The Right by Parks and Fiction, Chapter 33.
Pansy stared right ahead at the Golden Trio, doing her best to
ignore all of the whispers and stares in her direction.
Thank Merlin for the pair of extra large sunglasses she'd
picked up while touring muggle maternity stores with Hermione.
She still didn't quite trust herself in the Muggle world
without Hermione at her side. Although apparently Ginny was
worse, something to do with her father's job and obsession with
Muggle objects. Now that she and Ginny had
formed a sort of friendly truce, however, she was grateful with
the time she got just with Hermione.
The few awkward moments with Ginny were nothing compared to
how she felt at that moment, however.
Pansy was usually a spectacle at the Battle of Hogwarts memorial
services, with the magazine released that morning and her
participation in it. Even without the photos of her
and Neville or his and Dennis's defence of her, it was worse
than past years. How Potter and the rest of the
DA were going to act around her remain to be seen.
The day after meeting with Jenny, she'd come home to find
Harry Potter waiting in their living room with Neville dressed
in his aura robes and carrying two official looking scrolls.
Well that was new here to arrest me or do you want to go through
my knicker drawers again? She asked.
Potter flinched. I'm really sorry Pansy.
He said. I didn't mean to walk out on
your trial, I was just It wasn't your fault, she said, already
exhausted. If this was what apologies and
reconciliation with a bunch of goody Gryffindors got her, she
might have preferred being mortal enemies.
Still, I'm sorry, he said. Insisting that everyone receive
a full trial was to prevent exactly what happened to you.
And of course you were the one person who fell through.
She didn't know what to do with this, a world where Harry Potter
apologised to her. He held out the scrolls.
A full pardon and letter of commendation for your bravery.
She almost snorted. Bravery was a bit of a stretch
for a spur of the moment decision and a loosely formed
plan that may or may not have worked.
And even if it had, maybe all she would have done was delay
the inevitable and Ginny would still have been bound to her
father and Hermione would have been turned over to McNair.
Both were signed by Robards and Kingsley.
What did you tell them? How long did she have before
everything spilled and people put everything together the way
Ginny had? Just the plans for Hermione and
that your dad was going to force Ginny into a marriage using
blood magic, he said. We said that you were attempting
to Curry favour so that you could save Hermione and have her
rescue Jin and the rest of the survivors.
She rolled up both documents and set them aside.
Where the idea for the blood magic was obtained and when it
might have previously been used will stay between you, me,
Nevada, and Jin. Potter said as long as both
Potters could keep their mouth shut.
He gave her another year before everyone found out the truth of
why Neville married her. Thank you, thank you, Pansy.
Aye. His throat bobbed.
I'm sorry we didn't give you the benefit of the doubt seven years
ago, or at any of the chances since then.
I will forever be in your debt for what you tried to do.
She gave him a grim smile. Well, thanks to you, I never had
to do anything. You were going to do it.
He said. That's enough for me.
Consider us even then. He smirked at her and left
shortly after. Pansy had timed her arrival to
the memorial perfectly so that she wasn't late, but not enough
time for anyone to attempt to socialise with her.
Her gaze drifted over the DA members clustered together near
the stage as Potter addressed the crowd gathered for the
memorial. Neville stood with them rather
than the Hogwarts professors, surrounded by Ginny, Luna, Dean,
and Seamus. Pansy turned her attention back
to Potter's speech, the final one of the morning.
After seven years, you would think we would know everything
about the battle, every way that people fought on our side
however they were able. Potter's gaze landed directly on
Pansy. Oh, she was going to fucking
kill him. The boy who lived and died and
lived again was going to die for the final time by her wand.
Maybe that was everyone else's mistake.
Maybe he couldn't be killed by a wand.
That was fine. She was in the mood for a good
stabbing anyway. And yet, somehow, each year,
another bit of truth comes out, he said.
Another person who was willing to risk everything to fight for
what was right, to take a stand against bigotry and injustice.
The whispers grew even louder as Potter stared her down directly
across the courtyard. Cocky bastard looked like he was
fighting off a smirk to those people, whomever they may be.
As if Hermione's watery smile or even Weasels smirk in her
direction left any room to guess who Potter was talking about.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for what you were
willing to do to save as many lives as you could.
She was going to kill each one of them, Potter, Weasel,
Wieselet, even Draco. No wonder the bloody bastard had
moved away from her during the speech.
Hermione had obviously let him in on Potter's plans to single
her out. She mentally added the two of
them to her hit list. Potter wrapped up his speech,
and then everyone was finally free to mingle about the
courtyard. Her plan was to pay her respects
and slip back to the cottage. She didn't count on Molly
Weasley. Before she could weave her way
through the crowd of people pretending not to stare at her,
she was intercepted by the Weasley family matron.
Her eyes were already red and puffy from the moment they
landed on Pansy. She burst into tears.
Arthur Weasley wrapped an arm around his wife as if to steady
her. Pansy, dear, I'm so, so sorry.
She couldn't have picked her worst fucking place to do this,
could she? Missus Weasley, please, it's
Molly. Please, dear.
She sobbed. If you can ever forgive me for
how awful I've been. People were staring more than
they were before she stepped closer.
Molly apparently took that as an invitation for a hug and flung
herself at Pansy. The woman was grieving, so she
enjoyed it, patting her a few times on the back as Molly
sobbed into her shoulder. I thought you were trying to
give him up, but you really were just trying to save our little
girl. Said little girl was strolling
towards them, arm in arm with her husband, both of them
fighting smirks. This was either the most twisted
way of thanking her or getting revenge.
Knowing them, likely a combination of both.
Pansy pattered the weeping woman's back again.
It's all right, Molly, you didn't know it's not all right.
She wailed. If you could have just said
something, but of course you didn't think you could trust us.
And I never would have doubted Neville.
But oh, and then the scarf. Neville was now part of the
group surrounding them, deep concern on his face.
He looked about to intervene but looked at Jinny, who shook her
head, smirking. This was what trying to save a
couple of Gryffindors got her. Weasel of all people took pity
on her mum, Give her some space. Molly pulled back as soon as she
saw Jinny, and she started sobbing again and fell into her
daughter's arms. Pansy George strode towards her,
arms wide open. Come give Uncle Georgie a hug.
She whipped her wand out and pointed it at him before he
could get close. Think long and hard if you want
any more children, because if you touch me, I will hex your
balls off. Aw, she's just like her mum.
George laughed, but his expression almost immediately
fell. Angelina wrapped her arm around
him as much as she could with her swollen stomach.
Fuck. He said quietly.
Fred would have loved this so much.
I know, Angelina said, holding him close.
I have to say. Potter said quietly as he
stepped to her side. If someone told me a month ago
that you'd be making all my in laws cry on this day and would
have found an excuse to arrest you, is that still an option?
Because I would like to be taken up on that.
He chuckled like she'd been joking.
Pansy grunted as someone smashed into her with surprising force.
Hermione wrapped her arms around her, squeezing with all her
might as her bushy hair got everywhere.
One of these days we're going to talk about everything.
She swatted her hair away in an attempt not to suffocate on it.
As far as she knew, only Draco was into that.
There's nothing to talk about. Draco keeps saying that, but
Pansy, listen to him. She said he's much smarter than
you anyway. That got her to let go.
Hermione glared at Pansy and opened her mouth for a tirade.
A familiar drawing voice stopped her.
Granger, you know she's just trying to rile you up.
There's my proof. Pansy said.
All she got in response was an exaggerated eye roll and then
Hermione walking over to cuddle up against Draco over his
fiance's head. Draco gave Pansy a long, intense
look, doubtless trying to convey something stupid like his
eternal gratitude. If he didn't know her as well as
he did, he probably would have been as obnoxious as any of the
Gryffindors in that moment. Surely this was enough torture
for the day. She didn't get more than one
step away before the Weasel himself was there, holding out
his hand. Thanks, Pansy.
For what She demanded. I would have left you for dead.
The pleasant expression on his face turned into one of shocked
horrification, but Neville spoke in her defence before things got
interesting. She's uncomfortable with being
thanked, so that's a way of saying you're welcome.
Weasel's expression relaxed, and he grinned.
Oh. He clapped Pansy on the shoulder
the way he usually did Neville or Potter.
Cheers. Then She gaped at him, but he
was completely oblivious. Draco, Hermione, and Neville all
looked close to laughter. My main objective was getting
out of the castle as quickly as I could before the battle
started. Maybe today wasn't the day to
belabour that point, but none of the war heroes around seem to
mind. You didn't have enough training
to fight, and you would have blown your cover.
Hermione said as if she'd been some master spy like Snape.
Was it honestly this easy to rewrite history?
She'd been a complete bitch to each of them for seven years,
and after one good deed she hadn't even carried out, they
were suddenly on her side. You are nothing like that slimy
git Zacharias Smith knocking over first years to try to get
out the fastest. Bron muttered.
He was the only Hufflepuff to pass Amicus's lessons.
Neville said quietly. Pansy swallowed.
There was little difference to someone like Neville between
those who enjoyed Amicus's lessons and those who did what
they had to to survive. She tried not to pay attention,
so she didn't know which camp Smith fell in.
Sorry, excuse for a Hufflepuff. Ron said.
I swear, one of these days we're going to arrest him for hexing
some innocent woman in the back. You are no longer arresting
anyone for anything. Jinny said, having somehow
extracted herself from her weeping mother's arms to stride
over to their part of the group. Oh yeah, He said.
Still weird. I'll read about it in the Profit
then. Probably a bit of an adjustment,
huh? Jinny asked.
Having a job that no longer contributes to society in any
meaningful way? He scoffed.
You play professional quidditch, Jin.
Exactly. She said culture is a vital part
of society. It was Pansy's turn to scoff.
Jinny turned to her, eyebrows raised.
You don't think culture is an important part of society?
Oh, I absolutely do, she said. It's flying about on a broom and
trying to toss balls through some hoops that I wouldn't call
culture. George nudged her.
Hey, don't speak to your mother that way, he said.
She does what she can to make a good life for you.
She is not my mother, she snapped.
He gasped dramatically, but Jinny shushed him.
And it's OK, George, she said. I read all about this and it can
be really common. She turned to her now.
Pansy, just because Harry and I have decided to have a baby does
not mean I will ever let them replace you.
Sweet Salazar, save her. Keep your voice down.
She said through gritted teeth. If you ruin this announcement, I
will ensure I'm taking Potter's sleek, easy dividends for the
rest of my life. Ginny pressed her hands to her
chest. Pansy, we will always provide
for you. How much trouble could she get
into for hexing a pregnant woman?
She'd survived Azkaban once before, she could do it again.
I take it back. Pansy said.
Officially recant. Whatever, I would have only
saved Grainger and left you there.
Jinny let out a dramatic sniff and fanned her face as if she
was trying to stop herself from crying.
Oh no, you're just lashy now because you're scared, but it
just breaks my heart to think, have you ever doubt in my love
for you? They were never going to let her
live this down were they? When Harry, Ron, and Armioni
were pulled away, she thought this was her chance to finally
escape. She didn't get 2 steps until her
second least favorite redhead caught up and linked their arms
together. Sorry if we were a bit
heavy-handed with the teasing. Jinny said as if they were old
friends. Granted they had been getting
along surprisingly well lately. She found she rather enjoyed
Jinny's wry sense of humour when she wasn't using it to passive
aggressively attack Pansy. I don't think we know how else
to process all of this. Pansy Parkinson not being the
scum of the earth or the horrors that they would have had to face
had Harry not defied death yet again.
I'm heading back. She said, hoping Jinny would get
the hint. No, I figured, she said I'll
walk you to the gates. I need a break from all that
anyway. Too hormonal to answer questions
about Harry's death today. Pansy eyed her.
That's why Hermione redirected the conversation during the
interview. The corner of her mouth lifted
into a small smirk. Didn't want Daphne to have to
redo my makeup 17 times. You told them early on, then.
Her grin spread. We were having dinner with Ron
and Padner and Hermione and Draco an hour after we found
out. She said Harry's never had a
poker face and he couldn't keep anything from those two to save
his life anyway. That level of closeness was
foreign to her. Silence on things they knew
about each other, like Draco in love with Hermione or Theo being
gay, were how they showed their support.
Whether that was from the war or just slither in nature, she had
no idea. Ginny elbowed her sharply.
Ow, what? She nodded across the courtyard,
Hannah Abbott talking to Professor Sprout, hand in hand
with Terry Boot. All of his lingering glances
during the photo shoot suddenly made sense.
Just another one in the long line of men obsessed with Hannah
Abbott, according to Susan. They're pretty serious.
Ginny said. Pansy clenched her jaw so tight
she could practically hear her teeth cracking as they stepped
out of the courtyard and away from the crowd.
It took everything in her not to lash out at Ginny, but she was
pregnant and currently Pansy's most important client, so she
swallowed back every little thing she wanted to say to cut
her down just as she was about to open her mouth to say that
she would continue the rest of the way on her own.
Ginny could find her own way to avoid the crowd.
Footsteps caught up with them. Hermione fell in step,
breathless. Did you tell her?
Yeah, we just saw them holding hands.
Jinny said. Pansy froze.
Hermione and Jinny stopped a few steps later, realizing she
wasn't in step with them anymore, and turned around.
Being gossiping about me again? Wieselt, No, she said.
I didn't say anything to anyone except Hermione because I was
concerned and she sees Neville every week at your little snake
nights, so I thought she might have some more insight.
The fucking nerve than me. She huffed.
It doesn't sound like Neville. Pansy took a step towards her.
What part? She demanded the chivalrous
sacrifice himself to save me from a rather short lifetime of
rape and abuse. Both of them stared at her, pity
in their expressions. She wanted to hex it off both of
their faces. What exactly was I supposed to
feel by seeing Hannah and Terry together?
She demanded. Is being Neville's second choice
supposed to be some sort of comfort if she even took second
place? Or if she was just a convenient
way for him to get off, his favorite way to get off.
Hermione held out her hands, placating.
If something's changed for you, perhaps they've changed for
Neville too. A laugh bordering on hysterics
broke from her lips. You know what, you're right.
She said. A lot of things have changed
lately. She couldn't believe she was
laying all of this out for the two of them, but once she
started, she couldn't stop. There's the fact that Neville
suddenly started working late every single night, even on
weekends, she said. And the fact that he started
aberrating home when he always, always walks home from the
castle before exam season is busy.
Hermione said. Maybe he's tired.
It's Neville, he's not cheating. Jinny said, as if she needed
Wieselt to tell her that Drago never physically cheated on me
either. Pansy snapped.
Doesn't mean I don't know exactly what it's like to be
with someone who's pining for someone else.
Hot waves of humiliation rolled through her.
Her eyes burned, and she was grateful yet again for the
stupid oversized sunglasses. The fact that she had to explain
this, admit this, to these two witches who had men fawning over
them their entire lives, who were both in committed
relationships with men who adored them, who would do
anything for them. Pansy gestured to Hermione.
I've already been there, done that, and know exactly how that
story ends. With some giant big sweeping
gesture. Never would do for Hannah.
Intent on winning her back and making it work once and for all
with her, Hermione took a small step towards her Pansy.
She shook her head. I can't do this, not with you of
all people. Not when Hermione was the
constant reminder of the first time someone had used Pansy as a
convenient coxleeve, when he couldn't have the woman he truly
loved. Draco was one thing.
She'd never had feelings for him beyond friendship, had wanted to
protect him as much as she could.
So she had borne the insult of him thinking about someone else
when they were together, but the thought that Neville might have
been doing the same all along. She was so sick of being the
second choice, of being a placeholder for one fucking time
in her life. For the first time that it
actually mattered. She wanted to be the first.
She wanted to be more than just a fun time.
She wanted to matter. She wanted to be loved.
Feeling the tears start to come in earnest, she stormed past
them, intent toward the gates. Bansi Jinny tried again.
She whirled around. I do not fucking care that the
two of you are my most important clients, she said.
If either one of you bring this up with me again, we are done.
Without another look back, she stormed all the way back to
Neville's cottage. The pile of red letters and
unmarked packages that greeted her on the table did nothing for
her mood. Somewhere in the depths of a
cottage, a sneaker scope was frantically going off right.
Happy May 2nd. With a flick of her wand, she
opened up the first howler. You piece of shit Death Eater
scum, you have no right deserve to die in a cold and lonely
death in Azerbaijan. The door to the cottage burst
open. Neville ran in wand out as the
howler ended and burst into flames.
The next one opened and screamed at her.
Hope you fucking die bitch echoed through the space before
it too burst into flames. At least that one was short.
The next Howler opened, but before it could get out more
than Death eat, there was a flash of light and it burst into
flames. Before it got any of the message
out, there were only two more. Neville incinerated them as well
the moment they started spewing. Pansy sat in her chair for
several heartbeats. Aside from Neville panting, the
cottage was silent. What was that?
He finally asked. Fan mail, She said.
Yours is on the coffee table. He had a rather impressive pile
of letters and packages. All of them had return addresses
on them. As they were speaking, an owl
swooped in through the open door and dropped a red letter in her
lap. Neville destroyed it as well
before the owl was fully out of the house.
I did my best to check all the packages, but you should run a
few diagnostics on them before you open anything.
She said. The sneakerscope stopped going
off if that helps check for. He gaped at her.
People send you packages? That set off my sneakerscope.
Unless you're ordering undiluted buba tuber pus through the mail,
she said. If so, you should speak with
your supplier. They should put that in a glass
vial. Someone sent you buba tuber pus.
She was lucky that was the worst of it this year.
Longbottom, there's how your lot is treated today, and there's
how my lot is treated today. Probably made worse by her
participation in the Wizarding Times DA reunion piece.
You saw the store in July. Does Harry know about all of
this? He demanded.
The person who attacked you could have sent you something.
I've little doubt they did. She said.
That's why I was listening to them one by one this year.
Could have been any of them. And the Howlers are untraceable
anyway. Pansy.
She couldn't fucking stand the pity in his voice.
A Theo went over the wards around the shop last night in
preparation. She said.
I have some work to get done, so I'm going to head there.
Don't open any packages addressed to me without running
diagnostics on them first. You shouldn't be alone today of
all days. You don't need to babysit me at
the shop and miss the annual reunion at the Three
Broomsticks. He cocked his head.
She answered the question he didn't ask Grainger.
He cleared his throat. I'd like you to come.
No, Bansi, he said. Things are different now.
She squeezed her eyes shut. They were facing Jinny, or
Grainger, with her big, sad eyes after the way she'd screamed at
them wasn't happening. Part of her wondered if she
should even be working on a maternity line, or if she'd just
burned that bridge. Jinny had signed the paperwork,
though, so she was committed, even if she wanted to back out
now. I don't want to sit through
questions, she said. I'll tell them to enjoy the day
with your friends, Longbottom, she said.
You deserve it. Before he had the chance to
respond, she operated directly from the kitchen to her shop.
If compartmentalisation was a skill, Pansy had perfected it to
an art form. She had one of her most
productive afternoons in weeks, finishing all of her custom
orders, Hermione's clothes for the rest of the month, and
preliminary sketches for Ginny's wardrobe.
Muggles really had mastered maternity fashion, but finding
ways to change it and add flares for Muggle flashing was
everything she loved about her design concept.
She needed to have her ready to wear maternity line prepared the
moment the Potters announced their pregnancy, fully expecting
a mob at her door. Gossip that Ginny had an
endorsement deal with Pansy just like Hermione, had already
started to spread and her sales were higher than ever.
The Potters were opting for as late in the pregnancy as
possible for their public announcement.
Pansy's creative tailoring was going to come in handy.
Until then, she had time to finish the line, but not much,
especially if Ginny's big mouth slipped before the official
announcement. The issue with
compartmentalisation, however, was what happened when Pansy was
no longer working. Everything came flooding back.
It was late and there was nothing left to do without the
proper lighting for fabric samples and mock ups, or Ginny's
approval on her sketches. But Pansy couldn't go back to
the empty cottage in Hogsmead, not again.
So she left the shop, meticulously checking the wards
before she wandered down the quiet St.
It was cold and dark. She should have brought a cloak
or cast a warming charm, but at least the sting of cold was an
excuse for why her eyes were watering.
Most of Diagon Alley shut down in observance of the day.
Pubs and restaurants remained open, but even the most
boisterous ones were subdued and sober, small clusters of family
or friends remembering those who were lost.
Lost because of people like her father.
It was easy to brush it off most days, but since she felt she
needed to be punished and did wonder if perhaps there was a
clue in the howlers she could give to Potter, the hour of
listening to letter after letter of vitriol spewed at her weighed
on her. No matter what Neville said or
did, no matter what Harry fucking Potter said or did, she
was and would always be the daughter of a Death Eater.
What he did while the Dark Lord was alive was vile enough.
If Potter hadn't won the battle, he would have caused so much
more evil. All the Gryffindors were so
eager to celebrate her for wanting to save Hermione.
Did they even think about who would take her place?
It wasn't as if McNair or the others like him would be kept
from their favorite amusements. That was Pansy's legacy.
Her father had invested what little funds and resources he
had into furthering the cause of the Dark Lord, intent on taking
back what he thought had been stolen from him by the mere
existence of muggle born witches and Wizards.
It was no wonder Neville wanted nothing to do with her, would
drop her as soon as he was able. She expected the familiar pain
to wrench its way through her gut, but it hit her in the back
instead. Stumbling, she tried to catch
herself, but the pain radiated, spreading through her body,
agony burning through each limb, almost like the Cruciatus, but
instead of her nerves flying, it was as if she was being flayed
from the inside out. Hex, Someone had hexed her.
She fumble for her wand when the force of a second spell struck
her in the back. Agony tore through her body as
she flew forward, smashing into the unforgiving cobblestone.
St. Black crept along the edges of
her vision. Distantly she could hear
shouting and the flashes of light, of spells being cast
along their bond. For a moment she thought she
could hear Neville yelling her name before the gold light
filled her vision and everything went black.