Happy reading!

-Gina

"Hey, what are you smiling at?" Alicia asked Percy. He was over at Alicia's place working on a new piece of legislation while Juno, Spike, and Crookshanks played in her small backyard. Penelope was working a late-shift at St. Mungo's, and Percy was visiting to avoid sitting alone in his flat, as well as to keep Alicia company. Though they, as young, non-elected ministry employees without a real public stance on the war, were mostly ignored, it felt safer, somehow, to spend time together rather than alone. They swapped evenings at each other's flats and spent more time than usual together on the weekends. Their working relationship and personal friendship had blended seamlessly, and with the air cleared, Percy and Penny were also rebuilding their friendship, which Percy found he had sorely missed.

While Alicia worked at her kitchen table, Percy was settled on the sofa writing to Hermione. They'd settled into a smooth back-and-forth rhythm of conversation through their book, and Percy could almost picture her curled up on her couch, writing her responses with a muggle ink pen. She'd just now admitted to him that she'd been terribly flustered the first time he kissed her on the cheek, something he hadn't realized before. He himself had been equally as flustered after the fact, and he'd been smiling trying to come up with his response to her anecdote.

"Nothing," He responded. Alicia wasn't buying it, and Percy didn't really feel the need to keep up any sort of front with her.

"That's a textbook, but you've been writing in it for the last half an hour," she said, the end of her sentence telling him that she was clearly expecting an explanation. Percy acquiesced.

"This book has a protean and a gemini charm on it. It has a twin, and when I write in this book, the message appears in the other one, too. You remember me telling you about the communication books, a while back?"

"Yeah, that's neat," Alicia's eyes lit up, "So you're talking to Hermione right now?"

"Yes, I am," Percy admitted, "We're writing back and forth,"

"That's pretty special. Kind of a 'date night', would you say?"

"As close as we can get, these days," Percy agreed.

"Tell her I say hi, will you?" Alicia requested, "After all of this is over, we'll have to go out for drinks or something. I feel like I know her so well from what you've told me, but I think she and I probably said three words to each other back in school,"

"I'm sure Hermione would love to get drinks with us. She and Penny used to be pretty good friends back in the day, too," Percy and Alicia continued to work in silence for several more minutes. Percy wrote his response to Hermione, admitting to her that he'd never been so flustered as when he'd been deliberating how to tell her about his feelings on New Years Eve. It was fun, reliving these memories, and it almost made up for the fact that they hadn't seen each other in nearly four months. Percy had felt a flood of relief when he saw Hermione's initial greeting this evening. He'd committed it to memory before erasing, because it had made him smile so much.

Hi Percy,

I want to talk about "us". You and me. Us.

I want to stop ignoring New Years Eve, because it happened. I miss you terribly and even though we can't be with each other, I don't want us to pretend that nothing happened. You kissed me, and we fancy each other, and I want us to be...Together? Together as best we can, anyways.

Please say you think the same.

Really, really yours,

Hermione

Percy could hear Hermione's nervousness in the tone of her writing, and he could tell there were places where she had hesitated, and other places where she'd sped through writing a portion. He'd felt an overwhelming sense of relief to write his response to that: that he felt exactly the same way, that he missed her, and that he wanted to be with her, together, in whatever way it would be possible. From there, it felt like a wall had been broken down, and they'd been writing back and forth as quickly as they could, catching up on things they'd missed and questions they had, and settling into a happy dialogue. Percy knew he was likely still goofily grinning, but he didn't mind.

"Percy, I have a favor to ask you," Alicia turned to face him, and he looked up from his writings, tapping his wand to the page to send his most recent message.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Will you go ring shopping with me on Saturday?" Ring shopping? Why would she...oh. OH!

"Of course I will," Percy grinned, "I'm honored,"

"None of my other friends know Penny the way you do, and I figure it would probably be best if I wasn't seen in public with Angelina, Fred, or George right now," Alicia looked disappointed, and Percy could understand why. Fred and George were just barely managing to keep their business open, and they'd been on the receiving end of several robberies and vandalisms lately. Though Angelina's identity on Potterwatch was a secret, rumors spread fast, and Alicia had mentioned Angelina had been considering taking a leave of absence from her job as a Broomstick Designer for Nimbus, as she'd been feeling increasingly unsafe.

"I'm sure they would understand. And I'm happy to go with you," Alicia smiled a bit at that, "You said Saturday? When?"

"Penny has a morning shift at St. Mungo's; I think 7:00 to 2:00 in the afternoon, so we could go that morning?"

"Sure,"

"Excellent. Can you floo over at 9:00? We can take the bus to the shop I'm thinking of, it's in Muggle London,"

"Works for me," The keys rattled in the front door, startling both of them. Alicia jumped up and scurried back to her seat at the table just as Penny walked into the room, wearing wrinkled scrubs and a worn smile.

"Hello! Percy, I thought you'd still be here," Alicia got up to give Penny a kiss hello, and Percy smiled at the pair of them.

"Hello beautiful," Alicia held Penny at arms length, "How was work?"

"It was alright. I was on the old-folks ward tonight, you know how they can be," Penny sighed, "All the old men making kissing noises at me and the ladies patting my cheek and telling me I look just like them when they were my age," Alicia and Percy chuckled, and Penny shrugged Alicia's hands off of her arms gently, "I'm going to go and shower. If you leave before I'm back, Percy, I was wondering-Alicia's got an long meeting starting tomorrow late afternoon, but she said you don't, so do you want to grab coffee at our usual place at around 4:00pm?"

"Sure, sounds good,"

"Alright, see you then. Good night," Penny disappeared down the hall

The following afternoon, Percy had already ordered their coffees when Penny breezed in.

"Oh good, you ordered them to-go," she said. She looked a bit flustered.

"Are we not staying here?" It was a nice day, maybe she wanted to walk and talk?

"No, we're not," Penny accepted her cappuccino from Percy, "I didn't want to ask in front of Alicia...but I was wondering if you'd want to come look at rings with me today?" Percy had to take a sip of his too-hot coffee, burning his tongue in his attempt to school his expression.

"I'd love that,"

"Great! Let's go!"

Percy,

Just a quick update, I wish I could say more, but we both know it's not safe:

Mum, Dad, and Ginny have gone into hiding at Auntie Muriel's. They're okay, and so are Fleur, Charlie, and I.

Fred and George are still running the shop-if you've been listening to Potterwatch, you'll know about as much as I do-I haven't spoken to them in a few weeks.

Remus should contact you this week with an update on the Muggle Relocation Brigade and the Magical Creatures Caucus.

Congrats on all the laws you and Alicia have been passing through the Wizengamot; you two are amazing! Fleur loves getting the drafts of your bills and reading them over, it really makes her day.

I think someone from the Ministry has been watching our Floo network, so I think it would probably be best if you didn't pop in for a visit for a few weeks. Charlie might swing by Paddington's this weekend. He knows how to contact you, so look for that from him.

Stay safe, brother, and Happy Easter,

Bill.

Three weeks after their successful shopping excursions, Alicia came over to Percy at work on the same day he got a letter on his desk from Penny. Each girl only had one thing to say: The ring arrived at the jeweler! It's ready!

Each girl had picked a unique ring for the other. The ring for Penny was a beautiful, white gold band with a shiny round diamond was flanked by two royal blue stones of the same size, giving the ring a vintage look that Percy and Alicia agreed suited the Penny's classic and polished taste. The ring for Alicia, on the other hand, was more unusual: rose gold with a milky pearl in the center, surrounded by clusters of smaller, champagne coloured stones. Percy had been the one to spot it in the jeweler's display, and Penny had squealed when she had seen it.

Percy had to applaud himself; he really was a master at keeping secrets. Each girl had confided to him about their proposal ideas and had wanted feedback. Neither of them had any idea of the other's plans, and neither of them knew the other was using Percy as a sounding board. It was almost comical.

Hermione, of course, had been Percy's confidante, and he had detailed his adventures with Alicia and Penny to her. She had drank in the stories eagerly, and Percy rather thought that Hermione must be awfully lonely, with only his younger brother and the boy-who-lived for company. He drew careful sketches of each of the rings for her to see, and she asked more questions than he could answer about each girl's proposal ideas. It got Percy thinking, rather abstractly, and whether Hermione might want to get married, one day. He was too realistic to daydream about their future together, not when they were barely together at all, but part of him wondered if that was something she wanted: the white and black dress robes, the rings, the ceremony. He certainly wanted those things, one day, and hoped maybe she did too.

He'd been feeling so positive recently, that he'd nearly forgotten his reality: there was a war on, and everything was always at stake, precariously perched on the edge of safety, always threatening to tumble down.

Percy was sitting at home later that evening, contemplating writing a letter to Hermione or taking Juno for quick jog late-night stroll around the neighborhood when Bill's head appeared through the fireplace. Percy, knowing that Bill was wary about their fireplace being monitored, was immediately put on edge.

"Percy, it's me. I've got urgent news, can I come through?"

"Of course," Even in the orange light of the fire, Percy rather thought Bill looked pale.

The flames flashed green, and Bill appeared, landing hard on one knee and brushing soot off of himself.

"Can I get you some tea or anything?" Percy offered, but Bill shook his head, sitting directly across from Percy and folding his hands gravely.

"No, this will have to be quick, I'm expected back soon,"

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Yeah, something happened," Bill took a breath, "Harry, Ron, and Hermione are at Shell Cottage right now. They were captured by snatchers early today, and they just barely made it out. Some of their friends were there too, we've got a small army right now in our house. Fleur's expecting me back with groceries and potions in a moment, but I had to tell you," Bill swallowed, and bit his lip roughly before he spoke again, "It's Hermione, Percy. She…"

"Oh, no. She's not…" Percy's heart dropped into his stomach.

"She's alive, don't worry. She's alive," Percy's heart began the slow and painful climb back into his chest at those words, but Bill didn't look any less foreboding, "She was tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange, so she's not doing too well right now, but she's alive,"

"Thank God,"

"Harry and Ron are being pretty tight-lipped about what happened, but I know that a house-elf was the one to get them all out. Luna Lovegood and Dean Thomas were brought back as well as a goblin I used to work with, Griphook. They also rescued Mr. Ollivander, the wand-maker, who was held captive as well. Fleur took him straight away to St. Mungo's."

"Where were they being held?"

"Malfoy Manor,"

"Shit," Percy felt the expletive jump out of his mouth before he could catch it.

"Yeah, I know," Bill looked grim.

"Do you need anything? I have…" Percy didn't know what he had, but he wanted to help. To help all of them, but especially Hermione.

"If you've got some food, healing potions, anything, I'll take them. I don't want to take all of your groceries, but…"

"No, it's okay. Seriously, take what you need. I'm pretty well-supplied here...just in case," Just in case of emergencies like this, actually. Percy had reinforced the stasis charms on his refrigerator and had been surreptitiously purchasing extra food, a little at a time, to keep on hand.

Percy loaded several grocery bags of milk, bread, eggs, cheese, rashers of bacon, and some vegetables and fruits. He had a small, but fairly well-stocked first-aid kit under his sink, and Bill picked through it, finding bandages as well as pain-potions, blood-replenishers, and dreamless-sleep potion. Percy also had a tin of Fred and George's 10-second bruise-vanisher, which Bill added to the supply. They were silent while they gathered the items together.

"I hate to ask, but Remus said you keep clothes around here for when you host refugees. Do you have anything that would fit...well, obviously not much that would fit a goblin. But Luna is shorter and slimmer than Hermione, and Dean is about Ron's height, maybe a bit taller. The clothes they arrived in are barely rags at this point," Percy heard what Bill hadn't said: Luna and Dean had obviously been kept captive for a long time.

"Yeah," Percy went down the hall to the linen closet and pulled out the box. He vaguely remembered Luna as his childhood neighbor, but he couldn't picture her face anymore. There were a few shirts, a jumper, and pair of jogging pants in the box that he thought might work for her. There were a few sets of t-shirts and jumpers in the box that he hoped would be long enough for Dean, and one pair of lounge pants that were both long and wide, but with a drawstring. There were cheap packs of socks and guys and girls underpants that he threw into the pile, figuring that size didn't matter quite as much for what was worn on the inside. Percy wished he could do more for them, but it would have to do. His heart was still racing, and his thoughts were preoccupied with Hermione, and wishing he could be there for her, do something for her.

Then he remembered Hermione's belongs that he was keeping for her. He tore through the box neatly labelled "Clothing", and quickly pulled out one of Hermione's "Weasley" jumpers, a grey t-shirt he remembered her wearing over last summer, and a soft pair of leggings. Even when he shook them out, the items were still a bit musty, but Percy hoped Hermione would feel comfortable in something familiar. He brought all the clothing back out to Percy and settled them into plastic bags, one for each person. Bill was almost finished, and watched approvingly.

"Bill, once things settle down a bit, if you need to, you can send a couple of them here to stay with me. I've got the space for company," Percy offered.

"I'll talk to Luna and Dean about it, I think those are the two that would need it most," Percy had sort of been hoping maybe Hermione could come and stay, as ridiculous as the idea was, but the offer was open to whoever needed it.

"Of course. Let me know if you need anything else, I can run errands for you...or...anything. Anything I can do, let me know," Bill nodded. Percy helped load the bags into Bill's arms.

"I'll send you a note tomorrow and give you an update, alright?" His arms were too full to offer Percy a handshake or a hug, but the look Bill was giving Percy said more than physical contact could.

"Stay safe, brother," Percy said.

"Stay safe, brother," Bill echoed. Percy tossed a handful of floo powder into the fireplace, and with a shout, Bill was gone.

Hermione,

Bill told me a little of what happened. I'm so sorry. I would do anything to be with you right now. I'm so glad you're alright. I sent some of your clothes to you with Bill tonight, I hope that's okay. If there's anything of yours here that you want, you can tell Bill, and he'll let me know what to get.

I...I'm going to say it, because I very nearly never got to. I'm so glad you're alive.

I love you.

Percy