Seven Years Lost

Ron had over a dozen parcels shrunk and shouldered in a single bag. Sergei needed a complete over haul on his clothes. When they had gone through clothes, he had never realized just how much Sergei had worked with his father and just how much he loved getting covered in dirt. His clothes were not only too small now, they were just as torn up as Ron’s were.



So most of their clothes were tossed out and a shopping spree was the order of the day. Sergei was wearing some clothes his brothers bought him and was very eager in picking out his clothes. He was even enthusiastic about Ron’s clothes and Sergei was allowed to put together a few matching outfits.



“Are you getting hungry?” Ron asked him as they left a shop.



“Yes. Do you think Leela can cook some more of that steak pie?” He asked.



“I’m sure she’d love to if we ask nicely. We have one more stop then we can head home.”



“Where?”



“Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore. I need to pick up a few periodicals. You can pick out a few things as well.”



They eased into the bookshop and as Sergei dropped on the ground looking at several quidditch magazines aimed at kids, with lots of action photos and interviews.



Ron was pulling out a few investment issues that Draco had mentioned. He wanted to find something to invest in and set up an account that would build on itself for Sergei in the future. Draco suggested he start here.



“Weasley?” He turned his head and dropped his jaw.



“Pansy Parkinson?” He set his bag on the floor and held out his arms. She eased into them.



“I heard from Draco you were back.” She said hugging him. He felt a jolt in his body at her embrace. Her frame felt good against his, and for a moment he wondered what her curves felt like against bare hands. “He mentioned you have a son now.” She said pulling away.



“Yes. Sergei this is Pansy Parkinson, Pansy this is my son Sergei.”



“Hello.” He said with a smile then went back to his magazines.



“Draco said he’s adopted.” She said looking back at him.



“Yes, I used to work with his father.” Ron told her.



“How does fatherhood feel?” She asked.



“Wonderful.” He said beaming.



“It seems to have done you well.” He smiled wider at her compliment.



“Ron!!! Ron!!!” Sergei jumped up and pointed to a poster in the window. “Look at that.”



Ron glanced at the poster. The Cirque Du Soleil was going to perform the next week. He smiled in spite of himself. When he had seen an ad while at Hogwarts, Hermione was shocked. Cirque Du Soleil was very popular in the muggle world as well.



“Hermione, there’s a reason it’s called the magic circus.” He had told her smiling at just another situation where muggle and magic worlds shared entertainment.



“Can we go Ron?!” Sergei’s wide eyed face was giving away every bit of excitement he felt. He was looking up at Ron and was all too ready to beg for tickets.



“I’ll see what I can do, the show might be sold out.” He said. Sergei calmed for the moment. Ron looked over at Pansy and before he knew it, he had said, “Would you like to come with us Pansy?”



She looked surprised and shrugged. “Sure, if tickets are still available.”



“I’ll get in touch with you as soon as I find out.” She hugged him again went on her way. Ron made a note of where he could purchase tickets and went to pay for his selections.



“Did you go to school with her too?” Sergei asked.



“Pansy? Oh yes, she was in my year.”



“She was real pretty.” Sergei told him as they walked.



Ron looked down at him. “Yes, she is I suppose.” Ron had never thought about Pansy that way. It had been a long time since he had felt attracted to a woman. He always just imagined his heart was still healing. He smiled to himself, maybe his body was telling him it was time to move on.



He looked down at Sergei. She seemed to accept them as a pair, and she could have refused the invitation but she didn’t. It seemed unusual to go on a date with a man and his son, but then again Ron couldn’t imagine doing anything without Sergei. If this was a chance for Ron to have a relationship, she would have to know how close they were from the very beginning.



Ron put the worries out of his head and focused on helping Sergei put his new clothes away.





Ron had managed to secure three tickets to the last show which was scheduled for Friday. They weren’t front row, or center, but further back. However the show was marketed as having a lot of aerial acts and trapeze style performances. So being further back would give them a chance to have a full view without problems.



When Ron came out of the shower, a blue towel wrapped around his waist, he saw Sergei sitting in his bed. “I picked out your clothes.” He told him. Ron smiled when he say the outfit. Black jeans and boots, with a red long sleeve t shirt that had two white racing stripes down the shoulders and arms. It matched exactly what Sergei himself was wearing.



“Twins today huh?” He said. Sergei nodded. “Alright then, go on and have an apple or something while I get dressed. Nothing big just something to put in your stomach.” He said ushering the boy out.



“Are we going out after the circus to eat?” He asked.



“Maybe, we’ll see.” He told the boy. When Sergei took off he glanced at the clock. Pansy should arrive in about half an hour then they would leave. Ron always like arriving early. It gave them a chance to walk around the grounds first and Ron found that not rushing Sergei made the day pass easier.



Sergei was sitting in an armchair in the common room in front of the floo when Ron came out. “Are you ready?” He asked the boy then pocketed his wand and coin pouch.



“Yes, are we going as soon……what’s that?” He asked looking at Ron.



“What’s what?” He asked.



“You smell.” Sergei said leaning close and sniffing him.



“I smell? I just took a shower.” Ron said. “What do I smell like?”



Sergei sniffed again. “Like wood.”



Ron chuckled. “That’s my cologne.”



“Why are you wearing cologne?” He asked.



“When you take a lady out, it’s a mans responsibility to small nice for her.” Ron told the young man.



“Girls like you to smell like wood?” He said making a funny face.



“It smells like wood to you but adults smell something different.” He said leaning on the arm of the couch. Sergei seems unconvinced.



The floo fired up and Pansy came through. She smiled at Ron when he stood. “Wow, I feel out of place now.” She said looked at their outfits.



“You match close enough.” Ron’s said taking in her black jeans and white t shirt.



“Don’t get to close to Ron, he smells.” Sergei said rising.



“Sergei, manners.” Ron said looking down at him.



Pansy giggled. “What does he smell like?”



Sergei moved up to her. “I think he smells like wood but he says…….you smell too.”



“Sergei, apologize.” Ron said firmly.



“It’s ok Ron. What do I smell like Sergei?” She asked the boy.



“Flowers.” He answered. “Are you wearing cologne too?”



Pansy chuckled. “Well on ladies it’s called perfume.”



“Why?” His curiosity held Ron silent. That and the fact that Pansy was dealing well with him on her own.



“When a gentleman takes you out, a lady will make an effort to small nice.” She answered.



He looked to Ron and back to her. “But Ron doesn’t like flowers.” He said with a confused look.



“Which is why I didn’t bring him any, I just made sure I smelled nice.”



“Alright that’s enough questions, run to the lavatory before we go.”



Sergei took off and Ron looked over to Pansy. “I’m sorry.”



“Don’t worry about it.” She walked over and leaned down inhaling just a little. “I see what he means. I like a woodsy scent. It’s nice.”



“Thank you.” He leaned down and inhaled near her neck. “Roses.”



“I didn’t know you hated flowers or I would have worn something else.” She joked.



Ron let out a chuckle himself. “I don’t hate flowers, I just don’t have the patience to grow them or any plant for that matter, I keep the herbologists in business by buying theirs.”



She nodded, then Sergei came running out. The trio left and apparated to the circus grounds.



The afternoon was phenomenal and the Cirque had outdone themselves. They had taken advantage of the airspace and several acts were done on straps, suspended ropes, nets and huge bolts of silk.



Pansy had never seen anything like it in her whole life. She was let out ‘oohs’ and ‘aahhs’ along with the crowd. They snacked on a few things but Ron was careful not to let Sergei overindulge. He did give in when it came to souvenirs. All three walked away with t shirts, for Sergei he added track jacket, and Ron took the profile magazine of all the performers. When it came to Pansy she was reluctant to accept a second gift.



“The t shirt is enough Ron really.” She said.



“Come on, just a little something.” He guided her over to a different booth. “How about a scarf?”



“Hey Pansy look at this.” Sergei called them over and she saw he was looking at necklaces. “Here I like this one.”



It was a black rock-like stone suspended by black cord with several multi colored beads. “Oh that one is lovely.” She said admiring Sergei’s taste.



“She’ll take this one.” Ron said, handing the girl a coin.



“Ron really….I don’t need……” She fell silent since Ron was already fastening the necklace around her neck. She inhaled her gasp when she felt his fingertips brush her skin.



“There you go.” He said looking at the effect, which was nice against her white t shirt. She leaned forward and looked in the mirror. The stones and beads looked wonderful against the white t shirt but her eyes were drawn to Ron’s reflection. He was looking at her closely.



“Very nice indeed.” He said back, but he was looking at her eyes through the mirror, not the necklace. Pansy suddenly felt nervous. His hand gave a subtle massage on her shoulder. Nobody would have noticed it but Pansy felt every movement. She looked up at him, her smile fading just a little. She could smell that wood that Sergei had told her about.



“Thank you Ron, it’s beautiful.” She said. He was still holding her shoulders.



“Your welcome.” He said softly. His eyes darted down to her lips and he felt drawn to kiss her. He leaned down a fraction of an inch.



“Hey, I picked it out.” Sergei said, drawing their attention away.



Pansy felt her heart jump. Was she staring that closely at Ron? She forced a smile and looked down at Sergei. “Thank you Sergei, you have a very fine eye for what a lady likes.”



Sergei blushed and looked aside. Ron cleared his throat. “How about dinner?”



“Yeah!” Sergei said getting excited. Ron offered an arm and without delay she took it.



Pansy laughed as the boy headed for the apparition point ahead of them. “He reminds me of you at Hogwarts, always ready for a meal.” Ron laughed with her as the trio left vanished from the grounds.



They chose Italian for dinner and as they were seated in the comfy booth, Sergei dominated the conversation, mostly with questions about how the circus could perform for muggles without magic. Luckily Ron had attacked Hermione with these same question and was able to give him answers about safety straps, nets and spotters at ground level.



Pansy felt oddly at home with Ron and his son. The two of them obviously shared something special and she was glad they had brought her out with them.



Pansy carried the bag from the circus and the bag filled with restaurant leftovers as Ron carried his half sleeping son into the house. “Say goodnight to Pansy.”



“Gnight Panzy.” Sergei muttered against Ron’s shoulder.



Pansy walked over and kissed his cheek. “Sweet dreams Sergei.”



“I’ll be right back.” Ron told her and carried him off.



“Miss,” Pansy looked down at the elf, “Leela will take those.”



She handed over the leftovers and pulled her t shirt out of the bag, shrinking it down and tucking it into her cloak.



Ron came out a moment later. “He was asleep before he hit the pillow.”



“Would you like a drink?” He asked.



“No, I really should get going. Your elf took the leftovers. Thank you for taking me with you. It was a wonderful day.”



“It was a joy to have you with us.” He helped her on with her cloak and into the floo. “Pansy, would you like to have dinner with me? Just us, say Sunday evening?”



She smiled and felt her heart speed up just a little. “I would love that Ron.”



“Alright then. I’ll see you about six?”



“Six is fine. Should I just floo here.” She asked.



“Yes.” He told her. He thought about giving her a kiss but decided not to. “Good night.”



“Good night Ron.”





a/n: i had planned to use a fair or amusment park venue for the outing, but in using Anton Chelnokov\'s name i decided to use his vernacular instead and went with Cirque du Soleil