The Right by Parks and Fiction Chapter 22 Happy Christmas.
Neville's joyous exclamation was echoed back by the dozens of
people crowded in the kitchen and living room.
Molly Weasley came over with a hug and a kiss for Neville.
Thank you for coming, wouldn't miss it.
He said with a grin. You remember Pansy?
The happiness in her eyes froze over to an icy glare.
Of course, Neville had presents for almost everyone, but Pansy
still brought wine as a Hostess gift.
She held the bottle out to Molly.
Thank you for welcoming me into your home.
Neville has been like a son to us.
Molly said, her eyes sharp. Harry too, even before he
married Jinny. Ah, that's what this was about.
Pansy picked out the wine. Neville said, as if buying a
nice bottle of wine would make up for her insistence on
offering carry up to the Dark Lord.
Molly gave her a tight smile before finally accepting the
gift. I'm sure we'll be able to find
someone to drink it. Neville looked like he was about
to say something else when Molly cut him off with a Herbology
question and swept him into the kitchen.
So much for him staying close to make sure everyone was nice to
her. Pansy glanced around the
cluttered room, looking for another familiar face.
It was exactly as she'd expected the Weasley home to be, slightly
worn down but obviously well loved.
Knitted throws and pillows were all over the place, covering the
threadbar patches on the upholstery.
A warm fire burned in the fireplace, which was decorated
with a hideously tacky flashing Garland and more stockings
crammed among the mantle than she could count.
The circle of gifts around the tree took up three times the
space the tree itself did. Draco was arguing good naturedly
in the kitchen about Quidditch with Potter, Ron, Oliver Wood,
and another redhead who was obviously a Weasley.
Hermione was deep in conversation with a serious
looking redhead and the woman at his side.
He was by far the best dressed of the Weasley clan.
The woman next to him was wearing the unfortunate
shapeless look typical for pregnant witches.
She nearly sighed. As soon as Draco knocked up
Hermione, she'd have a thing or two to say about maternity
fashion, but unless another progressive, high profile client
volunteered to model, the wizarding world wasn't ready for
her ideas. Hello.
Nearly jumping out of her skin, she turned to find herself face
to face with Looney Lovegood. We checked for Narcos.
Looney said. No need to worry about the
mistletoe this year. The wizard just over her
shoulder's gaze flicked between protracted glances at Loony and
suspicious glances at Pansy. Aha.
As usual, Pansy had no idea what the witch was on about.
Thank you for that. The wizard's face eased up.
He grinned and held out his hand.
I don't think we've met yet, he said.
Rolf's Scamander. Pansy.
PAH Longbottom, she said, catching herself.
Congrats, he said, slipping an arm around his wife.
Sorry we missed the wedding. Looney had a small smile.
Jinny said it was so quick because she guessed you were
pregnant, but I found it romantic.
That made exactly one person in existence.
Thank you, she said instead. Neville and I thought so too.
Looney tilted her head. Your aura is different from
school. Bloody hell, where was Neville?
Surely he had something to talk to these two about.
It used to be orange. Looney continued.
Not your colour. Rich coming from her.
She'd seen some pictures of Looney's wedding dress.
Perhaps she thought everyone's colour was all of them at one
time. But when you were around
Neville? She smiled.
I like it. Now.
She swallowed back her discomfort.
That's very kind of you to say. Lily's smile spread.
Jinny doesn't always listen to me about auras, but I'll tell
her again that would fix things. So, do you 2 have any other
plans for the Christmas holidays?
As predicted, Looney went off about their plans for hunting
down some magical creature that Pansy, and probably no one else
in the room had ever heard of. Still, attempting to follow
along with the ramblings at least gave the semblance of
Pansy participating in a pleasant social interaction.
It took 1/4 of an hour before she was rescued.
Luna, I'm so sorry to interrupt. Hermione said Audrey wants to
meet Pansy. Do you mind if I steal her away?
Looney smiled at Hermione. Oh, I think she'll very much
prefer it. She said she's doing what Harry
does when he's trying to be polite.
Pansy wasn't sure what she found more offensive being compared to
Harry Potter, or that Looney had realised she had zero interest
in the conversation. It was nice speaking to you
both. She said, offering an apologetic
smile to Rolf. He grinned.
Yeah, it was nice to meet you too, Pansy.
Hermione linked arms as they strode across the room packed
with redheads. Look at you being nice to Luna.
It's Christmas. Audrey turned out to be the
pregnant wife of the one Percy Weasley, Deputy Director of
Magical Transportation. She seemed sweet and managed to
get in a few questions on if Pansy would ever consider doing
a maternity line before her husband dominated the
conversation. With the pressing magical
transportation issues that a business owner in Diagon Alley
might face between Hermione and Draco, and eventually Neville
once Molly apparently exhausted her Herbology questions, Pansy
managed to have civil conversations with almost
everyone present throughout most of the afternoon, excluding the
persons with the surname Potter, who always seemed to be on the
opposite side of the room from her.
As there was not a table large enough to fit them all, there
was no formal meal, but food continuously flowed from the
kitchen on enchanted trays. Eventually they all gathered as
best they could in the living room for presents.
Tears in her eyes, Molly grabbed 2 of the lumpy parcels
underneath the tree. Harry and Hermione, of course.
She sniffed and dabbed her eyes as the two accepted the gifts.
Come off it, Mum. George said.
It's been 7 years of them getting the first gifts and
they're not even your kids. Molly rounded on him.
They're as good as. This was obviously a familiar
argument from the smirks and muffled laughter around the
room. Even before he married Jinny,
Harry's been a part of this family.
And even if Ron doesn't make things work with Hermione, Mum?
Ron yelled. He waved his arm in an
exaggerated gesture at Padma. Molly smiled.
Of course we love you, Padma darling.
It's just that Ron and Armione were so close, Mum.
Ron cut her off again for the last time.
Hermione is like half the room started calling out for the
Weasel to shut up. Neville cringed and sunk down
into the couch. A sister to me?
Ron finished to groans from half the room.
Now mine. He turned as red as a Weasley.
Draco pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.
Jinny, who had been draped over Harry's lap on one of the
armchairs, sat up and started gagging.
Leaning over the side, she theatrically dry heaved for the
last time. You all know what I mean.
Ron yelled. George whipped out a piece of
parchment. All right, Charlene, that's 12
gallions to Angelina for her guessing Christmas.
He read off. Bill, You 08?
Pansy leaned over to Neville. This is why you all don't let
Ron talk about dating Grainger. He smirked and held up a hand as
a pouch flew towards him. He opened it up and pulled out a
galleon before pocketing it. Yeah, he said.
Nice way to earn some cash though.
No gambolino on Christmas. Molly said.
It somehow makes it not quite as bad.
Neville muttered to her. Everyone who won money passed
some back to George. He divided it into three and
handed a pile to Ginny, Hermione, and Padma.
Only Padma looked amused by the situation.
Hermione and Ginny both looked like they were barely willing to
touch the coins. At least let Ron go with Harry
and Hermione, Mum. Bill said he deserves it as much
as they do. Debatable.
Jinny muttered, ignoring her daughter.
Molly handed Ron his package as well.
The golden trio opened their jumpers as one, going on about
how wonderful they were and how nice Molly was until she was
blushing and almost in tears again.
Somehow they worked their way through the rest of the
assembly, presents from everyone else getting thrown into the
mix. Neville's jumper was, as
promised, a sight to see, a dizzying combination of red,
blue, yellow and green Argyle that he seemed as excited to
receive as Molly was to give it to him.
Lunas was equally as unique with its bright near fluorescent
stripes. All of the yarn was multi
coloured, just with a different strongest hue, so the whole
thing was a dizzying array of colours.
She seemed to love it, and Neville seemed a little too
interested in it for Pansy's comfort.
If he ever brought home something like that, she would
destroy it, deal or no. As the pile dwindled, Molly
walked over to Draco with two lumpy packages.
Oy, Ron said. Why does Draco of all people get
2? Ronald Weasley, Mind your
manners. Molly snapped when she turned to
Draco again, her eyes filled with tears.
No, no, Christmas is going to be much different for you this
year, to say the least. Pansy had been a regular
attender at Malfoy Manor Christmas celebrations.
Weasley, Christmas was its opposite in every way.
Draco seemed to enjoy it all the more for that.
After what you said to me when you came back from Egypt, and
what you've done for our Hermione, aye.
She pushed the two packages towards him, wiping her eyes.
Thank you for your forgiveness and hospitality, Molly.
It means more to me than I could ever say.
Draco said. She waved her hand.
Oh, come on. He opened the smaller of the two
and froze. Let's see.
George called. Draco lifted up a pair of white
mittens. It took her a heartbeat to
recognise the animal. They were supposed to be
ferrets. George broke 1st and the entire
room erupted into laughter. Hermione slapped her hands over
her mouth, but her shoulders were shaking.
Even Pansy couldn't help herself, pressing her face into
Neville's arm while he shook with laughter as she tried to
contain hers. George and Genevra Weasley.
Molly yelled. Jinny laughed so hard she fell
off Potter's lap. Harry was too busy wiping tears
off his cheeks to help her. I didn't think you'd do it.
George barely managed to get out through his mirth.
Molly looked torn between hexing her two children and wringing
her hands at Draco. They said it was your favorite
animal. Another round of laughter burst
out. And to knit it on your jumper.
But that seemed too juvenile, so I thought I'd make mittens
instead. Draco, with all the grace that
he could muster, smiled at her. Thank you, Molly, I can tell you
put a great deal of effort into these, and I appreciate it.
She waved off his praise with an angry glare at George and Ginny.
There's a jumper too, like Fleurs jumper.
Draco's was made of what Pansy immediately recognised as silver
Rambuli, lambs wool. While Fleurs was a soft blue,
Draco's was a light grey to match your eyes.
Molly said. Draco thanked her, but a
flustered Molly waved him off. Oy, got another here.
Ron said, pulling out another package underneath the tree.
Pansy. The room fell silent.
Ron glanced at his mother with a disbelieving look.
Molly sat down next to Arthur and nodded to Pansy.
Well. Ron chucked the package at her
so hard she just managed to catch it.
It was smaller than the other jumper packages, but obviously
something homemade by Molly. She hadn't expected anything
from her, from the looks on the faces of the children and their
spouses, neither had anyone else.
With all eyes on her, she carefully opened the package.
The paper fell away to reveal a bright red scarf.
Gryffindor colours, of course, and with pansies knitted along
one end. Still, the fact that Molly made
anything. She lifted it up and froze.
Someone snorted. Scarf was a rather generous
description of the piece of knit.
It was barely long enough to wrap around her neck all of one
time. Everyone in the room who'd shot
Molly looks of betrayal for giving Pansy a gift were now
trying to hide their sniggers. Despite everyone laughing about
Draco's ferret mittens, that hadn't been cruel.
A joke Draco was part of, as much a trick for Molly as it was
for him, but this was supposed to humiliate her.
Across the room, Hermione and Draco watched her with equal
expressions of pity. Molly's eyes glinted as she gave
her a smile bordering on smug. Jinny said you don't like to
have pansies around, and that there weren't any at your
wedding. I thought if you were wearing
them, you might feel different. There were 1000 cutting remarks
on the tip of her tongue, ways to gut the smug woman in front
of her, eviscerate her and humiliate her as much as Pansy
felt in that moment. But she could feel Neville's
thigh pressed against hers. She'd promised him she'd be
kind. Across the room, she caught
Luna's gaze. Unlike most of the others, she
didn't show judgement or vindication.
Not the pity of Hermione and Draco either, just curiosity.
Nothing had infuriated Pansy more when they were in school
than when she mocked Luna and didn't get a response.
She turned to Molly Weasley and smiled at her.
Thank you, Missus Weasley, she said.
I've never had someone take the time to make me a homemade gift
before, so I hope you know how much I appreciate this.
Molly smiled, hardened, and she brushed at her robes, finally
looking somewhat embarrassed. The mocking glances shot her way
turned to ones of irritation. Right.
There was never any winning with this lot.
Yeah, that's great. Neville said, beaming with
genuine feeling, oblivious to anything unspoken.
He put his hand on her knee and squeezed.
We'll get your loving Gryffindor colours.
His reaction almost hurt worse than the others.
Perhaps the only person who would stand up for her, the only
person who had chosen her over a Weasley before, had no idea she
was being mocked. Well Molly, you'll have at least
2 new jumpers to make next year. Angelina said.
At least they'll be little ones. Molly patted Audrey's hand.
Yes, we're so. She froze and her head whipped
towards Angelina. 2 Angelina's hand dropped to her abdomen and
she grinned. Middle of July.
Molly screeched and ran over to embrace Angelina and then
George. The rest of them in the room
followed. Everyone wanted to hug and
congratulate the two. Pansy stayed where she was,
letting them all have their moment, feeling like more of an
outsider than ever. Somewhere in the midst of the
chaos, the subject of the annual Weasley Family Christmas
Quidditch match came up. Hermione had apparently made
some spell that assigned teams based on position after
Christmas of 2001 and incident. Neville refused to promise to
explain to Pansy Ardrey live most of 7th year before that.
He jerked his head towards where the rest of them were tromping
off to bundle up. Gonna watch?
She glanced at those remaining inside.
Audrey was sweet, and she'd had a lovely conversation with Fleur
and Andromeda both, but they had young children to distract them.
Molly Pagner and Looney did not. It was freezing out, but there
were warming charms for that. No magical spell existed to get
any of them to tolerate her without Neville around.
She smiled. Yeah, I think I will.
With the tap of her wand, she transfigured her heels into warm
boots and put on her coat. Pansy, you going to wear your
new scarf? Someone called.
The not so hidden Snickers were back.
Fine. She'd summon the sorry excuse
for a scarf from where she'd left it on the couch.
It took a quick charm to get the ends to lay flat against her
chest and actually do the job. When they stepped outside, the
wind immediately cut through the loose knit.
She added a warming and wind blocking charm, but instantly
missed the thick cashmere scarf she'd worn there.
No one else said a word to her as they all marched outside to
the Quidditch pitch. In the field behind the house,
she watched the two teams do a quick few warm UPS.
Before they started the game, they were playing without
beaters or bludgers. Whether that was a concession
because of the numbers or because of Fred, she didn't ask.
It was boring, not to mention difficult to watch the Quidditch
from the ground, but it was better than being inside the
house 1/4 of an hour into standing in the snow with a neck
cramp from trying to pay attention to the game.
She heard the crunch of footsteps and turned.
Hermione smiled at her. Pansy cocked her head.
You hate Quidditch. I like you.
She turned back to the game. Jinny was berating Ron for
missing a goal that she could enjoy.
I don't need your pity. Hermione watched the sky for a
minute. Do you remember the Witch Weekly
article about me, Harry and Victor Crumb, 4th year?
Sweet Cersei, How could she forget?
Hermione, you've been all over the news sources ever since you
befriended the Chosen 1. Rita Skeeter quoted you.
It was so hard not to smirk. She quoted me a lot that year, I
remember. Hermione muttered.
She sighed. It's the one you rubbed in my
face right before Potion's class when Snape caught us with it and
he read it out for the entire class.
A chuckle broke out before she could rein it in.
You do remember, Ah, Pansy. She laughed for real this time.
Of course I remember that you called me ugly.
She said. What was this about further
grievances? She was expected to repent.
I also complimented your intelligence.
Hermione scoffed. You called me brainy in the
context of saying I was drugging Harry and Victor with love
potions. That irritated piece of nagging
guilt tugged at her. I am sorry, she said.
I was mad about you stealing Draco away from me and wanted to
get back at you however I could. I shouldn't have done it.
He didn't even realise he liked me back then.
No, but I did. From the moment Hermione swept
into the Yule Ball, Pansy had seen it the moment she'd lost
Draco Malfoy for good. And so went the next three years
of desperately trying to cling to the man who should have been
her salvation. Well, thank you for the apology,
Hermione said. But that's not why I brought it
up. She glanced over at her friend.
Molly believed the article. She said she always sent us
treats for Easter that year. Harry and Ron and everyone
else's eggs were as big as their heads.
Mine was about the size of a chicken egg.
Fancy turned back to the sky, watching without seeing.
Not only does she get a bit vindictive when someone she
thinks of as family has been wronged, Molly doesn't have a
great record with anyone who married into the family.
Lucky for Molly that Pansy and Neville weren't intending to
stay married. She hated Fleur for the longest
time. It only changed when Fleur went
off on her after Molly assumed she'd break the engagement after
Bill was attacked by Greyback. She didn't bother telling
Hermione she'd been right there that night.
It wasn't like she would believe her anyway.
Oliver she liked a little better because he's the reason Charlie
came to run the Welsh Sanctuary instead of staying in Romania.
But that hasn't stopped her from commenting how disappointed she
is that they won't have grandchildren.
The woman had seven children. Did every one of them need to
have babies? Then?
She was furious at Angelina for dating George because she
thought she saw him as a replacement for Fred.
She said actively tried to break them up until George put her in
line. That was something she'd been
curious about for years. Was she and Fred ever serious?
Hermione shrugged. I don't think so, she said.
I don't even know if the Yule Ball was a date or just friends.
I do know she loves George, though.
She wondered if things would have been different if Fred
lived. Molly hated Padma because she
was holding out hope that Ron and I would get back together.
She said. Padma handled it with more grace
than I ever would have. There had always been a deep
inherent grace to the Ravenclaw Patil sister, one that even the
most well trained pure blood woman could only imitate.
Is that what won her over? Hermione smiled softly.
No, her eyes watched the figures, heartbreak in her eyes.
George falls in and out of depression, has ever since Fred
died. It used to be a lot worse.
For several years we didn't think he'd ever touch a broom
again. She glanced back at the sky,
watching him zoom and try to score on his previous captain.
Angelina does her best, but Padma seems to have this sense
about George. Hermione said when it's about to
happen, what she can say or do. None of us really get it.
They both haven't said much about it other than it's a twin
thing. Does it make Angelina jealous?
No, they've become really good friends actually.
She wouldn't have noticed before, but looking back at all
the DA gatherings throughout the day at Weasley Christmas, even
Padma was right there by George's side.
Considering how jealous Ron had gotten over the years, she
wondered why it didn't bother him either.
If it did, at least she hadn't seen it.
And I suppose Molly hated Harry most of all.
Hermione snorted. Exactly.
She smirked at the sky. Probably would have disowned
Jinny if she'd let him get away. How pure blood of her anyway.
Hermione said. I'm sorry about the scarf.
Molly shouldn't have done that. She's just protective of Harry
and everyone else in there too, really, considering everything
we went through to keep him alive.
Fancy stared at the Flyers above, knowing exactly how this
conversation was going to go and that there was no way to stop it
once they realized you didn't actually mean what you said.
I did mean it. She said every word Today,
standing here in the snow with the only person who'd seen how
she was feeling after the humiliation of the gift opening
and come back to check on her, the truest friend she'd ever
had. She meant it more than ever.
What she would have lost if she'd remained silent in the
Great Hall twisted her gut. Potter had won, yes, but if he
hadn't, this kind, good witch who'd somehow found herself able
to forgive not only Draco but Pansy as well, then go on to
befriend them both, would have been turned over to Walden
McNair. Nausea rolled through her, and
she quickly packed that thought away with the rest of the
darkness she kept tucked away in the recesses of her mind with
every passing day since she'd marched into the Office of Hell.
Self Relocation to watch Draco being tormented by Hermione's
presence, only to leave with Hermione for a shopping trip
minutes later. She meant those words in the
Great Hall more and more. Hermione let out a sharp hoof.
You wouldn't have said it if her voice rang out with conviction.
I said it because I meant it, and I would do it again.
Watching her friend, she waited. Waited for the judgement, the
scorn for Hermione to finally stop believing her, to say their
friendship was over. But if she asked, if she for one
moment gave her the benefit of the doubt, if she asked her why,
she swore she'd tell her everything.
Hermione frowned. Pansy, you don't have to pretend
around me. I know you're a good person.
Disappointment hit her like a familiar punch to the gut.
No one ever listened or asked. They just assumed based on their
preconceived notions of her. She turned back to the game.
I'm not pretending, and I have never tried to be a good person.
Ask me. There's nothing you'd love more
than learning, Granger. Just ask.
But her friend remained silent as they stood still, watching
the Quidditch match circle above.