Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor do make money.

044. Fringe

"Does he know?"

"No. Your parents don't know do they?" Pansy whispered, brushing her fringe out of her face, as Charlie sat down beside her. Together they watched as Harry, Ginny, Ron, Percy, George, Bill, and Gabrielle played something. Pansy had stopped trying to figure out what it was a full five minutes ago.

"Nah," he replied, handing her a mug of hot chocolate.

"Why not?" Pansy asked as she took the mug from him.

"Wasn't really anything to say in the end. What was done was done."

"What about your siblings?"

"Gods no. They would never let me go back to the dragon reserve if they knew what really happened my seventh year to Finny. Tonks knew and she fought me like a tiger when I left – so afraid of me doing something stupid just to get back to him," Charlie said with a hollow laugh. "Bill asks from time to time about Finny. He just never seems to ask the right questions. So he never gets the right answers."

"Why don't you tell them?You were the victim."

"No I wasn't," Charlie sighed. "Finny and I knew what we were getting into by telling Callum. We knew the consequences of our actions and we still did it. There was only one victim that night and it wasn't any of us."

"But..."

"No buts Pansy. I am not now, nor was I ever the reason the whole mess got swept up under the mat. You are the only other person living that even knew I was there that night."

"I know," she whispered. "Fat load of good it did anybody."

"Your parents were never known to be good people, I wouldn't take it too hard."

"I know, doesn't mean it hurts any less."

"Do you still think about that night?" Charlie asked. "About Finny that is?"

Pansy turned her head to look at Charlie with a guilty expression and whispered, "Not until I saw you again. I'm sorry you have to hear that, I know what he meant to you."

"Don't be,"Charlie replied, patting her leg. "I always figured they obliviated you that night."

"I wished they had for a long time before I just started to block it and Finny out of my memories."

"What about now?"

"And now I'm working really hard on forgiving myself," she said with a sad smile as she watched Ron tackle Bill into a snow drift. "I find myself wishing Finny was here. I think he would like Ron but then again I imagine you miss him too."

"Sure do. Never really got over it. Don't think I ever will – at least I don't have plans too."

"Why not?"

"Don't want to," Charlie said with a sad smile. "There is no replacing Finny."

Charlie wrapped his arm around her and placed a kiss on her forehead before whispering, "You love him don't you?"

"Can this stay between us?" Pansy asked turning her head to look at Charlie.

"Sure thing."

"I do," she whispered. "Very much. I haven't told him because I'm afraid he's picking me for all the wrong reasons."

"Why is that?"

"Have you not noticed your brother has this knight-in-shining-armour kick?"

"True but what if I told you I think he feels the same way."

"But is it for the right..."

"Oi, you two!" George yelled interrupting Pansy, with a flailing Gabrielle over his shoulders. "Stop gossiping and get your arses over here!"