Title: Defense Mechanism
Author: Jmaria
Rating:
PG-13
Disclaimer: J.K. is the Boss. She owns
'em
Characters/Pairing: Millicent Bulstrode/Percy
Weasley, Cook(OC), Penelope Clearwater
Words: 1123
Summary:
Is it that hard for you to be honest?
Author's Notes: Just
a little add-on piece between Cook, Millie, and Percy.
Defense Mechanism
Percy stormed down the stairs and out the door faster than he'd ever gone before. The village was quiet, mainly because the rain had driven most of the villagers indoors. He heard the door to the pub open behind him. He spun around, hoping it was Millicent. He found himself facing the grim looking cook instead. Her arms were folded across her chest as her umbrella hovered over her as she stomped through the muddy puddles.
"You lot never learn," Cook frowned heavily as she gave him the once over, her head shaking. "She was testin' herself and you, and what do you do? You let her win. Maybe you ain't the one for her then, is what she'll be sayin'."
"Excuse me?"
"No, you're damn right. There's no excuse for bein' spineless, boyo."
"Millicent asked me to leave -"
"No, she ordered you. She was countin' on fallin', just not on you making the first move, I'll hazard a guess," Cook sighed, giving him a gentler look. "You've had predictable, and our Millicent's not that, you know? Doesn't know how to be."
Percy chuckled ruefully, his eyes glancing up at where he'd spoken to Millicent, trying to figure it out, remembering her with his mother and brother. His palms twitched, remembering the feel of her lips and teeth on the skin, and later on his own lips. His throat constricted a bit at the memory of her last words to him. Cook coughed a bit, getting his attention.
"She's trained herself not to be predictable. Maybe it's time you've taught yourself that as well, eh?" Cook turned then, her umbrella moving to hover over him. He frowned, but let the umbrella follow him home.
Millicent let herself cry for a few - a very few - moments. She didn't know why she was pushing him away, save the fact that he scared her. He was supposed to be predictable, and here he was changing things.
Cook was a bit damp when she made her way back downstairs, but when she asked the older woman, all she said was that had to get something from outside. Millicent didn't push it, just like Cook didn't push about what had happened with Percy.
The next three weeks dragged by, and not once did Percy come in for his three square meals a day. He'd gotten her message, and why wasn't she happy that he was staying away? She'd heard rumors around the village that he was working again, popping in and out of the village for work and his brother's pre-wedding festivities.
Cook started sending out Alice, the cleaning witch for the inn out on deliveries around the village and even up to the castle, for the teachers who were staying over holidays. It was raining again when Cook handed her the sack of food during the lunch rush. Millicent blinked at it, before looking up.
"What's this?" Millicent asked.
"Alice can't make the run today, and this needs to go to the Sentry Tower," Cook replied, her eyes glancing back to the food she was cooking.
"The Sentry Tower? Who's living there?'
"A very hungry customer. Now scoot before the heating charms wear off."
"Fine!" Millicent huffed, taking the sack in her hands.
The Sentry Tower had been erected after the last war against Voldemort, a warehouse for provisions and antidotes. Millicent couldn't remember who was living there now, but whomever they were, they had certainly added on to the simple spiral tower. There were three curving add-ons, looking much like barnacles that had attached themselves to the tower.
The heavy door was unlocked as she pushed it open. There wasn't anyone in the main room. She called out, but there was no answer. Millicent could hear noises coming from the upper levels, and called up again. Still there wasn't an answer, so she made her way up the stairs.
It was on the fourth level that she heard the voices again. Trying to catch her breath, she knocked loudly on the door before pushing it open. A pale brunette woman with dark glasses blinked at her, before stepping back to speak to the other figure in the room.
"Were you expecting someone, Percy?" The woman called.
"Yes - " Percy froze at the doorway, his eyes resting on Millicent. "Millicent?"
"Alice couldn't make the deliveries today, Cook said it's on your tab," Millicent looked away from him, her eyes resting on the over-pleased smile on the other woman's face.
"Millicent Bulstrode? You probably don't even remember me, and if Percy hadn't told me of you, I probably wouldn't have either."
Millicent just smiled tightly, waiting for Percy to take the sack so she could go. She hadn't been a beauty in school - not that she was anything to brag about now. She just didn't like to be reminded of it.
"I'm sure I wouldn't," Millicent said tightly.
"Penelope Clearwater, I was a Ravenclaw - same year as Percy."
"Head girl, I remember," and Percy's girlfriend, Millicent thought angrily. "I really have to be getting back."
"It was good seeing you, Millicent," Penelope said, smiling again, taking the bag when Percy remained still, his eyes locked on Millicent.
"Yeah."
She bolted from the Tower, angry that Cook had set her up. Angry that Percy could have moved on so quickly - gone back to Penelope so easily. She didn't even hear Percy calling out to her.
It was still raining when Millicent left the pub that night, opting to head home rather than spend the night in the pub like she normally did. She held her jacket high over her head, trying to block out the rain. Her home was at the edge of the village, a dark little home that was barely lived in. As she approached it, she noticed a blue hovering umbrella on her porch. A figure sat huddled under it, shivering a bit in the cold.
"What are you doing out here? Have you gone totally mental?" Millicent shouted.
"W-w-waiting for you to come home," Percy chattered. "Fewer p-places to hide than at the p-p-pub."
"Won't Penelope be missing you?" she hissed, angrier than either of them thought she was.
"Penny? She's gone home to her husband and children. We're old friends," Percy rose to his feet. "She was bringing me my dress robes for George's wedding."
"Oh. I have to go in," Millicent said quietly, trying to walk past him.
"We need to talk, Millicent. Please," his hand rested lightly on her shoulder. She stared at him for a moment, feeling the heat of his hand through her shirt.
"Come in before you catch your death out here."
