Disclaimer: Please see previous chapters/other stories. I get fed up saying they don't belong to me!
A/N: Thanks to Sunglow for beta reading, and to all you Hermione/Percy shippers out there who have reviewed so far.
Secret Love
Chapter 5 – Make Believe
"Hey, Perce, can you put in a good word with Granger for me?" Simon perched on the corner of Percy's desk, an irritating habit of his.
"Ignoring you, is she?"
"I just thought that as a friend you could test the waters for me."
"And why would I do that, Munroe?"
"I could get you a date with the new girl on the fifth floor."
"No thanks."
"Aw, come on Perce. Be a mate." Simon wheedled.
Percy shuddered. Simon Munroe was, and never would be, a mate of his, and he didn't think that Hermione would appreciate him siccing him on her either.
This was the fourth time and sixth person that had come to him with a request for putting a good word in for them with Hermione; regardless of the fact that he hadn't been down to Records since the previous week. He wondered what was so different about Hermione that had half of R&D panting after her. He really should go and get that scroll on transfiguring animate objects…
"I'll think about it." He said shortly and stood up.
"Thanks, Perce. I owe you one." Oh, how he hated to be called 'Perce'.
With a grunt, he stood up and headed out of his office, down to Records to see if Hermione wanted to join him for lunch. He'd missed her quiet presence these last three days. Normally, he wouldn't have needed an excuse to go down and see her; after all, she was a best friend of his little brother and sister. That's it, Percy, just think of her as that gawky teenager… Remember the time at the Burrow four years ago? You ruffled her hair as you came out of the shower? Her pyjama top was hanging off her shoulder and she was half asleep… Shit! Why did he remember that in such graphic detail? There was no way that he thought of Hermione like that, did he?
There was a group of people milling around in the corridor when he finally made it down to Records and he pushing his way through, wondering the reason why. Artemis Bekket was standing beside a pink cheeked Hermione, frowning at a slightly smoking Fabian Brennon.
"I will not tolerate such behaviour to a member of my staff, Mr Brennon. Your superior will be hearing from me. Please leave." The little man was vibrating with fury. Then he saw Percy and smiled. "Ah, Percy, I have that scroll you requested, Hermione will get it for you. Aren't you gone yet, Brennon?" he snapped, and Percy watched in amazement as Brennon scuttled away, head down.
"Come on, Percy, I'll get you that scroll." Hermione swung away towards the further reaches of the department. There was silence as he walked besides her, listening to the swish of her robes as she moved. Percy cleared his throat.
"So what was all that about?"
"Brennon being his usual obnoxious self." Hermione's voice was a little husky.
"What did he do?"
"I'd rather not talk about it."
Percy stopped and caught her arm. "Do you want me to sort him out?"
"Thanks, Percy, but I think between Arty and myself we've cooled his ardour down."
"Forget the scroll. Come on, I'm taking you to lunch." He caught her hand in his and tugged her toward the side corridor, avoiding the crowd who were still gossiping. Knowing the Ministry, the gossip would be flying from floor to floor and he'd probably get a highly exaggerated version when he got back from lunch. This way at least he would know the true version of events.
Finding a small, out-of-the-way restaurant, Percy pulled Hermione's chair out for her in a gentlemanly manner. She smiled nervously at him.
"So, am I going to have to wait until I hear the gossip version?"
"No, but let's eat first, I'm starving." Hermione picked up a menu and looked it over. She settled on a baked potato with salad and Percy a sandwich. The waiter placed their pumpkin juices in front of them and Percy sat back expectantly.
"Well? I heard from Munroe that Brennon had been to see you."
"Simon Munroe?" she wrinkled her nose in distaste.
"Yes. Has he done anything to upset you too?"
"Apart from being a pain the arse, no."
"Tell me about Brennon."
"He's been down a few times since Monday, for no reason really. Invited me to lunch and dinner."
"Did you accept?"
"Urgh, No! He's a real creep."
"What did he do?"
Hermione shrugged. "Just tried to grope me as I was getting a book down, that's all."
"That's all? Did you say anything to him?" Percy felt like punching someone.
"Are you joking? Hex first; ask questions later, that's me. Fortunately, Arty was right behind dear Fabian when his hands went wandering."
"What did he do?"
"Arty or Brennon?"
"Arty."
"Just shielded the books so they didn't get damaged."
"What hex?"
"New variation of 'Incendio'."
"Is that why he was smoking?"
Hermione nodded, looking up as the waiter arrived with their lunch.
"I'm impressed." Percy said around a mouthful of sandwich. Hermione smiled at him.
"Thank you, I know how hard it is to impress ex-Head Boys."
"You know me better than that, Hermione." He smiled back at her. Hermione felt a warm glow spreading through her as the smile reached his eyes.
"So, who else has been down to see you?" he asked. Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
"Half the Ministry, it seems like. I have absolutely no idea why. Records has never been so busy."
"You're a very pretty girl, Hermione, of course men want to go out with you."
"So how come its taken four years to notice me?"
"They're a bit slow?"
"Percy, you know all the new girls get checked out, so don't try to make up excuses."
"Perhaps they were intimidated by your intelligence?"
"And they're not now?"
"Well, they do have a whole tribe of Weasleys to contend with, not to mention the Great Harry Potter." He grinned. Hermione sighed.
"I suppose so. Fred and George are enough to put anyone off."
"Plus you're on first name terms with the Minister of Magic."
"There's that too." She grinned and Percy watched as her eyes lit up. He'd never noticed how lovely they were before; an unusual deep amber colour.
"Erm, did you know Ginny was trying to set you up with Oliver?"
"She did mention that he'd been to see Fred and George." She leant forward. "Did you know he's gay?" she whispered conspiratorially.
"I knew that at Hogwarts. He had a thing for Professor Lupin."
"Really? I would never have guessed back then."
"He went through a tough time. What would it have looked like for the captain of the Quidditch team to be seen flying for the other team?"
"Percy! That pun was terrible!" This was a side of Percy that she'd not seen in a long time. Fred and George's constant jokes just overshadowed him.
Percy shrugged and smiled at her; glad he was able to make her laugh.
"Does this mean that you know about Ginny's matchmaking efforts?"
"I did wonder why we spent three hours shopping for honeymoon lingerie and ended up getting me a new wardrobe. Not subtle, is she?"
"I think that's what happens when you have six older brothers." Don't even try to imagine Hermione's lingerie, Percy!
"I always wondered what that would be like." She sighed wistfully, pushing a piece of tomato around her plate.
"Well as Ginny and Ron's best friend, I'd say that makes you an honorary Weasley." Percy took her hand and squeezed it. Hermione blinked back a sudden rush of tears at gesture. She didn't want Percy as a brother, but it looked like that was all he wanted to be.
"Thanks, Percy."
"You're welcome. So if you have any more trouble with Brennon or Munroe, let me know. I'll tell Charlie to set his dragons on them."
"Does that mean you'll want to vet all prospective dates of mine?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Sure, and I can do the same for you."
"Huh, what dates?"
"Come on, Percy, you could get any girl you wanted." Hermione was surprised. "You must be beating them off with a stick!"
"Hardly! When do I get the time?" Did that mean she thought he was attractive?
"What happened to Penny?"
"Decided that the Ministry was too boring, and went to study in America."
"Not still holding a torch for her then?"
"No. Anyway, we're not talking about my love life, or lack of it for that matter, but yours."
"But that's just it, Percy. I'm not that bothered. Yes, it would be nice to have someone to come home to, to snuggle in front of the fire with, and share the Daily Prophet over breakfast, but it's not the be-all and end-all of my existence."
Percy was stunned. She'd just described exactly how he imagined it would be when he found that perfect someone to share his life with, except with the added benefit of mind-blowing sex. He opened his mouth before putting his considerable brain in gear.
"Perhaps we should pretend to date; get Ginny and my mother off our backs."
"Molly's been nagging you?"
"Says I don't get out enough." He cleared his throat. "So how about it?"
"Well, it might work…"
"Come on, we can discuss this on the way back to work." He put some coins on the table and held her chair out for her, trying not to notice the wisps of curls that had some loose from the knot at the nape of her neck.
They walked side-by-side back to the Ministry building, discussing the pros and cons of Percy's idea. The only drawback that Hermione had was that while they were 'dating', Percy might find someone else he preferred. Percy, being Percy, decided that the only reason he was doing this was to save Hermione from lechers like Simon Munroe, conveniently forgetting how she had handled Fabian Brennon earlier that morning. Oh, the stupidity of Men!
"Would you like to go out to dinner tonight? As part of Phase One?" he asked before heading off to his department.
"Phase One?"
"My name for the 'Let Everyone Know' bit." He smiled.
"OK. Seven?"
"Fine, I'll pick you up."
"I think we'll call this 'Phase One'." She smiled wickedly at him and reached up to kiss his cheek. "Let the gossips have a field day." She whispered in his ear, and left him standing there, a stunned look on his face. Had she been flirting with him?
~~~
"So, Perce, did you say anything to her?"
"I did mention you." Percy kept his eyes on his work, trying to ignore Munroe.
"And?"
"She called you a pain in the arse."
~~~
Hermione was almost dancing when she got back to Records. Yes, Yes, Yes! She was finally getting Percy to notice her! She couldn't wait to tell Ginny!
TBC
A/N: I know, I know, how terribly clichéd! So sue me!