Don't Take the Girl

Part One: Summer 1988

Draco Malfoy danced around the parlor of Malfoy Manor in excitement. Today was his birthday and for the first time ever, his father was going to take him hunting for the rare golden snidget.

Snidget hunting was outlawed a long time ago, as young Draco knew. His father's dear friend, Ernestine Whinbourne, the grand daughter of Augustus Whinbourne, the founder of the Whinbourne Wasps, owned her own private snidget hunting ground and held excursions with her inner circle. As a special favor to Lucius and a gift for Draco's eighth birthday, she was opening the grounds to the Malfoys.

"All ready son?" Lucius grinned, tossing his broom over his shoulder and crossing the room to Draco. "Have you got your broom?"

Draco grinned widely and showed his father the brand new Jr. Shooting Star he'd received that morning. "Let's go Father!"

"Drakey!" a shrill voice whined. "Drakey where are you?"

"Please Father! Let's go now?" Draco pleaded with wide eyes.

"Hold up Draco," Lucius smirked. "I believe Miss Parkinson wants a word."

Draco groaned and stomped over to a large armchair. A little girl flew into the room, her blonde hair up in a dainty little ballet bun and her face flushed from running. She looked around the parlor anxiously and upon seeing the pallid boy in the chair let out a squeal.

"Oh Draco!" she squealed. "Where are you going with that broom?"

"Away from you!" Draco snapped red faced and angry. "Shove off Pansy."

The little girl sniffled and let out a pained sob. "Why don't you like me?" she cried.

"Draco Edward Malfoy," Lucius hissed. "Is that anyway to talk to a lady?"

Draco looked up at his father, and two nearly identical pairs of gray eyes met.

"She's not a lady," the son challenged. "She's just a little girl."

Pansy let out another sniffle and turned to flee. Lucius reached out a hand and stopped her, bending to look her in the eye.

"Pansy," Lucius's voice was extremely soft. "Draco is going to apologize. He has forgotten the good manners that I've taught him about being nice to a lady."

"I'm sorry Pansy," Draco mumbled in defeat.

"That's okay Draco," Pansy wiped her eyes and smiled up at Lucius with watery innocent eyes. "Thank you Mr. Malfoy."

"It was the least I could do for a lady in distress, no matter how little she may be," Lucius bowed.

"Could we go now Father?" Draco asked anxiously. "I want to hunt the snidgets!"

"Pansy why don't you see if the ladies need help planning for the ball," Lucius suggested to the little girl.

"It's boring," Pansy frowned, looking up at the blonde man with puppy dog eyes. "Can I come with you and Draco? I love flying!"

"No Parkinson!" Draco snapped, grabbing his father's hand. "Girls don't fly."

"They do too!" Pansy retorted angrily. "Girls can fly even better than boys!"

Lucius looked down at the two bickering children and smiled.

"Do you have a broom Miss Parkinson?" he asked her, plastering back on his indifferent smirk.

"Yes!" the little girl shrieked. "I'll get it now!"

Pansy was gone in a flash, her little green dress flapping around the corner as she ran off to get her broom.

"Father!" Draco whined. "Father no! It's my birthday!"

"You can bring a guest," Lucius shook his head at the boy.

"Father please! Not her!" Draco cried out, tugging on his father's quidditch robes. "You can take any boy in the world! Just not Pansy! Take Crabbe or Goyle! Take Blaise, but please Father, don't take the girl!"

"Miss Parkinson is coming with us Draco," Lucius smiled as the girl reentered the room, wearing an enormous quidditch robe and carrying a large broom over her shoulder.

"Are those MY robes?" Draco gaped at her angrily. "How di."

"You look lovely Pansy," Lucius cut off the boy. "Here, I'll carry your broom."

The threesome left the parlor and the halls of Malfoy Manor.

"Why Father?" Draco moaned as Pansy clutched his hand excitedly.

Lucius held the portkey out to the children and looked down at his son with a smile. "Someday you'll change your mind."