Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K.Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Brothers., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Her mother didn't waste any time after the changes had been made. Regina Parkinson took Pansy to the muggle tanning place as she was directed to, dragging the young teenage girl back to the manor and ordering her to sit in the parlor.
Her mother stormed in, looking incredibly cruel through her beauty. Pansy used to admire her mother's looks before her father died. Before her father died, Regina had been kinder. Before her father died, Regina had been in every way beautiful. Now she was only intolerable.
"I will be arranging for a young man to come to the manor and eat dinner with us. He and his parents will join us and he will be a potential husband. I expect you will be on your best behavior. And you will most certainly not tell him of your recent changes. According to him, you've always looked that way." Regina snapped sternly, brushing her shiny brown hair from her face and straightening her robes.
"The arrangements will be made for this Friday. Not that you will have any plans," Regina finished, turning on her heel and leaving the room, nearly knocking over a house elf in her path.
Pansy waited until ten minutes had passed. She was going to be paired up with whomever her mother decided suited her. She had a feeling that many sleepless nights were ahead of her.
The next morning, Pansy awoke to being shaken violently.
"Wake up!" Regina shouted, finally rousing Pansy. "We've got work to do! UP!"
"I'm up!" Pansy muttered, forcing herself out of her bed. She stumbled over to her dresser, rubbing her eyes momentarily before looking at herself in the mirror.
She gasped slightly, remembering that she was someone else now. It was odd looking in the mirror and not seeing the same person she had seen for the past eighteen years.
Her mother tested her by having her prepare herself for the day totally by herself. She messed up awfully at the makeup but fixed it with a few spells Renadele had left her. She chose the robes that she knew would impress her mother. Fitted, low-cut, hugging robes. She hated them to be blunt. After dressed and prepared, she headed downstairs to prove to her mother she could do it.
Her mother's eyes glinted in triumph at her once tomboy daughter's appearance. A smirk drifted onto her thin lips.
"Good. I've prepared some books for you to read while I go and pick up a few things. Get to it," Regina ordered, heading for the doorway and as soon as the door slammed, Pansy hurried into the parlor.
She had a good feeling about this. Her mother leaving her books was definitely sounding like a good way to pass the time until the dreaded dinner date with whats-his-name and his parents.
Unfortunately, she was met with a large and towering stack of dating books. They were obviously written hundreds of years ago by housewives instructing how to properly take care of one's husband. It was degrading, really. Absolutely degrading.
Sighing, she settled into one of the couches and pulled a book to her, opening it lazily and flicking her eyes over the words with little interest.
Your husband is the most vital person in your life. You must treat him as so and make sure he knows it. Degrading your husband, putting him down, or disagreeing with him will make him feel as though he is a failure. If you do this, then you are a failure at being a proper wife.
Pansy didn't concentrate on much more of it after that. She distracted her mind with thoughts of school days. She had been fun, all the guy's best friend, and the only person they could all tell things to. The guys would have laughed at them, and despite the fact that Pansy may have just been 'one of the guys', they trusted she wouldn't tell anything.
She missed them. They wouldn't keep in touch. How often do guys owl each other about how things are going when they've only been apart a little while? How often do they owl each other at all? She could owl them, but face telling them about her mother's marriage breakdown? No, she'd rather wait.
Trust me; it is a good thing that you do not have to choose your husband. Marrying for love is an oxymoron.
Pansy sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. Did people really believe this nonsense? Before she knew it, she'd fallen asleep, and didn't mind one bit.
"PANSY REGINA PARKINSON!" Screamed an all-too-familiar voice in her ear, causing her to sit up and yelp a little in surprise.
"Three pages? THREE PAGES?" Her mother carried on, lifting the book. "You were here for a good three hours and you did a page an hour?" She tossed the book on the top of the pile. "I bet you didn't get one thing out of that! Go on, tell me one thing."
"Marrying for love is an oxymoron," Pansy quoted, rubbing her head.
"Get up and go fix your hair. I've got new robes for you that you need to try on." She barked, shoving the bag into Pansy's arms.
"Yes, Mother." Pansy said, starting to jog upstairs but remembered that jogging was not graceful. So she tamed her walk to a graceful stride up the stairs.
The rest of the week went by rather quickly. Regina had chosen the ivory robes for Pansy, which she thought made her look too dark and her hair too bright. However, her mother knew best.
"Pansy!" Called Regina from down the stairs.
Pansy sighed, opening the door from her bedroom and walking with the poise she had been practicing until late hours with Regina every night.
"Tomorrow evening, Joel Gazelle will be coming to the Manor. I expect you will look your best," Regina began, examining Pansy's choice of clothing. "The house elves are preparing steak as the main course. Do not spill any food on your clothing. Do not sit on anything that has not been cleaned and shined by the house elves. Do not disrespect Joel or his parents, Rodney and Sadie." She practically spat Sadie's name, apparently disliking it.
"Of course, Mother." Pansy replied nonchantly.
"You will ask about Mr. and Mrs. Gazelle's lives and you will be interested. You will ask Joel of his job and of his experience at a different school. You will be interested. Do you understand me, Pansy?" Regina grilled into her head, reminding Pansy of some sort of brainwash.
"Yes, Mother." Pansy responded, dreading the following night.
"Good. Now, go up and finish reading the book I gave you." Regina said, waving her long, skinny arm and turning back to the desk.
Pansy nodded, walking gracefully from the room and settling at her desk, staring at the book. She hated it. Due to her mother's obsessions, she had gotten about halfway through it.
If he's hurt, it's your main priority to make sure he not only gets back into his previous health, but better.
She sighed, running her hand through her hair and toying with it a moment before a sharp pecking at her window brought her from her trance.
She stood up from her chair, walking to the window and allowing a familiar tawney owl inside the room. It belonged to Millicent Bullstrode, the only friend she had that had her same gender. Not great friends, mind you, but friends nonetheless.
She carefully opened it, realizing at once it was a wedding invitation.
Dear Pansy,
I, Millicent Bullstrode, cordially invite you to a ceremony celebrating the joining of two families and two hearts. On Saturday the 16th in the month of August, I will be hosting a marriage from me to Vincent Crabbe. I request your attendance and do hope you will RSVP back to me with your response.
Sincerely,
Millicent Bullstrode
Pansy always knew those two would end up together. Crabbe had been obsessed with her for a while and Millicent had been flattered. She wasn't used to that sort of attention. And well, they'd dated for most of the years at Hogwarts. They were bound to get married shortly after Hogwarts was over.
She felt envious of them, really. They were in love. Oxymoron my ass, Pansy thought to herself, shaking her head and setting the letter down. The wedding was months away. Pansy might even be engaged to someone by then.
The thought was almost unbearable. It might be to this Joel Gazelle, or perhaps to some man twice her age. Perhaps her mother would set her up with someone she actually liked or knew from school… No, Regina was far too cruel for that sort of special treatment.
Pulling out a sheet of parchment, she placed it in front of her and decided to write back to Millicent. Maybe if she was lucky, Regina would allow her an afternoon to catch up with her friend. Highly doubted, but still.
Millicent,
I was pleased to hear that you and Vince are marrying. I know you probably have heard this a billion times, but I knew it was going to happen. I'm not certain if I may come or not yet, but hopefully.
Mother is going to a whole new level of insanity. I don't look like myself anymore, believe it or not. She went and got my nose fixed. I know I was always complaining about it but it's gone now. I'm just different now. You probably wouldn't recognize me. Anyway, have you heard of Joel Gazelle? I'm supposed to meet him tomorrow. Apparently, he's a potential husband for me.
So have you heard from the guys? I sort of miss them, you know. It feels like ages since I've talked to them. Remember when we would spend the entire summer (almost) at each other's houses just enjoying ourselves? Those were the days, eh?
Well, do write back. I've got to finish reading How to Properly Be a Houswife. See you soon!
With Love,
Pansy
She sent the letter off with Millicent's owl, turning her attention back to her book. It got more profound the farther she got into it, but it was pleasing her dear old Mother.
The next morning, she woke on her own call, which surprised her. For the past week her mother had woken her up extremely early and then forced her to practice poise or other equally dull activities.
It was almost ten in the morning. With a yawn, she forced herself out of bed and stretched. Pulling a robe over her silky nightgown, she headed downstairs for breakfast.
"Finally, you're up! Go upstairs and take a long bath. Breakfast will be ready when you come back down," ordered Regina from the kitchen table.
Pansy sighed irritably, turning around and heading back to her room. She took an extra long bath, enjoying the feel of the warm water soaking her. It was a relief from all this craziness going on in her life.
Once she was finished, she performed the basic drying spell, leaving it at that, knowing that her mother would want the maid to do something special with her hair. She decided not to put on her ivory gown yet in fear of spilling something on it before the evening. So she chose a blood red robe, pulling it over her and quickly cleaning up herself before going back downstairs.
"The Gazelles will arrive at six-thirty this evening. Renadele will be by to fix your hair and makeup and re-teach you how to apply the makeup since you've been doing a lousy job at it. Now, change into comfortable clothing and take a jog around the grounds." Regina ordered, wiping her mouth with a cloth napkin.
"I just bathed, Mother." Pansy pointed out, disappointed.
"I know that!" Regina barked. "Go change and take a jog, as I ordered!"
Pansy sighed irritably again, realizing her mother had purposely made her skip breakfast. She changed into some clothes that were in the very bottom drawer of her dresser. Once changed, she pulled her hair back and headed out the back door.
She took one lap around the Grounds, heading back inside.
"You're finished? Go do ten laps and then come in." Regina snapped.
Pansy snarled, heading back outside and doing ten more laps. It got very painful around the ninth lap and she was going to collapse by the time she reached the door. When she got inside, her mother was waiting impatiently, attempting to read.
"Now, go take another bath and Renadele will be here in thirty minutes."
Pansy yawned, walking upstairs and taking yet another bath. Once she was finished, she dressed and performed the drying spell. It was nearly noon now.
Renadele came by just on time, leading Pansy back into the study which she converted back into a beauty parlor in just a few moment's time.
After nearly an hour's work, Pansy's hair was curled to perfection. Just some actually rather pretty style had been added to the ends, curling them in short ringlets and adding various ringlets to other sections.
Pansy applied the makeup nearly perfect with just a few mistakes on the powder and a tiny blot on the mascara. When she was finally perfected, it was nearly 1:30.
At last, her mother told her to read until the ball time came around. So, careful of her hair and makeup, she read. And when it was nearly four-thirty and she was getting so bored of reading that she could barely stand it, Millicent's owl tapped on the window.
Eager for a distraction, she shot up and snatched the letter, ripping it open carelessly and sitting back down.
Pansy,
Getting prepared for a wedding is so tedious! All Vince gets to do is sit around and watch me fret. Ah well, he says 'I look cute when I fret' which I don't believe for a second, mind him.
So your mother finally slipped off the edge? Sorry about that, Pans. She always seemed a tad off her rocker to me. I'm really dying to see you! We've got to have a cuppa sometime! Just let me know when your Mum decides you can have some free time, yeah?
Anyway, Vince is reading over my shoulder at the moment; yes you Vincent Crabbe, so I'd better go. Write back!
Love,
Milly
Pansy sighed, smiling lightly at the letter. Millicent always had been so cheerful despite the Slytherin attitude. She didn't feel much like replying at the moment, knowing it'd be too dull.
She tried to go back to the reading but failed miserably. Making her way into the bathroom, she carefully touched up on her makeup, going downstairs for something better to do.
"Ah, Pansy! Go eat something! I don't want you looking like a pig to our guests." Regina ordered, pointing at the kitchens.
So finally she was letting her eat something! Pansy grinned lightly, hurrying into the kitchen with no regard for proper poise and eating away.
She stopped before her hunger was fulfilled, not wanting to be too full for the evening. Who knows? Maybe she'd actually sort of like this Joel guy.
When six came around, she changed into her robes, doing final touch-ups on her appearance and walking downstairs into the parlor.
"What are you doing down here?" Regina snapped, glancing at her tiny golden watch.
"I was waiting for the guests." Pansy said, as if that wasn't the obvious answer.
"Haven't you even read that book? Go upstairs! When the doorbell rings, you prepare yourself. I will have a house elf come and tell you to come downstairs once their coats have been taken. It's called a grand entrance." Regina continued, pointing her arm at the stairwell.
Pansy walked gracefully upstairs, pacing her room for several minutes. At last, the doorbell rang, but Pansy had to stand in the bathroom and make sure she looked perfect. Which, though she wouldn't admit it, she did. She looked great.
"Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Gazelle!" Regina began, falsing a happy greeting.
"Do call us Rodney and Sadie, Regina. I'm sure you remember our son, Joel," Sadie said, their voices trailing down the hallway to Pansy's room.
"Of course, of course. Elf, inform Pansy of the Gazelle's arrival." Regina ordered and the elf's footsteps sounded up the stairs and then to the door.
"Yeah, I know." Pansy said as the elf opened the door.
She straightened her back, smoothed her gorgeous ivory robes, gave her hair one last fluff to make sure it looked fine, and headed out the door. When she reached the top of the stairs, she took a look at the family.
Rodney and Sadie Gazelle were an odd couple. Rodney looked to be a large aristocrat with tanned skin and short, clean-cut hair. His wife was skinny, bone-skinny, skinnier than Regina with hardly any shape to her. She seemed very pretty though and looked a lot younger than she was, as Regina did.
Joel looked to be a fair mix between them. Not an aristocrat like his father but a strong looking man with slightly darker skin and brown eyes. He was wearing, as his father, a very elegant pair of dress robes. Sadie wore a beautiful gown that looked to be silk.
She made her way down the staircase, surprising herself with her own poise. At last she reached the bottom of them, and Joel seemed to be thoroughly inspecting her. She sported a somewhat triumphant expression when he looked to be satisfied.
"Evening, Ms. Parkinson," Joel Gazelle greeted politely.
"As to you, Mr. Gazelle," Pansy replied, knowing she was impressing her mother at the moment.
"You look ravishing," Joel told her, taking her hand in his and kissing the back of it softly before allowing it back to herself.
"Why thankyou, Mr. Gazelle."
"Call me Joel."
"And I Pansy."
Joel grinned slightly, and Pansy returned it though it was rather fake.
"To the parlor?" Regina asked, and the guests nodded, following her into the parlor. The men waited until the women were sitting before they took a seat beside their partner. All but Regina, who was occupying a giant armchair that had to be at least twice her size.
"So Joel, what is it you do for a living?" Pansy asked, noting he was probably a couple years older than you.
Don't ask him how old he is on the first date. If you're younger, he'll either like it or feel dreadfully uncomfortable.
"I work in the Ministry of Magic as the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation." Joel explained.
"Really? How'd you get a job like that so fast?" Pansy blurted, not fully aware that she shouldn't be saying things like that to someone.
They aren't wrong. They don't cheat. So don't suspect them of it.
"I… Well, I am very skilled in that subject…" Joel began, but Regina broke in to change the topic.
"Pansy actually came out fourth in her class from Hogwarts."
"Yes? That's fascinating." Joel replied, though he didn't seem at all interested.
"Well, I don't like to brag. What school did you attend?" Pansy asked, tilting her head just slightly to the side.
"Durmstrang." Joel said matter-of-factly. "I was one of the few students there that got out of a class because I could speak English."
When they make a joke, even if it might not be a joke, laugh. It's funny.
Pansy laughed slightly.
"I imagine that gave you time to catch up on schoolwork and such." Pansy commented. "What number were you of your class?"
Don't ask them about school. Chances are they didn't do that well and probably got out of it because of their parent's connections. Besides, you're probably smarter than them.
"Eighth, actually." Joel replied, shifting in his seat.
"Dinner, sirs and misses!" announced a stout house elf from the door. It scurried out of view and the members of the room stood up, following Regina into the dining room.
Once they had reached it, Joel pulled out Pansy's seat next to his own. She smiled at him gratefully; sitting down at her seat and pulling herself close enough to the table.
Rodney did the same for Sadie, then pulling out Regina's chair before he seated himself. At last, dinner appeared before them and food was served.
"So Joel, do you enjoy traveling?" Pansy asked, breaking an awkward silence among the table.
"No, not really. I like to be in one place most of the time. Unless my job requires it, I'd rather not."
"Not at all? Surely you enjoy exploring new faces and sides of a world we don't know?" Pansy implored, fascinated. Who didn't like traveling?
"I'm fairly content with where I live." Joel responded casually, bringing the golden goblet to his lips and taking a small sip.
"As am I, but there are so many other places that you can explore while still being content with where you live." Pansy continued, eager to find out his thinking.
No matter what you do, don't contradict them. They're right. Don't ask them about their likes and dislikes. What they don't like, you don't like. Who they don't like, you don't like.
"I really am not all that interested in 'exploring the world' as you put it. There is plenty to do and see right here in London." Joel continued, shifting again in his seat.
"Yes, but there's so much more to do in the world. Of course, if you're not interested…" Pansy shrugged, turning back to her food.
She glanced over at her mother who was glaring at her with such an intensity that she felt a shiver rush down her spine.
"So do you like Quidditch?" Pansy asked after another awkward silence. Joel didn't seem like much of a conversation-starter.
"I think it's barbaric, really. Racing around trying to get a silly ball through a hoop. I can't understand why anyone takes pleasure in watching it," He replied.
"But the excitement! I mean, when you've got something on it, like a fair amount of money, it gets so much better. And it might be the competition, it's all attracting," Pansy continued.
If they comment about how foolish one person may be for liking something or enjoying something, you aren't one of those people who like it. You hate it just as he does. And also, don't mention anything masculine around them. For example, gambling?
"It's not exciting. It's boring. And the commentators are loud and obnoxious. The worst part is when it's raining and you can't even see the players." Joel said.
"Well, the commentators usually aren't very good, but the rain makes it a bit more exciting, if you ask me. You don't know what's happening, so when something does, it makes the stakes higher. And anyway, playing in the rain is very fun." Pansy said, though definitely, definitely didn't mean to say that last bit. She wasn't supposed to play Quidditch. Her mother would kill her.
She'd played with the guys all the time though.
"Of course, Pansy's never done that. She really doesn't enjoy participating in the games. She told me herself." Regina said gruffly, glancing at Joel's parents who had remained very silent the entire meal.
At last, conversation sprouted between Joel and Regina. Finally, he was off her hands.
"Tell me Pansy, was Hogwarts a good school?" Rodney questioned, almost finished with his dessert.
"Well, it was all right. Probably nothing compared to Durmstrang." Pansy replied, almost finished with her dessert as well. She deserved it after all that damn running.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that." Rodney said with a smile. Pansy returned it slightly, turning back to her food.
When dinner was over, the five went back to the parlor and sat in their previous seats.
"Pansy, why don't you show Joel the gardens? They've been blooming quite excessively," Regina suggested, and Pansy nodded fervently.
"Of course. Joel, would you like to see the Gardens?" Pansy asked, tilting her head just slightly to the side.
"Certainly."
"Good. Come, let me show you." Pansy said, leading him outside towards the grounds.
Luckily, they were very clean and dry so that she didn't get mucked up. Regina wouldn't appreciate that.
She began by showing him the large stock of pansies in the front. She'd always liked how the flower looked and remembered when she'd been in the hospital; it was practically everything she had received. She didn't care much for roses. They were all right, but nothing compared to a tulip or sunflower.
"I have enjoyed this evening, Pansy." Joel said, breaking the darkness's silence as they walked through the gardens.
"As have I," Pansy replied, smiling in a sickly sweet manner.
Joel stopped and Pansy did as well. He turned to her and she wondered what on Earth he was doing. Suddenly, he leant down and kissed her. She pulled away sharply.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?" She barked at him, wiping off her lips.
Do not curse around them. You're a lady. You don't curse.
"I was kissing you." Joel said obviously, narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah, I realized that." Pansy nearly spat.
"What's
wrong with that?"
"I don't hardly know you! You hate
traveling, despise Quidditch, and have the most boring job I've
ever hard of! Why do you think I'd want to be kissing you?" She
practically yelled.
"Don't you realize that we're a potential couple? A pureblood couple that will carry on the Gazelle lines?" Joel asked, growing angry.
"I don't want to ever marry you! You're boring!" She shouted at him. If her mother were to find out about this, she'd be disowned for sure.
"Good, because I certainly don't want to marry you!" Joel growled, turning and storming for the Manor.
Pansy followed, entering closely behind him. Luckily, the visiting couple was putting their coats on.
"It was lovely having you over." Regina said, smiling falsely.
"Yes, it was. I do hope I see you soon." Pansy said sarcastically as Joel narrowed his eyes, pulling his coat over his chest and walking outside without a goodbye.
Once they were out the door, Regina narrowed her eyes as well.
"What'd you do?"
"Nothing, Mother." Pansy said honestly. "I don't think it worked out."
"Do you think I care what you want? He's got pure lines! He may be your husband unless you screwed it up." Regina barked.
"I didn't, Mother. We had a small misunderstanding. I'll owl him in the morning and apologize." Pansy said, and Regina crossed her arms.
"Fine. Go on, bed." She ordered.
Pansy quietly went up to her room, flopping onto her bed. This whole pureblood betrothal idea was a lot harder to grasp than she thought it would be.
