AN:
Dolphinz thanks for spellchecking! wow long chapter ahead! 3600+ words. what can i say i was inspired :)
this part will deal with Percy's and Cal's night. Part 2 is for Oliver and Hermione. ;)
Thank you to: Aria Deloncray, unbeatiful and dolphonz for reviewing!
I am sorry that the later chapters has been an pain in the neck to read. cuz has been screwy since saturday.
Chapter 14 Part 1: Dinner at the burrow.
At the Granger house, Sunday afternoon was a hectic time. Not only did Hermione have a date that night but her housemate Callista did so as well. The two women were in the guest washroom, which coincidentally was the biggest washroom in the top landing as it was connected to two guestrooms. Hermione had just taken a shower and had a towel wrapped around her as she tried to dry her hair without making it frizzy. Callista was standing in front of the sink and the huge mirror trying to fix her self.
"Bah!" said Hermione in annoyance at her hair.
"Why can't you not FRIZZ!" Callista snickered but soon found that snickering while she was trying to put on eyeliner were two things that should never be paired.
"OW fucking hell" she exclaimed which earned a "that's what you get" from Hermione. Callista looked at Hermione who waved her right hand around as her hair had un frizzed. Hermione smirked at Callista and waved her hand again and said "look at your self now". Callista looked in the mirror and found that her make up was just how she wanted it to be. Simple but elegant, with just a fine eyeliner and mild eye shadow that accented her facial features. Callista thanked Hermione as Hermione left the washroom.
4:00 pm
"GAH! Hermione how do I look?"
Hermione walked into Callista room to find it ransacked. She saw Callista standing by the closet mirror checking herself out. Callista was wearing a black knee length a line skirt accompanied by a baby blue tank top.
"Don't tell me that's all you are wearing? I know Percy would just jump you but Molly wouldn't be too impressed" Hermione joked around. Callista looked at Hermione oddly and said "I'm wearing this over" as she showed Hermione an opaque black top made out of silk. "Err its going to be slightly cold tonight," Hermione said as she sat down on Call's bed.
Callista clucked in annoyance and dug for a top that was robin egg blue, square neck that showed off as much skin but this time it was long sleeved. Hermione then handed the silk black top to Callista. As she put it on Hermione then said "Are you planning to wear shoes at all?" which earned her a random shirt on the face.
"Yes" her housemate said as she bent down to dig for shoes. After a few seconds Callista emerged from the bottom of the closet with a pair of 2.5 inched rounded toe blue shoes that matched her blue top. "how does it look?" Cal asked. Hermione scrunched up her face as she circled her friend. "you look like the normal you"
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Oh no, you look very nice…"
"Goodie oh bullocks I have to meet Percy at 4:30, Err bag?" Hermione dug around to find a blue hand bag and handed it to her housemate. They headed down to the apparition point and said their good lucks to each other. "Don't wait up for me Callista"
Callista as she fixed final touches on her hair that was braided to the right side said "Like wise dear, have fun with Oliver and be safe!" and with that Callista was out.
Hermione looked at herself through the glass panes and smiled at her sight. She still was wearing a bathrobe.
-
Dinner at the Weasleys:
After a short coffee time in the same London coffee shop they had met, Percy and Cal apparated to the burrow. They apparated to a point near the drive way. As they walked slowly hand in hand down the stone path they heard the people in the house already.
Callista noted that she should've worn something less, well, preppy as she felt that she was slightly over dressed for just a dinner since Percy was in dark jeans and a thin olive green jumper that slightly revealed the white shirt he had underneath. She looked at herself and said "Maybe I'm over dressed or at least dressed not right" while she looked at her shoes. Percy looked at her and shook his head in disagreement. "You look fine" he assured her and they found themselves at the front door. Callista breathed out in sigh as Percy opened the door to let them in.
Percy then squeezed her hand and she looked up at him. "You can still back out" he said as he wore a worried expression. Callista shook her head in assurance and gave him a peck on the lips. He smiled warmly at her and led her to the living room where he found his mother cajoling the twins to set up the table out in the back yard. The whole family, minus some, was lounging about in the living room talking about random things.
Arthur noticed Percy's presence, and the lady with him, said loudly "Percy there you are I was wondering where you went off to an hour ago" Arthur stood up and went up to the couple and offered a hand to Callista "and you must be Callista, I heard a lot from Molly and George. Percy here seems to not want to say anything. I was wondering at what he was hiding!" Callista nodded and smiled at Arthur as she took his hand and shook it.
"Nice to meet you sir, I doubt Percy was hiding anything special". Percy then squeezed her hand and said "Nah, you're special to me". Callista was awestruck at what he said. He then looked around the living to find that the guys that were in it stopped talking about what they were talking about to look at him and his date while. Arthur then said "well he was hiding a pretty lady wasn't he, come on in," as he gestured to the couple.
Percy noticed that Callista now held onto his hand more tightly than she did out in foyer. He looked down at her and she was slightly uncomfortable, he noted, as she bit her lip. She looked up at him worriedly. Percy smiled and this somehow gave her comfort.
It was when Ginny walked into the room from the kitchen and said "Why is it so quiet?" and she looked at where everyone was basically looking at and saw Percy with a woman. She was a thin woman who stood at least 5'8 with long dark hair that was in a loose side braid, she later noted that Cal was wearing heels.
Percy smiled at Ginny's direction when the woman beside him looked at her direction. Ginny found that the woman had a pretty face and was slightly blushing as woman held onto her brother's hand like it was her life line.
"Hello, I'm Ginny, Percy's only sister and you must be Callista" said Ginny as she made her way to Callista and gave her a welcome hug. "My Percy you didn't tell me that she was really pretty" exclaimed Ginny as she looked at Cal's face. Ginny then turned to the crowd of guys in the room and clucked her tongue like her mother does. She frowned at her own husband who was gawking at the couple.
"Anyways, let me introduce you to my brothers," said Percy as he tugged Callista's hand.
"Over by the window with the earring is Bill, and with him are his youngest Alec and his wife Fleur. Over by the coffee table playing chess is George, you know him from the day before, and my brother-in-law Harry with his daughter Gillian. On the sofa playing cards are Charlie and Fred with their kids Paul and baby Matt. By George, you know Jackie, and the lovely lady beside you is my only sister Ginny. The rest of my nephews are all over the place"
Callista somehow said "nice to meet you". Percy then smiled at Callista who was still slightly shy but her grip on his hand was less. They all waved hi at Callista when Molly burst into the room again shouting at the twins when she saw Callista and said "Oh Callista nice to see you again," as she hugged Callista motherly.
"Nice to see you too Mrs. Weasley"
"Oh rubbish didn't I tell you to call me Molly?"
Callista smiled at Molly. Molly then turned to all the guys and said "Well make yourself useful and set up the back yard table, it's a nice night out. Go on…" the guys groaned and stood up from their seats and headed out with the children.
"That includes you too Percy" said Ginny. Percy looked down at Callista in approval when panic crept into her eyes and he chuckled at her while he kissed her forehead as he let go of her hand. "You are in good hands Cal, Ginny will you please?" Cal let go of his hand so that she wouldn't look like a small child.
Ginny linked arms with Cal and said "Don't worry, it's the guys who only gawk, they do it each and every single girlfriend anyone of them brought. The females are more welcoming" She smiled at Callista as she guided the guest to the kitchen. In the kitchen Callista met the wives. She noted that Charlie's wife was Carmen and she was a dragon keeper along with Charlie, Fred's was Laurie she was the only red head wife. Fleur was Bill's wife and she had a feeling that Fleur was part something else, maybe Elfin or Faerie. Lastly Ginny was the youngest and only daughter of the Weasley clan and she was married to Harry Potter.
Everyone in the kitchen were doing something like cutting last minute vegetables, plating food etc. she saw that Fleur was icing a cake as a child sat in her lap. "Callista correct?" Fleur asked.
"Yups," said Cal as she sat down on a chair Ginny offered her. "By any chance were you in Beaubaxton?" asked Fleur.
Callista nodded and said "For a year until I decided to just get home schooled"
"Oui, I knew it. When I heard your name from when George talked about Percy's new girlfriend I knew you were in Beaubaxton!"
"De la cour right?"
"Oui, before that izz"
"Ah right, weren't you a school officer back then?"
"Oui, I led your year to ze great hall in beaubaxton! I remember madam Maxine saying you were a loss to the school for you left Beaubaxton"
"Unlikely Madam Maxine didn't like me even, in her words I was 'the devil in witch form' " Callista said as she watched Fleur struggle with the 2 year old toddler in her arms. Fleur was icing a cake. Alec stopped fidgeting when he looked at Callista.
Callista waved and smiled at the toddler when Alec held tugged his mum's sleeve which earned him a whole phrase in French telling him to sit still. He then whispered something that made Fleur laugh a bit and say "He says that his Uncle Percy's girlfriend is pretty. Oh I wasn't supposed to say that?" and the child shook his head in embarrassment as the rest of the women in the kitchen laughed.
Callista smiled at the child and said "thank you squirt, you don't look shabby yourself".
"Uncle Percy calls me squirt!" the toddler said as he wiggled out of his mum's lap and went up to Cal and held his arms up. Cal obliging, picked up the child and sat him on her lap. Callista didn't see the smiles that crept on everyone's face when Alec sat on her lap.
"That is surprising, Alec rarely talks to new people that easily, he had to warm up to me for a bit you know" said Jackie as she wiped a dish dry. Callista smiled at her and then at the red head toddler in her lap who was eyeing her braided hair.
-outside-
Percy had helped bring out the table into the middle of the yard. The twins then conjured up the chairs and then with a flick of a wand, who ever it was though Percy suspects it was Harry, the table had been set. The dining ware was arranged very much like Harry how would. After which they had nothing else to do. Arthur conjured up a lawn chair and sat on it.
"So Perce she's pretty" Percy nodded and sat on a chair nearby. The rest of the guys then also sat down as they carefully watched the children play in the yard. Fred said "I have to agree with father. She looks very pretty and she dresses nice too" George nodded in agreement as he eyed Gillian who was getting too far and shouted for her to stay nearer.
Bill then said, "Did you really bring her home a few days ago?" George nodded his head and said "Oh yea saw her half naked in his room alright, Hermes had to stay in my room for that night" Percy shook his head. He was not going to say anything so he just smiled at his brothers.
"Does that mean you slept with her?" asked Charlie partly in disbelief and in awe at why a woman would go for a guy like his brother. Percy looked at his older brother oddly and just smiled. The rest of the guys suddenly started asking him questions when Harry finally said "He'll never say, a gentleman never tells you know".
Bill scrunched up his face and said "Percy's a gentleman? I thought he was just a rude ministry worker" everyone laughed and Percy laughed along at his expense. "You mean dad is also one then?" retorted Percy and Bill's face changed and looked at his dad and said "err"
Arthur playing along said "So that's what you think of us eh Bill!"
----
The women then chatted about fashion and such while they were in the kitchen. This somehow relaxed Cal a bit. When the food were done, the women plated the food and took a plate each. Cal who was icing the cake now as Fleur's wrists hurt after awhile, had no dish to carry. Instead Fleur had asked Alec to come back to her but the toddler clung to Callista. "Its ok Fleur I'll carry him"
"Ah but your nice top will get wrinkled"
"Nah its ok, isn't that right squirt? Just a simple spell can fix that"
"Oh ok then…" Callista stood up, while holding the toddler in her arms, and proceeded to open the kitchen door for the rest of the women who had their hands full with plated food. Fleur was the last pass by and said "Is it possible for you to grab the bib by the window?" Callista nodded and trailed behind Fleur.
When they stepped out the men were talking with butterbeers in their hands and when they saw the women had stood up and helped with the dishes. Percy stood up and helped his sister. Ginny said "She's very nice you know" Percy said that he was happy that she approved. He looked around for where Cal was and saw that she was by the backdoor, bending down to pick up a bib on grass as she held Alec in her arms. When she straightened up Alec was cheering on saying "again!" and Cal stuck a tongue at the toddler and the toddler laughed. She then did a few twirls and the toddler laughed in delight.
Percy stood there watching how Callista acted around children and somehow he imagined her with a red head, or auburn hair, child with curly hair. Ginny poked him and said "Watch it four eyes you're drooling" Percy looked at Ginny and stuck his tongue out at her and said "not my faulty she's pretty" Ginny nodded in agreement.
Dinner was the same as usual, though by this time Callista was more relaxed. This was when the questions came. Arthur asked Callista what she does and she explained to him how she's a muggle professor at a local college. Then Bill asked her if she ever wrote a book and she chuckled and nodded in agreement. Bill then said "I knew it!" and explained how he had bought a muggle history book that was co-written by her.
Gillian then piped in what she knew about the book as she was reading it earlier. When the desserts came the family was joking around how George's wedding will be. Jackie had elbowed George a few times when he went and tip toed across the line that was acceptable. This earned him a lot of laughter.
After dinner the adults had decided to play a small Quiddtich game. Harry had somehow cajoled Percy to play keeper for the guy's team. Molly tired as she was just flicked her hand and the tables were clean. On the Ladies' team were Fleur who played Keeper as she never really liked chasing, Laurie played beater against her husband, Jackie as seeker. Ginny and Callista were chasing.
Callista used one of Ginny's old broom sticks, rather Harry's old broom stick. The guys howled when Callista rose up in the air, as she was wearing a skirt and a bit of her leg showed. "Oy Perce you got a good catch this time she can even plan Quiddtich in a skirt and heels!" howled one of the twins which earned him a zap from the women's side of the field. Laurie smirked in satisfaction as Fred tried to open his mouth.
"Don't mind him, he's harmless" she said. Little did the guys know that they would loose the game.
The children, who were still too young to play, sat on the grass cheering on the team they favored. Molly and Arthur just sat around watching the game. They noticed how Percy's face changed when Callista came near his goal to throw in the quaffle. There were a few remarks from the twins like
"You're letting her off too easily Percy!" and Percy stepped up his game. In the end, Harry caught the snitch but only to be 10 points shorter than the ladies. As the women smirked in satisfaction the guys slumped back into the house.
Everyone else had kids who had to be brought home, they elected Percy to gather up the brooms and stow the equipment away. George had to bring Jackie home as she had an early morning the next day so he went in too leaving Percy and Callista alone in the dim lit yarn. As they placed back the quaffle, put away the brooms and such Percy had asked her where she learned how to play like that.
"My family is also very Quiddtich oriented. Kind of runs in the blood I guess."
"Oh, I never asked what are your parent's names and such"
"My father is Jerome, he's about 52 now. He's a business man of sorts I guess. My mother, she's 50. Her name is Julietta, she works for the ministry of Spain. People say I look like her but I inherited my father's softer personality. My mum is as formidable as yours."
"Oh…I see. Weird question next" Percy said as they closed the broom shed. "Where did you grow up and how old are you exactly? I read the book you wrote as I already had it and didn't know you wrote it."
"I knew you'd ask me that, I'm only 27. I got my muggle degree when I was 21 years old, got my masters' degree by the time I was 23. Then I was on a dig and co wrote that book by time I was 25. As to where I was born it was in Spain. When I was 5, my parents decided to live in Oxford and so they did. That was where my father's business was anyway. My mother, she was never home, the only time she really stayed home was when I was 10 that was because she was in sabbatical for 3 years."
"Ah I see,"
"I never really went to any magic academy. I did go to Beaubaxton for one year but found that I rather just be home schooled in magic and was in a normal muggle school." Percy looked at her and was about to say something when she continued "If you are going to ask if I took my Newt's at age 15, yes I did. As I was home schooled I had more control of what I learned. My mother hired a private teacher for me. On top of my muggle studies I had Magic lessons and such."
"Talk about multitasking" Percy said as he pushed back a loose lock of hair to the back of her ear.
"Is that all Percy Weasley now that you know most of my life, hmm? I never asked you what your full name was and how old are you really?" she said smirking as she was trying to mimic him earlier. Percy took her hand in his and kissed it.
"My full name is Percy Ignatius Weasley, I am only a year older than you and that wasn't the last thing I was going to ask." Callista raised an eyebrow at him. "Now if you might just allow me to ask one more thing" He said as he drew her nearer to him.
"That is?" Cal whispered as she felt Percy's hands slide around her waist. "Could you possibly give me a kiss" Percy asked as he stared into her eyes. She smiled and said "Sure why not". Percy chuckled lightly and kissed her snaking his arms around her waist and back pushing her towards him as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Little did the couple know that Arthur and Molly were watching them from the inside of the house. Molly sniffed a little and Arthur looked at this wife and asked what was wrong. "Its just that, Percy finally found someone you know Arthur I was getting worried!" Arthur chuckled and kissed the top of Molly's head and suggested they go into the kitchen for some tea.
AN:
that is it. Part 1 of Ch 14. ) thanks for reading!