Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Nor do I make any money.

Accusation

Ron sat at the Gryffindor table idly picking his food and sipping his drink while waiting for Pansy to come through the doors to the Great Hall as she was being released from the hospital wing in time for dinner.

Of course he only knew that because he overheard Madame Pomfrey speaking to Pansy about rejoining her classmates as Pansy just sat in bed and refused to look at him anymore while he was there, let alone speak to him.

Hermione was just starting to pester him about playing with his food when he saw the doors open before she walked in. An uncomfortable hush fell over the Great Hall as he wasn't the only one to notice. He watched her carefully controlled expression fall off her face as quickly as her head bowed to stare at the ground. There was something so sad about watching her become so dejected so quickly as she made her way to the Slytherin table.

His eyes never left her slouching form as she made it down to the portion of the long table where all the Slytherins sat. Since the end of the war, many of the students in that house had chosen not return so while the other three tables were crowded at all meals, the Slytherins tended to congregate near the center of the table together.

Ron gripped his glass tighter as he saw the Ferret say something to her that caused her to back away from him quickly with a look of horror, shock and fear across her face. He watched her take a seat all by herself near the end of the table. Far from the rest of the Slytherins.

"That little wanker," he muttered, getting to his feet.

Grabbing his plate, utensils and glass, he left the Gryffindor table. He could hear the voices of his house mates asking him what he was doing but he didn't respond. Ron couldn't tear his eyes off Pansy who looked so dejected and about ready to break down and cry as she hung her head. She didn't deserve what ever that Ferret had said to her.

Putting his plate and glass down in front of Pansy, he took a seat at the Slytherin table not caring that the whole of Hogwarts was now staring at him with their jaws dropped. They could all go stuff themselves for all he cared.

"Are you okay?" he whispered to Pansy whose head was still hanging down.

Pansy's head shot up like a bullet. He could see that her eyes were red and she was struggling to hold back the tears.

"Why?" she whispered so softly that Ron barely heard her even in the stillness of the Great Hall.

He was about to answer when Malfoy sneered quietly, "Just what do you think you are doing sitting here? You that desperate for a pure-blood, you'd settle for her?"

In one swift move, Ron had grabbed the annoying little ferret by his tie and pulled him down so he was eye level with Ron. Ron didn't care who saw him, because when he was through with the ferret, he figured he should get a bloody award if he managed not to physically hurt him. Growling he said, "Now you listen here Ferret. She has been through enough. So unless there is a bit of humanity somewhere in that skinny little body of yours, I suggest you sod off before I throw you out that window behind you."

He watched as Malfoy started to say something but he cut him off, "No one is going to save you from me. Especially when they realize you were picking on her."

Ron shoved Malfoy back who just looked at him before looking around to see that Ron had been right. No one had moved from their seats, including the teachers who obviously saw just what happened. Straightening his appearance, Malfoy stalked away. Ron's glare followed Malfoy all the way back down to where the rest of the Slytherins sat.

"Thank you," a soft whisper broke him from his glare directed at Malfoy.

Turning his head, he saw a soft smile on Pansy's face for the first time.

He smiled back with a soft nod before saying, "No problem. Now eat."

Ron could have sworn he heard a soft inward laugh from her before he tucked into the rest of his meal, his eyes on Pansy making sure she ate while neither said a word.