The Strongest Signal of All

The rest of the night Pansy received several beatings. A trip to the bathroom sapped her strength, and she fell asleep in the floor. She woke to find the house quiet.

She rose and winced, crying out. “Miss?” Pansy looked up to see the small house elf with tears in her eyes cowering at the door to her bedroom.

“You told him Ginny came over didn’t you?” The elf trembled and nodded. She knew the elf had no choice. She was obeying her master. “He has been checking what I’m doing through you hasn’t he?” The elf let loose with more tears and nodded. “It’s ok Lucy, it’s alright, I understand. Can you take me to St. Mungo’s?” The elf cried again and shook her head. She had a feeling that order came from James.

She manages to pull on a dress, and sit down again. “May I have some tea Lucy?” The elf nodded and as Pansy made her way slowly downstairs the elf had tea waiting on a coffee table. Pansy winced again as she sat. “Lucy, a pain potion please?”

For the next few hours Pansy merely sat in the front room. She noticed the clock and saw that it was late afternoon. She had slept most of the morning and early afternoon. Her husband would be arriving home soon.

She still couldn’t see from her eye. The potion Lucy brought her was for pain and not a healing drought. If she went to St. Mungo’s they would alert the Auror department. But she had no way to get there. Pansy found out that he also locked down the floo network.

“Being lazy again are we?” She looked up and saw her husband. He had returned and she didn’t even hear him.

“I need to go to St. Mungo’s.” She said.

“No, you don’t.” He said without looking at her, pouring his customary after work whiskey.

“I’m injured and in pain. I need a healer.” She said.

“No, you don’t, I’ll get you a potion.”

“You know a potion won’t help with my injuries. My sides still hurt badly, I think you may have broken a rib, I need to be seen by a healer.”

“No you don’t.” He said again firmly advancing on her.

“Yes, I do. Look at me James.” She said standing on shaky feet. The pain potion had brought it down to a dull ache. She was able to move about but she still hurt.

“I can see you and you’ll be fine. Now shut up!” He moved to the kitchen to get ice. She followed him.

“I need to be seen by a healer. Taking out anger is one thing but you can’t leave me in this condition!” She yelled out.

He turned and hurled a punch at her again. She fell back on the kitchen floor. The pain came back in full force. She felt another kick to her ribs and cried out. He grabbed her throat and yanked her up to her feet, pushing her back against the counter.

“Didn’t I tell you to shut the fuck up! You never listen do you!?” He yelled out. He had both hands around her throat. Her hands were reaching about trying to steady herself.

“You don’t do anything or go anywhere unless I say so!” He was pushing his frame into hers, her lower back was being crushed into the counter. As he yelled, she grouped around the counter searching for something, anything to break the hold he had.

Her hand came into contact with something. It was a handle. She curled her fingers around it. She was holding a knife. Could she kill him? Maybe she could just injure him enough to get away.

“You are my property and I will do what I want with my property! Do you hear me!” Something inside Pansy snapped. She clenched her teeth and growled at him. He looked in shock at her face.

“I never should have left Ron.” She said to him. As his face took on pure rage, she took that moment to strike. Bringing up her hand she thrust the knife. She didn’t aim, or target. She just struck. His hands eased their grip. She sucked in as much air as she could. She thought she had injured him.

She pushed on him gently and felt his form move from hers. When she was free she fell to the floor and on her hands and knees held her throat gasping for air. “Miss?” She turned her head at the house elf’s tiny voice. The fear in her eyes was evident as Pansy looked on the floor. The knife was embedded in his rib cage. His breathe was shallow. From what Pansy could see through her good eye and tears he was clutching the knife.

“Lucy, summon the Aurors.” The elf didn’t move. “Your master needs help.” She said. Lucy popped out and through the kitchen window saw the bright red Auror signal in the sky.

“P...P….Pa…” She looked to James’s voice. He reached out a hand to her. She crawled over and looked at him. When she reached out a hand, he dropped his and his chest fell still.

Pansy wasn’t sure how much time had passed before the Aurors showed up and came running through the hose. She let herself fall into the first one who showed up. Through the pain she saw only a set of glasses and black hair.

The next thing she could remember was being led form the Ministry to Azkaban.

Hermione finished her notes and looked at her. The tears had fallen again as Pansy finished speaking. She had told them what happened but not what was said. Pansy only gave references that he yelled and screamed at her and said she wasn’t to leave the house. Hermione would see exactly what happened when Pansy gave the memory over. Ron’s face was a mask of rage as he held his ex wife.