"Who's Watching?"

Pansy Parkinson was at the end of her rope. She was fast thinking that the biggest mistake she had ever made in her young life so far was dating Blaise Zabini. If she was honest with herself, she had only dated him because she was flattered to be asked.

Her and Draco had tried to date but the friendship was just too strong. Draco was her friend, nothing else. The way Blaise talked to her was flattering and she fell for everything he said, hook line and sinker. It hadn’t been a month when she knew it wasn’t going to work. Blaise was far too possessive and often wanted to know her whole schedule in the morning, if she strayed he wanted to know why. He also had dropped the caring and complimentary attitude after she had agreed to become a couple. Apparently it wasn’t needed anymore.

Needless to say she had called it off not too long after noticing the pattern. Zabini on the other hand was sure he could convince her otherwise. He followed her anytime he had a spare moment, always tried to sit next to her at meals and in the common room. Draco even commented to him on a few occasions to leave Pansy alone, but he would continue before the day was out, or when Draco wasn’t looking. Her friendship with Draco as the only thing keeping Zabini in line. There was no way he would challenge Malfoy in any capacity.

Pansy finally managed a moment alone, and sat in an empty niche along the corridor leading to the great hall. What was she going to do about him? Draco was also getting irritated with his behavior and while he wasn’t mad at Pansy, she felt guilty that he was bothered by her ex. Greg and Vincent always took the opportunity to bad mouth him, but Draco hated the fact that Pansy was always looking over her shoulder.

“You could at least talk to me Won-Won.” Pansy let her eyes drift to the side and silently chuckled to herself. Ron Weasley was once again dodging Lavender Brown. They had also broken up if gossip was to be believed, and apparently Won-Won was having the same issues as she was in getting rid of a prior partner.

The same issues as her? Pansy sat up straighter. He was having the same issues. That’s it! She had the answer. All she needed to do was talk to Wealsey. She tucked herself further into the niche, watching them to see where they went.

“Wait, wait, Ron, we weren’t so bad together, we never argued. There’s no reason why we can’t try again.” Lavender said, her whining voice annoying Pansy. He put up with that voice for how many months?

“Lavender, all we did was snog, we didn’t even talk. What’s the point of being with someone if you have nothing in common?” He countered, turning to look at her. Lavender’s back was to Pansy and she took the opportunity to signal to Ron that she wanted to talk to him. He had met her eyes. Did that mean he understood?

“Can I help it if you wanted to snog all the time?” Lavender said with a giggle.

“Look Lavender I have to meet up with a friend, so are we through here?” When she started to object he smiled and walked away. He passed Pansy and turned a corner. Pansy watched and made sure Lavender entered the great hall for lunch.

“She gone.” Pansy said. Ron turned the corner again and walked up to her. “Having problems Won-Won?” She asked with a smile.

“You should talk.” He said. “Isn’t Zabini waiting for you?”

“As a matter of fact he is, that’s why I wanted to talk to you. I think me and you could help one another.” She said.

“How?” He asked.

“Here’s what I was thinking,” she sat down in the niche again and gestured to the seat next to her, “we each have the same irritating situation with the ex’s right?”

“Yes,” he confirmed having a seat next to her, “but what’s the solution?”

“It makes perfect sense that they will back off if we are dating other people right?” She ventured.

“I don’t know about Lavender, she may not let up at all.” Ron said frowning. “She may even take after the girl I date to cause more problems.”

“Well, if you were dating someone, it would at least limit the times she had available to seek you out, right?”

“Yes I suppose, but the last thing I want to do is date anyone just to get rid of Lavender. I’d make another girl feel like shit. Besides I’m not exactly beating the girls off Pansy.”

“Ron are you that thick?” He frowned at her again. “You can’t see what hint I’m letting out?”

“Pansy let me tell you a little some about Ron Weasley,” he faced her, “he doesn’t get subtle hints, he doesn’t get not-so-subtle hints. Bloody hell, he doesn’t even get really obvious hints, so out with it already.”

Pansy let out a laugh. “He doesn’t get hints, does he?” She couldn’t stop the laughs. Ron eventually gave a chuckle too.

“No he doesn’t, now come on, what this solution I’m not understanding.”

“Ok Ron here it is. We pretend to date each other. Blaise and Lavender see we are with other people and they leave us alone. And if she does come to me just to cause more problems, I‘m already aware of her already so it won’t cause the sort or drama it might if you began actually dating anyone.”

“Me and you? Come on Pansy who would ever believe that?” He asked.

“I know it seems a little dodgy, but just a year ago no one thought Hermione and Draco would get on the way they do now, you must admit.”

“That’s true.” He agreed. “Well Lavender might not be easily convinced, and will Blaise just dismiss all thought of you?”

“Most likely not, but he always tries to get me alone and if I’m not alone then I wont have to deal with him as much. It may take some time, so this will have to carry on for awhile but I’m willing to try. I really want to get Blaise off me, and from the looks of it Won-Won, you could use someone to divert Lavender.”

“Enough already with the Won-Won, I’m getting a headache.” He rubbed his forehead with his fingertips.

“Alright I’m sorry, but you have to agree it’s a good solution.” Pansy said.

“It sounds alright, but what do we tell Lavender and Blaise if they challenge it?” He asked, knowing full well Lavender wouldn’t take it at his word.

“We tell them we’ve been talking for some time and that we just got together. It’s been about five months since I broke up with Blaise.”

“Me and Lavender ended about three months ago.”

“Then we can tell them we’ve been talking for about a month and a half and just now decided to become a couple.”

Ron sat thinking. She had a good point. Making it appear as if they had moved on and found other people would certainly give Ron a reason to avoid Lavender. She obviously thought it would make difference with Blaise since she brought it up.

“So do we have a deal?” Pansy held out a hand.

“Deal.” He said shaking her hand. “Shall we head into lunch?” He said standing.

“I suppose.” She stood and faced him. Ron held out a hand, she let out a breathe and slid her hand in his. “Here we go.” Ron nodded, and hand in hand they entered the great hall.

Ron’s heart was pounding in his chest as they drew eyes. They were most definitely an odd pair that nobody had expected. Ron faced her, giving her his trademark grin. “I think it’s too soon to eat at each others table.” He said with a chuckle.

“I agree,” she said returning his smile, “I think we should meet up later and discuss a few things though.”

“Like reactions?” He asked.

“Yes, plus it would look real if we spend time together.” She said. “We also need to get straight how we are going to behave with each other.”

“Yes, and we can avoid the ex’s.” She nodded. “Do you think we should hug or something before we split.” He ventured.

“That’s a good idea.” She agreed and opened her arms for his hug. She was slightly surprised by how broad his shoulders were and how his arms felt strong as he held her. That’s was a surprising benefit. “I’ll see you after lunch then.”

“Alright.” He said letting her go and walking to the Gryffindor table.

“What was that?” Hermione asked as he took a seat with his best friends.

“Well me and Pansy have started something. Hopefully it won’t go badly like it did with Lavender.” He told them while he filled his plate.

“When did this start?” Harry asked casually.

“We’ll we been talking for about a month now and just today, just now in fact we decided to give it a try.”

Hermione leaned in. “It will give you a reason to avoid Lav-Lav as well won’t it Won-Won?” She teased him. Harry let out a chuckle.

“Avoiding Lavender is just a benefit and if you call me Won-Won one more time you’ll be wearing your salad Hermie.”

Harry chuckled as Hermione’s smile vanished.


At the Slytherin table Draco slid to the side as Pansy joined him. Millicent Bulstrode spoke from across the table where she sat between Crabbe and Goyle, just loud enough for the small group to hear. “Did I just see you with Weasley?”

“Yes, you did.” She said helping herself to her plate.

“You want to fill us in here Pans.” Goyle said.

“Yeah, what have you been keeping from us?” Crabbe added.

“It’s not like it’s been a matter of espionage, we’ve only just started you know,” she said, “but to let you know, we’ve been taking for about a month, and decided to become a couple.”

“How do you plan on keeping Blaise from going mental?” Draco asked.

“Blaise is no longer my concern, he’s going to have to deal with it.” Pansy answered.

Draco chuckled. “Can I be present when you tell him that, I’d like to place a wager on how quickly he begins yelling.”

Pansy gave him a smile and a sarcastic nod. The group of Slytherins began talking of the upcoming quidditch match with Hufflepuff unaware of Blaise Zabini fixing Pansy with a glare. Weasley was not about to stand in the way of him and his woman. Pansy was his girl, he just had to make the weasel see it.

The Gryffindor trio chatting in their own world were equally oblivious to Lavender Brown staring at Ron. She didn’t believe he was attracted to Parkinson in any way. She would not give up on him. She’d show Ron she was devoted to him.


Ron and Pansy agreed to meet in the library after their last class to talk further. They had managed successfully to avoid both Blaise and Lavender after lunch.

On the way to Herbology, Lavender approached Pansy. “Hey Pansy, do have a moment?” She asked with an exaggerated smile. Pansy smiled back holding in her laughter. She knew what this was about.

“Sure Lavender, what’s going on?” She asked, trailing back as the class waited at the greenhouses.

“I saw you with Ron earlier. You two aren’t talking are you?” She asked.

Pansy wanted to laugh but she didn’t. It took a great amount of strength to hold it in. “We are more then talking Lavender, we decided to try dating, so we are now a couple.” Pansy smiled radiantly at the girl, internally enjoying the look of hatred that she was trying to keep hidden.

“When did this happen?” She asked, the smile suddenly gone.

“Just before lunch.” She answered.

Lavender looked smug. “That’s impossible, I was talking to him just before lunch.” She was trying to catch Pansy in a lie.

“I know, when he met me he said he had just spoken to you.” She said. Pansy looked innocently at the girl thinking how she must be fuming inside.

“Then did he tell you that he and I are involved?” She asked smugly.

“Ron tells me you aren’t an item anymore, and I take his word for it.” Pansy said.

“You should call it off. Ron and me will get back together and I’d hate to see you hurt when he leaves you.”

“I will deal with that IF the moment arrives. Until then you may consider me and Ron exclusive.”

Lavender opened her mouth to speak but stopped when Professor Sprout called them into class. Without another comment Pansy left Lavender where she was and walked into class sitting beside Ron. He looked over at Lavender throwing herself into her seat and smiled back at Pansy’s grin. He’d get the whole story later.

Later that day as the students enter Defense Against the Dark Arts, it was Blaise’s turn to get Ron alone. “Weasley.” He called.

Ron right along side Harry, turned and stood where he was, letting Zabini walk up to him. “Zabini.” He greeted then fell silent. Blaise glared at Harry but when it became apparent that Harry wasn’t leaving, he spoke.

“What do you think you are doing with my girlfriend?” He demanded. Draco overheard and eased over next to Blaise, Ron knew he wasn’t making a statement of any kind. He and Draco got on alright, so it was merely a precaution in case Blaise got out of control.

“Pansy told me she was single.” Ron answered.

“She’s with me as everyone knows.” Zabini reiterated. Draco’s eyes were shifting from Ron to Blaise, making sure he had a view of them both.

“Listen Zabini, Pansy told me she was available, so she considers it over and I believe her sooner then you.”

“We may be having some problems at the moment but Pansy is still my girlfriend.” Zabini would have taken a step forward, but Draco had come forward and had a hand on his arm. He saw Professor Lupin coming down the corridor and the last thing Slytherin needed was point loss because of Zabini’s hot head.

“The only problem you have Zabini, is you can’t handle the fact that she wants someone else.” Ron said then turned and entered the classroom.

It was left to Draco to placate the young man. Zabini was angry beyond belief and during the class made a number of mistakes, while Ron being calm cool and collected after the encounter, succeeded a number of times. Draco gave up dealing with him, and focused on his own work.

At the end of class, Ron watched as Zabini looked around the hall at the neighboring classroom. He was looking for Pansy, but Ron saw her coming out of Arithmancy first. Before Zabini had time to single out Pansy, Ron was at her side and the two made their way to the library to talk.