Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I do own the amazing Irish Cream gourmet coffee I am drinking right now in honor of the past holiday even though I'm not Irish. Darn.

Gremlin: sorry about the wait, but it shouldn't never be that long of a wait again, so don't be too angry, thanks for the review
QuinkyDink: yay! I'm glad that you liked that part, I love throwing in bits of humor and glad that you appreciate them, thanks for reviewing
Mask: ohhhh, so that's a haiku. Blame it on my lying second grade teacher then, though, now that I think about it, they tell you in second grade that you can't subtract a larger number from a smaller number, but in fifth grade they say that you can, that it's just a negative number, so I guess second grade teachers are just liars…and yes, French swear words are pretty. Know anymore?
Dbi616: I totally understand about the homework thing, thanks for reviewing

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Chapter 18

Rule number fifteen: Love is weakness; weaknesses can be exploited. It is the quickest way to pain.

Valentine's Day was on a Saturday. It was actually rather nice as all of the older students were able to travel into Hogsmeade with their dates. Draco, of course, was going with Pansy who had asked him nearly two weeks in advance and Draco said yes like any other normal, hormonal male teenager would.

As the carriages were to leave in the afternoon, Draco went down to Hagrid's in the morning and saddled up Orion, or rather, bridled him up because the thestral still didn't take to kindly to the saddle. Draco than led him about the course Hagrid had set up inside the pen, letting the thestral get used to the bridle.

"I've been puttin' the bridle on 'im an' lettin' 'im walk 'round a bit each mornin' to get 'im used to it," said Hagrid, watching from the fence.

"How has he been taking it?" asked Draco, tugging lightly when the thestral paused.

"It's been a'right," said Hagrid.

Draco broke into a trot and led Orion through the course a few times before pulling off his school robe. He had his riding clothes on underneath (he had sent home for them) and quickly made sure his boots were tight then pulled on his black leather gloves.

"Sure you're up ta ridin' 'im, Malfoy?" asked Hagrid, watching him in concern.

"'Course," said Draco. He mounted the thestral easily, though Orion reared a bit and pranced nervously. "Whoa, boy," said Draco, pulling back on the reigns and speaking calmly to the animal. The thestral slowly calmed, though Hagrid still looked a little unsure.

"Jus' be careful," said Hagrid.

Draco couldn't help but smirk, which was his rendition of a smile. He really did enjoy riding thestrals, and being the first one to succeed in helping tame the beast was an adrenaline rush.

"I promise that if I break my arm, I won't try to have him executed," said Draco.

"Ya better not," Hagrid muttered and Draco smirked again, then lightly kicked his heels into the thestral's sides and guided him towards the start of the course.

He urged the thestral into a light trot, hyper-alert to their surroundings and the condition of the animal. The first part of the course was simply turning and Orion took them well, shying a bit at the first post, but Draco coaxed him around it. After that, Draco slowly picked up the speed and the headed towards the first hurdle which was only a few inches off of the ground.

Orion balked at the sight, and although Draco tried to steer him around it when he saw that the thestral wasn't going to go over the jump, the thestral instead jerked to a stop almost throwing Draco off.

"Careful!" Hagrid shouted. "Ya alrigh' Malfoy?"

"Fine," said Draco, sliding off the animal and grabbing the reigns. "He's just not ready for it yet."

He led the animal over the hurdle a few times, and then over the next one that was slightly higher. It took some coaxing but Orion finally stepped over, and progressed to actually jumping. He made the animal repeat the motions several times before leading Orion to the water trough and letting him rest a bit. He joined Hagrid by the fence, perching on the top rail.

"He's learning," said Draco.

"Who is?" asked Bill, coming up to join them.

"Orion," said Draco, gesturing to the animal.

"Trainin' 'im fer a show," said Hagrid. "'ow are you feelin', Bill?"

Bill gave a grin that was not quite cheerful and Hagrid pulled out a large, silver flask and wordlessly handed it to Bill.

Bill took it and was about to take a swig, when he turned to Draco.

"Mention this and I will fail you," he said, only half serious. Draco smirked and surmised that Hagrid must know of Bill's plan for the day, so decided that it was too good of an opportunity to pass up teasing his Ancient Runes professor.

"Nervous?" he asked, drawing out the word and smirking wickedly.

Bill's eyes narrowed. "This is why I didn't tell my family that I was proposing," he said. "I'm beginning to regret that I told you."

"You didn't tell me," said Draco. "I figured it out. So where's the lucky girl?"

"She's meeting me there," said Bill, returning the flask to Hagrid.

"Might want to take one of those with you," said Draco, gesturing to the flask. "And where are you meeting her?"

"There is no way I am telling you that," said Bill.

"Don't trust me?" asked Draco.

"Exactly."

"Hurt, Bill, mortally so," said Draco.

"Don't you have a horse to ride and get thrown off of?" asked Bill.

"Then you wouldn't be able to tutor me in Ancient Runes," said Draco. "And then what would happen?" He gave a meaningful look at the red-haired Professor then jumped down from the fence as Bill took a playful swat at him and went back to Orion. This time when he mounted the thestral, Orion took it calmly. Draco took the thestral right at the small jumps and again Orion refused to go over, though this time instead of halting, Draco was able to steer the animal around.

Draco patiently guided Orion back to the jump and it took another two times before the thestral jumped over. Draco grinned, letting the thestral canter about the fence in a victory lap before restarting the course. Orion took the posts beautifully and when they reached the first jump the thestral jumped the small one and the one right afterwards that was slightly higher.

Draco decided to end the session on that note and dismounted, giving Hagrid the reigns.

"I'll be back next Saturday," he said and then grabbed his school robe from off the ground and left the pen.

Bill joined him as he headed back to the castle.

"How long have you been riding?" he asked.

"Since I was little," said Draco.

"Done any shows?" asked Bill.

"Got five medals," said Draco pulling off his gloves, one finger at a time.

"Impressive," said Bill. "How long have you been able to see them?"

Draco liked the way Bill phrased the question. He wasn't asking how he could see them, which would most likely bring up bad memories, or even how old he had been when he could because that would still bring up the subject of how he could see them. Instead, he asked how long, which was only a number.

"It'll be ten years this summer," he said.

"Shouldn't he have a saddle on?" asked Bill.

"He's a little skittish still," said Draco. "I'll have him run a few more times without it then break him into it. Do you ride?"

"Frankly," said Bill. "I'm afraid of heights."

"Even broomsticks?" asked Draco.

"No, not them," said Bill. "Because I'm in control when I ride them, but to ride an animal, I couldn't do that."

Draco smirked, but he could understand it. They went their separate ways after reaching the castle and Draco descended down to the Slytherin common room to shower and change. Even though it was Valentine's, he didn't change his all-black wardrobe, but merely put on black dress pants and a black silk button up shirt. He pulled his hair back in a low pony-tail that it almost fit into, but it was still a bit too short. He then slid on his dress shoes, also black, and grabbed his black cloak and waited for Pansy to come down.

When Pansy did finally descend, she drew all of the attention in the common room. She had on a tight scarlet dress with a low neckline, thin straps, and short enough to show quite a bit of leg. On top of that was a fine white fur cloak. Her hair was down and curled for the innocent look that she would never pull off, but with her striking features and lots of make-up, she looked down right seductive.

Draco grinned when he saw her, held out his arm, and instead of merely linking her arm through his, she clung onto his upper arm, making sure that her front was pressed up against his side. Draco merely smirked, used to her antics and led her towards the carriages.

While Pansy came across as being extremely shallow and 'loose', she was a surprisingly good conversationalist when in private, which was part of the reason Draco liked being around her. And while he knew that in a week or so their 'relationship' would end, she would always be sure to end it before moving on, which was another reason he liked her. The last part was that she was a very beautiful girl and although she wasn't really bragging material, as half of the Slytherin males had been with her, she was very talented.

They had their carriage to themselves and Pansy immediately made herself comfortable, practically sitting in his lap and reaching up to latch her rose-red lips onto his pale ones.

"Nott's been talking about you," she said, pressing a few more kisses on his jaw line.

"Is that so?" Draco asked, pulling her all the way onto his lap. She gave a little victorious grin at that and shifted so that she was straddling him.

"Last night, all he did was talk about you, how he hated you," she whispered into his ear, one hand holding onto his shoulder, her nails digging into his skin while the other traced down from his neck to his chest. "It was really quite boring so I was rather glad to tell him it was over this morning."

"I'm sorry that I made your night tedious," said Draco. "It was completely unintentional."

"You should probably watch yourself these next few da-, mmmm," she cut off as he ducked his head and captured her lips. Her hands reached up to slide around his neck and he could feel her pulling the tie out of his hair as she moaned into his mouth, pressing further up onto him.

"What else?" he managed, not pulling away to talk, but managing to speak around her mouth.

She pulled back, capturing his hands with her own. "He thinks you've gone soft. That you aren't taking this mudblood problem seriously."

"He's been harping on that since day one," said Draco, leaning forward, but she avoided his kiss.

"He's getting determined," she said, her voice sliding out of her husky, sexy tone and into the one she used when discussing something important. "I think he may be planning something. You'd better watch Blaise as well."

"I do," said Draco, twisting out of her grip and leaning forward again, but she stopped him with a hand on his chest.

"Draco," she said, her dark eyes sincere. "Be careful. You're smarter than you let on, but even that won't help you against him. He's got most of the seventh years on his side and they're already mad that they have to take orders from you. Just be careful, alright?"

He dropped his façade too. "I know," he said quietly. "I'll watch myself, but you let me know if they're going after Blaise, alright?"

She nodded. "The things I do for you," she said, her voice once again lower and dripping with lust. He smirked, his eyes going cold and cloudy again and just like that, they put their masks back on.

"Can I help it that I'm just more man than the rest?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Her only response was to entwine her fingers in his now-loose hair and delving deep into his mouth, grinding her hips onto his. His hand trailed down from her hair to her waist, then slipping around her back to see if he could find the catch to her dress. Her hands caught his wrists and loosely pinned his arms above his head.

"I do have to be presentable when we get out of the carriage," she scolded him.

"Are you saying the morning after look won't do?" Draco asked.

She smiled slightly. "Tonight," she promised, giving him one last lingering kiss and then pulling away and straightening her dress as the carriage came to a halt. Once she fixed herself, she brushed his hair with her fingers, combing through his locks, though they stayed rather disheveled.

He helped her out of the carriage and then offered her his arm again. This time she linked her arm though his, shaking her hair back and giving him an endearing smile.

"Where to, then?" she asked.

"I was thinking the Solstice," said Draco.

Her eyes widened. "You got reservations?"

"I did indeed," said Draco.

"Keep spoiling me like this and I may think you actually care," she said, rewarding him with a kiss that made nearby pedestrians hoot and catcall. "Lead on then."

After their late lunch, they walked the streets of Hogsmeade that were decorated for the occasion. The main square was hung with red hearts and pink streamers and a few couples walked along the cobblestone pathway near the frozen fountain or sat in the iron wrought benches but, as it was still rather cold, most everyone was indoors.

Pansy went straight to the fountain, stepping up on the low wall and walking around it, holding onto the hand Draco held up for support since her red stiletto heels weren't meant for walking icy walls.

"I don't particularly like Valentine's Day," she said.

"It gives you an excuse to wear that dress," said Draco, tightening his grip on her hand as she slipped a little. She caught herself with a little laugh.

"True," she said, "but I honestly just think it's an excuse for good people to behave immorally."

"Then they weren't really good to begin with, were they? A true good person would use this time to… propose to their girlfriend," he said, thinking of Bill. The professor definitely qualified as a good person.

"I suppose," she said. "But how about the fact that people are always remarking about how love is priceless and then a day like today comes along and all of a sudden if you don't by your significant other a nice enough gift, then you don't really love them. However, if you want to make it look like you love them, you buy them a really grand gift."

"Like this?" asked Draco, pulling out a black box from his pocket. She squealed and jumped off the wall into his arms. He set her down on the ground gently and then handed her the box. She opened it like a child at Christmas. Inside was a very expensive gold-braid bracelet.

"You spoil me," she said, holding out her hand and he obligingly fastened it on her wrist.

"It's easy to spoil you," he said. "You're so gorgeous."

"So you spoil me because I'm gorgeous?" she asked, pouting prettily.

"And you let me know when someone has a death wish for me," said Draco.

"Oh, I don't mind being spoiled merely because I'm beautiful," she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Draco couldn't help but smirk and pulled her in for a kiss that probably wasn't decent in public, but as it was Valentine's Day, no one could say anything.

"I'm trying to get Peter," she said, once they broke apart for air.

"Not today," said Draco, claiming her lips once more until she gave that little whimper that he knew no other person had managed to evoke from her.

"I suppose I could give you a few days," she gasped, hanging onto his neck for support. "But only a few days. I'm not a settling type of girl."

"I wouldn't like you if you were," said Draco truthfully.

She giggled, and skipped off, laughing alluringly over her shoulder. He smirked and followed at a slower pace, though close enough to hear her exclaim "Fleur! What are you doing here?"

Draco looked up to see the French blonde at the side of Bill Weasley. Both of them had blissful smiles on their faces, and their fingers were entwined, swinging back and forth as they walked.

"Pansy?" asked Fleur, catching sight of the black-haired girl. The two girls ran to meet each other, both grabbing onto each others arms and talking a mile a minute. Draco shook his head at their antics, but noticing that Fleur showed Pansy her left hand and Pansy gave a little scream of delight.

Draco joined Bill who was staring at his fiancé with an amazed expression on his face.

"I take it she said yes then," said Draco.

"She said yes," Bill confirmed, relief and euphoria in his voice. "I'm writing home to tell mother tonight so that by tomorrow everyone of importance will know."

"Congratulations," said Draco.

"Thanks," said Bill. "You dating Pansy?"

Draco smirked. "No one dates Pansy," he said. "Haven't you heard the rumors?"

Bill frowned, and so Draco tried to change the topic. Honestly, he doubted Bill could take the truth, that Pansy was convenient and the only Slytherin girl with a brain, and that even though they said all of these sweet things to each other and had spent countless nights together, it wasn't love they felt. Or that Draco refused to be with any other girl because of the underlying fear that they would turn out like his mother, but that with Pansy he didn't have to worry, because everyone knew she was an easy lay and that she would always tell him when they were over so he would never fear the shock and betrayal of having to find out that she was cheating. When it came down to it, he would rather share than face that hurt. So, he tried to change the subject, because Bill was happy and he was one of those good people who proposed on Valentine's Day rather than behaved immorally and he deserved to keep his happiness.

"Do you have a date in mind?" he asked, but Bill had never been one to follow the shift in topic, not even when it was for his own good.

"You could do better," he said.

Draco shook his head. "I'm not a saint, Bill, don't try to make me one. Just because I've gone soft with you doesn't mean I'm suddenly a nice guy. I take what's offered, maybe even beyond that. Pansy, she's cool. She'll give you what you want, no strings attached. She's already tainted, so I'm not ruining her innocence or her reputation. That's the type of girl boys like me get, that's the type we should get."

"It's not-" Bill protested, but Draco cut him off.

"It is like that," he said. "And honestly, would you like to see someone like me with a girl like Fleur? Or with your sister or even Granger? They're innocent. I don't touch innocent; I have a habit of marring it."

Bill was silent for a moment. "That's not the entire story, is it?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" asked Draco.

"'Marriage is just an excuse to shag four times a day'," said Bill. "That's what you said. You don't believe in marriage or love or even dating, do you? You're afraid of women."

"What?" Draco asked.

"You're afraid that they'll go behind your back," said Bill. "Like your mother. I have heard the rumors, and that's why you're with Pansy, aren't you? Because you know she'll cheat."

"She doesn't cheat," said Draco. "She ends it and moves on."

"And you like that because you know where she stands, right? You have your fun and then she tells you it's over and goes right to shagging another guy, so that way you can see that it's over and you're never guessing to where her affections really lie. You're not wondering if she's being faithful."

Draco didn't answer, but watched the two girls. Fleur was in a white shirt and pink skirt with a soft brown cloak. Her hair was down and curled and she clearly captured the innocent look Pansy had been trying for, but hers was genuine. He could see her eyes sparkle with tears of happiness as she looked at her ring.

Pansy acted. Even when she was feeling genuine happiness for a friend, she was always conscious of how she looked, which angle showed off her curves better. Draco felt an instant of burning jealous at Bill, knowing that Bill would never have to worry about Fleur cheating on him, but he shook it off.

Rule number fifteen: Love is weakness; weaknesses can be exploited. It is the quickest way to pain.

"Merlin," said Bill quietly. "You seriously are messed up, aren't you?"

Draco detected quite a bit of sadness and pity in his voice, but he didn't respond. Pansy and Fleur came over then.

"Bill, this is Pansy," said Fleur, her accent still noticeable but not overwhelmingly so. "I roomed with her during the Tri-Wizard Tournament."

"I've seen you around," said Bill, nodding to Pansy. "But you're not in my class."

"No," said Pansy. "Ancient Runes is way over my head. Fleur, this is Draco."

"Pleasure," said Fleur. "You are in my Bill's class?"

"Yes," said Draco, giving Fleur a slight nod. "He's a very good teacher. Congratulations."

"Thank you," said Fleur.

Draco inclined his head to the two of them and Pansy smiled brightly and then they moved off, letting the two good people alone. As soon as they had gone a few feet, Pansy latched onto his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Draco responded eagerly, not at all caring that they were in plain sight of Bill, because Draco didn't need his pity. He was fine the way he was, or at least, that's what he kept telling himself and when night had fallen and when he felt the beginning pains of loneliness, he merely got up and filled his head with even more facts and figures until way past midnight, attempting to drown out the overwhelming silence.

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Bill couldn't sleep, still feeling incredible at the knowledge that he was going to get married to the most wonderful girl in the world and so at midnight he was still sitting in his armchair at his fireplace, a half-empty glass of Firewhisky in his hand. He was still smiling as well, remembering what had happened.

He had taken her to the little café that had been their first date. She had looked absolutely gorgeous with her hair down and curling around her face in the style he liked so much. He knew that she had worn it like that for him, because she preferred it pulled back and out of her way, and the knowledge that she had done her hair like that for him gave him the courage to pull out the long, thin necklace box from the jewelers.

She had smiled at him and opened the box only to discover the ring he had hidden inside. He had gotten down on one knee in the café, not paying attention to all of the costumers exclaiming and smiling at the scene.

He had taken her hand and simply told her what he felt. "You, Fleur, are the most amazing woman I have ever met, and although I cannot think of one good reason that would make me deserve you, I can only ask that you will be my wife, because I know that if you say yes, I could never be in want for anything else in my life, and if you say yes, I promise that I will try my hardest so that you will never be in want as well."

And the little audience they had attracted had held their breath along with him as Fleur looked from the ring to him with tears in her eyes and then she had sobbed out a yes and had thrown herself into his arms laughing and crying all at the same time. The audience had cheered and wiped tears from their eyes and for the rest of the time they spent in the shop, they couldn't stop laughing, finally going outside where they were content to walk hand in hand along the streets.

He frowned, the smile finally sliding from his face as he remembered the encounter with Draco. He had wondered why the kid was with Pansy, a girl that, as Bill understood from the rumors, never stayed with the same boy for more than a month at a time. He would have thought that Draco turn out to be one of those controlling boyfriends in response to his mother's actions, not going after someone just like Narcissa, but Draco never lived up to expectations, he shot them to pieces.

It was apparent that the kid honestly believed he wasn't they type of boy for a nice girl, and Bill had to agree with him. Bill would not want Draco to be with his sister; in fact he would do anything in his power to stop it because Draco was not an innocent. But still, he couldn't help but feel bad for Draco. The kid was disillusioned; going out with a girl because he knew that she would never cheat on him because she was so easy she had no qualms telling him when she was sleeping with another boy. It was one of the worst things he had ever heard.

He remembered watching them as they moved off, seeing how Pansy had reached up and kissed him with that mouth that had kissed so many already, and how Draco had responded in kind, pulling her in closer…it was both disgusting and heart-wrenching at the same time.

Bill shook his head. Draco knew that he was jaded, had even tried to spare Bill the truth and change the topic, but Bill hadn't taken the bait. He frowned again. The kid had no qualms telling him that he had learned the Cruciatus at twelve, so why would he try to spare Bill the knowledge that he was so cynical when it came to ideas of love?

He suddenly smiled, an unexpected laugh making its way past his lips to echo in the room. Draco had been trying to spare him the knowledge. He shook his head again.

"You're not completely tainted yet, Draco," he said out loud. The fact alone that Draco had been trying to spare him meant that Draco wasn't as far gone as he believed himself to be. "There's hope left for you, kid," said Bill, raising the glass of alcohol up in a silent toast and then drained it. He blew out his candle and crawled into bed.

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