This is being cross-posted from Ao3. It was originally posted on 18 January 2023.

Thank you to GaeilgeRua for allowing me to use her Grammarly! Any other mistakes are definitely my own..

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, and Warner Bros. No copyright infringement is intended.

Prompt: Meditationsinemergencies request for Remus/Pansy walking downtown at night

Walk with You

Rated: General Audiences

Pairing: Remus Lupin/Pansy Parkinson

Word Count: 868

Summary: Remus asks Pansy to walk with him late one night.

The streets of London were tranquil tonight. Remus slid his hands into his coat pockets as he walked to keep the chill away. It was nights like this one that left him feeling more alone than ever before. Two of his friends were dead, one was in jail, and another hadn't been seen in years. All he had now was Pansy, and even she seemed distant lately.

That could be his depression talking, though. It didn't matter. Remus felt alone, and the streets of London called to him, so he walked to clear his head.

Eventually, Remus recognized the route he was taking and soon found himself on pansy's doorstep. Swallowing, he struggled to decide whether or not to ring the bell. Pansy would be fast asleep by now, having to work at the shop in the morning. Knowing that he would end up back here again if he didn't ring it now, he walked up her steps and hit the buzzer once.

Pansy woke out of a dead sleep to her doorbell ringing. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she knew exactly who it would be at this hour. Throwing on her dressing gown, she walked downstairs and unlocked the door. Swinging it open, she smiled at her friend. Unfortunately, he didn't smile back, and that worried her.

"It's late," Pansy said, seeing Remus standing on her doorstep. "Is everything alright?" She wrapped her robe around her body and leaned against the doorframe while waiting for Remus to answer.

Hands still in his pockets, Remus shrugged. "Yes. No. Maybe?" he laughed at himself and then withdrew one hand to run through his hair. "I didn't want to be alone tonight, so I was hoping that maybe you would take a walk with me."

Taking a deep breath, Pansy let it out slowly. Glancing up and down the empty street, she tried to decide what to do. It was well after one in the morning, and she should be asleep. With a final glance at Remus, she decided that perhaps sleep could wait. Since

"Wait here," she told him. "I'll go and get dressed." Then, after a nod from Remus, she backed up and shut the door, heading to her room to dress for a walk outside this late.

Remus stepped down onto the sidewalk and quietly paced as he waited for Pansy to return. No one walked by, but it was late again, and everyone sane was fast asleep in bed by now. When the door to Pansy's townhouse opened, Remus paused and waited for her to join him on the sidewalk.

"Ready to go?" she asked, holding out her hand.

"Yeah."

Remus took her hand and led the way. They meandered through the empty streets, the sound of their footsteps the only disturbance aside from the occasional car or cabbie driving by. Pansy's hand kept Remus warm when the wind kicked up. He also enjoyed how she stepped closer now and then, her way of staying warm as night ticked on toward morning.

As they drew nearer to Westminster Bridge, the two found their footsteps slowing. In the middle of the bridge, Pansy paused and dropped her hold on Remus. Grabbing the railing, which was cold to the touch, Pansy shivered and tried to decipher the words in her head. There was so much she wanted to ask Remus… So much still to say…

Finally, she spoke. "I know it's been tough recently, but you must find something to make it through these difficult nights."

Remus joined her at the railing, staring at the river below. "Something other than you, you mean."

Pansy's head snapped to the side, "No… I just… I didn't realize that I was that for you," she admitted, tucking a piece of hair behind one ear.

"I know we're just friends, but part of me thinks that maybe because you make me feel whole, there's something more here," Remus explained, still staring at the rushing water. "I don't want to put this on you, especially when I know you have your own life and worries, but I wanted you to know."

Pansy continued to stare at Remus, everything slotting into place. Honesty, she should have seen it sooner… anytime Remus needed her, she'd drop everything for him. She always thought about him, and he made her heart feel light. Sighing, she gently turned him, so they were now face to face. It was time to figure this out once and for all.

"Remus," Pansy whispered, placing her hand on his cheek. "You know I will always walk with you when you need me to." Her thumb brushed over the stubble growth, and she smiled briefly. "And if you'll have me, I'd like you and me to explore something more than friendship."

Covering her hand with his, Remus sighed. "Thank you, Pansy. I appreciate you more than you will ever understand. I'd like very much to see where this goes."

Pansy dropped her hand and took hold of Remus's. "Now come on," Pansy said, squeezing his hand. "You can come home with me tonight, and if you'd like… You can stay forever."

"I'd like that," Remus said, letting Pansy lead the way home.