Just Visiting
Rating: PG-13 to be safe…I guess
Disclamer: As much as I might want to be a famous author with world-wide acclaim and accolades, alas, I am not. Pretty much noone in this story belongs to me, so don't sue me please…not that I have a vast net worth to be sued for…
Summary: Five years after Hogwarts, some things have changed, but many things haven't. Quite possibly the first in this pairing…
Author's note:
This is my first fic, so be kind, and please review
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Pansy signed the log book, careful to no smudge the ink from the quill pen. She hated this part…the walk home alone, the long ride on the muggle train back to London, the constant efforts to avoid uncomfortable questions from Ministry aurors—all with only the insane ramblings of her mother to keep her company.
Sighing, she replaced the pen and handed her ticket to the cloakroom attendant. Noone spoke to her, nor even looked her in the eye—the attendant handed her her robes abruptly and darted back inside without so much as a nod.
"Probably a squib" she thought "Probably thinks I'd hex him if noone were looking" she mentally kicked herself for using the derogatory epithet and sighed softly once again.
Gathering her things, she overheard snatches of conversation at the signout desk
"Hullo Alice, Patricia—how are you today?" A soft male voice greeted the secretaries.
"Why hullo child! We were beginning to think you would not make it in for your visit today!" replied one woman.
"Me? Miss a chance to say hello two the two most beautiful secretaries at St. Mungos? Never! I just had some ministry business to attend to…" replied the man.
At the mention of the ministry Pansy started moving slowly to the exit, pulling up the hood of her outer robes to partially cover her face.
"…besides," continued the man, "I had to let you sample my latest batch of cookies."
"Oh young man, you are certainly too kind for your own good…" crooned the other secretary, "..and definitely too kind to be an auror…"
Auror…Bloody hell
Pansy ducked her head even further into the cowl of her cloak. She'd never joined ther parents in their foolish crusade alongside Voldemort, had never subscribed to their beliefs—hell, she'd even fought alongside Harry bloody Potter and the others in the final battle at Hogwarts, but aurors still made her nervous. Her parents' crimes were enormous, and, unfortunately, notorious. Pansy really could not blame the ministry for viewing her entire family with suspicion, but it did not mean she had to like the constant questions and investigation—especially not today of all days.
She did not want to deal with an auror today…unbidden, her mind began reviewing the well practiced answers to the coming questions…
"No, I have not had any contact with a known death eater other than my mother…no, I have not been to Knockturn ally…" she ticked off responses mentally, "Yes, you may of course examine my wand for dark spells…No, I have never…" she was finally at the door, and almost to freedom when a voice stopped her dead in her tracks…
"Pansy? Pansy Parkinson?"
"Damn," she groaned inwardly, "the signout log…" She turned, ready to face the cold stare and accusing questions…
Instead, there was a smiling Neville Longbottom decked rather handsomely in auror robes holding a box of cookies in one hand, and the signout log in the other.
"L..L…Longbottom?" Pansy heard herself say.
He nodded and set down the signout log and cookies. "Yup," he strode over quicker than pansy could react and suddenly enveloped her in a crushing hug, "I haven't seen you in forever Pansy…" he looked hat her now, still smiling warmly, "What are you doing here at St. Mungo's?"