Chapter 2

I was nervous. That was something new to me. Throughout my life, I had never thought twice about anything or doubted my actions. And now my daughter had just invited the person I hadn't talked to over a decade. What would I say to her? I didn't think we would have much to talk about because of the numerous years apart. The momentous thoughts and feelings had drifted from my heart. I couldn't remember the last time I had thought about her romantically.

Of course, we had been a 'thing' for some times, but that relationship had been based on a physical level. No wonder my daughter took the same route…I never saved the time to speak to her about such things and help her prevent the mistakes that I had made. If only I had possessed caring and involving parents in my life, I would have been a different person today.

It was funny how I received a tiny grain of wisdom when I went past thirty years old. What some said was right: the older you were, the more experience and wisdom you had. In my teens, I would have never believed the man I would become. I had never planned on getting married, having a daughter, or working at the Ministry. Life sprang amazing surprises on people.

To impress Pansy, I turned to a co-worker for help and borrowed his house-elf for one evening. He and the elf came to the house (she wouldn't take my orders), and on his command, she tided up the living room and kitchen, and cooked a full dinner in an hour. I was own. I sure could use them so I would be able to use the extra time to rest. I did not wish for any more wrinkles.

I didn't think much of my attire on a normal basis, so I just put on a regular old cloak that I wore around the house on weekends. I thought it was fine, but Portia had a different opinion.

"What-are-you-wearing?" She mouthed as I caroused down the staircase casually. I took a look at myself, brushing both sides of the cloak, and glanced back at her. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Your childhood friend is coming to dinner and that's what you wear? Look at me. Perfectly dressed for the occasion."

"You dress like you're attending a wedding everyday. Can't compare yourself to me."

Portia waved her straightened hair and patted her velvet shirt, "But seriously, wear something nicer?"

"A friend is coming, not my fiancé." I shook my head.

"That's what you think." Portia murmured, loud enough for me to hear.

"What was that? Now, don't come up with any smart ideas. She's just an old friend. Got it?"

As she headed to the kitchen, she commented, "Maybe…"

Again, I shook my head. I should have expected this. That was what daughters did when their fathers were single and lonely. Either that or they tried to drive the girlfriends away. I would have taken that option over the latter any day.

I followed Portia into the kitchen. She waved her hands to the house elf and said, "That'll be all, Pipsy. Thanks for the help."

"Where's Boni?" I asked.

"Outside on the porch, I think."

I nodded, and went that way. There he was. I could see him past the prolonged lavender-colored blinds. Opening the door, I stepped outside and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Your house elf's ready to go. You sure you don't want to stay for dinner?"

"No. Millie's makin' something special today. Say again, who's comin' over for dinner?" He asked.

"Old friend. I ran into her at the supermarket."

His eyebrows rose, "'Her'? What's her name?"

"Pansy."

Boni produced a thinking expression and trailed, "Pansy…Pansy…Why does that name ring a bell…? Aha! She's the woman who you embarrassed in front of everyone."

I stopped dead.

"How did you know about that?"

"You told me. Years ago."

"And you still remember? Wow, what a friend…"

"So? Any sparks gonna fly?" Boni smirked.

"Shut up. We're old now, not teenagers. All of that is in the past."

"Some feelings never go away, my brother. You'll know when she comes."

I folded my arms in attitude, only because I knew he was right. The guy was as sharp as a shark's teeth. I had known him for over five years and he was actually a person I could refer to as a friend….Before he mentioned it, I had never thought about that regretful day. That was another unique thing about Pansy. Only she could make me regret my actions.

I was sitting lazily in the couch over by the fire on Saturday afternoon in our seventh year at Hogwarts. Over the years, I had put my name on the soft material and no one dared to cross me. Occasionally, a first or second year would sit on it but they would quickly learn by a flick of my wand. Basically, I was the king of Slytherin. Everyone obeyed me and were intimidated by me. That day, I became even a bigger emperor when one luscious girl visited my couch. I had kept my eye on her for the past month or two but hadn't approached her, only waiting for her to notice me, and then I would talk to her. She was a seventh year too, and the reason I hadn't noticed her before was because she'd been an ugly pimple faced girl who had her nose buried in the Defense against the Dark Arts books. But this year was different. She was a goddess. She made the simplest school robes into sexy clothes, and of course, my eye went completely to her.

Her gait was so sexy. Her hips swayed left and right as she came over slowly. I brushed a hand through my hair and sat up.

"Hello."

"Hey Rosie. You alright?" I said in a cool manner.

"Oh, yeah. Can I sit here?' She pointed to the spot next to me. I nodded and she relaxed on the couch, her black flowing hair lying back on the edge.

"Wow, you certainly have changed for the better."

Rosie giggled like a little girl. "Why, thanks Draco. You don't look so shabby yourself."

I gave her my stunning smile that never faltered. For a moment, we just stared at each other without uttering a word.

"You know, our Hogsmeade trip is coming up." Rosie hinted, giving me an irresistible eye.

"So you want to go with me?"

"It might have been on my mind." Her finger reached for my shirt (underneath the robe) and she stroked my chest softly.

I laughed. It was cute the way she had said it. "I'll meet you at the gate then."

She nodded and continued, "What do you plan to-"

And the thunder came. "Excuse me? What did you just say?" Pansy stormed, loud enough for everyone's heads to turn and find out what was happening.

"What's the matter, Pansy?" I said in an even voice, fully aware that Rosie was still on me. A gigantic thunderstorm was about to land.

"What's the matter? I'm not a damn fool, Draco Malfoy! I just heard you ask her to the Hogsmeade trip."

"Actually, she asked herself." I corrected her, but that didn't better the situation.

"Right, and that's why you're letting her crawl over you."

"You have a problem with that?" I said, louder than before.

"Yes, I have a problem! We are together, Draco, together! You can't just go off and screw other girls!"

"Whoa whoa, cool your pantyhose, woman. We are not 'together', we never were, and never will be. I am perfectly entitled to talk to whom ever I wish. Now leave us alone."

"Hey. Hey!" Pansy called Rosie. She turned her attention on the girl in front of her with a baffled expression.

"Get your fake carrot-colored hands off of him."

"Pansy, that's enough! You have no right to interrupt us. You're a toy to me, you got that? A toy. Now wheel yourself out of here."

In mere seconds, tears were about to well up in Pansy's enraged eyes. Without bothering to look at the audience, she ran off straight past the door.

I didn't feel it then, but when I lay in my bed at night, thinking about what had happened, those uncomfortable twitches of guilt encountered me before I dozed off to sleep. I had said the most horrible thing to her. Why did I have to open my big mouth? Well, because she was being down right rude and nosy with you, said a voice in my head. But still, that was no reason to say that to her, said another voice.

I think that was when Pansy and I drifted apart. I did apologize to her, but she never truly forgave me. I guess that was the price to pay for comparing her worth to a toy. In reality, she was worth more than anything. Pansy wasn't all that different from me. She had been arrogant, selfish, rude, and uncaring back in school. That must have been why we got along so well. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she used me just as I used her. She had the advantage of telling people that I was her boyfriend, and I got a wonderful reward in return.

"Hmm…maybe I should stay for a while and see what this woman's about that's got you dreamin' in the day."

"Huh?" I fell out of my reverie instantly, and as Boni cackled madly, I punched him, "Very amusing. Fine, you can stay if you'd like. I owe it to you because of the house elf. Just don't say anything idiotic."

"I won't. So…what does she look like?"

"Uh…long dark hair, dark eyes, and pale skin. She's chubbier now, I think…pretty tall."

"I see…"

"Draco, Boni, she's here!" Portia called out to us, and once again, I got a tickly feeling in my heart. The beats weren't heavy, but just aware that…

"'Draco'? You really need to fix that girl of yours." Boni declared, as they walked back inside.

"I know, man. I'm trying."

We hurried to the front door. Soon, an old Pansy was facing me with a smile on her face, different from her earlier years. That one had been smug and had expressed that she owned her surroundings, a kind of dominant façade. This new one said that she felt welcome and nervous at the same time. It turned out that Pansy followed Portia's style of dressing. She seemed to have put on her best robe, a long fading pink one with rhinestones on the collar. I averted my attention from her quickly. I didn't want her to think I was a pervert.

Boni and Portia both looked at me. Then I realized they were waiting for me to introduce her.

"Oh! Come on in, Pansy. You remember my daughter Portia, and this here is Boni Andrews, my co-worker."

They shook hands politely and said their hellos, and after that, I escorted them into the dining room, where all the food was already placed on the mahogany table. Everything from A to Z was there, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. When I went to get some drinks, Boni followed me into the kitchen.

"She looks great. You gonna try to get her back?"

"What? No. She's a friend."

"Alright. Whatever you say. Well, I gotta leave now. I'll see you at work tomorrow."

"Bye, then."

…

"So, Draco, what do you do these days?" Pansy asked me as we started eating.

"I work at the Ministry. It's not the most exciting job in the world, but the money gets us well on our way."

"Really? That's funny, I never really see you there. I'm occasionally in and out of the Ministry."

"Well, my affairs are mostly internal. What about you?"

"I practice residential potion-making. I try new potions, you know, cures to diseases, viruses, and curses. I often have to go to the Ministry to test and legalize them. Like yours, my work's not as exciting as it sounds."

"Yes, I can tell."

"So, how did you know Draco? Were you best buddies?" Portia piped up.

I glared at her.

"What? It's a valid question." Portia defended herself.

Pansy laughed, "Yeah, it's fine. I'm sure your father didn't tell you or maybe he denied it, but we used to be an item at Hogwarts. It ended roughly, though. We just lost touch."

I felt my cheeks redden. I couldn't believe we were on this subject already.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Portia said, although it didn't look like she was.

"Don't be. It happens. People go their separate ways al the time. It's a fact of life."

"Have you got a boyfriend? Husband? Children?" I asked.

"I'm single right now. I did marry once, but it did not work out."

"That's too bad."

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to her mother-?"

"She passed away while giving birth." I said in a low voice.

"I'm so sorry. I think I read about it in the paper, but wasn't sure…"

After that risky conversation, dinner went smoothly. We spent more attention on our food than our words, although we did occasionally talk about Pansy's family, the Ministry, people we knew from Hogwarts, and other normal things.

"Wow. That was a wonderful dinner. Did you make it, Draco?"

Portia made a doubtful noise as I said, "No, a house elf made it. I could never cook. You know that."

Pansy grinned, "I'll be right back. Need to use the bathroom."

"Do you need me to show you where it is?" Portia politely offered.

"Are you kidding? I practically grew up in this house during the summers. Be right back." And with that, she was off.

"Really…?" Portia said, as if she was still talking to Pansy, and then sat down.

"Don't get any ideas, for Merlin's sake." I begged her.

"Oh, I'm no, but I think you are." She pointed her finger at me, "You're still in love with her."

"Portia! I was never in love with her."

"That is what you think. Anyone could tell. You asked her if she had a boyfriend, and you blushed when she said you two were together. Oh my god, that is so great!"

I shook my head, and as she stood up again, I jerked my head, "Where are you going?"

"To my room. I do not want to disturb you two." She hopped right out of the kitchen. I called her name so many times but she still didn't return. My crying time was over when Pansy made her way back into the dining room.

"Where'd Portia go?" Pansy looked at the door and back to me."

"I have no idea. She said something about leaving us alone." Oh, what a stupid thing to say.

She chuckled and sat down. Embarrassingly, I smiled, not knowing what else to say. This was going to be an interesting night.