The Alternative to Matrimony

Pansy sat in her front room engrossed in a book. It had been seven months since the day Pansy met Ron at Diagon Alley and since then her life had been just perfect. Ron came to see her as often as possible. There were times when business kept him away longer.



Pansy could recall an instance when she hadn’t seen him for two weeks. When he finally did visit, she had burst into tears, crying on his shoulder. He was far from upset, he was delighted that she felt so strongly. It was evidence that he was invested in her feelings. They had never spoken of their feelings, taking it upon themselves to see into each others actions. Pansy herself was reluctant to deal with her feelings while Ron was married. She didn’t feel it was her place.



Ron himself was tired of his wife’s attempts to present a perfect marriage to the public and he decided enough was enough. He stopped bringing her to the few events he went to, showing up alone. He began ignoring her and spent as little time at home as possible. He had not had sex with her since he overheard her comments that fateful day. He even left Pansy’s house one day without using a cleansing spell on his clothes, making sure his lover’s perfume told his wife where he had been.



Periodicals and newspapers picked up on the change immediately. They were photographed on the rare occasions they appeared together and the captions under them pointed out the body language of a rocky marriage. Ron never took his wife’s arm and stood apart from her, not even bothering to look at her for long stretches of time. Ron’s reluctance to bring his wife anywhere was now common knowledge.



Sara knew there was another woman. When speculation of a mistress began appearing in the papers, she was outraged. Ron did nothing to dispel them, leading everyone to believe he was silently admitting it.



Sara started asking questions, but anyone who knew Ron either said nothing or knew nothing. Until she ran into Nereus Sunderson. He was only to happy to tell Sara of the affair Ron and his fiancée carried on during their engagement. It was only after the family began making demands to set a wedding date that she admitted her affair with a married man.



Sara made an incognito trip to Knockturn Alley. After a few galleons she hired a cunning wizard who took a single week to located Pansy’s Wiltshire address. It was now as she sat reading, that Sara knocked on the door.



Pansy went to the door and opened it, recognizing the woman immediately. She was as elegant as she appeared in the papers, but Sara Weasley wore an expression of pure hatred. But Pansy was ready. Ever since the media picked up on Ron’s behavior, she knew it was only a matter of time before this particular confrontation came to pass.



“Mrs. Wealsey, please come in.” She stepped aside and let the woman enter. Sara glanced around the room in disgust. “Would you like some tea?” Pansy asked politely.



“No. I would not.” She looked at Pansy from head to toe then to eye again. Pansy wore only jeans, black socks and a black sweater. She was devoid of makeup and her black hair hung naturally as Ron liked. He hated hair that he couldn’t run his fingers through.



“Very well, now what can I do for you.” The two women stood several feet from each other, one looking with malice, the other with peace.



“I merely came to see where my husband keeps his whore.” If she thought the word would cause a reaction in Pansy she thought wrong. Pansy merely looked about the room and smiled.



“Well as you can see it is nothing glamorous, but I don’t need glamour. It is quite lovely and cozy to me.”



Sara looked confused. She had thought Pansy might deny it but she did not. “So you don’t deny that you are sleeping with my husband?” This time Pansy wore a strange look.



“Isn’t that what you’ve discovered. Isn’t that why you’re here.” Pansy knew that saying less would be wise, until she spoke to Ron. She said only what was necessary.



“I am his wife, a place of honor, you are only his whore.” She spoke with dignity even when using words of profanity.



“Yes, I know. However I disagree with the place of honor.” She held a firm but passive look on her face.



“Why settle for this, he can promise you nothing.” It was logic from her point of view, but she knew nothing of Pansy. Pansy didn’t want what Sara wanted.



“My parents arranged a marriage for me that I would have none of.”



“You were engaged.” She said remembering Sundersons words.



“No I was not. My parents made that particular deal, not me. Ron offered me a way out, I took it.”



“I’ll put an end to this.” She threatened.



“When Ron says he doesn’t want me anymore then I will go, until then my home and my legs are always open to him.” She said the last bit with a huge smile knowing it would most likely drive Ron‘s wife from her home and she was right. Sara’s face turned bright red in rage and she stormed from the house.



“Leeky.” When the elf appeared Pansy spoke as she watched Sara apparate from the pathway. “Go and inform your master.” Leeky vanished and Pansy went back to her chair to continue her book.





Ron was having tea with Hermione and Draco. Draco had taken Ron’s advice and allowed Hermione to go over documents before signing them. It paid off and saved him from what would have been several losses. Leeky popped in next to her master. At the look on his servants face Ron grew concerned.



“Leeky? What is it?” He asked. Both Draco and Hermione knew of Pansy and had visited her house many times. Leeky showing up like this meant something had happened.



“Masters wife has come to the house.” Ron looked at both his friends.



“She wouldn’t dare.” Draco said, shocked. Hermione was equally in shock.



“Yes, I think she would.” She added. “She sees appearance as the most important aspect of marriage. She’s been shamed and since you’ve never denied Pansy to the papers, they’ve made their own assumptions.”



Ron looked down at the elf. “What did she say?”



“Miss was very brief and only admitted to her place. She is not challenging Masters wife at all, but was polite and even offering tea.” Ron smiled. His lady certainly knew how to handle a situation.



“Tell her I will come to her in a few hours. Tell her to expect company.” The elf vanished and he turned his attention to Hermione. She smiled and nodded then, between the three of them, a plan formatted.