- Rating:
- R
- House:
- Astronomy Tower
- Characters:
- Draco Malfoy
- Genres:
- Romance Angst
- Era:
- Multiple Eras
- Spoilers:
- Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Quidditch Through the Ages Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Stats:
-
Published: 08/28/2002Updated: 02/26/2003Words: 36,018Chapters: 27Hits: 17,987
Save Yourself
LanaMariah
- Story Summary:
- A story told through the eyes of the Slytherins we love to hate: An arranged marriage between Pansy and Draco forces the taboo ship together. Throughout seven dark years and a lifetime, will they learn to love one another, even though love is a sin in the eyes of the betrothed? A story of love, loss, and the ultimate betrayal. In which Pansy is not a ditz and Draco isn't a jerk--at least not to the people he loves. Question is, will she become one of them?
Chapter 21
- Posted:
- 12/12/2002
- Hits:
- 464
- Author's Note:
- Another day, another chapter... I've been getting a fair amount of reviews lately, thanks guys :o)
Save Yourself, Chapter Twenty-One
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At one time or another, every person can look back on their life and remember a moment where time seemed to stop; a time when everything was frozen in place and all they could do is watch in mute horror as their world around them is still.
I stood there, powerless, watching Pansy speak the two words that would destroy both her life and mine. Instantly, my mind flashed to the first day I had seen her; standing in the middle of Platform nine and three-quarters, her family standing with her. She looked as regal as a scared eleven year old girl could, and that was the moment I first began to admire her. Father had told me much about the Parkinson’s, including all he knew about his business partner’s daughter—the girl I knew from day one I was going to marry. She had never been extremely attractive, but she had always been much prettier than she believed she was.
Becoming a father had always been a dream of mine—one I knew would eventually happen, but I was much too impatient to simply accept the wait. Now, as Pansy spoke the Killing Curse with her wand pointed directly towards her temple, my chances were slipping away; my dreams of having a son of my own to bestow the Malfoy honor and pride in was about to die, right along with the one person I had learned to truly love in my life.
Panic overtook me as the words rang throughout my mind and their meaning finally overtook me; in an act of pure stupidity and Gryffindorish bravery, I thrust my body forward, as if to shield her from the oncoming spell she had bestowed upon herself. The action was futile, however, and in the middle of my movement I seemed to realize this—and time seemed to speed up to it’s normal time once again.
I stood in front of Pansy, still holding the wand to her temple; I was breathing heavily and expecting something to happen at any moment, but thankfully, nothing did. Her expression soon became one of humor, transforming from her earlier one of determination and rage.
I shook my head, unable to comprehend what had just happened—which had simply been nothing. Slowly, she removed the wand, dropping her right arm back down beside her. She sat back down on the bed, her dark eyes gazing up at me expectantly—but of what, I didn’t know.
“How does it feel?” she whispered, her silky voice dangerously soft and controlled. “Were you scared?”
“No,” I wheezed after a moment, still trying to catch my breath. Her eyebrows arched as her expression changed to one of a mixture of disbelief and mild shock. “Didn’t have time for fear—just panic.”
“Why?”
I shook my head, refusing to answer her question. “Why didn’t you--?”
“Why didn’t I die?” she asked, an arrogant smirk playing across her features. “Because I can’t cast the Killing Curse—and neither can you. In order to be able to cast a curse, especially one as powerful as that, one must be able to first understand both the functions and the consequences. I understand both, and the reason I couldn’t cast it is because I understand what death and loss are like—and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone in the world, not even you, Draco.”
“You must hate me,” I said softly, my eyes downcast. “I wouldn’t blame you in the least.”
“I don’t hate you,” she said equally as softly. “I’m just immensely ashamed of both you and your actions. You’ve disappointed me, your family, and have set a terrible example for our son—but worst of all, you weren’t willing to take responsibility for your actions and killed a helpless baby. I don’t hate you though,” she shook her head once again, letting her hair fall into her eyes. “I just wish it hadn’t happened.”
I took in a deep breath, ecstatic to hear she didn’t hate me. “Does this mean…?”
“This doesn’t mean anything,” she suddenly snapped, her eyes bearing into mine. “All it means is I’m willing to do what I believe is best and not hold a grudge, for the sake of us and the baby—nothing more.”
I nodded slowly. ”All right.” Without looking back, I slowly stepped to the side and walked down the aisle, finally reaching the door and unlocking it with a single twist.
She was gone—and at that moment, so was I.
---
---
At one time or another, every person can look back on their life and remember a moment where time seemed to stop; a time when everything was frozen in place and all they could do is watch in mute horror as their world around them is still.
I stood there, powerless, watching Pansy speak the two words that would destroy both her life and mine. Instantly, my mind flashed to the first day I had seen her; standing in the middle of Platform nine and three-quarters, her family standing with her. She looked as regal as a scared eleven year old girl could, and that was the moment I first began to admire her. Father had told me much about the Parkinson’s, including all he knew about his business partner’s daughter—the girl I knew from day one I was going to marry. She had never been extremely attractive, but she had always been much prettier than she believed she was.
Becoming a father had always been a dream of mine—one I knew would eventually happen, but I was much too impatient to simply accept the wait. Now, as Pansy spoke the Killing Curse with her wand pointed directly towards her temple, my chances were slipping away; my dreams of having a son of my own to bestow the Malfoy honor and pride in was about to die, right along with the one person I had learned to truly love in my life.
Panic overtook me as the words rang throughout my mind and their meaning finally overtook me; in an act of pure stupidity and Gryffindorish bravery, I thrust my body forward, as if to shield her from the oncoming spell she had bestowed upon herself. The action was futile, however, and in the middle of my movement I seemed to realize this—and time seemed to speed up to it’s normal time once again.
I stood in front of Pansy, still holding the wand to her temple; I was breathing heavily and expecting something to happen at any moment, but thankfully, nothing did. Her expression soon became one of humor, transforming from her earlier one of determination and rage.
I shook my head, unable to comprehend what had just happened—which had simply been nothing. Slowly, she removed the wand, dropping her right arm back down beside her. She sat back down on the bed, her dark eyes gazing up at me expectantly—but of what, I didn’t know.
“How does it feel?” she whispered, her silky voice dangerously soft and controlled. “Were you scared?”
“No,” I wheezed after a moment, still trying to catch my breath. Her eyebrows arched as her expression changed to one of a mixture of disbelief and mild shock. “Didn’t have time for fear—just panic.”
“Why?”
I shook my head, refusing to answer her question. “Why didn’t you--?”
“Why didn’t I die?” she asked, an arrogant smirk playing across her features. “Because I can’t cast the Killing Curse—and neither can you. In order to be able to cast a curse, especially one as powerful as that, one must be able to first understand both the functions and the consequences. I understand both, and the reason I couldn’t cast it is because I understand what death and loss are like—and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone in the world, not even you, Draco.”
“You must hate me,” I said softly, my eyes downcast. “I wouldn’t blame you in the least.”
“I don’t hate you,” she said equally as softly. “I’m just immensely ashamed of both you and your actions. You’ve disappointed me, your family, and have set a terrible example for our son—but worst of all, you weren’t willing to take responsibility for your actions and killed a helpless baby. I don’t hate you though,” she shook her head once again, letting her hair fall into her eyes. “I just wish it hadn’t happened.”
I took in a deep breath, ecstatic to hear she didn’t hate me. “Does this mean…?”
“This doesn’t mean anything,” she suddenly snapped, her eyes bearing into mine. “All it means is I’m willing to do what I believe is best and not hold a grudge, for the sake of us and the baby—nothing more.”
I nodded slowly. ”All right.” Without looking back, I slowly stepped to the side and walked down the aisle, finally reaching the door and unlocking it with a single twist.
She was gone—and at that moment, so was I.
---