Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Never have. Never will. Le Sigh.
How Do We Tell Him?
Chapter 2
Hermione apparated back to the apartment.
Perfect, she thought. It's twelve o'clock, the florist appointment is at twelve fifteen, and Percy may pop by for lunch at two. No one can suspect a thing.
Hermione paused for a moment, a frown creeping onto her face. She hated the situation she had created for herself. She was torn between love for two men: her wonderful yet abusive fiancé and her feisty and cunning lover.
What made things worse was that she was to blame for the entire situation.
She had known about Percy's abusive nature before they had gotten engaged. She had been warned by Penelope Clearwater, Percy's girlfriend from Hogwarts, about Percy's 'tendencies'. What really alarmed Hermione was the fact that, according to Penelope, he had grown this way while they were still in Hogwarts. Hermione had never suspected a thing was wrong with the happy couple, and this frightened her to no end.
What if the situation became so bad that she needed help? If no one had suspected that Percy would do such a horrendous thing to Penelope, what would make them suspect that the same thing was happening to Hermione?
Blaise, Hermione immediately answered. He was clever enough to figure out what was happening to me.
Hermione inwardly scoffed. "Happening to me" sounded like a helpless victim reaching out for a savior. And Hermione was certainly not a helpless victim. She had known about the abuse before she made a commitment. Hermione scowled, not wanting to think about all the mistakes she had made in her life at that very moment, and adjusted her green dress.
Green was Blaise's favorite color. She had picked out the taut dress just for him. She'd be damned if she knew what Percy's favorite color was. The only trivial thing she knew about her fiancé was that he secretly loved the Weird Sisters. And she wasn't about to go out and buy a dress with Weird Sister pictures all over it.
Hermione shook her head, and went over to the living room. She felt an instantaneous drop in the temperature, and rushed to feed the flames more wooden logs. She took a seat, and noticed that a letter lay on the wooden table. It was labeled 'Hermione'. Curious, she picked it up, opened it with mild trepidation, and read:
Hermione,
It's been nearly a week since I have had more than two hours to really be with you. That is why I have taken the liberty of canceling the florist appointment. I will be taking the rest of the day off so that I can spend some time with you. See you at twelve fifteen, baby.
Love,
Percy
P.S. I have always said that you would look beautiful in dirt, but please try and wear something nice.
Hermione gulped as her eyes settled on the clock. She had five minutes to cover up any traces of Blaise. She quickly ran down the hall and took off the green dress. She cast a spell to rid it of all odors that could be linked to a certain male or a certain hotel room, and transfigured it into an ordinary blanket, quickly stuffing it into the bottom drawer of the linen closet. She then cast a spell on herself to remove all foreign odors so that Percy wouldn't suspect anything. She fixed her hair, and concealed the hickeys lining her neck with two more flicks of her wand. She then ran to the bedroom and began rummaging through the closet, trying to find "something nice" to wear for Percy. She settled for a sleeveless burgundy dress that fell a few inches above her ankle. Percy always seemed fond of this dress, Hermione thought as she slipped it on.
She tugged at her leather boots until they loosened enough for her to kick them off and throw them in the back of her closet. She searched for shoes, finally finding a pair of flats with ornate bows on them. She then ran over to the mirror to make sure that she didn't forget anything. When she was satisfied, she applied some light makeup so that she looked more put together. Lastly, she sprayed some citrus perfume on. Hermione laid her wand on the bedside table.
Well done Hermione, she thought as she came back into the living room.
She heard a pop and a swishing of clothes behind her, and quickly spun around.
"Blaise! What are you doing? Percy is going to apparate here in less than a minute!"
"Lovely to see you too, gorgeous," he said with calmly.
"Blaise, if Percy sees you here he will kill us both!" Hermione pleaded with him.
"Let the bastard see me. I will kill him if he lays a finger on you." Blaise's eyes quickly flickered with hate.
"Please Blaise, you have to go now!"
"I just came-"
"BLAISE!"
"To give you this," he handed her the ring. How could she have been so stupid as to forget her engagement ring?
"Thank you, know go!"
"What, no kiss?"
"Blaise!" Hermione nearly had tears in her eyes.
"Just call out my name if you're in trouble!"
"But how will-"
"Just do it Hermione! Trust me. Now, about that kiss…"
"FOR MERLIN'S SAKE BLAISE!" Hermione screamed.
"Okay love. Until next time…" he curtsied, and disapparated.
Hermione sighed in relief, dabbing her eyes of any tears. She quickly putting on the ring.
Pop.
"Hermione!" Percy's voice came from the kitchen seconds later.
"In here," Hermione called from the living room.
Footsteps, and then…
"Hello dear," Percy said, kissing Hermione longingly.
Hermione placed her hands on his shoulders. When they parted, she hugged him tightly, taking in his scent. Ginger and lime. I prefer Blaise's pinewood and mint.
"Hello Percy. How did you manage to get off of work?" Hermione asked as Percy stroked her hair.
"I told my boss that I wanted a day off to spend with you," he said, kissing her again.
Percy would never do something like that; he loves work. What's he playing at?
"Apparently we remind ol' Wilcox of him and his wife when they were engaged," Percy smiled.
Did his wife also receive a beating once in a blue moon? Hermione thought bitterly. Well, he did only do it twice, Hermione reasoned with herself. Oh, don't excuse him, another voice said. Once was enough.
Percy looked into Hermione's eyes. She could do nothing but smile.
"And how is my beautiful fiancé doing today? Feeling better than last night?"
Hermione inwardly cringed at the thought of the previous night. She had spent nearly the entire day with Blaise. When she had come home, she made sure that everything was normal so that Percy would not be suspicious. When Percy came home, Hermione felt so guilty that she began crying. She had made up a lame excuse about having a piercing headache that, surprisingly, was not questioned by Percy.
"Much better. Thank you dear," Hermione said, and slowly leaned in to kiss him. Percy eagerly responded, cupping her face in his hands.
"When did you reschedule the appointment for?" Hermione broke the kiss to ask. Percy seemed slightly annoyed by this, and did not let go of her wrists. Better not push his buttons, Hermione thought.
"For Thursday at ten o'clock," Percy said simply. "Why?"
"Because," Hermione said, "I'd like to write it in my planner. I do, after all, have to show up," Hermione chuckled.
Her tone must have been patronizing, because Percy instantly threw her a look.
"You know, you don't have to talk to me like I'm a child. I understand that you need to show up for the appointment! Why did you think I rescheduled it, so that garden gnomes could show up for it!?" He tightened his grip around her wrists.
"Percy," Hermione said softly, her eyes pleading, "you're hurting me."
Percy's voice only rose.
"Do you think I come home, take a day off to be with you, just so that you can talk to me like I'm some kind of idiot!?"
Hermione would have responded with a scathing "You're acting like an idiot right now", if she was not so terrified. Percy's hands were still squeezing her wrists roughly, and she could feel her pulse quickening.
"Percy, I meant nothing of it. I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't miss it, that's all," Hermione's meekly responded.
This seemed to bring Percy out of a daze. He let go of Hermione's wrists, cleared his throat, and said in a perfectly normal tone, "Don't worry about the appointment. I'll remind you about it later so that you can write it down."
"Okay Percy." Hermione said, taking a few steps back. "I'll…er…go get some water from the kitchen. My throat's a little parched."
With that, Hermione briskly exited the room, leaving Percy to sort out what just occurred in his head.
Hermione could not hold the tears any longer. She turned on the faucet and silently cried. What was I thinking? That I could change him? He doesn't even seem to acknowledge the fact that he has a problem!
There was a sharp intake of breath behind her. It sent shivers up her spine. Hermione slowly turned around to find Percy staring blankly at his fiancé's tear streaked face. This made Hermione cry harder. The bastard was less empathetic than her index finger!
"Percy," she said, wiping her eyes, "We need to talk about your…your problem."
SLAP!
"I have no problem," Percy said forcefully, "and don't you dare forget that."
What is wrong with you!? Hermione's mind shrieked.
Hermione tried to back away from Percy, but he was too quick. She was cornered.
"Let's just forget about this, and focus on more important things," Percy's head leaned in to Hermione's.
"No Percy, I don't want to-"
"I didn't take a day off of work for nothing!"
"Yes, you took a day off so that you could perfect your skills as an abusive arse!" Hermione clamped her hands over her mouth, her eyes dilating. Of course she thought it, but she did not mean to say it out loud.
Percy stood still, nostrils flaring, before raising his right arm, his palm flexed.
Hermione, panicking and unable to think clearly, took the ring off of her finger and pressed it roughly against Percy's forehead with both of her thumbs. Percy took a hold of Hermione's arms and threw them aside. The ring rolled across the room, hitting the refrigerator with a low clink.
Hermione ducked as the first hand came down; it collided with the refrigerator, sending Percy swearing into oblivion.
Hermione took this opportunity to run to the bedroom. She was halfway there when she felt his hand wrap around her hair. With one swift motion, Hermione was lying on the wooden floor, her body in pain and her head ringing.
Percy growled, and Hermione felt his hands surrounding her throat. She was being chocked to death.
Hermione struggled beneath Percy, but he would not give up easily. His grip seemed to tighten with each passing second
Someone help me!
"Blaise!" Hermione choked out. Percy gave her a quizzical look, the rage and unadulterated hatred in his eyes never leaving.
Hermione managed to punch Percy in his abdomen. He howled in pain, and Hermione tried once more.
"Blaise! BLAISE! I NEED YOU! NOW! HELP ME!" Hermione ran towards the bedroom door.
"Who the hell is Blaise?" Percy yelled, chasing after her.
Hermione got to the room and slammed the door shut, reaching for her wand on the bedside table.
She turned around, and two identical popping noises greeted her ears. It was uncanny how they both seemed to mirror each others actions. First the raising of their wands over their heads, than the turning of their heads, and even the piercing yell of "Hermione!"
"Hermione, duck!"
"Wha-"
"Do it!"
"Stupefy!"
"Expelliarmus!"
Percy was hit first, and Blaise easily avoided the spell aimed towards him.
"Come on. I'm taking you home with me." Blaise said, holding out his hand.
It was all over.
Hermione took Blaise's hand, holding on to him with all the strength left in her frail body.
A/N: Please R+R so I know that you're enjoying!