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TRUST IN ME
by Tyde

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Chapter Eight

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The knuckles rapped tentatively on the oak panelled door as if they didn't really want to be there. A stressed sounding voice called out "Come in!"

Ron sucked in a breath and pushed the door open slowly. "Mister Ronald Weasley" announced Percy's secretary as he walked in.

Percy peered at him through his horn-rimmed glasses as if weighing up if he should arm himself or offer Ron a seat. The younger Weasley though it miraculous how Percy could sometimes be just like Dumbledore.

"I'm busy Ron. What do you want? I don't fancy another black eye to match the one I already got on Saturday"

"Er, about that Percy. I just...I wanted to apologise to you. I was a complete and utter idiot"

"Obviously"

"But you've got to understand that all my life I've been living in everyone's shadow and you're really smart Perce, it seemed logical to me that 'Mione would go for someone like you. Plus I saw her touching your bum"

"She was merely dusting my trousers after something kicked me..." realisation dawned on him. "That was you, wasn't it? You kicked me outside the Ministry building. What did you use Harry's cloak or something?"

"Yes" Ron hung his head. "I'm really, really, really sorry Perce, honest I am. It's just when it comes to her I go a bit irrational at times"

"Uh huh"

"And whatever I can do to make it up to you I will"

A little bit of an evil smile started to creep onto the Minister's face.

"Well there is a lot of filing to be done in the Restricted Quarantine section. Quite a few nasties actually. They've got some full dragon hide suits for you to wear. A slime shooting mammal, the Plagoala tried to sneak through on the tail end of a broom. Very messy business" he scribbled on a piece of parchment and handed it to a reluctant looking Ron. "Give this to Cuthbert, Diggory's assistant, and he'll show you where to go"

"Okay. Er, and after this, we're square, right?"

"Yes, Ron. We're square. But if you ever do that again I may be forced to do something just as horrible back to you"

Ron couldn't help thinking it probably involved a three-hour lecture about cauldron bottom thickness or carpet embargos.

~*~

Across town another set of knuckles was knocking on a different oak panelled door. The assistant ushered Hermione in and she sat down on a pale green velvet chair positioned on the other side of a large mahogany desk that seemed to take up most of the room. Crossing her legs nervously she waited for Sid Dufferin, manager and coach of the Chudley Cannons to come into his office.

He burst through the door and she was immediately overwhelmed by his size. This was no mere man, he seemed to be half-giant, just like Hagrid. But as he strode across the room to greet her she released it was just the design of his robes that made him appear tall and wide all at the same time. His outstretched hand met hers and he pumped it energetically.

"Good day Miss Granger, I'm Sid Dufferin. Please take a seat," he pointed at the chair she'd been sitting in only seconds before.

"Thank you sir. Now I spoke to Joey Jenkins about my proposition earlier today and he seems to think that the team would be up for it, but of course I needed to get your approval. And there is the matter of payment" she took a sheaf of parchment out of her handbag and lay it out on her desk.

Fixing a monocle to his right eye Sid pored over the plans. It wasn't just blocks of information there were also diagrams and squiggly lines all over it too.

"Ah yes, the wedding. Joey sent these plans over to me this morning by Express owl. Very well organised Miss Granger. I shouldn't see any problem with this at all. If all the team members agree, as for payment – I'm sure they would be happy to do it for their greatest fan free of charge. After all, with the exception of the past year we haven't exactly been the best team to support" his eyes twinkled at her.

"Oh thank you sir. Now if I can just refer you to paragraph three, clause 15" Hermione rolled up her sleeves and started moving the squiggles around on the page vigorously as the man looked on.

Ten minutes later and with a great big weight off her shoulders Hermione was out on the street and headed to the dressmakers for her final fitting.

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Plunging the corner of a cloth into his ear Ron found with disgust that there was still a great deal of Plagoala slime in there.

"Will it never end?" he muttered.

"What's that boss?" asked Gary Melling, Ron's head foreman.

Ron shook his head and a glob of slime flew out and landed right on the plans in front of him.

"When I went to Percy's office to apologise yesterday he got me working in the messy Quarantines department. I fully deserved it of course but this slime is just getting ridiculous. It's like it's got a mind of it's own – keeps creeping back in!"

"Does have a mind of it's own" piped up Bruce McConnell, a new addition to the crew and an Australian at that. "Plagoala's not all that vicious cause they don't have the brains, see, but their slime is where all the smarts are. Just a general household menace back home. Only way to get rid of them is a large amount of salt"

Ron looked at the largely-built wizard who looked scary on the outside but seemed to melt on the inside whenever anyone mentioned children or animals.

"You're about to tell me that you had one as a pet when you were a kid, aren't you?"

"Uh huh" Bruce scratched his nose thoughtfully. "Mum boiled it though when she found it in my room. Spanked me rotten for it too. Never knew yew was such a hard wood. Still got marks I reckon" he made as it to drop his trousers.

"Well we don't' need to see 'em, mate" said Melling hurriedly. "Now boss what is it that you've called us all in for?"

"A new job. A rather large one actually" Ron pointed to the plans laid out on the table in front of them.

There were a lot of lines and squiggles and a few parts that glowed.

"I want to make this a really special place for Hermione, it's gotta be dream like, right? Now in light of the weather ice would be a perfect choice as it's cheap and also looks good but there will be a stack of Muggles at the ceremony and they'll be asking enough questions as it is. So may I suggest we order in some sodium and limestone deposits from the dwarf mines in Inverness and I'll take care of the silicon requirements. My brother Bill and his wife have offered to help out with that. They've got loads of it in their backyard. Should all arrive by Thursday and then we can start. I've organised for Gin and Parvati to take Hermione away for a few days so we can set up the tent and the giant furnace. I don't fancy seeing you lot trying your hands at Ultra-Hot charms, could turn out dangerous"

His workmen nodded at him and set off to their desks to start preparations. Ron traced a finger over the plans he'd drawn up last night with the help of Mister Granger. Sure he was only a dentist but he knew Muggle churches and Ron wanted a nice blend of the two parts of Hermione's life.

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Hermione

It's been a while. We've both been too busy, for obvious reasons. How about Thursday night? Mum says Ron's been trying to keep you away from all the construction so you could say you're just spending the night with your parents at their place or something. I've looked around and I know of this little place out of Hogsmeade, no one will know us there so you don't have to worry.

Just once more before Saturday should do it. It'll give you that extra boost; you know how it always makes you feel afterwards.

Awaiting your affirmative reply
Percy

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Hermione linked her arm through Percy's and as they snuck in through a back entrance the guard didn't even batt an eyelid. She wondered how much he'd been paid to pretend they weren't there. She was nervous again. Percy was right, as always. It had been too long since the last time.

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Author's note: A bit of a slow chapter, just trying to establish a few things first. *grins wickedly*

Cosmoz – You love the story and I love reviewers. It's a match made in fanfic heaven.

Hunter – thanks! Will do.