Shades of Grey
6. Homework

Disclaimer: J.K Rowling would not approve.

"Don't make me laugh!" Pansy Parkinson scoffed, though she was already in a fit of hysterics.

"We're not joking, Parkinson," Rose sighed with annoyance.

"Yeah, sure thing, Martell," she said, wiping a tear from her eye, her chapped lips still pulled back in an ugly grin.

"Fine, don't believe it. Don't expect me to give a shit about your feelings. But whether you accept it or not, Draco and I are getting married. So I'd start getting used to the idea of living alone as a miserable old bat for the rest of my life if I were you."

Pansy's face froze in a grin that no longer met her eyes as she turned to Draco. "Baby?" she squeaked, voice pitching several octaves. Draco nodded. "WHAT."

. . .

Rose figured that it all went exactly as planned. No one expected Pansy to take the news well. No one expected a quiet affair. Of course, she could have done without the black eye, but Rose was willing to bet it could have gone a lot worse if Blaise hadn't shoved Parkinson out of the compartment. Though she felt quite disappointed she didn't get a chance to throw her own punch or two. Or hex or three.

"Alright, let me see," Daphne sighed. Rose removed a pack of ice from her face. It felt numb there. "It looks horrible. If you'd just let me mend it—"

"No! I've seen your healing spells. I'll take the black eye, thanks."

"If you weren't such a bloody idiot, this wouldn't have happened," Draco muttered.

"What did I do?" Rose said reproachfully.

"You're always pushing her. I told you. I warned you, didn't I?"

"You're a right nasty piece of work, Draco. You really are."

"I could say the same to you."

"Go to hell."

"You first."

"We'll see."

"Are you two done?" Daphne interceded. "Draco, make yourself useful and go get some more ice. This is melting."

"I'm not a house elf. Get it yourself."

"Draco!" He didn't move. "Is it just me or is he more of an asshole than usual?"

Rose said nothing, though she knew Daphne was right. Draco seemed to suddenly be more hostile than ever before. Especially towards her. She knew this marriage thing was a bad idea. She shouldn't have done it. If he continues on this way—

"Rose! Are you listening to me?" Daphne waved her hand in front of her face.

"Sorry, what?"

"I said, I'm going to get more ice." She enunciated this slowly, as though the punch in the face had caused serious brain damage. Rose shot her a look telling her she wasn't stupid, and Daphne left the room with a chuckle.

"You're going to be a shit husband," Rose said offhandedly, carefully poking her eye to test how much it hurt.

"How do you figure that?" he asked, seemingly not bothered by this proclamation.

"Because you're a shit boyfriend," she replied.

"I'm not your boyfriend."

"Whatever the hell I'm supposed to call you. You're still shit at it."

"Thanks."

"Your sarcasm is highly appreciated."

"Ditto."

Rose looked at him for a few seconds, then returned to poking her face. "Ouch," she hissed when she pressed too hard.

"Then don't fucking touch it! Bloody hell, you really are an idiot."

She glared at him, unable to think up a quick enough response. He smirked. "You're an idiot," she sputtered.

He laughed. "Very clever, Martell. Very clever."

"You know," she began. He raised his eyebrows in amusement. She ignored him. "You're not helping, so just go away."

He laughed again. "You're completely hopeless." He pulled his wand from his pocket, and kneeled in front of her. "Must I do everything? Hold still. Episkey."

She flinched, expecting disastrous results reminiscent of Daphne's attempted healing spells, but when none came, she looked at Draco perplexedly. She touched her face. It didn't hurt. Raising her eyebrow, she jumped up and rummaged through Daphne's bag until she came up with a mirror. She heard Draco sigh as she examined the now-healed skin on her cheekbone. She turned to Draco, her eyebrows pulling together.

"You can perform healing spells?"

He laughed once more, but this time it was humourless. "Trust me, living in my house, it's pretty much a necessity."

"What do you mean?"

"Parents. Death Eaters. Remember?"

"Oh," she grimaced. "Right."

He laughed again. It was mockingly cruel this time. She was beginning to think he had a different laugh for every mood. She did not appreciate this. Nor did it amuse her.

"Scary, isn't it? Does it frighten you? The danger?" He walked toward her, and she backed away. "I'm serious here, Rose. It's very dangerous. You never know when a Death Eater might just snap and do something crazy."

She wanted to tell him that she knew this perfectly well as her own parents were Death Eaters as well, but she couldn't find the words. The back of her leg hit the couch. She didn't dare glance over her shoulder, because he was close enough to wrap his hands around her throat now, which he did. He did it slowly, each finger touching her skin individually, ensuring he got a good grip. Her breath caught. He wasn't squeezing tight, but it was enough to make her stop breathing of her own accord.

"What are you—," she tried to choke out, but he put two fingers of his other hand to her lips. His eyes bore into hers, flashing with nothing short of sadistic excitement.

"You know those Death Eater types. They're an unstable lot at the best of times. Wouldn't want to cross one. Awful things happen when you do. I would know." His grip tightened, his face lowered, jaw tight.

Sparks appeared in front of Rose's eyes, her vision blurring. He continued to tighten his grip, loosen it slightly, then tighten again. Keeping her conscious, but just barely. She kept her neck muscles tensed, and breathed in through her nose, but even that was getting harder and harder to maintain. He's gone completely mental, she thought. He leaned his face down to hers, and, through her spotty vision, she saw amusement in his eyes.

"And they also make shit husbands," he smirked, and let go. This time the laugh that escaped his lips was more of a roaring bark. He was enjoying himself.

"The fuck, Draco?" Rose yelped, rubbing her throat.

"Oh, come on," he chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Lighten up. I was joking. Merlin…"

"That is not funny."

"Oh, you'll be a joy to be around. I can't wait," he muttered sarcastically. "Right, well, it's the middle of the night, and term starts tomorrow, so I'll see you then."

He turned to go, then backtracked. "Good night, love," he added with a wink, kissing her cheek. She saw him chuckling the whole way into the dormitory passageway.

She really hoped this didn't become a habit.

Another ten minutes passed by, and then, "I got the ice! And some cauldron cakes courtesy of the kitchen house elves. I swear, they don't sleep. It's got to be two in the morning, but they're as chipper as ever. Oh, I wish I got something to drink. Wonder if there's any…" She trailed off. "Er, are you alright?"

Rose quickly relayed the story of what had just occurred between her and Draco. Daphne listened the whole way through without interruption, but when Rose had finished, she began laughing. Was Rose the only one not finding anything about this funny?

"Draco's just a prick. You've got to ignore him, really. He's losing it lately. Gone completely nuts. Don't take him too seriously, though. He's a lot of things—I mean a lot of things—but he's not abusive or something. Play along. Fight back. I'm sure he'll love it. He's kinky like that." She shrugged. Rose gaped.

"That was bloody disturbing."

She laughed again. "That's just what I think. Oh, hey, wait! Who mended your eye?" she exclaimed.

Now it was Rose's turn to laugh. "Caught up, have you? Come on, let's get to bed. I think you're exhausted."

They headed for the dormitory, eating their cauldron cakes on the way, and trying not to wake their dorm mates. Mostly just trying not to wake Pansy. No need to piss her off even more. Oh, tomorrow will be fun, Rose thought sarcastically before falling asleep.

. . .

Incidentally, the next day was fun. When Rose emerged into the Common Room that morning, several people were huddled around the notice board. She peered over their shoulders to read the new sign that had been pinned there.

APPARITION LESSONS

If you are seventeen years of age, or will turn seventeen on

or before the 31st of August next, you are eligible for a

twelve-week course of Apparition Lessons from a Ministry

of Magic Apparition instructor. Please sign below if

you would like to participate. Cost: 12 Galleons.

Rose, almost too eagerly, pulled a quill from her bag to sign her name. Draco reach over her shoulder to sign before her, and smirked as he pulled back. Rose quickly scribbled her name to the parchment and turned on Draco…who was already gone. Bloody git.

"Apparition! Isn't that so exciting? I can't wait to get started. I've been waiting forever to learn. My dad took me on Side-Along once, and it was absolutely terrible. He told me it's better when you go alone, but I'll believe that when I see it. Be amazing though, wouldn't it, to Apparate? Go anywhere, anytime."

"Except when we're in school," Rose pointed out.

"Well, obviously. But besides that!"

"You're not even seventeen yet. You have to take twelve weeks of lessons before you're even eligible for your license."

"You're just a right ball of sunshine this morning, aren't you?" Daphne said in a clipped tone.

"Sorry," Rose replied, not sorry at all.

"Are you still upset over Draco?"

"What?" Rose asked distractedly. "No, of course not."

Though, of course, she was. She was already regretting her decision to marry him. After over five years, you'd think she'd know enough about him to know that he wouldn't make a good husband at all. But she didn't. She realized she didn't know much about him at all. Draco was a very elusive person. Or, at least, that's what she told herself to avoid the humiliation. Humiliation of a) being too thick to know anything about one of her friends, b) choosing Draco in the first pla—did she just call Draco her friend?

. . . .

And c) calling Draco her friend.

"…not to mention he's not very attractive to begin with, anyway. You know what I mean, Rose?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure," she nodded absently.

"Exactly. So you definitely got lucky. Hell, if you gave him to me, I'd take Draco. Better than whoever I'm going to be stuck with."

"Uh-huh." Rose really couldn't care less.

Daphne continued to monologue all the way to the greenhouses. Rose couldn't be bothered to properly take part in the conversation, so she listened, and consented agreement at all the right moments. Daphne eventually caught on that Rose wasn't listening, and was suddenly very interested in her Herbology text as they sat down to class. Draco planted himself on the other side of Rose, and she sighed audibly.

"You know, as my wife-to-be, you should probably enjoy my company a lot more than you do currently."

"Piss off, Malfoy," she snapped.

He threw eye-daggers at her, but she didn't retreat. She looked back defiantly, as if daring him to try anything in the middle of class. When he clenched his jaw, but did nothing, Rose smirked in satisfaction and turned to Professor Sprout, who was introducing their lesson.

. . .

That night, everyone sat in the Common Room pouring over the homework of the first day back.

"Daphne, can I see your Arithmancy book?" Rose asked.

Daphne stared at Rose like she had just sprouted extra body parts. "What?"

"Yes, yes, I'm doing homework. Is it a crime now?"

"No, but, why?" she asked, handing her the textbook.

"I'm bored out of my skull, that's why. It's all you lot ever do anymore."

"That's a flat lie," Draco scoffed. "We spend a half hour on this crap each day."

"Much too long for me." She opened her book, and set to work.

Rose discovered two things: First, Arithmancy is not as hard as she thought it was if you put a little effort into it. And, second, homework was a lot more fun than sitting around doing nothing.

"Rose?" Daphne asked a while later. "We're done now; you don't have to keep going."

"I'm almost finished," she murmured, biting her lip in concentration.

She heard the conversation flow easily around her, but ignored it. This was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, and she'd be damned if she didn't finish all her work now.

"Er, Rose? It's been, like, two hours. Are you alright?"

She looked up from her parchment. "What? Oh, I'm great!"

"Okay…," Daphne said hesitantly. "Well, it's nearly one o'clock, so we're going to head off to bed."

"Right, sure, I just need to look over this essay," she assured her. "Be there soon."

Rose nodded, and waved absently to consent her farewell. She heard soft murmurings of goodbye, and was, she expected, left alone. She could still here a few other people talking off to her right. She looked up at a group of three friends talking and laughing amongst themselves. Sixth years. She also saw Draco still sitting on the couch in front of her. Rose ignored this and returned to her essay, which she was quite proud to admit she wrote. She was just finishing up her revisions on the last paragraph several minutes later when Draco spoke up.

"I've been thinking," Draco mused as he watched the last of the students head into their dormitories. It was much too late to be awake on a school night by now. She looked outside the windows, but the Lake was exactly as its name suggested: black.

"That's a first," she murmured in reply.

He scowled before continuing. "I've been thinking," he repeated with more emphasis, "that if we're going to be married, you're going to have to open up to me sexually."

Rose nearly choked on imaginary dust. "I beg your pardon?"

"You heard me."

He looked at her with a smirk plastered on his face, casually leaning back on the sofa as if examining the shock he put her in to. She quickly recovered, arranging her facial expression into something she was sure he didn't expect. Maybe he was the one that needed a little shock.

"You're right," she nodded. "I can't keep this up for much longer."

His eyes widened for just a second before he grinned satisfactorily. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," she nodded again.

She got up and strode over to stand in front of him. She swung each leg on either side of him. He stared. She pressed herself against him, and slid down his body so she now straddled his hips. Draco's smirk was enough to make her want to punch him, so she avoided looking at it. Rose lowered her mouth to his neck to let him feel her hot breath on his skin. She could feel him beginning to press against her thigh as she slowly trailed her hands down his chest. Lower…lower…lower…lower…

She stood up.

He sat gaping at her. She laughed loudly. "In your dreams, Malfoy," she sneered. He still sat staring with his mouth open in shock. She laughed again.

Then, unexpectedly, he grabbed her and forcefully pulled her down to him, quickly flipping her to lay on her back in the black leather sofa beneath him. He took her hands and placed them above her head. He didn't do anything to them; just left them there. But the back of the couch prevented her from moving her left arm, and her right dangled uselessly above her.

"What are you doing?" she choked out.

"Don't start with me if you don't plan to finish," he growled.

"Draco, come on, let me up," she protested, but he didn't move off of her.

His hands quickly moved to undo the buttons of her blouse, and, before she knew it, he was staring at her bare chest with only a plain white bra covering her last shred of decency. To be honest, she didn't think she was anything special to behold, but Draco seemed to like it well enough. His lips went to her throat as his hands roamed her sides and stomach. She drew in a shaky breath, and felt his answering smirk. She bit her tongue. Well it's not like she was dead and unfeeling! Even if she didn't want it, her hormones would still react to the sexual stimuli. It was a natural reaction. Right? Right.

"Stop being a prick, Draco," she near-moaned.

"You don't seem to mind too much," he murmured against her skin as he trailed down to her collarbone.

"It's an involuntary response," she whispered, not trusting her voice enough to speak up.

"I'm sure that if you really didn't want this, you wouldn't be turned on. But, okay, I'll bite. Just tell me no." He raised his head to look at her face.

"No."

A chuckle. "That was frightfully unconvincing. Try again."

"No," she tried more forcefully. She heard her own voice crack, but Draco felt this was enough of a command, and sighed.

"This is not going to end well for you," he muttered in a deep growl.

"What are you going to do? Rape me?"

He laughed shortly. "That is so beneath me. Don't you think I'm better than that? And besides, I don't need to rape a girl to make her scream."

Rose was about to make a comeback, when his lips lowered to her.

"I just need to show her," he whispered; hot breath rushed against her ear, "the greatest pleasure," he continued, lips brushing her skin, "of her life." His teeth grabbed her earlobe, and he pulled and sucked on it as he withdrew, sending a shiver through her.

He looked at her again, this time scrutinizing her reaction, but she put on a blank, defiant face. He sighed again, and stood up from her. She could see his erection pushing against his trousers as he stood above her, smirking. When she said nothing, he nodded in satisfaction, and walked back to his dormitory.

Rose lay shivering in the cold, her shirt front still open. She pulled it tight around her, buttoning it back up. She wasn't sure what to make of any of that, but she really wanted to kill herself for the next thought that rose to her mind. That was bloody amazing. Presently, the accomplishment she had felt earlier for completing her homework did not work to satisfy her. Not the way she needed to be satisfied, anyway.

And what did he mean by, "This is not going to end well for you"?

Author's Note: And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is that.