Chapter 10: Definition of a Dragon, Memories and Tender Moments

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What is a dragon? According to the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, a dragon is a mythical monster traditionally represented as a gigantic reptile having a lion's claws, the tail of a serpent, wings, and a scaly skin, a fiercely vigilant or intractable person and/or something very formidable or dangerous.

Why did any of this matter?

Because he, Draco Malfoy was trying to define himself. His father had told him that even before his birth he knew he would be a dragon. But why? What is a dragon?

Flashback

"I could just feel it, Draco. I knew you would be great." Lucius beamed proudly. "You were fighting to get out, and I knew. I knew you were a dragon from the beginning. You couldn't stay in such a small place for so long. I always knew it, you know. Dragons are meant to fly, Draco and that's why I named you Draco. It's not at all silly. You'll fly far…away from all this pain, and you'll find your beautiful princess to protect.

"My princess?"

"Yes. Your very own princess."

"And I'm a dragon?"

"Yes. A brave dragon destined to protect his princess from all evil."

End of Flashback

But wasn't the dragon always slain in the end? Wasn't there a knight in shining armor who was supposed to come to rescue the princess? But why? Why would the princess need rescuing if he was protecting her? Why would she need a knight when she had the dragon? And how come the princess always leave with the knight and marry him? He wouldn't allow it! Usagi was his princess. He would protect her. She didn't need to be saved! He would be her prince and her dragon! But did that mean he would end up slaying himself?

Flashback

"My princess…what will she look like?"

"It doesn't really matter, Draco."

"But how will I find her if I don't know what she looks like?"

"I honestly don't know."

"Father! You're not helping!"

"You'll just know, I guess."

"I'll know?"

Lucius nodded. "To you, she'll be the most beautiful girl in the world."

Draco frowned. "Does she have to be beautiful?"

"Not just on the outside. You'll have to find the beauty inside."

"I think I've found her, Father. I've found my princess!"

Lucius laughed heartily. "Really? Who is she?"

"Pansy."

"The Parkinson girl?"

Draco nodded. "Yep. She's my princess. I'll always protect her."

"Why her?"

"She needs me. I just know…"

"But you're only 5 years old. You can't just pick the first girl you meet."

"You're never too young to know, Father. And I know it. She needs me. She is princess."

"She's not for you."

"Yes, Father! Yes she is! She's mine! You can't take her away from me. She's my princess! I won't let you-"

"I won't be the one to take her away."

End of Flashback

He'll protect them both. He promised Pansy he would protect her. And he promised them he would protect Usagi.

Flashback

"Father, is it possible to have two princesses?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I want 'Sagi to be my princess, too."

"I guess so. But I don't know. I never had two princesses."

"But if both 'Sagi and Pansy are my princesses, which one will I marry?"

Lucius stared long and hard at Draco. "Usagi."

Draco looked at him angrily. "Why not Pansy? What's wrong with her?"

"I told you before. She's not for you."

"Don't say that, Father! Yes she is! She is for me! I know it! You said I'd know! You said it!"

End of Flashback

He shut the books angrily and stood up, not bothering to return them to the shelves. He stormed out of the library. He didn't know where he was going. He bumped into a girl on the way to wherever, causing the girl to drop the things she was carrying.

He sneered at the blond. "Watch where you're going, Gryffindor"

"Actually, I'm in Ravenclaw." The girl corrected. She stared at him for a moment. "You're Draco Malfoy."

"No…" He drawled sarcastically. "I didn't realize that."

"It's not your fault." She spoke. The girl examined him thoughtfully. "You look as though you may have been bitten by a glorfklhark."

"A what?"

"A glorfkhlark." She responded as-a-matter-of-factly. "They're quite common, you know."

"What the hellare glorfkhlarks?"

"They're a sort of pixie. Very small. And they cause others to forget their identity. That's why people question themselves so much. They forget who they are. I just wanted to remind you that you're just Draco."

He glared at her angrily. "What do you know?"

"En tiedä mitään."

"You're loony." He insulted her, turning away.

"Actually, I'm Luna. But great idea. It may have bitten me, too."

The people Dumbledore let into the school these days…

Flashback

"Father, look what Pansy gave me!" Draco exclaimed holding out cage containing a dark bird.

"What's that?"

"It's a bird, Father. A robin. Pansy's favorite..."

"What's her name?"

"His name is Pansy."

"Pansy?"

"Yes. Pansy insisted I called him Pansy. But it's a girl's name, so I've decided to call him Pan for short."

"Why Pansy?"

"I don't know. But it made her cry."

"Pansy?"

"Yes, and that's why I must protect her, Father. You must understand. She cries. I don't like it when she cries…"

End of Flashback

But it didn't last.

Flashback

"You have to do it, Dra-chan. You have to set him free."

"Why should I?"

"He's a living being. He was meant to fly. You can't keep him locked up."

"He's mine. I can do whatever I want with him!"

"If you love him, you'll set him free."

"I never said I loved him!"

"Then you shouldn't care if he stays or not."

"But I can't. I just got him yesterday."

"The human heart dies quickly."

"He's not human!"

"Please, Dra-chan…"

"But I told Pansy I'd take good care of him."

"He'll come back. Those who love you will always return to you."

End of Flashback

He didn't.

Flashback

Draco opened the window of the highest room in the manor. He stared at the open space before him.

"It's for the best, Dra-chan." Usagi comforted softly.

"But I promised Pansy…" He stared at the bird. He stuck the cage out the window and opened it. After some coaxing, the small robin flew out. "Bye, Pan..."

As he closed the window, a single thought fluttered around in his mind. 'Don't forget me."

End of Flashback

He neared a door, and he pushed it around. Draco looked around. He was in the girl's lavatory. The one nobody used because of the dead girl.

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Pansy Parkinson ran out into the cold, heading towards the lake. Her lake. His lake. But he was mad because it was finally happening. They both knew it would. They both feared it.

Flashback

Draco leaned in to kiss her, but Pansy turned her face. Draco was confused. "I don't understand."

She said nothing. "I thought you liked me, too." He whispered brokenly.

"It's pointless." She was only thirteen.

End of Flashback

For months he'd pestered her, wanting to know how it was that he, Draco Malfoy, was being rejected by her. For months she'd ignored him, dodged him, and avoided him. Her lips were sealed. "I can't tell you!" She'd yell. But he was persistent. Until he broke her. And like glass…she shattered into a million pieces…

Flashback

"If you can't tell, show me!"

"What?"

"What are you so afraid of, Parkinson?"

"I'm not afraid!"

"Show me then!"

"I don't understand. How-"

"Let me enter your mind."

"Are you mad! You're only fourteen!"

"You're never too young to try." He threw back at her.

She sighed resignedly. "Alright…but if you mess up my mind, I swear…"

He merely nodded. "Don't worry…I'll protect you…"

End of flashback

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Ever since the age of five, "Vernissé" Pansy Freiheit Parkinson had known her curse. The curse of power. And because of that power, her soul would die. Yet she lived on, hoping that somehow she would survive. She was hoping that someone would be there to keep her warm. But since the death of her mother, she had too,slowly begun to die…to lose all hope…

Flashback

"Don't worry…I'll protect you…"

End of Flashback

'That was a lie.' She thought bitterly. No one could protect her from what would happen tonight. No one could save her. She stared at the letter in her hand…the portkey in her hand. It was hard to believe she would die tonight. And on her birthday, too. December 2, 2005. Pansy smiled. At least her last day had been a nice one. Her friends had thrown her a huge party. 'It's ironic.' She thought sadly. 'The day I celebrate my birth, is the dayI'm also honoring my death.'

A figure headed towards her. Bright red hair glittered in the sun. Pansy glared angrily at the person. "What are you doing here? This is my lake."

He sneered tauntingly. "Last time I checked, Parkinson, this place was open to all Hogwarts students."

"Leave." Pansy took out her wand. "I'll hex you. I swear I'll do it if you don't leave!"

"What's your problem?"

"You! Now leave! This is my lake! You can't come her! This is my lake!" Her eyes were cold. Considering how emotional her words, it should have been impossible for her expression to be so set. But no tears filled her eyes, and there was no quiver in her voice. Her expression was cold.

"Who died, and made you queen of this school?"

Who died? She would.

At the broken expression that captured her face, Ronald Weasley took a step towards her. "Pansy…"

She glared at him. "Don't call me that! Who gave you the right to call me by my first name!"

"You did!" He snapped.

Flashback

"I'm not just Draco's crony. I have a name, you know."

He turned to look at her. "What do I care?"

"We're having a real conversation for the first time. You should at least try to be civil."

"Drop dead."

She was silent. "I will soon enough." The words were spoken in a whisper.

"What did you say?"

"Pansy."

"What?"

"My name is Pansy F. Parkinson. Use it."

"What does the F stand for?"

She stared at him for a long time, and he stared back. Her mouth opened and one word flew out. "Freedom."

End of Flashback

Pansy's composed shield crumbled.

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Usagi stared at the girl. Heavy sobs shook her entire body Usagi hesitated. What should she do? She took a step towards the wailing girl. "Granger…"

Hermione gasped and turned around in horror. "I thought I was here alone."

"Obviously not."

"Going to brag to your friends about the pathetic know-it-all mudblood crying her eyes off?" She asked bitterly.

"Not yet." She replied. Granger could not take a joke. Usagi held up her hands in surrender. "I'm joking." She said hurriedly.

"You have a warped sense of humor."

Usagi sat besides the pained girl. "What's wrong?"

Hermione sighed. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Accept it. How do you survive…live…knowing the whole world hates you?"

"What are you trying to say?" Usagi was highly offended.

"Oh come off it, Malfoy Jr.…"

'Malfoy junior?' Usagi did wonder what they called her.

"…don't act as though you're not obviously hated."

"I'm not! I have friends, too!"

"Yes I'm sure you have many wonderfully true." Hermione answered sarcastically. "But how do you do it?"

"Why, Granger?" Usagi teased. "Think someone's not too fond of you?"

"Would you stop playing around?" She begged desperately. "I'm serious."

"Ok. I'm listening."

"He hates me."

"What?"

"I don't understand it! I've done everything right." The fireworks restarted. "I always tried to be…perfect. But he still hhhhaaattttteeeessss meeeeeee…"

"Um…there…there." Usagi comforted awkwardly.

"You think I'm overreacting, don't you?" She sobbed. "But I'm not. For 7 years he hated me and I don't know why. I just don't understand it. What's so bad about me? Don't say I'm a know-it-all." She warned with another sob. "Why should that be a bad thing? I'm proud to be smart. But I just don't understand!" She cried weakly. " I'm always prepared for class. I always do my best and then some. I always…"

'It's a professor.' Usagi was surprised. She though it was a boy Granger liked.

"…make sure to do everything perfectly. Make sure I made no mistakes. You have no idea what it's like to have someone hate you, butnot know why. Maybe if he would tell me, I could do better. But everytime I try, he either ignores me or take house points away. I just don't understand! All I wanted to do was please him! I tried so hard. Why does he hate me so much!" She broke down.

"Granger? Are you talking about Professor Snape?"

Hermione nodded. "I just don't understand…"

"Don't take it so hard, Granger. It's not really your fault. He hates everyone really. He may feel some affection towards some people like Draco and Dumbledore, but he only loves himself...and sometimes I don't think even that."

"Really?"

Usagi nodded. "He's a hateful man, Hermione. I think something in his past may have made him the man he is today. He's really sad, you know."

Hermione looked at her in surprise. Usagi continued. "I don't mean he spends his time crying and pitying himself, but he's just sad. I once found this picture of this girl in his rooms, and he caught me staring at it. When he asked what I was doing, I asked him if it was of his daughter. And you know what? He laughed."

Hermione again gave her surprised look. "He laughed?"

Usagi nodded. "Uh huh. But that's not the worst part… It's the way his laugh sounded. It sounded…I don't know…forced…strained…like he hadn't laughed in years…and I don't know…it scared me. A person's laugh should define them, and if that's how it sounded…" She sighed. "I think he was surprised too because he stopped immediately. His glare returned, and he reprimanded me. He told me I wasn't here to socialize and to get back to work. I think he knew, too. That's why I've been trying to get him to laugh again. So he could get used to it…but I think…I think he makes sure he takes an anti-laugh potion every morning just so I fail."

Hermione gave her a weak smile.

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Usagi stopped outside Professor Severus Snapes office. She knocked on it softly.

"Enter." At the loud command, Usagi rolled his eyes. Did Snape think he was a prince or a king or something? She pushed the door open.

"My God, Professor, haven't you ever heard of light?"

Snape didn't even bother to look up.

"You know light? It's bright and…shiny?"

Not even a smile. "Did you want something?" He asked in a bored tone.

She nodded.

"What?"

"Granger's in love with you."

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A.N. If anyone got the thing with the Pansies, let me know.