Two
The droning of Pansy’s business ethics professor was only background noise as she doodled in her notebook. She’d been drawing up new designs for athletic leisure wear, wanting to put a classic spin on it. Pansy ignored why she’d been so inclined to doodle a male model in the margins that vaguely resembled a certain redhead. The truth was, she’d drawn inspiration the moment she’d seen Ron Weasley eating broccoli in his sleeveless GC hoodie, his biceps bunching every time he brought his fork to his mouth.
Pansy felt hot just thinking about it. But she couldn’t exactly write about that in her paper.
”In conclusion, this is the summary of all the things we’ve been discussing this lecture about the ethics of trading within companies of large means by their executive leaders.” The professor cleared his throat. “Class dismissed and please do not forget the essay on this subject due tonight, double spaced APA format, please.”
Pansy snapped her spiral notebook shut as collective groans sounded across the classroom. She’d already turned in the paper, so she wouldn’t be stressing about that tonight. A reminder chimed on her phone.
November 12 8PM, Parkinson Foundation Charity Gala
That’s what Pansy would be stressing about for the next two weeks instead. She’d already planned to ask Weasley about it, but she hadn’t texted him since they’d met at the Three Broomsticks. She’d have to ask him about it soon. Before she could second guess herself, she sent him a text that said, first event of our dupe of the century- parkinson charity gala, November 12th at 8PM. are you in?
She slid her phone in her pocket before gathering her things in her brown leather Von Baer tote bag. She darted down the lecture hall steps and out the door. She had coffee with Theo to look forward to at Breaking Grounds. Cheesy pun aside, they had some of the best espresso on the Knockturn side of Boston.
It was eleven on the dot and the building was crowded as she got to the sleek and shiny main lobby. Stock market numbers floated ahead in an imitation of the New York Stock Exchange. Students sat in groups on various tables, around the cafe that the business building housed inside. She had to admit, the College of Business was one of the nicest buildings on Slytherin University’s campus.
She admired it, even as she loathed being there every day. Parkinsons are business people, her father had told her. If you’re going to school, it will be for that. And that was that. There had been no more discussion about Pansy’s desires or dreams. That was the world that Pansy lived in, one that catered to Nigel Parkinson’s every demand.
“Ugh,” Pansy muttered. “I’m not going to think about that right now.”
She instead focused on avoiding puddles of melted snow on the sidewalk. Her platform Louboutin boots were stylish, but not the most appropriate for snowy weather. Pansy wouldn’t be caught dead in anything else, though. At least it was only a ten minute walk.
Breaking Grounds was a little squat building on the north side of campus. There were plans hanging from wire planters and a sign that said ESPRESSO FOR YOUR DEPRESSO. It was a different pun every week and they had been getting progressively worse in Pansy’s four years there.
The coffee shop was quiet enough that Pansy was able to spot Theo quickly. He sat towards the back of the room, his baseball cap pulled low over his face and his arms crossed over his chest. The aura he was emanating made it clear he would prefer to be left alone. It made Pansy smile as she walked over to him.
“You look like you could use a coffee,” she said, nudging his white sneakers with her boots.
“Early morning practice today sucked,” Theo revealed, before finally lifting his head. Pansy’s eyes widened as she saw the purple bruise under his left eye.
“What the hell happened?” she asked, setting her Gucci mini bag on the small marble top table. “Do you need Tylenol?”
Theo groaned as if the thought disgusted him. “I need to never drink again, that’s what.”
Pansy arched an eyebrow. “Let’s go order and then you can tell me all about it.”
They walked to the white marble counter, the barista waiting patiently to take their order. Pansy knew what Theo would get before he even ordered. He’d been ordering the same drink since they were fifteen and had discovered the wondrous world of coffee. Nonfat sugar free vanilla latte, extra ice. Pansy, on the other hand, had decided to try the pumpkin spice latte. Hermione Granger had gone into great detail about her love for them, Draco gazing at her adoringly all the while. It was as sick as it was sweet.
They meandered around to the pickup area. A girl sitting at the bar turned around to glance at them before concentrating back on her computer. Then she did a double take. She must’ve noticed Theo’s leatherman jacket. Theo smirked before offering her a wink. Pansy swatted at him.
“Focus on the story,” she complained.
“Basically, I accidentally slept with Devin’s girlfriend Ashley,” Theo said.
Pansy’s jaw dropped. Devin was one of Theo’s teammates. “Accidentally, Theo? How does that happen accidentally?”
Theo rubbed a hand over the top of his ballcap. “They’ve only been together three days! I didn’t fucking know. And I was drinking a lot. Anyway. He found out from some guy in Ashley’s history class that we were at this frat party where, you know, we banged. He didn’t take it well, so I got punched.”
“I hope you apologized to him,” Pansy admonished.
“Obviously I did,” Theo said, exchanging a knowing glance with her. Cheating was the one thing neither of them could abide. They both had parents that had done enough of it. Draco, out of all their friends, was unique in the fact that his parents were actually happily married. It was a rarity in their circle. “I would’ve never slept with her if I had known. I told him she never mentioned a boyfriend. I think he got the picture. If he doesn’t break up with her, I’ll do it for him.”
“Geez.”
The barista slid their drinks across the counter with a smile. His ear piercing winked in the afternoon sun. The barista was cute, but wasn’t Pansy’s type. He definitely wasn’t tall enough, for one, and his hair was too dark.
The barista smiled at Theo. “I’ve noticed you every time you’ve come in. Could I get your number?”
Theo grinned, sending Pansy a private smirk. “I’m flattered. But I’m into girls.”
Pansy watched this unfold with wide eyes.
“My bad. I saw the rings…” The barista’s voice trailed off.
Theo held up his hand and pointed to the one on his right ring finger and right pointer finger. “The family crest. And my national championship ring. This one’s just for fun.”
They went back to the table.
“Maybe we could set Blaise up with him,” Pansy mused. “Or is he too nice for Blaise?”
Theo scoffed and stuck his straw into his cup. “Nice people always like Blaise, until they get to know him.”
“True,” Pansy conceded. She took a picture of the latte art on her coffee before sliding her phone away. Theo watched her with an amused smirk. She rolled her eyes at him. He’d been helping her with her Instagram for years and was definitely used to her constant photo taking. It wasn’t like he wasn’t a social media guru either, with his five hundred thousand followers. Nothing like Pansy’s professional influencer though. She’d just crossed five million and had gotten another sponsorship deal with a new makeup company that practiced sustainability.
Pansy focused back on Theo and took a careful sip of the pumpkin spice latte.
“So?” Theo questioned. “Is it as good as Granger says?”
“It’s okay,” Pansy returned, carefully shrugging. But she took another sip.
Theo grinned. “You like it. You just won’t admit it because Granger suggested it.”
“Ugh. Fine.” Pansy set the mug back on the table. “I do like it and I find myself liking Granger herself, sadly. It’s easy to see now why Draco fell for her.”
“He’s always needed someone to challenge him. Someone different than what he was used to.” Theo fiddled with his straw wrapper. “No offense, Pans.”
Pansy shrugged again. “None taken. We weren’t meant to be together. I see that now, although it was hard at the moment. He was my first crush and my longest boyfriend.”
“I know.” Theo leaned forward. “But I’m curious about how you came to this conclusion so peacefully. Anything to do with my redheaded GC nemesis?”
Pansy studied her nails. She needed to repaint them soon, they were chipping a little in some places. She always had to have good looking nails for her social media shots. And because she just liked doing her nails in general. It was a bit self soothing. And better than drugs.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Pansy deflected.
“Uh huh,” Theo snorted. “I remember hearing something about his magical di-“
“Oh my gosh, Theo. Shut up.” Pansy glared at him. “I don’t need to be the next fodder for the campus gossip mill.”
There had been enough of that when Draco had broken up with her. Pansy liked to be talked about, but she would prefer it to be about things like her latest outfits and not her private love life.
“We’re literally the only ones in here,” Theo snorted.
“There’s that one girl. And the barista.”
“She had AirPod Maxes in. No way she’s hearing this. And the barista’s in the kitchen,” Theo argued. “I want to know more about Weasley.”
“Fine,” Pansy grumbled. “If you must know, he’s coming with me to the charity gala.”
Theo set his iced latte down on the table with a little more force than necessary. “The charity gala? As in the one where your dad will be in attendance?”
“Yeah, along with every other rich bastard in Boston.”
“Wow, Pans. Throwing Weasley right to the wolves. Didn’t he grow up on a farm?”
Pansy grimaced. “He’s networked before. He had to for college and the NHL.”
“Does he even own a suit?” Theo asked dubiously, his eyebrows arching.
For some reason, Pansy suddenly felt protective over Ron. Yes, his background was very, very different from Pansy and Theo’s. Different from pretty much every single one of Pansy’s friends. But Ron was good and wholesome. He opened doors for her and made sure she always walked on the side furthest from the road on the sidewalk. He kept her favorite snacks in his nightstand when she came over. He made jokes that genuinely made her laugh.
Shit, Pansy thought. Stop thinking about him like that. He’s still hung up on his ex.
And he could never date someone like me, anyway.
“I don’t know,” Pansy said, absently toying with the tassel on her purse. “I’ll have to ask. I think I could send something over for him.”
“Huh.” Theo toyed with his silver family crest. Pansy had never fully understood why he wore something he hated every day, but she guessed it had something to do with a reminder. Or punishment. She thought about the skull and serpent marked on his arm. Definitely punishment. “I don’t think a guy like him would want a suit from you, Pans. I wouldn’t want to feel like I owed anybody anything.”
“You don’t give a shit if you owe anybody anything or not, Theo.” Pansy rolled her eyes. “It’s why we’re friends. Remember that time in high school when that girl let you cheat off of her history test because she thought you were going to kiss her later? And you just walked off afterwards?”
“I don’t remember that at all, but that sounds like me,” he admitted. He took a sip of his coffee but not before Pansy saw the smirk on his face.
“It was Tracey Davis. And I warned her away from wanting to date you, after that.”
“God, like your female best friend Tracey Davis? Sorry, Pans,” Theo said, shaking his head.
Then he chuckled, the sound a pleasant rasp. It was easy to see why Theo was able to hook up with girls wherever he went. With his dark curls and wide blue eyes, he looked like an American sweetheart. It was the perfect disguise for someone who probably only cared about approximately three people in his life. Pansy was confident she was one of those three and Theo was one of her best friends, but she also knew he could be so, so cold.
But so could she. It was probably why they had stuck around each other so long. No one else would understand. Not even Draco, and he was best friends with both of them.
“People like you and me…I don’t think we’re meant for relationships, Theo.” Pansy’s voice was hesitant.
“Definitely not me. But you’ve been in one before.” Theo leaned back in his chair, the picture of ease. But Pansy saw how his hand drifted to his left sleeve. He was touching the tattoo.
“And look how that ended up,” Pansy scoffed. “I’m drinking a coffee on the recommendation of my ex boyfriend’s new girlfriend.”
“And fucking Draco’s girlfriend’s ex.”
Pansy rolled her eyes but didn’t correct him.
“Look, I hear what you’re saying, Pans. We grew up with shit parents in shit marriages. How the fuck would I know what a healthy relationship looks like?” Theo wondered, but his tone was self deprecating. He was always his own worst enemy. Pansy knew that because it was true about herself. “But maybe Weasley is for you what Hermione was for Draco. Something different. And you might scoff at relationships, but I’ve seen the look in your eyes when you talk about him. There’s something different between the two of you. Don’t fuck it up.”
But that was what she was good at.
The whistle sounded shrill over the ice.
“Run it again!” Coach Moody shouted. “Damn it! You have to cut left, Potter!”
No one was dumb enough to groan or protest. Ron only focused his attention back on his skills coach. He didn’t envy his other teammates from where they were skating laps around the ice to run a new play.
“Florida, Florida!” Coach was booming over the ice, calling another play.
Ron didn’t envy his teammates.
He was working on box control. He was sure he could run butterfly and push drills in his sleep now. His thighs were burning, but he knew he’d need it for their next game against UMass. It was out of conference, but no less important, especially if they were going to the Frozen Four this year.
Ron swapped out with Kenny Markham, a freshman, and the only other goalie on the team. He was second string, behind Ron, and eager to prove himself. Ron gave him a clap on the back as he made his way over to the bench.
He grabbed the nearest water bottle, pushing his helmet off his head. Drills always made him thirsty.
“Weasley! Get over here,” Moody yelled.
Ron braced himself before sliding his helmet back on. He skated over towards the middle of the rink quickly. Harry bumped his shoulder, giving him a mocking glance.
“Shooting drills now, let’s go,” Moody directed, shooing them off.
Ron skated over to the other end of the ice. He bent his knees, his fingers tensing and relaxing on his hockey stick as he read players’ eyes before they shot. Ron had more saves than points allowed, but it was hard to stop Harry’s slapshot. He was just too quick. Dean Thomas, who played left wing, was also one of the best shots on the team. Finnegan always had his assists.
After about another twenty minutes of torture, Coach Moody blew the whistle again.
“Alright, boys. We’re done,” he announced. “Meet here, tomorrow afternoon at three o’clock sharp. If anyone’s late, you will not suit up. I’ll sit you. Understand?”
He was giving Cormac a particularly stinky eye. Cormac thought that because his dad was a former GC player and had made it big in the NHL, that the rules didn’t apply to him. Coach Moody was only too happy to correct his pigheaded notions.
“Yes, Coach,” the team replied. Even Cormac.
They made their way off the ice and to the locker rooms. Ron’s ears filled with the chatter around him, but he was thinking about checking his phone. He already knew that he wanted to see a text from Pansy, though he doubted that was likely. He’d wanted to text her multiple times since he had met her at the restaurant a week ago, but he’d resisted.
Pansy spooked easily. Ron knew he’d have to wait and let her reach out first, even though every single part of him was telling him to do otherwise.
Ron hobbled over to his locker room seat, chucking his practice jersey in the laundry hamper as he went by. He sat on the padded wooden cubby with a sigh before he bent down to unlace his skates. Harry sat down heavily beside him, and Neville on the other.
“Feel good about UMass tomorrow?” Neville asked Harry. “They couldn’t stop us last year.”
“Yeah,” Harry replied. “They’ve got those two new defenseman transfers, though. They’ve only allowed nine points all season.”
“Ron’s only allowed eight,” Neville said, gently shoving Ron’s shoulder.
Ron flushed, feeling heat creep up his neck. He always enjoyed receiving compliments but he was never too good at knowing what to do with them.
“He shut down Malfoy. He can shut down UMass,” Harry confidently agreed. He gave Ron a gentle punch on the shoulder.
”Can we not talk about it anymore? It’s bad luck for me,” Ron said. He was highly superstitious, a trait most goalies shared. Harry was never too superstitious, but he’d had a very different home life than Ron had.
Although they’d grown up together during school, playing in all the same peewee and junior leagues, Harry had been raised by his aunt and uncle. They were so different Ron had a hard time believing that they were related sometimes. Ron had been so worried about him one summer, he’d broken Harry out from the house when they were twelve. Harry had been allowed to stay over at the Weasleys’ farm after that, but not after Ron had gotten a thorough tongue wagging. He’d had to do extra chores for a month and somehow his mom had gotten his coach to briefly bench him.
Ron would do it all again in a heartbeat.
When Harry tapped him on the shoulder, Ron realized his thoughts had carried him away. The locker room was practically empty now, most of the guys either headed out or in the showers. It was just Harry and Ron in the room.
Harry gave him a weird look. “I haven’t seen you much lately.”
“You’ve been with Ginny every spare moment,” Ron replied, standing up so he could change out of jersey and pads. He’d take a shower at home. For some reason, he was eager to jump into his bed, finish his school assignments, and desperately stare at his phone as if that would make Pansy text him.
Harry followed suit, standing up beside him. His face was red as he slipped on his glasses. “Sorry, dude. I know I haven’t been around much. I’ll get better about it, I promise.”
“It’s all good.” Ron threw him a grin before shrugging. “I’m just glad I found someone to tolerate my kid sister.”
“I more than tolerate her, I love her,” Harry said, completely serious.
Ron dug through his bag to look for his sweatpants. He pulled them out, before stuffing his gear back in his GC issued hockey bag. It was a deep red to match the school colors, WEASLEY 01, in gold letters stitched on the front. Perks of being on a successful program, Ron supposed, was all the stuff that came with it.
Ron slipped on his gray sweatpants. “I know. I really am happy for you both.”
“Thanks.” Harry gave him another searching glance. “I did notice that you came back later after practice last week. You go to a party?”
Ron shoved a baseball cap on his head. For some reason, he hesitated to tell Harry where he had been. Or, more accurately, with who. It would mean he would more than likely have to talk about how he’d been seeing Pansy for a while before this. And he hadn’t told anyone about that, either.
He was going to have to tell Harry eventually, especially if their charade was going to last until January. So, he decided to say, “I was with a girl.”
“A girl?” Harry looked incredulous before slapping him on the shoulder. “That’s great! Who is she? Is she that girl from that class I was telling you about? She was, like, really into you.”
Ron hefted his bag on his shoulder, grabbing his sports drink from the side pocket. He took a swig of it, before replying. He was stalling. Ron lifted his gaze to Harry’s, checking around the room again. It was empty, everyone else already gone home or in the showers.
“It was Pansy Parkinson,” Ron admitted.
Harry was stunned. “Like, rich, Olympian Pansy Parkinson? The one who made up that stupid chant about you?”
The memory of the Slytherin crowd chanting Weasley Is Our King his sophomore year made Ron suddenly laugh. He’d almost forgotten Pansy had been behind that little stunt. Ron had struggled his sophomore year, and had almost been benched. The chant that began as a mockery had become the reverse, after that game. It had given Ron the motivation he’d needed to relax and just play.
“Yep,” Ron said, popping the ‘p’ sound. He began to walk out of the locker room, Harry scrambling to walk beside him. His friend was considerably shorter. Harry had used to swear that he’d catch up to Ron eventually, but that’d never happened.
“Pansy Parkinson,” Harry repeated. “What the hell? Malfoy’s ex? I didn’t think she’d be your type. She always seemed so…stuck up”
Ron abruptly stopped, causing Harry to stumble slightly into him in the dimly lit hallway. The only lights came from behind them and from the parking lot lights that shone through the glass doors.
Ron felt a surge of protectiveness in him. Pansy was a lot of things, but she wasn’t really a snob. She teased him about being a farm boy, but that was mostly just friendly fun. And she had treated everyone at that old diner with manners proper enough to greet the king of England.
“She’s not,” Ron argued. “She’s actually really great. And funny. I’ve actually been seeing her for a while.”
The admission came rushing from his lips. He wanted to tell Harry the whole story, but he suspected that Pansy wouldn’t be a fan of that idea.
“A while?” There was hurt on Harry’s face. “And you haven’t told me?”
Ron gave him a pointed glance. When Harry had started dating Ginny over the summer, they’d kept it a secret from all of them for a short period of time. Ron had walked in on them kissing…and he’d been shocked. He’d only been angry that Harry had kept it from him, not that he’d been kissing his sister in their living room. Harry was the best person Ron knew. There was no one else he’d want for his sister.
But for Harry to poke against Ron now, even if he was right, seemed a bit hypocritical.
“We were keeping things casual.” Ron opened the door to the parking lot. They trudged their way to his old truck, since they had ridden together to practice. “I didn’t know if Pansy would want anyone to know, to be honest. So I kept it to myself.”
“Does Hermione know?” Harry asked.
Ron shook his head. Although he knew she’d find out soon enough. Oddly, he wasn’t that worried over it. He was more concerned with Pansy telling Draco. Did she still have lingering feelings for that guy? It bothered Ron to think that. He shook his head again.
“I mean, I get it. It was the same way with Ginny,” Harry admitted. “I just can’t picture it in my head right now. But It sounds like you really like her, man.”
“Yeah. She’s not what I was expecting, but I like that about her.”
Harry smiled at him. “I’m happy for you.”
Ron wondered if he’d be as happy if he knew it was fake.
Pansy was sitting on the plush rug in her room, painting her nails, when her phone chimed with an incoming text message. She forced herself to keep painting her nails and not jumping after her phone like a crazy high schooler with her first crush.
The truth was, she’d been waiting for his text all afternoon.
He hadn’t responded, but Pansy figured he was in practice, or something like that. When they had been together, Draco’s time had largely been consumed by hockey, and then school. She’d come next on the pecking order, but only just barely.
She understood what it was like to have priorities, but she’d always secretly wondered what it felt like to be the priority. Pansy supposed Hermione Granger might know something about that.
It didn’t sting at all, not like it had a few months ago.
Pansy gently blew on her nails, admiring the shimmery emerald color. It was a good shade for fall and for the transition to the holiday season. She screwed the lid back on the nail polish before sliding her phone over.
Ron had messaged her.
She forced her smile away. She was being too silly about this.
Ron Weasley: I remembered something today that I bet you wished I forgot.
8:57pm
Ron had suggested they finally exchange numbers for their ruse, and Pansy had agreed for some reason that she didn’t care to name. Ron had scoffed after reading what she had entered her contact name as, but Pansy had been pleased when he hadn’t changed it.
She wondered what Ron could be talking about.
Pansy: what are you rambling about now, weasley?
9:00pm
Ron Weasley: Weasley cannot save a thing. He cannot block a single shot.
9:00pm
Pansy started laughing. She knew exactly what Ron was talking about. She’d started that silly song in the student section to mess with the goalkeeper’s head. And because she had been annoyed with herself for watching him take off his helmet earlier in the game, swishing his red hair about in the most attractive way.
Pansy: that’s why all slytherins sing, weasley is our king✨
9:01pm
Ron Weasley: Very funny. You know, GC modified it that year after I got on that hot streak after that game.
9:01pm
Pansy: so what i’m hearing is really you have me to thank for your NHL prospects
9:01pm
Ron Weasley: Yes, Parkinson. It’s always about you.
9:02pm
He sent her another message right after.
Ron Weasley: By the way, I can come to the charity gala. I don’t have a game that night.
9:02pm
Pansy smiled. Then dropped her smile after she remember Theo’s words about how she looked when she talked about Ron Weasley. She absolutely didn’t have feelings for him. Absolutely not.
Pansy: excellent. it’s black tie. i can have something sent to you.
9:02pm
Ron Weasley: I’ve got a set of tails. We have to dress up for games, Parkinson.
9:03pm
It seemed that Theo had been right with his prediction. Pansy hoped that she hadn’t offended Ron with her offer.
Pansy: i’ve never seen you before a game. you could be stark naked for all i know.
9:03pm
She regretted the text as soon as she sent it. She definitely did not want Ron to think that she thought about him naked. Which she definitely didn’t. Shit.
Ron Weasley: Bet you’d love that, Parkinson. Wouldn’t you? I could come to the charity gala in the nude if you prefer.
9:03pm
Pansy laughed at his response.
Pansy: not necessary. i wouldn’t want to put everyone through the horror or cause any permanent blindness.
9:03pm
Ron Weasley: They would be blinded by sheer, impressive glory.
9:04pm
Pansy: impressive? is that what you are calling it now?
9:04pm
Three little dots disappeared and reappeared a few times. Pansy had a brief out of body experience where she contemplated the life choices that had led her to this moment. But no matter how many times she told herself not to flirt with him, or smile at him, or even just like him, it failed.
Ron’s reply came two minutes later.
Ron Weasley: I seem to recall exactly what you said about my cock, Pansy. I think about it all the time. In the shower. In my bed. In the library. And I remember exactly how much you liked it.
9:06pm
Pansy swallowed. She squeezed her thighs together after reading his words. Ron thought about her, all the time. That knowledge was a powerful thing. It sent a wave of heat through her that resulted in a pounding spot between her thighs.
When did Ron get so…wordy?
Ron Weasley: Do you think about my cock, Pansy?
9:06pm
Pansy didn’t know if she screamed or sighed.
Pansy: yes.
9:06pm
Ron Weasley: Good.
9:06pm
I want you to come to my game Friday night. No one is going to believe we’re dating if you don’t.
9:07pm
Pansy probably could’ve protested a bit more, but she agreed to go to the Gryffindor College game to watch Ron play.