Better be Slytherin
LXX
The Proposal
A couple days passed after the races and neither Draco nor Pansy mentioned the fact that they had potentially gotten engaged on the weekend.
Pansy scoffed sitting by the breakfast table as Draco read his newspaper and she read Witch Weekly, as the biggest story turned out to be an article about Harry Potter's latest and greatest capture – he obviously still had his compulsive need for attention. The fact that he was an auror without having ever completed his schooling annoyed her — why should he be allowed to skip the rules that everyone else had to follow?
"Look at this!" Pansy exclaimed indignantly. She held up the issue, there was a witch in velvet burgundy robes on the cover against a pink background, surrounded by moving, spinning and glittering titles such as "autumn dress robes trends" and "15 beauty charms all witches must know" "enchant your man with this tempting treacle tart recipe"
Draco frowned. "What am I supposed to...?"
"'A mother-in-law's dream and how to catch one'! And the article's about POTTER!"
Draco couldn't help but to laugh and reach out for the magazine. "Let me see that..."
He finished reading it and looked sour. Pansy reckoned he'd never get over his jelousy of Potter. "Ridiculous," he said and rolled his eyes.
"What?" she said teasingly. "You jealous Ginny Weasley got there first?"
"Shut up, Pans," he laughed.
"I wonder how he proposed," Pansy pondered. Their eyes met for a second. Draco's cheeks turned pink and he cleared his throat.
"Well," he said, "I know our wedding would beat his."
"You think so?" smirked Pansy.
"Oh, I know so," said Draco smiling soflty.
"So there's going to be one then?" she asked, uncharacteristically carefully.
He laughed, "haven't I already asked?"
Pansy's eyes glinted and she looked away theatrically, "I don't know, Draco, I think you have to be more precise."
He put his newspaper down and reached into his pocket.
"Like this?" he said, his eyes not leaving hers. He pulled out a small crystal box that shimmered in a beautiful champagne shade, he tapped it with his wand quickly and it began unfolding like the petals of a flower to reveal a ring nestled on a tiny cushion of dark green velvet.
Pansy's heart was beating rapidly and she felt as if she struggled to breathe.
"Goblin made..." he mumbled.
"Draco..." she whispered, and her eyes flickered between his face and his hand holding the ring. He reached out his other hand and stroked her cheek and leaned over to kiss her gently. Then he pulled away, pushed his chair out, and got down on one knee.
"Pans..." he breathed, "it's always been you. And I wouldn't mind spending the next hundred or so years with you."
She giggled. "Presumed that we'll become that old, and won't die of dragon pox before then."
He smirked. "If we do, then I'd have made sure we'd be leaving children and grandchildren and their children behind us..."
Pansy laughed loudly, her highpitched laugh reminded him of the first five years at hogwarts, the carefree years. She smiled fondly at him. He'd never seen so much kindness on her face.
"What exactly are you trying to say, Malfoy?" she teased.
"You will marry me, won't you?" he grinned.
She beamed. "Will you give me everything I want?"
He laughed. "Financially and physically - yes definitely. I do have the resources."
She laughed too. "Dick."
"My thoughts exactly!"
"I want the biggest wedding wizarding England has ever seen!"
"Probably be a bit hard to beat the guy from the Weird Sisters."
"I don't want to end up sitting on opposite ends of a long table and never speak, like my parents," said Pansy.
"Never," he breathed, his eyes not leaving hers and slowly moving closer to her.
"I want a big manor house," said Pansy cheerfully, "and three Slytherin boys."
"That can be arranged."
"...Who'll grow up to be Quidditch stars."
He laughed. "I'll do my best."
"And a unicorn in the garden!"
"You're pushing it now..."
"What about peacooks?" she taunted.
"Careful or I'll regret I've done this."
"Done what?" smiled Pansy knowing full well what he'd say.
"Proposed to you!"
They embraced for what seemed like hours. They laughed, kissed and hugged all night. He thought they probably broke the world record of kisses in one evening.
He was smiling down at her like she was a present he couldn't wait to rip open.
Hours later, neither of them aware of what time it was, they were lying in bed half naked and sweaty. She trailed her fingers inbetween his and kissed his knuckle. He said, "I've just realised you never actually said yes."
She laughed. "I did, you idiot, at the races."
He smirked. "Just checking."
"What is it you love so much about me then?" said Pansy, laying down with her head on his chest. He kissed the top of her head.
"I dunno really," he said. "You're funny."
"And?" she said expectantly.
"I can't put my finger on it," he mumbled and kissed her head again. "I'm just so used to you. After all these years I can't imagine another sidekick."
She playfully slapped his chest. "That is the least romantic thing anyone's ever said to their fiancee."
"Come here, fiancee..."
After announcing their engagement via owls to their parents and friends, the next week was filled with cards and flowers and other congratulatory deliveries. Pansy basked in the attention, obviously. On Sunday the Parkinsons and Narcissa was due to come over for a celeboratory meal.
Pansy couldn't wait to discuss wedding details with her mother and Narcissa, not to mention her friends. She had spent the last five years cutting out wedding stuff from Witch Weekly, after all. Naturally, she would rather die than show her collection to Draco.
The house elf of the Parkinson Manor had a roast in the oven so the whole ground floor smelled amazingly. It was a perfect Sunday. The lounge was decorated with large vases of fresh colourful flowers, big furniture, expensive rugs and thick, flowy curtains curtesy of Pansy. A fire was going and there were house elves on hand waiting to assist. Everyone was in their finest pearls, in the lounge over cocktails discussing the two families joining.
"Oh this cheese is divine," said Perpetua, her and Graham had come back to England specifically for this.
After Draco and Graham went to smoke a cigar, they sat down for their meal. Succulent roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, veggies, roast potatoes and gravy. Then they took to the parlour for some celebatory champagne.
Narcissa, who had been warmer since Christmas, sipped her flute, leaned back against the feather endowed cushion and said, "My darling Pansy, how pleased I am you're joining our family."
Pansy beamed.
"Ever since the day Draco brought you back to the manor for the first time I knew you'd turn out a fine young woman."
"Oh, bish-bosh, Narcissa!" said Perpetua slightly drunkenly and her champagne glass swayed, spilling a few drops.
"Thank you, Mrs Malfoy," said Pansy proudly.
"It's Pansy who should be pleased!" laughed Perpetua, "that Draco has endured her nonsense for so long!"
"Mother!" said Pansy indignantly while Narcissa laughed politely.
"I'm only joking, darling, only joking. You make a fine couple."
"When will we be seeing little Malfoys running about, then?" smiled Narcissa and sipped her drink.
Pansy's face turned red and she said uncomfortably, "We haven't talked about ... that ... yet, Mrs Malfoy."
"One step at a time," said Draco quickly.
Pansy saw her dad for lunch every week inbetween classes, and they went to Narcissa every Sunday for dinner, if they ever didn't she got so lonely, in Pansy's words.
"I worry about her," said Draco. "I feel like Sunday dinner is the only highlight of her week."
"Maybe she should get a job. Or start dating." Pansy was casually reading the latest issue of Witch Weekly.
Draco looked at her like she was crazy. "What?"
Pansy turned a page. "You know your father is gone for 5 years."
"Yeah, in prison. Not dead! They're married." Draco was frowning at her, deeply concerned.
"Whatever," said Pansy and turned another page.
Sometimes Draco wondered where her morals were.
"Or she could get a hobby," offered Pansy.
"Like what?" Draco snapped. "Paint her nails and gossip? Because that's your hobby?"
Pansy finally turned to him, indignant. "Oi! What's up with you? So rude!"
On the 2nd of May, the headlines of Witch Weekly read as such: "Anniversary of the battle - Has our community finally found peace?", "The Perks of Dating Muggle Men, the inside scoop from our reporter Josephine Winston.", "25 Glamour Charms every witch must know", "dress robes for your body type" and on it went, but to Tracey the most interesting headline was the first one. She couldn't believe a whole year had passed since the war officially ended. Since so many people died. Since the Dark Lord disappeared. Since peace came. Still, her mind was anything but peaceful.
She read every word of the article twice - to distract herself from thinking about the fact that Daphne, Astoria and Queenie had moved in together in the Greengrasses London property. Thus they were walking distance from Pansy and Draco's Diagon Alley flat. Blaise weren't far away either in Chelsea. Only Tracey was all the way in Brighton still, at her mum and dad's. Maybe it was time she get her own place in the city too, albeit she didn't have anyone to share with. She supposed Daphne had turned the other girls against her, and Millicent was in house arrest, and Pansy was engaged to be married. Nott was still in Azkaban, and then all there was left was Blaise. But he had become a different person over the last few months. Or, perhaps, she was finally seeing the real him, the him he had always been behind those flirty looks and the deep seductive voice.
After the races where he had indeed told Lucretia they couldn't have any contact anymore, Tracey had expected some big blow out between them, but instead he had grown quiet. Almost resentful. She had suggested to go to this new exhibition at the wizarding museum in Diagon Alley, and a concert in Upper Flagley. He'd turned both down.
She met Pansy one afternoon in May to go shopping in Hogsmeade - Pansy needed new shoes for her engagement party - and they stopped at Madam Puddifoot's for a hot chocolate.
"Draco used to take me here while we were in school," the newly engaged brunette said, looking around almost smirking. A large diamond was glittering on her left hand. She was as smug as ever. A tinge of jealousy hit Tracey, surprisingly, because she'd never envied Pansy's relationship before. But to have that uncomplicated, stabile, secure relationship... What a dream.
Of course, what she didn't know was that the few times Draco and Pansy had gone to Hogsmeade while in school they had mostly argued about his mission.
"Good memories?" said Tracey, trying to smile.
"Yes, well," said Pansy quickly, "this place has gone downhill." She wrinkled her nose. "The lady that owns it is far too old. She can barely see or hear. Probably why she hasn't got any customers except for us."
"Has it always been easy with you and Draco?" Tracey blurted out. She hadn't planned on asking it, it just sprung to mind.
Pansy looked mildly surprised, yet understanding. She sipped her hot chocolate and then said simply, "No."
"No?"
"No, I mean..." Pansy looked out into space. "When Draco got his mission everything changed. He shut me out. You remember sixth year."
Tracey remembered how Pansy had cried herself to sleep for a week or so and then started dating Theodore. She had also snogged Miles Bletchley on Valentine's Day, and she had seemed highly amused when Draco and Theodore fought over her. It had seemed very juvenile. Tracey had never realised Pansy might have actually gone through hardship that year.
"Yes," she said, encouraging her on. Maybe if Pansy and Malfoy had come out of a bad place, there was hope for her and Blaise too.
"He didn't tell me why he stopped talking to me," said Pansy. "I was so confused and hurt for, like, a year. Then he explained that it had all to do with the Dark Lord. And I guess we just got over it. It's so long ago now."
"I've been confused and hurt, too, for a year," mumbled Tracey.
Pansy put her cup down and looked at her. There was a hint of worry there, as there had been over the last few months.
"Zabini is just... the way he is," said Pansy. "I don't think he can be changed."
"I thought I was the one girl that could," said Tracey. "Because we were friends before. I thought he respected me and liked me."
"He's probably fucked up from his mum. You know how she uses men."
Tracey pondered this for a moment. "Don't you think Draco was fucked up from his dad?"
Pansy hesitated. "Yes... but it's different."
"Why?" said Tracey quickly. "If Draco could change, and treat you better, why can't Blaise? And look at you now, you're happy and engaged."
Pansy looked doubtful. "I guess... Or you could just date someone else. Someone who's already good."
"It's not that easy. Plus, he's not even that bad. He didn't even do anything with Lucretia."
"But he's doing something to you every day. Not... actively... but he's doing something to your head."
Their eyes met. Tracey felt shame rise in her. Somehow she knew her friend was right.
Narcissa Malfoy finally put out an engagement notice in the Daily Prophet, probably bursting with excitemend that two powerful Pureblood families were uniting.
"Announcement of Miss Pansy Parkinson, Essex, and Mister Draco Malfoy, Wiltshire, engagement to be married. Both families are equally as proud to tie two old Pureblood families together."
Pansy was reading it in the paper, smiling. Draco was observing her. Something was on his mind. Since two different people had asked them about children recently, he was urged to bring this up. He wasn't sure how she'd react and he had no way of going about it, so he consented to blurting it out.
"We really need to start using contraceptive spells," he said quickly. "It's a miracle you're not pregnant yet, we've been going at it for years now."
Pansy stared back at him. Millions of thoughts rushed through her head then. With a sinking feeling she thought for a second, what if she couldn't have children? She knew how important it was for the Malfoys to produce an heir. Anxiety riddled her stomach. She didn't dare speak to Draco about it.
Well, what would they do with a baby anyway? She'd never dreamt of having a baby, and she knew Draco didn't even know what to do with Teddy, he wasn't interested. But then she didn't want to be one of those sad old couples who had nothing but each other. She'd never thought this far into the future - she'd never thought past finishing school and getting their own place. Why was he bringing this up at all?
Maybe the House-Elf could take care of it. Although, Pansy didn't really have to work full time, did she. After finishing university, she could get a part time job. She had already been offered a column in Witch Weekly because she was so good at keeping up with the gossip and what was going on in society. And she knew she would be doing occasional charity work and throwing parties but she could still do that.
But what if Draco was at work all the time and she would just be home alone with the baby. Stuck.
"Well, you pull out most of the time," was the only thing she could think to say.
Draco cleared his throat. "I suppose. But say you fell pregnant."
Their eyes met, in a shared slightly panicked glance.
"I don't know what I'd do."
"I guess worst case my mother could look after it while you finish university," said Draco. "Or yours."
It. How romantic, thought Pansy irritably, suddenly feeling defensive over this make belief child.
"Do you even want a baby?" she said sceptically.
He pondered this for a moment. "I think we're young. But if it happened I'd have to deal with it." He scratched his head. She bit her lip.
"I don't know how to take care of a baby," she said in a low voice.
"I know, you can hardly even take care of yourself."
Pansy hit him on the arm.
"Don't worry, Pans," he said. "Money's not an issue - you don't have to work."
"That's all I wanted to hear," she giggled.
"But seriously, the spell," he said.
A tingling sensation suddenly told her she couldn't wait for Draco to touch her pregnant tummy and to think of what to name their baby and to raise their child, a mixture of them both, something that connected them forever... But no she was being silly, they hadn't even turned nineteen for Merlin's sake, plus they weren't even married. They had their whole lives to have kids and be grown ups.
"Fine, what's the spell then? Let's practice it," she said.
Malfoy and Pansy's engagement party was of course the biggest event of the summer.
Malfoy had spent the last couple months playing Quidditch from dawn to dusk as it was his new ambition to take his Quidditch professionally. It seemed as though from an outside perspective, he was getting some luster back. He didn't seem as deeply depressed as he had for the past couple of years. Pansy was shining too.
She had finished the first year of university, she was engaged and she was the only inhabitant of a giant manor house. The huge engagement ring glistened on her finger as she basked in the attention of all her girl friends surrounding her, admiring it.
At the same time, contrastingly, Tracey felt more drained and depressed than she ever had. Her and Blaise had kept arguing even though Lucretia was out of the picture. The threat was still there in the back of Tracey's mind, and she never knew with Blaise.
There were white peacooks everywhere in the garden of Malfoy manor. The rose bushes from Draco's childhood was once again in bloom. House-Elves were walking around holding trays of champagne flutes for the guests. There was a live jazz band performing, consisting of all vampires. Tracey could see Daphne at the other end of the large garden with who she presumed was her new boyfriend Ben Hawthorpe that Pansy had told them about. A stab of sadness hit her by surprise, and she suddenly didn't see Daphne as a threat anymore, rather as the good friend she had lost. Daphne, mid laugh, looked up and they locked eyes. Daphne quickly looked away again, and Tracey knew there was no point in going up to her. Blaise had come in between their friendship and there was nothing to do about it now.
Tracey glanced over at Blaise, instead, who was over by the band with Malfoy, clinking their Firewhiskey glasses and leaning close so they could hear each other. Had it been worth it, all the sacrifices she'd made to be with Blaise? For a moment she couldn't see what was so special about him, why it had been worth it to throw away not only her friendship with Daphne, but parts of herself that she had valued so highly before. Like her pride and integrity. And self-respect. Mostly the last.
When she thought about it there was no logical reason for being with Blaise, none at all. Except that she was in love with him. She should know better, because he wasn't everything her mind and brain wanted in a partner, not at all. Sure, he was ambitious. But he drank too much and was too cold. His relationship with his mother was too complicated, and he basically had no friends. Just people he used. Like his newly found friend who was the founder of the magazine Playwizard - Timothy Matthews, a sleezy guy in his early twenties who had come about a large inheritance and was flaunting his money in Muggle and Wizarding bars, restaurants and night clubs to entice girls to come closer. And then Malfoy, who Blaise had only become friendly with after the war because they were the only two boys left, or because Malfoy also had a lot of money, or some other reason Tracey wasn't fully clear on. But his friendship with Malfoy didn't seem to make him more keen on settling down, like Tracey would've hoped.
But now she had forgotten why she had hoped for that in the first place. She was better than longing for some boy who didn't give her the love and respect she deserved. Not that she deserved more or better than anyone else, but just the same as anyone else. The same peace that Pansy, and even Daphne seemed to have in their relationships. Or the peace of not having a relationship at all, no one to worry about, no one to take up your whole mindspace.
So when she saw Blaise grab a whole Firewhiskey bottle off a surprised House-Elf, and "discreetly" pour himself another large glass, it made up her mind. At least, momentarily. Because it disgusted her. Her feet led her, because she didn't feel like she had control over what she was doing, over to where he was stood by the edge of the dancefloor, drinking.
"Ah, Davies," he smirked as she approached, and he swayed a little, holding out an arm for her. Right, so this was one of those nights. When he drank he either became cold and distant and could leave for days without a word, leaving her to worry half to death, or he became extra affectionate.
He pulled her into an embrace, which she sceptically accepted. "Wassup?" he said then, smiling drunkenly.
"I think we should stop seeing each other," she blurted out, half hoping he'd argue it.
He pulled away, his eyebrows raised. "What?"
"Yes," she said, looking away. Her heart was pounding in her chest again. "I don't think we should see each other anymore."
"What are you talking about 'see each other', you don't want to date me anymore?"
"If that's what we've been doing," she muttered.
"Why would you want that?" he said, still looking very confused.
"I've just been thinking, and..." she chose her words carefully. She could bring up his drinking and womanizing but she wanted to avoid another argument. She didn't have it in her. "I don't think I've been happy lately. And I don't trust you."
"Fine," he said and shrugged, and that hurt even more. He didn't care. "Will you still be my friend?"
"Of course," she said, but she averted her eyes. Lies. She couldn't think of anything worse than being his friend now and having to hear about other girls he dated. Tears were burning in her eyes threathening to overflow. She took a deep breath to steady herself, but she noticed she was shaking as he pulled her in for a hug.
"No hard feelings, yeah?" he asked.
"No," she mumbled.
"Congratulations, my boy," said Narcissa and pulled him into an embrace. "You know how I've always adored Pansy."
He smirked. "Me too."
"You have, haven't you?" she said mirthily, giving a small laugh. "You always wanted to play with her even when she didn't want to play with you."
"I tried to make her play Quidditch but all she wanted to do was gossip about the Weird Sisters and eat Licorice Wands," he grinned. "Lazy girl."
Narcissa shook her head. "She's an ambitious girl. She's finished her first year of university. Straight out of Hogwarts. I'd never have guessed. I would've thought she'd be the last to start higher education, if at all."
"That's true, to be fair," said Draco.
"She brings out the fun in you."
"Oi - I'm fun!"
"You have, rightfully, not been yourself for the last few years," she said and reached out to stroke his cheek. "I can see it returning. You seem young again. Happier."
"I am happy, mother," he said and even gave a small smile. "As happy as I can be after everything that's happened."
"I don't think I've told you before, or if I have, I haven't told you enough," said Narcissa looking seriously at him. "I'm so proud of you, Draco. So proud of the man you're becoming."
Draco smirked and rolled his eyes. "I know that."
"I wish your father could've been here, my love," said Narcissa breathlessly, looking out over the misty marches. Draco leaned his head on her shoulder.
"I'm glad you're here, mother."