Chapter 2: Five Years of Friendship

Five years later, and Draco and Pansy were best friends. They were constantly together and never missed spending a holiday together. She was there when he got his first real broom. He was there when she fell out of the tree at her house. More often than not, they were at Draco's house, due to the fact Pansy didn't like being at hers. There were times she would arrive at Draco's after a day of going home dirty with bruises or a hunger that didn't seem to be satisfied, but it didn't seem unusual to Draco. He always assumed she hurt herself while she was at the Manor, for they usually were pretty rough.

Draco's eighth birthday was approaching, and Pansy was excited. They were going to a Quidditch match because Draco loved the sport and wanted to play. Pansy didn't like the idea, seeing as he could get hurt, but she loved seeing the way his eyes sparkled when he talked about it.

Though in the days leading up to Draco's birthday, Pansy's mother was looking for ways to prevent her daughter from going. See, her mother knew Pansy had a crush on Draco, and she did not want her daughter dating him. Not because Draco wasn't good enough, he was perfect, but because Pansy wasn't good enough. Nicolette had to suppress this crush before it grew to anything else.

The day before his birthday, Nicolette devised a plan. Yes, she planned the way she'd get her daughter in trouble. She placed their dog under the Imperious curse and planned it so the dog would splatter Pansy with mud.

Pansy was running late returning from Draco's and sprinted through the yard, holding the skirt of her dress as she ran. Her dog ran up to her, covered in mud, and jumped into the mud puddle directly in front of her. She shrieked as she saw the filth on her dress. Her dog ran away and Pansy was left standing in the mud puddle, filthy.

Just then, her mother stormed out and began to yell at her daughter.

"PANSY ELIZABETH MARIE PARKINSON, HOW DARE YOU RUIN YET ANOTHER DRESS? THAT IS THE FIFTH ONE IN TWO MONTHS, AND IT'S THE FINAL ONE. YOU ARE GROUNDED. YOU CANNOT GO ANYWHERE!"

Pansy burst into tears. How could her mother do this to her? Draco's birthday was in two days; she couldn't miss it!

"But mother! The dog splattered me with mud! I swear!" she pleaded.

Nicolette simply shook her head at her daughter; "Don't blame this on an animal!"

She grabbed Pansy roughly by the shoulder and dragged her inside. Pansy bit her lip, trying not to cry, it only angered her mother further. She was pushed down into a chair and her mother paralyzed her. Pansy could only watch her mother in fear. Nicolette placed a hand on each arm of the chair, then stuck her face right in front of Pansy's.

"Look, you little brat, I know about your crush on the Malfoy boy. I'm telling you now; he will never see you like that. No one will ever see you like that."

Pansy began to tear up, and when her mother noticed, Pansy was smacked across the face. It began to sting and she was hit once more. Nicolette stepped back and stared at her daughter sternly.

"Now you owl Narcissa and tell her you can't go."

She unparalyzed Pansy and left the room. As soon as Pansy was sure she was gone, she let herself cry. She stayed like that for at least ten minutes, then got up and ran to her room.

Once in her room, she pulled out some parchment and a quill and began writing.

Dear Narcissa,

I regret to inform you that I will be unable to join your son at the Quidditch match taking place on his birthday.

Pansy P.

She sent it off with one of their owls, then began writing another owl, this one to Draco.

Draco,

I got in trouble and can't go with you on your birthday. I am so sorry, Draco, really, I am. If I could go, I would, believe me. I don't know when I'll be able to see you again..

Pans

She sent off that owl, then laid down across her bed to cry. Pansy fell asleep crying. She couldn't believe how cruel her mother was and how her father would stand back and allow her to beat his daughter.

Pansy didn't see him for the rest of the summer.