Slytherin Boys' Dormitories

[Pansy Parkinson]

Pansy kept her head down looking at the ground. "I don't understand anything lately," she whispered."The other night. You were there and you didn't even care. I didn't even know you were in the room until Griffin told me and then I had to leave." She shook her head. "It's not fair... I want that...but-"

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco began to pace the perimeter in front of the bed, "I will always care Pansy, always. We could fight and not speak for years and I will care!" He stopped and turned to face her, "You matter to me like my own flesh and blood, to me, you're my sister. I will protect you, and if an elaborate lie to your parents is what it takes, so be it."

[Pansy Parkinson]

Pansy looked up. "I don't want to have to act in some elaborate lie, Draco," she said. "I get to act like the perfect Malfoy girlfriend to appease my parents? That's not fair to me. It most definitely won't be fair to me when you find someone else. If my parents or my brother thought you were lying..." she stopped. "If my parents found out I was lying... they'd - I've already gotten an owl from my mother telling me not to blow it with you."

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco took Pansy's hands in his, "Pansy. Pans. It won't be fair to me or you, because when you find that someone, they'll think you've been claimed already. You'll have to let them know. You just have to write them letters, we'll make appearances in front of them, but you'll have your own life. I promise you that."

[Pansy Parkinson]

"Draco..." she started. "W-what if you resent me or if I don't ever find anyone. I'm so afraid this is going to end badly. I have these dreams-" she bit her lip. "I hate this."

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco let go of her hands in favor of holding her face, his hands on her cheeks. "Pansy. Look at me. Look at me, okay? Breathe. You. Will. Find. Someone. And they will give you a type of love I won't be able to, and you.. Merlin, Pansy, you'll look back on anyone you thought you loved and laugh. Laugh because you will have realized that wasn't love at all. I won't resent you. You and I just have to learn to communicate better than we have. We're growing Pansy, the way we think is changing. And if we don't communicate more, we won't learn how the other person thinks." He pulled her into a hug and held her, "Pans.. dreams. Dreams usually tell you what your subconscious is thinking. I'm as afraid as you are, I'm going to owe Father for this for the rest of my life, but I'm willing."

[Pansy Parkinson]

Pansy wanted to look away but Draco forced her to look at him and she wanted to cry but nothing happened. "I have these dreams that something happens to you and I can't find you," she whispered. "I'm tired of us being mad at each other all the time. I'm tired of not being able to talk to you. I don't like change and I'm selfish, especially when it comes to you." She sighed. "I'll do it, but please don't hate me and I don't really believe you. I'm sorry about your father."

[Draco Malfoy]

"You can always find me, Pansy. And I'm tired of a lot of things too.. We just, we have to work on talking. Okay? If you and I can sit down and actually talk, we should be fine. No more fights. No more "I misunderstood you so you misunderstood me" or assumptions." Draco pulled away to look Pansy in the eye again, "I'm protective when it comes to you. But if it means your happiness, I'll let it go. I don't hate you. If you don't believe me, then you don't. I'll return my father the favor someday. But tell me if you don't want to do this. Tell me if you truly don't want to do this, and we won't."

[Pansy Parkinson]

Pansy swallowed and wrapped her arms around Draco laying her face against his chest. "I don't have another choice. You didn't meet him. He's horrible, Draco. You can stop at any time, alright?" She took a deep breath. "And we'll talk, I promise. In the future if you see me crying on the floor of the common room that means I need you, ok?"

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco kissed the top of her head, stroking her hair as he held her, "Horrible? I think you're being far too kind Pansy. Those rules alone label him inhuman, a beast, heartless. Pure-bloods, as cold as we are, still grow to love and care for our significant other for life." He continued to run his hands through her hair, "Alright. We'll talk, but that means blunt honest, okay? No avoiding the issue. And duly noted. In the future, if I misconstrue an action of yours, it would be best to set me straight."

[Pansy Parkinson]

Pansy nodded into his chest. "You're giving me the right to call you a prat more often than I do now?"

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco snorted, "Yes, you may call me a prat more often than you do now." He then pulled away slightly, "Which reminds me, let's talk a little now. Why do you not like Freya?"

[Pansy Parkinson]

Pansy sighed. Did he have to start this so soon? "I don't have to like everyone, Draco. I just...don't."

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco stroked her hair again, "I know you don't have to like everyone, no one will like everyone in their life nor will the be liked by all in return. I just want you to know that I'm.. I'm interested in her. Alright..? As my sister, your approval means a lot to me. You don't have to answer now, accept anything now, I just want you to know."

[Pansy Parkinson]

"I know you are," she answered. "And remember how I told you I'm selfish? Give me time, ok? I'm working on it. I don't think she's very fond of me either."