Viridian

“Are you ready to go, dear?” Pansy’s mother called, from behind her door. Pansy was in fact, not ready whatsoever. She had no idea what to wear, her makeup was a mess, and they had to leave for Malfoy Manor in less than ten minutes. 

“No, mum! I’m in a crisis, an absolute crisis!” Pansy’s shrill voice must’ve been an ear sore, but her mother being the hero she was, slowly creaked the door open.

Seeing Pansy’s sorry state, her mother sighed softly, and flicked through the pile of clothes on the floor. Among it were big, puffy gowns, some far too revealing dresses, and the in between, most of which was in black. Pansy was trying not to wear so much black, and she was failing miserably.

“Give me a moment dear, why don’t you wash your face and I’ll redo your makeup.” As Pansy washed her face and her mother rummaged through the closet, a shout echoed from downstairs. It was her father. Even after living with him for thirteen years, he never failed to strike fear into their hearts. 

“Get down, Eleanor! You’ve got ten minutes, bitch.” Her father’s harsh timbre made Pansy flinch, but her mother seemed not to be perturbed. She never really was somehow. 

“Right. Put this on, and I’ll handle the rest. Just sit still.” Pansy got dressed in a deep green velvet robe encrusted with diamonds, a dress probably from the depths of her closet. Her mother was always urging her to wear a variety of dresses, but Pansy just found herself picking the same few every time.

Within a few minutes, Pansy looked like she’d never had a panic attack, with her makeup perfectly intact and her dress even earning an appraising look from her father. They side-alonged to Malfoy Manor, arriving perfectly on the second.

“Draco!” Ignoring her father’s warning look, Pansy rushed over to Draco and immediately enveloped him in a hug. She hadn’t seen him since the end of second year, and that was in the hospital wing. There were letters, of course, but Pansy preferred a real person. The only thing Pansy would want was for Harry to be there. But, Draco’s father would never allow it.

“Why don’t you and Draco go upstairs? Me and Draco’s father have some business matters to discuss with your parents.” Madam Malfoy’s neutral voice and soft hand on Pansy’s shoulder, made her feel a bit less foreign to the imposing manor.

Pansy and Draco went inside, and they sat on Draco’s bed together. From the corner of Draco’s trunk, Pansy saw a few pieces of parchment, with vague pencil lines on them. Were they drawings? 

Pansy leaned forwards to inspect them, but Draco swatted her hand away. Seeing the very apparent blush on Draco’s face, Pansy connected the dots, and she gasped in dramatics.

“Oh my gosh! Are those of Harry?” Pansy’s suspicions were confirmed when Draco’s blush spread down to his cheeks.

 “N-No?” Pansy’s knowing stare made Draco blush even more, hiding his face behind a pillow.

“By the way, I fully ship you two. You have my full support in anything you wish to do to woo him.” Pansy put her hand on Draco’s heart in a display of camaraderie. 

“I’m not going to woo him! He probably doesn’t even like boys! And it can never be allowed. It’s disgusting and wrong.” Pansy frowned at that. It was true, for being anything other than straight was, well, abnormal. But Draco and Harry were so in love. Anyone with eyes could tell. And they deserved their happy ending, didn’t they?

“Probably not isn’t a no. Come on, everyone deserves a happy ending. My mother said that it doesn’t matter if it’s wrong, or illegal in other’s eyes. She said that the only thing that matters is what you feel. Do you think your love for Harry is disgusting? Do you really think I’d be talking to someone with disgusting feelings? No. And that’s because you’re not disgusting at all.” Pansy concluded her monologue, eyes wild and out of breath. This was a very important moment, which would potentially determine where this relationship went. 

“Really? You really think so? I mean, Harry is so beautiful. Not just in looks, because he’s so, so pretty, but he’s so noble. Too noble. And I’m not noble enough. We could never…we’re so different. He’s good. I’m not.” Draco’s hands strangled the blanket, and Pansy felt a sudden surge of anger at the world.

“You know what, Draco? Screw the world. Screw everybody that wants you to marry a stuck up, bratty pureblood girl who just wants you for the money and title. Go get your stupidly noble half blood boy who lived, who totally likes you back with everything he’s got, because you two are the most obvious people on earth. Go get him, or I might start throwing hands!” Draco just stares up in shock at Pansy, who’s standing up now, lips parted and eyes bulging. Draco looks like he’s expecting her to sit down, but Pansy just stares down at Draco with an unreadable expression on her face.

Draco seems to have a realization, because he too, stands up, with a lovesick look on his face. It’s honestly a bit insane how much they like each other. When is it my turn? Pansy asks herself. Because with all her ramblings, she’s still definitely not gay. Definitely not gay.

“I could try. I could try and if he…I could try! I could try!” Draco’s voice grows more and more high pitched, and they both start laughing. Pansy at Draco’s overdue realizations, and Draco at his chance. His chance to try.

“Yes, you could try. Because you can’t get anywhere if you don’t try. Sounds cliche, but really. Try and you’ll understand. My mother always said that every feeling has a color. I don’t think we thought of one for the feeling of trying.” At this, Draco mulls over it, and his eyes light up with the answer. 

“Viridian. My favorite color. Not dark enough to be emerald, but not blueish enough to be turquoise. But it’s trying. It’s trying to become something.” Draco declares. Pansy’s honestly impressed that Draco could be so smart yet so stupid at the same time. But she’s hopefully made him a bit less dumb in the category of Harry.

“Yeah, it’s trying.” A soft smile graces the curves of Pansy’s face. “Trying to become something.”