Hermione knocked on the door that led into Percy's office as she opened it. He was sitting at his large mahogany desk, the tip of his quill moving as he wrote, one arm lying directly down. She took a moment to observe him; one curl was on his forehead, the rest elsewhere, his glasses started to slide down his nose, one foot was underneath, tapping to a rhyme that only he knew of. She didn't want to disturb him, but this was likely the only time she had in between her work to stop by. It would have been terribly inconvenient for him if she waited longer to ask him. She might as well just get this over with instead of dragging it out.

When Percy heard her knocks, he glanced up. A warm smile came onto his face and he sat his quill down, gently pushing his belongings aside to create more space. "Hermione," he greeted. "Hello. Did you tell me you were coming? I don't recall."

"Oh, no," She shook her head, shutting the door behind her. No need for prying ears to hear this. "Not at all."

"Ah," He nodded. If she was correct, he was probably relieved he hadn't forgotten about her visit. He htaed to do things like that, especially now when he was in the midst of repairing relationships with his family. He didn't want to get caught up in his work like that again.

And here you are, asking him to be away from his family on Christmas when they deserved to be together

"Was there something you needed?"

"What?" Her head snapped up and she stared at Percy rather dumbly.

He furrowed his eyebrows, seemingly confused by her behavior. "I asked you if there was anything you needed?"

She laughed a little nervously. "Oh. Right."

He was concerned now. He came out from his desk, frowning at her. She vaguely registered the height difference between them; Percy was a tad over six foot while she was most definitely not, ending up at around five-six or so. "Hermione, is everything alright? You seem...out of it."

She was a little more than out of it. Honestly, she couldn't believe she was about to do this. She groaned inwardly. This was going to sound absolutely foolish. She was an adult for goodness sake, not some adolescent. It was juvenile. Oh, what would everyone say if they found out the truth? Aunt Patty and Libby would have a field day. Her parents would be disappointed in her for lying to them and Christmas would be ruined. Not to mention, Percy would be put in an awkward spot. She didn't want that for him, having to suffer her family's wrath and questioning all because she didn't want to show up at another family gathering alone.

"I'm fine," She sighed.

"Are you sure?" Percy said skeptically. "Because I don't think you are."

"I...it's just Christmas, that's all."

"What about Christmas?" Percy probed.

"My family."

"Hermione," Percy grinned a little and chuckled, "you're being deliberately vague."

Shoot. He'd noticed.

"No, I'm not," She insisted.

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm-" She stopped herself. "This is ridiculous."

"Would you be angry if I agreed?" Percy leaned back on his desk. "Now, tell me what's going on?"

"It's silly," She admitted.

"I'm sure it isn't," He tried to assure her. "Not if it's bothering you."

You wouldn't be saying that if you knew

"My parents...they want me home for Christmas," She said carefully. "I haven't been home to celebrate with them and they've gotten fed up with it. They aren't accepting any excuses this year. I have to go."

He nodded slowly, absorbing her words. "Do you not get along with your parents?"

"It isn't that. It's who else they've invited that's the problem," She said, refraining from scowling. But only just.

He gestured for her to continue.

"My aunt and uncle and my cousin." There, she'd said it without sounding incredibly bitter. That was a huge accomplishment in and of itself. "They're also coming over."

"And I take it you don't get along with them?" He guessed.

"Absolutely not!" She said hotly. "Libby is Satan reincarnated."

He stared at her blankly. She forgot he wouldn't know what Satan was.

"Muggle thing," She said dismissively, not wanting to explain right now.

"I see..."

"We've never gotten along," Hermione continued in a rant, throwing her arms up in the air. "She's just so...horrible! She made fun of me when we were growing up all the time. She was going from boyfriend to boyfriend and I had no one and she just loved that."

She was huffing, arms across her chest like a petulant child.

Percy waited until she was finished, looking like he was truly baffled. Eventually, he found the right words or what he thought were the right words. "I'm sorry," He said sincerely. "I certainly know what it's like to deal with being made fun of. Is there any way you can avoid them?"

She shook her head miserably. "They're staying at my parents' house. They'll expect me to stay there as well."

Percy was sympathetic. "I'm sorry. I'm sure it will pass by quickly."

"I doubt it," She sighed again. Pessimistic thoughts were filling her once more, just imagining how this would go. It would be awful, she just knew it. "Nothing is ever quick when Libby is around."

Percy chewed on his bottom lip before speaking up. "Is there any way you can talk to her about this? Perhaps if she knew-"

Hermione was well aware of where he was going with this. Percy deeply regretted not being there for the last few years of Fred's life. He was devoting himself to the family now, soaking up as much time as he could with everyone. He didn't want her to feel the same pain he was experiencing. She appreciated his concern but her relationship-technically nonexistent- with her cousin was nowhere near like Percy's had been with Fred. At a time, the two brothers had been inseparably close. She didn't have that with Libby. It was just never there. Even as toddlers, Hermione's mum admitted that Libby had been a handful back than as well; yanking on Hermione's hair, throwing blocks at her, that sort of thing. It just progressed from there.

"Definitely not," Hermione gave him an apologetic smile. "Libby wouldn't care, I'm afraid."

Never mind how Hermione had attempted to talk to her cousin, trying to convince how all this fighting was silly-that was prior to the war ending, when she'd been unsure of her fate once it was over. But Libby had entirely brushed her off, acting like she didn't care one bit.

And she probably hadn't.

That was the infuriating part.

Percy looked sad for her. "I'm sorry," He said for the third time now. "That's terrible."

She shrugged. It used to upset her as a child. She'd been terribly lonely before attending Hogwarts where she met Ron and Harry. It'd hurt, truthfully. She'd wondered what was wrong with her that left Libby feeling like she didn't want to be around Hermione. But then she grew up and realized there was no use in getting worked up over it. "It's fine, honestly. Not everyone is meant to be super close with their family."

Her words were obviously not settling right with him. He frowned but refrained from saying anything else. Likely out of respect for her.

Hermione shifted. She needed to introduce the topic without sounding desperate. Although she wasn't sure how her request would come across as anything but. "Libby's bringing her fiance this year," She said weakly. "Aunt Patty's been telling Mum all about it. It's been driving her batty, actually."

He didn't understand. "Is that not good?"

"No," She said. "Because she'll be pestering me because I haven't got anyone."

Just saying it gave her flashbacks from her youth, when Libby bragged about finding the most handsome and sophisticated man. There was a common theme; cultured, wealthy, had the looks of a model. Hermione had a strong feeling her cousin was lying or exaggerating at best.

It didn't help that Hermione hadn't dated a single bloke during her time at Hogwarts, not that if she did she would give her cousin details of the whole thing. But at least she would have been able to give her a picture and that alone could have possibly shut her and her aunt up momentarily.

But alas, things didn't work out that way.

Percy cleared his throat. "Oh, I see."

Hermione didn't know why, but she felt somewhat shy about popping the question. Which was silly. She'd known Percy for years. There was no need to feel that way. She summoned up her Gryffindor courage. "Right. And I was talking about it with Ron and Harry and they gave me an idea."

She winced a little.

His eyebrows flew up to his hairline. "What sort of idea?"

"It's okay if you say no," She said quickly. "I won't hold it against you if you do."

He blinked.

"They thought of this ridiculous idea of me bringing a fake fiancé to my parents' house for Christmas," She blurted out. "I don't really know anyone that's available and single and so I was wondering if you would be my fake fiancé?"

She expected him to immediately decline.

Or to start apologizing.

But there was none of that.

Rather, he was stunned. "You want me to pretend we're together?"

"It would just be for a week," Hermione promised, wondering if he was going to accept. "Nothing more."

"I see."

He sounded...well, she didn't know what he sounded like. Oh, she shouldn't have brought this up. She ruined a perfectly good friendship is what she did. Now he wasn't going to look at her the same!

"I'm sorry," She grimaced. "I shouldn't have said that. I'll just go-"

He grabbed her wrist.

"Don't. It's okay. Honest. I was just caught off guard. I didn't expect such a request from you."

She didn't know what to say.

Percy let her wrist go. "What would this visit entail? I assume we would be partaking in typical customs that come with being in a relationship?"

"Yes," She nodded, feeling a rush of relief and excitement. Was he really considering this? "We'd need to be convincing."

He hummed, rubbing his chin. "I see. Would we be sharing a bedroom?"

She nodded again. "We'd be in my old room. One of us would have to sleep on the floor unless I'm able to get there before my aunt and uncle do. My dad wouldn't be particularly pleased if we slept in the same bed before we're 'married'," She said with air quotes.

He smiled. "Of course. Mum feels the same way."

She really wasn't surprised.

But now she had to ask.

"Are you agreeing to this?" She said. "I wouldn't want to take you away from your family on Christmas."

"Perhaps I could apparate away for a bit if we have some time," He offered. "Unless you want to tell Mum about the whole thing?"

"I'd rather not," Hermione didn't want word to get out. This was embarrassing enough.
"Alright," He smiled at her. "That's fine."

"So we're doing this?" She clarified because she really couldn't believe he'd agreed.

"We are."

"Are you sure?" She pressed further. "You're really okay with this? It's completely fine if you aren't-"

"Hermione," He cut in gently. "Stop worrying. I wouldn't have kept talking to you about it if I didn't want to."

She shut up, nodding her head. She exhaled, sitting down in the extra chair in Percy's office. "I'm just...I'm tired of Libby shoving everything in my face. I've tried to ignore it but it's not easy to do with her. She just-"

"She keeps on going and it feels like no one cares enough to stop it?" Percy finished for her in a flat sort of tone.

"Yes. Exactly," Hermione agreed, recalling how Fred and George would continuously make fun of Percy and it wasn't put to a stop like it should have. At least now George was regretful and had apologized. "Mum and Dad have tried. Mum, especially. She's talked to Aunt Patty but my aunt just dismisses her. She thinks it's a typical childhood rivalry, nothing to be upset about. But you can't take what she says seriously, Aunt Patty can be worse than Libby at times."

Percy touched her arm, squeezing it. "Don't worry. I'm sure this year will be different."

She glanced at him, smiling. "You're a really great friend, Percy."

He grinned. "As are you."