Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

A/N: Thank you Mooniala, Hudson and Shannon for your reviews. Shannon, I think Percy is cute and adorable too, and I will get to him in the next chapter.

Secret Love

Chapter 3 - Shopping

Her decision made, Ginny thought about how she would approach Hermione. It was Saturday tomorrow, and so she would send an owl asking if she could go round to Hermione's flat to discuss wedding plans.  Quickly writing a note, she attached the note to Hermes, Percy's owl. Letting him out of the window, she hoped the sight of Hermes wouldn't get Hermione's hopes up. After Errol retired, Percy had allowed Hermes to take over postal duties for the Weasley family.

As Hermione sat down to a solitary dinner that evening, she heard the tapping on her window. Opening it, her heart jumped as she recognised Hermes. Stroking his chest feathers, she untied the note. Hermes gave an affectionate nip at her finger and she smiled at him, giving him an owl treat.  Opening the parchment, she recognised Ginny's writing. Quickly scribbling a reply, she gave Hermes the note and let him go.

Settling back at the dining table, Hermione resumed her dinner. It hardly seemed worth cooking for one, but her mother had made her promise to eat properly when she'd moved into her flat. When she'd cleaned up, she sat back and reached for her book, trying to immerse herself in the text.  After four years in Records, she was allowed to bring a book home occasionally, providing she had proper wards set for protection against theft.

But tonight the book held no appeal. She wondered for the umpteenth time what Percy was doing. Not sitting at home with a book, she decided. There were a few girls at the Ministry who had hinted to her about him, thinking they could get to him via her friendship, but she hadn't heard on the grapevine that he was dating anyone seriously.  Hermione sighed. Perhaps she should ask Ginny's advice tomorrow.

~~~ 

Saturday dawned bright and clear and at nine o'clock Ginny was knocking on Hermione's door. Calling for her to enter (after disabling the wards), Hermione quickly finished brushing her hair and left her bedroom. Ginny was sitting on the large, comfortable sofa that Hermione had bought. It was just the right size for some serious snuggling, but Hermione hadn't had a chance to try it out that way.  Her flat was a large loft conversion, with big windows that overlooked the rooftops of Diagon Alley. It had been purchased when she had inherited at 21 a considerable sum from her paternal grandmother. She had handpicked large, comfortable pieces of furniture, and decorated the flat in neutral tones.  The polished wood floors shone and a few large rugs were scattered here and there.  Only a select few people had been there; Harry and Ginny were frequent visitors, as were Ron and Draco.

"Hi, Ginny. What do you have planned today?"

"I thought we might go shopping."

"What for?"

"Lingerie."

"For your honeymoon? I don't think Harry will mind what you wear, or don't wear for that matter." Hermione grinned.

"I know. Are you up for it?"

"Sure. A girl can never have too many pairs of knickers."

"Not the kind you wear though, 'Mione."

"And what's wrong with what I wear?"

"Nothing, if you like boring and practical. Don't you have anything other than white?"

"Not really. Who's to see it, anyway?" she asked bitterly.

"No one, unless you're willing to go after him."

"Pardon?" Hermione stared at Ginny.

"I'm talking about Percy, Hermione." Ginny said gently.

"How do you know.."

"I've known for quite a while. No one else does though." She added hastily.

"Does Percy suspect?"

"Not a chance. Do you want some advice?"

"Might as well. I certainly need some."

"We need to get him to notice you as a woman, not just as mine and Ron's friend."

"How?"

"New clothes for a start. And don't be always around at lunchtime. It may shake him up a bit to find that you're not so easily accessible."

"Do you think that will work?"

"It might. You know you could always ask him out to lunch, sometimes. Or invite him over for dinner."

Hermione looked doubtful. "I'll think about it. I might try your idea with the clothes, though first. See what happens."

"Good. Let's have a look at your wardrobe." Ginny jumped up and Hermione led the way to her bedroom. Ginny looked around approvingly at the sight of the huge bed and soft beige carpet on the floor. It was neat and tidy, just as she expected. Hermione was definitely the right choice for Percy. They matched each other perfectly.

Flinging open the built in wardrobes, Ginny surveyed the colour co-ordinated rails and shelves. It was a sea of browns, blacks and whites. Ginny shuddered, and then opened her underwear drawers that showed another white mass. Not a speck of colour in sight, not even a washing machine accident.

"These will have to go, Hermione."

"All of them?"

"Afraid so. How can you feel sexy when you're wearing ugly underwear?"

"I don't know how to be sexy, Ginny."

"You can learn can't you? You were top of your class, Hermione. We'll just get you a book. Right, let's start with your work clothes. Black skirts are fine, just not these awful gathered things. You have nice legs; so let's show them off.  They need to be just above the knee, not too short, and straight. Coloured blouses; not white. If you must have pale shirts, make them cream, and not loose either. Show off those curves you've got. Dark stockings, with heels, not too high. There's nothing worse than aching feet at the end of the day."

"But won't they be hidden under my work robes?"

"Not if you take them off occasionally. Doesn't it get hot in Records?"

"Not really. It's kept at a constant temperature to avoid them getting damaged. I do get a bit warm though when I'm working."

"Good. Make sure you're working when Percy comes to visit."

"I'm always working, Ginny."

"You know what I mean, Hermione."

"Do you think this will work?"

"We can only try. If nothing else, you may get some other offers."

"But I don't want other offers, Ginny, I want Percy."

"And we're going to try our hardest to get him for you. When Ron came out I gave up hope of ever getting you for a sister-in-law."

"Thanks for all this Ginny." Hermione hugged her.

"You're welcome. Now, let's go shopping shall we?"

~~~ 

Three exhausting hours later, Hermione and Ginny entered the loft and dumped the multitude of bags on the sofa.

"Tell me again why we didn't just shrink this lot down or floo it over here?" Hermione asked tiredly.

"That's the whole idea of shopping, Hermione. Now we have an excuse to put our feet up, order in a pizza and crack open a bottle of wine."

"Wine with pizza?"

"Of course. You order the pizza, I'll start putting this lot away."

"No, you order lunch, I'll put this away." Hermione didn't want her neat closet messed up. "Is Harry expecting you this afternoon?"

"No, I told him I'd see him tonight. Your need is greater than his."

Hermione smiled as she carried the bags into her bedroom. Maybe having Ginny on her side would give her the courage to go after Percy. It was worth a try, at least. As she emptied her drawers of the boring white underwear she wondered if wearing silk and satin would really make a difference.  Ginny had tried to talk her into buying some thongs, but there was no way Hermione was going to wear what looked like a piece of string that would cut her in half.

"Lunch is on its way, Hermione. Need a hand?"

"Not really. You can get rid of that white underwear, though."

"OK. Hermione, what're these?" Ginny held something up and Hermione flushed.

"What do they look like?"

"They look like a pair of men's pyjama bottoms. Why are they buried in your underwear drawer?"

"You'll laugh at me."

"No I won't."

"Yes you will."

"OK, maybe I will a little. So tell me, come on."

"They're like Percy's." Hermione mumbled.

"Beg pardon?"

"They're like the one's Percy wears." Hermione's face was beet red. Ginny smiled, but didn't laugh.

"And how do you know what Percy wears to bed?"

"I've been to The Burrow often enough, Ginny. I have seen him, you know." Hermione ducked her head back into the closet.

"I think that's sweet, 'Mione. Do you want me to pinch an old pair of his for you?"

"No!"

"Sure? He won't miss them. I'm not even sure he wears them now." Ginny teased.

"Ginny!"

"What? Don't tell me you haven't thought about it."

"All right, I won't."

"Eww, that's my brother you've had dirty thoughts about!"

"You were the one who started it." Hermione threw a pillow at her.

"So, do you ever wear them?"

"For lounging around in occasionally, yes. They're very comfortable."

"I'll have to pinch a pair of Harry's to try."

There was a sound of the floo being activated and Ginny left Hermione to set out their lunch.  As she was slicing up the pizza, the doorbell rang.  Ginny peeked through the spy hole and rolled her eyes. She might have known.

"Are you going to let us in, then?" Ron called.

"OK, OK, don't get your snitch in a knot." Ginny called, and opened the door. "You smelt the pizza, didn't you?"

"You have pizza? Even better." Ron bounded over to the table, leaving Draco to saunter in behind him. Ginny kissed Draco's cheek and they followed her brother.

"You'll have to get another one, Ginny." Ron said round a mouthful of cheese and ham.

"You're an animal, Ron." Draco said lazily, wiping some tomato from the corner of Ron's mouth with his thumb. Ron caught his hand and licked it off.

"Waste not, want not, love."

"Draco, Ron, what brings you to my humble abode?" Hermione had heard the familiar voices.

"Hardly humble, 'Mione. We were in the neighbourhood and decided to grace you with our presence."

"Ooh, big words, Ron. Draco must be good for you." Ginny teased.

"Harry will be here soon. Something about missing his fiancée." Ron gagged comically.

"Blimey, anyone would think he doesn't trust me." Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Not when it comes to you and shopping, Gin." Harry appeared in the doorway.

"Harry!" Ginny flung herself into his arms and Hermione felt a lump rise in her throat at the look on his face as they closed about Ginny.

That was what she wanted for herself, a man who would think the sun rose and set with her. She straightened her spine, it was time to emerge from her shell and see if Percy was worth all the trouble.  If not, then she would have to move on.

"So what have you bought?" Harry helped himself to some pizza.

"I'll show you later."

"That good eh?"

"You'll have to wait and see. And Hermione bought some news things too."

Ron fell off his chair in surprise. Hermione hated shopping! "What?"

"Don't look so surprised, Ron. I just needed some new things." Hermione calmly threw a new pizza order into the floo. "And clean that mess up."

"Sorry." He waved a cleaning spell over the floor where his pizza had landed.

"Yes. As of Monday, you will be seeing the new, improved Hermione." Ginny said.

"As opposed to the old, obsolete version?" Draco smiled and ducked as Ginny went to hit him. Hermione sighed, and decided to confess to part of the truth.

"I'm fed up being on my own. I look at you four, and want what you've got."

"We didn't know." Ron put his arms around her and gave her a hug.

"No. Can we help?" Draco joined in the group hug.

"Not unless you know any straight, single men." Hermione joked.

"I'm sure we can think of a few. We'll get back to you on that." He said.

Ginny smiled to herself. This was working out better than she thought. The news that Hermione was actively looking for a man might give Percy the kick he needed to notice her.  She might even go so far as to ask him if he knew of anyone…

TBC