Childhood Sweethearts Remember

Chapter 13: Pansy's Guide to Marriage

A loud knock resounded through the halls of the Potter Mansion. Hermione awoke with a start, frowning to have visitors so early in the morning. Of course, she would soon realize that it was in fact already 11 o'clock and the morning was nearly over but with the events of the previous night still getting to her, it felt like six A.M.

Deciding Draco needed his rest, she rose out of bed to answer the door herself. She threw a pair of black pants on with a white button down blouse. As the knocks grew more impatient by the second, Hermione scrambled down the stairs and ran to the door, hollering things like, "COMING!" and "HOLD YOUR HORSES, WON'T YOU? I JUST WOKE UP!"

Finally she got to the door and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to tame it somehow for whoever her guests were. When she opened the door however, she didn't really care what she looked like anymore. Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson did not deserve a composed appearance.

"Are you lost?" she asked them rudely, forgetting that she was in fact married to and living with their leader.

"We're here to see Draco," Crabbe blurted out. "Where is he? What have you done with him?"

Hermione laughed. What had SHE done to HIM? It should have been the other way around. After the shagging they'd had last night (and the night before that, and the night before that...and so on) she was sore all over her body and here they accused HER of hurting HIM? Were they mad?

"He's asleep," she replied calmly, with a forced smile. "I'll tell him you stopped b... excuse me, what are you doing?" She became rather annoyed when they pushed past her and entered the house without an invitation.

"You were being rude," Pansy replied. "When talking to guests, it is wise to always invite them inside your parlor for pleasantries even if one does not particularly like the said guest. That means, don't keep company on the porch giving them the third degree. Pureblood wizarding families find that highly offensive."

"Well you're not exactly welcomed guests otherwise maybe I would have followed that 'rule'!"

"Welcomed or not, you were wrong. You have a lot to learn about being pure blood."

Hermione suddenly lost all interest in the conversation. "I don't want to learn," she responded in a bored voice. "I don't care about being pureblood and I DON'T want to know your customs..."

"You're a Malfoy. If you're not taught, you'll put a damper on the Malfoy name. You'd disgrace your husband. Draco would be an embarrassment to his whole line. You wouldn't want that now, would you?"

"And I suppose YOU would like to teach me?"

"Of course not. I'd hate every second of it. But Narcissa asked me to come help you out." It was then that Hermione realized Crabbe and Goyle were gone. They had probably left to find Draco and wake him from his slumber. Hermione scoffed.

"I don't need your help."

"Listen. You know everything I'm going to tell you so I'm just going to be straight. I'm here to make you good enough to be wed to a Malfoy. It's not just your attitude...it's your looks as well. You have to act, dress, and socialize like a Malfoy would. Act the part. Be dominant and bold. Always know you're better than everyone in the room. Dress casual, yet professional. Low cut shirts and short skirts are out."

"I don't wear them anyway..."

"Good. Business suits are okay but a little stuffy. Malfoy brides your age would go for nice black pants and an elegant blouse. I think you've got that covered. But as for socializing..."

"I think I get it, Parkinson. Act, dress, and socialize. That's all well and good if I actually cared to take your advice."

"I also have tips for you pertaining strictly to Draco's wants and desires."

Hermione's jaw dropped. Who in their right mind would offer sex tips to their ex's new wife? Was Pansy insane? Did she want Hermione to hex her? "Excuse me? I must have misunderstood you."

"No. You didn't. I meant it the way you took it. I have sex tips for you. I know what drives him wild."

"I think I'll find out on my own. Thanks," Hermione said sarcastically, a bitter tone evident in her voice. "And just who do you think you are anyway? So you slept with him a few times. That doesn't mean you know everything about him..."

"I've been shagging him since we were in third year, Granger."

"Malfoy."

"What?"

"My last name. It's Malfoy. And before that, it was Reins. So you can't say Granger like it's an insult."

"Listen. Gods, you're so difficult to get through to. I'm here, trying to be nice..."

"Trying to be NICE? Are you joking? Nice? You're telling me about how you shagged my husband and trying to give me tips because what, I'm apparently inadequate and can't please him on my own? Yes, you're REAL nice. Thanks ever so much for coming over and trying to help me."

Suddenly they both heard a cough coming from the stairway. It was the kind of cough one used when trying to alert others of their presence. Hermione hated when Draco did this.

"Sorry to interrupt, ladies," he said casually, walking towards Pansy and kissing her on the cheek in a welcoming manner, not even realizing that Hermione might take this the wrong way. "Crabbe and Goyle told me that you two were down here and I thought I'd come and mediate the fight for you."

"Where are the boys now?" Pansy asked, taking a seat against Hermione's wishes. She sat down with her legs crossed and her back straight. So proper it made Hermione want to gag.

"They've left through the floo network. They only wanted to come ask if we could play some Quidditch. Since I told them I was busy, they decided they'd find their own fun." He sat down on the couch across the room from Pansy, leaving Hermione to be the only one standing. She sat down next to him begrudgingly. "So what were you ladies fighting over?"

Hermione scoffed at him. "As if you didn't hear the whole thing," she mumbled under her breath.

"I just wanted to hear what you'd say."

"We weren't fighting over you, if that's what you're thinking."

"It sure sounded like it."

"No. We were fighting about something that had to do with you but it wasn't OVER you. As much as you'd like that, the argument was more over Pansy's desire to...reform me and my ways so I could be..." She crossed her legs and put on a really fake smile, sarcastically imitating Pansy, "The Perfect Wife," she finished, immediately hating Pansy even more for actually enjoying being that way.

"I see," Draco said with amusement. "Well there's nothing wrong with Perfection."

"MY definition of perfection and YOUR definition are two very different things, I believe. Perfection to me is being who you are, being a decent human being - magical or not - and working as hard as you can to succeed."

"Well that's not a bad definition at all. Except that whole magical or not thing." He laughed, knowing her reaction before she even had the time to react.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, you are absolutely horrible. I can't believe it. Just when I think I've finally gotten through to you, you go and say something so horrible, so...unbelievably cruel and rude. I thought you weren't like our parents but it turns out you're nothing but an aristocratic, selfish, pureblooded, brainwashed, psychotic, moron who only cares about himself, his money and his social status and I just wish you'd..."

"WOAH! Calm down, woman. I was just kidding. You shouldn't take people so seriously all the time. It's not good for you. You'll have a heart attack before you reach the age of twenty."

"Forgive me for not seeing the humor in your arrogance."

"Let's get off this subject, shall we?" Pansy suggested in a bubbly voice that got on Hermione's nerves. "I wanted to discuss school plans."

"What about school?"

"I've been invited to come home with you for your birthday. Your parents think it would be good to have all the backup you could possibly need and then I could do your hair for you. Oh and we have to go dress shopping. Your party will be absolutely the biggest bash of the year..."

"Pans, Hermione already bought a dress. We went to Michele's. It's all ready but it'd be great if you could do her hair and makeup. I'm sure it'd be a great bonding experience."

Hermione looked disturbed. "I'm sorry but I don't want her at my party, Draco," she whispered to him. "We're going to have too much going down and..."

He kissed her cheek to silence her. "Relax pet. Everything will work out just fine. Pansy is on our side, right Pans?"

"Anything for you, babe," she smiled, tipping the glass of wine that had suddenly appeared in her hand.

"I'm sorry but how long have you two been shagging?" Hermione tried to ask nonchalantly, but inside this question seemed to really be burning through her. Her jealous side seemed to have taken control and her rage was boiling.

"Third year, darling," Pansy replied with a wicked grin. "Draco's the best, of course. Sex God of Slytherin - more like Sex God of the School really. He can do things to a woman that I didn't even think possible."

"Pansy, I'm sure your point of visiting had nothing to do with the things I can do to a woman," Draco reminded her, sensing his wife's anger and knowing this was not a good thing if he ever wanted to have sex again.

"I guess you're right, Draco. I'll be sure to hold my tongue from now on while in...mixed company."

"Pans, I'm married now. You can't say things like that - especially to my WIFE. I'm going to have to ask you to either leave now or apologize." Draco hoped this would satisfy Hermione's anger just a bit.

And so it did. A smile had graced her face, as she was ecstatic to find Draco standing up for her. "My apologies," Pansy said in a low voice. "Forgive me...Hermione."

Hermione nodded her head for an answer and then decided it was time to get up. "I'm going to go make some tea. Would you like some, Draco?"

"Yes please, love," he said while kissing her cheek. "I'm sure Pansy would like some too. Do you think you could bring out enough for three, please?"

Hermione gritted her teethe. "You're pushing your luck."

"It's not luck, darling. It's charm."

"Keep dreaming."

Pansy sighed with a glint of glee in her expression. "Ah. True Love."

A/N... I'm sorry for the wait. I had to finish Message in a Bottle before I could even THINK about this story.

In this chapter, I wanted to introduce Pansy to you guys the way I see her. She's a bit cocky and a bit arrogant but she IS one of Draco's close friends. I hope you guys enjoyed and I'm starting the next chapter as you read this.

Bye now.