Help me Ron

“Arthur, Ron, are you home?” She called. “Ginny?” She pulled off her cloak and hung it up as footsteps came from all directions.



“Molly, what’s the matter?” Arthur asked.



“Mum?” Ron came in from outside, just before Ginny reached the bottom step.



“Oh good, everybody in the common room and sit down.” She said, walking to her chair, leaving three confused ginger heads to follow. When they were seated she began. “Pansy Parkinson is going to be staying with us for awhile.”



“What happened?” Ron asked. “Is she alright?”



“She’s been healed but having some problems. Her mother says she can’t sleep, and the other night she was sleeping walking calling for you.” She explained.



“She was reliving it wasn’t she?” Arthur asked.



“Yes, and she was looking for the boy that saved her.” Molly confirmed. “She only calmed down when her mother said she was going to go get you.”



“So her mother wants her to come here?” Ginny asked.



“It was the recommendation of the mental healer. She thinks being near Ron will help her confront what happened to her. She seems to think Ron will help her do that. Being her with a girl her own age will help also.” Ginny gave her mother a nod. “You saved her Ron, and it seems she needs your help to come to terms with what’s happened and to learn to deal with it.”



“How can I do that?” He asked, suddenly afraid he’d make things worse for her.



“Be there Ron. That’s what she needs.” His mother said.



“I agree Ron,” his father added, “she was looking for you. Let her be able to find you when she needs you. In the meantime, talking to the mental healer about what you can do for her is a good idea.”



He nodded and went to get a room ready for Pansy. Percy’s room was next to his and empty. It was safer then the one Fred and George used. They were still finding jokes and pranks in that room. He used his wand and cleared out the dust.



He didn’t know if he could help her. He wanted to kill the guy that was attacking her, and he wanted to get her to the hospital, but he didn’t know if he could give her what she needed. How was he supposed to help her confront fears, or come to terms with whatever she needed to come to terms with?



He sat down and stared out the window but the tree swaying in the breeze did little to give him insight. The only thing he knew was that she was coming here and she needed him. He only hoped he would be a disappointment. No one ever really needed him before. What was he supposed to do?



The smell of his mothers cooking filled the house and Ron realized he was still in the room after an hour. He quickly made sure everything was set and went downstairs.



He found his parents speaking to another couple, both dark haired and dressed with a certain upper scale charm. When they saw him they both stood. He saw Pansy sitting with his sister. The outward signs of her attack were gone but the naughty twinkle in her eye was gone. She looked up at him and smiled with a gratitude he saw at the hospital.



“Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson.” He said, then offered a hand.



“Mr. Weasley, I don’t think I can ever say how thankful I am to you.” The woman said.



“Well, I couldn’t have just walked away.” He said.



“Young man, you did something a lot of people wouldn’t have done. Pansy is out only child, so we can’t say thank you enough.” Mr. Parkinson took his hand in a firm grip. Ron felt a respect grow for the man and returned his handshake.



“Thank you sir.” He said. Before he knew it he was engulfed in a hug from a crying Mrs. Parkinson. He didn’t know what to do so he just stood still letting her hug him while he shook her husband’s hand.



Molly invited her parents to stay for dinner and soon they were all seated at the table. It was somewhat humorous to Ron to see Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson trying to use formal manners. The Weasleys didn’t have several pieces of silverware or different courses. They didn’t have matching glasses and napkins weren’t worn on laps.



Eventually they got the hang of it and relaxed. Mrs. Parkinson even sampled the finger foods without utensils. Pansy seemed much more relaxed and Ron had a feeling the mental healer was right. She was talking to Ginny about quidditch and it was as if she hadn’t suffered a horrible incident recently.



After dinner his mother brought tea into the common room for her parents while Ron showed Pansy to her room. “This used to be Percy’s room, so it’s very safe.” He said, bringing her bag in.



“As apposed to the twins?” She asked looking around.



“Or Bill’s. They used it as a small lab when they needed more space.” He sat down on the chair by the desk. “My room is right next to you in case …..well……if you…..”



“In case I have another dream?” She offered, sitting on the bed.



“Well, yes.” He admitted.



“Thank you Ron,” she said, “for letting me stay here.”



“Pansy…” He was suddenly unsure of how to phrase what he wanted to say.



“Ron, you can say anything you need to say to me.” She said. “I want to hear it, so please don’t keep it from me.” Her quiet and pleading voice helped him find the courage.



“Pansy, I’ve seen anyone push or shove a woman, let alone what happened to you. I wanted to kill him, and I know I very nearly did.” He looked at his feet but she was still quiet. “I wanted to do anything I could to take all the bad things away. I saw how you looked, huddled on the ground, and I wanted to take care of you. I still do. I’m here Pansy, for anything you need.” He told her looking in her eyes.



“Thank you Ron.” She whispered. The look she gave him made Ron’s ego swell. He felt such a pride in himself.



He left Pansy to unpack and went to his room. It was right next to hers, and he was able to hear the dressers close and her feet across the floor. He knew where she was in the room at any moment. When Percy had it, he was always at the desk or in bed reading.



He changed into his pajamas and reclined in bed. Maybe he would be able to help her. All he could do was be there to comfort her and listen. He could do that. He just didn’t know what to expect. Maybe that’s what he was afraid of. He had never known a woman who was attacked, let alone raped and he questioned his abilities.



He would owl that mental healer tomorrow and ask what he needed to do. Putting out the light, he listened to Pansy move around and then get into bed. He closed his own eyes and let sleep take over.