Help me Ron

Pansy woke up next to a body and for a moment her heart threatened to jump out of her chest. She looked to her side and calmed immediately. Ron was flat on his back lightly snoring. She was in his bed and under the blanket. She took a moment to look at him, thinking how he had again come to her recuse last night.



She had held onto him and felt such a sense of relief. His touch didn’t scare her. Holding him didn’t scare her. She had sat between his legs while she held him crying and she hadn’t been scared.



She eased out of his bed, and tip toed to the door. She stopped when she heard voices, then saw the ear on Ron’s desk. He had told her about his brothers invention and eased the ear just under the door, then listened.



“Ginny, she’s been in there all night.” Pansy recognized Grangers voice.



“After what you did, I’m not surprised.” She smiled at Ginny’s response. “She had a nightmare and wanted Ron, why did you have to grab her like that?”



“I was trying to help her get back to bed.” She countered.



“She didn’t want that, she wanted Ron. She goes to him when she had nightmares.” The was silence for a moment. “How do you know she’s not in her room?” Pansy began to wonder the same thing.



“I wanted to see if she was alright after last night.” Pansy saw red, and then realized Ginny did as well.



“Did you go into her room?” The harsh question had already formed in Pansy’s mind.



“I just peaked in and saw that she was gone.” Hermione said.



“So how did you know she was in Ron’s room?’ Ginny’s questions was met with silence. “Did you look in Ron’s room too?”



“I wasn’t snooping…..” She started to say.



“It seems like you were. Hermione you have no idea what it was like for Pansy, and you have no idea what to do when it comes to her, neither do I, neither do my parents. Pansy knows what she needs from Ron and that’s who she goes to. Her parents trust him and so do mine, so quite badgering her and leave her be.”



“What if they…..” Pansy felt like barging out of the room and smacking Granger’s face.



“Hermione, I am going to say this one time and then the topic is over. She was raped, brutally raped. She had broken ribs, a broken cheekbone and half her face was swollen all caused by a man who force-fucked her.” Pansy winced at the description but it seemed to drive the point home by the sound of Hermione’s gasp. “She is not looking for a good time, she is looking for comfort from the person who saved her. Ron is not about to take advantage of her. Although, if she needed it, he would give it to her, and she would be entitled to it.” Pansy looked over at Ron.



Would he give her intimacy if she needed it? She was too scared right now, not of Ron but of dreams. She had a feeling though that he would help her in that way if she asked.



She heard a door close and then slow footsteps moving downstairs. She eased out of the room and into hers to get dressed. She kept the ears. She’d return them to Ron later, but for now, they might come in handy.





Pansy and Ron were engaged in a very serious chess match, each oblivious to the eyes of Granger watching them. She had seen them together in bed, sleeping comfortably. The way Ron pushed her aside to get to Pansy had been unnerving. She was his best friend and she was shoved aside as if she was a nuisance.



She felt sorry that Pansy had been attacked, but Ron saved her, so she should be fine. Why run to Ron in the middle of the night? It didn’t seem right to Hermione. She knew more about comfort then Ron. Ron never understood women. What did he know about comfort?



KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!



Ginny opened the door and smiled. “Malfoy?!” She cried out. “Come in, come in.”



Draco entered and greeted everyone, hugging Hermione and giving Harry and Ron a forearm. He walked over to his friend and smiled down at her. “Hello Pansy.” He said gently, holding out a hand.



“Hello Draco.” She looked at his hand, but faltered when reaching out. She took it but only for a moment then pulled her hand away. Draco merely put his hand in his pocket and kept smiling.



“Do you want to take a walk?” She asked. He nodded and she looked at Ron who nodded and rose to follow them. They waked to the lake and then along to the cliffs, where Pansy took a seat on a huge boulder. “Do you understand my letter fully Draco?” She asked, looking up where he leaned against a tree.



“Yes I do. I looked into the matter.” He said.



“What did you find out?” Ron asked.



“Johannes was sent back to Berlin by the Ministry of Magic. They claimed it was Pansy’s word against his, and since she didn’t speak up, it must have been a misunderstanding.”



“A misunderstanding?” Ron couldn’t believe his ears.



“I was in St. Mungo’s for several days. If anyone wanted to see me, aside from Ron they were turned away.” She said, looking up at the two men.



“The fact that she was in St. Mungo’s didn’t clue them in?” Ron asked.



“Lutz claimed that she feigned in injury and was taken there by overbearing parents.” Draco answered.



“I cant believe him.” Ron was beyond thought. To have the man released in his own country. “What about our own Ministry of Magic?” He asked.



“Since he was here on a visitors pass to see his family, it was simply expired and his charges given to his own Ministry. The Ministry has no jurisdiction over him since he isn’t even a resident part of the year, only for a little over two and a half months.”



“His family said nothing?” Ron asked.



“If my mother heard from her friend, she said nothing to me about it.” Pansy said, grateful for the adult conversation. She was tired Molly and especially Hermione quieting up when she entered a room.



“I doubt she would have said anything to you if she was confronted.” Draco told her. “Your mother doesn’t like unpleasant conversation.”



“True.” Pansy looked out into the mountains.



“How are you Pansy?” Draco asked her.



“I’m getting there.” She said with a smile. “Did the others get my letters?”



“Yes, we all thought it would be better if one of us showed up rather then a whole gang.” He said.



“That was helpful I admit.” She said. “Do they understand everything I asked?”



“Yes, they know not to touch you unless they ask. Millicent says that if you can’t get a single room, she will trade with whoever you end up with.” He told her. “It shouldn’t be a problem though. I asked my father to speak with Professor Snape about a single for you. He wanted to know why but I told him it was personal and if it gets out then I would tell him. He said he would talk to the Professor.”



“Thank you Draco.” She said smiling up at him. Draco had always proven to be a good friend and he had proven it yet again.



“You can count on me too at Hogwarts. I may be in a different house, but you can count on me.” Ron told her.



Pansy gave him a wide smile.” I was hoping you’d say that.” Her relief was evident, and it made Ron smile.



Draco walked back to the house with them and said his goodbyes to everyone. “We are all grateful Ron, for helping her, but I’m the one saying it.” He offered his hand. The ginger shook it, without saying anything. Nothing needed to be said.



“I’ll see you at Hogwarts Pansy.” He said, offering a hand.



“I’ll see you at Hogwarts Draco.” She reached out and took his hand, longer this time. Draco would make sure her friends knew what they should know. School would be a little easier to deal with now that she had spoken to Draco.



They had dinner, but Pansy picked at her food. She would have been lying if she said she wasn’t affected by Draco’s news. Johannes had basically gone without any punishment. His attack on her was viewed as a misunderstanding. She had suffered worse then she could possibly imagine, yet it was a misunderstanding. Johannes was laughing at her in his home, she knew it.



“Pansy?” She turned to Ron. “Do you want a treacle tart?” He offered her the plate.



“No thank you.” She said. He quietness was noticed by the whole table but nobody called attention to it, they let her think.



Pansy sat alone in her room, wondering at what it would be like when she returned to school. She felt safe in the knowledge that she could rely on Draco and Ron when she returned, but she wanted to be stronger. She needed to be in more control.



She left her room and walked to Ron’s, looking about to make sure Granger wasn’t about. That one managed to sneak about everywhere, using curiosity as an excuse. Pansy thought it was more nosiness then curiosity.



She knocked on his door, so quietly she barely heard it herself. But regardless of the volume the door opened. Ron let her in then shut it. “Pansy? Is everything alright?” He asked. He was in his pajamas and from the looks of it lounging in bed with his quidditch broom stick care manual.



“Everything is fine, I just wanted something.” She said. She was scared, not of Ron but of herself. Did she have the bravery to do this?



“What did you need?” He asked.



“I was wondering if you could do something for me?” She asked.



“I’d do anything you asked me to Pansy.” He said. “What is it?”



She looked up trying to form words, but smiled instead. “You need to shave.” She commented looking at his scruff.



“You want me to shave?” He asked, with a funny face.



“No,” she chuckled, “that was just an observation. I was wondering… if I … well if I could…..have a hug.” She asked, looking at the floor.



“Of course you can.” He whispered to her. “You are in control.” He stood still and waited. Pansy shifted about on her feet, but didn’t turn away. She took a step closer and faced him.



Pansy became aware of his form. Before he had been a source of safety and comfort, now it was clear he was a strong man. She hadn’t noticed the wide expanse of his shoulders before, or the firmness of his body. She reached up and placed a hand on his chest.



She felt the strong, vibrant beat under her hand and fed off of it. Moving closer she slip an arm around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest, next to her hand, closing her eyes.



Ron closed his own eyes, delighting in the feel of Pansy’s embrace. It was light, and she didn’t squeeze him but he felt it. He didn’t move at all. He made no effort to lift his hands. He kept this at his sides, letting her hold him as she needed.



“Thank you Ron.” She whispered. He smiled as he felt her jaw move against him.



“Your welcome.” He said as she slowly backed away. Without another word, giving him only a small smile, she left his room.