Pansy's Song: I Don't Love You by My Chemical Romance

Ron's Song: Ain't It Fun by Guns and Roses

Chapter Ten – The Weasel's Return

*Narrator*

The redheaded man had been on the run for longer than he realized it. He was so tired of sleeping in the woods and not having a place to safely rest his head. After Aurors' began questioning his family and staking out his muggle flat, he took to living on the run much like he did his seventh year of school. When it was dark enough, he came out of hiding and apparated to local villages, stealing food from the pubs and stores. But it had been years and he was ready to return to the land of the living. He contacted his old friends Pansy and Nott, surprised they were now dating.

"We have a place in the countryside. Come at night." Their note had said.

When he arrived at their door, they almost didn't recognize him. Ron's clothes were stained and ripped, hanging on his thin frame. He seemed to be a shell of his former self, his face gaunt and sunken in. His hair had grown out into a tangled mess, matted in several places. The lower half of his face was covered with a thick, coarse beard and his teeth were yellowing. His nails were chipped and his knuckles were caked with dirt.

"Well come on. Pansy drew you a bath and there's clean clothes in the bedroom across the hall. When you've cleaned up, come on down and have some food." Nott told him, looking furtively out into the night to ensure he wasn't followed. Pansy said nothing as Ron rushed in, shaking his coat.

Ron thanked them both before rushing up the stairs, thankful for the warmth of the water. After washing his hair and body, he trimmed his beard and rid it of the twigs and leaves. As he dressed in the spare bedroom, he found a newspaper from a few weeks earlier atop the dresser. On the cover was a photo of Hermione standing in front of a large building along with the blonde haired ferret, smiling and posing for the photographer.

"FOUNDATION HIRES NAMESAKE AS NEW VP." He read. The article went on to explain Draco's business and the news that Hermione was the new Vice President for the London offices while the former VP was heading to America to run the American Branch of his foundation.

Ron took a seat on the bed and read through the news of Hermione's new life, the familiar anger boiling within him. He had hoped and believed that she along with Draco had died in the fire at the shack. After all he made sure they had no way out. He was certain someone had ratted him out and the Aurors were after him for their murders. Ron grabbed the paper and ran down the stairs, slamming it on the table and demanding an explanation.

"We promised, no we swore that night. You two swore that they were going to perish in that fire. I've been running for three years, thinking I had gotten rid of them. And now I discover that they are not only still alive but they are together!" He slammed his hand on the table, causing Pansy to jump.

Nott spoke up in a calm voice, "Actually Hermione left him and Draco married Astoria. I think Hermione is just working for him."

"Oh trust me, they are together. I can feel it. And I will not let them off this easily. They destroyed my life and they need to pay."

"Why don't you just leave them alone? They've moved on with their lives and so have we. The Aurors are still after you because you need to pay for the mistakes you made. I now understand why Hermione was so eager to get away from you. And why she was able to forgive me. The testament she gave on my behalf at my trial was the only reason I wasn't sent to Azkaban." Pansy informed him.

Ron threw a chair at the wall and flipped the table over causing Nott to recoil away, throwing himself in front of Pansy. For as long as he could remember, Hermione disliked Pansy as much as he had before he saw her as a ploy to get what he wanted. And after everything that happened that night, there was no way that Hermione would be willing to put it all aside to ensure that Pansy went unpunished. Unless…she helped them, he realized. It seemed that Pansy realized that Ron had pieced it together and rushed to explain her actions before his temper flared even more. Just like she did with Draco, Hermione had allowed another Voldemort supporter to go unscathed.

"I went back that night only for them. After you left, I went back. Draco and Hermione didn't deserve to die like that. Not for the reasons you had me believing. I thought I loved you and you were different than the rest but you're worse. I hope-"

Ron's hand shot out and grabbed her throat, slamming her into the wall. Despite his frailness, he was still able to raise her up the wall. Despite his best efforts, the look of defiance never left her eyes.

"What did you do?"

Gasping for breath and clawing at his hands, Pansy's face turned the shade of the flower she was named for. Nott shouted at Ron to lessen his grip but made no move to rescue her.

"I…I got them…out and to the hospital wing. I saved their lives." She gasped.

Ron released his grip and dropped her. Pansy fell onto her knees and rubbed her throat, greedily sucking air into her lungs.

"You know, I think you've served your purpose Pansy. I thought I could depend on you but you've proven otherwise." Ron spoke calmly before aiming his wand at his former classmate and partner in crime, his wand emitting a bright green flash.

Pansy instantly froze and fell over; her head hitting the ground with a dull thud. Nott screamed out before Ron pointed his wand in her direction. "You know Theodore, I realized something. While all of this was going on, you're name wasn't mentioned. I'm guessing that means you got off scot-free. How… interesting."

The weedy, rabbit like man shrank back, fearful of the malicious glint in Ron's eye. He hadn't forgotten that night; it was always there in the back of his mind and at the edge of all his dreams. But Ron was right; no one outside the three people in that room knew anything about his involvement. He always knew it would come back to haunt him and now it seems the Devil was ready to collect.

"Now I will need you to be my eyes and ears if our plan if going to work. And this time it, I want no foul ups."

Ron sneered as he waved his wand at the mess and ordered Nott to bring him some food. As he ate, he looked down at Pansy shaking his head. "Such a shame I couldn't bed her one more time. Oh well."