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

64. Summer

Pansy sat by herself off in the corner of the eighth year common room as Ron worked at beating Ernie MacMillan again at chess. Her mind kept drifting off to the conversation she had just had with Hermione. She had only meant to go up there and thank her for everything thing she had done for her but she wasn't quite sure how she got to the point of not only informing Hermione just how wrong she was but also in a way confessing Theo's secret to her. Sadness rushed over her as she watched the snowfall as she twiddled with her hand, waiting for the peace she hoped would come soon.

The noise of a chair being pulled up next to her caused her to jump. She tried to get away and to Ron, but a hand gently and firmly held her in place as she finally recognized it was Draco as he said, "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."

Taking a deep breath to calm her now shattered nerves, she watched as he let go of her and took a seat in the chair he pulled up next to hers. Slowly, she reclaimed her own chair but her eyes never left him as he fiddled with something in his hands she continued to breath as calmly as possible. She couldn't even begin to bring herself to sit back into the chair and instead only rested on the edge of the seat.

After a few minutes with no response from him, she asked perched on the seat, "What do you want Draco?"

"I know I haven't done much right by you over the years and I know this isn't going to even begin to make it up to you but I'd like to try," Draco said not to her, but to whatever he was holding in his hands. "I just want you to know that the last few years you really were my best friend, and I think it's about time I start honestly trying to be your friend."

The lump that formed in her throat prevented her from saying anything as he handed her what turned out to be a key as he said, "I didn't know what you and the Wea--Ron's plans were for after graduation but I thought that might help...I took the liberty of setting you two up a vault at Gringotts. In there is a wedding gift from my family. Father also helped me to acquire what should have been your dowry from your parents and what should have been your inheritance if Callum had lived, both are also in there. Lastly, Father convinced your parents that should the two of you ever have a son, then that child will be the heir to the Parkinson estate. Regardless, there's more than enough for the two of you to find a place of your own this summer as well as get you two on your feet without having to stress about money."

"Draco..." Pansy whispered as tears started to fall down her face. She had never expected him to do this for her. "You didn't..."

"I know I didn't," he replied softly. "But I needed to. I want to be your friend Pansy. And I know that has to start with me doing right by you."

Flinging her arms around his neck, she felt his own tears wet her shoulder. Letting him hold onto her, she opened her eyes and found Ron's, meeting his small smile with her own before he turned back to his game.

And she turned her attention back to the friend she thought she would never have.