And Then He Was Gone

Just a Kiss

"Some things are meant to be, and others, no matter how hard you try, just aren't."

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, then loved for who I'm not."

~Rudy Moore

"Parkinson," Malfoy said when Pansy sauntered into the office that Friday. "I had fun last night."

Pansy sat down and flipped open a file before sighing heavily. "Listen, Malfoy, maybe last night was a mistake. One too many margaritas and you could kiss anyone at a bar."

She looked up just in time to see anger flash in his eyes before he hid it quickly. "A mistake?" he spat, his tone instantly changed. "We kissed, Pansy, and it meant something to the both of us."

"It was just a kiss, Malfoy," she said.

"Bullshit!" he shouted raising his voice. "It was more than that!"

Pansy flinched slightly at his voice before standing up at her desk much like he was. "It was just a kiss. I will not make the same mistake I did all those years ago!"

"And what mistake would that be?" he asked not allowing his voice to soften. The door swung open allowing Harry and Remus to enter, but the two inside the office hardly took notice.

"The mistake of falling back in love with you," she said. "Because loving a Malfoy is nothing but hell! You give all you have and you get nothing in return!"

"Everyone deserves a second chance, damnit!" he said.

"Do you? You've had so many chances to fix your screwed up life. And you've come pretty far, but you're still messing up! I will not become one of those people who gives you chance after chance just to watch you fail, time and time again."

"You're the only thing that went right in my life," he said.

"Then maybe its time you change," she said. "I don't want to be your savior, Draco. I don't want to be the only one that can pick up your broken pieces, especially when I have no one to pick up my own. And admit it; you can't be that person for me. There are some things that just aren't meant to be, and we are one of them."

"Perhaps you're right," he said nodding and sitting back down in his chair. "It was just a kiss. Something people share a lot. And maybe it meant nothing this time. But tell me, Pansy; did it ever mean something."

"Once upon a time it was all I had to survive on," she said trying to hold back the tears in her eyes.

"That's all I wanted to know," he said standing and making his way to the door where Harry and Remus were still standing. "Potter," he said quietly. "I need to talk to you in your office." Harry nodded and the man slipped out the door.

"I'm taking the rest of the day off, Harry," Pansy said gathering up her things. "You'll be fine without me. I'll see you on Monday."

************

Monday

"Where is he, Harry?" Pansy asked when Harry popped his head into her office on Monday.

"He's gone, for good this time. And don't even ask me where he is; I don't know."

"It's understandable," she said not looking up yet.

"Are you alright, Pansy?" Harry asked.

"Of course," she said looking up and smiling. "Some things simply aren't meant to be, Malfoy and I are no exception. It's probably best that he's gone."

"Yea," Harry said nodding. "That's what he said too."

"Here's that file, Harry. We wouldn't want to fall behind," Pansy said tossing him a folder.

"Thanks," he nodded and returned to his office.