A.N: Yeah, I know I haven't updated for ages. But I just haven't been able to write anything. So anyway here's a new chapter, and hopefully I'll finish the next one faster than this one.

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CHAPTER 5

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September the first dawned bright and early at the Burrow, with Mrs. Weasley bustling about yelling at everyone to get up. It was barely dawn Percy noted and he could hear Fred and George upstairs complaining about being woken up so early when they didn't start work for another four hours.

Percy crawled out of bed, rubbing his eyes and yawning as he forced himself to wake up. The familiar aroma of bacon and eggs wafted up the stairs and as he approached the kitchen he was sure he could smell pancakes too.

Mrs. Weasley was standing at the stove humming to herself as bacon sizzled in the pan in front of her and eggs flipped themselves onto plates. A pile of pancakes had just flown across the room to land smoothly in the centre of the table where Hermione, Ginny and Harry already sat.

"Oh, morning dear. Nice to see you up early. Sit down and have some pancakes, before these three finish them all." Molly Weasley said to her third oldest son as she noticed his presence in the kitchen.

"Morning mum" he took a seat as far from Hermione as possible, and piled several pancakes onto his plate, and summoned a jug of maple syrup from across the room, before pouring some onto his pancakes, taking up his knife and fork and cutting into the large stack.

"Ron, hurry up dear, you don't want to miss breakfast. Fred, George, you better hurry or you'll be late for work"

Several minutes later Percy heard footsteps on the stairs before Ron came rushing through the door and plopped unceremoniously on a chair pulling a large stack of pancakes towards him and trying to shove them all into his mouth at once.

"Ronald dear, have you finished packing, there isn't much time before we have to leave you know"

"Just got to throw a couple of things in my trunk" he said after gulping down a large amount of pumpkin juice.

Just as Percy was finishing his stack of pancakes the bacon and eggs soared onto the table. He helped himself to an egg and a couple of pieces of bacon, before Ron snatched up several eggs and a large pile of bacon rashers. Percy regarded his younger brother for a few moments, but watching Ron Weasley eat was not a pleasant sight at all, so he instead turned back to his own plate.

"Harry dear, have you finished your packing?" Harry nodded his mouth full of bacon, "What about you Hermione? And Ginny dear?" both girls nodded and Mrs. Weasley seemed to settle. They did not have to leave as early as they had previously since they would be apparating to Kings Cross now that all of the Weasley's plus Harry and Hermione had acquired their apparating licenses.

Half an hour later laden down with trunks, owls, cat, and a they were ready to leave. They were all surprised though when Percy came downstairs a trunk floating in front of him and Hermes in a cage in his hand.

"Ah, Percy, I know this might come as a bit of a shock to you" Ron began a little tentatively "but have you lost you mind? You haven't been at Hogwarts for oh I don't know three years. What are you doing?"

Percy continued down the stairs "Oh yes, I suppose it would be alright to tell you now. Wasn't allowed before. Dumbledore's orders. I'm going to be teaching."

"At Hogwarts?" Ron asked looking stunned and a little repulsed.

"Yes, at Hogwarts"

"Oh, congratulations Percy" Hermione said flinging herself at him, as Ginny did the same. Harry also offered his congratulations. Ron on the other hand was muttering under his breath, not looking happy at all.

"What will you be teaching?" Hermione asked Percy happily, ignoring Ron's continued muttering.

"Arithmancy actually. Professor Vector has still not recovered from the death of his wife, and has decided to take a year off."

"So it's not a permanent position?" asked Ginny.

Mrs. Weasley decided at that point that is was time to make herself known. "We must hurry, or we'll be late. Off we go, out into the yard.

About five minutes later the entire group found themselves grouped on platform 9 ¾ facing a handsome scarlet train, and surrounded by their fellow Hogwarts students. Ron was still muttering to himself "Why me? A whole year with that pompous git of a brother Percy." It hadn't seemed to occur to him yet that he did not and indeed never had taken arithmancy so it was likely that his dealings with his older brother would be very limited.

They bade farewell to Mrs. Weasley and made their way to board the train. Percy accompanied Hermione to the front of the train where Professor McGonagall wanted to meet with him about something important and Hermione would enter the Prefect's carriage. As they headed in the opposite direction they could still hear Ron muttering to Harry and Ginny, they were sure they heard Ginny remind him that he didn't take arithmancy and Percy was quite sure that he heard Ron's sigh of relief.

The silence between Hermione and Percy as they made their way to the Prefect's carriage at the front of the train, trunks floating gin front of them was comfortable, if not pleasant.

"So Percy, what sorts of things have you got planned for the year?" Hermione asked him, quite interested.

"Well, from what I've heard last you've already studied the numerology of people and last year you studied objects. I thought this year I'd do a more comprehensive study or both…"

Percy was unable to finish as Professor Minerva McGonagall poked her head out of the train "There you are Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger. Hurry aboard" the two broke their conversation off and followed the deputy head onto the train. As soon as they were on board the Professor directed her attention to Hermione, "Miss Granger, if you could stay here and welcome the other prefects, for a few minutes while I talk to Mr. Weasley outside." Hermione nodded and Professor's McGonagall and Weasley (as Hermione remembered she must call him now) left the compartment, Hermione introduced herself to the new prefects, several of which she had met before.

Professor McGonagall returned several minutes later, Percy standing by her side. All the prefects were milling around discussing holidays, Quidditch, and homework their volume increasing constantly. Hannah Abbott was talking to Ernie Macmillan about an article they'd both read in the daily prophet and Hermione was trying unsuccessfully to gain the attention of the large group.

However as soon as Professor McGonagall entered the large compartment every single person fell quiet. Their eyes fixed on the two professors. "Welcome" Professor McGonagall said "to a new year. You have all been chosen as prefects for your house because you are all hard working students who the professors have decided will honour your houses and lead your houses with enthusiasm and who will also set an example for other students to follow. Before I continue I'd like to introduce the Head Boy and Girl for the coming year." She pointed to Hermione first and then to Ernie Macmillan. "I have one other thing I would like to say before Hermione fills you in on your duties. I t is with regret that I must say this. This coming year I will not be able to look over the prefects business as I have in the past, as this war has got me quite busy enough. But I am pleased to say a former Head Boy Percy Weasley will be returning this year teaching arithmancy and has kindly agreed to oversee any business you wish to discuss regarding your duties."

Percy did not smile as Professor McGonagall mentioned him, nor did he show any sign at all that he had heard what she had said. He simply continued to gaze at the students assembled before him. Hermione began talking listing off the things that the prefects would have to oversee during the year and also outlining several new ideas she had devised over the summer. Percy smiled at that, a small smile, she really was brilliant.

Hermione continued to detail her ideas for over ten minutes before saying she would go in to more detail at the first of their meetings and gave a date, only three days later, September 4. She looked to Percy and he nodded, the time would be fine for him. The group groaned at the thought of meetings and collectively groaned again when they realised how soon the first meeting would be.

The group was dismissed. Hermione and Ernie however were asked to stay behind. Professor McGonagall talked to them for a long time about their particular responsibilities, and both listened attentively. Percy stood next to her, but didn't say anything. Occasionally Hermione was sure she caught Percy looking at her and he was similarly sure he caught her looking at him.

When Professor McGonagall dismissed them, she and Percy retreated to a smaller compartment and began talking about work. Hermione and Ernie walked down the train together for a while, slipping into a comfortable silence, until Ernie entered a compartment where he saw a group of his friends from Hufflepufff sitting.

Hermione however continued down the train in search of Harry and Ron. She found herself yelling at a first year who she caught trying to turn a girl's hair yellow. Eventually she found Harry and Ron sitting in a compartment with Neville, Ginny and Luna. She took a seat next to Ginny and retreated into her thoughts.

She didn't quite know how to feel, she would be working closely with Percy all year. After the summer she wasn't quite sure what was going on with them. Then there was the fact that he would be her teacher. It all seemed so confusing. One thing she was sure of though was that the year wouldn't be without event.

She didn't see Percy for the rest of the train journey, but found her thoughts constantly turning to him. What was going to happen? She felt a little apprehensive, a little excited, and a little scared. The unknown didn't generally scare her and she wasn't one to believe in true love or anything. But then why did she feel her heart beat faster every time she saw Percy?

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A.N: So, now you all gotta review, if you review me, I'll review you. Promise. And yes, I know I didn't make Ron a prefect. I started writing this before the 5th book even came out, besides it works better if he's not.