And Then He Was Gone

Slytherins Aren't All Bad

"Never criticize a person before you walk a mile in their shoes.

That way, when you criticize them, you'll be a mile away

And have their shoes!"

~Away Messages. Com

The blonde woman stormed through the room slamming the door behind her. As she angrily made her way down the hall her fellow workers turned toward the commotion.

"Do any of you know anything about a new case?" she turned furiously toward the stunned people. They all shook their head vigorously. The woman gave up and headed back to her office. As she rounded the corner she heard heated voices from the hall.

"I don't care, Harry James Potter; I'm not going to risk my job for this!"

"I thought you called us down here on important business, Harry?" She knew this voice; it belonged to Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter's best friend.

"It is important! Ginny's worried about her, so am I! Maybe if I can just do this one thing it'll bring her back," Harry's voice demanded.

"Back? Harry, she's right here," Hermione's sympathetic voice could definitely be recognized.

"She's not the same person we knew five years ago. I know that whatever is wrong with her has to do with him! We just need answers, she's our friend, and we owe it to her!" Harry yelled.

"Why him, Harry? What did he do to deserve to be found? Let him stay lost for all I care! Filthy Slytherins...." Ron muttered.

"Ron! You know he helped just as much as her! He deserves our friendship too," Hermione scolded.

"Not all Slytherins are bad, Ron," Harry said, calming down now. "Look at what Blaise did, what Pansy did."

"I know that, Harry, but he's the type that doesn't change. Not when he was a spy, not before the war, not now. Besides, how do we know he's alive?"

"We don't," Hermione said politely.

"What if he's dead?" Ron added.

"If he is she won't have to know. Besides, it's not like she'll miss him, we just need answers from him," Harry said.

"Harry James Potter!" a hand grabbed the young girl's wrist out of nowhere. She saw a flash of red hair and next she knew she was standing in front of the famous trio.

"Err, Victory, how long have you been here?" Harry asked nervously.

"Just as long as I have, and I'm not very happy!" Ginny screamed.

"Gin listen...." Ron started only to be rudely cut off.

"Don't explain it to me, Ronald Weasley. Explain it to your friend. Explain it to your partner, Harry!" Ginny Weasley was furious, and the last thing you wanted to do was tick a Weasley woman off.

"What are you hiding from me? Is this your project; to look into MY life? I can take care of myself!" the young woman screeched. "And why would you lose your job? What are you three up to?"

Ginny just raised her eyebrows in silent agreement with her friend. "Although, I would like to know what's bugging you as well," she added to the girl.

"It's a long story, and you guys wouldn't care for it," she sighed.

"Try again," said Hermione. You had to hand it to her, Hermione was persistent.

"You wouldn't get it!" she shouted. Slowly the group was drawing more and more eyes from the other workers. "Look at you four, happily involved in relationships with each other. Ron, you and Hermione finally wised up, and you're getting married! And Harry, you and Ginny are meant for each other. So stop bickering, especially over me!"

The couples looked lovingly at each other. Ginny moved close and snuggled into Harry, taking in his warm downy scent. Hermione grasped Ron's hand lovingly and he planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Your right, we shouldn't be fighting, but we want to know what's going on with you. That last year at Hogwarts you were a completely new person. You'd finally grown out of that little snob you were, and we were friends, fighting for the same cause. But since that night you haven't been the same. We want to know why, we want to help you," Hermione stated.

"No one can help me," she sighed. She closed her eyes and let the memory wash over her like rain.

"Don't run, please. Don't give up yet!" she screamed holding onto his wrist. Her blonde hair clung to her face in sweat. Dirt, sweat, and tears intermingled with blood.

"I have to, for the good of everyone. I don't care if I'm not Potter, if I can't take that bastard down then I'll go down fighting." The boy looked at her. To anyone else she would have appeared tired and hurt, her eyes pleading and helpless, but to him she was the same girl he'd known forever.

"Please, don't leave me alone!" Their clothes were torn and they were both clinging to life.

"You'll never be alone," he promised. He walked into the fire, leaving her to watch him disappear. He got smaller and blurrier. And then he was gone.

-End Flashback-

"Pansy?"