Help me Ron

Pansy and Ron stayed a weekend at her home. Ron admitted on one of their walks that he had never stayed in anything as palatial as her house. Pansy admitted to him that his home was far more welcoming. He smiled thinking how Harry had thought his home was brilliant when he first saw it before their second year.



They packed up their trunks and prepared to leave for school. Pansy’s parents had come to dinner and she had given her goodbyes and promises to write. Her mother had given Ron a new cloak. It would be useful until winter but it was nice indeed and since she was smiling so earnestly at him with his own mother behind her with her own smile, he couldn’t refuse it.



They had loaded up their trunks and were settled into an empty compartment. They had bought their treats and just as Pansy was opening her chocolate frog, a gift from Ron, she heard her name in the doorway. “Pansy,” Draco said, “Millicent, Crabbe and Goyle want to see you. We have a compartment to ourselves.”



Pansy looked at Ron. “Go on,” he told her, “if it gets to be too much, come back here. If everything works, then I’ll see you in the great hall.” He smile gave her a strength and she looked form Draco to Ron. His words were only loud enough for her to hear, but she heard them loud and clear.



“Alright.” Before she rose, she leaned in and whispered. “We will still take our walks won’t we?” She asked.



“I’d be crushed if we didn’t.” He said. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, it was a half a hug, because she only touched him with her cheek, but it was something.



He kept his eye on the door the whole trip, making sure he could see Pansy the moment she showed up. He was delighted when they arrived at Hogwarts and she hadn’t come back. She was alright with her housemates and felt safe. He would find out how it went when they took their walk.



It was the final year he would be taking this walk. It was the final time he would hear the sorting hat song. It was the final time he would have a start of term feast. He should be absorbing it all but his eyes kept searching out Pansy. He wanted to make sure she was alright.



He took a seat facing the Slytherin table, and searched out the students. He found her walking with Millicent into the hall. Draco and his two shadows behind them, talking among themselves. She sat beside Millicent with Draco on her other side, then scanned the Gryffindot table.



The smile she gave him, when she found him, lit up his whole being. She had survived. She had done it, that brilliant girl. She would be alright, and she was telling him so in him smile. She raised her hand and pantomimed a walk her to fingers, then mouthed the word ‘after’. He nodded and smiled at her excited clapping.



The first years came in and the sorting began. He lost himself in the updates of all of his housemates, every now and then glancing up at Pansy. She was avoiding contact by keeping her arms folding in front of her or holding something, but she was actively taking part in conversation.



They were halfway through the feast when Professor Snape called her to the head table and spoke to her briefly. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows. He knew that meant he would find out later.



“How is she doing?” Hermione asked from beside him.



“She’s doing just fine from the looks of it.” He said, putting down his juice. “She has Millicent to help her in Slytherin house if she needs it.” He gave her a knowing smirk. “And Millicent wont have to sneak in and see what room she’s in”



Hermione looked away then back. “Ginny told you, did she?”



“No,” he said, “she didn’t.” Ron let her look confused for a moment, then spoke. “I was awake when you opened the door.”



“I just wanted to know if she was alright.” Hermione explained.



“No, Hermione, you wanted to know where she was.” He told her. “I know you, and after six years I know how you think. Hermione, you didn’t see her that day, and after seeing what she went through I want to offer her any help I can. The mental healer said she would latch onto the one who saved her and made the attack stop.”



“Ron, I know you want to help…..” He stopped her.



“No Hermione, I don’t want to help her. I need to. I have to.” He said. “Just leave it be, this isn’t something that concerns you. She’s been through enough, done make her fight off you too.”



Hermione, sighed and just nodded. She had nothing more to say. What could she say to it? They finished dinner and headed for Gryffindor tower. Hermione looked about for Ron, but he was waiting outside the great hall door. He would be meeting Pansy, just like at the Burrow when they took their walks. She turned and followed Harry to their house.







Pansy came running up and hugged his shoulders, but she released him a split second later. Ron hadn’t raised his arms, and as long as she kept hugging him for a blink of time, he would continue to leave them at his sides.



“Professor Snape spoke to me.” She said, as they strolled along the corridors.



“I saw that. What did he say?” He asked.



“He said my parents wrote to him about a single and he would talk to me in greater detail tonight.” She said.



“Well, you wont have to worry then. You’ll have your own room.” He said.



“It’s a little scary.” She said looking up at him.



“Why?”



“Your room isn’t next door anymore.” She said in a light voice. “What if I need you?”



“I don’t know.” He said. “I’ve thought about it, but haven’t come up with a solution.”



“My mother gave me some dreamless sleep, until I can figure some things out. Maybe we can come up with a solution soon.” She said.



“I’ll be racking my brain.” He said. “It shouldn’t take long.” He waited as she looked up at him and laughed.



“Ron.” He said swatting his robes.







Professor Snape was waiting for her when she arrived at Slytherin house. He left the door to his office open. “Your parents wrote to me about what happened to you, I am very sorry Pansy.” She nodded. “She requested a single room for you and I agree, your belonging have been moved in.”



“Thank you Professor.” She said, grateful to her head of house.



“She also spoke of Mr. Weasley’s actions, and the time spent at him home. Has it helped?”



“It has helped so much Professor, more then anyone will know.” She said, looking into his fire and thinking of the cliffs. Professor Snape could see the intensity and knew she was thinking of something serious.



“Will it be difficult to be separated from him?” Snape had been told by Pansy’s mother what was done and how she had relied on him when she panicked or had nightmares.



“I honestly don’t know Sir. My mother gave me Dreamless Sleep for the first week or two, but not being able to get to him will be a challenge.” She was looking at the fire, her hands, the walls, trying to come up with a solution and fast.



“I think it would be a good idea to let the Headmaster and staff know what has happened. If a panic attack occurs, your professors will be able to get to Mr. Weasley sooner.” He said.



“They would do that Sir?” Pansy asked as if she was just offered a sack of galleons.



“Yes, they would. I want your permission to inform the staff of what has happened, what you went through and why you at the Weasley home. They need to understand just why Mr. Weasley is the one to go to.”



“Thank you Professor. Yes, you can let them know anything.” He smile faded. “Only the teacher will know right?” She asked.



“Yes, only the teachers.” He confirmed. Pansy left his office and Severus Snape was left to contemplate the situation. He had never dealt with something like this. He had dealt with attacks and threats but what his little Slytherin had gone through was enough to test even the strongest stomachs.



He had read Mrs. Parkinson’s letter several times and viewed the memory she had given him. He saw first hand her injuries while in St. Mungo’s. Cecile sent a memory of the healer speaking to them. The view, even in a memory, of Pansy laying in the hospital bed with a broken and bloodied face had welled his eyes.



He was grateful to Weasley for saving her, even though he would never say so. That would be un-Slytherin like. He would, however, make sure Pansy has everything she needs. He rose and quickly made his way toward the staff meeting.







It was well past curfew when Ron, Harry, Dean and Seamus were once again celebrating a long standing tradition of gorging on sweets they had collected all summer. Harry’s muggle candies were a great delight, even if they were a little boring.



“Mr. Weasley.” All four boys stopped what they were doing and looked to their door. Professor McGonagall was still in her teaching robes and focusing her eyes on only one of them. “A word please.”



Ron followed her out of the room and down to her office. “Mr. Weasley, your parents wrote to me, and Professor Snape spoke to the staff as well. May I say, your actions do Godric Gryffindor proud.”



“Thank you Professor.” He said, having grown somewhat used to the praise at this point.



“Given what has happened, Professor Snape has spoken to the staff, with Miss Parkinson’s permission.” Ron nodded to her. He thought it would be better to let the staff know but that was Pansy’s decision to make, but he was glad she agreed. “Miss Parkinson has been given a single room and there is a painting that can warn her head of house, should she have a nightmare or episode.”



“A painting to watch over her?” He asked. “That’s brilliant.”



“Yes, Mr. Weasley. Miss. Parkinson will be watched carefully, which is why I am speaking with you now. The painting communicate among each other as you know so it would only be a matter of seconds before I am notified and can fetch you. Miss Parkinson will still be able to have the access to you that she had at your home.” She informed him.



“Professor that’s great. She was wondering how she would cope.” Ron’s excited look was impossible to hold back.



“Be prepared, just as you were at home, in case she needs you.” His head of house said.



“I’m always ready is she needs me Professor.” Before he left her office and went back to his dorm, he turned at the door. “How many people know about her Professor?”



“Only the staff knows Mr. Weasley.” She answered him. “Although should an incident occur, we have no idea who will and won’t see. Nor will we be able to control questions that arise or rumors that begin.”



“I will help Pansy deal with that if it comes up.” He said, then left for his dorm.







Ron met with Pansy right after breakfast and compared schedules. They had their first class together and several others, so they would be together often. He could make sure she was alright most of the day. She said her other classes were with Millicent, so she wouldn’t be alone at any time.



They walked into Transfiguration and took a table together. Several of the students looked at them and then their friends. Pansy and Ron sitting together was an unusual site. They hadn’t been friends before so, everyone began to assume that they associated during the summer.



Pansy’s actions soon began to draw more attention though. She was always in Ron’s company and when not, she preferred to remain alone. She didn’t take part in common room game Slytherin played and it had been some time since she was seen in the girls dorm party.



The only thing keeping back anyone from outright asking her what had gotten into her was the fact that Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, even Harry and Hermione acted as if nothing strange was going on. Students were left to wonder at the behavior of not just Pansy and Ron, but their circle of friends as well. Any questions asked went unanswered.