Snape had merely nodded when Ginny told him to keep Hermione away from the Leaky Cauldron at lunch time. So, when Pansy had arrived at twelve and seated herself in a bright corner at the front of the dining room next to the window, Ginny worried only about her brother turning up. Ginny wandered over to her table and opened a bottle of red wine for the dark-haired woman. Pansy grabbed her arm, pulled her down to speak into her ear.
"Will he agree, do you think?"
Ginny gave a hesitant nod. "Probably, unless you're terribly rude."
"I know it's stupid, but I'm dreadfully nervous."
Ginny looked at the woman. She was sitting straight in her seat, facing the window. The bright light showed off her pale complexion, dark hair and calm-seeming face. "You certainly don't look it," Ginny commented.
"Oh, good," Pansy replied. "Now go and get him. I'm about two weeks away from complete destitution."
Ginny straightened, gave the other woman a wry smile before heading back into the kitchen. Ron was sitting at a table, peeling potatoes for his mother. "Oh, Mum's got you in your place, does she?" Ginny commented when she spotted him. He gave her a lop-sided smile and handed over the knife.
"All yours," he said. Ginny rolled her eyes, but took the small blade. "Do, uh… Do I look alright?"
Ginny laughed at her brother and pushed him into the dining room. "Fine," she said, her voice light with mirth. "She's next to the window." Ginny leaned on the doorframe, watched him walk over. She saw Pansy's smile and watched Ron sit opposite the woman.
"What are you up to, Ginny?" Molly asked her daughter, and Ginny turned to see her mother standing next to her, watching Ron as well. Ginny fiddled with the knife, trying to find a good explanation about what was going on.
"You know how I told you that Malfoy was dying? Well, this is to do with that." Molly raised an eyebrow at her daughter, waited for her to continue explaining. Ginny gave a sigh. "It's an enchanted item that's killing him. And Pansy's got it. I asked her what I would have to do to get her to give it to me. She said she wanted a husband, so," Ginny waved a hand at the table. Ginny and Molly both paused as they watched Pansy try to pour a glass of wine for Ron, and he made profuse movements to stop her. She seemed surprised, and Ron – blushing furiously – lowered his head indicated that he didn't want to talk about it. Pansy set the bottle down hard. Ron looked up, then began to talk again with the air of one expecting death at any moment.
"Good," Molly said. "And good to you, too," she said to Ginny, turning to face her. "I'm glad you're getting somewhere with that. I chatted with Malfoy the other day, and although he seemed civil, I will be relieved when he's well enough to go home. And I am also glad that Ron will be out of home again. He's been moping, refusing to get over his marriage ending and your father and I have had enough of being moped around. We thought we'd finished with all that now that we don't have any more teenagers. But, right now, I need you to come over here and finish up with these potatoes."
Ginny smiled at her mum. "Ok, mum. I love you," She added.
"I love you too, darling. But that doesn't get you out of potato duty," Molly said as she shooed her daughter over to the chair to peel potatoes. Ginny laughed. Maude smiled at them both, then handed Ginny an even bigger stack of potatoes. Ginny eyed the mountain dubiously, sighed, and got to work.