Somehow, Draco had managed to keep Pansy's attention that day when he had finally managed to speak aloud his thoughts. He still couldn't believe his luck. She had sat there, and listened, while he explained his feelings about everything; his parents, Harry Potter, Crabbe and Goyle. He even tried explaining a little of his feelings for her. He found that his attraction to her was genuine, and putting it into words was difficult, but he hoped he could get the idea across that he enjoyed spending time with her; that he wanted to be with her. How he had managed to keep her attention and her presence at the Broomsticks that afternoon he could not imagine. When he had finished saying everything he wanted to say, she just looked at him. She held his hand, and looked at him. He was at a loss to know how she felt because there was no expression on her face.
Now, three days later, here he was, walking with her. No. Not even that. Walking next to her. He wasn't quite sure whether he felt like he was with her. But as they walked through Hogsmeade towards the Hogwarts castle, he felt a little lighter. When Pansy had owled him that morning to meet her for a stroll down memory lane – literally – he had agreed, mostly out of a desire to remember all the things about Potter that he hated. They had met at the Three Broomsticks, as planned, at eleven o'clock. Draco felt a bit apprehensive: since his confession to Pansy just a few days ago, something in him had changed; something about his perspective on things, on life, and he wasn't quite sure he liked it. He was almost ready to forget about Harry Potter and move on. Yet, he didn’t really want to. He had been comfortable in his anger for so long, and Potter had been his focus for so long, the idea of focusing his life elsewhere, on something happy, just seemed wrong for him.
Pansy, on the other hand, had a bright smile on her face. Deep down, Draco assumed, she had to be feeling hesitant. But she hid it well. She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, which spoke volumes, as Draco had not received even the remotest form of affection from anyone since his parents had died. It surprised him, but looking in her eyes, he read that Pansy was there for him. She wanted to believe everything he had told her, and she was giving him his chance to prove that he could be the man she had always hoped he'd be.
And so they walked. Draco hadn't been at the castle since the night Dumbledore had died. And, for all his attempts to kill him, he actually respected the old man, and wasn't sure he was ready to face the scene again. As they approached the open gates, he saw a figure standing, watching them, waiting to close the gates behind them once they had crossed onto the Hogwarts property.
"Miss Parkinson? It is most unusual for former students to come calling like this; however , under the circumstances … but, please remember that this is still a school, even if not for you. Appropriate behavior is required at all times." Professor McGonagall was curt in her statement, but soft in her eyes. Draco was not as fearful of her as he thought he might be. "Mr. Malfoy," she nodded.
* * *
Back at the Potter flat, the newlyweds, along with Ron and Hermione, were trying to figure out how they could possibly find a way to soften Draco Malfoy's heart. Admittedly, no one wanted to befriend him. But if they could just get him distracted enough to leave Harry alone, maybe they could all find a way to live in peace.
"I am still amazed that Malfoy has chosen to live in Muggle London," stated Ginny. She was sitting comfortably on the sofa, wrapped in a soft blanket. She gulped down the last of the blood-replenishing potion prescribed by St Mungo’s, but in general she was in good health.
"Well, it makes perfect sense, really," said Hermione. "Who would think to look for him there?"
"Is Dumbledore really as daft as he seemed?" Harry asked. "I am not sure his advice was really all that forthcoming."
"Harry!" exclaimed Ron, pointing to the window. "That looks like a school owl."
Harry waved his wand at the window and it flew open to allow the owl to come in. Fishing some owl treats out of a bowl on his desk, he fed the bird, and removed the rolled parchment from its leg. He looked at the scroll with some trepidation, as the bird flew out the window on its way back to Hogwarts. Harry recognized the distinctive script of Professor McGonagall, as well as the Hogwarts seal, but he could not imagine what she had to say to him so soon after their visit.
Dear Mr. Potter,
As you no doubt know, Professor Dumbledore’s portrait has kept me apprised of your situation. You may be interested to learn that I am expecting visitors today, namely Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Not to betray their confidence, but I believe their visit may pave the way for a change in Mr. Malfoy’s attitude. Miss Parkinson may be your best ally at the moment.
I will keep you informed on what transpires, but you may just hear from them yourself.
Sincerely, Minerva McGonagall Headmistress Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry was dumbfounded. Ginny tugged at his hand, and pulled him back down onto the sofa. When he was seated next to her, she took the parchment from his hands and read it aloud. Ron looked at Harry, wonderingly, and Hermione asked the unspoken question. "Is this for real? This is much too coincidental. The timing. Isn't it?"
* * *
Pansy and Draco walked along the shore of the Black Lake in silence. Pansy kept eyeing Draco, with questions on her mind, but afraid to ask. Draco had resisted looking at Pansy. She assumed it was his way of preventing her from asking the questions she so desperately wanted to ask. But time was ticking, and this trip to Hogwarts would be wasted if they remained silent for the next four or five hours.
"Draco?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you blaming Harry Potter for the Dark Lord killing your parents?" Pansy cut right to the chase and there was no way for Draco to avoid such a direct question. But Pansy felt she had a right to know.
"I …"
She pulled his face around to look at her. Her eyes were soft. She wasn't trying to provoke him. She hoped she was conveying that properly, with her eyes. Draco's eyes looked at her questioningly and defeated.
"I … because there's no one else to blame. Who else could have caused it?"
"Draco," Pansy continued, "my own parents suffered at the hands of the Dark Lord. Not as severely, I agree. But can anyone but the Dark Lord really be held responsible for the Dark Lord's actions?"
Draco remained silent.
* * *
Three hours later, Draco found himself outside the Headmistress's office. He was feeling much lighter of spirit, and even found that when he wasn't holding Pansy's hand he felt incomplete. Ever since the fall of the Dark Lord, the stone gargoyle that guarded the office remained open. As he trudged up the stairs to the office, and knocked on the door, Draco felt a tremendous wave of dread crash over him.
“Come in, Mr. Malfoy,” Professor McGonagall’s stern voice called.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and entered the office. The last time he’d seen it, Albus Dumbledore’s mark had been strongly upon it; filled with his gadgets and magical tools. “Professor?”
“Yes, yes. What’s on your mind, Malfoy?”
“Well, Professor, I’ve spent the last three hours walking and talking with Pansy. She made me remember all the fun times I had here.”
“Yes, well, they may have been fun for you, but let’s not forget you made a number of people, especially those in my house, miserable.” Her words were harsh, and rang with truth, yet her face showed kindness.
“I know that, Professor. And if there were some way I could apologize for those days, I would. But I suppose it’s all water under the bridge at this point. I don’t think anyone would listen to me now.”
“Considering what I’ve been reading in the Prophet, and heaven knows I should be more selective about giving any credence to what that Skeeter woman writes, you have made yourself some more enemies in those same classmates that you once tormented.”
“Well, that article is actually fairly accurate.”
“If that’s true, I can’t imagine that Potter or his friends will be all that willing to hear what you have to say.”
“I know. I don’t know what I’d say, anyway.”
“What has caused this change of heart? I’ve never known you to change your attitude so readily.”
“I don’t know. I think that spending this time with Pansy – well, she reminded me of things, of people. Mostly, she made me remember her. I think I want to try and rebuild that relationship. I don’t really want Potter to take up so much of my life. Pansy reminded me of how much time and energy I wasted on him when we were in school. Do I really want to live like that? Look where it’s got me. Look how miserable I am.”
A/N: Whew! It’s been a long ride, and we are almost to the end of our journey! I am hoping another chapter or two … three at the most … will find us at our destination. I don’t know how to thank you all for your patience. But I haven’t forgotten A Wish Fulfilled. I would like to extend major props to Ladybug who has stuck by me for … wow is it really that long? ... almost TWO YEARS!!! This story has been a long time in the making, and Ladybug has offered wonderful suggestions, and commentary for me for most, if not all of it. Thank you, Ladybug, for being the greatest beta reader ever!
