Chapter 4: Congradulations

Hermione's parents were waiting with Mr and Mrs Weasley when she stepped off the train. She said goodbye to Harry, whos uncle was rushing him out of the station, and then stood with Ron and the Weasley twins while their parents talked. Hermione still wasn't feeling well (the chocolate frogs she had eaten on the train probably didn't help) but was trying not to let it show. Ron obviously saw, he was watching her closely, but didn't say anything. Fred and George had gone over to talk with their friend Lee Jordan, with Ginny tagging along behind. Percy didn't seem to have come off the train yet.

"Ah! There's my boy!" Arthur announced as Percy stepped off the train. He shook Mr Granger's hand and winked at Mrs Granger. "It was nice to see you folks again. We must get together sometime!"

"Yes," Molly Weasley agreed with a smile. She turned to Mrs Granger. "We can exchange recipes while my husband torments your with silly questions about inanimate objects."

"Definately," Mrs Granger laughed. She waved to Arthur, who had met Percy half way. They were chatting with Amos Diggory, another Ministry of Magic employee. "Goodbye!"

"Well, see ya," Ron said in an uncomfortable voice. He wanted to ask if she was okay, but she wouldn't tell him the truth if he did. That hurt him a little though he didn't know why. "I'll send you an owl soon. Maybe we can get together this summer. I think my dad might be getting tickets to the Quidditch World Cup Final!"

"Neat," Hermione said, sounding less than enthusiastic. She felt almost guilty. She thought is was because Ron normally would have been extatict about seeing the Quidditch Final, but he seemed to be very worried about her. She forced a smile. "I'll come as long as you don't make any comments about me studying over summer vacation."

"Deal." Ron smiled. He seemed releived."Come on, Hermione," her mother called. Her father was pushing the trolly full of her stuff. "We've got to stop at grandma's on the way home."

Hermione said her goodbyes to Ron, Mrs Weasley and Ginny, who had gotten sick of the stupid repetative jokes her twin brothers were telling. She glanced over at Percy, but could barely see him past the two men, Amos and Arthur. She felt fear welling up inside of her. As she climbed in the car she began, again, to wonder if she would see Percy this summer.

****

Percy hadn't notice until too late that Hermione was leaving. It didn't matter now anyway. He was on his way home with his owl, Hermes, in a cage on his lap. His father was talking about some problems the ministry had dealt with over the summer, nothing too extravigant. His mother kept questioning Ron about Harry. Ginny had fallen asleep with her head on his arm, but he didn't mind. He was tired too, though he wasn't sure why. He didn't want to close his eyes for fear that he might talk in his sleep. He just stared blankly out the window, daydreaming. Suddenly he had the feeling someone was watching him.

"What's your problem?" Percy asked Ron, who was staring at him. Ron turned away without answering and looked at the cage his new owl was in. There was something strange in the way Ron had been looking at him. It wasn't curiousity so much as--

Mr Weasley slammed on the brakes and everyone was jolted as the car stopped. Ginny slid off Percy's arm and hit her head against Eorl's cage.

"Ow!" Ginny sat up and rubbed her head. Mrs Weasley turned around to make sure she was alright. Percy was straining to see past his mother. Unfortunately he couldn't see what was going on.

"Traffic accident I think," Mr Weasley said. He looked at his wife with a grin. "Now would have been a good time to have a flying car, wouldn't it?"

"You'd still have to get it in the air without anyone noticing, wouldn't you?" Mrs Weasley replied. She still reminded her husband that somethings shouldn't be enchanted, especially with four boys in the house.

"This is going to take forever!" Ron grumbled. He wanted to be home. He wanted to be alone. took almost two hours before they got home. Everyone was tired by then. Mrs Weasley prepared dinner for those who wanted it. Percy declined, as did Ron and both went to their seperate rooms. Ron was happy Fred and George had gone to Lee's for the night and Percy was happy to have his own room. It was going to be a long night, for both of them.

****

Hermione went to bed without supper that night. Her mother came in a few times to check her temperature, ("She does feel a little warm, Alex") but left her alone otherwise. She knew she was probably worrying her parents, but all she'd wanted since they'd left her grandmother's was to have a good sleep. Well that wasn't completely true, but...

"Hermione, hunny?" Her father had come into her room so quietly she didn't know he was there. He sat down on the edge of her bed, she was facing away towards the wall with her eyes closed. "Are you alright? Do you need anything?"

Hermione didn't say anything. If it had been anyone else, other than her mother, Hermione would have screamed at them. She would have sat up and screamed that she would be better if everyone would just leave her alone. She suddenly thought, I'm so glad it isn't Ron.

"We're going to bed soon," her father said. He was stroking her bushy hair. "If you need us you can wake us up, okay?"

"We love you, sweety." Her mother had apparently also come in. They both kissed her cheek and then left the room, closing the door behind them. Hermione let out a soft sob before burying her face in her pillow. It was going to be a long night.

****

School had been over for a week. Neither Hermione nor Percy had slept much. They were both kept quite busy, catching up with their parents, visiting relatives, planning their summers. But unfortunately they were both hoping the other was going to send them a letter. As the days wore on they began to get worried and were unusually quiet. Hemione's parents knew something was wrong, and she was on the verge of telling them. Percy was dealing with his brothers and wondering why Ron had been so awfully quiet since they'd gotten home. He hadn't once made an unruly comment to his big brother, which was very strange indeed. Finally one night both Hermione and Percy decided the next day, if they didn't hear anything, they would send a note.

****

It was strangely quiet at The Burrow, even for morning. Ginny had gone out with her mother shopping for some new clothes ("what have they been feeding you! you've nearly grown a foot!" was the first thing Ginny heard that morning), Mr Weasley had some Ministry buisiness to attend to, and the twins had gone out to practice Quidditch (which for them meant trying to kill each other with their beater bats). So Ron and Percy were left home alone.

Percy had gotten up with his father at five that morning, he hadn't really been sleeping anyway. Since then he had reorganized his room, read over the Ministry information his father had gotten him twice and even de-gnomed the garden, for which he thought his mother would be very greatful. It was now almost one and he was eating lunch alone wondering why he hadn't heard any noise from Ron's room.

"Better not have snuck out," Percy mumbled dully. His normal authority was gone from his voice. He was thinking about the look Ron had given him the day before. "Just your imagination, Perc."

"Do they let psyco's into the Ministry?" Ron had come downstairs quietly while Percy was thinking. He seemed to be his normal self. Percy wasn't sure if that was a comfort or not. "It wouldn't look good for Crouch if you were sitting beside him at a meeting talking to yourself, would it?"

"You're in an awfully good mood," Percy said bitterly. He was trying hard to ignore the jab his little brother had given him, like his mother always told him too. But running on three hours sleep and a distracted mind has apparently decreased his tolerance level (which wasn't very high to begin with).

"Geez, what's your problem?" Ron asked as he made himself a sandwich and put it on a plate. He grabbed a handful of cookies and headed back up stairs. As he passed Percy he mumbled: "You look like you just got dumped or something."

Percy almost snapped. Luckily he was too tired to come up with a reply and had a good grip on the table to keep himself from whacking Ron. He grabbed the Daily Prophet and flipped through the pages pointlessly. He had already read everything he wanted to, but he needed to do something to calm his nerves. Why had Ron's comment gotten to him? Did he know something Percy didn't?

"Nonsense," Percy mumbled to himself. Unless Hermione had told Ron, the one person she had insisted couldn't find out, there was no way Ron could know anything. He was probably just trying to annoy him. But still, he wished he could talk to Hermione right now.

'Garden Gnome Infestations Rising' one headline read. Percy stared at the picture of the ugly little creatures playing in a beautiful garden of daisies. The caption underneath read: With so many of the little critters running around, the possibility of discovery by Muggles is heightened.

"We're home dear!" Mrs Weasley came in the door with some bags of clothes. Obviously she had been looking for her sons as well. Ginny followed with a bright face. She noticed the grim look on Percy's face.

"What's the matter?" she asked climbing into the chair next to him and rumaging through her large bag. She didn't wait for an answer (he wasn't going to give one anyway) before exclaiming: "Here they are!"

"Now Ginny," their mother said. "Wait until your father gets home."

"Aw, but mum..."

"Wait for what?" Percy asked curiously. His mother just smiled and Ginny giggled. "Ginny?"

"Don't you say a word, young lady!" Mrs Weasley said, cutting the young girl off. Then the door opened and Mr Weasley came in. "Arthur! Perfect timing."

"Ah my wonderful family!" Arthur went over and kissed his wife. Ginny wrinkled her nose in disgust. Ron came downstairs to grab more cookies and was disappointed to see his parents home. "Ron! Come sit down, son. The twins are on their way in."

Right on cue the Fred and George entered and sat down at the table. They grinned at their mother who was shaking her head. George had a black eye and Fred had a swollen lip. Apparently practice had gone well.

"Now," Arthur began. "As you all know, working at the Ministry I he..."

"Hear most things before they are released, we know Dad. What's the news." Everyone was staring at Percy. He had never interrupted someone in his life. He looked down at his hands and mumbled, "Sorry."

"Alright, I'll cut to the chase," his father said happily. Percy's strange behavior had seemingly not raised too much suspicion. "I talked to Barty Crouch today and he told me the wonderful news."

Percy's eyes raised up to his father anxiously. Had he found out so soon?

"He has found his new assistant in the Department of International Magical Cooperation." Arthur paused a moment and looked at Percy. "And I believe his name was...now wait..."

"Arthur!" Molly poked her husband in the ribs. The twins were snickering to themselves, loving the torture their father was putting Percy through. Ron was looking anxious, but not because of what his father was talking about. "Just say it!"

"Oh alright, you're no fun, Molly." Arthur cleared his throat. "He's going to hire you, Percy."

"Really?" Percy was suddenly overjoyed. In his misery over being so far from Hermione he had started to think he may not get the job after all. "Well...I...When do I start?"

"You'll come in with me on Monday," Arthur said with a laugh. He looked at his other boys. "Alright Ron, you can go back to what ever you were doing. Fred and George, you can go back to beating each other senseless." Molly glared at him. "Alright not senseless, just a little bloody."

"Shall I fetch you some tea, Mr Crotch," Fred mocked as he got up from the table. George followed in suit.

"Or shall I just kiss your--"

"George!!" That was more than their mother could stand. "I don't want to hear another word from you two! Not one!"

The twins ran out the door, George muttering, "I was going to say feet," with an evil grin. Ron got iThe Look/i from his mother as he got up from the table. He turned to Percy and with fake enthusiasm said, "Congradulation Percy," and shook his hand. He looked at his mother again to see if that would suffice. Apparently he had gone a little overboard, but she was going to let him leave.

"Here Percy, Congradulations!" Ginny put a ring of keys in front of him. She noticed Percy looking curiously at the keys and realised she needed to tell him what they were for. She flushed, embarassed and then explained. "It's for your new chest - well, new to you anyway. Come see!"

Ginny led him up to his room. Under his window was a chest. It was brown and rather ratty looking. There were seven keyholes on the front. He looked at Ginny with wide eyes. She was smiling proudly.

"It's yours!" she said, in answer to the question he hadn't yet asked. "Bought it from Mr Moody 'cause he just got a new bigger one. And he said 'cause I was so cute."

"That you are Ginny!" Percy smiled down at his blushing sister. "Thankyou!!"

"I thought it would come in handy to keep your Ministry work in," she said. Then she quietly and almost deviously added, "Or other important papers and stuff."

Percy eyed her suspiciously then went over to the chest. He looked at the key ring and noticed there were only six keys. Ginny explained that Mr Moody hadn't been able to find the other ring. He had apparently lost it or hidden it. No loss. There was still plenty of space.

Percy was very grateful for the gift and the news his father had brought him. It took his mind off of things he didn't want to be thinking about. He began going through the compartments, placing his Ministry information in one. He spent the rest of the day admiring the trunk and the evening talking with his father. Then he wrote letters to all of his friends, telling them the good news. He struggled with Hermione's, staying up much later than he had intended trying to get the words right. Eventually, after tossing out five other attempts, he had it right.

He dreamed that night of his new position in the Ministry. He was well- respected and praised by his coworkers and other inportant witchs and wizards. He woke up feeling refreshed and sent Hermes out with the letters. Then he got ready and went with his father to lunch with all the most important people in the Ministry. Today was going to be a good day!

****

Two evenings after Percy sent Hermes out with the letters Hermione was reading her book when something tapped on her window. She looked up and saw Hermes looking in at her. She dropped Crookshanks outside her door and closed it before running over and letting him in. She took the letter and Hermes squaked. Hermione put her a bowl of grapes in front of him. He had apparently traveled a long way. There was a return letter from Bill Weasley, probably from this morning. The owl was on its way home. He grabbed a few grapes and watching the door closely. She sat down at her desk, Hermes grabbed another grape.

Though she didn't realise it, Hermione was holding her breath. She was excited and afraid and curious. She wanted to run out and get her mother for support before opening the letter, but she decided against it. Her parents had friends over every Saturday evening to play cribbage and she didn't want to disturb them. And Hermes was waiting for a reply. Slowly, with trembling hands, she opened the letter. She read:

Hello Hermione! I've been trying for hours to write this letter and could not find a way to start it. My father gave me some good news today. I've
got the job as Mr Crouch's assistant in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. I'm starting Monday. I'm very anxious and a little
worried. But I'm also very relieved.

How have you been doing? I wasn't sure if you would write or if you were
waiting for me to write. You were probably thinking the same thing. That's one of the things I like about you, you think so much like me. I've
been thinking about you a lot since I've gotten home. I'm so sorry I
didn't say goodbye at the station! I hope you can forgive me! I don't have much more news and I need to get atleast a few hours sleep (i'm going with Dad to meet the Ministry people tomorrow). I'll write you again soon!

I Miss You!!
Percy

Hermione smiled at the letter. Her nerves had calmed as she read it and, though she had tears in her eyes, she was relieved and happy. Her biggest fear was that there would be no mention of 'them'. She folded the letter up and put it in a little lockbox on her desk. She pulled out a piece of
paper and began a short reply letter.

Dear Percy, Congradulations!! That is wonderful news! Especially so soon. You must have a good resume. I've heard Mr Crouch is a very picky person
(don't worry, I don't mean that as an insult)

I'm sorry this is so short, but I need to make an appearance downstairs or everyone will get suspicious. And you don't need to worry, there's nothing
too forgive! It was probably best anyway. If you had come over at the station I might have burst into tears. I wasn't feeling well, apparently
the flu. But I'm better now, thankyou. (I know you'd ask)

I Miss You Too!!
Hermione

She tied the letter to Hermes leg and opened her window. The owl squaked, happy to finally be on its way. She watched for a moment and then went downstairs. She sat beside her mother much happier than she had been since she'd got home from school. That night she fell asleep quickly and without a single tear.