Chapter Text
“That’s Parkinson to you”
Pansy-2003
“I’m going out now, my love. Be good for Uncle Blaise and Uncle Theo okay?” she says kissing her daughter's forehead. She stands up taller to look at Theo dead in his eyes. “Don’t even say anything. Merlin, Pansy have some faith in us! Uncle Theo knows exactly what he’s doing. Uncle Blaise on the other hand..” he trails off as they both look at Blaise setting up what looks like a play area for Dahlia on the patio.
“Hmm, sure. I’ll bring you back something.” she says waving goodbye to them as she throws the floo powder. The Farmer’s Market had only a few people and Pansy felt thankful that she woke up earlier to attend. In Italy and in France when she would take Dahlia to visit her grandmother, all three would go to the Farmer’s Market to pick up the best produce for the week.
She walks slowly to peruse each stall, taking in the small chill in the air as Fall approaches and Spring winds down. Talking with the stall owners, she learns their names and promises to be back at the next one. Filling her basket with enough produce she makes her way towards the flower stalls to get Dahlia a namesake and Theo a small set for his kitchen. Pansy’s sure Lu would enjoy it more though.
As she was setting them into her basket, she looks up to move towards the bakery before she stops in her tracks. Just in front of her stood Harry Potter. None of them say anything as they stare at each other. Pansy notices that he’s grown just a bit, more mature. Looking into his eyes, she can see just how much Dahlia looks like him and that brings her back to the present. “Pansy” Harry says astonishingly. Hearing his voice say her name like that as if he had any right to, made her angry. “That’s Parkinson to you” she says, narrowing her eyes at him. Harry looked a bit ashamed and that made Pansy feel somewhat better as redness appeared along his neck and into his cheeks. “I- Are you staying long? I heard you were back from Hermione.” he asks. “That would be none of your business now would it, Potter.” she sneered.
Before he could reply, someone called out to him. “Harry, do you want any of this?” Ginny replied before coming up to him holding two different jams in hand. Pansy turned to Harry as she shut her emotions down. Better to leave than allow herself to stay any longer, she looks towards him and then to Ginny who had an indifferent look on her face. “Ginevra” Pansy remarks. “Parkinson.” she replied. Harry looked between the two of them, nervously shifting from one foot to the other. “I’ll leave you both to it.” Pansy says before making her way around them to the bakery. Harry nods in her direction before guiding Ginny away as she wraps her arm around his. Pany tries not to let the emotions show before she’s away from them. As she enters the bakery, she closes her eyes and counts to 10 taking deep breaths. As she opens them, she looks towards the baked goods and smiles at the attendant behind the glass.
Picking up two lemon poppy seed muffins, a lemon loaf, and an apple strudel she walks to the apparition point to get back to Nott Manor. Landing at the front door, she enters and walks straight into the kitchen. Everyone just so happened to be on the patio and saw her walk in. Theo looks up at her, his smile dropping as he sees her. Merlin, could he tell? “Why are you occluding?” he asks. “I saw him.. With Ginevra” she replies. “I just need a minute. Just give me that” she says before walking into the gardens. Reaching the end of the property she made sure to cast a muffliato around herself as to not startle the others.
Her mind healer suggested that she feel her emotions instead of bottling them up as someone of her previous status would do. At first, it felt ridiculous to even try but now it comes easier to her. Pansy closes her eyes, takes a deep breath and screams as loud as she can. Anger, sadness and hurt rolls over her in waves as her magic shoots from her fingertips and into her hair.
“How can you look at me and think this is something that you could want? After everything that’s happened?”
“Because I see you, Pansy. I see how you try to make it seem like you’re cold and you think you’re undeserving, but you’re not.” he replies before cupping her cheeks.
“You deserve so much more than what was handed to you” he murmurs.
Tears form in her eyes as she thinks back to that memory. How good it felt to have someone see her and treat her as a normal person and not just what she could give them. Rolling her neck to the side she feels another emotion come up, as she thinks of how much of a fool she was for thinking he actually meant what he said. How the savior of the wizarding world was actually a coward when it came to actually standing for who he wanted fully.
Feeling lightheaded, her knees buckle but before she could fall, Theo catches her. She grounded herself in his scent of pine as the tears in her eyes started to run down her face. “I’ve got you” he murmurs as he holds her tightly. “She’s with Blaise and he took her inside. She’s okay. You’re okay. You’re both safe.” she whispers to her. Something in her breaks as she sobs into Theo’s arms.
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Pansy found that bath time was the easiest thing for her when it came to bedtime. Although, she could do without all the splashing. Creating a barrier so that Dahlia can splash and not flood the bathroom was one of her most trusty spells. As Dahlia played and popped the bubbles Pansy charmed to float around her, Pansy let her thoughts drift back to seeing Harry for the first time since the event. Before she knew that she was pregnant for him. He looked shocked to see her, even though he told her he knew she was in London from Granger. Granger was right, he didn't look like his usual self. His usual self Pansy’s inner voice replied. She shook her head internally. She had no ground to think about him that way. He was in a relationship. One that he chose.
“Let’s get you out of this bath before you turn into a little prune” she chuckles as Dahlia splashes her leg. Setting her up into her pajamas and her bed, Pansy reads her a bedtime story before tucking her in. Closing her door softly, she makes her way down to Theo’s parlor. As she rounds the corner she sees both Theo and Blaise reading together. Theo, laying his head on Blaise’s lap, turns his page and Blaise runs his fingers gently through his partner's hair.
“Care to share with your loved ones what happened today while you were out?” Theo says softly before closing his book and setting it aside. Pansy sits in the chair across from them and summons a glass of red wine from the kitchen. “Actually Lu, can you bring extra glasses and the rest of that bottle?” Blaise calls out. In a few minutes, Lu pops in with the items in hand along with small cookies that go with the wine. “Thank you Lu” Pansy replies softly with a smile.
“While I was out at the market, I was near the flower section getting the kitchen bouquet-” I quite like those actually. Maybe next time I’ll come with you” Theo interjects. “Continue Pans” Blaise prompts. She nods before continuing “- and I go to leave towards the bakery and there he is just in front of me. I always thought of the moment I would see him again. How would it be? What would I say to him after all that time, but looking at him made me angry.” she sighs.
“He called me by my first name and he looked so surprised and also something else that I couldn't pinpoint. How dare he call me by my name after everything he did! And if he thinks that he could just waltz back into my life and call me by my name when he hasn't spent any time in the last 2 years trying to find me! And- and then Weaselette of all people just happened to be there with him.” she breathes.
“I had to occlude or else it would all show on my face and as far as I am concerned, there’s nothing between us.” She says ending her rant. “As soon as the house is done, and Granger clears it, we’re leaving.” she states resolutely. “What about Dahlia?” Theo murmurs. “What about my daughter?” she questions daring him to speak. “She is still half of him. He deserves to know her. No matter how shite I think he was for what he did to you, he’s her father.” Blaise replies. Knowing that they were right, Pansy allowed the previously welcomed anger to exit her system. “I won’t allow him to hurt her like he hurt me.” she whispers.
“How would you know the outcome if you don’t give him a chance?” Theo questions. ““Does he even really deserve one?Let’s call it ‘lived experiences’. She says curtly.