Disclaimer – Everything you recognise, belongs not to me, but the talented JK.  Anything else is more than likely mine.

Authors Note – Another Pansy Draco story, our favourite couple.  This is going to get quite dark and our three favourite main characters are going to be shown in quite a different light.

Crudelis Ferreus

Chapter Two – Balls and Proposals

"Parkinson if you do not refrain from poking me in the head I will not ask you to accompany me to this years Yule Ball,"

The students around us sniggered and some of the other girls shot venomous looks at me.

"Oh come on," I said to a Ravenclaw who looked as if she was going to burst into tears, "You didn't seriously toy with the idea Draco would ask you?"

She burst into tears and ran out of the Charms classroom.  Professor Flitwick, as usual, looked completely lost as to what to do.

"Quiet down now.  Oh dear would you follow her please Miss Birch?  Oh dear oh dear," he said, toppling off the pile of books that sufficed as his chair.

"Was that a serious offer then Malfoy," I said in his ear.  He smirked.

"Of course Parkinson.  I know it may seem strange, my lowering myself to your level but you'll have to do."

I poked him in the head again.

Ever since the Triwizard Tournament, and the first ever ball, it has become a Hogwarts Tradition to hold a Yule Ball on the last Saturday of term.  Everyone who's anyone attends and to be seen without a date was like walking into a crowded room with no robes on.  It wasn't done.  The scramble for dates some people had to make was extremely amusing.  Even Crabbe and Goyle found dates for it.  Well saying that they took it in turns to accompany Millicent Bulstrode.

Someone on the other side of the room set fire to Flitwick's pile of books.  He gave us a defeated look.

"Well it is near the end of term.  If I let you go will you go quietly?"

There was a roar of approval and then a stampede to exit the room in which the minute little man was knocked off his feet.  Draco and I saunter out of the room moments later, a knot of giggling Slytherin girls following us.

I lay on my bed, catching up on my studies.  Books littered it, old and well they would have been dusty if it wasn't for the house-elves I ordered to clean them everyday.  I grinned to myself; I wouldn't mind trying this spell out on Granger, turning her inside out would be quite amusing.

"What's so funny?" Draco demanded from the corner of my bed.  I jumped and promptly landed in a shocked pile of limbs on the floor.

"Draco, don't you make any noise?" I hissed at him.  My elbow was throbbing from where it had hit the stone floor and the wind had been near knocked from me.  His head appeared over the bed as I tried to push myself to my knees.

"Staple of a good, Malfloy, not seen not heard," he said chirpily.  Ok well as chirpily as Draco gets.  His brow furrowed however as he watched my futile attempts to get to my feet.

"You ok?" he said, swinging his legs over so he could kneel next to me.

"Yes," I said sarcastically, "Falling onto a hard stone floor is just like falling onto a pile of cushions for me."

"Sorry," he said.  He took hold of my arm and slung it gently over his shoulder, and wrapping his own arms around me he pulled me to my feet.

"Watch were those hands are going Malfloy," I warned him.  I got a smirk in reply.

He supported me with one arm while he cleared the bed of books, "Interesting," he muttered at the brief snatches of pages he caught, "Must read these at some time Pansy."

"Whatever," I said shortly.  My stomach was really hurting now.  I think I've broken a rib.  Gently he lowered me onto the bed and I lay down.  He quickly scooted to the other side of the bed and lay next to me on his side.  He reached out toward my top.

"Draco, what the hell are you doing?" I said, mortified.  Secretly I was quite pleased.

"I'm going to look at your stomach Pansy.  Contrary to your beliefs I am actually an honourable gentleman."

I scoffed, "Yeah ok," but I didn't stop him as he pulled my top away from my stomach.  His cold hands brushed my skin, sending delicious shivers across it.  His fingers found the offending rib and I gasped in pain.  Fine.  Pain and partly ecstasy.

"Its broken" he stated, "You must have fell pretty hard."

"You don't say," I muttered.

He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the rib.  It was sticking out of my stomach at an odd angle.

"If you damage me in any way Draco I will break every bone in your body."

"Any other way," he corrected.  I shut my eyes as I felt the sharp pain in my stomach.  It felt like millions of tiny pins were pricking into my skin.  I kept them tightly shut and didn't open them for what seemed like minutes after the pain had stopped.  Draco was still staring at my, and I'm proud to say this, stick-thin stomach.  Mother will be so happy with me.  You can actually see my ribs through it.  He looked shocked though.

"Pansy so you ever eat?"

"Not if I can help it," I replied.  I felt my completely back to normal rib.  "Thanks"

He waved away my thanks and placed his own hand back onto my ribs.

"Pansy you're too thin.  Look at you.  It's not healthy." He said.  The shivers had started again.

"I'm too fat Draco, look," I said, grabbing a handful of skin.  I must admit it's getting pretty hard to grab anything off my body any more.

"Your not fat," he replied.  He didn't stop caressing my stomach, "Your too thin.  You never were fat and you never will be."

"I will when I have children." I pointed out.

"You never will be able to if you carry on like this," he replied.  He removed his hand from my stomach and involuntarily I tutted.

"Enjoying that were you?" he said, a smirk on his face and a hint of amusement in his voice.  His hand crept toward my bare flesh again.

"Parkinson," his voice seared through my mind.  It was so painful I took my head in my hands, trying to squash him out.

"Pansy, Pansy what's wrong?" Draco said, gripping my hands and trying to pry them from my hair.

But The Dark Lord was gone, he had done it to spite me, stop anything from happening between Draco and I.  He had never done that with Blaise.

"Headache," I said weakly.  He didn't look as if he believed me but he nodded anyway.

"I shall take my leave of you then," he started to get up but my hand shot out and I grabbed his arm.

"Please don't Draco,"

He said nothing but lay down next to me.  My head found his shoulder and his arm encircled my waist, making the bare skin near my hip tingle.

I can't remember when I've ever had such sweet dreams.

December 19th the date of the ball.  I roared at Millicent to get out of the room, magically locked the door, (she barely knew how to lift her wand never mind perform a spell with it) and started my traditional ball regime.

Well of course firstly I bathed, while Draco annoyingly kept trying to break my charm on the girls bathroom door.  Someone trained like me, he had no chance.  Firstly my hair.  I dried it with my Mothers favourite charm, which dries ones hair perfectly straight.  Then I set about the various silkening, shimmering and straightening charms I know.  I also used a charm I only recently discovered which perfects the colour of ones hair.  It was now an even darker, raven black.

Then my face and body.  Various crèmes went on first, followed by another shimmering charm.  Make-up first, a pale pink eye shadow to compliment my dress, beautiful dark eyelashes to frame my glimmering eyes, (none magical I might add), a perfectly pale complexion, and glittery, pale pink lips.  I sprayed a liberal amount of perfume on myself.  I was running low but I assumed Mother would buy me another bottle of my chosen scent, Dulcis Mellitus, for Christmas.  One bottle cost 100 galleons, probably more than Weasley's whole house was worth.

"Pansy let me in," came Millicent's voice from the other side of the door.

"It's open" I lie.  It'll take her hours to figure out why she can't open it.

I dance my way over to where my dress is laid out on the bed.  Ok so I remember saying once I don't dance but I do, on occasion.  And this was definitely a momentous one.  It was my last ever Yule Ball and Draco was accompanying me.  Ok so he had for every one since the fourth year but this was our last ever.  Most seventh years going together were considered near enough wed already.  Draco and I, I had no idea.

Anyway the dress.  Extremely expensive.  Father had to bite his cheek to stop himself having a fit in the boutique when the shopkeeper told us the price.  It would have been very unseemly if Mr Parkinson, one of the richest wizards in the country, had had a fit over a five thousand-galleon dress.

I gave up on robes years ago.  They don't show enough flesh.  Anyway the dress.  God I am getting so sidetracked here.  The excitement I assume.

It was a cool, frosted pink covered in real, glittering diamonds.  No wonder it cost five thousand galleons.  I wouldn't have minded going cheaper and buying a three thousand dress but Mother insisted that I be unique and this was the only dress in the shop that had not been mass-produced.

It was off the shoulder and quite low cut I might add.  Tight in the bodice, showing off my new, slimmer shape, it flared out at the hips, creating a long, loose effect in the skirt.

I slowly pulled it on, careful not to knock any of the diamonds.  They were very delicate.

Millicent banged on the door again, "Pansy I can't open it and there's only five minutes left till the ball,"

Rolling my eyes I flicked my wand toward the door.  She burst through, red faced and panting.

Two minutes later and she was sitting on her bed ready.  I wrinkled my nose in disgust.  I was preening in the mirror, blasting stray eyebrow hairs away and touching up various bits of my make-up.

"I do hope you bathed Millicent," I remarked to her.  She usually smelt as if she hadn't in three years.

"Yes I had a bath.  I used some of your smelly potion to," she said proudly.

I rounded on her, my eyes blazing, "You what!  Do you know how expensive that potion is?  It is not to be used on the likes of you!"

She stood up and advanced toward me.  Ok now I was kind of scared.  My wand was lying on the floor where I had dropped it in shock, out of bloody reach.  Oh sorry, a Lady doesn't swear.  I might win in a war of wands but Millicent had a certain height and width advantage when it involved fists.

"You always treat me mean Pansy.  And I don't like it," she said, stopping in front of me.  Oh God my hair was going to be ruined.

"One more step toward my date Bulstrode and when Crabbe tried to kiss you at the end of the night he'll have to kiss your ass,"

I smiled in relief.  Millicent would never deny an order from a Malfoy.  Plus he had his wand pointed at her.  She stepped away from me.

"Now Crabbe is waiting for you in the common room.  Go,"

She left quickly, pushing past him.  He didn't let his wand drop until she had turned the corner.

"Oh Draco," I said.  Yeah I sounded like some defenceless damsel, but hey, I like to make a man feel manly and strong.

"Did the ugly, great brute hurt you?" he said striding toward me.

"No," I whispered breathlessly.  It didn't hurt to milk it now, "But I thought she was going to ruin my hair-it took hours," I gushed turning to the mirror.

His reflection smiled at me and he held out a neatly wrapped package.

"For me?" I said into the mirror.

"No for Millicent," it retorted.

I whirled around.  "Thank you," I said, taking it from him.  It was pale pink with a silver ribbon.  My heightened fifth sense began to tingle.  I undid the bow and pulled off the lid.  Lying in folds of soft white tissue lay a beautiful, single diamond.

"Wow," I breathed.  He must have spoken to Mother as it matched my dress perfectly and I had never shown it to him.  "Its beautiful."

"I know," he said, "It had to be a) because it cost so much and b) so it would compliment you."

I smiled and ran my fingers over its cool surface; his hand appeared over mine and picked the diamond up placing it on my neck, just between my collarbones.

"Here?" he said.

I looked into the mirror again and nodded.  A moment later and his hand fell away but the stone stayed perfectly positioned on my pale skin.  Anywhere light hit it glittered.  I caught Draco's eye in the mirror.

"You look beautiful you know," he said, stepping in and pressing himself against my back.  His arms snaked around my waist and he let his lips fall to my neck, kissing ever so gently.  I leaned back into him, my eyes closing and my lips letting out a sign of contentment.

He pulled away though.

"No," I whispered, trying to pull him back toward me.

"Pansy we have a ball to attend," he said in a voice that didn't entirely convince me he wouldn't rather stay here, alone all evening.

"You wouldn't want to miss out on showing off to everyone now would you?"

That did it.  I turned to face him, pressing against him.  It was his turn to sigh as I caught his lips with my own.

"Shall we go?" I said, pulling away.

Wrapping his arm around me so his hand was placed in the small of my back he gestured for me to walk out the door.

I don't know when it happened but I've fallen for Draco.  Hard and very, very far.

The tradition of the ball was that until everyone arrived, the students stayed seated.  Draco and I were last in of course and drew gasps of wonder and approval from the school.  I stuck my nose in the air and pretended I was used to it.  Hey I was but not in such large doses.

Draco led me to a table, his hand guiding me from the small of my back.  I sat down and he pulled his chair closer to me.

"Draco you're almost sitting on my lap," I commented, noting the gang of Slytherin boys all nudging Blaise and the murderous looks I was getting from their dates.  Hey I said it was dangerous being a Slytherin.  Blaise stood up and made his way over.

"Pansy" he said, "Your looking wonderful this evening," he took my hand and kissed it, eyeing me from under a wisp of brown hair.  I placed my other hand on Draco's leg to placate him.  Blaise must still think we were on.  Well we were very, very off.

"Thank you Blaise," I said, smiling graciously, "Your looking wonderful yourself,"

I must say he was looking all right, quite handsome really.  But he wasn't a patch on Draco.  He placed his own hand over mine in a possessive gesture that made my knees wobble.  His other hand began to rub my back.

"So, er, who are you-I mean you did you invite?"

I shot Draco a warning look.  His touch had made me go completely to pot.

"I brought Maria Latia," he said, pulling a tanned, quite pretty girl forward.

"Hi," she said, offering a well manicured hand to me.  I shook it, smiling at the girl.  She offered it to Draco and when he took it she looked as if she was about to melt.

"What year are you Maria?" I said politely.  In reality I couldn't wait for them to get lost so Draco and I could be alone.

"Fourth year," she replied.  There was no need for houses.  Slytherins only dated Slytherins.

"I think your dress is beautiful," she carried on, her confidence growing, "And how did you get that crystal to hang at your neck so?"

Oh she'd blown it.  Draco puffed up next to me.

"Crystal," he roared, "Crystal," he began to shake his head.  I distinctly heard him mutter something about "un-cultured" under his breath.

"That, my dear," he said, "Is a real, expensive diamond."

Maria looked mortified.  "S-sorry" she stammered.

"We'll take our leave of you then," Blaise said hurriedly.  He dragged her off, probably lecturing the girl on ball etiquette.

"Why don't you ever call me 'My dear' Draco" I questioned teasingly.

"Because your much more special than that," he replied nonchalantly, stroking my cheek, "Much more"

I blushed.  Draco leaned in and kissed me gently.  Then he deepened it, pushing open my mouth with his tongue, exploring its depths.  I kissed him back, passionately.  My whole body tingled from the contact with him.  I had never felt like this with Blaise.

"God if it gets any worse his tongue will be brushing her stomach," someone commented near us.  Draco broke the kiss quickly.

"At least I'm getting some Weasley," he retorted.

Both Hermione and Ron blushed and looked down.  Draco smirked and turned back to me.

"Care to dance," he said, sweeping me to my feet.

We strode out into the middle of the floor.  Fairies littered the ceiling, sending out their beautiful little twinkling lights, which in turn made my diamonds sparkle even more.

"Everyone's watching us," Draco commented after a long, but comfortable, silence.

"So they should," I replied.  I smiled inside.

"Modesty is a virtue," he shot back.  Although he smiled to.  I let my head drop onto his shoulder and he pulled me closer.  It was as if we were made to fit together, oh God wait that sounded rather mushy.  Oh well it's a great evening I' m sure you'll let me off.

"Come on," he whispered into my ear, "Let's go outside"

The grounds were filled with the same decorations as usual, rosebushes and fairies.  Draco pulled me along path after path, until we came to a shimmering pool.  Pulling off his cloak he sat down and motioned for me to follow.  I placed myself in front of him, leaning against his strong frame.  He wrapped his arms around my waist and I placed my hands over his.  We sat there for hours, in complete silence, contemplating the beauty of the silvery pool.  Every so often he would kiss the top of my head, breathing in the scent of my hair.

"Parkinson," he said suddenly, "I think I love you."

"Well that's comforting," I reply, butterflies dancing in my stomach, "Because I love you too"

He tightened his hold on me but said nothing else.  I don't think we needed to.

Hours later I spotted the lights of the school beginning to flicker and go out.

"I think the balls finished." I said, not really wanting to move.  Draco however pushed me forwards and began to get up.

"Fine, push me over," I grumbled, getting to my feet.  The next minute my legs were swept from under me and I found myself held in the strong arms of Draco.

"Pick that cloak up," he said, bending so I could reach it.  Wrapping one arm around his neck I pulled it toward me and as he began to make his way toward the castle I arranged it over myself.

"For what do I owe you this honour?" I said giddily.  How un-ladylike.

"The mood ran away with me," he muttered.  "Pansy you weigh nothing.  Are you still not eating properly?"

I rolled my eyes and didn't answer.  This had become a crusade of his, forcing me to eat.  I'd put weight on-Mother would not be pleased.

"Pansy," he said warningly but I silenced him with a kiss.  He stopped walking and kissed me back fiercely and I swear if he hadn't of had hold of me my knees would have buckled.

He tried to pull away but I grabbed the back of his head and yanked his lips back.  He wasn't getting away from me that easily.  When I finally did release my hold on his blonde locks his face was more than surprised.

"Pansy?" he said quietly.  His lips had gone rather red and I touched my hand to my own throbbing ones.  Snuggling into his chest I was asleep before we even reached the castle.

I woke up the next morning tucked into my bed.  My dress had been removed and I had been left in my underwear.  A black lump at the end of my bed caught my eye and I kicked it lightly.  It mumbled something and rolled over.

"Draco," I said a blush creeping onto my cheeks, "It wasn't you who undressed me was it?"

"What does it matter?" he muttered, his voice muffled as his face was buried in my covers, "I'm the only one who has and will ever see you."

I bit my lip.  That wasn't strictly true.  Draco however rolled over and noticed my look.

"That is true, isn't it?" he said, his eyes narrowing.  "The Dark Lord never touched you did he?"

I shook my head.  Oh thank The Dark Lord I got out of that one.  But Draco noticed something in my relieved look.

"That is true, isn't it Pansy?" he repeated.  I looked down.

"Blaise," I mumbled quietly.

"YOU HAVEN'T SHAGGED BLAISE HAVE YOU?" he roared.  I visibly shrank away from him, wildly shaking my head.

"What have you done?" he said, his voice low.

"N-nothing much.  It was when I went to his house over the summer.  We just kissed, and er stuff."

"Stuff?" he repeated, "Stuff?  You mean to tell me you've done stuff with that idiot?" he looked disgusted in me.

"Well you've done stuff with other people," I countered.  He didn't reply.  Silently he jumped off the bed and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut.  I sat up.  In his haste to leave he had left his cloak lying at the end of my bed.  Picking it up I hugged it to me.  It didn't stop the tears from falling.

The tears, which are still falling near two weeks later.  I'm meant to be preparing myself for the New Years Ball at Malfoy Manor but the knot in my stomach won't let me.  I stare at my reflection in the mirror.  Even for my standards I look terribly thin.  My bones are sticking out at odd angles and my skin looks extremely dull.  Slowly I pull myself from the bed and begin the same routine as always, hair, make-up, perfume, dress.  This time it's a green velvet creation, which compliments my dark hair.  Green eye shadow to match and clear lips.  Perfect complexion again and all the usual charms.  I reach for the new bottle of Dulcis Mellitus on my cabinet.  It arrived on Christmas Day with a brief, formal note from Draco.  I sent him an extremely rare and valuable book on Dark Magic, one I know he'd been dying to get his hands on since he was five.

Anyway I must say, once I had finished I looked quite good, considering my previous state of red, tear-stained eyes and pallid skin.  Now I just had my Mothers inspection to survive.

"Not as good as the photograph you sent of the Yule Ball dear but still quite acceptable."

"Thank you Mother," I reply, bowing my head.

"Now I told your Father under no circumstances are we Flooing to the Malfoys, all that dirt and grime, so he agreed to Apparate with you, ok dear?"

I nod.

"Now remember," Fathers gruff voice said, "Don't squirm and keep tight hold of my arm.  It won't do for you getting spliced on such an important evening."

"Yes Father," I said, my tone monotonous.

"Pansy dear, smile.  It won't do for you to look miserable at the party.  Now Draco will be there, you do want to make a good impression, don't you?"

I nod but I can't speak.

"Yes you wouldn't want to make a bad impression on me now would you Pansy?  I want you looking perfect because tonight's our night" rattled through my skull.

As I walked into the Grand Hall of the Malfoys home my Mother threw me a warning look.  So I sealed on my most gracious smile and thanked and cooed with Narcissa, whilst always on the lookout for Draco.  I spotted him surrounded by a group of giggling females sat on couches.  I looked away quickly as he spotted me, pretending I was totally engrossed in Narcissa's words.  I didn't notice him shoot to his feet or begin striding toward me, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

"Mother, Mrs Parkinson," he said graciously.  I jumped as his voice came from behind me.

"I do hope you won't mind if I whisk Pansy away?  We have so much catching up to do."

"Not at all" my Mother replied, beaming.  He grabbed my arm and smiling all the time dragged me away.  Once we were out of view however his hold on my arm became painful.

"Draco you're hurting me," I said trying to pull out of his vice-like grip.  Oh how easy it would be if he were Weasley.

"Not as much as your hurting yourself," he muttered.  He had led me into a chamber off the main ballroom and stopped me in front of a mirror.

"Look at yourself," he commanded.  So I did.  I'm sure I've told you you never disobey a Malfoy.

I looked ill, really ill.  Well of course I looked good, my hair, make-up and clothes were perfect but my body-that was another matter.  I was painstakingly thin, so thin my elbows jutted out and you could see the outlines of the bones in my arms.  Although it did give my cheeks good bone structure.

"You can't have eaten anything since you got home" he said, dropping down onto a couch.  The next minute I was pulled into his lap and he wrapped his arms around me.

"God Pansy I could knock you over with a Hippogriff feather" he commented.

"Well they are pretty tough" I replied.  I snuggled into him, burying my head in his chest so he wouldn't witness my tears.  I needed no words to know we were back together.  He had other ideas though.  Gently he lifted my head up but his expression was shocked when he saw my glassy eyes and tear-streaked face.

"Pansy, are you crying?"

"No," I said in a shaky voice.

He pulled me back down to his chest, crushing me to it.  I weakly tried to protest,

"You're crushing my dress," I moaned.  He just kissed my forehead and went back to stroking my hair.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven,"

Even us high-status wizards chant you know when it gets to New Year.  Draco grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the Ballroom again.

"Six, Five, Four,"

"Pansy I, I've wanted to ask you something for awhile now.  I've missed you so much you know over this holiday and I don't want us to ever be apart again,"

"Three,"

I think I know what's coming.

"Two,"

Draco got down on his knee and pulled out a black velvet box.

"Pansy will you marry me?"

"One"

I can't stop the grin from spreading across my face.  I launch myself at Draco and he falls backward, landing spread-eagled on the floor with me on top of him.

"Is that a yes?" he grinned.

"Was there ever any doubt," I whispered back.  He kissed me gently whilst sliding the ring onto my finger.  The amount of love in that one kiss made me noticeably shake.

I pulled away and gazed down at my diamond.

"It matches the other one," he said, rubbing my goosebumpy arms.  I bent down to kiss him again but was interrupted by,

"Pansy that is not very ladylike at all,"

I turn round to see my Mother looking murderous in the doorway accompanied by my Father and the Malfoys.  I smile sheepishly and hold out my left hand.

"Draco proposed Mother,"

All ideals of ladylikeness were forgone as my Mother squealed and ran toward us.