Random: I hate that I always have the most plot bunnies when I have the least time to write. I put my "important" fic projects aside so that I might attempt to do some class work, and then I got blindsided by a Blaise/Pansy bunny. I never intended to write Blaise/Pansy but apparently this one-shot insists on its right to live.
Also: Only 10 parts left after this one. Oooooooohhh.
"Did it occur to you that maybe Granger wasn't bothered because she didn't believe your lies about me? Or maybe your words just don't matter to her?" Draco angrily demanded from Pansy, snapping out of his distraction. It didn't honestly matter if Hermione was with Weasley or not. "Or, here's a thought: that maybe it was none of your business?"
Pansy was fidgeting a bit under Draco's glare. Good. He was thoroughly fed up with people voicing their opinions about something that really wasn't any of their business!
"She believed me," Pansy quietly said. "At least most of what I said. And, usually, I can make her spitting mad. This time, however, it was as if she just couldn't be arsed to respond. As if the things I said didn't matter even if they were true."
"And of course you performed this test out of the goodness of your heart. To help me," he sarcastically said.
"Actually…" Pansy muttered, "I'm not sure why I did it or what response I'd hoped for, but I wasn't planning on telling you that she didn't react. I'm not that cold. I know you have feelings for her. But now you know, I guess."
"Right. And of course you would have told me if she had been madly in love with me."
Pansy looked away. "I don't know. Maybe. I mean, I think you can do a lot better than her, but… you apparently liked her enough to sleep with her. That's more than you ever liked me or even Astoria. Maybe, just maybe, I would have wanted to see you happy. But we'll never know, will we?"
"No, I guess we won't," Draco coldly replied. He didn't feel very charitable with Pansy today. No matter what reasons she claimed to have had for trying to hurt Hermione, she had still tried to hurt Hermione. He didn't like that one bit. Especially not if Hermione had believed Pansy's lies about how he'd used her.
Not that it really mattered, but he just didn't like Hermione thinking worse of him than she had to.
Pansy shrugged as if she didn't care, but he knew better. She was good at hiding her feelings, but he'd been close to her for years. She was hurt that he would stay mad at her for insulting Hermione after Pansy had claimed it was for his sake. So be it.
"Just don't tell them that my insults served a purpose. I have a reputation, you know," she muttered. "I can't be perceived to potentially aid you in your pursuit of a Muggleborn."
"Did Weasley write you poetry yet?" he asked, suddenly changing the subject. He couldn't bear talking about Hermione in this context right now.
Pansy's lips parted. "You told him about that?" This time the hurt in her eyes wasn't even concealed.
"Well, what can I say?" Draco's voice was hard. "Granger offered me a deal I couldn't refuse."
"More sex?" Pansy bitterly asked.
His lips quirked, but his eyes remained cold. "No. A kiss."
Pansy looked away, wounded at being sold so cheaply. Little did she realize how he valued those kisses. "Well, his poetry was almost as bad as yours," she said after a few seconds. "You know, before you figured out how to copy from the library and didn't think I'd notice."
Draco shrugged, not prepared to feel guilty over that one. "At least the quality improved. You should be happy about that."
"It was never about quality. It was about effort. Dedication. All you were dedicated to was shutting me up with as little effort as possible." She took a deep breath. "Are we done with this conversation yet?"
Ok, that did it. Draco felt just a little bit guilty. He refused to let it show, though. Pansy was a master manipulator and he didn't entirely trust her to be honest with him on this. Besides, he was still punishing her. "I don't know why you pretend you don't like having Weasley dogging you. I know you secretly like having admirers, even if you only ever want to be with people that don't really want you in return."
Her lips tightened. "Weasley's admiration is cheap," she calmly replied. "He thinks I'm someone I'm not. He doesn't realize that we live in different worlds and, more importantly, are loyal to different people and causes. He should not have been that surprised that I insulted his friend. He certainly should not have been that hurt and angry with me. He simply assumed that when given his attentions, I would begin to share his values and act like he thinks I should. I admit that had he reacted differently to this, I might have… considered something. I get lonely too, you know. But he never truly fancied me, and I think I require that in a wizard."
Draco couldn't help being surprised at Pansy's assessment. "That's… actually rather deep, coming from you."
She sniffed. "Please. It's not like he's the first wizard to think he fancied me when all he wanted was some made-up version of me, wearing my face. I seem to have some experience with that."
Ouch. But he supposed he deserved that particular jab. "And your solution to that is to scare him away rather than see if he'll actually like the real you? Sounds unhealthy."
"First off, that was the 'real me' scaring him off. Second off, why would I really want that dimwitted, freckled excuse for a blood traitor to like me? I can do better. You just sort out your own love life and leave me to sort out mine." She got up, fished out her Witch Weekly from under Draco's bag, and strutted over to the dormitories.
"Come on, Hermione. You have to start talking to me again sometime!" Harry had to lengthen his strides to keep up with Hermione, who was actively ignoring him as she was making her way to the Great Hall for dinner.
Hermione turned to Ron with a frown. "Do you hear anything? It's like a vague buzzing."
Ron pursed his lips. "You're fairly unforgiving; you know that, right? I'm sure Harry didn't mean to be a hot-headed git."
"No, that's usually your job!" Harry grumbled. "But considering how philosophical you've become lately, I had to take care of matters myself."
"And when will you learn that violence won't solve anything?" Hermione hissed, momentarily forgetting that she was ignoring Harry.
"Blimey, Harry, seems like she's talking to you again."
"I am not," she growled, speeding up her walk to a near-run.
"I already said I was sorry!" Harry pleaded, getting in her way so she had to walk around him. "And I admit that maybe he didn't deserve being pummeled in this case."
"You know he didn't! I told you he didn't!" Hermione angrily tossed her hair over her shoulder and made such a narrow turn around the corner that Harry bumped against the wall. It gave her a bit of childish satisfaction.
"He made you lie before!" Harry objected.
"She was wearing the bracelet then," Ron reminded Harry.
"Thanks, mate. I know that."
Hermione stopped up and stomped her foot. "You just wanted an excuse to punch him. You're always looking for excuses to get into fights with him. And now he thinks I told you lies about him when, ironically, I had more or less accused him of telling lies about me." She began marching again.
"For what it's worth, I don't think he did," Harry offered, once again getting in Hermione's way and forcing her to stop for a second.
"No, really, Einstein?" Hermione pushed Harry out of the way and walked on.
"No, really, what?" Ron asked with a frown.
"No, really, he didn't spread lies about her. Pay attention, Ron." Harry frowned at his friend.
"No, I meant… never mind."
"A Muggle reference from home," Hermione patiently explained, making a show out of half-turning her back on Harry, which was no mean feat, considering the speed she was walking with.
"Oh…" Ron frowned in thought. "Strange, but ok."
"Did anyone notice the part where I did not think Malfoy had done something bad for once?" Harry almost shouted, apparently not appreciating being invisible.
Hermione and Ron both stopped in their tracks. "Yes, we heard you," Hermione calmly said. "But I'd already told you so, so it doesn't matter. You still cocked up!"
"And you know I can't stand the git either," Ron chimed in almost apologetically, "but even I can tell he's arse over elbow for her."
"He's not," Hermione objected.
"If you say so," Ron placidly replied.
"Stop claiming that he is!" Hermione almost stomped her foot again.
Ron and Harry looked at each other in a most annoying way. "Ok…" Harry slowly said. "If I promise not to claim anything, will you forgive me?"
"No," Hermione sniffed. "But if you apologize to him, I might."
Harry laughed. "Good one, Hermione."
Hermione folded her arms and narrowed her eyes in an exceptionally effective glare.
Harry's smile froze as he realized she was serious. "He kneed me in the… you know!" He indicated his groin area.
"I saw his face; it was all swollen and bruised! You deserved to be kneed! In fact, I hope he kneed you hard!"
Harry began to look panicked. "You're not serious, Hermione? Hermione? No! Please! Anything else! Don't make me do this, please! I'm willing to beg!"
Hermione snorted and then laughed in a decidedly evil manner as she entered the Great Hall.
"That one really has been spending too much time with Slytherins," Harry muttered.
Ron sniggered. "I don't know. I thought it was funny too."
Harry moaned. "I'm doomed."
"Stop moping," Blaise admonished, scowling at his friend. They were at dinner, but so far Draco had done little but poke his presumably already dead food with a fork.
"I'm not moping!" Draco muttered.
Blaise gave him a once-over. "Yeah… you are."
"I'm just not hungry!" Draco pushed away his plate.
"And you're moping."
"You're bloody annoying. You do realize that, yeah?"
"I also have a girlfriend—imagine that!" Blaise beamed.
This was a new development that quite frankly made Blaise insufferable. Not that it really was that big a development in Draco's eyes. Tracey might allow Blaise to claim to himself and Draco that they were together, but they still weren't very public about it. It was Draco's impression that the secrecy was Tracey's idea but that Blaise was too scared of his mother not to be a little relieved that Tracey now wanted this arrangement.
It was so messed up.
"That just adds to what's annoying about you," Draco stated.
"I really think you should—" Blaise began.
Someone cleared their throat behind Draco's left shoulder.
"Bugger off, I'm fighting with Blaise," Draco said without looking up.
Blaise snorted. "You can fight with me any time."
"Yeah, and I do, don't I?" Draco muttered.
"So, you two are like an old married couple?" a most unwelcome voice said from behind Draco, making him tense. "Good to know."
"Forget it, Poofy Potter," Draco said, slowly turning around. "You're not my type. My type has, you know, girl parts. And, I beg of you, stay away from the Polyjuice."
Potter frowned behind those annoying and oh-so-smashable glasses. "You're not making this easy, you know," he said.
Blaise sniggered. "I don't think he meant to," he offered, ever helpful. "I think he meant to let you down gently."
Draco couldn't keep from laughing out loud. He'd known he kept Blaise around for a reason!
Potter growled, showing teeth. "Make no mistake, she's making me do this."
Draco immediately sobered. "Do what?" He didn't need to ask who 'she' was.
"Apologize. For attacking you." Potter actually looked pained. Fun! "I… may have acted rashly. This time."
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Then apologize."
"I just did!"
"Nah, that wasn't an apology. Tell her it's not accepted."
Potter almost looked like he was panicking at the prospect. "Look, she's actually really mad at me, ok? She didn't say those things about you. I… misunderstood. She just seemed unhappy and I assumed you were to blame."
Draco's forehead creased in a thoughtful frown. "Unhappy? How? Why?"
"Here we go," Blaise muttered with an eye-roll. "I'd love to stick around for this very exciting rundown of how exactly Granger is feeling and why, but I have an actual life. So, bye." Then he was gone.
"That's none of your business, Malfoy," Potter said with a scowl.
"Fine. Then I'll just tell her how your apology was half-baked and insincere, shall I? Think that'll make her stop being mad at you?"
"You're the biggest git I ever met," Potter growled. They had a staring match for a few seconds, but then, surprisingly, Potter sighed. "I don't know; maybe you can figure it out. It was subtle. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it was just... there. And then that day when Pansy Parkinson said those things to her, it became really… prominent for a little while."
"Well, Pansy was a bitch to her. Good on Granger for not letting Pansy know she was upset, though." And thank God, she hadn't truly been unaffected. That bit had bothered Draco more than he would like to admit.
"Yeah…" Potter muttered, sounding unconvinced. "Anyway, this is about as far as I will go. Now you tell her I apologized."
Draco waved him off, but then couldn't resist saying, "Hey, Potter?" When Potter turned around with another pained expression, Draco smirked and said, "Next time, try saying 'I'm sorry'. That's generally easier." Potter growled by way of reply before turning away again and Draco couldn't help but go, "Oh, and Potter?" once more. When Potter stiffly and slowly turned back for the second time, Draco beamed and asked, "How's your tadger?"
The sign language that Potter educated Draco in really wasn't very nice—although, if one was to take it as a literal reply it was actually quite graphic—and he also looked as if he'd love to smash Draco's face in again. It really cheered Draco in a way nothing else could. If Potter wanted to hurt him then all was well in the world.
Well, almost all.
For the first time in a long while, Draco looked at the Gryffindor table. He generally tried not to look in that direction—figuring it might make Hermione uncomfortable if he stared too much—but right now he needed to make an allowance. A mere second after he located her, she looked up and their eyes met. She looked startled and… sorry. She only allowed the eye contact to be held for a couple of seconds, before she looked down and then glanced at Potter. When she peeked back at Draco a few minutes later and he caught her eye, she blushed at being caught looking at him again.
He got up and leisurely strolled out of the Great Hall.
"You know, I've been thinking," Blaise said from his position of leaning against the wall next to the doors.
"I thought you had a life," Draco drily said without stopping.
"I do." Blaise pushed away from the wall and followed. "But who am I kidding? Much of my life is devoted to helping you get one."
Draco snorted. He turned and began making his way down to the dungeons.
Blaise stayed next to him. "Sitting around, moping, because you want her but don't want to make any kind of effort to be with her is not only lazy, it's also stupid."
"I know," Draco responded.
"You need to stop being stupid and try to overcome what's keeping you apart!" Blaise continued.
That made sense. "I know."
Blaise shook his head as if Draco had disagreed with him. "If she doesn't trust you, you need to make her trust you. Figure out a way. Do whatever it takes!"
Draco's lips twitched a little as he fought the smile. "I know."
"No!" Blaise objected. "You need to get her!"
Draco raised his hands. "I know." They made the final turn and were now facing the wall to their common room; Draco delivered the password and they entered.
"No, I mean, you need to actually make an effort to be with her," Blaise insisted. "Because, I hate to tell you this, but you simply don't have it in you to walk away. It might not work out, but at least then you can move on."
Draco sighed and sat down. "Relax, Blaise. I know. Really. I do." He wearily rubbed his face, trying not to think of all the ways this could fail.
"So, you are going to do something about this?"
"Yes, as soon as I figure out what might work."
"Oh." Blaise paused, looking surprisingly put off. "And when did you decide this?"
"Just now in the Great Hall. There are these tiny hints that she might have some positive feelings towards me. At least I think there may be enough to give me a shot if I manage to convince her of how much I want it."
And there, as they say, was the rub. Hermione Granger wasn't going to be readily convinced of any such thing, so he had to play this carefully. If he just barged in, he might only succeed in convincing her that he was trying to trick her again.
He needed a plan.
Next chapter...
"Propose to her?" Blaise suggested, looking like he actually meant it. "Nothing says 'I love you' like that."
Draco recoiled. "No! God, no!"
