Chapter Eighteen: Effervesce
After work the next day, Draco was glad to be home. He would be able to relax. To put his feet up in the library and just take it slow. He wanted to bask in the luxury of his home.
Of course, that wasn't going to happen.
As soon as he'd taken his work robes off and traded them for something more comfortable, he was set upon by his mother and his aunt. Andromeda had been spending as much time around the Manor as possible, along with Molly Weasley, and Draco was absolutely positive that they were plotting something nefarious.
Narcissa tried to bring up the subject delicately.
"Draco, dear…"
Andromeda just let it out.
"We're going to host a New Year's ball!"
…
"Does we include me?"
…
After being soundly smacked over the head by both his mother and his aunt, (what was it with women smacking him these days?) they explained that he would definitely be helping to decorate the Manor and he would definitely be expected to attend.
"I'm sure Hermione would be delighted to accompany you," Narcissa added with a wink.
…
Draco tried to nonchalantly wander off after this comment, but alas, such pale skin meant that not even a disillusionment charm could hide his blush.
At least Narcissa and Andromeda were laughing so hard that he could sneak away.
…
When it came time for the invitations to be addressed, Draco did, however, show quite an interest in the proceedings.
"I think you should invite Pansy."
"And maybe some of the other Slytherins, too, just so we aren't outnumbered."
"Have you remembered to invite George?"
"What about Hermione?"
…
Narcissa looked up at Draco with a sly smile on her face. "You have to ask Hermione yourself."
"But-" he protested, feeling as if he was five years old.
"No buts. Either you ask her, or else."
The appropriate reaction to this statement seemed to be one of two things: say, "Yes, mother," cheerfully, or head to his room to sulk.
Draco chose the latter.
…
Draco hovered inside the Ministry, wondering why he was making such a big deal out of this.
"It's not as if you haven't spent time with her already. She comes over to the Manor all the time. You read books together. So why are you so nervous?" He berated himself.
"Talking to yourself is one of the first signs of insanity," an amused voice said behind him.
Draco whirled to see Hermione standing behind him, tapping her toe. She had a pleased smirk on her face, and Draco's brain scrambled for something intelligent to say in reply.
"Um…"
…
In the end, Draco managed to ask her, albeit incoherently…
…Out to lunch.
Hermione accepted cheerfully, chattering happily about this and that, and Draco lost the sense that he'd just failed in the radiance of her smile.
He pulled her chair out for her in the café, let his hand linger on her shoulder for a minute, and then sat down. It was as if he was on autopilot- his manners were flawless, and he was functioning as a perfect, attentive Malfoy.
Unfortunately, the thoughts spinning around and around his head were along the lines of, "You're such a chicken. Honestly, Draco…"
…
Or perhaps that was his mother speaking, as they decorated the ballroom for New Year's.
"You're such a chicken. Honestly, Draco, how am I going to get grandchildren at this rate?"
…
The next day did not find Draco at the Ministry, but Hermione at St. Mungo's.
"So," she said, "Are you going to ask me to this ball or not?"
She sounded rather amused, and Draco thought she must have been laughing at him.
"Of course," he said smoothly. And with that, he got down on one knee in front of her, enjoying the panicked and confused look that crossed her face. He took her hand, moving his thumb across it in slow circles.
"Hermione," he said slowly, "Will you…"
She sucked in a breath, turning a rather fabulous shade of magenta. Their children would have fantastic circulation. Not that he was thinking about it.
"…Go to the ball with me?"
"Oh, you," she laughed, and smacked him lightly on the head. He hoped it was an affectionate smack. "Of course I will."
…
He casually informed Narcissa that Hermione would, in fact, be attending, and then he sprinted for his room before she could make any sarcastic comments.
…
Of course, one stressful invitation was replaced by another.
Narcissa had accepted that he'd wanted to invite Pansy, Blaise and Theo Nott (the three who he thought would be the least offensive to his Gryffindor friends, even if Pansy had been rather shrill back in school), and though she had given him a funny look when he'd said he'd wanted to deliver the invites himself, she had capitulated.
The expensive parchment of the invitation was heavy in his hand when as he approached the Parkinson Manor, where he'd asked them all to meet.
His spine was very straight as he presented himself at the front door.
…
Pansy gave him a hug that was slightly more than perfunctory, and given their discussion the last time he'd seen her, he returned it with enthusiasm. When he shook Blaise's and Theo's hands, he gave them a firm grip, willing the handshake to say I'm on your side. I'm here for you.
And not because he felt charitable- they wouldn't accept it if it was charity. Because his eyes were open now, and if the world thought that he deserved his place in it, than they most certainly did as well.
…
They were initially suspicious about attending a ball in the public eye with a pride of lions.
"Look, mate," Theo said, sprawled on the perfect couches as if it were the Slytherin common room, "The Gryffindors may like you, but I'm pretty certain that they'll eat the rest of us alive."
"I bullied them the most," Draco said stubbornly. "And if they can accept me, they sure as hell can accept you."
Pansy, he thought, was pretty much convinced, watching him with those new calculating eyes of hers. The others weren't. He had this odd sense of déjà vu, except he'd been on the other side of the conversation before.
"Look," Draco said. "Do you want to live your life, normally, or not? You can't just sit there and expect something to happen to you. You have to get out there and change things. I am showing you this opportunity to change things, and I hope you'll damn well take it, because us Slytherins have the right to take the spotlight for once. This time, in a good way."
He knew he must have said the right thing, because Pansy smiled.
…
It was only later that he realized that he'd paraphrased what Harry Potter had said to him.
…
In the end, they capitulated, as Draco had hoped they would.
Blaise and Theo left the Parkinson Manor quietly, but looking like they had a new sense of hope.
"Drake," Blaise said, clapping his shoulder but not meeting his eyes, "I'm proud of you. And I hope… that one day you'll be proud of me too."
Then he'd grasped his hand and sort of hugged Draco, and the two pounded each other on the back, the friendly blows weighted with wary relief.
…
Pansy looked out the window as the other boys left.
"What did I tell you? You're good for us."
Draco looked at her, struck. She turned to him and smirked.
"So, what are you wearing? You'll want to impress your…date."
…
The Pants Crisis that he'd had before Narcissa and Andromeda's reunion was nothing compared to this. This was an absolute disaster.
…
A/N
Okay, so "tomorrow" is relative. I finally came up with another one!
And the next chapter is the ball, so hopefully that'll be inspiring.
Fulgance- Pansy had a fairly minor role in this chapter, but I have something delightful planned for the ball, so I hope you enjoy that as well. I really want to explore the Slytherins, because none of them were heroes, so it will be interesting to see what happens! As always, thank you for your review and your support! :)
KodeV- Sometimes, Draco needs to be slapped. But I was really happy with how his visit with Pansy turned out as well. The Slytherins were so separate, their nature was nurtured by the environment they were thrust into. And I think that they can all grow up, all together. Of course, they're not going to lose their natures entirely, but you'll see in the next chapter! You're welcome- and thank you again for reviewing!
Pug 1998- Pansy is amazing. I know JK Rowling really didn't like her, but I think she could be something epic. Thanks for reviewing!
Alright, off to write some more!
-Isefyr
