I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
A Taste of Magic
39th Course – Difficulties
The clubroom was full of laughter and good smells. They decorated it again, a riot of colors and lights that were bright and shiny. Savory and sweet smells filled the air, whetting the appetite. The usual group was there, joined by Ron, Ginny, and Terry. Hedwig, Sunny, and Crookshanks were there as well, roaming the room and soaking in the attention while occasionally fighting for Harry's affection.
Harry made the usual Christmas dinner things again but this time a few more dishes were added. The Patils taught him how to make samosa and a gleaming tower of piled fried pastries sat on a plate, the golden-brown flaky crusts filled with potato and onions and peas. Sue made another very large pile of dumplings and all three of their versions were there, ready to be eaten. Most everyone had helped make one dish or another and they all smiled as they saw the heavily laden board.
"These are very good," Pansy said, eating a samosa.
"They're almost like a pasty," Ron said appreciatively.
"Oh what are those?" Parvati asked.
"A lot like this actually," Harry said, munching on his own samosa. "But it's baked and not fried and can be filled with meat and veg. There's a kind where it's bigger and half is filled with meat and veg and the other half with fruit so you have a meal and a sweet for after in one pastry."
"Oh that's fun," Padma said. "Yeah, it's pretty similar for sure."
"I love these," Ginny said, eating the potstickers. "They're delicious!"
"How's that together?" Millicent asked, watching Luna dip a water-boiled dumpling in some bread sauce.
"A bit strange but still very good," Luna said brightly. "It's fun mixing things and seeing how they taste and turn out."
"Never thought I'd have Chinese food and Indian food with an English Christmas dinner," Terry remarked. "But I like it. It's really nice."
"Are you sure you can't visit a little for the holiday?" Lavender asked Harry later.
He huffed. "Yeah, that's what the Headmaster said anyways."
Harry had been disappointed when he went to the Headmaster along with Lavender and Parvati the other day. The girls had asked if Harry could be allowed to visit their families over the holiday and others had also offered to let Harry come for a day or two. Dumbledore had regretfully denied the requests, saying that the threat of Sirius Black still going uncaught would make any trips unsafe. He did tell Harry that there would possibly be a pleasant surprise however, and that had been some small consolation.
"Boo," Lavender grumbled. "I don't like that you're alone here,"
"Well, I have Hedwig and the professors," Harry sighed. "And like he said, there might be a pleasant surprise."
"Whatever that means," Lavender said, rolling her eyes slightly.
"I'll be okay, thank you for wanting to invite me though," Harry said gratefully.
"Marigold and Clover were upset," Lavender said. She smiled. "I think they wanted Hedwig to visit more though."
"I'll send her along near the beginning of break and she can play with them for as long as she wants," Harry grinned.
"Hopefully you will get that surprise and it will be pleasant," Pansy said. She sighed. "I wish I could invite you too," she said shyly, "but I can't."
"Your parents wouldn't like it?" Lavender asked.
"I honestly don't know what their reaction would be," Pansy said honestly. "I have had friends stay over before, well mostly Millie, and Auntie Tina, Zabini's mother, is a friend and she has stayed over with Zabini before but I honestly nothing him most of the time so he's sort of just there." They chuckled at that.
"No, the main reason is that I don't know what I'm going to do for this year's Soiree," Pansy said softly.
"The party at the Malfoy's? Oooh awkward," Parvati said.
"At the least," Pansy snorted.
"Would your parents stick up for you?" Harry asked.
"I…honestly have no idea." Pansy shrugged weakly. "Family is important but so are appearances, not to mention my family and the Malfoys share some business things. And Mother and Auntie Cissa are close friends."
"I hope things work out," Harry said sincerely.
She smiled wanly. "I do as well."
-0-
Alan Parkinson looked up from the newspaper. He was the picture of a family Head. His dark brown eyes glittered with intelligence and though he looked cold, his smile was anything but when he looked at his daughter. "Of course, speak your mind," he said warmly, eyes going back to the newspaper.
Pansy dithered a little, fidgeting. "Uhm, I…" Her voice trailed away.
That caught his attention. He knew his daughter had a very strong personality and this bit of shyness and uncertainty made him put the paper down. "Is something wrong?" he asked, worried.
"Maybe," she sighed. "I don't think I should go to the Soiree this year."
He sat up, no longer reclined, placing both feet flat on the floor. "And why is that?" he asked mildly.
"Draco and I are having…difficulties right now," Pansy said at last.
"Is that so? What kind of difficulties, may I ask?"
"We're not getting along," Pansy said, somewhat evasively. "We've had disagreements and we're not as close anymore."
"I see," Alan said slowly. "And these disagreements would prevent you from going? Or are you not allowed to go?"
"He hasn't said that," Pansy said. "But I don't know if it's right for me to be a guest at his home with them ongoing."
"And is there any chance that the disagreements are misunderstandings that could be assuaged before the Soiree?"
Pansy shook her head. "I don't think so."
Alan looked at her seriously. "Has he done something to you?"
"Not this time." She panicked a little at his sharp look. "I mean, not directly. If anything, it's my fault. I slapped him."
He was able to hide his snort. "Were you in the wrong?"
"For slapping him, yes. Not for why I slapped him," Pansy said, heated. She swallowed her ire. What Draco said to her still needled her. "It's complicated," she said finally.
"It seems like it." He looked at her for a long moment. "I will not go where my family is not wholly welcomed."
"I wouldn't want you to miss it," Pansy said. "Mother and Aster love the Soiree too. And you and Lord Malfoy are friends."
Somewhat, he thought wryly. "I will speak to your mother and we will see how to go forward from there. I trust you and if you tell me that you both are at fault, then I will not force you to make amends if none are forthcoming from them. We will see what happens when we come to it."
"Thank you, Father," Pansy said gratefully. She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
He hugged her back fondly and kissed her forehead. "Of course, you are my daughter. Go fetch your mother for me, please." He watched her leave and picked the paper back up and looked at it without reading, thinking.
Primrose Parkinson entered the study. She was tall, taller than her husband, her features were sharp and hard. Yet her eyes were warm as well and she smiled down at Alan. "You called?"
"I did. We have a bit of a situation," he said.
Her smile faded, replaced by utter seriousness. She sat on the chair beside his and folded her hands neatly. "Very well, apprise me."
"Pansy thinks it would be best if she did not go to the Soiree."
"Why?" Primrose asked sharply.
"She and Draco are having 'difficulties'," Alan said.
She snorted. "Are they now. And what kind, did she elaborate?"
"They are having disagreements, she alluded that he did something to her before, which led to having more disagreements and her slapping him recently," Alan reported.
Primrose sat back and grunted. "Well, that is certainly something."
"I was under the impression they were rather attached to one another."
"They were. That said, perhaps a year or two before she started school, the attachment was no longer as close as it once was."
"Oh good, I thought I was being a stereotypical father and unaware of my children's thoughts and feelings." He smiled when Primrose snorted. "Though, I must confess this caught me off guard so perhaps I am like that."
"Well I did not know the extent either," Primrose said generously. "While I knew they were not as close, I still assumed they still were. I knew she was looking forward to reattaining something with him when they started Hogwarts but she has been rather private about it so I did not think to ask."
Her eyes narrowed. "Has she been uninvited by Draco?"
"I do not think so and while the boy is entitled, I do not think he is that bold," Alan said mildly.
"What do you want to do?"
"I would like to get to the bottom of it but I will not attend if my family is not entirely welcome," he said calmly. "You of course are more than welcome to go without me."
"As if I would go without my entire family too," she sniffed, giving him a look. She tapped a finger on her lips. "This has Lucius' influence, Draco's attitude. The boy used to be quite devoted to Pansy."
"I thought so too, on both accounts. What would you like to do?"
"Allow me to message Cissa. If she says we are all still invited as guests in good standing, then we may still go, providing Pansy wishes to. If not or if we are not invited properly, we can do something else and I will see Cissa another way." She looked at him. "Can we withstand not going?"
"Lucius thinks not, I think otherwise," Alan said. "We are not as beholden as we once were."
"Very good. I will send her a message now." She rose to her feet.
"The girls still love me, yes?" Alan asked, looking falsely concerned.
"I have no idea, I have not asked them in some time," Primrose said seriously though her eyes twinkled merrily.
"And do you still love me?"
"As much as I did yesterday," she quipped.
"Ah good enough," he chuckled and went back to reading the newspaper. "I love you still, if you were curious."
"Oh I knew that, but it is nice to hear you admit it out loud," she said airily as she left the study.
-0-
Lucius blanched when the door to his study opened and Narcissa stood there looking irate. "Yes?" he asked, hoping his calm tone would calm her down.
"Rose sent me a message stating that she is concerned about her family's attendance to the Soiree," Narcissa said angrily.
"What? Why?" Lucius asked, confused.
"Because Draco is having difficulties with Pansy. It sounds like he has been mistreating her."
"Oh, well, can we accept that information at face value?" Lucius snorted.
"Rose would never lie to me and I will not have you saying Pansy is lying either."
"Then you would accuse our son for the fault?" Lucius asked, eyes narrowed.
"I would," Narcissa said. "I love my son but I see him for who he is. Tasset!"
A House Elf appeared before her. He was dressed in a clean towel wrapped like a toga with the Malfoy crest on it. "Yes Mistress?" he asked, looking up at her.
"Tell Draco to come here," she commanded. She looked at Lucius when Tasset disappeared. "I want to get to the bottom of this."
"Of course," Lucius said.
After a few moments Draco walked into the study. He looked at his parents. "Yes?" he drawled.
"What have you done to Pansy?" Narcissa asked directly.
"Nothing!" Draco exploded. "She has betrayed me! Ever since we started school, she has stabbed me in the back!"
"Explain," Narcissa said, not thrown off by Draco's outburst.
"Listen to your mother," Lucius said when Draco looked at him. He stifled a groan when Draco recounted all that has happened since their first year at school. He knew that Draco was downplaying some things while exaggerating others, but even in the retelling, it was clear that the fault was not solely Pansy's.
"And then she slapped me!" Draco finished, looking aggrieved. "In front of everyone! She humiliated me!"
"I want to know exactly what you said before she slapped you," Narcissa said. "I know she would not have done that without proper provocation."
"It was weeks ago," Draco muttered, face red.
"Think carefully and describe exactly. I am not above removing the memory from your head," Narcissa said quietly.
Fuming, Draco did as told.
"How could you say that to her?!" Narcissa nearly shouted, making Draco flinch. "You should NEVER say that to a girl, especially a close friend! Pansy comes from a good family and you know better than to say such things.
"And how can you treat her so coldly?" Narcissa continued. "You two were the best of friends before. Why have you treated her so poorly and I knew your attitude has changed towards her before you started Hogwarts."
"I do not need a reason," Draco sniffed.
Narcissa sighed deeply. "The Parkinsons are a close family friend. Primrose is my best friend from my childhood. I will not allow them to be insulted like this. They have done so much for me, for our family, and they deserve much."
"You cannot force me to be nice to Pansy!" Draco said.
"Perhaps not," she said sadly. "I can, however, force you to be polite and to treat her as a gentleman should. As you should. You are past the age for childish tantrums and if you want us to treat you like an adult, then you must act as one."
She interrupted him when he opened his mouth. "The Parkinsons are honored guests and you will treat them as such. Do you understand me?"
"Do not look at me for solace," Lucius said calmly when Draco shot him a furious look. "Your mother and I are in agreement. Too much depends on inter-family relations and I will not let childish arguments get in the way."
"Yes Father," Draco said, grinding his teeth. "Yes Mother. Am I dismissed?" He bowed sarcastically and stomped away when Lucius nodded.
Narcissa waited for his footsteps to fade before she turned to look at Lucius. "I want to know what is going on here."
"What do you mean?" he replied indignantly.
"I am no empty-headed woman nor gilded figure piece, Lucius Malfoy." Lucius shivered at her tone and at her look. "I want to know what is going on. Draco has affected an air of some sort of importance and do not think I do not know about the 'tasks' you have given him. While I do not know what they are exactly, I know it has something to do with our fortunes and with the plans for the Academy. I also know it has something to do with that…with Quirrell. Out with it. I have every right to know."
Lucius looked at her for a long moment before he nodded. With waves of his wand, the door closed securely and several privacy spells were cast. Once done he put his wand down on the table and waited for Narcissa to do the same. "Lord Voldemort is alive and is possessing Quirrell."
Narcissa stared at him. "Are you drunk?"
"I have drunk but am not drunk," he replied.
"Then you must be addled. Why would you believe that? It is impossible!"
"It is not. Voldemort knew magics that others dreamed of and was incredibly powerful. Is powerful, if he is still alive. Though admittedly alive may not be the most correct way to describe him."
"How do you know it is not a trick by Quirrell?"
"Because he entered my study, through my wards, that only allow a very select few. And he has also proven himself since, knowing things only Voldemort would know."
Narcissa crossed her arms. "And you allied us with him again? Why? We barely survived the first time you did so, why would you possibly endanger us once more?"
"For the same reason as before," Lucius said, giving his wife a look. "Prestige, power, and opportunity. The plans for the Academy, all that we have done since, the swelling of our coffers, has come through this alliance. And he is behaving in a somewhat more rational manner, for the most part."
"Explain."
Lucius sat in his chair. "Before, he was eager to punish in gruesome ways. He threw people's lives away like candy wrappers. This time, he is planning. He is making goals that are more subtle. We have been able to introduce some provisions in laws and to make plans that will cement our name and legacy forever."
"Then what do you mean, 'for the most part'?"
Lucius rubbed his face. "Quirrell is still aware of the circumstances yet their…whatevers do not communicate it seems. Not internally anyways. So one will know but the other will not and every so often either must go through a bout of extended spell casting to bleed off magical energy."
"Your words do not fill me with confidence."
He snorted. "Then how about my actions? You have seen the projections, seen the property, seen the written laws. You have seen our wealth grow and know of the plans for the Academy. You even got the position you have dreamed of. The Malfoys will become a pillar of Wizarding Britain for years to come, decades even. Centuries! We will have the opportunity to influence the future on a scale we never have before!"
A gleam filled Narcissa's eye and she nodded slowly. "If all goes well." She looked away for a moment and then back at him. "This is why you had me get something from Bellatrix's vault."
"Yes, he asked for the object. I know not why." I might have an idea, if it was like the diary.
She hummed. "And what are these tasks that Draco is doing? Are they yours, or his?"
"Ours," Lucius said. "And they are important to help enact the coming change."
She looked at him sourly. "You tell me that Voldemort has changed and yet, I do not see it. Draco almost died last year! I think he is still willing to spend lives easily enough."
"Draco was not in any true danger," Lucius said firmly.
"See that it remains that way," Narcissa said. "I expect you to fix his recent attitude. He clearly listens to you more than he listens to me."
"Yes dear," Lucius said mildly. "Is there anything else?"
Narcissa smirked at him, an expression he had not seen in a very long time and it filled him with wonder and more than a little trepidation. "Enjoy your little jokes, Lucius. Remember, you're not the only Malfoy capable of making plans to ensure the safety of the name and the family." She picked up her wand and cancelled the wards and left his study, her footsteps loud and sure.
Lucius snorted while picking up his own wand. Out of anyone, he knew what she was capable of and knew that she never made any idle remarks like that. It was something he admired and loved her for, and feared more than a little. He walked slowly down the hall and up the stairs, stopping at Draco's door.
"Father, it is not my-" Draco started when Lucius walked into his room.
"I do not care whose fault it originally was," Lucius said coolly. "I have told you time and again, Draco. Pick your battles, fight them when you have the advantage, and keep your allies close. You are endangering everything."
"It's not like I expected her to betray me!"
"Have you given her reason not to?" Lucius sighed when Draco flushed. "You are at fault. You antagonized Potter from day one-"
"He refused my friendship and cares only about food! Like a beggar!"
"And you should have kept your temper and tried again another time! You should have appealed to his interests and ingratiated yourself!" Lucius said, raising his voice. "But no, you continue to give him reason to dislike you, you drove away your friend, and you challenged him to a duel you were ill-equipped to win! You lost face! No one's fault but your own!"
Draco gaped, mouth opening and closing like a fish, shaking from humiliation and fury.
Lucius leaned in. "Continue to act like this and your role in everything will be removed. You will no longer be the lynchpin in our plans, no longer be at the forefront. Do you want that?"
"No, Father," Draco growled.
Lucius straightened. "You have disappointed me," he said, seeing Draco flinch. "I expect you to behave more appropriately and give me no further cause to be so disappointed."
"Yes, Father," Draco whispered. He continued to look away as the footsteps of his father faded into silence, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
-0-0-0-
odonnellzoo99 - She's really good at delivering a line. My personal favorite was "you slapped him so hard I could read your palm by looking at his face." I was deeply amused by that line. It is rather funny to imagine Luna and Hermione arguing themselves into circles, over ketchup of all things. I'm really happy with how they are growing and changing, Lavender and Pansy, and glad you do too.
Kaya - I thought the teaching moment between Remus and Harry was rather nice. Hits on some important themes, give them some growth, and was somewhat cathartic. Luna has been around for a while so I'm a little unsure what you mean by her introduction. Glad you are enjoying Pansy and the others.
bahnannah - Oh hai, fancy seeing you here. I was lucky to upload it in a rare moment of it being up yesterday so it should be there when it comes back, which I think it did. They can argue with one another, it just does the opposite of what they want amusingly. There really are. One of my favorite webcomics of all time has every character with a food name and I adore it ever so much.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I've been trying new things, like with Remus and Pansy and Millicent. I can't write the same stories with the same characters after all.
poka - Today's chapter will show some more thinking, not necessarily Draco's, but of what's going on behind the main scenes so to speak. I thought that was a nice touch. Harry being able to adapt and knowing how to and why while Draco never expected to and was caught off-guard because of it. Glad you liked the Remus and Harry scene. I thought it hit right and felt good and melancholy in a way.
alix33 - It must have felt really good to do some slappery.
DarkRavie - Well I hope you enjoy today's chapter then, to address that thought.
ossifrage - They might meet up eventually. Not how things are now of course, but who knows what will come.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - No, Snape's encouragement would be a lot more biting and sarcastic. No badly behaved rabbit problems for Remus right now, thankfully.