Imperfect
Percy Weasley sighed heavily, breaking the silence in the small cramped office. He needed a rest. He needed a vacation; or a least a day off. In the past two weeks his workload had doubled - No tripled - leaving a poor Percy tired and stressed. Percy was devoted to his work and although he let nothing come between him and his growing career, he had a fiancée. Her name was Penelope Clearwater. She didn't mind that he was committed to his work, just as long he made time for her, something he hadn't been able to do in weeks.
Percy had met Penelope in his fifth year when he had been chosen to be a Gryffindor Prefect. And with her being a Ravenclaw Prefect, they ended up talking [and flirting] during their Prefect duties and eventually began to date. They had been engaged for two months now, but in that time they hadn't been able to plan the wedding.
That's because Penelope too was devoted to her work. She happened to work in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts with Arthur Weasley, Percy's father. Something Fred and George found quite funny. Percy, however, didn't get what was so funny and never in his life sunk to their odd humor and immaturity.
Percy looked at his watch and decided to call it a day. It was past nine and Penelope was probably at home. She never had to work late.
Percy and Penelope had bought a small house just minutes from Hogsmeade. It was white with a gray roof, unlike the Burrow, it wasn't very big and didn't need to be supported by magic.
When Percy approached the house, he did find that his fiancee was home. She was sitting cross-legged on a chair in the living room, a copy of the Daily Prophet in front of her.
"What are you reading?" Percy asked, removing his jacket and hanging it on the coat rack.
"Your new article." Penelope smiled.
"Which one?" Percy asked, he had written so many lately, he couldn't even remember what was new and what wasn't.
"The one about house elves. It's amazing. How long did it take to do all this research."
"Do you remember Hermione Granger?" Percy saw the blank look on Penelope's face he continued. "She was in Gryffindor, she spends a lot of time with Ron." Penelope nodded. "Well in her fourth year she started an organization, an organization standing for the rights of house elves. We wrote a few letters back and forth on the subject, she send me a bunch of notes she took when she was doing her research and she answered some questions for me."
Penelope nodded. "Exactly how long have you and Hermione been sending letters?"
Percy looked at her skeptically. "You have no reason to be suspicious of anything."
"Of course I do, I hardly know her. For all I know, you could've been with her just before you came home. You normally work till six. "
"I've been working late you know that. Besides, how do I know you haven't been sneaking around with anyone.?" Percy knew she wasn't but she was accusing him of something she wasn't guilty of.
"Percy. The only people I see for more than five minutes are you and your father, and unless you think I'm snogging him behind your back."
"Penelope, might I remind you that you also work until six and up until now I've had no idea about your whereabouts either." Where was this coming from, he thought, I don't even have a reason to be angry at her.
After a few harsh words were exchanged, Penelope left. She didn't take anything with her, she didn't need to, she always came back. Percy guessed that she went to her sister's place because that was where she went last time they had a row.
Before Percy fell into an uneasy sleep wouldn't, if possible, be any worse than today.
~*~
The next morning Penelope still hadn't come home. Percy hoped that Penelope had borrowed some clothes from her sister to go to work in , because if she went to work in yesterday's clothing, his whole family would know about the row by noon. And that was the last thing he needed.
When he was at work, his boss came into his office. His boss was a thing woman in her mid-forties by the name of Ivy O'Flarity, she had curly raven hair trimmed just below the chin, and black framed glasses that didn't go good with her face shape. He often heard co-workers talking, thinking that, despite the popularity of her articles, the only reason Rita had a job at because of the possibility that she could be related to O'Flarity . There was a similarity between the them but Percy never really thought that the theory might be true.
"I was really impressed with your last few articles Percy."
"Thank you." He replied and put down his quill.
"Just minutes ago I heard that the keeper of Puddlemere United got injured, a broken leg. And Rita's not here. "
"And.?" Percy asked, wondering why she would tell him.
"I need someone to write the articles, Percy! I need one about the safety of today's brooms. I need an interview with the keeper. I need the thoughts if the teammates and we need to know about his replacement." Ivy counted these things on her fingers. "A small bit of traveling is required. Are you interested?"
Percy nodded. "Sure."
"Great, just great." Ivy smiled. She looked around the office. "We'll need to get you a bigger office too, but we can talk about that later.
After she left, Percy tried to finish his current articles as quickly as possible. He couldn't wait to get home and tell Penelope
Percy Weasley sighed heavily, breaking the silence in the small cramped office. He needed a rest. He needed a vacation; or a least a day off. In the past two weeks his workload had doubled - No tripled - leaving a poor Percy tired and stressed. Percy was devoted to his work and although he let nothing come between him and his growing career, he had a fiancée. Her name was Penelope Clearwater. She didn't mind that he was committed to his work, just as long he made time for her, something he hadn't been able to do in weeks.
Percy had met Penelope in his fifth year when he had been chosen to be a Gryffindor Prefect. And with her being a Ravenclaw Prefect, they ended up talking [and flirting] during their Prefect duties and eventually began to date. They had been engaged for two months now, but in that time they hadn't been able to plan the wedding.
That's because Penelope too was devoted to her work. She happened to work in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts with Arthur Weasley, Percy's father. Something Fred and George found quite funny. Percy, however, didn't get what was so funny and never in his life sunk to their odd humor and immaturity.
Percy looked at his watch and decided to call it a day. It was past nine and Penelope was probably at home. She never had to work late.
Percy and Penelope had bought a small house just minutes from Hogsmeade. It was white with a gray roof, unlike the Burrow, it wasn't very big and didn't need to be supported by magic.
When Percy approached the house, he did find that his fiancee was home. She was sitting cross-legged on a chair in the living room, a copy of the Daily Prophet in front of her.
"What are you reading?" Percy asked, removing his jacket and hanging it on the coat rack.
"Your new article." Penelope smiled.
"Which one?" Percy asked, he had written so many lately, he couldn't even remember what was new and what wasn't.
"The one about house elves. It's amazing. How long did it take to do all this research."
"Do you remember Hermione Granger?" Percy saw the blank look on Penelope's face he continued. "She was in Gryffindor, she spends a lot of time with Ron." Penelope nodded. "Well in her fourth year she started an organization, an organization standing for the rights of house elves. We wrote a few letters back and forth on the subject, she send me a bunch of notes she took when she was doing her research and she answered some questions for me."
Penelope nodded. "Exactly how long have you and Hermione been sending letters?"
Percy looked at her skeptically. "You have no reason to be suspicious of anything."
"Of course I do, I hardly know her. For all I know, you could've been with her just before you came home. You normally work till six. "
"I've been working late you know that. Besides, how do I know you haven't been sneaking around with anyone.?" Percy knew she wasn't but she was accusing him of something she wasn't guilty of.
"Percy. The only people I see for more than five minutes are you and your father, and unless you think I'm snogging him behind your back."
"Penelope, might I remind you that you also work until six and up until now I've had no idea about your whereabouts either." Where was this coming from, he thought, I don't even have a reason to be angry at her.
After a few harsh words were exchanged, Penelope left. She didn't take anything with her, she didn't need to, she always came back. Percy guessed that she went to her sister's place because that was where she went last time they had a row.
Before Percy fell into an uneasy sleep wouldn't, if possible, be any worse than today.
~*~
The next morning Penelope still hadn't come home. Percy hoped that Penelope had borrowed some clothes from her sister to go to work in , because if she went to work in yesterday's clothing, his whole family would know about the row by noon. And that was the last thing he needed.
When he was at work, his boss came into his office. His boss was a thing woman in her mid-forties by the name of Ivy O'Flarity, she had curly raven hair trimmed just below the chin, and black framed glasses that didn't go good with her face shape. He often heard co-workers talking, thinking that, despite the popularity of her articles, the only reason Rita had a job at because of the possibility that she could be related to O'Flarity . There was a similarity between the them but Percy never really thought that the theory might be true.
"I was really impressed with your last few articles Percy."
"Thank you." He replied and put down his quill.
"Just minutes ago I heard that the keeper of Puddlemere United got injured, a broken leg. And Rita's not here. "
"And.?" Percy asked, wondering why she would tell him.
"I need someone to write the articles, Percy! I need one about the safety of today's brooms. I need an interview with the keeper. I need the thoughts if the teammates and we need to know about his replacement." Ivy counted these things on her fingers. "A small bit of traveling is required. Are you interested?"
Percy nodded. "Sure."
"Great, just great." Ivy smiled. She looked around the office. "We'll need to get you a bigger office too, but we can talk about that later.
After she left, Percy tried to finish his current articles as quickly as possible. He couldn't wait to get home and tell Penelope