The Right by Parks and Fiction Chapter 35.
Pansy talked to Blaise. Neville could try whatever he
had in mind, but she wasn't going to risk everything, Not
when there was a chance she could be done with Lawrence and
Ivan once and for all. So Friday morning, Lawrence's
deadline, she followed Neville as he strode through the halls
of the Ministry with his head held high and a look of fierce
determination on his face. All she knew was that his plan
involved Katie Bell. She hadn't even found out that
much until right before they left for the Ministry, when he'd
said they were meeting Lawrence and Ivan at her office.
Bell might have successfully created an embezzlement scheme
for Tory, but she hadn't gone up against an established solicitor
like Lawrence who'd been using corrupted legal means to get
what his clients wanted for decades.
The contract with Blaise was in her bag.
All she had to do was sign it, and the gold was hers to
transfer to Ivan. As soon as he revoked any
control over her and swore an unbreakable vow to never come
near her, her business, or anyone close to her again,
Blaise had given her good terms. Certainly better than she would
have gotten from anyone else. Full creative control remained
hers. Simple profit sharing, first
right of refusal if Blaze ever wanted to sell, and the option
to buy back full control over the business once Blaze's share
of the profits exceeded his initial investment, he'd
practically given it away. Even if she managed to return
every galleon he'd agreed to give her, she'd never be able to
repay him. Belle met them outside her
office and directed them down the hall.
More space in the conference room.
Everything set, Never last. Belle grinned.
There was a malicious edge to it that made Pansy just a little
bit terrified of the witch. Perfectly.
The room was as plain as she expected from a Ministry
conference room. Only a simple Oval table with
eight chairs filled the space. Grey walls, black floors.
The sole decoration was a large mirror along one wall.
Pathetic. They'd barely settled into their
seats when an assistant escorted Ivan and Lawrence into the
rather depressing room. Nice of you to join us, Bell
said before either of them finish sitting down.
Let's get started, shall we? Mr. Dharmitrov is unwilling to
negotiate on the settlement amount, Lawrence said.
If Mr. Longbottom is unable to provide the amount in full, we
are willing to set up a payment plan, but there will be interest
and Mr. Dimitrov will not surrender his legal or magical
authority over Mrs. Longbottom until the last canut he is owned
is his. Bell's smile was feral.
Let's discuss Mr. Dimitrov's legal and magical authority over
Mrs. Longbottom. If you have not been provided
with a copy of the late Mr. Parkinson's will, I would be
happy to send over copies. Oh, that's quite all right.
I've had one since Saturday, and I assure you I've made a very
thorough study of it. For the first time, Pansy saw a
flicker in Lawrence's gaze. All of the actions Mr. Darmitoff
has taken against even Longbottom, now well within his
legal means. Only if he is, in fact, Pansy's
legal guardian. Pansy's heart stuttered.
Neville reached over and covered her hand with his, squeezing
once. If Ivan wasn't her legal
guardian, If the terms of her blood oath were met, The
instructions in the late Mr. Parkinson's will, yes.
Let's read those, shall we? Bell pulled out a copy of the
will. They very clearly outline who
shall have legal custody of his daughter upon his death,
accepting those serving lifetime incarceration, which ruled out
the majority of her distant relatives.
Her legal guardian shall be the closest male relative on her
father's side of the family, with preference given to members
of the Sacred 28. Belle was smug.
Too smug. Pansy's brain raced, trying to
think through her family tree. How the fuck had she'd missed
that? But male member of the Sacred 28
who wasn't in Auskaban didn't leave a lot of options.
Her breath caught in her throat. Her head snapped to Belle, then
to the door as it swung open to a man she'd never seen before.
Lawrence was facing away and didn't notice.
Mr. Dmitrov is the great nephew of the late Mr. Parkinson's
great grandmother. Theodore Josiah Knott is the
direct descendant of the late Mr. Parkinson's great uncle.
Said the man. Her heart stopped as Theo strode
into the room. Just behind him.
Neville rounded on Katy. Theo.
His whisper was 1/2 shout. Apparently at least some of this
was news to him as well. Theo caught Pansy's gaze and
winked once before he nodded to the others.
Bell Longbottom. He took a seat next to her.
The man she assumed was his solicitor sat next to him.
Pansy bit down on her cheek as her eyes burned.
Theo. Fucking Theo.
Mr. Knott and Mr. Dimitrov carry the same degree of separation
from Pansy. Lawrence began.
My client is one step closer to Mrs. Longbottom, is related
through her father's side, and is a member of the Sacred 28.
Theo's solicitor said he no longer has his ring he rejected.
Theo laughed once, his voice taking on a cruel edge that she
hadn't heard since the end of the war.
You're making the conditions of Pansy's marriage for the
requirements of the guardianship, he said.
The ring is nothing more than a symbol of someone who accepted
the beliefs of the Sacred 28. I could destroy my ring, but it
no more removes me from the inclusion than it did the
Weasley family. Fucking Merlin, her guardian
could have been a fucking Weasley if they'd gone back far
enough. While my client is the sole man
to meet one of Parkinson's ideal requirements, Miss Bell and I
were able to track down four others who have a closer
connection to Missus Longbottom and Mr. Dmitrov.
Lawrence's face was frozen. Interesting how that happened,
isn't it? Bell demanded.
Lawrence refused to take the bait.
He simply sat still and silent, his expression hard.
Theo cleared his throat. We would like to avoid any nasty
business. He said.
I am prepared to offer a small settlement if you admit Mr.
Dmitrov is not Pansy's true guardian.
Life sparked back into Laurence's eyes.
I hope you realise we will not be accepting anything less than
generous. His eyes trailed over to Pansy
and then to Neville. After all, there are many things
I assume neither Longbottom wants known by the public.
Even if Mr. Longbottom's ministry friends are able to
protect him legally, gossip can be so damaging to even as
sterling a reputation as yours. Theo quoted a number just under
what Lawrence had demanded. Theo.
Pansy hissed. Lawrence immediately counted
with his original demand. Theo tapped the table.
What's your cut? Lawrence settled back into his
chair. Theo turned to Ivan.
That's why he passed over me and the others.
He said he wants a cut of whatever you make of Pansy.
Ivan's gaze flickered to Lawrence.
I'm sure it couldn't have been easy.
Theo said, gaze drifting back to Lawrence.
Spending decades building up a client base, ensuring many of
the most high profile Death Eaters avoided Azkaban after the
First War, and then watching all but one of your clients end up
dead or in Azkaban after the second.
Thanks to Lucius Malfoy's testimony, we are not going to
listen to such baseless accusations.
Theo held up his hand to Lawrence and looked to Ivan.
I'll let you in on a little secret.
He said. I don't like him.
I'm making this deal with you, not him.
So if you want to tell me what? He demanded.
I'll give the full settlement to you, Ivan, Don't say a word,
Lawrence snapped. If he found a way to take all
the pansy's money, he'll find a way to take yours too, Theo
said. 40%. Ivan said.
This case is no precedent and has required a great deal of
legal work on my part, Lawrence began.
Theo ignored him. When Pansy got married, you
thought it was all over, didn't you?
He asked Ivan. He was the one who told you to
be patient, that they'd find another way to get her money.
Ivan smirked. He said he could find a way to
dissolve the marriage so I could get her gold.
Ivan, stop talking. Laurence said through gritted
teeth. Did you know about his other
plans? Theo asked, cocking his head.
The ones involving his only client who didn't end up in
Azkaban after the war. Ivan laughed.
The little boy. He leaned forward.
I made the Gringot's deposit. Lawrence rose.
Ivan, we're leaving so soon? Theo cooed.
Friends of mine want to speak to you.
He leaned back in his chair with a shit eating grin.
Isn't that right, Potter? Behind Pansy, a light flickered
on. She turned and through the
mirror saw Harry fucking Potter and go Wayne Robards watching
them. Sound like a confession to you,
Potter? Theo called.
The door swung open and a team of auras swept in, disarming
Laurence and Ivan as Potter read off a number of charges behind
the mirror, which included everything from perjury to
blackmail to paying off Zachariah Smith to vandalise her
shop and attack her. They were both still shouting,
Ivan repeating every crime Lawrence had committed while
Lawrence tried to order him to shut up.
Well. Bell said as the room finally
fell silent after they were taken away.
That's certainly going to make negotiating any sort of deal
difficult. Theo solicitor traded a smirk
with her Potter wrapped on the glass.
Going to make sure they're taken into custody and be right back,
Katie. She nodded to him and both he
and robots left their hidden room.
Pansy turned to Theo. What?
Her voice cracked. His eyes flashed with fury as he
rounded on her. Next time you find yourself in
trouble, you fucking ask for help.
Her eyes burned as tears threatened to spill over.
Theo, the fucking Theo, had been her actual guardian this entire
time. How different would things have
been if it had been him from the beginning?
Theo nodded to his solicitor. He reached into his bag and
pulled out a stone bowl with runes etched deep into the rim
and sides. Neville sat forward.
What is that? Theo ignored him and squeezed
Pansy's hand. Do you trust me?
The question sent a pang through her.
She made it a rule to not trust anyone.
But Theo, Theo would burn the world down for a single one of
his friends, for the few lucky people he considered family, and
Blaze would jump after him without a heartbeat of
hesitation. Biting her cheek to hold back
her trembling, she nodded. Theo turned her palm over the
long thin scar from her blood. Oath sat just beneath the scar
from the right with Neville taking a silver knife from his
solicitor. Theo cut a small line across his
palm and then a third line on Pansies right above the line
from the right. He pressed their hands together
so the cuts lined up and held them over the bowl.
I, Theodore Josiah Nott head and sole surviving member of the
House of Nott, formally accept Pansy Parkinson Longbottom as my
ward, an adopter as a blood daughter of the House of Nott.
In any other moment, the thought of Theo attempting to adopt her
would have sent her into complete hysterics.
As it was, the room filled with the hum of ancient magic
radiating from the stone bowl, making the hairs on the back of
her neck stand up, sobering her completely.
Their combined blood dripped into the bowl where it fizzled
and was immediately absorbed. The runes began glowing with a
silver light. As a blooded daughter of the
House of Not, I declare Pansy free from any restrictions set
forth by the House of her birth. He said.
Furthermore, as her named guardian, I declare her blood
oath fulfilled in every way. I release her from its confines
and take full responsibility for any penalty.
Silver light burst from the bowl, flooding the room before
it faded completely. Theo let go of her hand to
examine the small white scar on his palm.
Pansy stared at hers. The line that Theo had made was
still there, as was the one from Neville.
The line from her blood oath was gone.
Hands shaking, she looked back up to Theo.
Is, is that it? It's over.
Her voice cracked. He nodded Once.
For you. He held his one doubt, face
lined with trepidation. Lumos.
The end immediately lit up, and he gasped.
Oh thank fuck, that was the only part I was worried about.
Whatever else he was about to say was cut off as Pansy threw
herself at him, sobbing into his shoulder.
His arms wrapped around her, holding her tight.
I've got you Pans, he whispered. You're free.
Do you promise? She clung to him.
Do you promise? It's over, You're safe, you're
free, your magic is yours, he said.
It's done. For the first time since
Laurence had shown up on her doorstep with Ivan 14 months
before, she believed it. When her sobs finally stilt, he
pulled her back and gripped her by the shoulders.
Next time you're in trouble, you ask your friends for help.
He snapped. Understood.
You just destroyed your ring, and I didn't think there was
another way. Had it honestly been this easy
the whole time? If she'd known, she would never
have had to marry Neville, never have gotten to know him, to
learn how kind and good and sweet and funny and caring he
was. Even with as much as she'd been
hurting, even knowing she'd come between Neville and the woman he
loved, the thought of never knowing him at all hurt so much
worse. Theo rolled his eyes.
I know you're kinkier than you let on, but ritualistic sex
magic is not always the only answer.
Before she could respond, someone else stepped into the
room. Theo's solicitor rapidly swept
the stone bowl into his bag. Potter froze.
Was that? His head snapped to Theo, a
horrified expression on his face.
Theo met his gaze with wide eyed innocence.
Had a spot of soup while we were waiting on you, Potter.
His eyebrows shot up. Soup.
My client is inordinately fond of soup.
Theo's solicitor said he likes to bring some with him under
stasis charms wherever he goes. Potter glanced at Belle.
You expect me to believe that was a fucking soup bowl?
She nodded with an easy smile and looked at Theo.
Smelled good, she said. What was it, a chowder?
He lifted his nose. Seafood bisque?
Not that you would know the difference.
She looked completely unfazed by his condescending tone.
I do love a good lobster bisque. OK, well enough about the soup
part of Turn to Pansy. It's up to you what charges you
want to press, he said. We've got Lawrence on a number
of financial crimes, perjury, bribery and paying off Smith to
hex you. As it is, he's looking at losing
his licence and at least 10 years in Azkaban, but probably
double that, and that's only if we can't find more on him.
So they had been behind Smith, hexing her.
She wondered if the goal had been to kill her since she
didn't have a child, the Parkinson's estate would have
gone to Ivan upon her death. Although Lawrence had been ready
with a plan even when she did survive.
It must have been a win win for them either way, and Smith an
easy fall man. According to Potter, their
family finances had taken a large hit since the end of the
war. Between that and his personal
vendetta against her, she doubted it took much, if
anything, to convince him to attack her.
Lawrence is willing to testify to several crimes I even
committed in Bulgaria, so after his time here is up, he'll be
sent back to serve his sentences there, Potter continued.
Since he's not a British citizen, we can ban him from the
country. 20 years is too short for Lawrence, Neville said,
voice hard. That's why it's up to Pansy,
Potter said. If she testifies about the blood
oath and family right, there's enough that we could lock him up
for life. She didn't need to think about
it. No bansi, Neville began.
Theo cut him off 20 years and have Ivan banned from the
country, he said. The rest stays between US.
And if Lawrence opens his fat mouth about the right, he gets
Azkaban for life. Potter nodded.
Katie, we'll have you look through his records to see what
are the charges we can drum up. She nodded and began collecting
her paperwork. Potter, one last thing before
you go. Theo turned to Pansy.
Do you have any other charges you want pressed against who?
Surely after Zacharias Smith, Lawrence, and Ivan, she didn't
have any other enemies. Theo's hard gaze fell on
Neville. How about the man who performed
an illegal blood right on you? Neville and Bell froze.
Her heart clenched at the thought of Neville getting in
any trouble for this. It was one of the things he'd
specifically made her promise wouldn't happen.
Theo, stop. Yeah, you'll want to talk about
illegal blood rights, not Potter snapped.
Belle told you she saw me eating soup out of that bowl, Potter.
Theo said, popping the pea on his name.
You have nothing on me. Open up the bag.
Potter demanded. The solicitor flipped it open to
show the bag was empty. Once Mr. Knott has finished his
soup, the bowl returns to the kitchen to be washed and put
away by his elves. Theo, enough.
Pansy said. Neville was only trying to help
me. Theo didn't stop glaring at him.
He took advantage of you. No he didn't.
She said. I forced him to help me in the
only way I thought possible. We've all read the right Pansy.
That's some fucked up shit. He didn't use my family right?
He found another that mimicked it but kept me and my magic
free. Theo met her gaze, his
expression assessing. You sure?
Yes. Did he pressure or coerce you?
No, she snapped. Theo's gaze didn't waver.
She glanced off to the side, looking back where the marble
floors met the grey walls. If anything, it was the other
way around. Humiliation rolled through her
at having to admit it. She cleared her throat.
The Mungo's healers think it was the only way I survived to
Smith's Hex. Finally, Theo sighed.
Oh, right. He settled into the chair next
to his solicitor across the table from Neville and Belle.
Potter. You can go, Belle.
You might as well stay if you're representing Longbottom.
Potter slammed the door shut and marched over to the table to sit
down next to Neville. Theo watched an eyebrow at him.
What's this about? Belle demanded.
If Longbottom here is going to claim he was only helping Pansy
out of the goodness of his heart, then I have a few
financial questions for him. Theo, I said leave it alone.
Pansy snapped. He looked up at her.
Did you sign any sort of contract with him?
He demanded. Any prenuptial agreement?
She swallowed. No, but it was Neville.
Theo's disapproving look sent a spike of shame through her.
It could have tipped Lawrence off that the marriage wasn't
wasn't real, had never been real, something she couldn't let
herself forget. He shook his head.
You do realise that he owns everything of yours, don't you?
He said. Your shop, your business, your
gold, everything. You're fucking smarter than
this, Pansy. She curled her arms around
herself, tears burning in her eyes.
I just didn't want to lose my magic, she said.
I would have done anything to save my magic.
I'm not going to take anything that's Pansy's.
Neville snapped. Everything that was hers before
we got married is hers now. So this was it then.
Neville's final rejection of her in front of Theo and his
solicitor and Katie Bell and Harry fucking Potter.
With arms still wrapped around her middle, she walked over and
took the seat next to Theo, Neville on one side with his
solicitor and Potter, Pansy on the other side with Theo and his
solicitor. I hope you're willing to sign
off on that, Longbottom. Theo said.
I'll sign whatever you want. He spat.
Not without my approval. Bell snapped.
You're not going to take anything extra from Neville.
Oh, so the money he's spent on the Parkinson vaults the past
year just goes unaccounted for? Theo demanded.
Bell's eyes narrowed. You're going to have a hard time
convincing anyone that day-to-day living expenses were
spent equally between them when Neville takes the majority of
his meals at the castle and Pansy eats at home.
Theo waved his hand. We're not here to argue over
Canucks and Sickles. He said.
I'm talking about major purchases.
Theo, stop. Pansy snapped.
He glanced at her and something sparked in his gaze.
You've got to be kidding me. He turned to Neville.
How did you not realise she bought your fucking house?
Pansy stared down the table. She could feel Neville's gaze on
her, but she refused to look up. What?
When did you do that? Neville demanded.
Why? There was a tiny chip on the
edge of the table. She wondered if that came from a
previous divorce proceeding as well.
Pansy. She flinched at the fury in
Neville's tone. The holding company that owned
the house was owned by the Rosiers, the family that had
sheltered the Lestrange brothers following the battle until the
DMLE had caught them. What?
Potter demanded. Pansy didn't look up from the
table. I didn't think you'd want your
money going to that family. We seized all of their assets.
Potter said. Theo snorted.
I can guarantee you missed some. Pansy's eyes flicked back to
Theo. All she'd gotten from him was
disappointment so far. I started a rumour that the
Auras were investigating the family again.
She said they sold it to me for sickles on the Galleon.
He smirked. That's my girl.
Across the table, Neville let out a sharp hoof.
How much? Even at their worst, he'd never
had that much spite in his voice when talking to her.
How much did you pay for my house, Pansy?
Neville turned to Belle. I'm going to pay it all back.
Neville, stop talking. She said through gritted teeth.
He ignored her. I'll pay it all back, he said.
I, I don't have the gold to do it at once, but I will pay it
back. We're happy to set up a
repayment plan, Theo said, voice cheerful.
Low interest. Out of gratitude for your good
intentions, Fine, Neville snapped.
Neville should not be responsible for paying for
purchases that Pansy made without his knowledge or
consent. Bell insisted.
Theo, just give him the house. I don't care.
Pansy said. I care.
The vehemence in Neville's voice finally shocked her into looking
at him. She'd never seen him look so
furious. I don't want anything from you.
I never wanted anything from you.
I did this to help you out, not to take anything from you.
He bit out, eyes flashing. I'm paying back the house.
The room fell dead silent. Pansy looked down at the table,
trying to hold all her emotions in.
Fine. Her voice came out stronger than
she felt. Give him what he wants.
Theo snorted. Seems to be a theme for your
marriage, huh? He muttered loud enough for
everyone to hear. It wasn't.
She was the one who had taken and taken and taken from
Neville. Even now they had a sole bond
that would last forever. That wouldn't have been
necessary if she'd have just spoken to her friends.
If you provide us with the purchase price, we can come up
with a comfortable repayment. Belle's voice broke off as
Theo's solicitor opened his previously empty bag and haunted
over a piece of parchment. We set the payment amount right
at what Longbottom has been paying in rent.
Theo said as Katie looked it over.
Considering the low price Pansy was able to negotiate, he should
have it completely paid off in just under 10 years given our
generous interest. Neville grabbed the paper and
pushed it back. Double it.
He said. I'll have it paid off in 5,
Neville. Bell hissed through her teeth.
Theo solicitor tapped the sheet with his wand and passed it
back. Neville snatched it before Bell
could touch it. He scribbled his signature on it
a minute later and shoved it back.
You're going to regret that, Bell said.
Nope. Neville said, popping the pea.
Well, if we aren't debating living expenses, that should
cover any assets required during the marriage.
Bell said. Everything from the Parkinson's
estate will revert to Pansy, and everything from the Longbottom
estate will remain with Neville. Actually, that is not the only
asset acquired during the marriage, Theo said.
Theo, we aren't debating anything worth less than 50
Galleons. Bell said.
Unless Neville purchased anything exorbitant like
jewellery, in which case Pansy would either have been keeping
or returning it anyway, We're done.
Fuck jewellery. Taking out her one, she
transfigured her quill into a black jewellery box.
Reaching back behind her neck, she removed the necklace Neville
had given her for Valentine's Day.
She'd hardly taken it off since then.
A small glamour had kept it hidden on the days that it
didn't match her outfit. Her neck felt naked without it.
After placing it carefully in the box, she closed the lid and
slid it across the table in Neville's direction.
He made no move to touch it. I didn't find evidence of a
purchase of that. Theo said.
It's a Longbottom family heirloom.
She said, staring at the table top.
I've always known it wasn't something I would be able to
keep. She lifted her head to look at
Belle. Thank you for the reminder.
She looked like she'd just swallowed A flabberworm hole.
Pansy knew the feeling. That's it, right?
Potter asked, his voice thin. Theo folded his hands.
Well, if Belle is setting the limit at purchases over 50
galleons, there's nothing left to discuss.
Pansy said. He ignored her completely.
Then the pair of Peruvian Viper Tooth Dragon High gloves Pansy
purchase for Neville certainly counts.
She stared at the blank grey wall, just for a change from the
polished table top. They're valued significantly
higher than that. And if we take into
consideration the bribe Pansy paid to get to the top of the
list, that nearly double s the purchase price.
Well, whatever. Neville got Pansy for Christmas.
Belle began. Ah, yes, we do have a record of
that. Theo's solicitor handed him a
piece of parchment, a wooden dowel ribbon holder from IKEA.
Potter asked. Sure, if that's the muggle build
your own furniture store. Theo said.
The conversion rate into galleons shifts a bit, but why
don't we generously set it at 5 galleons Nevada?
Potter gasped, horrified. It's, it was an inside joke.
I thought I wanted it to. Neville's voice was low,
horrified. Great.
Theo said after a few moments of silence.
He turned to Belle. Are you going to allow us to
factor in the weeks Pansy spent researching every single
Peruvian Viper, Tooth Dragon High Craftsman until she found
the one who had a muggaborn granddaughter in law who wanted
Pansy to design her gowns for her upcoming family events into
the final estimated price of the gloves, or just the cost of the
three dresses themselves? Theo, drop it.
Pansy snapped. They were a gift.
Theo glanced back across the table.
So I suppose you don't want me to bring up the custom silver
cufflinks you had made for him for Valentine's Day?
Neville stared at the box with the necklace he'd given her for
the same holiday with a hard expression.
No, I don't, Pansy said. They were all just gifts I'd get
for any friend. The word burned through her
mouth, tasting like acid on her tongue.
There was never anything transactional about anything I
gave him. Theo gave her a long, hard look
before he nodded once more. Right, if you say so.
She had no idea what finally convinced him to step back from
his sudden personal vendetta against Neville, no matter the
shrapnel he left in his path. Didn't care either way, just
braced herself for Neville to spew more disgust her way.
I don't want anything from you. I never wanted anything from
you. Neville didn't say a word.
Maybe he was just going to send them back as soon as he got the
chance. In that case.
Theo began, his voice far too cheerful for the tense energy in
the room. All we need from Longbottom are
a few documents signed to return all assets of the Parkinson
estate back over to Pansy. The solicitor pulled out a
contract, Gringot's Vaults bell, read it over and then handed it
to Neville to sign. He did so silently.
And for Pansy's business and it's assets.
The solicitor said. Passing that over, they repeated
the actions, Bell reading Neville signing with no sound
other than the scratch of the quill.
The final documents are on behalf of Dennis and Astoria
Creevy, Theo said. Just that you won't make a claim
on their home. Why would Neville have anything
to do with Dennis and Astoria's house?
Bell demanded. It's the former Parkinson Manor,
Theo said. Pansy gifted it to them as a
wedding present. I just wanted to protect their
interests since it technically belonged to Neville.
When Pansy attempted to give it away, Belle stared at the
document without touching it. She turned to Neville.
I also represent Dennis and Astoria and have been doing so
for longer than you, so I should get another solicitor too.
Before she could finish, Neville grabbed the document, scribbled
his name, and passed it back. Bell squeezed her eyes shut and
pinched the bridge of her nose. Neville, I swear, is there
anything else? Neville asked, his voice low.
Theo's solicitor collected the paperwork with the tap of his
wand. He duplicated the documents,
passed those back to Bell while his copies slid into his bag.
Theo turned to Pansy. Anything else?
She shook her head. I'd like to go, please.
Before she broke, before she shattered in front of them all,
before she begged Neville for one more thing, knowing this was
the time he'd finally deny her. Theo pushed himself back from
the table. Belle, always a pleasure.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she eyed him, head tilted to the
side like she couldn't quite figure him out.
Potter, Longbottom. Theo said with two nods.
He held his hand out to Pansy, she took it, letting him pull
her from the room. He chatted quietly with his
solicitor in the lifts as they rode towards the atrium where
the solicitor flew to Diagon. Theo called out the address for
his and Blaze's home, dragging her into the green flames with
him. Pansy knew she was covered in
ash, but she didn't care as she sunk into the closest chair.
Theo sat on the matching Ottoman, their legs bumping
against each other's one to talk about it or just drink.
It's 11 in the morning. Questions dance.
She looked down at her hands. She couldn't believe the Blood
Earth line was gone. Neville and Theo's lines
remained. Tears burned in her eyes as she
ran her finger over them. For once, she just let them
fall. I love him, she whispered as the
tears fell thicker. She lifted her head.
Fear's eyes bore no judgment, no surprise, just shared sorrow.
I know I wasn't supposed to, but he, he.
He handed her a handkerchief. Today was a lot, he said.
I thought it might push him too. Theo was a romantic to the core.
He just didn't realise that this was someone else's story.
I don't want anything from you. I never wanted anything from
you. He's still in love with her.
Who? Neville is still in love with
Hannah Abbott. Fuck, no matter how many times
she repeated it to herself, it hurt every time.
You can't know that I was going to tell him.
Not that she loved him and that was too much.
She was a Slytherin after all. Only a Gryffindor would be that
foolhardy. Just that I wanted more.
That parts of this had become real.
That she wanted it to stay real. She squeezed her eyes shut as
tears rolled down her cheeks. He even thought about trying to
see if I could trick him into getting me pregnant so he
wouldn't leave me. I don't want anything from you.
I never wanted anything from you.
He still would have. She said he wants her enough
that it wouldn't have mattered to him if I gave him a child.
He loves her enough that he would still have left us for
her. The words burned through her,
tasting like bile on her tongue. She swiped the tears from her
cheeks. How fucking pathetic am I for
that? That she would be so desperate
for someone that she would try to force them into staying with
her? No wonder he would have left her
anyway. A woman who was willing to do
that didn't deserve him. It's worse than pathetic.
She said It's sick and twisted. Hans squeezed hers, and she
looked up at her friend. Who am I, Theo?
He leaned closer. You're Pansy fucking Parkinson,
he said. And today this really fucking
hurts, and it'll hurt tomorrow too.
But I promise you, you will get through this, and Blaze and I
are here for you, whatever you need.
He moved up to sit on the armrest of the chair and put his
arm around her. She collapsed into his side and
let her tears flow.