The streets were slowly darkening and the streetlights were beginning to magically light up, casting a romantic glow on the unconventional pair walking. They were heading towards Pot and Cauldron, a new restaurant that was attracting the young professional crowd. It was perfect for their dinner.

"We don't have a reservation." Percy reminded her gently as they neared the restaurant. He saw people in line outside waiting to be seated.

"I suppose we don't." Pansy answered. Percy swore he could see a cheeky look in her eyes as they made their way to the hostess.

"Can we have a table for two? By the window please. My companion and I would love a table with a good view of the fountain." Pansy said, motioning to the fountain outside. Percy, for the millionth time since meeting Pansy Parkinson, was stunned. She was confident, sure of herself and had this air about her that demanded respect. He could only stare at the hostess who he gathered couldn't wait to reject another customer and send them to the back of the line.

"You would be twentieth on the waiting list Ms—" The hostess looked and gasped. Pansy kept her respectful smile and was the vision of calmness as the hostess looked her up and down in a manner that was bordering on rude, in Percy's opinion.

"Ms. Parkinson! Of course, ma'am! I'll have your seat in ready in a moment!" The hostess squeaked and went inside. He peeked to the right as he saw the person inside who was presumably the manager whisper with the hostess in quick hushed tones. He could see the manager's eyes widen excitedly as he ordered his staff to prepare a table.

Percy found it amusing yet sensible. Of course no dining establishment would want to disappoint the famous party planner, lest they be taken off her list of potential caterers and be put in her blacklist. Five minutes later, the pair found themselves seated on the best table with a great view of the glittering fountain, much to the excitement of the manager and the chagrin of all other waiting outside.

"Compliments of the house. Here are your menus, I will return in a while to take your orders." A waiter with a French accent pompously said, pouring wine on their glasses. Pansy raised hers and they drank the rich wine offered to them.

"What an exciting life you must lead. The rest of us peasants must wait outside if not accompanied by you. " Percy commented humorously, still struck by the marvel of it all.

"You must be joking with me, Deputy Minister." She mischievously said. "I would think a business establishment would be more concerned with keeping their permits rather than merely being blacklisted by a party planner. Yet you do not wield your power." She observed.

Pansy spoke the truth, which was why she was really confused earlier as to why Percy would bother with a trivial thing such as a reservation. While Pansy had the power to take the restaurant off the social scene with a flick of her wand, Percy had the power to wipe them off the face of the Earth. The humility of this man amazed her.

"Well, I don't believe in using my influence in the Ministry for just a dinner reservation." He replied good-naturedly.

"It's not just any dinner reservation is it? It's Pot and Cauldron." She whispered, sarcastically emphasizing the name of the restaurant with a grin. They both laughed. Pansy didn't know why a lot of people found Percy Weasley too uptight; he was proving to be an enjoyable companion.

After the waiter came back to take their orders, Pansy decided to get down to business. She leaned in the table and placed her head in her hands. Percy was immediately stunned, the candle between them made her face luminous. Truly, she was a vision of perfection. He vaguely remembered his brother ranting about Draco Malfoy and his pug-nosed liaison and soon concluded that Ronald was ever the exaggerator. Pansy Parkinson was breathtaking.

"What questions do you have for me, Mr. Weasley?" Pansy asked. Percy shook inwardly. For a moment he had fantasized that they were on a romantic date. He scolded himself, as if a woman like her would ever be caught dating a man like him. He sighed and started to ask routine questions.

"How long has your business been running?" Percy asked.

"Five years, but I've only had the office for about two of them." Pansy answered dutifully.

"Staff?"

"I have a team of ten working for me, though I do employ a number of waitstaff during events." Pansy answered.

This went on and on throughout dinner, with Percy asking protocol questions and Pansy answering them without any hint of hesitation. He had to admit, his first impression of her had been clouded by her name and her circle. He expected to be faced with a spoiled princess who pranced around in fancy dresses during her extravagant parties. Seeing this woman in front of him, he now knew how wrong he was. With each answer she gave, laugh she emitted and joke she sidelined into, his admiration grew for the woman who picked her life back up and worked her way to the top in a short span of time.

"Last question, Ms. Parkinson." He said, taking a slice of the chocolate cake they had been served for dessert. Pansy smiled at him, silently daring him to ask the question.

"Do you have any immediate plans for any kind of business expansion?" Percy asked. Pansy looked at her cake thoughtfully for a while before answering.

"I would love to have my own party venue. The Parkinson estate, my family home, is much too big for a single woman like me living alone. I would love to transform it someday into a magnificent party venue; there are simply too many possibilities! Galas could be held at the ballroom, tea parties in my great-aunt Jacqueline's garden, and I could run it like a hotel, making use of the many rooms the manor has." Pansy said, staring dreamily into space. Percy smiled, no doubt she would one say achieve that, a woman with her Slytherin cunning and ambition.

"But of course, that's very far off. I don't have the resources to remodel the manor, or deal with the expenses. So no, Mr. Weasley, I don't have any immediate plans to expand the business. Not right now when I'm still starting out." Pansy respectfully answered.

Percy inwardly concluded that this was far the most pleasant interview he had ever conducted. Pansy was energetic and dynamic; he could barely feel the clock ticking, as their enjoyment had been too immense. He called for the check, silently brooding that this night was about to come to an end.

"Well, Ms. Parkinson, you have answered each question perfectly and decently, which is more than I can say for many business owners nowadays. I will have your permit ready by tomorrow. Would you rather I owl it to you for convenience?" Percy asked, put out by the fact that there was a possibility he wouldn't be able to see her again for a long time.

"I wouldn't want to trouble you, Percy. I could just go to your office tomorrow and pick it up. Would that be alright?" Pansy asked. Percy could hardly contain his excitement.

"That would be splendid. It will be ready first thing in the morning." He managed to say. The check arrived and Pansy immediately reached for it.

"I should pay, it was I who coerced you into conducting the interview outside of office hours." Pansy said. Percy scoffed. If she really expected that he would let her pay, Pansy had another thing coming at her.

"Ms. Parkinson, I am a gentleman. Let me pay. Besides, I don't think my mother and my sister would ever forgive me if I told them I let a lady pay for dinner." Percy said, thinking how unpleasantly his mother would react if her son had been rude like that.

Before Pansy could react, he had deftly taken the check out of her hand. Without looking at the price (he could deal with that later), he wrote down his Gringott's account number and gave the check back to the waiter. Minutes later, he helped Pansy out of her seat and led her outside the restaurant. They stood awkwardly by the fountain.

Pansy took a Knut from her purse and threw it in the fountain. Percy chuckled.

"An old tradition we must all indulge in, I suppose." Pansy explained.

"What would Pansy Parkinson wish for?" Percy chortled while his companion giggled. Pansy was silent for a while, making Percy even more awkward and uncomfortable. After a few moments that seemed like eternity, Pansy answered him.

"That Mr. Weasley would agree to have dinner with her again, this time, not because of business matters but because of…erm…good company." Pansy inwardly groaned, comparing it to how Draco had asked her out during their fourth year in Hogwarts. Hey Parkinson! You, me, Three Broomsticks this weekend. What do you say?

Percy froze. Was this woman, this ravishing beauty, asking him out on a date? A DATE? Percy could hardly remember the last time he had gone out on a proper romantic date. Was it with Penelope Clearwater? Or maybe that other girl last year who he wasn't too sure about? His eyes widened.

"Me? Oh I…of course…I would love to…I can't even…I…" He awkwardly stuttered, putting his hands in his pockets—they were itching to do a happy dance that would definitely send this lady running fast from their direction. Pansy laughed softly. He cursed himself for his stupidity. Of all the times to be at a loss for words, really, he had to give himself a pat on the back for that one.

"Lovely. I'm out of the office by 4 on Friday. You can pick me up by then?" Pansy asked.

"Friday. That would be…" Phenomenal, fantastic, absolutely riveting, but he did not want to scare the poor girl. "Good. Friday would be good. I'll see you then, Ms. Parkinson? Oh and tomorrow too." Percy said, mentally beating himself up for the severe awkwardness he was having.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Percy Weasley. I must leave now, the estate demands my presence. Good bye!" She trilled. Leaning forward, she gave him a peck on the cheek before Apparating.

Long after she left, Percy touched his cheek right at the spot where she kissed him. Sighing, he whispered a soft goodbye to the air before Apparating to his flat. As his hands touched his doorknob he instantly choked because of a realization.

Friday was only two days away. How in Merlin's beard was he supposed to prepare with that short amount of time?