Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is all JK Rowlings.

Chapter Six:

The next morning, Draco walked in and woke me up from my slumber. He undressed me and sent me to the shower. Once I had finished showering, I returned to my bedroom where I found Draco, now dressed, examining the contents of my closet.

He pulled on my school uniform and tied my tie. He then put on my socks and shoes. Upon doing that, Draco looked me over and then smiled in approval. "I wish you to leave you hair down today, peach blossom."

"Why do you call me that?"

"I like it. Do you not like it?"

"Oh, no…no, I'm fine with it. I was just curious."

I got up and walked over to my vanity table. I sat down and pulled out my brush and began brushing my hair. Draco stood behind me and watched my reflection. "I wrote your parents."

I smiled weakly, not wanting to think about my father's reaction. "Thank you."

Draco placed his hand possessively on my shoulder. "Never give me cause to do to you what your father did."

"I won't, Draco."

Draco seemed to snap out of his trance-like state. He smiled at my reflection. "Of course you won't. Come now, it is breakfast time."

I pulled the brush through my hair one last time. Then I quickly located little emerald stud earrings and put them on. "Did you pack my school bag?"

"Of course. It is in the living room."

"Okay, then I'm ready."

Draco placed a hand on my back and led me into the living room. The only thing that surprised me was the fact that only one bag sat on the table. "Draco, I thought that you said that you packed my bag?"

"I did."

"But there is only one bag here."

Draco sighed and turned to face me. "Remind me of the basic rules."

"Umm…I am to respect you at all times?"

"Yes, and what else?"

"I have to eat every meal?"

"And…?"

"I am to do no manual…oh."

"Pansy…"

"Yes, Draco."

"I never lie to you, so never accuse me of it again."

"I'm sorry, Draco."

Draco picked up the bag and led me out of our quarters, out of the hall, out of the common room, and into the Great Hall. Draco found us a spot and began to place a piece toast and a piece of bacon on my plate. He then poured a cup of pumpkin juice. "Day one begins," he stated simply.

I got through that month with some difficulty, but in the end, I managed to eat everything on my plate, at every meal.

Over the course of the month, I had managed to make some friends among the Slytherin girls. The one I allowed closest to me, though, was Elizabeth Edmonton. She was a short brunette who, to all appearances, was an introvert.

Why Elizabeth became my closest acquaintance, I will probably never know. Draco wasn't thrilled when he found out that I choose her over some of the other girls, but in the end, he said that as long as I still followed the rules, he would allow it.

Harry Potter and his friend, Ronald Weasley, were definitely a nuisance. Whenever they were around, Draco became foul tempered. I swiftly learned when it was best to remain silent around Draco, and when it was okay to talk.

Draco required my presence in the living room a lot of the time. I think, though I suppose I will never know for sure, that he was lonely. Lucius did not approve of Draco making "acquaintances" among the lower classes, and not many people, even in Slytherin, were socially equivalent with the Malfoys. Draco and I talked a bit during those times, though most of the time, we each did our own thing, together. I believe that Draco just didn't want to be alone.

Upon finishing my final day of eating everything, Draco quietly led me out of the Great Hall, and into our living room. He pulled me into a big hug and murmured, "I'm proud of you, peach blossom. You're strong, and more determined, then I anticipated. You have pleased me greatly."

I grinned at him. "Thank you. So…"

He sighed in mock exasperation. "Yes, you can have your dressing privilege back, but Pansy, I still expect you to eat everything I put on you plate."

"Is that negotiable?"

"No."

"Please. Can we just talk about it?"

"Fine, but in the end, my decision is law." Draco sat down on a loveseat and indicated that I was to sit next to him."

"Okay. I'm not asking to not eat meals, or anything of that sort. I just want to ask if you can not put certain things on my plate."

"Depends. What don't you like to eat?"

"Steak and kidney pie, mainly."

"Okay. Anything else?"

"Squash and cabbage."

"Okay. Are you leaving anything out?"

"No. That's it. Well, also mushrooms, but that's all."

"Alright. I will try to the best of my ability not to put any of those things on your plate."

"Thank you, Draco."

"Now, I have another deal to make with you, but this is a one time deal. If you screw up, there is no starting over."

"Okay. What do you want?"

"If you eat every meal from now until Christmas break, you will get back the privilege of picking out your own clothes and putting yourself to bed. Deal?"

"Okay. I agree."

"Have you written your parents yet, little flower?"

"No. I don't think they're very happy with me. Or you. Or the fact that you're having me go against all of their sacred rules."

"I'm sorry, honey."

"It's okay. Only five more years, right?"

Draco smiled at me. "Yes. Five more years until you are legally mine, in every sense of the word."

"I don't think that my parents like the fact that I have come to care for you."

Sometime over the course of our sitting there, Draco's hand had wrapped around my shoulder, and his fingers had moved in little circles. At my words, though, his movements had stilled. "What do you mean, peach blossom?"

"Oh, I don't really know. I guess I care about what you think, and what you want and…well…about you. That is very un…un-Parkinson."

"How is it un-Parkinson?"

"Oh, I don't know. The fact that I am showing emotions goes against everything my parents taught me. They say it is unlady like."

"Well, it isn't. Now you've had it from me. Don't you dare turn into one of those cold-hearted bitches…stop looking at me like that. I would rather have you throw a fit, and start throwing things, hitting me, and showing emotions, then to be heartless, and never show love. But for the record, you had better not do any of the above mentioned things."

I snuggled into Draco's shoulder. "I won't. You know, I'm feeling kind of tired. Could you put me to bed early?"

"Sure, honey." Draco picked me up and carried me into my room. He changed my clothes, even though I had my privilege, and put me under the covers. "You know," he teased, "I think you have reached the weight of an eight-year-old. Good night, Pansy."