Sorry for the delay in getting this out. IRL things.
The toy store wasn't exactly a toy store, but since neither Annabeth nor Percy knew that it worked out well for Estelle. What she had been looking for in every store she found immediately, but was told it could not be sold to a child as young as her. She used the only clout she knew of to get around that.
"Oh! I'm just picking it up for my brother, he's the new professor at Hogwarts."
"Ya don't say? A new professor? Well that's an opportunity I just can't pass up or Freddie will haunt me," George Weasley smiled, not believing for one minute that Estelle was picking it up for her brother, but he knew teenage mischief when he saw it and had an almost religious zeal in supporting the art. "I can't sell it to you though, so it's on the house."
"Thanks! Do you have toys? He thinks I'm buying a toy."
"Right this way Miss."
Percy and Annabeth both knew they would have to go extricate Estelle from the toy store; what kid willingly leaves such a place? And yet only a few minutes after she left she was back at the ice cream shop, grinning like a fool with a potion in her shopping bag she felt they didn't need to know about, and holding a green, fuzzy, small stuffed whale with a unicorn horn that made weird noises when it was squeezed.
"Oh! You got a narwhal, what you gonna name her?" Percy asked as Estelle climbed on his lap and handed Annabeth her change.
"It's a unicorn fish! It's pretty and fishy! I'm naming it 'Percabeth'" she exclaimed as Annabeth openly laughed.
"Uh, Percy is the fishy one and I'm the pretty one I hope, right?"
"You're both pretty!" Estelle exclaimed when she realized she was calling her brother 'fishy.' "But Percy likes fish! He even eats sushi!"
"Right? Who does that?" Annabeth giggled.
Percy could only sigh.
"Is it time to go or are we going to continue to tease me all afternoon? Not trying to be pushy, just want to plan my day," Percy smiled as Estelle hugged him.
"Love you big brother."
"Love you more Sweet Pea."
Annabeth checked the time and she had about 30 seconds to change the location on her portkey, grab Estelle and Percy's hands, make sure they had their shopping bags and BOOM! They were in the main lobby of the Ministry of Magic.
"Ah just in time! Thank you for coming Headmistress, and I see you brought our star pupil and Professor Jackson, wonderful! You remember Harry and Hermione?" the Minister asked. He was looking particularly well groomed, and even quite handsome. He still seemed to be checking Annabeth out, but she had gotten used to that from men over the years.
"Of course, Harry, Hermione, how are you doing? This is Professor Percy Jackson, he is the new defense instructor I warned, I mean I told you about," Annabeth joked, "and this young lady is Estelle, she's the apple of my eye and about to be a first year. I told her you might help her get started and find her way about the place."
"Oh of course, it's so good to meet you Estelle, you're going to have a great time at Hogwarts and learn so much!" Hermione beamed. Estelle was immediately taken with her and already felt like she made a new friend.
"Professor, from what Professor Chase told us, well I'm really looking forward to your class. We haven't had a good instructor since third year and from what Professor Chase says, you're the best. Your class is really the only reason I'm going back."
"Ahem" Hermione mumbled.
"Oh, and Hermione of course," Harry smiled.
"Well Ms. Chase might be bragging on me a bit much, but I want to teach an overview of strategy and tactics and with you 7th years get most of the way through Goshawks 3rd by years end. We're going to be doing a lot of sparring and basic self-defense too, so buckle up. I don't know if she told you but the headmistress is one of the people that taught me," Percy smiled.
"We barely started Goshawks 2d, and that was several years ago, and we've done virtually nothing since." Hermione said.
"Then there will be a lot of catching up fast. Should be fun," Jackson replied.
"Looking forward to it." Harry grinned.
The photographer, who had been waiting patiently, stepped in and started gently bossing people around. At first posing was awkward to all, but soon enough everyone except Hermione relaxed and began to enjoy the process. Hermione was overly self-conscious and felt like she was under a microscope. She worried about how she would look to all her classmates, and worse, her instructors, and debated stopping because she wanted to be taken seriously among her peers. She thought this sort of publicity might make her appear less serious. It didn't help that Professor Jackson and Estelle were watching the entire shoot, with Estelle grinning at the subjects through out. Nor did it help that witches and wizards were constantly walking by and eyeing the group with curiosity.
The photographer asked them all to smile for some shots and look serious for others, but Annabeth had difficulty as Estelle kept goofing around and forcing her to not only smile but also to giggle at times. When Annabeth thought they were finished, the photographer, having seen Estelle and Percy observing from the sides, asked them to get in the shots as well. Percy balked at first, as he did not have robes, but a set was quickly produced and although they didn't fit as well as his own did, he looked just fine. In the end, the shot that was used had Annabeth seated, with Estelle on her lap, Harry standing to one side with Hermione to the other, and the Minister and Percy standing beside each other behind her. They had serious looks, but slight smiles and a magical breeze that was gently sweeping their hair. Estelle demanded that the photographer shoot pictures of her and Annabeth; and some of her, Percy and Annabeth, as well as her, Hermione and Harry. Of these, only the last was useful to the press release.
The "interviews" took less time than the photos as the press release was for the most part written already with Annabeth, Harry and Hermione just filling in a few details and making a couple of corrections to their backgrounds. The longest part of this process was the writer talking to Percy, who really wanted nothing said about him, but was convinced that the story would need more of a description than "new defense professor," and Estelle who didn't know what to say except that she was excited to be starting school. She spent most of her interview bragging on her brother and Annabeth.
As things wrapped up Estelle cornered Annabeth and demanded she come read with her that evening.
"Uh, are you sure you don't mind Percy? I mean, really sure?"
"He doesn't mind." Estelle answered for him.
"Well, lets let him say it then, you sure Percy? I know you might want to be settling in with my favorite student into a new world of domestic bliss and I won't be offended if you do."
"No, its cool, you bring the pizza. And some soda," Percy replied, faking a smile and sincerity.
"Okay, but I have work tomorrow, we can make it a short night," Annabeth replied, acknowledging that she knew Percy didn't really want her there.
"Yay! This will be the best night ever!" Estelle practically shouted.
""Professor Chase, may I have a word?" the Minister asked.
"Sure, what's up?" Annabeth asked as she walked over to see him.
Once they were well away from everyone else Shacklebolt began speaking, very quietly so that the rest could not hear.
"This Saturday the Anzus and Pacific Rim Embassy to the Ministry of Magic is holding a reception honoring our long relationship and in particular myself for becoming Minister. I was hoping you might attend with me. We don't get many opportunities to socialize with the other congresses and I would like to show a strong relationship with the Ministry and Hogwarts. I know your time is valuable but"
"Sure. How formal is it?" Annabeth asked, assuming, wrongly, that it was a polite professional request from a colleague.
"Well, I'll wear a tux. Honestly, I hate that, but you could…"
"Simple black dress, heels, and pearls? Would that work?" Annabeth asked.
"Sounds wonderful, should I pick you up or meet here? The Embassy is not far."
"We can meet here then. What time? Oh, and I have a question for you."
"Six should be fine. What question do you have?" The minister smiled.
"Is there a good pizza place near here? It seems I am charged with bringing the refreshments to tonight's 'Estelle Promised to Read Magic' party."
"There is Rafael's, just a couple blocks from here, but you'll need muggle money. I'm happy to apparate you there."
"Thank you so much! Guys, the Minister is going to show me where to get pizza, Percy, do you have your port key?" Annabeth said to the other four, who had been chatting while she spoke with the Minister.
"Sure do, and it looks like its almost time, see ya in an hour or so?"
"Perfect!" Annabeth exclaimed.
Estelle wanted a final hug but it was only moments before the top of the hour so she left with a pout. Harry and Hermione apparated back to Grimmauld along with Agent Sommers. As her purse was already on her arm she reached for Shacklebolt's arm which was the normal etiquette for side by side apparition, but the Minister simply put his hand on her lower back and they popped out onto the London sidewalk.
'Was he touching my ass? Trying to? Nah, just, uh, maybe he was trying to touch my butt, it is a nice butt. Kinda forward but I've dealt with worse from less attractive men, of course I got to beat them half to death. Nah, probably not trying to feel me up, it would be hard for him to miss my butt by that much. Geez, I'm just overly sensitive about this, that asshole Mitchell is at the school fucking that ho Hazel and its got into my head. The Minister is not trying to cope a feel,,, whoa! No mistaking that, his hand just brushed my ass.'
"Wooop!" Annabeth gasped as she involuntarily arched her back away from the Minister's hand as stepped from him.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! Please don't think…" Shacklebolt said, his face full of shame and remorse.
"Uh, you trying to feel up the school marm Kingsley?"
"No no! I'm so sorry, I thought you were stepping forward, I would never I'm so sorry!"
"Geez guy, buy a girl a drink first!" Annabeth grinned before things got too awkward.
'Hmmm, Kingsley is digging me, I've never dated an older guy but he's still in the age appropriate range, sort of, and… Why am I suddenly so sexually obsessed? Did Mitchell have an effect on me or something? Well that wouldn't explain the Minister touching my butt and… Nah, he probably just got clumsy for a second. I hope I didn't seem too weird.'
The restaurant was just steps away and Annabeth was able to place an order to be ready a few minutes before six, the next time her portkey would be ready. That left her and Shacklebolt almost the full hour to talk so they took a seat in the bar area of the restaurant. They ordered drinks while waiting and had a good discussion of the virtues of French, German and Italian wines. Annabeth favored Napa Valley wines from California and had a little more knowledge about those, although drink wise she was a beer and whisky girl.
It was a nice conversation, as it didn't involve magic, magic schools, funding magic schools, cheating boyfriends or men she loved that loathed her in return. Kingsley had a sort of smoldering sensuality that pervaded him, but he made no innuendo or inappropriate remarks and it was a completely refreshing conversation for the both of them. By the time her carry out was ready, Annabeth had two glasses and while not tipsy, was relaxed nicely. She was looking forward to spending time away from work with her colleague the Minister on Saturday.
Chase paid with her debit card, which amazed Shacklebolt as he had never seen such magic, then stepped outside with the Minister to both say good night and portkey back to Hogwarts.
"Thanks for the lovely conversation, I look forward to Saturday Minister. I have a question though, is this a professional appearance, or is it more social, like a date?"
"I as well, but please call me 'Kingsley,' and yes, tonight was quite refreshing. If I have to hear any more complaints from the Wizengarmot about the round up of suspected dark artisans and sympathizers I think I will just scream. In answer to your question, why not both? Would that be all right?" Shacklebolt replied with smile.
"Sounds good," Annabeth as she stood on her toes, gave Kingsley a quick peck on the cheek, then stepped back, smiled and put her sunglasses on. Before he could react, but not before Annabeth could ask herself, 'Why the fuck did I just do that?' she disappeared and moments later was in her office at Hogwarts.
After freshening up, a scant 10 minutes later she was tapping on Percy's door.