Letters to Lovers

“I should have known.” She said putting her hands on her hips.



“Don’t blame Millicent, she didn’t see him. We want to talk Pansy.” Draco said to her.



“You want to talk but neither of you listen. Has it occurred to you that I might not want to talk.”



“Panzy, pleze zit, ve vish only to talk.” This was the most polite she had heard him so she sat, but not to the loveseat he was gesturing to. He obviously wanted to sit beside her, she took a seat in an armchair facing them.



“Make it fast, I’m busy.” She crossed her legs and waited.



“Pansy Ian has been trying to speak to you, but you returned all his letters and you won’t see him here. Don’t you think he’s entitled to at least a talk?”



“No I don’t.” She told Draco, then turned to Ian. “You left me for someone who you said had a better background than me.”



“Pleze Panzy, I vas miztakin in leavink you. I know ziz now.” He said.



“Yes and I was stupid to think you liked me. I know this now. You were looking not at me but at someone who would be a good match. You wanted someone with connections. Then you found someone with even better connection, making me a waste of time. Seeing as how you are so ready to get me back makes me believe that this girl didn’t have such as good a background as you thought.” He fell silent. “Did she have a good background?”



“Yez, qvite nobel, but…..” Pansy’s face grew to a wide grin.



“She was a bit more of a bitch then you thought and you couldn’t stand being with her.” She let her head roll back as she laughed. “Well, that’s what you get when you value someone only for what they can do for you.”



“Panzy, I vas hopink ve might try zis agin. Ve had a good time, did vee not?” He said. Pansy smiled at him and looking aside recited his own words back to him.



“ ‘My dearest Pansy, please understand that I am very sorry for having to do this, but surely you cannot place too much importance into a summer romance. How could we possibly commit to each other, when we have still another year to finish school and several countries between us?’ ” She stopped and looked at him.



“Panzy, I vas hurt dat ve vould not see each ozzer, it vould ‘ave been ‘ard but I am here now, zere iz no reazon ve cannot conteenue.”



She looked away again and gave him more of his own words. “ ‘To be honest with you Pansy I have met a young lady here. She is a good match for me and has excellent family connections. Her lineage is well respected and being a part of it would open many doors for me. Surely you can see how an advantageous marriage would benefit me. I hope you understand.’ ” She looked at him and smiled.



“Panzy,….”



“Don’t ‘Panzy’ me. I was nothing but a pastime for you to distract yourself during the summer. Stay away from me Ian, there is no way I’m going to let you treat me that way again. You disrespected me in the worst way imaginable.” She stood and started to leave.



“Wait Pansy….” Draco stood.



“No you wait Draco, I never asked you to accept me and Ron, I only asked that you not make life hard for me. You promised to leave him alone and true, you haven’t physically done anything, but how do you think I feel when you set me up like this?” The tears had started to fall and Draco could only stand there looking at her. “Don’t think about Ron, think about me. You are pushing him at a man knowing he hurt me. Don’t you remember when I cried? How much it hurt for him to cast me aside. Now you would rather I be hurt again then be with a man who respects me and makes me happy. Do I mean so little to you?” Draco hung his head as Pansy went upstairs.



The room was empty as she was glad. She climbed into her bed, her tears falling freely now. She took up her parchment and quill. She saw her name written three times.



Ron?



Your back? What happened?



Draco and Ian were in the common room.



What happened?



Meet me in the astronomy tower.



Pansy what’s wrong?



Now.



She rolled up the parchment and left her room. She practically ran through the common room. She saw Draco and Ian still sitting there but neither got up or tried to stop her.



She made it to the astronomy tower in record time. She leaned on the balcony and let her tears come out in full force. Her body was shaking as she cried. She heard footsteps and turned to see Ron coming up the stairs. His face when white when he saw her tear stricken expression.



“What happened?” He said coming forward. She threw herself into his arms and let her tears fall until she had no more. He held her while she cried, not letting go. She had drenched his shoulder but he said nothing. When she had cried her eyes out they sat down.



“What happened love?” He asked her. She poured out the conversation that took place only a few moments.



“I’m not upset that Ian said what he said, I got over that long ago. But it just hurt that Draco wants me to go back to that. He knew how hurt I was. He knew what I was treated like. He even read Ian’s letter. How could he want me to go back to that. I thought he was my friend. I know that when Ian first called it off, Draco thought we should try again, but eventually he thought it was a good idea. He saw my side eventually, but now that Ian is back, it’s like he forgot what I went through.



Ron didn’t know what to say. He was at a loss as to how to comfort her. “I thought he was my friend.” She cried out. “I thought he cared about me.”



“Pansy, he does.” She looked at him.



“How can you say that? Look at how he’s treated you. He may not have raised his own wand but he caused it.”



He took a breath in. “Yeah I know that, but he is your friend and I guess he thinks your making a mistake with me. If a friend was making what you thought was a mistake wouldn’t you try and stop it? He may have gone overboard but doesn’t he do that with everything?”



Pansy had to concede that part. “Yes he does, subtly is not his strong point.”



“Maybe seeing you so upset tonight will make him see how what he’s doing isn’t helping. You said he was quiet when you cried. Right?” She nodded. “Maybe he sees now. Sometimes blokes don’t understand until we see tears flow.” She gave him a harsh look. “It’s the truth. Pathetic. But the truth.”



“That’s doesn’t make what he’s done right Ron.” She said.



“No, I agree it doesn’t but, sometimes you make an ass of yourself before you realize you’ve made an ass of yourself. Trust me I‘ve done that many times, I know a bit about making an ass of oneself.”



She laughed at his wording. Ron had unusual ways of explaining himself. He always thought huge words were unnecessary. Plain and simple was more his style.



She let herself get taken into a snog session. Ron always made her feel better. She lost herself to his lips and caresses for awhile, then he walked her to her common room.



She had to talk to Draco alone. He had to know how she felt. She promised Ron she would talk to him that night. She had planned to finish some homework after curfew. Maybe through the parchment they could help each other. She told him she would keep the parchment with her when she spoke to him.



She settled herself at a table in the common room, her books and parchment on a small table in the corner. The parchment was under a book, out of the way until she had spoken to Draco. She didn’t have to wait long.



She caught him moving across the common room. He was walking slowly, unsure of how to act with her now. She gave a small nod to the empty chair beside her. He walked over and sat down.



“Are you alright now?” He asked.



“Yes,” she smiled, “I’m fine now.”



“I take it you went to see him.” Draco said. Pansy took note that he didn’t say ‘Weasel-be’.



“Yes, I did.” They were each avoiding each others eyes.



“I bet he had some choice words.” He began toying with a book she had out.



“He said I needed to understand how you feel.” Draco looked up, not bothering to hide his shock. Pansy had to smile. “He said he most likely would have tried to clue a friend in to what he thought was a mistake.”



Draco leaned back. “He said that?” Pansy nodded. “So do you understand what I’m doing?” He asked.



“I do Draco but I need you to know some things.” He folded his arms on the table, waiting. “Do you remember how hurt I was when I got his letter?” Draco nodded. “I know you thought I should have fought for him, it took you some time but you saw how I felt.” He nodded. “Draco, there is no way he would respect me. He never will. I am not going to put myself in a position to be tossed aside again.”



“Pansy, maybe he’s learned his lesson.” Draco still tried to press his point.



“I have learned my lesson too Draco. If I go back, I’ll be letting him now that he can treat me any way he wants and he’ll get away with it. I don’t want to be treated like that. Where would it end?” Draco fell silent. He hadn’t thought about that. “Besides, you don’t learn a lesson until you suffer. I suffered because of him. If he’s suffering from me then let him, it’s not my concern. Maybe the next girl he ends up with will be treated better.” She had spoken quietly but with directness, and Draco took in every word.



“I’m sorry.” He said. She leaned over and hugged him. He had been her friend for so long, and the last thing she wanted was for fights to go on between them.



“You must be serious about him.” Draco said, again leaning back in his chair.



“Ron isn’t the reason I won’t consider Ian again. Ian himself is the reason I won’t consider Ian again.” The blonde smiled at her. “Draco, can I ask you something?” He gave her a nod. “Ron told me that some men don’t understand women until they see tears. Is that true? That was the first time I cried in front of you, but you listened.”



“I guess that’s true, some men just cant handle crying.” He looked at her again. “Don’t do it in front of me anymore.” The two friends allowed themselves a laugh.



“Draco,” she said, “I don’t want to talk with him. I need you to make Ian understand that I want him to stay away.” Draco’s face became just as serious as hers.



“I’ll let him know.” With that Draco took his leave, heading to his dorm. Pansy let Ron know what had happened with the parchment. She was in much better spirits now.