A new chapter, Finally. Sorry for the delay.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, only those that I created myself. Please do not harm me in any way. I only do this for fun.
A personal thank you to my Beta reader, LadyDeathFaerie. Thanks LDF!
A Secret worth Keeping
Chapter Thirty-four: Promise me
There was the promise of rain in the air. The smell of charged ions drifted across the currents and sailed on the winds. The girl closed her eyes and drew a deep breath, breathing in the aroma. It was one of her favorite smells, the intricate curious smell of rain, next to lavender and vanilla that is. The latter two she now used as calming ingredients in a potpourri bag under her pillow. It was the only thing that seemed to help her to relax enough to get to sleep anymore. And only a good night's sleep helped her to start a semi good morning. Rain, however, was her favorite odor. It was a soothing aroma, yet held a promise to wipe the earth clean. A miraculous thing, rain.
She stood near the edge and watched the wind whip the waters below. The wind had picked up and whipped around her in a frenzy. It was why she was not standing at the cliff's edge. It would easily tip her over and send her plunging into the dark waters below. In her state of mind, that wasn't a good thing.
The Goad Cliff's rocky edge dropped a good thirty feet to the lake below, a good fall that could result in a nasty death to the careless. A few yards to her left, she knew of a trail that led down the cliff to a popular ledge that she and her friends had used over the years. They would come every summer weekend and jump, carelessly, into the frigid waters below. Everyone was always trying to outdo the others. Acrobatic dives, flips, leaping blindly backwards. Each one not caring that deep down, straight down there were sharp rocks protruding. Sharp enough to be impaled on it they weren't careful. Most were, but some weren't. A few found themselves being taken to Pomfrey's infirmary for immediate help. Not life threatening injuries as of yet, sure, but it still hurt none-the-less. Pain was pain and it wasn't pleasurable. No matter what others seem to think. She didn't enjoy pain. Her hand absently reached down to rub at an invisible scar. The memory of her slip and the sharp rock imbedded in her leg kept her from returning to the ledge for several months. She had, after that experience, acquired a slight fear of heights. Another reason she didn't stray to close to the edge of the cliff this day.
Dark swirling clouds were slowly making their way closer and she pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. She really should be returning before the skies opened up and drenched her from head to foot, but she couldn't. She didn't want to go back just yet. Sometimes this was the only place she could find solitude, to think.
The sound of a pebble being kicked caught her attention and she swirled, wand immediately in hand as she faced the newcomer. Ronald Weasley stood about a hundred feet away. Even from this distance, she could see a hint of anger in his face and she mentally sighed. She wasn't up for another argument with this insistent asshole.
"What are you doing up here, Parkinson?" His voice carried across the blowing wind nearly whipping right past her.
"I don't have to tell you anything, Weasley."
"I am a prefect you know. I can make you return or take off points to Slytherin."
"You can't do shit to me, Weasley. Just leave me alone."
"Why? So you can jump?"
She felt her eyes fill with tears at his words and turned her back to him. "No, I'm not going to jump, Weasley. Just leave me alone. I just want to think."
"Then why come all the way up here to just think and in this weather? No, I think you should return now. Besides…" He pointed to the lake where the ripples were starting to turn into small waves. "The wind is picking up and the storm should be here at any moment. You can't afford to get sick right now in your condition."
She found a fury deep within her and she turned, eyes flashing in her anger. "You think I care? Rain is just water, Weasley. It won't kill me. It may drench me and cause me to catch a cold, but I won't die. It won't rid me of my problem." Her voice sighed and she felt her shoulders slump as her anger fled once more. Damned hormones. They just kept on going and coming, completely disturbing and unwanted. " Just go away. I will return in a little while."
She heard him moving around behind her. Curious, she turned sideways to see that he had transfigured a boulder into a patio set, complete with giant umbrella. She gave him a curious look.
"I thought you weren't very good at transfigurations."
"I can transfigure inanimate objects. It's the living beings that I don't do to well on." He motioned with his hand, indicating for her to take a seat.
She glanced over her shoulder at the blackening sky and sighed. It was stupid to refuse the sanctity of the shelter even if it was Weasley offering it. Tilting her chin up, dignified, she strode over, taking a seat on one of the plush chairs. Ron waved his wand again and the wind stopped whipping around them. He had conjured up a shielding field to keep out the elements, unfortunately, it stopped the soothing rain aroma from entering as well. She immediately regretted losing it.
"Nifty little trick, that. Where did you learn it?"
Ron grinned and sat down next to her. "Hermione taught it to me a few years ago as a protection against the rain during Quidditch games. Just a little Gryffindor cunning."
Pansy couldn't stop the grin from playing across her face. "Gryffindor cheating, you mean."
"We don't cheat, we improvise with ingenious intentions."
"Big words for a small mind."
It was Ron's turn to grin. "Hermione's words, not mine. I like the word cheating myself. Easier to say." His smile widened as Pansy's laughter rang out. It was a nice sound. To bad he hadn't heard it before today. "So, why are you really out here in this weather?"
Pansy looked past his shoulder and noticed that the storm has moved directly over them. Rain fell in silent drops hitting the invisible force field and running down in little rivulets. Funny, just a few moments ago she was feeling alone and sad. Funnier still was that Ronald Weasley was actually making her laugh. She turned her eyes back to him. He seemed sincere enough, but how much of his words were just that…words.
"I really am here to just think. I normally come here to do that. It's nice and quiet and hardly anyone comes all the way up here."
"With good reason, Pansy. It's dangerous up here, especially during a rainstorm. The edge of the cliff gets very slippery."
"Which is why I was well away from the cliff's edge, Ron. I'm not stupid."
Ron cocked his head in thought as he watched her expression. "No, not stupid, but perhaps a bit desperate."
"Understatement of the month." She leaned back and stared up into the underside of the giant white umbrella. "But not that desperate to end my own life."
"Just the life of your baby then?" His voice fell into a tired whisper.
Pansy's eyes narrowed in anger. "I will not go through this again, Weasley. My decision has nothing to do with you. I don't understand how you can--concern--yourself with what I do with this particular problem."
Ron's voice echoed in the small-enclosed space. "Because I do care."
"You never cared before. You and your friends have always hated me and my house. How can you possibly care now?"
He kept his eyes on the rain, letting the falling drops calm him down. "Perhaps it's not just you. Perhaps it's that I don't believe in killing an innocent child. Which is what it is, Pansy…an innocent."
"What about me, Ron?" Her voice was just as quiet, timid, as she spoke. "What am I to do about it? I can't keep it. You know how the wizarding world treats unwed mothers. For one, my own parents'd disown me. They would throw me out into the world like a disobedient pet. I would never be able to get a descent job to provide for the baby. It would be worse off. It's better to get rid of it then bring it into a life like that."
Ron sighed as he thought about her words. It was true that the wizarding world was very harsh on unwed mothers, sometimes downright malicious. In the past, he had heard some rumors of single mothers being almost crucified in their choices to bring in a child to the world without the benefit of paternal protection. Most didn't survive the abusive lifestyle forced upon them. The children rarely made it past their second year.
He was sure that the rumors that were told by his own father were used largely to keep his hormonally challenged little sister in line. Remembering the looks on her face in the past to their father's stories, he had no worries of her falling to the charms of any young man until her wedding night. And now that Harry was supposedly 'married' to Hermione, he didn't have to worry about her in the near future. Not that Harry would do that to her. Ron stopped in thought at that. Perhaps it would be a good idea to let his friend know about that particular little setback of the wizarding world. Better safe than sorry.
He sighed and looked back at the blond sitting next to him. Her wide eyes watching him as he went through his thoughts.
"See? I can read it all in your face, Ron. You know exactly what I would have to go through. What the baby would have to live through, if it lived at all." She felt a tear fall down her face at the thought of giving birth to a beautiful baby and only loosing it later. That would be much more difficult then losing the child now, before she could become attached to it. "It's better this way, in the long run."
Ron silently agreed but kept the words from forming out loud. "Do you have to do it now? Don't you have a little while to decide?"
"I have already decided, Ron. Why would I want to put it off longer? It would only make my decision harder in the long run. No matter what, I can't have this child. Not alone."
"What if you weren't alone?" Ron asked. "What about Draco? Perhaps he could…"
"No!" Pansy stood up from the chair and approached the force field. The closer she got to the field the stronger the aroma of the rain became. "I won't destroy Draco's life along with mine. It's not his and I don't want him pretending to be. It would be a lie."
"But…"
"Ron," She sighed loudly and turned back to him. "I've no doubt that Draco would marry me to help protect me, but there is more at risk here than just me and my baby. Trust me, it's better if he didn't get that idea in his head. So don't mention it to him. As far as he is concerned, the baby will be history in a few days."
"That's cold, even for you Pansy."
"It's the truth, Ron. I have to live with it and now you have to live with it."
Ron stood up and crossed the small area to gaze down into her eyes. "Give me some time, Pansy, to come up with something."
"I don't have much time, Ron. I want to do this before I lose my nerve."
"Give me a few days. Surely you can spare that."
"What have you got up your sleeve Weasley?"
"I don't know yet. But I refuse to see an innocent baby be killed if I can help prevent it."
"Ron…"
"Just promise me, Pansy. Promise me that you won't drink that abortant until we talk again."
Pansy's light blue eyes met Ron's stormy blue ones and she felt a connection. She gasped loudly at the look in his eyes and felt a tingling up her spine. Against her better judgement and to her disbelief, she found herself agreeing. "Sure, Ron…if you say so. I…I promise."
Ron lifted his hand and ran a finger down the side of her cheek. His smile deepened as he watched her face. "Good girl. Let's go back inside. It's starting to get dark."
Pansy kept her eyes on his as she felt him take her hand and lead her down the rocky path back to the castle. That momentary determined look in his eyes both frightened and excited her at the same time.
Suddenly she was seeing the 'Weasel' in a completely different light.
"Shit." She mumbled under her breath as they made it back before the sky fell open once more and drenched the earth.
A/N's and acknowledgements:
Anarane Anwamane, runaway mental patient, Sarahamanda, Junella, Kalinda, Miss Serena B, PalisDelon, Skipastarseeker: Thank you all. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
Sirius Star Holder, Serena, Crazy-Physco, Goddess of Elements, Skipastarseeker,
I plan to. More is coming.
Dr.StoweWannabe27: I am so honored that my little story is your favorite. I truly appreciate your kind words. I cant say that much about Lucius at this time, but rest assured…he will get his just desserts.
Real-fan05: As long as you review, I will keep posting.
Artemis MoonClaw: I like a cool Snape as well, but that just doesn't work with this fic. Perhaps one of my next one will have him like that.
Mysticdarkraven: I'm glad you liked your chapter. Lucius…ah, Lucius…just have to keep reading!
Theophania: Just have to wait to see what happens there, hon! And Lemonade will appear shortly
Sara D: LOL. I will once more…kiss my brain!!! I love that saying!
ShellyD1982: Lucius? Huh…I hope you will find out soon. I just don't know when just yet.
Toms-babygurl: I know, I usually like cliffies…oh well, there is always the next chapter. Heheh
Rosmerta: Punishment? Oh right…coming up.
ShadowHand: I'm glad that you like the coments. Hope to keep them going.
Kyerie: I'm glad that I have managed to creat that connection between readers and my characters. I hope to keep it going for many more stories to come. Thanks hon! (and yeah, I do love your name, I may use it in a future story with your approval.)
Davina Icaras: I don't mind where you review, as long as you let me know what you think. I will head over there and check out your story.
Piinkiice: Ah, more is coming…don't fall off that seat just yet. As for Hermione, she needs the help of the nurse elf so she is accepting their ways. And NO! Ron and Harry are NOT gay. LOL
babygirl1832z: Thanks, I hope things pan out the way I want them to for Ron and Pansy.
Joyfulcanary: I know I would like to write longer chapters, but its hard to do what I can between work and real life. But I'm working on it.
Belladonna: I think everyone will hate Lucius up till the end. Then they will love what happens. I hope. LOL
blackwolfs900: You will see soon.
Angel Kakes: Good, then that means I am doing a good job. If the imagination is working then my story is working. Thanks!
Medicdaddy: I will try not to keep my story postings so far in between. I think you may like what I have planned for Malfoy Sr.
Daniel'sGirl NowNForever: I'm sad to know that Sarah wasn't able to finish this story. I hope that she can finish it at some point. I am glad to have a new reader. I always love to hear from them. Thanks for giving my story a chance!
Goddess of Gorgeousness: I hope Santa was generous with you and yours. I Hope you liked what you read so far.
JosieBelle: oh…don't die, if you do how can you continue to read? I'd be heart broken. Sniff….As for the shrine…oh please. I wouldn't think that would be necessary anyway. After all, if all these positive reviews isn't pleasurable enough, a shrine would be redundant.
Nerfi-Tiri: Ah, wait and see. Lucius has his own agendas.
Princess Orli: Keep reading on the Pansy question.
jean jelly bean: I originally only planned on this story only being around ten chapters. But it grew…and grew…and grew. I am hoping that the ending will be soon now.
Suzaku West: Here you go. And that's Dudette if you please! :D
Starlight125: More is coming up after this chapter. Soon.
Goddess of Gorgeousness: LOL, Well Draco must be super sexy then.
TRACY: Ron is being a jerk but he's working on an idea.
Crazy-Physco: and I loved the many reviews here. Thanks hon!
Gizmama: Hope you didn't wait to long, but…didn't you review at AFF? Not that I mind, two reviews for the price of one. Love it.
Fanfiction Fan: I don't have any plans to stop writing this fic. Don't worry on that.
Katherose: Thanks, your opinion means a lot to me. I appreciate