The Strongest Signal of All

A/N: This is going to be the darkest I will write, as you can tell from the warnings. The story will be the main focus, although yes there will be sex, forgiv me if this is not as lighthearted as my other stories. It is only the first chapter, but I think it sets the right tone for the rest of it. **


Pansy could feel the life slowly leaving her body. She felt dead inside, like a walking corpse. She was cold, walking as if under the Imperious Curse, and she knew what was causing it. She didn’t have to look up to know that the dementors were floating around her like liquid air. It wasn’t in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. That’s what she’d been taught and she was fast experiencing it now as she walked.

She was garbed in the traditional black and white striped robes of the Azkaban inmate. That’s what she was now. She wasn’t Pansy Brames, she was inmate 2124. She didn’t dare hope. If she did the dementors would descend upon her in a feeding frenzy.

The cell door slammed shut, closing her off from reality. She sank into the corner and slid to the floor letting the sadness overtake her.

Ron Weasley walked quickly toward the building, hoping to avoid the woman he knew would be waiting, but he was too late, she had seen him already. Before he knew it Rita Skeeter was walking beside him just as fast as he was, firing questions at him.

“Mr. Weasley do you have any comment on your ex wife’s arrest?” He ignored her. “She’s been formally charged with the murder of her husband, do you have anything to say about it?” He continued walking. “Are you here at Granger’s office to secure counsel for her?” He walked up the steps. “Do you believe she’s guilty Mr. Weasley?” He opened the door and walked in, grateful for the silence. Hermione’s law office had wards that prevented reporters from entering. The last thing she wanted was nosy reporters, human or animagus form, trying to find out information for stories.

The receptionist knew him and allowed him to pass into her office without notice. If Hermione had been with a client she would have stopped him.

The moment he walked in, Hermione stood and came out from her desk. She knew why he was here. “I heard the news from our friend out there. I’ve contacted Harry and he says its true.” Ron sat down, a grim look on his face. “She was taken from the Ministry to Azkaban this morning.”

“You’ll represent her, won’t you?”

“Of course. I’ve asked Harry for records but he says the Auror department can’t release them unless I’m her documented counsel, so I’m going to the prison now to speak with her.” She moved behind her desk and gathered her satchel.

“I’ll go with you.” Together they left through the floo network.

Her cell door opened, but Pansy didn’t bother looking up. The guards conducted random searches at any hour, this was most likely another one.

“Pansy?” She looked between her hair and saw Hermione Granger and her ex husband Ron Weasley. She brushed the hair from her face and saw Ron’s face contort in anger, while Hermione was assessing the damage. She could read it on their faces.

She could only see out of one eye, so she knew the other was swollen. Her lip stung, so she knew it was split. The other side of her face hurt and throbbed so she knew it was bruised. Her head still hurt and her whole body ached.

“Pansy I’m here offering you legal counsel. I need you to sign this parchment and then I can arrange medical attention for you.” She pulled out a small box and tapped it with her wand. A table and three chairs enlarged and arranged themselves in the cell.

Ron came over and offered his hand. With his help she managed to get to her feet. When he put an arm around her she winced and sucked in a sharp breathe. Ron didn’t remove his hand, but she knew what he was doing.

“At least one broken rib, maybe two.” He told Hermione, then moved his hand to her shoulder and helped her sit down.

“Pansy, sign this please.” Hermione offered her a quill and with a shaky hand she managed to sign. “I’m going to talk to the warden about getting a healer here. I’ll be right back.” When she left the cell Pansy’s turned to Ron. His eyes move rapidly over her face.

“Is it very bad?” She asked, almost in tears. Ron had always loved touching her face.

“It’s bad, but we’ll get it taken care of.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’ll take care of you Pansy.” He whispered kissing her head.

“I’m sorry Ron.” She said. He looked at her confused. “For the things I said to you. For saying you didn’t care, for saying you didn’t love me. I said some horrible things to you when we split. I was too stupid to see that you did care and you did love me.”

Ron looked at the woman he used to be married to. “I never stopped loving you Pansy. I still do that’s why I’m here.” Her told her. “I told you I will always take care of you, and I will.”

Pansy would have let her tears fall but she was cried out. Ron and her had married young, just out of Hogwarts. They were married for three years, while Ron was Auror training. The long hours and the time away during their newlywed years took a toll on Pansy.

Soon she began accusing Ron of not caring about her, of neglecting her and devoting more time to his work then her. She knew Auror training was hard but she was too foolish to see it. She wanted her husband to spend time with her. When it came close to the final testing period, Ron was away more and more. Pansy sank into a depressing and eventually asked for a divorce.

Ron tried to convince her to wait, it would get better when he finished the trails, but she was too far into a depressive state to listen. She felt abandoned, and kicked aside. She wished she hadn’t been so stupid, she should have had more faith in Ron, but she was selfish, wanting time with him.

Ron saw how she was hurting and he could do nothing about it. She wanted to leave and he loved her too much to try and force her to stay when she didn’t want to. On the day their divorce was final, Ron spoke with her telling her that he loved her and had only worked hard to give her a good home. He told her that if she ever needed him, he would help her, he would always take care of her if she asked him.

Ron never had a relationship after that. He had loved Pansy and kept his hope up that one day she would need him as much as he needed her. He saw her a few times, in the months following the split. She seemed sad, like him, but then he heard she was going to remarry. His heart broke, but he couldn’t forget her. He sent her an owl wishing her good luck and telling her that his last words still stood, if she ever needed anything he would be there for her.

She sent her thanks in an owl and said that while she wasn’t in love, he did treat her with kindness. She said she would keep his words to heart and if she ever needed anything she would think of him.

That seemed a lifetime ago. Now here she was alone in a prison, clutching the man who she left. He could have told her to piss off, she felt she deserved it, as selfish as she was. Now with life’s lessons delivered as harshly as they were, she knew Ron always loved her and what he did, he did to take care of her. He had kept his promise and was taking care of her. And that alone made Pansy feel lower then ever. The depression of the past day and the atmosphere of Azkaban was having it’s effect on her.

Hermione came back in.

“A healer in on the way to see to your injuries. Harry is on his way also, bringing the files from the Auror department.” She sat down. “Now, Pansy we need to get to the bottom of what happened. Did you kill your husband?” Pansy looked up and nodded. Hermione made some notes. “Tell me what happened.”

“Where should I start?” She asked, still clutching Ron’s hand.

“At the beginning.” Hermione said, quill posed to take notes.