The Strongest Signal of All

Hermione walked into the hospital room and looked at Ron. His face lit up when he saw her smile. He rested Pansy’s hand on her chest and walked out the door, closing it quietly.

“The charges?” He asked.

“All of them cleared. The Ministry knows if she gets put on trial the Minister himself will be destroyed. He had several curse breakers try to determine of the pensieve of Lucy’s was tampered with, but even the best knew it was true.” She told him.

“What else did you do?” Ron asked.

“What makes you so sure I did anything?” She asked feigning shock. Ron merely lifted an eyebrow. “Well, I may have allowed Rita Skeeter to sit in when the decision was read.”

Ron laughed. “I bet everyone in there was sweating buckets.” Hermione laughed with him. “I can take her home then?”

“She’s going with you?” Hermione smiled.

“Yes, she agreed. I want to take care of her at home. She doesn’t want to go back there and I don’t blame her.”

“Well I can understand that. The house and all the property go to her now, so she could sell it if she wanted to. Lucy is hers too, she can call her at any time. I’ll let Neville know she’s been cleared and he can release her when he wants to. Harry is bringing Ministry documents to remove the shackles.”

He hugged her tight. “Thank you Hermione.”

“Your welcome, take care of her Ron. I’ll come and see her in the few days with some things I need her to sign.”

“I will.” He looked off and smiled. “Harry.”

Harry was walking up parchments in hand. Hermione left and the two men entered Pansy’s room again. While she slept Harry took off the shackles. “Good.” They turned to see Neville enter the room. He verified the documents and told Ron he would release her the next morning, giving him instructions for her potions. Now that there was no danger in her going to Azkaban, he gave her the full dosages. She’s be completely healed in a day or two.

Ron stayed with her until she woke up. Bringing her hand to her head, she opened her eyes. “The restraints are gone?”

“Yes. Hermione had the charges cleared. It was self defense, not a crime.” She smiled at him. “All the property and accounts are yours now. You can sell the house if you want. Merlin knows I wouldn’t keep it.” She rolled her eyes and smiled.

“Yes, I will sell it. I don’t want it either.”

“Neville is letting you leave tomorrow morning. I’m staying with you until your better.” She nodded, glad he was holding her hand. She gave him an affectionate squeeze. “Lucy is yours too, you can call her anytime.” Ron told her.

She looked to the side. “Lucy?” The elf popped in with tears in her eyes.

“Lucy is ready for clothes Miss.” She said hanging her head.

“I’m not giving you clothes Lucy. I know he made you tell him, but you made it up to me by giving Hermione the pensieve. They won’t take me now, because you told the truth.” This brought on all new waterworks. “Lucy, stop.” The elf stopped and looked up at her. “Do you want to stay with me?” The elf nodded up and down in little hops. “Good, because I need some help.” The elf looked up eagerly.

“Lucy can help, Lucy can do anything.”

“I’m going to be selling the house and almost everything in it. I need you to clean up anything that needs to be cleaned, and pack my belongings, only mine.” The elf nodded. “You can bring them to Ron’s house, I’m going to be staying there for awhile.”

“Yes Miss, Lucy will do it.” Ron told her where to go and she popped off.

“Neville gave me some instructions and a list of things you’ll need. I’m going to go get them and take them to the house. Do you want me to wait until you go back to sleep.”

“No, that’s not necessary. Can you access my accounts and get me a few things?” She asked.

“Yes, what do you need?” She made out a list, and he was off.

She relaxed and had dinner. Now that Neville had given her proper amounts of potions she could feel the strength returning to her body. She rose from bed, a little stiff from laying down ever since she arrived. She moved slowly but made it to the loo by herself with minimal pain.

Pansy looked in the mirror. The bruising was gone. It now looked only as if she’d not had enough sleep. There was still some yellow tinges on her left cheek, but all the swelling had gone down. She lifted her fingers. Her cheekbone hurt ached a little when she touched it, but nothing else. She reached down and ran her hands over her ribs.

The pain had gone and the bruises had cleared up. She was sore when she moved and she felt tired all of a sudden. She turned and walked back to her bed. “There you are.” Pansy looked up to see Healer Longbottom.

“Neville.” She moved forward. “I’m tired all of a sudden.” She admitted sitting back on the bed.

“Yes, I imagine you would. The potions have kept you sleeping while they heal. All your strength and energy have gone toward repairing your body.” He felt her pulse and checked her eyes. “How’s the pain?”

“Just a dull ache now. I think I’d like to ease up in the potions.” Neville nodded in agreement.

“Good, I’ll give you one for pain that you can take only when needed. If it gets to be too much you can owl me.” She nodded.

“Neville, did you keep my dosages low so you could keep me here?” She asked.

“Yes, Azkaban slows the healing process considerably. It made the injuries you had even worse. So not only did I have to heal you, I had to counteract the effect the prison had. I chose the slow method.” He said with a smile.

“Thank you Neville.”

“Your welcome. I want to see you for a follow up in two weeks. Want to give you a pap then also.” Pansy made a face. “Your cervix was bruised, I need to make sure there weren’t lasting problems. So no sex until I clear you.”

“I’ll clear my calendar.” She said. Neville gave a chuckle. “What’s that?” She asked pointing to a package on the bed.

“Ron brought some clothes for you. Tomorrow when you leave he wanted you to have something clean to wear.”

“Neville is it possible for me to leave tonight? I don’t think I need to be here anymore.” She asked.

“Do you think you can handle it?” He asked.

“Yes I can.”

“Then let me check a few things and if everything seems fine, you can leave.” As Neville took a blood sample and checked her vitals. “I’ll be back soon.”

Pansy was relaxing in her bed when Ron returned. “You look happy.”

“Neville says if everything checks out, then I can leave today. I won’t need to stay.”

“That’s great.” He started toward her for a kiss, but then stopped. Pansy knew he was holding back. She would have liked a kiss too, but she said nothing. “I saw Lucy at the house, she unpacked you things. The guest room is all set up for you. I had her put your toiletries in the bathroom too.”

“Did you get the things I asked for?” She asked trying to kill the nervousness.

“Yes, they’re in the guest room for you.” He said, sitting down next to her.

“Did you have any issues accessing my accounts?” She asked.

“I didn’t bother.” He said. She looked at him in the eye.

“Ron, I need to pay you back for them.”

“I don’t mind Pansy, I’m going to take care of you.” She saw this before. He didn’t like taking money from women. Pansy smiled and gave him a smile, choosing another route.

“Well, I was hoping to spend James’s money, but if you……”

“Twelve galleons.” He threw out. Pansy smiled at him.

“Thank you Ron.” She said gently.

“Your welcome.” They locked eyes for a moment. Pansy felt a surge through her body. She hadn’t felt desire in such a long time. Ron always made her feel sexy. As she looked in his eyes she remembered how they were.

His touch was always magic to her. She glanced down at his hands, resting on his thighs. She had forgotten his touch over the past year, and she wanted to know it again. She looked up at him. She wanted him so much. She missed him so much.

He was watching her intently. He knew she was thinking of something serious when her eyes darted about. “What are you thinking Pansy?” He whispered.

“How much I miss your kiss.” She whispered back. They leaned in slowly, each tilting their heads, their lips met lightly.

“I’m sorry, did I interrupt the foreplay?” They broke apart. Ron looked up at Neville Longbottom with murder in his eyes.