dark charms

“Well, you might have had a say in planning like mothers of the groom typically do if you hadn’t been so disapproving for no actual reason you could give me,” he replied, having walked up behind her after spotting her. Dylan looked at her for a second. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

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Pansy turned to face her son, her perfectly manicured eyebrow lifted. “I might not be the best mother, but I’m certainty not the witch you paint me out to be,” she said turning on the dramatics. She put her flute of champagne down before folding her arms across her chest. “I didn’t think I would either,” she admitted. “But where else would I be? You’re my son.”

“Well then, good thing the twins stayed with Reese. Sooooo… no wine?” Marcie asked with a pout on her face as she sat next to the other woman. “We can have both, I suppose. I don’t see how those two shouldn’t match,” she smirked.

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Pansy laughed, “Well if he has the twins,” she mused. “Merlin, you’re trying to kill me. I suppose we can have a little espresso after so we don’t pass out because the wine knocked us out, but I will be calling your darling husband to come haul you home if you die on me.”

“Yeah, and the hangover.” Draco smiled, “I think its definitely more the hangover for me. The holidays weren’t too rough on you, hopefully.”

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“Hungover? Darling, what did you get up to?” she asked with a smirk on her lips. Pansy let out a lofty sigh, “They were okay. Went to some pretentious parties and drank some wine with my beloved family, but that’s really it.” 

»

♕ —- Astoria nodded out of agreement as she set her bag down on the desk between them. “I’ll speak softly then,” she teased gently as she took a seat. “But coffee sounds wonderful, wouldn’t mind it spiked either.”

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“Aw, my darling Stori is so accommodating,” she mused with an amused grin. “Oh? Are we having this kind of day already? Did anything happen or are we just stressed?” She said, getting up to go to her coffee maker. 

Pansy blinked when the truck left them at the pumpkin patch. The muggles surrounding them rushed to where the pumpkins were, while Pansy stood still. “What fresh hell is this?” She turned to Harry. “You didn’t tell me we’d be stranded here.”

“That’s really the story that you’re going with?” Draco smirked, “No, no, keep going. Or try again. I’ve got time.”

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Pansy caught the tail end of Draco’s conversation as she walked through the door, “Well, I certainly don’t have time,” she interrupted. She glanced at her friend, “Interrogating someone again, darling?”

Dylan leaned into the kiss to his cheek, mouth open and ready to say something. But then he snapped it shut and gave Pansy a look. “Mum. Once. I got engaged one time. Like, six years ago at that, thanks very much. Stop reminding me. Also, I’m practically married anyway. Why would that be so bad?” He leaned back in the chair and looked at her. “It’s not like I’d change my last name. His sucks. It’s awful.” Dylan smirked. “How was France?”

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“You almost forced me to be related to the Longbottom family, I don’t think that betrayal goes away, love,” she sniffed, shaking her head. Pansy made a face, “Because you’re still so young, darling,” she said, picking up the menu. She snorted, “Theo is a dear friend of mine, but that last name is ghastly,” she agreed. “It was amazing. I actually want you opinion on something.”

“I really don’t think that’s the sort of therapy anyone had in mind,” Draco muttered, although it wasn’t necessarily a refusal. Quite to the contrary, considering the conversation he’d just had with Weasley, he could certainly use a drink. “I suppose the question I should be asking is if I should go back to work. What if I just… stayed retired instead?”

“Darling, it’s the only therapy that works,” she quipped. Pansy poured their glasses and pushed one towards Draco. She scoffed, “What? Since you have a grandchild, you want to stay a retired old man and let my bastard of an ex-husband take your job?” she mused. “That’s not the Draco I know,” she teased. “But in all seriousness, darling, if you go back to work it would paint another target on your back. Is that something you want to deal with? You could always open a shop or something. Leave that life behind.”

Dylan winced a little, just knowing his father did that. Wordlessly, he dropped his head back to rest against her shoulder. “I almost….was one of them when I was in school,” he admitted, after a moment. “The first few years, there were a few people who gave me hell for being a Gryffindor. it just felt easier. So, to an extent, I get what he means. If people think one thing of you, it’s easier to just be that. But it’s not right. Hurting people’s not right. And I don’t get why it’s my fault for not acting like it’s okay because it’s not okay. But that’s not even what hurts the most. It’s that I know he’s not like them and I know what’s going to happen to him when they realize that.” Dylan sighed, “I’m not like you, Mum. I can’t do this.”

“Darling, you can try to keep people out of danger all you want, but it’s up to the person if they want to take your advice,” she said. She let out a breath, “You probably found me overbearing when you were in Hogwarts because from my experience, there were things you were getting yourself into that I wanted you to avoid. But at the end, you had to go through them yourself.” Pansy tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, “He’s made his choice, darling. And you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Besides, we had vastly different circumstances. I’ve met your boy before, he’s nothing like your father.”

Marcie opened her mouth to protest but shut it quickly. “I suppose a glass won’t hurt,” she eventually nodded her head. With Reese still in not so good shape, Dylan in terrible shape and Teddy in the worst of all, she just felt like she needed to stay on top of everything on her own. And copious amounts of alcohol weren’t going to help. “I don’t know, Pansy. Have you ever just thought of leaving this place, move away to fuck knows where and not have to worry about it all?”

Pansy nodded, pouring a glass for them both. She pushed Marcelina’s toward the girl and leaned against the couch with her own. She let out an amused snort, “Of course, darling, who hasn’t?” Pansy sipped her drink, “I thought about running away so many times and just starting fresh, but I can’t find it in myself to leave.”

Dylan relaxed a little when Pansy wrapped her arms around him, not even thinking about the last time he’d done this. He closed his eyes, “It’s not, Mum.” Dylan stayed like that for a moment, before pulling back a little so he could wipe his eyes. “When you found out…” He started but paused, not sure if he wanted to continue or if he even could. “When you found out my dad was still…one of them…” Dylan met her gaze, tearfully. “How did you make it stop hurting?”

Pansy let out a sigh at his question, “Well, honestly dear, it was really hard,” she said. “I mean, we had a child together. I thought we would move on and find out that he murdered those people...” she trailed off, shaking her head. “Sometimes I think I knew what he was doing but I ignored it in order to have a fresh start.” She smiled, squeezing his shoulder, “It just took time.”