AN: Thanks to Miss Piratess for you ever appreciated reviews

Chapter Four

Percy rolled over in his bed, groaning. It was a Sunday. The only day he didn't have to work and Pansy wanted to take him shopping. In his opinion, that was work. Work and a couple of chores he'd rather not be doing. He looked up at his robe hanging on the dirty, wooden door. What was wrong with his clothes anyway?

He wanted another five minutes in bed followed by another ten minutes, followed quickly by another half an hour. Unfortunately, he decided, it would be bad idea to turn up late. Pansy could be awfully sour when she wanted to be.

As he looked into the mirror, pulling a comb through his mattered hair, he decided it would be mainly shopping for Pansy anyway, and he'd have to keep telling her she looked fine. He supposed he owed it to her for putting up with him. He wasn't sure why she was bothering.

On the other hand, she could be irritable, and maybe he would be better off without her company in the long run. Who knew what she could be doing behind his back? She could be a spy… that thought hadn't crossed his mind yet.

Maybe the Dark Lord wanted Percy to be all 'happy' with his family again, so that he could get all the details of Harry Potter and like. Percy chuckled. He wouldn't get much from Percy, that he was fairly certain of.

- -

Percy glanced at his watch. He could have had another ten minutes in bed. "You're late," he muttered, as Pansy walked over to him. She raised her eyebrows.

"Oh, come on, it was worth the wait." She shot him a flawless smile. Although two of her teeth were very pointy, and her bottom lip seemed slightly chapped.

"Modest as always," Percy replied sarcastically.

"Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," she said, nodding. Percy shook his head.

"You're unusually chirpy for this early in the morning," he replied, ignoring her comment.

"It's shopping Weasley. Of course I'm chirpy." He frowned at the sudden usage of his last name. "Come on Percy! Time to find you some new robes."

- -

They sat outside of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour eating ice cream, bags resting on the third chair. "It's a shame that green robe didn't fit you're unusually long arms," Pansy muttered. "I'm sure I could have made it longer with a spell…"

"No. Thank you Pansy," Percy interjected quickly. She pouted.

"I couldn't tempt you to a chocolate and cream ice cream with chocolate flakes could I? Non-fattening of course," Pansy asked. "I want another ice cream but I wouldn't be able to eat a whole one." Percy shook his head.

"I couldn't eat anything that sweet Pansy, it would hurt my teeth."

"Pity… Well, I suppose we have all the clothes we need." Percy nodded. "Do you like your new stuff? I mean… we could take it back… I suppose it was my taste more than yours… and I understand that you didn't want to buy the blue one, as you didn't want to look like Draco, but it looked good and…" Percy held up his hands.

"Pansy, it's fine. Problem is… I can't pay for it all… The Ministry pays well… but that place on top of the pub is expensive and then there's food and all the money spent of drink… I have no idea where it all goes."

"It's okay. Don't worry about it," she told him.

"What's your job then?" he asked suddenly, curious as to where she got all of her money from.

"Wow! That owl is so cute!" She stood up from her seat suddenly and walked over to the pet shop to look at a small owl.

- -

"You were being oddly talkative today," Percy said, opening his paper. Pansy looked up from her drink.

"Sorry?"

"You were talking a lot. Worried that I wouldn't like the clothes, rambling on about the chocolate ice cream. Things like that."

"Sorry. I've just been somewhere else all day. I keep forgetting what I'm talking about." She took a sip from her Fire Whiskey.

"Want to talk about it?" he asked. She shook her head.

"Nothing to say." He nodded, knowing that she wanted to end the conversation, and he decided not to push the matter.

"I wasn't bad company was I?" she asked. He shook his head.

"Of course not." She nodded.

"Good. What time does your work start tomorrow?" she asked.

"Seven." She nodded again.

"Pansy… are you alright?" She looked at him.

"Course. I'm just tired." He frowned, but again, said nothing. "Percy… I have a past, and… I don't want you getting caught up in it."

"What are you saying?"

"Nothing… I've been a real pain…"

"No Pansy. You really haven't. Whatever gave you that idea?" She shrugged, looking back down at her drink.

"You maybe… you're just so witty and I feel really stupid and pathetic."

"Me? Witty?" He snorted. She smiled.

"Okay, well maybe not." He back smiled at her. "You won't get tired of me being around? Because, I have no one. I don't have any real friends anymore," she looked up, nervously.

"Then we'll have no one, together." She nodded.

"My father brought shame upon my family, you understand. When he was caught by the Ministry." So, Percy was sitting with a Death Eater's daughter. And now he came to think of it, he was on the jury for when Mr. Parkinson was sentenced. Interesting.

"Don't worry about it," he told her.

"Thank you." He looked up at the clock on the wall behind her.

"I better go. I need an early night. Work tomorrow." She nodded. "Night Pansy."

"Night Percy." He went to stand up, but she grabbed his hand suddenly, causing him to look up at her suddenly. "Maybe you should talk to your dad… because I miss mine so much. Everyone deserves a second chance, and I believe that you do more than anyone."

"I believe you are being nice Miss. Parkinson." She smiled and laughed slightly.

"Aren't I always?"

"When you aren't shopping. You can be brutally honest." She giggled softly.

"And you're just as bad. Night." He nodded.

"Goodnight Pansy." She released his hand, and watched him leave through the heavy, oak door.