Author: Lash_Larue
Title: "Why."
Pairing: Ginny/Hermione, others in other ways
Rating: Adult
Summary: Fleur requires an answer
Warnings: Mentions of paternal assholery
Word Count: 1425
Disclaimer: These characters belong to JK Rowling
The Hunters Part 20
"Why"
"Hi, Pans," Ginny greeted her, and then she reached through the wards, took her hand and pulled her through.
"Powerful warding, I'm glad to see it. Who did it?" Pansy asked.
"My brother Bill, with some help from somebody he won't name," Ginny told her.
"Some thing, more like, from the feel of it," Pansy said thoughtfully. "Still, good wards make good neighbors. How's the Quidditch, I haven't kept up."
"Ireland next, we're big underdogs, but you never know," Ginny said with a shrug.
"That's why they fly the match," agreed Pansy. "Pretty sort of place," she commented while they walked towards the cottage.
"Yeah, the garden is nice, and the beach is great, even though it's outside the wards. It's muggle-shielded though. We'll show you around when you're here in the daytime," Ginny promised. "Hermione and I read about the Other."
"Good, I wouldn't want you to think badly of Fleur."
"Listen, Pansy, 'Mione and I know this is going to be hard on you, and we're concerned. This is a wonderful thing you're doing, but we're afraid that you might sort of lose yourself. So if you need us, either or both of us, we're here for you." Pansy came to an abrupt halt.
"Let me be sure that I know what you're saying; are you and Hermione offering to have sex with me to compensate for what I'll go through for this child? You want to help me maintain my sense of self?"
"Yes," Ginny replied, and Pansy burst into laughter.
"That's funny?" Ginny asked, bristling a little. Pansy regained control.
"Sorry, sorry," she gasped, and with a huge effort her face grew serious. "I appreciate the sentiment, Ginny, really. But I don't do pity fucks, and I don't need them. I know precisely who and what I am, and nothing can change that, you don't need to worry about me," Pansy promised.
"Okay then, it's your business. Do you mind telling me why you're willing to do this, though?"
"What's between Fleur and me is between Fleur and me. I'm not trying to take her from your brother if that's bothering you, and I couldn't even if I wanted to. This is something that I'm doing for me, for my own reasons. I told Fleur that. I'm selfish, and I fully expect to gain more from this than I give, okay?" Ginny nodded, she was confused, but she knew that no more explanation would be forthcoming just now.
"But back to you and Hermione. Just as long as there is no sneaking around, just as long as you both know about it, then either or both of you. Anytime, anywhere. Say the word and I'll have you on your back with your legs over my shoulders before you can say 'Quidditch', and I'll show you that I'm not much worse at eating pussy than Hermione is, okay? Red hair and all." Ginny's mouth fell open for a moment, and a part of her body frantically waved an imaginary hand as if to say 'Now is good!'.
"Okay…"
Pansy took her arm and they resumed walking to the house.
Ginny led the way into the sitting room, where Fleur and Hermione were watching Victoire draw.
"Pansy, it is so nice to see you again," Fleur greeted her, "this is my daughter, Victoire. Victoire, this is our friend Pansy."
Pansy got down on her knees by the table that held Victoire's art supplies.
"Hi, I brought you something," Pansy told her, and she reached into her bag. "This was mine when I was about your age. I think she'd like to be with you now." Pansy handed Victoire a doll that showed the unmistakable signs of a child's love, but was still undeniably charming. Victoire broke into a huge grin, and eagerly hugged the doll to herself. "Her name is Josie," Pansy informed Victoire. Victoire pressed her hand to Pansy's cheek, and in one of those eerily mature moments that young children sometimes have, said –
"Thank you, Pansy, for baby."
"You're most welcome Victoire; I can tell that Josie is happy to be with you, look, she's smiling." And so she was.
"Is this a 'Vrai', doll?" Fleur asked in wonder.
"Yeah, I got her when I was two," confirmed Pansy.
"This is a magnificent gift, there are so few left. The secret of their making died with the maker, and he made few." Pansy shrugged.
"Josie needs love just like the rest of us, and nobody loves a doll like a little girl. I brought wine, and a couple of them should breathe a bit," Pansy told Fleur.
"Come with me to the kitchen then, and we shall open them. There is sufficient time before dinner." Fleur and Pansy went to the kitchen, leaving Victoire happily babbling to Josie and Ginny and Hermione sitting together on the couch.
"Pansy said thanks but no thanks," Ginny told Hermione, "unless we just really want to have sex with her. She said she's up for that anytime, but she doesn't need pity sex."
"We weren't offering pi-"
"Yeah, we were. Pansy knows what she's doing, I'm sure of it. And for some reason I trust her, and I don't really understand that, so I'm keeping my eyes open. One thing's sure, that club will never be the same."
"Neither will we," Hermione predicted.
"This is lovely wine, Pansy, thank you," Fleur said as she deftly opened two bottles.
"Thank you for inviting me. It's nice to be in a real home." Fleur wondered at the choice of words, but did not pry.
"If I asked you why you are doing this, accepting the role of the Other, would you tell me? You will be in intimate contact with Victoire, and perhaps have her in your sole care. But the Other is traditionally an enemy, are you my enemy, Pansy?" Fleur asked Pansy directly.
"I suppose that you have a right to know," Pansy admitted, "we are going to be close. In some ways closer than you and Hermione and Ginny will be." Pansy sighed, and then looked straight into Fleur's eyes. "This is as near to having a child of my own as I can ever come, and the only way that I can put any real part of myself into another person. My father started shopping me around to pureblood families when I had my first period. He was determined to profit from his daughter, since he didn't have a son. That was the first time our wills clashed. Even then I didn't want a husband; I've never been attracted to men at all, not sexually. At first he tried persuasion, then bribery, then threats, and I could see what was coming next, so before he resorted to the Imperius curse I went to a dark wizard and paid him to render me totally barren. Even the method that allowed you to conceive this child you carry now won't work on me. I told you that I understood harsh choices." Pansy paused for a moment and gathered herself, and Fleur ached to hold her, but she knew better.
"It didn't seem like a big deal to me at first, and it really got my father's knickers in a twist, and that was fun. But as I got older… well, it turns out that for some women the 'biological imperative' is real. I've never wanted a man, but I have wanted a child. I found that out too late. And then you came along, and I felt the child in your womb reach out to me. Her, I can give the very best part of me. I can give her the strength of my will, and for that I will have you beat me down, and I will lick your boots and love you for it. I can never be your enemy, and I would die to protect you because of this chance you represent in my life. The true hell of it is that I really am drawn to you, and if you could love me I would submit willingly. But I will fight you every time, because that will make her stronger. And so I say to you, Fleur Delacour Weasley; that between us we shall make such a queen as has never lived. So do with me as you will, but know that I will fight the Veela when she comes. For no matter what Fleur and Pansy may share, the Veela and the Other will contend as they must."
"D'accord," Fleur replied.