Many weeks had gone by since the first time the Parkinson family had visited the Burrow for Sunday lunch, Molly had insisted they come every week, and Pansy hadn't had it in her heart to disagree, not when it made her siblings and she supposed herself happy to be around the large family. They were a good kind of people, they were safe. Pansy almost felt like she could let her guard down around them all, to be her authentic self.
In the weeks that had passed; Anabelle had returned to Hogwarts for her third year at the magical school. Her younger sister had been happy Pansy had more people in her life and had told Pansy to go and get her Auror with a wink moments before she'd stepped onto the Hogwarts Express.
"Go and get your Auror, oh please say you haven't fallen for that buffoon that's been hanging round," Draco had asked nodding towards Ron who had been distracted talking to students; mainly girls who were fangirling over the famous man. Pansy hadn't been able to help the small smile that had crept onto her face as she watched the awkward way, he ran his hand through his hair, posing for photos with the students an embarrassed smile on his handsome freckled face.
"Don't be mean Draco, he's nice," she'd scolded, choosing not to answer the question as she waved at the train as it pulled out of the station.
"Pansy you can't seriously like him," Draco had whined.
"I like him too," Hector had piped up happily as he waved madly after the departing train.
"You like anyone that brings sweets," Draco had told him, passing her brother a humbug, Hector nodded, and Pansy couldn't help the laugh that had escaped her.
"Pansy are you ready to go," Ron had asked, finally free of the students that had wanted to talk to him, she'd watched the girls he had been with scoot onto the train, seconds before it pulled out of the station. Pansy had nodded at Ron and allowed the Auror to escort her and Hector home, Draco had come as well, his mind boggled by the fact she might have a teeny tiny crush on the Gryffindor man.
So the weeks kept passing and to Draco's and her other Slytherin friend's chagrin, the feelings she felt for Ronald Weasley kept growing. She had a feeling he might feel the same way as she, but he never acted upon them. The redhead made excuses to come by her café and see her at least twice a week, he and his mother insisted she and Hector come to lunch every Sunday at the Burrow. Ron flirted, oh god was he flirting, his blue eyes sparkling but it never went further, never passed the bounds of flirty friendship. Pansy wanted more, wanted to kiss his full lips, he was slowly but surely driving her insane.
When the day of Smiths trial came, Ron escorted her to the Ministry, Pansy found herself to be shaking like a leaf and he slipped his large hand into hers, offering her comfort and reassurance that everything would be alright. Ron led her into a large room; she'd been to before, the same room where the Death Eater trials had been held after the war, where her and her friends had been granted their freedom while many of their parents had been sentenced to life in Azkaban.
She watched on as Smith was cross examined by the members of the Wizengamot; she watched them view memories of the assault, watched as witnesses including Ron stepped forward with testaments of what had happened that day in Diagon Alley. She listened as they read her victim impact statement out loud, she was thankful she didn't have to speak herself; she didn't think she had it in her to speak sentences right now. Finally after much deliberation Smith was found guilty and was sentenced to three years in Azkaban; Pansy felt relief, happiness, that justice was getting served.
"Got what he deserved," Ron nodded, Pansy turned to him, he looked so happy that the man that had attacked her was going to prison, he held her hand tenderly in his, had been for most of the trial, having only let go of her when he had to read out his testament.
"Thank you for helping me, Ron," she breathed quietly, she wasn't sure why she did what she did next, Pansy leaned up onto her toes, wrapping her arms around him in a brief hug, she placed a feather lite kiss upon his full lips. Ron froze in front of her for a second, Pansy was worried she'd made a mistake but before she could pull away, he wrapped his own arms around her and kissed her back, deepening the kiss, his teeth nipping at her lower lip, Pansy moaned, reluctantly pulling away from the handsome man; they were in a room full of people after all.