Work Text:
The Siren's Song
Longbottom Manor was bigger than Pansy had expected.
She sighed and took another sip of her flute of champagne, her green eyes avoiding the corner where he and his grandmother were standing.
She needed to act fast.
She had no business being there—it was the anniversary of You-Know-Who’s defeat.
It also marked a year to the day that she’d been cursed to lose her voice.
That’s what she got for trying to rat Saint Potter out to the Dark Lord.
She was there for one reason only––to recover her voice.
That, and her stupid friend Theodore didn’t want to be alone while he tried to flirt with Lovegood. He had been simping for her for too long and all of them were tired of his ramblings.
“There she is,” Theo whispered. “Isn’t she something?”
Pansy poked his ribs. Theo was capable of holding a conversation all on his own; a handy skill, she thought, if he was to chat Loony Lovegood up. I’m leaving, she mouthed. You’re on your own.
“Good luck,” he said.
Pansy glanced around nervously as she approached the wooden doors, squeezing through them when no one was looking.
The magic of the manor hummed as she walked down the empty hall, candles lighting on their own once she stepped into the cellars.
The Longbottom family’s cellars were unlike other Purebloods’. While the Malfoys were renowned for their French wines and the Zabinis their Italian reds, these were home to a manner of potent plant elixirs that promised to heal and undo curses.
Maybe even curses like hers.
Her father’s book said something about an herb that absorbed dark magic, making it shine in the darkness. So Pansy just flicked her wand and let the shadows swallow her, searching for the gleaming bottle.
Something violet glowed to her right.
Pansy grabbed at it, but someone took her hand first.
“You don’t wanna touch that,” a deep voice said softly.
Longbottom.
He towered over her. In the glow of his Lumos, Pansy got a better look at him than she had all night. She was surprised to find no anger in his eyes. Only worry.
Her cheeks grew hot as he wrapped his fingers around hers, pulling her closer.
Longbottom picked up the bottle with his other hand, whispering a counterspell to the wards protecting it.
His hazel eyes searched hers.
“What happened to you?” he asked, his voice turning huskier.
Pansy gestured sheepishly at her throat.
“My voice?” he asked, touching his Adam’s apple. “It’s just seasonal allergies.”
She sighed, and it was very nearly audible.
Suddenly, the cellar door burst open.
“Pansy!” Theo cried. “Did you find it?”
Longbottom blinked. “Nott?”
“Oh, shit.”
Lovegood appeared behind Theo, her big blue eyes gazing at the shelves filled with potions.
"What a cute little room. Why are we here?"
Longbottom turned to her with a frown, the purple potion still in his hand.
"You only came here for this?"
She nodded, tears pricking at her eyes.
“She’s been cursed,” Theo said. “Hasn’t made a peep since.”
Lovegood smiled. “Silence is a gift.”
Pansy lunged for her, but Theo swatted her away. If looks could kill, she would have slain them both on the spot.
“Oh.” Longbottom examined the bottle. “Then… this alone isn’t enough.”
Pansy's eyes widened.
“Come with me,” Longbottom offered her his hand, glancing back at Theo. “I'll take care of her.”
Theo nodded and Pansy blinked, her body frozen in place. She took it, his fingers wrapping around hers and squeezing once before he stepped out of the cellar.
Soon they were outside. It was a beautiful night, and soft music from the ball floated out into the moonlit garden. Longbottom’s hair blew in the breeze—a dashing look she was sure he was unaware he could pull off.
She was thankful for her muteness, else she might have howled.
"Mum loved this greenhouse."
Her heart hurt for him. She reached out, stroking his arm.
He swallowed, his expressive eyes glinting under the moonlight as he placed his big hand on her cheek.
She gasped in surprise.
"You’re as beautiful as the little mermaid, maybe even more."
She smacked him. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard that joke. Nor would it be the last, if he couldn’t help.
He chuckled. “Your curse has nothing to do with the fairy tale, except…” He stroked a finlike bloom next to her. It hummed in pleasant polyphony. “This is Siren’s Song.”
Pansy stared at the blue flower in awe. She had never seen it before, and she could almost hear a mermaid singing whenever Longbottom touched its petals.
"We need to add it to the potion," he explained, cutting one of the flowers carefully. "Otherwise it won't work for you."
Longbottom handed the Siren Song to her, a gentle smile on his lips. Charming, she thought, though he didn’t mean to be so.
He uncorked the elixir bottle with a sure hand. “Add it in,” he murmured.
She did, and a soft tune began to emanate from the potion.
It sounded like her voice!
Pansy held her breath, blinking up at him with a beaming smile.
"You can drink it now," he was still smiling as he held the glowing bottle out. "It's ready."
She took it with shaking fingers and lifted it to her lips, taking a tentative sip.
"Till the last drop," he said softly.
Warmth suffused her diaphragm and bubbled up her throat, becoming the hum of her voice. She was free.
The last words she’d spoken were, “He’s there! Potter’s there! Someone grab him!” They were selfish, and Longbottom had heard. She did not deserve his kindness.
“Why?” she croaked.
"Why what?"
"Why did you help me?"
Longbottom vanished the empty bottle and shrugged.
"Why not?"
"Everybody hates me," she sniffled, blinking back her tears. She couldn’t cry in front of him. "Especially Potter's friends."
"You were seventeen and scared. I can't blame you for that."
“I meant to rob you,” she admitted, dropping her gaze to her feet.
“I know.”
“You didn’t need to help.”
Silence fell between them as the music from the party played on.
Longbottom proffered a hand. “We’ve been gone awhile,” he said, “and it wouldn’t do to make a pretty girl cry.”
She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.
Longbottom held her hand as they walked back.
"I'm glad I found you sneaking into the cellar."
Pansy frowned at him.
"Why?"
He lifted her hand, placing a kiss on her knuckles, and she felt her cheeks burn.
"Why indeed."
“Really.”
Longbottom’s shy smile dropped. He released her hand. “Right. You’re here with Nott. I had wanted to ask…”
Oh. “Are you asking me to dance?”
“If you’re willing and able to answer, I will accept whatever it is.”
Pansy’s voice never came to her so quickly. “Lead the way.”
The End