Draco, shaking his head. "What's he thinking? He's only going to make it worse for himself when he finally does turn himself in."
"If he ever does," Queenie pointed out.
"Oh, come on," said Draco sceptically, "he can't stay hidden forever. What sort of life is that?"
"Forget about bloody Nott," said Pansy and strode through the double doors of the Wizarding bar, L'Sorcier. The place was packed with young witches and wizards fresh out of Hogwarts and older, people were already dancing and the Weird Sisters were playing. They made their way through the crowd until Pansy found Blaise and Tracey, occupying a corner table and sofas.
"Blaise goes out in Muggle London," said Tracey a while later when they were all sipping on Butterbeers. "He obliviates the bartenders for free drinks and performs 'magic tricks' to impress the Muggle girls." She rolled her eyes as everyone laughed loudly. "They never know how he does it."
"Of course he's mingling with Muggles," Draco muttered so only Pansy could hear.
"I've never left Diagon Alley," said Pansy, almost disdainfully.
"There's a whole world out there!" said Tracey while Blaise grinned.
"A Muggle world!" said Pansy, wrinkling her nose, and Draco, Queenie and Daphne laughed.
Tracey began telling the girls about her new internship at the Ministry, and Blaise turned to Draco.
"Can you believe it about Nott?" said Blaise.
Draco shook his head in disbelief. "Stupid git," he said. "Have you heard anything about Bletchley and the rest?"
Blaise raised his eyebrows. "You don't know? Bletchley, Warrington and Pucey have all been sent to Azkaban for two years."
Draco's stomach turned over and he stared at Blaise.
"Your father's testimony, well, the list, was partial evidence. Of course, not fully. They had witnesses too. It's been in the Prophet. It's not headline big but there was an article."
Draco swore. He could only imagine how much his former friends and housemates hated him now. He downed the rest of his Butterbeer and ordered a Fire Whiskey off a passing House-Elf.
"What about Bulstrode?"
"She got off," said Blaise. "Well, she wasn't sent to Azkaban. She got a year's house arrest. They hadn't more evidence to convict her. She hadn't taken the Mark yet."
"When did you see the light anyway," said Draco sarcastically while Blaise clinked his glass with his. "You used to be all about Pure blood."
Blaise sniggered. "Well, I saw how fucked up taking the Mark made you. Obviously, I didn't want to end up like that."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Thanks."
"Nah, honestly," said Blaise, pondering this. "I never liked the Dark Lord. It was never in my path, was it?"
Draco pondered this. It was true - Blaise had never had that kind of expectations on him. Lucky bastard.
A couple hours later, Tracey had gone home because she had to get up early for the Ministry, Queenie had gone with her, and Pansy, Draco, Blaise and Daphne were doing shots of Fire Whiskey.
In a blurred vision, Draco remembered going to the loo with Blaise, and as they stood beside each other, Blaise slurred, "doesn't it bother you that Parkinson's the only girl you've shagged?"
In his drunken state, Draco closed one eye and raised the other eyebrow to get a good look of Zabini. "What the bloody hell kind of question is that?"
But when they got back to the table and rejoined Pansy and Daphne who were both in fits of giggles, Draco realised the question might not have been about him and Pansy at all.
Because Blaise downed the rest of a dirty glass of Fire Whiskey which could've belonged to either of them, grabbed Daphne by the back of her head and kissed her sloppily while Pansy gaped.
Pansy was seething the next day, simultaneously trying to soothe her hangover by having cups and cups of tea brought to her by Binky.
"I cannot believe that sodding Blaise Zabini!" she exclaimed for the tenth time that morning, and immediately clutched her head as if the volume had pained her. Narcissa was out shopping, something she'd taken up since Lucius had been sent to Azkaban, and so the two of them were alone in the dining room of Malfoy manor.
"How dare he," said Pansy, "He's been leading Tracey on for months now, ever since the battle."
"He probably got cold feet," said Draco casually, turning a page of the Daily Prophet where once again Potter was praised.
"What's that supposed to mean?" his girlfriend snarled at him.
"You know Zabini," said Draco impatiently. "He's not the warmest of blokes out there, is he?"
"He's an utter bellend. A cold hearted prick."
Draco sniggered.
"How am I supposed to tell Tracey? She'll be absolutely gutted!"
"Then don't tell her."
Pansy stared at him. "What do you mean don't tell her - what kind of friend do you think I am?"
"It's none of your business," he looked at her sternly.
"Are you having a laugh? They're my best friends!"
"You shouldn't care so much!"
"Why, is it better to be like you - not care about anyone?!"
"You're right!" he shouted and got up violently. "I don't care about anyone else, because nobody else cares about me!"
She stared at him almost frightened, and he realised he was breathing heavily.
"Draco?"
"I put my friends in prison," he said finally, staring at her flatly. "Everyone wants me dead. Do I care? No, there's nothing I can do about it. I can't control it. That's why all I care about is me, my mother and you."
Pansy sighed and looked at him with pity in her eyes. It disgusted him.
"You can't control what Zabini does," he said after he'd calmed down. "So just leave it alone, Pans."
They went back to Pansy's for dinner even though they had barely spoken all day. Half of the manor house was packed and Perpetua was waving her wand around, sending things into boxes as they appeared in the hall.
This annoyed Pansy further, and so she dumped her travelling cloak onto the awaiting House-Elf and strode past Draco and her mother up to her bedroom to get changed.
After an uncomfortable dinner, he couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm going out for a bit," he said curtly to Pansy.
"Really?" she replied dully. "Where?"
He shifted but kept his gaze on her. "To play Quidditch."
Her face didn't move. "You don't have your kit," she said. "Nor your broom."
They stared at each other. He knew she knew he was lying.
The only thing Pansy could think was that, just like that bloody Zabini, Draco was cheating on her. She felt defleated once he left. She debated fire calling Daphne, but something held her back. Instead she just sat there, tears pouring down her face and looked out the window, soundlessly begging him to come back.
Once again he Apparated aimlessly, from the Scottish sunset to the embankment of Muggle London. He wished he could think the sunset over the black lake with the contours of the tall mountains around was beautiful, but nothing was anymore. He looked out over the Thames, hours later. It was dark and lonely, except for a few people stumbling home from Muggle night clubs. He was alone, wherever he went, despite the fact that there were people everywhere.
His nightmares were always the same.
He apparated back to Pansy's. Her parents had gone to bed by this point and the house was as dark as his mind. He crept through the house to her bedroom. Pansy was having tea in front of the fireplace where Daphne's head stuck out.
Her head spun around. "Where've you been?"
She seemed worried. How long had he been away for?
"Just down at the Leaky Cauldron. With Greg."
He didn't know why he lied.
"I'm sorry about him."
Surprised at the words, Greg looked sideways at Draco. He'd never heard Malfoy apologise in all the years he'd known him. He shifted uncomfortably and Greg had the decency to look away.
They both turned to look down onto the gravestone. Moss was beginning to grow on the corner of it. How many months had it been now? Not more than four.
"I never reckoned it'd be him," Greg muttered. Greg thought it would've been him rather than Vince. Vince was so strong - Greg had always been weak. It wasn't fair.
"It was an accident," Malfoy croaked out.
"I know," mumbled Greg.
"Sorry I kept you out of everything," said Draco awkwardly. He cleared his throat. "And treated you both like shit."
"No, Malfoy," said Greg and shook his head. "It was an accident."
"I know he was like a brother to you," Malfoy went on anyway. "He was my friend too, despite everything."
Greg turned to look at him. He wondered why Malfoy was saying this, because it would never be like before, no matter what he said.
"What do you think he would've wanted to do after Hogwarts?" asked Greg quietly.
Draco gave a small laugh. "Well, he wasn't the entrepreneurial type. Nor the type to become a Healer."
This made Greg laugh a little too. "Maybe he would've worked in one of those Broomstick factories."
"I reckon he'd have become a Hit Wizard for the Ministry."
They both smiled a little. And then, as always, they parted ways without another word.
Draco returned from the bar with two glasses of Fire Whiskey and sat down in the booth again next to Zabini. They had deliberately chosen the Hippogriff's Head, not the Minister's Arms where Queenie worked, for privacy.
"Still no show?" said Draco as Blaise received his drink and clinked their glasses together.
"Cheers, mate," said Blaise, and just then, the door opened. For a second they were blinded by the light from outside, as the pub was so dark. A figure appeared and stepped inside. Wearing a tattered travelling cloak with the hood pulled up over his head, Theodore Nott slid into their booth and looked at them both.
"Never thought I'd see you together after we finished Hogwarts," he said, and his voice was hoarse.
"I can't believe you showed up, mate," said Blaise. "Where have you been?"
"Hiding out," said Theodore bitterly. "Here and there. I'm running out of places. That's why I came."
"You need to get your shit together," said Draco harshly. "You're only doing more harm going on like this."
Theodore gave a bitter laugh. "I knew you would be on me about this. I bet you're trying to help Potter collect all the naughty Death Eaters."
"I have no need to be a hero," said Draco, "that's for Potter and the lot."
"That's because you're a coward," sneered Theodore. Draco clenched his fist and tapped his foot quickly. He took a gulp of his Fire Whiskey to keep his anger under control.
"I suppose that's why you sent the owl?" Theodore directed this at Blaise. "To get me to turn myself in?"
"Yes," said Blaise harshly. "I got you a solicitor and you just left. You're being an idiot. You need to come out of hiding and sort this shit out with the Ministry."
"Come out of hiding - easy for you to say," snarled Theodore and grabbed Blaise's drink and had a sip. "I'm wanted! I could go to prison!"
Blaise fist hit the table quickly, "But you won't if you cooperate!"
"Yeah? How did that go for Miles and Adrian, eh?"
"They got a year! They'll be out in less than that," said Draco. "And look at Bulstrode-"
"Yes, look at Bulstrode," snapped Theodore. "She's in prison too, for a year. Even if it is in her own home."
"You're in prison already, mate," said Blaise. "You'll never be free as long as you're on the run."
Theodore closed his eyes and groaned. He looked exhausted.
"They have nothing on you," said Draco. "You're wanted for possible involvement with the dark forces. That's it."
"And I have this," said Theodore, holding up his left arm.
"So do I," said Draco curtly. "It doesn't mean-"
"Yes, so do you," said Theodore disdainfully. "Yet look at you. Here you sit. But we can't all be saved by Saint Potter, can we?"
"It's hardly Malfoy's fault he got off," said Blaise.
"Come on, Zabini!" said Theodore angrily, "You honestly expect me to be happy about the fact that the Dark Lord's golden boy got off scot-free and all the rest of us are being hunted like escaped House-Elves when all we did was take a sodding Mark to the skin, despite the fact that he tried to kill the headmaster and manipulated us all to join in the first place!"
Draco and Blaise shared a dark look. "You can't possibly blame me for why you joined. And it's not like I wanted to kill Dumbledore."
"No, of course not!" said Theodore sarcastically, "you were only trying to avenge dear old daddy. And in the end you didn't even have to do that because Snape did your dirty work for you and then for some reason, even though you bullied him for six years, Potter went out of his way to make sure you didn't end up in Azkaban."
"I didn't do it to avenge my father, you idiot," said Draco. "You've completely missed the point that the Dark Lord forced us and threatened our lives. What was I supposed to do? What would you have done better in my situation, please enlighten me?"
"I would've tried harded!"
"Maybe I didn't try hard because I didn't want it, I didn't want the Dark Lord!"
"That is utter bollocks, proving you're not only a coward but a liar as well," Theodore said coldly.
Draco rolled his eyes. "You believe whatever you want, Nott, I dont have to prove anything to you. Potter testified for me because my mother was part in saving his life. As well as even he's clever enough to realise I havent wanted any of it since I was bloody fifteen and didnt know any better."
Nott was staring at him almost murderously. His tone was even colder when he replied, bu the failed to fully mask his surprise. "Then I take back what I just said. You're not just a coward, you're a lying, cowardly traitor."
Draco shook his head tiredly and had another sip of his drink. He glanced at Blaise to carry the conversation on. He didn't really want to be here anymore. Theodore had not been a close friend for years anyway - the only important thing was that he, his mother and Pansy were safe.
"You need to stop this," said Blaise. "Stop with the Dark Lord nonsense and accept that he was wrong."
"The winners write history," said Theodore, "Remember that. Sure, now everyone hates the Dark Lord. But a year ago everyone was telling a different story, weren't they."
"Oh please, you're not defending the Dark Lord?" said Draco tiredly. "Still, Nott, after all of this?"
"You fucking traitor!" snarled Theodore at Draco.
"There's no right side, at least not for me," said Draco, not faced. He knew Theodore was below him anyway. "The side that won isn't perfect, or the best one. But neither was his side. Part of suriviving is choosing the one that has a future. Which I did, and you... sadly... did not."
"Because I stand by my morals!"
Draco gave a small sarcastic smile. "What an ickle Gryffindor you are then..."
Theodore narrowed his eyes. "And you're ever the Slytherin. You utter snake."
The fifteenth approached quickly and suddenly it was time for Pansy to start her first course. She placed her new pink notebook on the desk and sat down, carefully smoothing out her new robes as she did so. Her pygmy puff swayed slightly on her shoulder as she leaned forward to get her ink and quill from her sequin handbag.
She met the looks of the girls on her table and she sized them up.
"I'm Pansy Parkinson," she offered with a little smirk.
"I know who you are," said one of the girls. She had long blonde curly hair and a hard face, she wasn't the prettiest girl with her big frame but she wore expensive robes. "Henrietta Rowle."
"I see," said Pansy, although she didn't really.
Henrietta glanced around them and lowered her voice. "My father knows your boyfriend."
"Oh," said Pansy, suddenly understanding. She wondered how to act for a moment, which was very unlike her. She looked at the others, who acted like nothing.
The lecturers talked a bit each about their subjects and Pansy listened intently. You could take Wizarding Culture where you would learn of the arts, media, international cultures including different Wizarding religions in the world; Ministerial and international politics; magical engineering and materials where you would study materials to apply in Transfiguration or Potions, where you would measure how long it took for certain materials to Summon, or examine why some items could only be transfigured into other specific items because of density and other factors. Or indeed how quick a Charm would wear off using different materials like wood, feathers, concrete, fabric, and so on. It was basically the science behind magic, and it sounded too much for Pansy at the moment. She wanted to do the fun courses.
An hour later, she had met a few more girls. There was Clara Taylor, a Half-Blood from Sussex who had been a Ravenclaw at Hogwarts; Arabella Jones, who was several years older; Theodora Selwyn who had been sent to Beaxbautons by her mother, and Lucretia Fawley, a Pureblood who had been homeschooled. It seemed she had found an acceptable group of girls, and this was now her new project.
"I've just exchanged," said Lucretia. "I went to the University of Wizarding Culture in Cornwall last term. But I just found it so boring down there. There was nothing to do besides school."
She leaned closer to Pansy and whispered, "I actually got so bored I accidentally cheated on my boyfriend with his best mate."
Pansy raised her eyebrows, silently judging the girl. Who in the right mind told a complete stranger this? She decided to keep this new information to herself. She never knew when it could be useful. Better not spill any secrets without reason or gain.
"My boyfriend goes to the Magi-technical College in Wimbledon," she went on, "we should meet up with him and his friends for drinks in Diagon Alley tonight."
Her new life in mind, Pansy decided to say yes. It couldn't hurt right? It was about time she made new friends and started a new chapter in her life.
