Chapter 16:
Pansy woke feeling to warm. She was half on top of Harry, his hand rested on her bum and her arm was spread across his chest. She didn't wiggle, squirmed really, until she was at his side. Harry of course was a light sleeper and rolled them over, his hand search for his wand. He looked down at her, hands and elbows on either side, his erection pressed firmly against her. Pansy could, make a move, she could kiss him. They could undress each other slowly, caressing each other until Harry was inside her. Pansy ached for a second as they stared at each other until Harry groaned and rolled off her. They laid in silence before he spoke.
"How do you feel about seven-year olds?" Harry asked. Pansy stared at his back, confused.
"They're fine, I guess," Pansy shrugged. None of her friends had children or younger siblings. Harry snorted before pulling out at watch. It looked old and worn but it was clearly well kept.
"I promised Teddy that I'd take him to the zoo." Harry said. He ran a hand through his hair and got up. He started looking for his pants. Pansy frowned, she didn't remember him taking them off but she also was out of it for most of the day. She felt terrible that Lavender had had to deal with her.
"What's a zoo?" Pansy asked. She got up and looked around the room. Harry laughed and shook his head. Pansy glared for a second before looking for her wand.
"It's where muggles keep animals from around the world in cages so people can look at them. It's were I learned I could talk to snakes." Harry told her. Pansy frowned then remembered second year when everyone was afraid. She had been wrapped up in her own family drama that year.
"I should probably go home and deal with all the paperwork." Pansy sighed. Harry frowned but nodded in agreement.
"I'm home later if you need anything, just owl," Harry told her. Pansy nodded before giving him a hug which he returned. Pansy wondered if they'd ever talk about what they said last night- she had a feeling they wouldn't.
"Thank you," Pansy muttered into his chest.
Harry used the floo to go home and Pansy apparated. Draco was on her couch, sleeping, with papers all around him. Her mother's last will and testament lay on the coffee table and she saw a list of assets her mother owned. Pansy decided to take a shower before waking Draco, they could get lunch and go over everything. She dreaded the bills she'd have to pay, her mother even when the wealth dried up liked to live as if they were as wealthy as the Malfoys. Draco had always made fun of the Weasleys and Pansy had too but the truth was parts of her childhood they were as poor as the Weasleys.
Draco was already awake when Pansy returned to the living room. He stared at her before patting the couch. Pansy sat down and rested her head on Draco's shoulder. She wondered if he'd told the others yet. Blaise was like them, emotional constipated, and would most likely bring very good wine or spirits from his cellar. Before her fight with Daphne Pansy would have thought she could lean on her for moral support. Astoria was most likely to bring food and hover around until Pansy snapped at her.
"She didn't leave a will, so everything left in the estate goes to next of kin, you," Draco told her.
"Is there anything left?" Pansy asked, wary. Draco smiled and pulled some papers towards them.
"Yes, actually, your father put a lot of properties in your brother's name. He never changed that after everything. Your mother couldn't access anything because of some old law. After her debts are paid, the funeral, you should have a nice investment. I started probate which should be straight forward," Draco told her.
"Investment?" Pansy asked. She'd never had enough money for investments. Goblins were known for long memories.
"If you want to," Draco shrugged. Pansy mirrored him feeling a little better.
"She didn't say anything about how she wanted to be buried or…" Pansy asked. Draco sighed, he looked tried and Pansy realized it was Sunday. Even in death her mother made everything inconvenient.
"Her request was to return to her family plot but then she recants that later. So it's really up to you," Draco said.
"Burn her and have the ashes shipped to Germany." Pansy said before adding, "I can make the arrangements if you want?"
"No, I…have you taken the day off? You probably get some leave right?" Draco asked. Pansy tried not to scowl at his deflection but shrugged. She hadn't really thought about work.
"I'll probably go in. Work always piles up. And we've finalized everything for the fundraiser and sent the invitations. Now I have to wait and see who's coming," Pansy sighed. Hopefully the fall fundraiser would run smoothly, and she knew it would get easier after the first one, if it was a success.
"Have you asked Potter to go?" Draco grinned. Pansy rolled her eyes but smiled.
"I think I might have; I'll probably ask again." Pansy said. She remembered their late-night talk, he'd probably feel obligated to go, that made her sad. He probably felt obligated to go to every fundraiser that had to do with the war against the Dark Lord
"Before or after you kiss him?" Draco teased.
"We're just friends," Pansy told him. Draco laughed and studied her face.
"It's good you're making friends. Lavender Brown seems nice, sad though," Draco told her. Pansy shrugged, because Lavender did seem sad but maybe she wanted a friend.
"And you? Granger come round yet?" Pansy asked. Draco snorted before shrugging.
"It's complicated," Draco sighed. Pansy wanted to laugh but she knew that the relationship between the two wasn't easy. Granger was jealous of her, Pansy still didn't understand why, and Draco probably came on too strong.
"Isn't life," Pansy agreed. Draco squeezed her knee. Pansy watched him gather the different papers by hand, usually he would have used his wand.
"You're okay though, right?" Draco asked suddenly. Pansy frowned. Without her mother in her life she had one less worry in the back of her mind. She wouldn't have to save incase her mother couldn't pay or needed help. She wouldn't have to be told had lacking she was by someone who was supposed to care.
"I think so, I loved the mum I thought I had… and then I realized I didn't have a great mum. I kept trying to move forward, like still be there but not all there. I had a good cry with Harry." Pansy said. Draco stared at her before pulling her into a hug. Pansy felt odd.
"She was a fucking bitch who didn't realize how great you were." Draco told her. Pansy wanted to ask him what he'd done with Draco. The Draco she knew didn't hug or try to make her feel better by telling Pansy how awesome she was.
"I guess…" Pansy said. She shrugged out of Draco's hug and tried not to stare at him.
"Right…" Draco said.
"Thank you," Pansy told him. Draco smiled at her and shrugged.
"Don't make plans," Draco told her. They shared a smile remembering when Blaise's uncle had died and he'd been exciting for an influx of money. Blaise had bought a very rare wizard's watch. He hadn't got the money, it'd gone to his mother, and had no saving for a year.
"When the probate and estate are finished, I'm going to donate Parkinson House to the Society for the Distressed Witches and Wizard Department." Pansy said. That could be her one fuck you to her mother.
"Okay, I'll have the solicitors look into it." Draco told her. Pansy rolled her eyes, Draco was probably think of the tax break she'd get.
Once Draco left and it was just her Pansy didn't know what to do. She thought of sending Daphne an owl or just getting out of the house. People were going to give her pitying looks for the next couple of months, something Pansy knew was going to drive her crazy. Then of course everyone would be waiting to see what she inherited as the last Parkinson alive. She could hear her mother's voice telling her to find someone to take on the family name, to do her duty to the family. Only now she didn't really have to listen if she didn't want to, Pansy decided to lay on her bed and stare at the ceiling.
Monday she decided to go into work. She needed something to do. Draco's solicitors had sent her piles and piles of paperwork. Draco had of course decided to look over it himself, fill it out himself while asking Pansy to get him tea. She felt like a maid in her own home, Draco had started to hover. Blaise had finally got him to go out, Pansy felt like she'd seen the sun for the first time in a long time even though it'd only been a day and a half or maybe longer. Maxine and the rest of her time looked surprised, Pansy wasn't shocked, but the rest of the office didn't seem to care.
"I though, ah, that you might have…erm…taken a couple of days off," Maxine probed gently. Pansy was sure Clearwater had sent Maxine to figure things out because Clearwater wasn't great with words. Pansy tried not to laugh at the thought.
"I've gone stir crazy," Pansy shrugged. Maxine nodded as if she got it, and maybe she did understand Pansy had never bothered to find out.
"Alright, so these are all the papers you've got to go through. The aurors have sent out their Most Wanted list just as a precaution. The final reports from Saturday are almost done. I think Ms. Granger wanted to meet with you sometime this week," Maxine rattled off. Pansy groaned but smiled, Maxine smiled back.
"The funeral is Wednesday, so I won't be in but other then that everything is normal. Sent out the Most Wanted List to the team, make sure we haven't had any cases with them. If we have, I want the reports and I'll have to set up a meeting with the aurors. I think the budget needs to be looked over again. I'll be having lunch at 14:00," Pansy told her. Maxine nodded, flicked her wand at the Most Wanted List and sent them to the team. She left some more paperwork for her before leaving.
Pansy didn't pay attention to the time, she only realized it was half past seven because she got hungry. She'd skipped lunch or just forgotten about eating, she wasn't sure. The knock on her door make her look up, Harry stood arms crossed and a frown on his face, looking down at her. He looked fit in his robes and Pansy wondered if it was just the grief and the kindness, he'd shown her.
"You can in today, huh?" Harry asked.
"I was going crazy at home," Pansy shrugged. Harry smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Did you at least eat?" he asked. Pansy wanted to laugh, everyone seemed extra worried about her.
"Not yet," she replied. Pansy had wanted to jab him about actin like a mum but remembered he might not be ready for that.
"Want to?" Harry asked. He pushed his glasses up his nose and let one arm hang at his side. Pansy frowned, she was hungry, but she had so much work to do. She could come in on Saturday to make sure she got everything done or she could stay late and avoid her flat.
"Okay," Pansy said.
"I know a muggle place close by unless you want to go…" Harry started.
"No, muggle place is fine," Pansy cut him off. She didn't want to deal with the stares or questioning looks they were bound to get.
"Okay," Harry said. He waited for her to organize her desk and grab her things before she locked the door.
They walked in silence to the restaurant. Harry tapped her hand then held it in his as they ran into a crowded street. It felt nice to hold his hand and Pansy smiled at Harry who smiled down at her. The restaurant was cozy looking, Harry held the door. It was crammed with tables that sat two, it wasn't full but it wasn't empty either. The waitresses were all tattooed with long hair and smiling faces, Pansy didn't know if she could trust a place with smiling wait staff. The menu was only one page, a pasta, chicken or beef dish. Pansy was going to order the pasta.
"The funeral is Wednesday," Pansy told Harry. He nodded. She hadn't meant to blurt it out, but he hoped he would come. She wondered if Draco had sent out invitation or just informally told her friends and a few of her mother's friends.
"I'll try and make it," Harry replied.
"What would you like to order?" the waitress asked.
"Can I have the pasta?" Pansy asked. The waitress nodded and wrote it down before turning to Harry. Her smile got wider, and she grinned at him.
"The usual, please," Harry sighed. Pansy tried not to laugh. The waitress wrote down his order and left them.
"How did you find this place?" Pansy asked. The style was interesting, vintage pictures hung on the wall while the flooring was dark wood. The tables and chairs were a lighter wooden color then the floor.
"Working a nasty case and I just needed to get away for a couple of hours. All of London is out there and the wizarding world ignores it, so I stopped at the first place that looked decent," Harry shrugged.
"And now?" Pansy asked.
"Now, I still come here to get away," Harry told her. Their food was set in front of them. Pansy thought the pasta looked ugly. The vegetables weren't cut uniformly and the sauce was thin and brown. She tasted it, taking a small bite, and it was tangy.
"So…how is work?" Harry asked. He'd cut a piece of chicken before he asked her the question.
"It's…it's going," Pansy shrugged.
"That fun huh," Harry laughed. Pansy smiled too because it wasn't that bad.
"I handed all the fundraiser stuff off to Clearwater, she has to approve everything. Lavender and I are still working out treatment plans, just plans in general. Some of the cases I've seen so far have been the tip of the iceberg." Pansy told him. She couldn't go into detail, like he couldn't go into detail about his cases but she knew he would get it.
"Tip of the iceberg?" Harry asked. He had slipped into auror mode, Pansy tried not to laugh.
"I know that the worst my parents did was ignore me and tell me how unimportant I was to them. I would have been married off to some foreign pureblood wizard and expected to have at least two children. Some purebloods have realized the intermarriages that use to happen are bad. So, they'll pay someone to bring witches or wizards to Britain." Pansy told him. She thought of Tracy who was married to a mean looking Russian. Russian pureblood society made everywhere else look like kittens.
"Have any of the cases you've worked with mentioned a Bowtre or Matherz?" Harry asked. He looked hopeful which made Pansy hopeful that aurors would be helping those trafficked instead of ignoring it for a sum or money.
"I can look over the file and have them pinged if they do," Pansy supplied. Harry frowned and leaned back in his chair. He crossed his arms against his chest before sighing.
"That would be very helpful," Harry told her.
"How is your godson? Did you go to the Zoo?" Pansy asked. She was trying to remember what he'd told her about him but couldn't think of anything.
"Teddy's fine. Luna and I are taking him camping this weekend, if you want to come," Harry shrugged.
"Camping?" Pansy asked. She'd never really gone camping before. At most her mother once magicked a tent in the back gardens for her and her friends to have tea.
"Yeah, it'll be fun. Luna is looking for some new creature." Harry smiled.
"Okay, I've never been camping before," Pansy smiled. Harry stared at her for a second before he returned her smile.
"Just bring clothes you're not afraid to get dirty. I have an extra sleeping bag so you don't have to worry about the other stuff," Harry said.
"So basically, all the clothes I use for cleaning out Parkinson House." Pansy laughed. She'd have to go sometime during the week to do some more clean up, maybe. Pansy figured she'd been done in time fore Christmas and could announce the gift at the winter fundraiser. It'd be good PR for her and for the department.
"When are you going back? I could always help," Harry said. Pansy shrugged because she wasn't sure if she would have the energy to deal with the house. Having Harry help her would be nice but she didn't want him to do all the work.
"I'm not sure, I'll owl you?" Pansy asked, unsure. Harry nodded in agreement.
They didn't order dessert and Harry paid. Once they were out of the restaurant Pansy gave Harry what she thought the muggle money was equivalent to in galleons. They strolled down the busy street, watching people. For a second Pansy felt like someone was watching her but she ignored the feeling. It was a nice spring evening and Pansy was glad she'd gone out with Harry. She thought about asking him if it had been a date, she wondered if Harry would ever want to date her. They'd had sex but other then that he hadn't flirted or hinted that maybe this friendship could turn into something more.
"Harry?" a voice called within the crowd. They both turned to look for the owner of the voice.
"Cho?" Harry asked. A medium height Asian woman walked up to them. She had been waving, which probably meant she was the one who'd yelled at them.
"Hi! I thought that was you, I wasn't sure." Cho said.
"How are you?" Harry asked. He hugged her and smiled. Pansy tried not to frown, she vaguely remembered that Harry and Cho had dated around fifth year. She wasn't sure and didn't want to ask them.
"I've returned to Britain. I was engaged to a muggle and his job was in Berlin. He wanted to stay when they renewed his contract I wanted to go. So I'm back looking for a job and flat. How about you? How's Ginny?" Cho asked.
"I'm still and auror," Harry laughed, "Ginny and I broke up. We're trying to find ourselves to see if we might want to get back together."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Cho said before turning towards Pansy, "I'm Cho Chang!"
"Pansy Parkinson," Pansy held out her hand. Cho hugged her instead which meant she didn't remember Hogwarts well or didn't care about what Pansy had done back then. It was refreshing.
"Oh, Draco's girlfriend?" Cho asked. She looked thoughtful and Pansy tried not to wince.
"No, we never dated," Pansy told her. Cho frowned but didn't say anything. They stood in awkward silence before Cho hugged Harry and then Pansy.
"Well, owl me Harry!" Cho said. They watched her walk back into the crowed sidewalk.
"Old girlfriend, right?" Pansy asked. She was going to be nosey because she knew she might have a crush on Harry fucking Potter.
"Yeah, I thought she'd gotten married," Harry said. He smiled down at her and then he started walking.
They walked a bit more, Pansy tried to hide her yawns. She needed an early night but when she got home Pansy would have to deal with Draco. Draco had probably sent millions of owls to her flat about the funeral and estate. She wasn't looking forward to dealing with any of it.
"I should get home," Pansy told Harry. He nodded and smiled as she yawned.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Harry said.
sorry it's taken me forever to update!