A/N: Got all inspired again didn't I. Thanks for the reviews, enjoy the chapter.
Pansy groaned loudly, her head felt like it was caving in and piercing her brain with fragments of bone. "Need…water…" She gasped out and was shocked to find a glass being pressed to her lips; she gulped frantically before opening her eyes.
"How do you feel darling?" Loretta peered lovingly at her daughter and Pansy eyed her suspiciously.
"Like…like hell. I was, how did I…Samson?"
"I believe in your last stroke of consciousness you had the sense to apparate home. Otherwise I fear…you lost a lot of blood Pansy dear, you need rest. And you must eat." She held out a sandwich to her daughter.
Pansy pushed it away as she felt bile rushing up her constricted throat. "I can't. I can't eat." She fell back against the pillows. "Could you get me something?"
"Yes, of course."
"In the bathroom, on the counter, a bottle of bright red tablets. Please."
"No, no Pansy, no drugs. Just water and food, that's it, that's all you're allowed. I have had enough of this." Loretta pulled her emerald satin robes around herself and stood up.
"Of what?"
"Of you wasting yourself, look at yourself Pansy, you are so beautiful, and now you're wasted, skin and bone. It's disgusting. You're living off drugs, its killing you Pansy. I did not bring you into this world for you to kill yourself in disgusting self indulgence. I thought you were going to take a step forward when you ended things with Draco, drag yourself up out of this self produced quagmire but you just sank deeper and deeper. I think at moments Narcissa rather feels she would die that let Draco marry you…"
"He's no better!" Pansy interrupted. "Do you know what it's like Mum? Do you know what he's like in bed? He doesn't make love to me, he fucks me, hard, and it hurts. He cuts me, bruises me, makes me cry. And I hate it! He used to be so gentle and kind but after the war, he…" She started sobbing dryly. "He changed. I thought it was me, I thought I wasn't good enough…"
"Oh Pansy…"
"No, let me finish. I thought I needed to change, I wanted to make him love me and care about me, and…and I wanted to be different. I wanted to stop the drugs, I wanted to. But they took me away from the pain of him not caring." Loretta dropped to her knees beside the bed and drew Pansy into her arms. "We used to dream we'd have the world…now we're both so far down a bottle we can't see a way back. Its going to be awful, I can't marry him…I can't…I love him so much, I can't go through this…"
"Oh Pansy, oh love. I am so sorry." Loretta hugged Pansy closer if that was possible. "Oh Pansy, you can do this. You can. You are beautiful, you do love him. He does love you. We can make this better, if we just try."
"You said you wanted to see me?" Loretta questioned as she joined Narcissa Malfoy in an elegant café.
"Yes. It's about Pansy."
"I feared as much."
"Her behaviour, it's become disgraceful."
Loretta stiffened, determined that Narcissa would not gain the upper hand in this argument. "And what of your son? He's no better. They're in this mess together Narcissa, they've created this mess…"
"And clearly they need our help to get out of it."
Loretta's eyes widened. "You want to help them?"
"Of course I do, I love Pansy as if she were my own daughter, and I know you feel as though Draco were a brother to your sons. We've watched them grow up together, so perfect, we watched them blossom and then die. It's hurting me as much as it's hurting you Loretta."
"I…"
"Not one word of our own emotions to anyone else Loretta, you hear me? If Lucius were to hear that I spoke of my feelings…"
"Lucius will never know. I have as much to uphold as you in this, remember." Loretta hissed and Narcissa narrowed her eyes – the two had been rivals in Slytherin.
"Certainly. What do you propose?"
"I believe it was you who called this little conference."
"Very well, how is Pansy recovering after that little, ah, incident on Samson?"
"You know of that?"
"Loretta dear, remember who I married."
"Indeed." Her eyes flashed. "She is improving. She has gained a little weight, she is far healthier."
"And what of her nasty little drug habit?"
"You mean the one that Draco introduced her to?" Narcissa's nose twitched but she did not speak, knowing better than to react. "She hasn't touched drugs for two and a half weeks. What about darling Draco?"
"Lucius spoke with him; I believe he is curbing his drinking a little."
"And his nasty drug habit? The large one?"
"That is uncalled for Loretta, we are adults."
"Then for Merlin's sake Narcissa, accept part of the blame on your son's behalf or this situation will never be resolved."
Narcissa sniffed indignantly and stood up, wrapping her long black cloak around her slight body. "Certainly. I shall owl you presently. In the meantime…" She paused and took a deep breath. "Give Pansy my love." Loretta nodded and Narcissa swept from the room, looking every inch the imperious wife of Lucius Malfoy.
"Draco, Draco…" Narcissa hissed, shaking her only son awake. "Draco…"
"What!" He snapped before burying his head back in the pillow.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you. It's courteous."
"I'm not in the fucking mood for being fucking courteous."
"Draco, I must speak with you."
"Speak then, if it's so damn important."
"It's about Pansy." She watched closely as her son's muscular form stiffened at the mention of his betrothed's name.
"Yes?" There was less heat in his voice now.
"You heard of what happened on Samson, I presume?"
"In passing."
"Yes, well then you will understand that she nearly died that night."
"I…" He choked.
"Clearly not. Well, she has cut her drug habit Draco, she is eating again. You know what this means?"
"Not particularly."
"You have to start making an effort as well Draco, for Merlin's sake. You are from a better family than this girl; you can't be the snivelling drunk at the angel's side."
"You think I'm a snivelling drunk?"
"Presently, yes." Narcissa snarled and swept from the room, Draco groaned and fell backwards, his head cracking against the mahogany frame and allowing him to forget her words for now.