Draco looked at the guilt Pansy could not hide in her eyes, but did not dwell on it. Instead, a composed smile curved his lips. "Pansy, you might as well think of this contest as a 'showdown between Parkinson and Malfoy.'"
"That's an excellent way to think of it. At least you've already seen the essence of the matter. It was never merely two children playing with Puffapods. Behind it lies an implicit display of family prestige and reputation."
After a brief pause, Draco abruptly changed tack. The faint smile in his eyes gradually faded, his gaze grew deeper, and his tone became more serious. "But precisely because of that, I don't think I should appear at this weekend's garden contest as a 'competitor.'"
Those words struck Pansy's ears like a thunderclap, making her jolt. All the pride and panic she had been struggling to maintain fell away, leaving only shock.
Pansy stared straight at Draco, her eyes full of disbelief.
She had never imagined that Draco would consider the matter from such an angle, much less refuse with such sound reasoning.
"Think it over carefully, Pansy." Draco slowed his speech, patiently guiding her thoughts. "If I went and stood beside you in front of those Puffapods, whatever the final outcome-even if you cast the spell flawlessly while I fumbled and made mistake after mistake..."
"In the eyes of outsiders, such as the younger and older members of the Macmillan family and the Borgin family who had been invited, it would ultimately be nothing more than the Malfoy family's young master playing about with the Parkinson family's young lady."
"They might chat about who won and who lost, or have a laugh over it, then turn it into an amusing bit of after-dinner conversation and forget it within days. It would bring no tangible benefit to you or the Parkinson family."
As he spoke, Draco rose and slowly paced the sitting room, carefully dissecting the key points. "But what if I weren't there? What if, alone beneath the gaze of every guest, you steadily cast the spell and enlarged the Puffapods to precisely the right size, fully demonstrating the Parkinson family's impeccable upbringing and innate magical talent-Pansy, what do you suppose they would talk about?"
Draco did not stop to wait for her reply, supplying the answer himself before his words had quite faded. "They would sincerely praise the outstanding results of Miss Parkinson's early magical education. They would commend your poise and bearing, and eagerly discuss how you single-handedly controlled the pace of the entire contest, handling everything just right."
"Then all the attention would fall entirely and exclusively on you, on the distinguished name of 'Parkinson.' There would be no encumbrance of being 'Malfoy's partner,' nor any pointless comparison about 'who you competed against.' There would only be 'Miss Parkinson's exclusive showcase.' That glory would shine far more brightly than competing alongside me."
As his argument unfolded step by step, Pansy's expression shifted slightly. The shock in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a measure of thoughtfulness.
Seeing this, Draco promptly offered the solution he had already planned. "As for my part..."
Pansy looked at Draco.
Draco also tilted his head slightly to look at Pansy. "I'll ask Mother to prepare a modest gift in advance and send it to the Parkinson family's home in the Malfoy family's name—perhaps an old but highly collectible set of Notes on Early Practical Transfiguration."
"That way, we would honor the friendship between our families while letting others know that the Malfoy family has always approved of the Parkinson family's magical upbringing. It would offer you another form of support as well."
"You..." Pansy stared blankly at Draco, repeating the word, a host of emotions churning in her eyes: surprise, reluctance, and a measure of helplessness.
"You always find a way, Draco. Whatever it is, you always manage to twist and turn until everything ends up going the way you want."
There was little genuine admiration in those words. They were more a frank admission after defeat, mixed with a faint weariness from matching wits with Draco.
She was accustomed to controlling the situation, yet Draco repeatedly led her thoughts along, leaving her unable to refute him in the end.
Pansy fell silent for a moment, seemingly abandoning the argument entirely, then suddenly grew irritable and complained with a young girl's spoiled petulance:
"Forget it. Stop talking about those boring contests and Engorgement Charms! Honestly, it's just a gimmick Mother deliberately came up with, an excuse for the adults to flatter one another and cultivate friendships."
"But since our family is hosting it, I don't want to stand there alone looking like an idiot. At least when I'm with you, even if I roll my eyes, you know what or whom I'm rolling them at, without my having to waste words explaining."
Draco looked at the dejection she could not conceal, the disappointment written across her face, and could not help softening a little.
After shaking his head helplessly, Draco softened his tone. "All right, all right, I can't win with you. I'll go with you. Surely you're satisfied now?"
Those words were like welcome rain falling on parched earth.
The tension in Pansy's face instantly deflated with a hiss like a punctured balloon, all her agitation and dissatisfaction vanishing.
That emptiness was quickly filled by a swelling satisfaction. Her eyes instantly lit up, the corners of her lips lifted uncontrollably, and even her brows took on a delighted smile.
"Hmph." Pansy let out a long, meaningful sound through her nose, lifting her chin even higher than before and holding her neck straight, as though confirming her final victory with that posture.
"That's more like it. At least all that talking wasn't wasted," Pansy said with haughty coyness.
Having secured Draco's agreement, Pansy began giving instructions down to the smallest detail. "Remember, two o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Arrive at Parkinson Manor on time, not a moment late."
"Wear that silver-green morning robe, the one you wore to our tea party last time. It gives you a lovely complexion. Don't wear that utterly stupid skull brooch that keeps puffing smoke. It's terribly vulgar and beneath the Malfoy family's dignity."
After a pause, Pansy carefully explained the next arrangements. "Once you arrive, there's no need to exchange pleasantries with anyone. Just come straight to the pavilion on the east side of the garden and find me."
"Most importantly, remember not to speak to that idiot boy from the Macmillan family. He spends all day hovering around people, and his flattery is sickeningly sweet. I hear his father has been trying every possible way to ingratiate himself with yours lately. It's so irritating. Keep your distance so you don't end up mired in trouble."
After thinking for a moment, Pansy seemed to remember something and added, "As for the Engorgement Charm... never mind. I don't expect you to learn anything anyway."
She waved a hand rather casually. "When the time comes, you only need to stand beside me and pretend to look a little interested."
"If... I mean if Mr Macnair presses you, just say you're still quietly sensing the fluctuations of magic and haven't yet found the right moment to cast the spell."
By finding Draco a respectable excuse like this, Pansy was both protecting her partner's dignity and, more importantly, ensuring that her own display proceeded smoothly, undisturbed by any surprises.
"No problem." Draco did not mind at all, though he gained some understanding of Pansy's ability to manage things.
"See you then. Don't keep me waiting too long." With that final instruction, Pansy had arranged everything.
Having finished, Pansy turned lightly and walked briskly toward the door, her skirt lifting slightly with her movements. Humming a little tune quite popular among pure-blood families, she soon left the sitting room, her figure gradually disappearing at the far end of the courtyard path.
It was clear that Pansy was extremely pleased with herself just then.
Watching her retreating figure, Draco could not help shaking his head with a helpless smile.
Ultimately, she was only a scheming little girl.
Draco had not agreed to accompany her because he had gone soft. In fact, he had another consideration hidden in his heart...