Draco cast a better privacy spell than the one Granger had used, muttering to himself as he did.

Draco took a deep breath, and started to fidget. He really only fidgeted around Pansy and his mum. He supposed they were the only people he felt safe enough around, to actually show himself vulnerable, even nervous.

"I just needed some space. Some time to think. You girls were arguing, and I knew if I was still there you'd never figure it out..." Draco started, staring at the floor.

"You always did, away from everyone else." Pansy said smoothly, her bad mood draining away completely now that Draco had finally started to tell her what he'd ought to have told her months ago!

"So, I went out -" Draco said, haltingly.

"To - with Muggles?" Pansy said, her eyes wide as saucers.

Draco shrugged, "Wasn't difficult. Smooth as silk, just watch what everyone else does, and you won't get squelched."

"You can get squelched?" Pansy asked, leaning forward in interest.

"Yeah, they have these great big metal beasts that zoom around on wheels belching dark fumes out the back." Draco said, "Like our train, but smaller and they aren't tied to tracks."

Pansy simply looked at him, waiting for him to go on.

"Anyhow, I managed to wind my way over to a pub, a quiet one like the Hog's head, not something where everyone's making merry." Draco said in his smooth drawl.

Pansy gave a quick bob of her head, her impatience pricking at Draco's reticence.

He quickly gave in, saying, "It was the perfect place to think. And drink. Who'd have thought that Muggles have passable drink?"

"What's that like?" Pansy said, "Does water drip out of your ears?"

"No, it's ... well, just smooth, and with a bit of a burn. Kinda floral too, as if you were drinking juniper and stuff." Draco said easily, his eyes closing as he pictured the gin he'd been drinking.

"I... got a chance to get a bit of perspective." Draco continued. "I mean, have you asked yourself, if the Dark Lord's all we've been taught he was - why our parents would send us away?"

Pansy broke in, "And, if he was, well, you know, why Goyle won't talk about anything, anymore?"

Draco got briefly morose, just thinking about it, and Pansy regretted bringing it up at all. "Yeah, that too."

Draco got even quieter, and said softly, "You can't tell anyone this next part, Pansy, you just can't."

"You know I won't, Draco Malfoy, you know me." Pansy said softly, her voice radiating sincerity in a way that Draco knew she couldn't fake.

"Yeah, I do." Draco said softly, "While I was there, there was someone else drinking - someone close to our age." Pansy nodded for him to continue, and he did. "I think she had something that bothered her too - she was sitting there and drinking water as if it was wine."

[a/n: Leave a review! I'm trying to summarize without making it boring, but Pansy wants the details! all of them!]