Hermione walked back and forth in front of Percy's office, rehearsing what she was going to say. Mr Weasley, I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave work three hours early on Sunday because I'm going to a Quidditch match with your brother, posing as his girlfriend as he doesn't have one, she thought.

That sounded so STUPID.

All right, she pondered, here's an idea. I shall simply tell him that I have a personal engagement. I won't mention Ron, or Quidditch, or... or...

She couldn't elaborate on that plan any more, but it seemed an airtight one. Hermione took a very deep breath and knocked on the door. "Come in," Percy called.

"Um- Mr Weasley?" she called, looking into the room. He was looking over some contracts on his desk. "Er... maybe this is a bad time, but I have a favour to ask of you, as you're my superior and everything." She secretly congratulated herself on not accidentally calling him Percy.

"Ask away," he said, still examining the contracts.

"I'm going to have to leave work early on Sunday because of a personal engagement."

"Why?"

"Sorry?"

Percy finally looked up at her. "You're going to have to give a valid reason for leaving early, Hermione."

Great, she thought, now the third degree will begin. "I'm going to a Quidditch match," she told him. She waited for the blow to fall.

"Who's playing?" he asked with interest. Hermione stared at him.

"The Chudley Cannons... sir."

"That's a coincidence." He blinked, furrowing his brow in thought.

"What is?" she asked innocently, although she thought she knew.

"Ron and some of his friends from work are going to that game. Maybe you'll see him there," he enlightened her (or so he thought).

"Oh! Maybe I w- hang on. Does this mean I can go?" she asked disbelievingly.

Percy looked as though he had only just realised what he'd said. "I think it does." Hermione could have sworn he had smiled. A bit, anyway. He then seemed to truly realise what he'd said and told her sharply, "But be here early the next day, Hermione."

"Yes, sir." Hope he's not at the Burrow tomorrow, thought Hermione as she walked out. He might see me with Ro- hang on. Why am I embarrassed about being seen with Ron? I was seen with Ron almost every day since I was eleven and the second I turn nineteen, I'm embarrassed about being seen with him? Weird.

Hermione was almost back in her office when an older official asked her to feed the office owls. "Yes, miss." she said, barely thinking about it as she went briskly to the Owlery with a bag of Owl Treats.

The Owl Treats pinged loudly on the bottom of the feed trays as she spooned them out. Oh, stop thinking about Ron, she thought. Think about... how WEIRD Percy acted just now.

Can't keep your mind off those Weasley men, can you? Hermione thought ruefully. But it was really funny. For a brief minute, Percy had seemed like the Weasley who she had been able to discuss careers and classes with. Not 'my superior', but just 'Ron's older brother'. He had been like a teenager again, a stuffy, pompous and rather indignant teenager, but one that she could relate to, for some reason. Maybe because he was smart and got teased for it too.

At least the real Percy had come back when she had needed him.