Jae's Monthly Drabble Challenge #93; Slipping Under verse
The first weekend of the month is upon us, bringing a new JMDC!
This month, the prompt is conflict of interest. You may use literally or figuratively, and you're welcome to use the phrase itself (in any form) or to simply convey the meaning. Write/draw any fandom, pairing, threesome, gen fic, etc., and combine it with other prompts, if you like.
Please post your entry in your own journal (unlocked!) or a community of your choice, and leave me a link in the comments below. You have until November 30, at 10:00pm CST to submit an entry. At that time, I'll post links to the entries and draw a name from among the participants to receive a drabble from me.
Below is my entry for November:
Title: Slipping By
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Draco, Pansy
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Mild angst
Word count: 600
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for:
♦ Jae's Monthly Drabble Challenge #93 - conflict of interest
♦ Gift for October 2013's JMDC winner 0idontknow0, who asked for another installation of Slipping Under.
Summary: Pansy confronts Draco, and the truth comes out.
Draco hadn't realized his unhappiness was palpable until Pansy confronted him in the corridor outside of the Slytherin common room.
"What's going on, Draco?" she demanded. Her eyes were narrowed with intent.
Draco feigned ignorance. "What do you mean, Pansy?" he asked, trying to step past her. He'd never been able to keep things from his friend, not even when they were children. In fact, Pansy was the only other person who knew that Draco was half merfolk.
Pansy moved to block Draco's progress. "You're miserable, darling," she said. "Don't bother trying to deny it. Why, even Millicent noticed, and she usually doesn't pay attention to anyone except her wretched cat."
Draco's shoulders slumped. "There's nothing going on that you can help me with," he said. "I just need to figure things out on my own."
Pansy's expression softened. "Did some boy break your heart?" she asked. "Tell me who it was, and I'll hex warts all over his-"
"Pansy!" Draco exclaimed, cutting her off mid-rant. He couldn't help but laugh, however. Leave it to Pansy to be ready to defend his honor. Another thought occurred to Draco, and he sobered immediately. "Wait, why did you ask if it was a boy who broke my heart?"
"You're bent," said Pansy, giving a nonchalant shrug. "I've known it since Sixth year."
Draco was aghast. He'd tried so hard to keep his sexuality a secret. If his parents found out, they'd disown him. "H-how did you know?" Draco stammered.
"Don't worry, darling," Pansy said. "It's not obvious, but I've known you since we were in nappies. You've never looked at girls the way you look at boys, and you seem to pay special attention to..."
Pansy's voice trailed off, and Draco averted his eyes and held his breath.
"Potter!" Pansy finished in a harsh whisper. "What has that git done?" she snarled.
"Nothing," Draco hastened to assure her, lest she march up to Gryffindor and attack Harry with bared claws. "It's just...I fancy him, yet I know I can't have him," he sighed.
"Does the Golden Boy think he's too good for you?" snapped Pansy.
Draco shook his head. "Quite the opposite," he said. "He's made it clear he wants me."
Pansy's expression grew puzzled. "Then, what is the problem?"
Draco gaped at her. "My parents would have kneazles if they found out!" he hissed.
"Draco," Pansy said softly, "you can't go on living your life for your parents. What about your happiness?"
"But, I'm the last Malfoy," said Draco. "I have an obligation to carry on the family name."
"While allowing your own life to slip on by you?" Pansy prodded.
Draco deflated. The prospect of an arranged, loveless marriage was downright depressing, as was the thought of standing back and seeing Harry move on with someone else. However, the possibility of disappointing his parents was nothing less than daunting. Draco slumped back against the cold stone wall. "I don't know what to do," he admitted.
"Does Potter know how you feel?" asked Pansy.
"Not exactly," Draco replied. "I told him I couldn't get involved with him, but I didn't divulge the reason why."
Pansy touched Draco's arm gently. "What would make you happy?"
Draco gave her a wry smile. "The same thing that would make any Slytherin happy," he said. "I want to have my cake, and eat it, too. I want Harry, but I also want my parents' blessing and approval. The problem is, I know I can't have both."
Slipping Fast
This month, the prompt is conflict of interest. You may use literally or figuratively, and you're welcome to use the phrase itself (in any form) or to simply convey the meaning. Write/draw any fandom, pairing, threesome, gen fic, etc., and combine it with other prompts, if you like.
Please post your entry in your own journal (unlocked!) or a community of your choice, and leave me a link in the comments below. You have until November 30, at 10:00pm CST to submit an entry. At that time, I'll post links to the entries and draw a name from among the participants to receive a drabble from me.
Below is my entry for November:
Title: Slipping By
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Draco, Pansy
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Mild angst
Word count: 600
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This fic/drabble was written for fun, not for profit.
Written for:
♦ Jae's Monthly Drabble Challenge #93 - conflict of interest
♦ Gift for October 2013's JMDC winner 0idontknow0, who asked for another installation of Slipping Under.
Summary: Pansy confronts Draco, and the truth comes out.
Draco hadn't realized his unhappiness was palpable until Pansy confronted him in the corridor outside of the Slytherin common room.
"What's going on, Draco?" she demanded. Her eyes were narrowed with intent.
Draco feigned ignorance. "What do you mean, Pansy?" he asked, trying to step past her. He'd never been able to keep things from his friend, not even when they were children. In fact, Pansy was the only other person who knew that Draco was half merfolk.
Pansy moved to block Draco's progress. "You're miserable, darling," she said. "Don't bother trying to deny it. Why, even Millicent noticed, and she usually doesn't pay attention to anyone except her wretched cat."
Draco's shoulders slumped. "There's nothing going on that you can help me with," he said. "I just need to figure things out on my own."
Pansy's expression softened. "Did some boy break your heart?" she asked. "Tell me who it was, and I'll hex warts all over his-"
"Pansy!" Draco exclaimed, cutting her off mid-rant. He couldn't help but laugh, however. Leave it to Pansy to be ready to defend his honor. Another thought occurred to Draco, and he sobered immediately. "Wait, why did you ask if it was a boy who broke my heart?"
"You're bent," said Pansy, giving a nonchalant shrug. "I've known it since Sixth year."
Draco was aghast. He'd tried so hard to keep his sexuality a secret. If his parents found out, they'd disown him. "H-how did you know?" Draco stammered.
"Don't worry, darling," Pansy said. "It's not obvious, but I've known you since we were in nappies. You've never looked at girls the way you look at boys, and you seem to pay special attention to..."
Pansy's voice trailed off, and Draco averted his eyes and held his breath.
"Potter!" Pansy finished in a harsh whisper. "What has that git done?" she snarled.
"Nothing," Draco hastened to assure her, lest she march up to Gryffindor and attack Harry with bared claws. "It's just...I fancy him, yet I know I can't have him," he sighed.
"Does the Golden Boy think he's too good for you?" snapped Pansy.
Draco shook his head. "Quite the opposite," he said. "He's made it clear he wants me."
Pansy's expression grew puzzled. "Then, what is the problem?"
Draco gaped at her. "My parents would have kneazles if they found out!" he hissed.
"Draco," Pansy said softly, "you can't go on living your life for your parents. What about your happiness?"
"But, I'm the last Malfoy," said Draco. "I have an obligation to carry on the family name."
"While allowing your own life to slip on by you?" Pansy prodded.
Draco deflated. The prospect of an arranged, loveless marriage was downright depressing, as was the thought of standing back and seeing Harry move on with someone else. However, the possibility of disappointing his parents was nothing less than daunting. Draco slumped back against the cold stone wall. "I don't know what to do," he admitted.
"Does Potter know how you feel?" asked Pansy.
"Not exactly," Draco replied. "I told him I couldn't get involved with him, but I didn't divulge the reason why."
Pansy touched Draco's arm gently. "What would make you happy?"
Draco gave her a wry smile. "The same thing that would make any Slytherin happy," he said. "I want to have my cake, and eat it, too. I want Harry, but I also want my parents' blessing and approval. The problem is, I know I can't have both."
Slipping Fast