The Storyteller

“Pansy?” Pansy looked up at her name being called and saw Ron’s publisher enter her office.



“Mrs. Novak, what can I do for you?” She asked, standing.



“I understand you are friends with Mr. Weasley.” She said, smiling at her.



“Yes, we went to Hogwarts together and now that I’m doing the editing for his books, we’ve had a chance to renew our friendship.” She said.



“And a by that blush a bit more I’d say.” She teased.



“I suppose.” Pansy said giving into the blush even more.



“I’d like you to talk to him.” She said getting to the reason she was in her office.



“About what?” Pansy asked.



“To announce he’s ‘The Storyteller’, publish with his name and do a book signing. The requests for autographed copies are abundant he could sell even more books then usual with signing. His readers want his signature though.”



“I’m not sure it would work, Ron doesn’t need money and does value his privacy. I’m not sure he cares about the fame of selling more books.” She said.



“Then use his readers. They do want a signing, we get letters after every release. With each book they increase.” She said and watched Pansy’s thoughtful face. “Tell him he can dictate the circumstances and have everything the way he wants it. His release is two weeks away. Try.”



“I’ll talk to him, but I won’t pressure him, in any way. I can only give him the facts and let him know everything you offered.”



“That’s all I ask.” She said, and left Pansy alone.





Pansy flooed to Ron’s that night. She had been going to his house every few days and had spent another weekend since the night they became intimate. It was an arrangement she enjoyed.



“How are you sweetness?” He asked kissing her cheek.



“I’m good thank you.” She kissed him back and together they walked to the couch and sat down. Zeus took his customary place under Ron’s feet, enjoying the massage his masters arches and toes gave him.



“Mrs. Novak wanted me to talk to you.” She said



“About what?”



“She wants to offer you a book signing.”



“Pansy…..” She said rolling his head.



“Wait Ron just listen first then counter ok?” She asked sweetly.



“Alright. Go on then.” He said listening to her.



“She says that the requests for a book signing from your readers has been accumulating and escalating with each book. You have some pretty devoted readers who want an autographed copy more then anything. She says you can pick the venue and request any stipulation you want. You can set the whole thing up and she will make it happen.”



“I’d be giving my name, and my privacy would vanish.” He said.



“Any mail could be directed to the publisher and you can have Hermione ward this house up so its unplottable. And with Zeus and Leeloo here it would add to the safety.” She saw his thoughtful look. “Ron, a book signing would make your release even that more successful.”



“I know that. But my main concern is the anonymity. I like people not knowing who I am.” He said.



“Why?” She asked. “You should be proud of your work.”



“I am proud of my work, I would never submit something I was half worried about.”



“Then what’s the problem?” She asked. “Let’s find a solution.”



“I don’t like the thought of reporters like Skeeter. If they read to closely into stories they make their own assumptions. If I refuse interviews all of a sudden I have something to hide. If I’m seen somewhere then they badger the people around me. If I was the only person to be affected then it would be an easier choice, but its not.” He seemed truly upset by the thought.



“Well don’t make up your mind now, we can arrange a signing at the last minute, even the day before. Take some time and think about it.”



“I will, trust me.”



Ron did think about it. He thought about it constantly. When he went to dinner with his family the next day he spoke with his father. Arthur Weasley always had a way of seeing things in a new light and that’s what Ron needed right now.



“How do you know you will lose privacy son. Singers and theater actors loose privacy, but authors rarely do. You’d only be giving up a little , but not much.”



“You think so?” He asked as he gripped his fathers elbow walking around their backyard, Zeus on hand to terrify the chickens.



“Of course. People respect authors so they respect privacy.” He said.



“I suppose.” Ron agreed.



“When was the last time you heard a report of an author being stalked or harassed. Rarely.”



“True.” He said



“Listen Ron if you are worried about reporters jumping to conclusions, then use Luna. Give her any interview you want, she’s a friend and won’t run a daft story. It would help her too, to be the only reporter who can get an interview with you.”



“I never thought of that.” He said.



“And you can always use Hermione’s influence to keep overly aggressive people at bay. Friends of lawyers tend to be a little safer then most.”



Ron gave in and laughed.







Pansy came over for dinner three days after she made the offer. “I want a few things settled.”



“Name them.” Pansy said taking out a parchment and quill from her bag.



“First off, I need a charmed quill. I don’t want to have to mess with ink bottles.” He said. “Second Zeus has to be with me, so we need a longer table. Not wide so people have to stretch to hand me books, just long on side to side, so Zeus can be put near my feet and out of sight.”



“That won’t be a problem.” Pansy herself knew several spells for that request.



“I can’t sign anything but the books, and let me know which is the black page, it’s usually the first or second. And I want you there.”



“I’ll be there.” She told him.



“I mean guiding me or sitting by me the whole time, a chair next to mine. I need you to be my guide right along with Zeus. He’s there for protection, but I need you to talk for me and see for me if I need it. I need you to shadow me the whole time.”



“Alright.” She said. “I’ll let Mrs. Novak know.”







“A lion?!” She cried. “Absolutely not!”



“Then he wont do it.” Pansy said calmly.



“Pansy a lion might frighten buyers.” She said.



“He won’t relent. He’s giving up anonymity for this, and you said he could demand anything. He is letting us pick the venue, although he did say he wanted something local. Besides Zeus will be under the table and will only be known if there is a threat. His familiar is actually rather tame.”



“Pansy, you cant possibly……..”



“Mrs. Novak, it would be pointless to arrange anything if you cant agree to this. You told him anything and this is one of those anythings he wanted. His familiar goes with him. Its not open for debate.”



She eventually gave in and Pansy let Ron know that the signing was planned for fFourish and Blotts on the release date. The owner began to advertising a signing already.



It was where most of the letters came from and easy to get to from any location. It was also where Ron himself bought his own schoolbooks, so a bit of nostalgia was involved. Book buyers always loved that.



Now all Ron had to do was get over his nerves. It was harder then he thought and he was suddenly glad that he asked Pansy to be by his side.