Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.
Chapter Five
Pansy's nerves bit her like a chill, and she shivered inside her robes, goose bumps trailing up her arms. It wasn't cold outside; in fact, it was just the opposite, the late afternoon sun beating down on the grass which Pansy stood upon. She considered removing her robes, but decided against it once she realized that all she wore underneath was a pair of shorts and a lacy white tank top. She didn't know Fred well enough to appear in common clothing, especially the kind that revealed her body in such a way. From across the lawn, she could barely make out a tall figure, one that walked in a strut that could almost resemble Draco, if not for the smile on the face of its beholder, and the head of long red hair that blew in its face from the slight breeze. Fred and Pansy had exchanged two more letters, one from him asking where exactly she wanted to meet, and one of hers telling him the place they had before, by the shore of the lake. But Pansy waited a bit away from the shore so she could see him coming, and when she did, she turned and walked back to the gleaming water, standing and staring out at its blue tide.
"I'd be careful if I were you," a sly voice said, coming up behind her. She could hear Fred's footsteps come to a halt, could smell the sweet cologne that he must be wearing. Funny, she hadn't smelt it before.
"Why?" she asked, turning around. Fred smiled when she did, the corners of his mouth rising to form two very small dimples, his eyes crinkling at the edges.
"Funny things live in there."
Pansy folded her arms. "Well I didn't plan on taking a dip."
"Bummer."
Pansy blushed and looked away, quite aware that Fred's gaze remained on her, his smile never fading.
"So why did you want to see me?" she asked. Fred shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged.
"I'm always up for a new friend. The more friends I have, the more sales I can make, and the more business the shop will have when it opens."
Pansy blinked. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Ah," Fred said. "I forgot you didn't know much about my brother and I, not being in the same house and all to see all of the mischief we're up to." He winked at this last part and Pansy rolled her eyes.
"Just kidding," Fred said. "But really, you should check us out some time. Especially if you want a little nose bleed or a high fever to get you out of class."
"Pranker?"
"The very best."
"A bit presumptuous of you."
"I deliver only the facts. You'd know if you were in Gryffindor, which you should be, seeing as you make such a terrible Slytherin."
"Is that why you wanted to see me? To rag on me?"
"Of course not," Fred said, patting Pansy's shoulder. "You're such a pretty little thing."
Pansy shrugged his hand away and began to walk, Fred following at her side.
"The truth?" Fred asked.
"If you're willing to offer it."
"And why wouldn't I?"
Pansy shrugged. "You'd be surprised."
"Hot out here, isn't it?" Fred said suddenly, tugging his long arms out of his scarlet robes and bringing them off over his head. He only wore a red shirt and khaki pants underneath, and Pansy blushed in surprise at the lean muscles that flexed as he tossed his discarded robes over one arm.
"Aren't you?" Fred asked.
"No, I'm fine."
"Suit yourself then."
"Thanks, I will."
They walked in a small silence around the shore that cut close to the forest, during which Fred discretely switched places with Pansy so that he was closest to the woods.
"The truth then," Fred said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"I assume you're not much for it."
Fred grinned. "I have to admit to my crimes eventually I suppose."
Pansy jumped when Fred grabbed her arm and pointed with the other.
"What?" Pansy asked moodily, trying to adjust to his touch, but it sent chills down her spine. She peered in the direction of Fred's elongated finger, at a large rock that jutted out into the body of water. Pansy followed Fred's lead as he ran toward the rock (except of course, Pansy didn't run) and climbed its side, pulling her up beside him to sit atop the great stone. Fred tugged off his shoes and placed them aside, rolling up his pant legs and dipping his toes into the cool water.
"Ah," Fred sighed, closing his eyes. "That's better."
Pansy sat rigidly on the rock behind Fred, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. Fred peeked out at her and cocked an eyebrow.
"Care to join me?"
"Um…er…I thought you said that there were…funny things in there," she said, eyeing the water suspiciously.
"Well if there were, it's just a toe you'd lose."
"Just a toe?" Pansy scoffed, but before she could do anything else Fred casually flicked his wand at her boots and Pansy watched wide-eyed as they unlaced themselves and went shooting off her feet onto the ground behind them. Pansy scowled.
"Now go ahead," Fred said, placing his wand back into his pocket.
"Hmph."
"Jesus Christ," Fred mumbled, and he grabbed Pansy around the waist and sat her beside him. She was surprised at how strong his hands felt around her, the warmth they emitted even through her thick robes. Gingerly, she hung her feet over the side of the rock and let her toes skim the waters.
"Care for a treat, then?" Fred asked, drawing his wand again. Pansy edged away but he didn't seem to notice, his big, sweet eyes staring into hers expectedly.
"Er…sure?"
He flicked his wand and a red and white checkered cloth appeared on the rock.
"What's your favorite food?" he asked.
"What?"
"You must be hungry. It's near dinner time."
"I like…" she almost said steak, but it only reminded her of Draco now and she was surprised at the knot in her stomach she got from thinking of him, especially in the presence of Fred. Fred was such gentle company—a bit mad, but gentle nonetheless. No pressure, Pansy thought.
"In that case, I like Magdelena Meat Pies," Pansy said, settling on her second favorite. Fred flicked his wand and a wicker basket appeared on the cloth. Pansy peered into it, the aroma filling her nostrils.
"And for dessert?" Fred asked, his wand at the ready.
"Blueberry cheesecake."
A large, round white cheesecake with real blueberries sitting on top of it with blue sauce appeared beside the basket, along with two plates and two full goblets of butter beer. Fred leaned back and handed Pansy her goblet, raising his own and clinking it against hers.
"To blueberry treats, then," he said, bringing the drink to his lips. "Mmm. You can never go wrong with butter beer, eh?"
Pansy frowned and took a sip. It was quite good. As they ate together, the sun set and the night began to cool, and Fred pulled on his robes and helped Pansy down from the rock. They walked back up to the castle in silence, but a serene silence that Pansy didn't mind too much, as Fred was sure to keep a funny grin on his face the entire time.
"Be careful going back there," he said. "Don't want you getting caught."
"Maybe if I did I'd get detention and I wouldn't have to hang around with you so much," Pansy sneered.
"Pity that would be," Fred said, glancing down at his watch. "Well, I'll see you around then, Parkinson."
"Likewise, Weasley."
But as Pansy turned on her heels and carefully opened the dungeon door, trying to keep quiet, she couldn't help the smile that broke out across her face.
---
Pansy refused to be the first one to speak, so she waited for three days without so much as a glance at Fred. And just as she had expected, another anonymous letter came to her one morning at breakfast, with a quick note scribbled on the parchment.
Are you interested in the truth of the matter? It said. Pansy was troubled at first, but then it dawned on her—when Pansy had asked Fred the real reason why he had wanted to meet her, he had carefully changed the subject, and Pansy's mind had trailed off into the direction of the weather. Too bad, as she realized now that she wanted to know.
That depends upon how interesting the truth.
Don't be coy.
"Who are you getting all these bloody owls from!" Draco barked on the third morning of Pansy and Fred's exchanged words.
"Mum," Pansy replied, shoving the letter into her robe.
"Jesus Christ that woman is mental," Draco mumbled, and Pansy cast a slight look at Fred, who was eating and talking with his two brothers. Embarrassed, she looked away, not unfolding the letter again until her Potions class.
Not coy. Honest.
If you want it, it will be waiting for you.
Where?
Where you require it.
When?
Tonight.
"Honestly, what's wrong with your mother?" Draco asked feverishly, and in one swift movement he tore the letter out of Pansy's hand.
"No!" she shrieked.
"What?" Draco asked, skimming the words. "What is this?"
"I told you it's from my mum!" Pansy yelled, grabbing the paper back so quickly that she gave herself a paper cut. "Mind your own business, Draco!" Pansy stormed out of the Great Hall, not daring to look back lest the entire student body be staring at her outbreak. She paced back and forth, clutching the parchment furiously in one hand. She had considered not going, but now her mind was changing, if only to get Draco back. At least, that was the excuse Pansy told herself, for something feverish was broiling in her stomach, and it wasn't rage.
It was nerves. Jittery, excited nerves that erupted all over Pansy. Literally.
"Oh, bother!" she yelled, running into the bathroom and staring into her reflection, horrified at the large red hives that had just broken out on Pansy's arms and face. She heard the commotion of the students as breakfast ended and Pansy raced out of the bathroom and up the stairs before anyone could see her hideous face. With hot tears streaming down her face, she broke into the hospital wing and ran straight into the nurse.
"Dear, what's wrong?" Nurse Pomphrey asked, grabbing Pansy by the shoulders and peering down into her face.
"Now I can't see anything if you have your hands in the way."
Pansy pouted and placed her hands by her sides.
"Oh dear," the nurse said, frowning. "Hives then. Well, come on, let's give you something for them."
All of a sudden, something large came crashing into the hospital, hitting Pansy in the back. She shrieked and fell to her side, staring up at the large half-giant Hagrid who stood above she and the nurse.
"Whoops. Sorry there," Hagrid said, lifting Pansy back up with one hand.
"You look a little green, Hagrid," Pomphrey said, gazing up warily at the enormous man.
"Yeah, I er, I think I came down with somethin'" he said, his face twisting up and the room echoing in a loud Achoo! that escaped. "I think I…" But Hagrid couldn't finish his sentence, as in another moment his eyes rolled in the back of his head and he fainted to the floor, Pansy yelping and jumping out of the way just in time.
"Oh dear," Pomphrey said, leaning down beside Hagrid. "I'm sorry Pansy, this looks like an emergency. Could you wait over on a bed? It shouldn't be long…"
"But my face!"
"It won't be long, dear," Pomphrey said, shooing Pansy away with the brief wave of a hand.
Pansy hung her head and walked over to one of the beds, laying down and whimpering into the pillow. She had only been there for a few minutes when she heard Nurse Pomphrey speak.
"Mr. Weasley, what are you doing here?"
"Just came to visit," Fred Weasley said lightly.
Pansy gasped and covered her face, tensing up as she heard Fred approach her bed.
"Hey there," he said, standing before her.
"Go away," Pansy replied sharply, embarrassed beyond belief.
"Hives is it? George used to get them all the time before meeting a cute girl. Not that George even got that many cute girls, as I'm the good-looking twin, but nonetheless, when that rare occasion came about…"
Fred tossed a small purple treat onto the bed beside Pansy and before she could say anything, he was gone. She grabbed the treat and examined it. Nurse Pomphrey bustled over and peered down at her.
"Are you okay then, dear? It will only be another hour or so."
"Another hour?"
"Yes, Hagrid is always a bother to treat…"
And without another word she hurried away. Pansy sighed and popped the treat into her mouth, praying to God that it wouldn't do something absolutely terrible to her. Even though Pansy had acted as if she knew nothing of the Weasleys, that was only her own little way of playing it coy. She knew all of their stories—everybody did. In a second though, Pansy felt her face cool, and she rose her hands to her cheeks to feel their smooth, fresh texture. She breathed a sigh of relief. She waited until Nurse Pomphrey was hidden behind Hagrid's massive body before sitting up quietly and slipping out of the hospital. She thought about Fred on her way back to the dormitories—how could she not think about him? He seemed to be all she could keep her mind on lately, as sick as that was. Pansy keeping it close with a Gryffindor. The very thought would have made her sick to her stomach a few weeks ago, but it didn't seem so bad now that it was actually happening…
When Pansy got back to the common room, Draco gave her a quick glare but Pansy ignored him, hurrying upstairs. She closed her door and took out a piece of parchment. Quickly, she scribbled down a note and, again, ignoring Draco, walked out to the Owlry to deliver her letter.
---
"Who the hell have you been getting all these bloody notes from?" Ron asked, a dumbfounded expression flooding his face as a fat brown owl tapped on the Gryffindor Common Room window and blinked at Fred expectantly. Fred sighed, a slight grin spreading across his face, and opened the window so he could take the letter from the bird.
Fine. So be specific.
Fred's grin grew wider. Should he tease the girl?
"Fred!" Katie squealed from across the room. "It's your turn to move!"
Fred grimaced and scratched his answer on the back of the parchment.
Nine. He gave the owl a knut and it cooed softly before flying away.
"Seriously Fred, do you have a secret girlfriend or something?" Ron said as Fred moved one of his chess pieces. Katie glared at Ron, then at Fred, and crossed her arms over her chest.
"It would be nice if you told me," Katie said, trying to keep a smile on her face as she ran a hand through Fred's hair. He shivered in disgust and one of his knights was killed.
"I told you that I can't, precious," he said, looking up at her with big doe eyes, "it will ruin the surprise."
"Hmph." Katie pouted, withdrawing her hand. The portrait hole opened and a frumpy-looking Harry entered, his tie loose around his neck and his hair messier than usual.
"Hey Harry," said Ron. "I was wondering where you'd gone off to."
"Another detention with Umbridge?" Fred asked, looking Harry up and down. "What did she do this time? Throw you into a lion's den?"
Harry blinked. "Oh. Yeah…we need to do something about her…" he said distractedly, taking off his tie and walking away from them. Ron shrugged at his brother before taking his move.
"He's been acting so weird lately," Ron said. "I guess he's stressed out."
"A lot of school work, then," Fred said. "Fifth year is the worst. Good thing you have Hermione around."
"Not lately," Ron said exasperatedly. "She's been acting shady. And I really need her to help me with this Potions paper I have due tomorrow…" Fred listened to Ron ramble on about Hermione for a little while, if only because it reminded him of how sweet he used to have it with that girl. But then his mind began to drift at the thought of tonight, and how he was meeting Pansy. He thought about their encounter today and how embarrassed she had been to see him like that—but he found it incredibly cute for some reason. Pansy Parkinson cute? Now that was an idea. And one he was growing quite used to…