And Then He Was Gone

Table for Two Mysterious Blondes

"Look before you leap (yea, right)"

Pansy took advantage of the beautiful day outside that reminded her so much of the musky dungeons. She slowly followed the familiar pattern to an old tavern near the run down building of offices. Absentmindedly she plopped gracefully into a chair and ordered a drink. Why did Harry have to bring him up? She thought bitterly, why can't you leave me alone? Even your ghost haunts me.

The cool metal of the spoon felt welcomed beneath her tense fingers. While she stirred she let the sweet fragrance of hot tea fill her nose and cleanse her throat. The young woman desperately tried to keep her mind away from the man from her past and the four uninvited guests coming for dinner. In fact, she was in such concentration she didn't notice when a cloaked stranger seated himself beside her.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he replied incoherently snapping her harshly back to reality.

"Slytherin's thoughts are usually horrible, I don't think you would want to hear it," she remarked sarcastically.

The young man let out a slight chuckle and lowered his hood. His broad smile was a welcomed relief to Pansy. His freckles reminded her of her friend Ron and his...blonde hair?

"Charlie, it's so good to see you, it's been forever."

"Perhaps not forever, love," he sighed relaxing into a more slouched position.

"What's with the hair?" she asked returning her gaze to her swirling liquid.

"An unfortunate accident, it should be cleared up in a few days. You know, Pansy; tea's only good for the throat and mind when you drink it."

"I don't actually like the stuff to tell you the truth," she sighed pushing it aside. "It's the smell and simplicity that calms me."

He chuckled again, his chest heaving slightly, "Some things never change."

"But something's do," she insisted. "What are you doing in London, at this tavern to be exact?"

"A funny story really," he said leaning over the table to get a better view of the woman in front of him, "but it's rather long."

"I've been given the afternoon off with nothing better to do, so enlighten me," she smirked settling herself into a comfortable position. She could always talk with Charlie for hours.

Charlie told her of the dragons in Romania; and she told him of the work back home. He blushed when he talked about his last girlfriend; she laughed and told him he'd get it right one day. They spent hours in that shop, surrounded by sweet aromas and wonderful memories. Nightfall came all too quickly.

"Time always flies with you, Pansy," Charlie chuckled stretching his long legs beneath the table. "I haven't even see Ron yet, and he was the reason I was here."

"Well, if you come home with me for dinner tonight you'll see two of your siblings."

"A dinner party without me?" he asked placing a few sickles on the table.

"I didn't invite them, Charlie," she said stringing his name sweetly together unintentionally.

"Oh," he sighed, "I best not interfere then."

"Come on," she insisted reaching her hand over and resting it on his, "I need someone to back me up. Please, Charlie, don't leave me with those four tonight, it'll be dreadful."

"Dreadful would be being locked in a room with four of you Slytherins," he laughed.

"There's only me left, Charlie," she sighed bringing her hand back to her forehead and rubbing it. The Slytherins who hadn't turned to Voldemort had died turning against.

"You're not alone, Pansy," Charlie said almost regretting what he said; feeling like his brain was still in Romania.

"No need to get sentimental with me," she insisted swatting away the thought. "I'm a Slytherin, not a bloody blubbering Hufflepuff."

"Hogwarts was over long ago."

"Doesn't change who I am," she said standing and retrieving her coat. "I'm pureblood, Slytherin, and alone."

"You did the right thing all those years ago. The three of you did."

She scoffed and fastened her cloak about her. "We were from the three most powerful wizarding families, and now look what's happened. What our parents would say."

"I think you were poisoned by your parents enough," Charlie insisted standing and wrapping his arms cautiously about her. Pansy felt suddenly safe in his embrace, she's never been a part of a family before. "I'll come with you tonight," he smiled fastening his own cloak. "Besides, you're a horrible cook."

"Oh, and you're so much better?"

"Perhaps we can cook up something halfway descent together."

"Cooking with a Weasley," she said her voice turning malicious like in her Hogwarts years. "Who would've thought?"

"Things have changed since the war ended, Pansy."

"I'm aware of it every night when I sit alone in front of my fire," she mumbled following Charlie out the door and into the frosty night.