Story Title/Link: The Way you Deserve to be Kissed

School and Theme: Hogwarts; spare — Write about a character not understanding their relationship with someone.

Mandatory Prompt: [Dialogue] "I'm offended that you didn't get me to be your fake date."

Additional Prompt: [Location] Shed

Year: 2

Word count: 2888

Audrey,

Mr. Abernathy owled this morning. He discovered a shed in Oxford that he suspects is full of illegal racing brooms. Please meet me there as soon as you receive this. It's an old decrepit building at the end of Wendt Lane.

Percy

Audrey crumples the note and tosses it in the rubbish bin, and its hollow bounce is unsatisfying when it hits the bottom. Seven in the morning is far too early to stroll into work—on a Friday, no less—and what makes it worse? Abernathy contacted Percy and not her about the investigation! Leave it to her no-nonsense, workaholic colleague to send her an owl, unable to wait until they meet at the office.

She takes a final swig of her much-needed coffee, the sweetness of vanilla creamer mixing with the bitterness on her tongue, before closing her eyes and Apparating to the location Percy disclosed. If she waits any longer, he will chide her for taking too long.

When the imaginary tube spits her out onto the English countryside, Audrey stumbles to catch her balance. She conducts a quick body scan to check everything is accounted for before heading down the path toward the building in question. Sunlight warms her face as she searches for Percy, and a Snitch flutters in her stomach when he comes into view, his copper hair brighter than ever in the early morning glow.

Stop thinking about him that way, you know it's pointless.

But she can't help it. The first time Audrey laid eyes on him, she knew she was a goner. Percy Weasley was all business with his smart horn-rimmed glasses, perfectly tousled red curls, piercing brown eyes, and a smattering of freckles on the bridge of his nose and cheeks. He was just her type—and still is three years later.

Now, she admires him from across the office with stolen glances and daydreams that inhibit her concentration. Sure, she's tried to drop subtle hints here and there to see if he's interested, but he never catches on. 'Let's get coffee.' 'Want to stay late to help me with this (not difficult) presentation on Portkey travel times?' They've even gone out for drinks on occasion, but Percy's been nothing more than cordial—and painfully oblivious—every time.

Even though he never says no, Percy always keeps his distance. Conversations never venture into anything more personal than his family, and he's never made an effort to move past surface-level information. And whenever they part, it's always with an awkward silence before a stuttered, 'So, I'll see you tomorrow?'

Audrey lets out a sad sigh. Maybe someday she'll pluck up enough courage to bite the Knut and ask him out. But that lends itself to finality, and Audrey would rather keep hoping for something more than face rejection.

Besides, even if he could, Percy would never engage in a relationship with her; it probably goes against some ancient Ministry code. Of course, to engage in a relationship, he'd have to feel something for Audrey first. Which he does not.

The crunch of gravel beneath her feet alerts Percy to her presence as he turns to greet her with a wave. "It's about time you showed up."

"You couldn't have waited?" She sets her hands on her hips and glowers.

Percy offers a sheepish laugh, though triumph shines in his eyes. "I didn't want to risk a compromise on the location."

"Yes, because they would have moved an entire inventory if we met at the office first." Audrey rolls her eyes. "Why haven't you entered yet?"

"I was waiting for you." Is the sun's glare playing tricks on her, or are Percy's cheeks sporting a pink tinge?

No, let's not misread the signs now. There's work to be done.

She looks past him to the locked door, and by the time her gaze settles on him again, he's back to his pasty white self. It must have been a mirage.

"Alohomora." With a swish of her wand, the padlock clicks and the door swings inward on its creaky hinges.

"Hey! I was going to—"

"You snooze, you lose." She shrugs him off.

"I most certainly did not 'snooze,'" Percy scoffs. "Or have you already forgotten I was here first?"

Audrey tuts. "Of course not. I was just busy making your 'overachiever of the year' plaque before I came."

She expects Percy to be affronted by the quip, but his grin says otherwise as he glances over his shoulder on the way into the dilapidated shed.

"Brilliant. I'll start working on my acceptance speech now."

"Make sure you add a bit in there about how you're married to your job."

She's not sure where the jab came from, and the back of her neck grows hot and sticky from the slip. Percy bites his lip and avoids her gaze, and this time she knows she isn't seeing things. Which can only mean one thing: there must be someone special in his life with whom he's associating the 'M' word.

Audrey ponders his reaction as she follows him into the dark, musty building. It smells of mildew, like the wood is perpetually wet. A quick Lumos charm reveals cobwebs decorating the rafters, and an assortment of Muggle farming tools line the walls. If there are any illegal brooms here, they're hidden under concealment charms.

Percy breaks the silence first."You sound like my family. I am not married to my work."

"It was just a joke, Perce. I was kidding."

"Yes, well, I suppose I may have taken it better if I wasn't going to be subjected to my baby sister's wedding tomorrow."

"That's this weekend?"

Sure, Audrey knew his sister was getting married—to The Boy Who Lived, no less—but had no idea it was this soon. The way Percy casually brought it up three weeks ago made it seem like there were months until the big day.

"Yes, and once again, I'll be attending alone, subjecting myself to Aunt Muriel's inane views on finding a spouse and carrying on the Weasley bloodline. Like I don't have five other siblings for her to pester!"

"Aren't they all already married?" Audrey queries, even though she knows the answer.

"All except Charlie. Though, she's given up on him. Or maybe she's disowned him. Unlike me, he is married to his work—well, to the dragons."

Audrey can't help but laugh at Percy's lamentation. She should feel sorry for him; she knows what it's like. Her parents are constantly pestering her about her love life, or lack thereof. It's easier to feign no interest in dating than admitting you're in love with someone who doesn't love you back. But that doesn't stop her from tempting fate and questioning Percy's decision to forgo a date.

"So, why are you attending the wedding alone?"

"What do you mean?" Percy cocks his head to the side, though his eyes stay fixed on the empty space in front of him.

"If you don't want to listen to your family harping on you all night, then you should have invited a plus one. I'm offended that you didn't get me to be your fake date. I'm quite the actress, you know. I would have put on a convincing show."

The fib slips through her lips. He doesn't need to know it wouldn't be an act. Not that it matters since he's going alone anyway. Percy lowers his wand, pausing his spellwork to contemplate her offer. His knit brow relaxes, but he shakes his head.

"I could never subject you to that sort of torture."

"Please," she dismisses his reasoning. "I can hold my own against your family."

Percy raises an eyebrow. "But you've never met Aunt Muriel."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe if we were having this conversation three weeks ago." A hollow laugh escapes Percy's lips.

It's all Audrey can do to avoid gaping at him. Images of a Weasley wedding permeate her mind. She'd wear the burgundy cocktail dress she saves for special occasions and stand proudly at Percy's side. She'd prove to all the Weasleys, including Muriel, that Percy is capable of dating. Well, fake dating, but no one needs to know the difference.

But then, Percy bursts her bubble charm. "It's a great idea, Aud, but I could never ask that of you on such short notice."

"It's no big deal!" she says, perhaps a tad too eager, but she doesn't care. "I don't have any plans this weekend. A social event sounds much more appealing than a rom-com movie marathon and wine."

Percy grimaces. "You wouldn't mind?"

If Audrey hadn't seen Percy's lips move, she wouldn't have believed she heard him properly.

Did he—is he asking me to go?

"O-of course not! As long as your sister won't get upset about a last-minute addition to the guest list." She doesn't want to piss off the bride on her wedding day.

Percy chuckles. "Knowing Ginny, she won't care. It's going to be a small event. Just promise you won't share any details. Harry's fame makes things complicated."

"Ah, right, The Chosen One. Lucky you, gaining a famous brother-in-law."

"Yes, because my siblings aren't notable enough as it is," Percy grumbles.

Audrey's heart sinks. They don't talk much about the war or Percy's obvious discomfort with his family. But she's heard enough to know he considers himself the black sheep. She wants to shake him by the shoulders and tell him just how much he's worth, how important he is to her, but she resists. It would give too much away.

Instead, she chooses to confirm her Saturday plans before they get back to confiscating illegal racing brooms. "So, am I attending a wedding tomorrow evening or what?"

Percy passes his wand between his fingers as he searches Audrey's eyes. His piercing gaze sends a shiver down her spine but she doesn't look away. She wants to do this, even if it'll never lead to anything more. For a moment, she thinks he's going to tell her to forget it, but then the tiniest smile cracks onto his lips.

"Yes, Miss Fairfax, I believe you are."

"So, Percival, your colleague is your date to Ginevra's wedding?" The batty old witch turns down her nose at Audrey, eyeing her with a scrutinous, disapproving gaze. "I thought you'd heed my advice during Ronald's nuptials and make a better effort to find a spouse."

Though Audrey's arm is tucked into Percy's and they're standing close, it's not enough to appease the infamous Aunt Muriel. His jaw tenses and Audrey reminds herself to keep her facial expression in check. Now is not the time to be curling her lip or glaring at the old woman.

Focus on the hints of cedar and musk in his cologne. Sell your affection for him. Show her how much you care.

"Oh, we're more than colleagues, Ms. Prewett," Audrey reassures. "Percy's my best friend. I think that's why we work so well together. Both in and out of the office. Though our relationship is rather new."

Muriel raises a meticulously-shaped eyebrow as her eyes dart between the pair. A flash of interest disrupts her indignation. "I'm afraid you'll have to do more to convince me you are together, Percival. How do I know you aren't using Miss Fairfax as an excuse to appease me?"

"Aunt Muriel!" Red blotches smatter Percy's face and neck at the accusation.

So much for thinking I was doing a good job with the whole 'faking' thing.

As Percy splutters and stutters incoherence, Audrey thinks fast. "We aren't fond of drawing attention to ourselves or our relationship. It wouldn't be prudent to flaunt our love in the office when we work so closely together."

"But you're not at the Ministry, you're at a wedding. Surely, the ambiance is appropriate to express your affection."

Muriel is determined to get her way, but Percy is equally stubborn. When he lets out an exasperated huff, Audrey tilts her head to read his expression and notices him leaning toward her. She expects a chaste peck on the cheek or a whisper in her ear that they should abort their ill-fated mission.

But his lips don't graze her cheek. Instead, they land squarely on her mouth. Overcome by shock, Audrey's limbs become rigid while her stomach somersaults and her eyes grow wide.

The gesture lasts no longer than a few seconds and when Percy pulls away, he doesn't look at Audrey, but at Muriel. "Is that enough to satisfy you?"

Even though Audrey has long accepted Percy's lack of feelings, hearing the brashness in his tone is still a swift kick in the gut. It's all too much; Percy's annoyance, his aunt's condescension, and the last thread of hope that Audrey should have never held onto in the first place.

Percy Weasley does not see her as anything more than a colleague, maybe a friend, and she needs to let go, once and for all.

"Excuse me," she says, backing away to find a quiet place to drown her sorrows, where a hoard of Weasleys won't witness her tears.

She escapes the confines of the tent, allowing the happy chatter and music to fade as she wanders around the garden. As she walks, Audrey comes across a small broom shed and slips inside, seeking solace between its walls.

An assortment of old Comets and Cleansweeps hang on the walls and worn Quidditch gear lays in piles on the floor. Audrey brushes off a thin layer of dust from the box holding the balls and sits down.

But before she can bury her face in her hands in humiliation, a sliver of sunlight shines through as the door opens and Percy joins her. She jumps up so fast that she knocks one of the brooms off its hook and it clatters to the floor.

"Audrey, I'm so sorry. I—"

"No, I'm sorry. I should have never pushed you to do this. I thought we could prove—"

Percy shakes his head and takes her hands in his. Her breath hitches in her throat. He's never touched her like this before. "No, please. Listen. It was unfair for me to put you in this situation. Muriel has a way about her that riles me up and I shouldn't have lost my temper. That's not the way you deserve to be kissed."

"Really, Perce, it's fine. I don't know why I—wait. What did you just say?"

That's not the way you deserve to be kissed.

The pounding of her heart punctuates every word as she plays it back in her mind. She's sure she heard him properly but is hesitant to believe it.

"It was unfair to put you in that situation?" Percy pulls one hand away to rub the back of his neck.

"No. After that."

His complexion grows more crimson as he tries again. "I shouldn't have lost my temper?"

"After that." Audrey shakes her head.

With a resigned sigh and no other option left, Percy gives in. "That's not the way you deserve to be kissed."

"You've thought about kissing me?" Her voice is no more than a hushed whisper.

"Are you—you're kidding, right?"

Audrey doesn't know what to do or say. So, she stares blankly at him, her head shaking in jerky motions from side to side. "N-no. Percy, when in the last three years have you ever so much as hinted at being interested?"

Now, Percy drops his jaw in disbelief. "All the time! You're always the one I ask to come along when I go out. I only volunteer to stay late to finish projects with you when I could bring the work home to complete. And what about today?"

For a moment, Audrey thinks he's joking. She has to bite back her laughter as he stares at her, completely serious. There's no way he's that bad at flirting or making a move, right?

Either way, she needs to respond and show him just how vague his gestures have been.

"Okay, one, when you invite me out, it's never just us, it's always with other people. Two, staying late for work doesn't count as a date, and three, I offered to come tonight!"

"I told you not to worry about it if you didn't want to." Percy stands up straighter, rigid in defense as he turns his nose up in the air, awaiting rejection.

"Didn't want to—of course, I wanted to! This was the closest I thought we'd ever get to an actual date!"

Percy freezes, his gaze burning straight through to her soul. "You wanted this to be real?"

"Yes, you ginger idiot!" Audrey throws her hands in the air. She's beyond exasperated and doesn't care that he knows anymore.

She's about to go into a litany of his obliviousness when a whirlwind of movement stops her. Percy steps forward, his hands grasping her waist as he pulls her into him, and crushes his lips to hers. This time, it's a different kind of shock that stuns her. But it only takes a moment for her to realize that Percy is kissing her because he does feel the same way.

Everything she's ever believed is thrown out the tiny shed's window as she flings her arms around his neck and kisses him back. Despite three years of pining, she couldn't be happier that it was all a misunderstanding.