When The Clock Strikes Thrice

Chapter 6

The Candle and The Moon

Ron walked the streets in search of his maiden. In three days time, he'd nearly given up hope. His mind swam with thoughts of his mystery lady, with Harry's thoughts running in his head, 'Love hurts even more if you pretend it never existed,' He also wanted Ginny to stop rubbing off on his best friend, this hopeless romantic side was making him ill. He walked down the streets looking around, the shoe thing alone was lame, but Hermione had been helpful enough to put a charm on the shoe. His mind clouded with thoughts of her, her eye pattern burned into his mind. He felt a lurch as he thought about her, why hadn't he just got her mask off first.... better yet, why was she so scared. He sat down on a bench outside a small grubby looking pub, and watched people walk by.

---

Pansy sat at the nearly empty bar, staring into space. She was angry at herself, why hadn't she just let him see, the worst he could have done.... would have been to run... she slapped herself in the forehead, she'd condemned herself to a life of loneliness. At this thought, tears came and her head thumped on the bar. Astoria stopped whipping dishes and stood in front of her, Pansy looked up.

"Please do not wallow in self pitty while I have customers," said Astoria, an edge to her voice.

"Excuse me for not finding my fucking prince charming," snapped Pansy, wiping her face.

"Maybe you shouldn't have been such a spaz and ran... AGAIN!" Astoria snapped.

"He would have rejected me," grumbled Pansy.

"You don't know that, you ran out before he had a chance to even react to your reaction," Astoria wiped another glass.

"One night in bed with someone who's got money, and you've become a total bitch," said Pansy.

"I am being a bitch, because your depressing my customers," her hands we're on her hips.

"Excuse me..."

"No your just being a bitch because you are," snapped Pansy.

"Bull shit! Stop being such... such a egotistal whine baby and go talk to him!" Astoria's voice had reached a strange pitch.

"Ohm... I was wondering..."

"Why don't you mind your own damn buisness," yelled Pansy.

"HEY!" the voice of the patron had out yelled them.

"WHAT!?" they snapped.

Pansy froze, her body felt numb. Standing at the bar, was the one person she wanted to run from at that exact second. Ron Weasley stood, leaning over the bar, looking half dead. His eyes we're blood shot and his face needed a shave. He kept jerking every so often and looking at his coat pocket, Pansy began to slowly slink away.

"Can I get some coffee?" asked Ron, sitting down.

"Yeah.... hey, get the man some coffee." said Astoria, snapping at Pansy and walking to the other side of the bar.

"Thanks," said Ron, as Pansy poured him coffee, keeping her head up.

"Yeah," she sighed and went to head back upstairs.

"Pansy?" his voice rang, it was curious.

"What?" she asked, turning around, her hip popped to one side in a what-not attitude.

"Touchy," he whispered, eyes rolling, "Ow..."

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, as she wiped the part of the bar, she'd been crying on.

"Nothing," he sighed and put some cream in his coffee.

Pansy fixed her shoe as it had gotten caught on something sticky on the floor. The moment the shoe was off, Ron jumped up with a yelp, a click sound could be heard. Pansy's eyes widened as the shoe sat on the bar, as if it was looking at her. She froze, what on earth was going on. The shoe flew onto her foot with a vibrant white glow. Ron dropped his coffee, eyes wide as he stared at the shoe. Pansy looked at his face, she went to run, but the shoe wouldn't let her. This day was getting worse by the second, Ron made no motion, he was frozen with shock. Pansy? Pansy Parkinson..... He looked at her face, her eyes we're wide and looked damp, like she'd been crying or was going too. She wretched the shoe off her foot and ran out the back door at high speed. The drunkards in the tavern looked at the scene in mild curiosity.

"Are you going to go after her?" asked Astoria, nearly smashing a tankard on the bar in excitement.

Ron looked at her, catching a glimpse of his reflection in the glasses of another patron. He was pale, but he stood, and ran... ran towards the front door, he couldn't fathom anything right now. But he heard the tankard hit the door as he left, and the bar maid yell something unsavory after him. The night fell and the full moon held its light amongst the clouds. The sound of wolves could be heard near the forests edge. Pansy sat at her window glaring at the streets bellow, Astoria had gone out. Even though, to Pansy's surprise, Astoria had argued to stay and comfort her. Pansy almost wanted her too, after all, it had been Astoria to catch up with her and drag her home. Alas, Pansy had insisted on her leaving and enjoying the evening. Pansy stared at her candle she'd been holding, a flashback spinning through as she remembered the blue moon. She whipped the candle out the window and spun on her heel to go downstairs and have a drink.

"YEOW!" she heard a male voice cry from right below her window.

"Great," grumbled Pansy, looking out her window.

"This is the second time...." She met Ron's face looking up at her.

"What are you doing here?!" yelled Pansy, glaring down at him.

"Knocking on the door, that's what. Will you answer or not?" asked Ron, still rubbing his head, "Do you make a habit of tossing candles out the window?"

"That, Weasley, is NONE of your business, and NO I will NOT answer the door!" she closed her window with a slam.

"Fine then, I'll talk to the damn window!" he yelled back, tossing a candle at it.

"Go ahead, " she yelled, opening the window, and narrowly missing the candle, "You idiot!"

"I didn't know... OW!" the candle hit him again, he fell back into some trash cans.

"Ha!" Pansy shouted back in smug success.

She watched his figure for a moment, but he hadn't moved. Was he actually hurt? SHe glared at his figure before running down the steps to go check on him. She unlocked the heavy door and stepped outside, he still lay there, unmoving. She thought about stepping out into the empty street, but she shook her head.

"Hey!" he didn't move, "Hey.... Weasley, are you okay?"

He didn't respond. She sighed and walked out, angry at him for making her leave the house with no shoes. She leaned over him, he didn't respond. When she went to check his pulse his hand snapped up and grabbed her wrist. She let out a small yelp, before smacking him with her free hand.

"You stupid son of a bitch!" she punched him in the arm.

"It got you too come out didn't it?" asked Ron, grabbing her other wrist.

She yanked, but all it did was create a stronger rebound for her to fall on him. He let out a small laugh, until his groin met a very sharp pain by her knee, and he finally let go of her hands. She stood and dusted herself off, and began to walk back to the bar.

"Pansy, please listen," he called as she reached for the knob.

"What?" she looked at him, shocked he'd used her first name.

"Can I talk to you?" he sat up and dusted off the garbage from his jacket.

"About what?" she asked, arms crossed as she turned to him.

"About us?" he shrugged.

".... I guess.... if it keeps you from faking your death," she said, leaving the door open as she walked in.

Ron followed her, closing the door behind him. It took him a minute to see where she'd gone. She sat near the cracked and dirty window in the far corner, a small table and chair awaited him. Her legs and arms crossed in waiting. He sat gingerly down on the chair in front of her, she never broke eye contact with him as they sat. It was quite for a moment, her leg shook with impatience.

"Why did you run?" asked Ron, watching as Pansy was about to speak.

"Why didn't you come after me?" asked Pansy, now looking at the dark bar.

"I asked first..."

"That was childish," Pansy rolled her eyes.

"Your avoiding the question," grumbled Ron.

"I answered it before I ran," she pursed her lips.

"That was not an answer. That was a personal statement.."

"I take it you rehearsed this with your friends before hand?" asked Pansy, tilting her head with a smirk.

"No.... just Harry... and not that much," said Ron, rolling his eyes.

"I'm surprised. Did you tell him it was ME," she looked at her hand.

"Yes, that's why he helped me," shrugged Ron.

"And... what? He helped you... but I... huh.... fine, as I said before. You simply won't like me," she looked down the hall.

"Now you see, that's a decision that I should be allowed," said Ron.

"Are you copying everything, or is some of this actually going to be yours soon?" asked Pansy, "Now, why didn't you follow me?"

"I didn't know what to say. I was in shock... so I went and talked to Harry, and you know what that last part was mine," said Ron in defense.

"Let's just get this over with. I have to open for Astoria in the morning. We both liked each other before the un-masking. You think you have to some closure thing because you've been told too. You feel that a relationship is not going to work. Now that I've made the speech for you. Good night," said Pansy, standing and walking to the door.

Ron didn't move, he looked at her, "Why wouldn't it work?"

"What?" asked Pansy, the door half open.

"Why do you think a relationship isn't going to work?" asked Ron, half turned in his chair to view her.

"Why would it?" she asked, brow raised, was he serious?

"Give me a valid reason why it couldn't?" asked Ron.

"Because your you and I'm me," she said, though she didn't even like that reason.

"That was very lame," chuckled Ron.

"Because you hate me," said Pansy, arms crossed as if it was final.

"I do not," said Ron, "You hate me."

"No I don't," she looked shocked, she had in school, but not now.

"If neither of us hate each other..." he stood up and walked towards her, "Then what's to stop a relationship?"

"Your a Gryffindor and I'm a Slytherin," she smirked.

"Well I guess that is a valid reason, I mean out off spring would be a Chimera or something... now seriously.." said Ron, with a smile.

"So.... you liked me at the ball? What makes you think that was the real me?" asked Pansy, closing the door.

"Your eyes, they gave you away. Also, on that note, what makes you think I was being myself?"

"Your eyes, they gave you away," she mocked with a small laugh.

Pansy thought about it, why couldn't it work? It had been years since school and neither seemed to hold a grudge. She was suddenly aware that his hands we're on either side of her from when she'd closed the door. He noticed too, and gave a slight thought about conciquences, before his lips claimed hers. Pansy's arms wrapped around his neck, his hands roamed along her waist. The simple kiss became lustful, as her hands roamed over his light shirt, slipping under and running along his chest. His right hand slid up her leg and her thigh, pulling part of her skirt with it. Ron moved down her neck, enjoying the salty taste.

"S... stairs," she lightly moaned, "Bed.."

Ron did as instructed, picking her up so her legs wrapped around his waist. Pansy let out a small groan to match his as they climbed the stairs and their groins rubbed against each other. When they reached the top of the stairs, she carelessly waved to where her bedroom was. They never made it. The floor was hard and uncomfortable, but in the moment it didn't register to either of them. Their lips mashed into each other as his hands began to undo her corset, trying fast. Pansy's hands tugged at his buttons, his shirt was amazingly easy to undo. Ron kicked off his boots, Pansy did the same with her flats. They both laughed slightly as they heard them bounce down the stairs and knock over a chair. Ron slid the dress over Pansy's head, his shirt was tossed into the pile shortly. Their hands combed each other's flesh greedily, as the bight moon shown through a window down the small hall. The sounds of gasps and moans filled the still night air.

The two remained laying on the floor, Pansy's head resting on his chest. One of his arms around her waist while the other was fixed behind his head. She kissed his jaw lovingly as the sound of a loud click hit their ears. Astoria was home, both gave a quick look at each other, and both shot up. They grabbed the clothes and ran too her room, locking the door behind them. They had to muffle a giggle as they heard her come up the stairs. A light knock came at the door.

"Pansy, you asleep?" Astoria's voice came, silence filled the air.

"Kinda," Pansy made a mock sleepy voice.

"Okay. Night." she began to walk away.

"Night," yawned Pansy, then she heard Astoria's voice a little louder.

"Oh and Weasley, you ow me a new wine holder. Your shoe busted it!" Astoria's voice wavered off as she entered her room with a click of a door.

"I knew we forgot something," said Ron in light amusement.

"You and your big feet," Pansy tossed a pillow by her door at him.

"Well since she already knows," Ron pattered the bed as he crawled under the covers.

"She'll be pissed in the morning... oh well," Pansy crawled into bed with him, beginning their night all over again.

---

Nights turned to days, days to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years. The moon hung in the sky over a wide back yard out near a field. Fireflies danced in its moonlight. Pansy sat on the cool grass, her shoulder length black hair blew around her. She looked at her hand, today was their sixth year wedding anniversary, the small ring sparkled in the light. It hadn't exactly been as big as she'd pictured when she was a little girl, but she also never pictured herself wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She felt arms around her her shoulders as the figure of Ron sat behind her, pulling her body against his. They'd planned on going out, but after a small spat about leaving the house, they both decided to stay home. Pansy found the fireflies more entertaining anyway. Ron nuzzled her neck, she giggled.

"What are you, a dog?" she laughed.

"Sure, why not," he shrugged.

"Mommy, Daddy! Look what I caught?" came the voice of small girl towards the field.

The small figures came trampling through the brush. Their hands glowing, where two small girls. One no older than five with long, straight, red hair. Brilliant hazel eyes, and a smirk. The other a girl of around three. Her short black hair in pigtails, and blue eyes gleaming as she opened her hand. The fireflies, flew off, both girls let out a giggle.

"Rose, Violet. Be careful," said Pansy with a soft smile as the girls headed off to look for more.

"We will!" they let out a high giggle as the youngest one pounced on a rather large firefly.

"I wan't a bigger family," Pansy fell back against him, "Let's try for a boy."

"Well I got you a necklace, but we could try for that," chuckled Ron, "Our luck we'll have a garden."

"We have Rose and Violet. Let's have a Daisy, Marigold, and how about a Shilo just to throw everyone off," shrugged Pansy.

"Sounds good, I'll call Harry and the kids can go destroy their uncle's house." said Ron, falling back against the grass.

"Yeah, let's." yawned Pansy as she fell back against them.

"Dog Pile!" yelled the oldest.

"They are never watching muggle sports again.." grumbled Ron, just as two figures fell on them.

FIN

OMG! LOL! I just saw a Fred/Shaggy picture... it made me LMAO, oh god, I can't breath. No more HP for a long time, I'm just not in the mood at this time to write any. Sorry for the lack of smut Yen.