Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor do make money.
045. Diamond
A/N: Diamond comes from ancient Greek word ''adámas'. One of the ways it is translated is 'unalterable'. That is how I came up with the following.
"Look, we know it's not the best solution but it's the only one we've come up with," Theo said to the crowded kitchen table at the Burrow.
When Theo, Hermione and Draco had showed up at the Burrow only moments before, they had asked to speak to Pansy and Ron by themselves but Harry and Ginny refused to be excluded; claiming they were just as involved as any of them.
"So what is it?" Ron asked, tentatively as he tried to reassure Pansy by squeezing her hand underneath the table. The ominous look on Hermione's face sent chills down his spine.
For several minutes everyone just stared at each other: one side eager to hear the idea, the other still unsure if what they were about to do the right thing.
Finally, Hermione broke the silence with a quiet, "What do you know about your family's marriage binding charm?"
Ron and Ginny stared at her slack-jawed.
Until Ron finally found the words laced with surprise and astonishment – "You can't be serious Hermione."
"Don't you remember what happened when Bill and Fleur got married?"
"Mum's reaction."
"Dad's reaction," Ginny responded, her face still incredulous at the question Hermione had asked.
"What about it?" Pansy asked softly, stopping Ron and Ginny's protests from going any further.
Theo softly spoke, "We found proof that some of the oldest Wizarding family's marriage binding charms can alter the heir charm. There are only two families still in existence that qualify: the Weasley's and the Malfoy's."
Pansy dropped Ron's hand at the underlying implications of Theo's statement. Her hand didn't stay empty long as Ron grabbed it again and pulled it into his lap as he threaded his fingers through hers, before asking, "What will it do to the heir charm?"
"That we don't know Ron," Hermione whispered. "We are still trying to get our hands on the one we think he used but the charm's reaction to the binding is unique to the couple involved."
"So even if we go through with this, there is still a chance he can..." Pansy whispered, unable to finish the sentence.
"Honestly," Theo started, "I don't think so. The family that created what we think is the heir charm you were hit with has never been known for having the strongest of familiar charms. I think the combination of a potentially very weak heir charm with a very strong marriage bind may be just enough to prevent him from fulfilling the charm as it was intended."
Pansy nodded before turning to Draco and asking, "What do you think?"
"I'm with them Pansy," he responded pointing to Theo and Hermione. "I think this is the best option we have. I'm not sure if something better will come around because regardless if this charm is weak or not; they are unbreakable."
"Irreversible," Hermione corrected earning her a scowl from Draco.
"And you deserve to have a life and not be constantly looking over your shoulder," Theo added. "You have the right to a life."
"Theo," Pansy whispered, reaching across the table to his hands with her free hand.
"I know," he whispered back. "Please just consider this; I think this can work to your advantage."
"Theo..."
"Please," Theo whispered.
Pansy nodded her head and withdrew her hand.
"You three are leaving something out. What is it?" Ron asked, looking at Pansy. "What are you three dancing around?"
"Nothing ominous," Pansy softly responded. "Theo, Draco, and I, we grew up together. And though we haven't always been the best of friends to one another; we do really know the other – just like you and Hermione and Harry."
Pansy sat there silently looking at Ron under his intense glare. Trying desperately to withstand the pressure she found herself under.
After an eternity, Ron sighed and stood up. "I would stay here in the kitchen. You should be safe from the fallout."
Confused, Pansy jumped out of her chair, chasing after him as she asked, "Why? What's going on?"
"I'm going to go talk to my parents."
Time stood still as Pansy just stared at where Ron had been. She didn't know how long she stood there before she taking off after him. She managed to grab him on the second flight of stairs as he had been delayed by Charlie. Thanking her lucky stars that she wouldn't have to track down Charlie later, she pulled Ron into Ginny's bedroom with Charlie where she closed and sealed the door.
"There is something you need to know. If you are serious about this."
Ron looked between Pansy and Charlie obviously confused as to his current situation before asking, "Why is Charlie here?"
"I'm sorry but I'm telling him," she said not to Ron but to Charlie who only sighed and nodded before taking a seat on the bed.