Muggle Studies

Thanks to those who reviewed. I'm a little worried at how well this will all turn out, but I'll be editing and revising the entire time so bear with me, and I'm always open to suggestions and contructive criticism. Again, thanks for at least taking your time to read it!


Draco couldn't sleep that night. He lied there until two in the morning, wondering why she was still shy with him. He'd done everything he knew and heard to make her comfortable with him. They laughed at Gryffindors together, he took her to Hogsmeade, he bought her flowers and he even remembered her birthday. The way her face lit up when he showed her the necklace he'd bought her was permanently imprinted in his mind. He couldn't stand it anymore. He had to speak to her. He sent his owl to deliver a note to her, since he couldn't enter the girls' dorms. It only said "I want to talk. Please, come out and speak to me. I won't sleep until you do." She came out not five minutes later in her pajamas. "Malfoy?" She asked. He refused to answer when he heard her call him that. She knew. "Draco? What is it? Is something wrong?"

Draco lost it completely. Any chilly Malfoy exterior he'd built would not withstand the combination of her standing there in the dark as he'd imagined her so many times, the memory of what had happened just a few hours ago, and her playing innocent like she always did. It drove him crazy. "Yes, there's something wrong!" he said as loudly as he could without waking the other Slytherins. "Look at me, Pansy! It's the middle of the night and I'm awake because all I can think of is you, and how--"

"How I won't give you what you want?" Pansy retorted. "Is that it? Poor little Malfoy doesn't get what he wants like always. What's the matter, find something your Daddy couldn't buy for you? Well, I'm already marrying you, so you'll get me eventually anyway whether I like it or not!"

These words felt to Draco like a knife through his heart. So that explained it. She did what she thought she had to to keep her future husband happy, and nothing more. He was a duty, an obligation. She didn't love him.

Pansy noticed the look on Draco's face and realized she'd gone too far. Of course she didn't mean it. She couldn't wait to marry him, and not only because he was a rich, handsome pureblood. She loved him, with all her heart. She was just much shyer than he knew, than anyone knew. She led her group of Slytherin girls, she mocked and ridiculed, she had only the best of everything... but she still stood in front of the mirror naked sometimes, hating every little flaw that Draco had yet to see... too much baby fat here, a birthmark there. She couldn't bear for him to run his hands over her only to find that she was disgusting. At least once they were married he couldn't leave her, even if he did think that. She did all she could for him otherwise. She even gathered up her courage today and touched him-- REALLY touched him, saw him, felt him-- but it wasn't enough for him.

But as annoyed as she was with Draco, she still loved him and didn't mean to hurt him. She reached out to touch his hand. "Draco, I--"

But Draco wouldn't have it. "No, I see how it is." He spat out at her. "Don't worry, I won't attempt to touch you again. Wouldn't want to mar your precious reputation, would I? In fact, I don't see that we need to have any sort of contact at all before the wedding. I suppose I'll see you then. Goodnight." And with that, Draco walked briskly off to his bed.

Pansy didn't go back to bed. She only sat on the sofa where they had just been together earlier and cried. How had everything gone so wrong, and so fast?
*********************

The next morning, Draco and Pansy didn't look at each other during Muggle Studies. They didn't have to work together and they didn't mention a thing. At the end of the class, Professor Fitzwilliam said that the next day they would be moved into their new flat and begin the week-long project of living as Muggles.

Pansy looked at Draco to see his reaction, but as usual (save for last night), he gave nothing about his emotions away. Did he still want to share the place with her?

Apparently it didn't matter whether he did or not. She approached Professor Fitzwilliam once everyone, including Draco had left. He told her it was too late to change her mind, and the forms had already been submitted to Dumbledore. So she was stuck living with Draco for a week. At least we'll have separate bedrooms, she thought bitterly. It'll be good preparation for when we've married.

Tears came to her eyes when she thought that. No, she couldn't be so negative. She and Draco would make up, and they'd be happy again. She refused to have something so good turn sour over one stupid little argument.

She had to jog a little, since he'd gotten a head start, but after a minute after she left the classroom, she caught up to Draco.

"I'm sorry." She blurted it out before even addressing him properly. She couldn't think of a better way to begin. "I'm sorry I made it sound like I'm just marrying you because I have to. I mean, I DO have to, but that isn't all... I love you, Draco. And I guess what I'm saying is, if I have to marry someone, I'm glad it's you."

Draco had only been looking at her, expressionless. Oh Merlin, she thought, what if he won't forgive me? What if he doesn't WANT to make up?

But then Draco's cold grey eyes softened and he took her into his arms and kissed her forehead. "I'm glad, too, Pans. I wasn't at first but now I am. I love you. I just don't see why you keep pulling away. I'm happy to wait for you-- ok, well not HAPPY, but I mean, I'll do it anyway. It's just... don't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you! I'd trust you with my life! I just..." How could she tell him she was completely insecure and stupid? Even after all the times he told her she was beautiful. How could she tell him that he was the only person in the world she couldn't pretend she was better than, the only person whose judgment she shied away from. Her voice got very small and ashamed. "Ididn'twantyoutothinkIwasugly." There, she'd said it.

He didn't curl his lip in disgust. He didn't scoff and walk away. He didn't go any of the things she'd been afraid of him doing. He did something that was almost worse. He laughed. Out loud. AT HER. She felt the tears start to fill her eyes and turned to run away, but felt a hand on her arm stopping her.

"You're serious?" Draco said incredulously. "You're actually serious? You think you're ugly?" When she put her head down almost in tears, he lost all humor in his countenance. He gripped both her arms tightly and made her face him. "You think that if I saw you, I could be anything but completely awestruck? You really suppose that I could ever think of you as anything but extraordinary?"

Her heart stopped at his words, but not in the way that it did when they'd fought. He really did love her. She was still nervous, but his words comforted her more than he would ever realize.

She burst into tears.

Now what did I say wrong?, Draco thought. He kissed her softly. She hiccoughed and smiled at him, and he knew he'd said just the right thing, for once.

"Thank you. I promise I'll try to relax... "

"I promise I'll try to be patient. Though, while I'M trying as best I can, I can't promise anything from... well, you know." He gestured towards his crotch, and Pansy giggled. "So I guess we'll be living together for a week. Anything I should know?"

Draco smirked. "As a matter of fact, yes." He told her. "I like to walk about in the nude after class. You'll just have to deal with it."

Pansy laughed out loud and raised her eyebrows, then boldly told him, "Really? Well, what a coincidence, so do I." Draco wasn't expecting this response. Must... resist.... urge to.... ravish..... girlfriend. "Pans, I have to go now, get my things ready for tomorrow." He sighed. It was the last day he'd be able to practically use magic for a WEEK.

"Ok, sweetie, I'll see you later." She kissed him on the cheek and went bouncing off.


Later on in his room, Draco began thinking about this Muggle Studies project. Now that things with Pansy were taken care of, he had time and energy to really get furious about it. He was Draco Malfoy, the son of Lucius Malfoy, Pureblooded dark wizard extraordinaire. Why should he have to learn how Muggles function? What did he care? It wasn't as thought HE'd ever have to come into contact with them. He'd marry Pansy, who was also pureblood, and have pureblood babies, and become a.... well, whatever he decided to become. His father obviously wanted him to follow in his footsteps serving the Dark Lord, but... really, from what Draco understood, they were fighting a losing battle. It just seemed stupid to associate himself with a group that obviously was going to ultimately fail. For his entire childhood, Draco had admired his father, looked up to him as a god... but recently he realized that really, his father could be an idiot. Well, maybe serving the Dark Lord seemed like a better idea back in the days of his youth. Who knew? At least if the stupid Muggles had been wiped out I wouldn't have to live like them for a week, Draco thought. How did those Mudbloods handle it when they went home on holiday?

Well, he supposed he'd find out tomorrow...