Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. And I still can't wait until July!

Chapter 8 – A Kiss To Build A Dream On

From all outward appearances, the woman who entered the restaurant was the picture of haughty indifference. She walked with an ice cold confidence that left others questioning their own worthiness. Inside, Pansy was a terrified little girl. Although she had owled and tried to floo Percy several times, she hadn't heard from him since that day in his office.

True, he'd left her with one hell of a goodbye snog – one that had her mind spinning happily for hours. But as the days passed into a week and then nearly two with still no word from him, her insecurities and doubts began to feed on her. Perhaps he was just trying to appease her in order to get her to leave. She had said some things that would be terribly bruising for any man's ego. Really, she should know better.

Pansy smoothed down her dress in an attempt to ease her ruffled spirits, and took a steeling breath. It was time to get on with it.

"Excuse me. I have a reservation for eight o'clock under Parkinson." She heard herself ask the Maitre D' with far more calmness than what she was actually feeling.

The man glanced at her, and offered a smug smile. "Yes, Ms. Parkinson. We have quite a lovely table for you and your dinner companion by the hearth."

She gave the man a brief, careless nod, and drove onward with her questioning. "Speaking of my companion, can you tell me if he's arrived?"

"Yes Miss, he has. He's currently having a drink in the lounge."

Pansy instantly felt the tension drain from her shoulders, and she thanked the man for his assistance. Fighting against the childish urge to simply rush to the other room, Pansy slowly sauntered into the lounge, noting the looks of appreciation she was receiving from various onlookers.

'At least I know I look good.' She bolstered herself inwardly.

Scanning the lounge, her eyes fell upon a man standing at the bar and her breath hitched in her chest. It was Percy, but it wasn't Percy. Her eyes ran the course of his body, and she felt her pulse begin to race. He was clad in a finely knit black sweater that hugged slightly to his chest and arms, and a pair of charcoal gray trousers that fit him perfectly. She had no idea there was such a lithe body under those dingy smoking jackets and ragged old jumpers.

She let her eyes travel up to his face, and was caught by the line of his profile as his eyes stayed fixed forward, bearing the countenance of a man consumed in thought.

'Not a pair of horned rimmed glasses in sight.' she noted. 'Merlin, he could be dashing if he wanted to be.'

Resolving to get on with the evening, Pansy gave her head a little shake and forced her legs to carry her in his direction. As she grew closer, she marveled at his curls and felt her fingers itch in anticipation of being lost in their rich depths. Coming to a stand beside him, she allowed herself one more moment to admire the picture he made.

Sensing he was being watched, Percy shrugged off his daydream and glanced down at her. Once his eyes met hers, a kind of resignation invaded his face and he offered her a small, almost sad smile before sighing heavily and turning back to the bar. "Seems we're going to be having some company tonight."

She quirked a curious eyebrow at him uncertain of his demeanor and meaning, and he gave a slight nod sideways toward the other end of the bar. She looked over to find Draco sitting at a small lounge table in the corner scowling darkly and glaring daggers at them. Blaise sat to his right, speaking hushed words in an attempt to calm him down.

"What the devil is he doing here?" Pansy huffed, eyes still locked on Draco.

"Did you tell anyone you were coming tonight?" Percy asked, finally turning fully to face her.

"Well, yes… Millie, but she wouldn't have said anything."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. Millie is wonderful at keeping secrets."

"What about you?" he leveled evenly.

Her eyes snapped to him. "What about me?"

"Did you tell him?"

"That's a silly question."

"Did you?" he asked, undeterred.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Why the devil would I tell him?"

"Well, you are trying to make him jealous, aren't you? That is the object of this… game?" Percy offered in a slightly dejected tone.

"Yes, but I didn't mean for him to be here tonight."

"You're sure?"

"Of course, I'm sure. That would just cause too much tension. We're supposed to appear relaxed and amiable."

"Oh, are we now? That's working out beautifully, I must say."

"Oh, shove off." She growled, crossing her arms and turning away.

"Pansy, someone must have told him."

"Well, it wasn't me." She snapped, stepping into him as if looking for a fight.

"I didn't say it was."

"You did before."

"Well, I'm not saying it now."

"But you're thinking it. I can read it all over you."

"What else am I supposed to think?" His voice shot up a full octave as he went on the defense. "You know something? It doesn't matter. Let's just go find our table."

"I'm not hungry." She huffed, moving toward the bar in search of the bartender.

"This is not about being hungry. This is about being seen. Why am I the one whose pushing this?" He turned away, almost asking himself.

"Because it's a free meal for you." She quipped.

Spinning around to pin her with a fierce glare, he seethed. "I have no problem leaving right now. I have a perfectly good roast at home."

He started to brush past her on his way to the door, but she grabbed his forearm. "No, no… please, don't leave. I just need a moment to think."

He looked down, and took in the worry cutting a path across her otherwise perfect features. That pained expression was going to be his undoing.

"Why don't we just proceed as normal, and if he causes a scene, we'll deal with him then." He offered soothingly.

She eyed him for a moment. It sounded logical enough. And really, what could Draco do in the middle of a restaurant?

Suddenly, his voice broke through her musings. "Oh, bloody hell! What are they doing here?"

"Who? Where?"

"Ron, Harry, Fred, and George. We're not going to have a moment's peace now. They're going to want to join us."

She glanced over to the door to find the four men in question scoping the lounge. "Well, they can't. You're mine exclusively tonight." She spouted as she laced her hand into his, making him jump slightly at the unexpected intimacy.

Suddenly, a loud voice cut through the subtle murmur of the bar. "Oi Percy! Look, there's Percy. Oi!" came George's unmistakable rumble.

The four men lumbered over quickly. Pansy inconspicuously slipped her hand out of Percy's and turned subtly away from the new arrivals.

"What are you doing here, Perce?"

Glancing down to his right at the now vacant spot beside him, he offered. "I… I have… That is, I'm on…"

"Come on, out with it brother." Fred prodded.

"He's on a date with me, and if you don't mind, we were just about to go and find our table.

The four men simultaneously looked down to find a tiny beauty had materialized at Percy's side and was leering at them dangerously.

"You!" Fred and George growled in unison.

"That's right. Me!" She snarled.

"Percy, you know Mum doesn't like us playing with snakes." George lobbed at Percy without taking his eyes off Pansy.

"It's a damn sight safer than playing with explosives." She snapped right back.

"All right you three. That's enough." Harry stepped between them. "Percy… Pansy… Enjoy your dinner."

"It was nice seeing you again, Harry, and congratulations, Ron. Give Hermione my best."

Ron could only nod dumbly. Pansy Parkinson had never in their entire acquaintance been that civil, or given him anything that didn't resemble a hex for that matter.

Pansy then directed her gaze to George. "Wanker."

"Trollop." He replied.

Shifting her gaze to Fred, she spat. "Tosser."

"Bint." He responded in kind.

Percy grabbed Pansy's arm and began to direct her none too gently toward the dining area of the restaurant.

Throughout this, Harry had become distracted by something at the bar. "Excuse me." He offered quietly.

"Where's he off to?" George asked, still riled by seeing his archenemy snuggling up to his brother. Said brother may have been a prat, but he was still family.

"Oh, I don't know. He's been a moody git the last month or so." Ron supplied. "I think the single life is getting to him."

"Care for a drink there, little brother?" Fred asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah. Just one or two though. Hermione will have our heads in a jar if I end up the same way as last time."

"No worries, I came prepared." George announced, giving him a mischievous grin and shaking a small black vial.

Ron instantly felt a cold chill run down his spin as notorious twin smiles gleamed at him.

----------

Settled at their table and perusing their menus, Pansy chose that moment to begin her diatribe. "Have I told you how much I dislike two of your brothers?"

"No, but I don't think you have to after that little display. And from the looks of things, I would say the feeling's mutual. Might I ask why?"

"You are better off not knowing." She leveled with an air of finality.

"Oh, come off it. You can't leave me with that answer. What did they do?"

"What are you having? The pickerel looks lovely." She asked, dodging the question artfully.

Percy stared at her nonplussed. She really wasn't going to tell him. He'd just have to ask the twins, although he was sure to get a very different version from their perspective.

Shaking his head slightly, he glanced down to his menu and scanned it quickly. In truth he'd left his spectacles at home, knowing full well it meant he wouldn't be able to read a thing. He'd just have to trust her. "Um… that sounds fine."

He closed his menu and placed it to the side. Shifting his eyes to her, he found her menu down as well, and her watching him closely. The second he caught her staring she looked away quickly and busied herself with her napkin in her lap. The awkward silence seemed to yawn on at excruciating lengths.

'This actually feels like a date.' Percy marveled dismally to himself.

"So… how do you feel the plan is progressing?" he asked, unable for the first time in their acquaintance to find something to discuss with her.

"Well enough, but I'd rather not talk about that tonight. I'd much prefer we take this opportunity to get to know each other better."

Her words made Percy tense up. Why did he feel like he was instantly in the middle of a job evaluation?

"And how do you propose we do that?" he leveled, unable to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

"Oh, I don't know. We could talk. It's been known to work."

"And what would you like to know? My favourite colour? My favourite dessert? How I take my tea?"

"Yes, I suppose those would be important facts for me to know. Actually, I was much more interested in what you look for in a woman. What is the type of girl you see yourself marrying?"

Percy blinked at her in shock. She didn't waste time, did she?

"I… well… I guess I would say that I'm looking for a woman who has a clear and logical mind. I would want her to be as determined as I am to succeed, and to make the best life possible. A marriage in my mind is almost like a business partnership."

"And what about chemistry, and attraction, and looks?" she asked incredulously.

"Looks don't matter to me. A pretty face on its own never helped to save a galleon unless there was a keen mind behind it."

"That's a very unromantic view if you don't mind my saying."

"I don't have time for silly romantic notions."

"What about love?"

" Love is merely a luxury." He shifted uncertainly in his seat, glancing down to avoid her scrutiny.

"What? That's mad. Don't you want to be in love with the person you're going to marry? Are you saying you're incapable of falling in love?"

"I… I didn't say that, Ms. Par… Pansy. Men like me sometimes have to forgo the idea of love because it is not necessarily something that will ever happen for them. It's better to focus on what's attainable rather than pine for what's impossible."

"It's not impossible. Why not find a girl, fall in love with her, and then court her?"

"That's all well and good to say, but… but it hasn't really been my experience that many women… I'm not what many women would consider… romantic material."

"And so you've just given up on the idea of being in love?"

"I think I would do much better to find a like minded woman who wishes to succeed in every aspect of life."

Pansy's mind instantly flashed to Millicent and their conversation the night of the dinner party, and she felt herself grow almost rigid. "And is there anyone in particular that you have in mind for this position?" she gritted out.

"Well, not really. I guess if I were hoping for the best, I'd say someone like Ms. Bulstrode would be ideal – a woman who's very driven, and success oriented. She also strikes me as the type who is not interested in love or romance. That would greatly simplify matters. But I think I'd seriously be going beyond myself pursuing the likes of her."

'Not as much as you might think.' Pansy glowered inwardly, quickly becoming enraged by his reasoning.

Taking her silence as an opportunity, Percy took up the offensive. "And you? What do you look for in a man… in a husband?"

"Well, I think that would be fairly obvious. Forgetting the fact that I've been promised to the man for as long as I can remember, I would say Draco is my perfect ideal." She spouted pompously.

Percy felt something painful grip his chest. Distracted be the unmistakable yet unidentifiable swell, he mindlessly picked up his fork and began to draw circles with it on the tablecloth.

"He's tall, and handsome, and quite witty. True, he can be quite cruel but we've been friends for so long, it is easy for us to make up." She continued on.

"And what of love? Would you say that you're in love with him?"

"Of course I'm in love with him. What kind of question is that? Granted, we were only romantically linked during our last few years at Hogwarts but we both know it's meant to be."

In the ensuing silence, Pansy grabbed for her wine and took a large pull from the glass. Something about that entire statement rang incredibly false to her. Percy drove his eyes down to his furious etchings of the tablecloth and gave her the briefest of nods. After taking a minute to regain her composure, Pansy looked outside of herself and found a sullen kind of silence had invaded the table.

"Do you believe you can be in love with more than one person at a time?" she asked cautiously.

Percy's hand stilled, and his eyes came up to meet hers. A silent kind of questioning passed between them before he answered her out loud. "I believe some may be capable or think they can feel that way for more than one person at a given time, but for me… for me, being in love with someone would be all encompassing, I imagine. I would not be able to think of anyone or anything else but that person. Even trying to be with someone else would feel empty and superficial. But that's just me, and to be honest, I'm not certain I've ever really been in love before."

"What do you mean you're not certain?"

"Well, there was a girl at Hogwarts… Penny Clearwater… but that was ages ago, and I think it was just teenage lust more than anything else. The memories of that time are still quite strong for me though."

"And where is she now?" Pansy asked, an almost predatory tone in her voice.

"Penny? I think she's married to Roger Davies, and has three children."

"Oh." Pansy felt herself ease back from the emotional lunge she was on the verge of taking.

"And what of you? Are you one of the fortunate few who can be in love with more than one person at a time?"

"I… well, I'm not certain." She admitted reluctantly. "Draco and I have always loved each other, but there have been other men I've found myself quite taken with."

"Anyone recently?"

"Are you asking if I'm seeing anyone right now?

Percy shrugged not fully able to answer her question. He really didn't like the idea of there being someone else, and he liked even less that he was that transparent.

"I can only be with one man at a time."

Percy gathered his courage, and asked the question that had invaded his thoughts at that moment. "And what would you consider me?"

"What do you mean?"

"What am I to you?"

"You're… you're a man… that I'm seeing."

Percy felt himself flush all over. There was a certain amount of satisfaction in hearing her say that.

"And what am I to you?" she asked, both nervous and anxious for what she did not know.

"You're a business partner." He stated, still distracted by her answer.

"A business partner?" she seethed.

"Yes."

Suddenly, the implications of his answer struck him, and he instantly blushed an even deeper crimson at what he had inadvertently revealed. Grabbing for his water, he took a large gulp in a bid to cool down.

"A business partner? You see me as a bloody business partner?"

"Yes." He mumbled into his glass. Maybe she wouldn't catch on.

"What kind of answer is that? A business partner! The next thing you'll tell me…"

Suddenly, she stopped mid sentence as realization and understanding dawned on her. She looked at him… really looked at him, and saw that even though he was hiding behind his glass, he was redder than a beet. At the sight, she felt a warm kind of flush invade her body, and a maddening flutter take up residence in her chest.

Looking around, she tried desperately to come up with a conversational escape for them. Neither was ready for where they had just been thrust. "I… um… that is…"

Suddenly, a loud fracas from the bar area drew their attention.

In the middle of the lounge, Draco and Harry were staring each other down fiercely while Ron, George, and Fred stood nearby at the ready.

"It's over Potter! Get used to it!" shouted Draco. "You're not the bloody saviour anymore, so why can't you just piss off!"

Harry's response was too quiet to be heard, but whatever he'd said made Draco shake his head in disgust, and turn to leave.

Harry grabbed for his arm and reeled him back around. "We're not done here, Draco."

"Let go of me, Potter!" Draco wrenched his arm viciously, and Harry tumbled back.

Thinking that Draco had attacked Harry, Ron launched himself forward, landing a solid left hook into Draco's jaw. Falling to the ground in a mess of arms and legs, Draco lay crumpled and motionless for a moment. Harry lurched forward, returning to the middle of the fray. He turned to Ron, and began to move him off, seemingly mumbling something to him.

From the ground, Draco sat up slowly and began to gingerly touch the corner of his mouth where a line of blood had formed. "You should make sure they're on a leash if you plan on taking them out into public, Potter." He sneered, as Blaise came to help him up.

Just as they were about to leave, Draco spotted both Percy and Pansy watching along with the rest of the patrons. He glanced over to the four men, and then a devious smirk began to mar his bloodied lip. He looked back to Pansy, winked at her flirtatiously, and blew a saucy kiss. Then turning to Blaise for support, he walked out of the restaurant.

The four men had watched the action and looked over to their table for Percy and Pansy's reaction. Quite suddenly, a dark scowl invaded Harry's face and he stormed off in the direction of the loo. Ron merely shook his head, heaved a large sigh, and followed his best mate. The twins, on the other hand, took a seat back at the bar and proceeded to eye the dining couple suspiciously.

Shaking her head, she asked. "What, in Merlin's name, was that about?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, but those two have always hated each other."

"Yes, I know, but enough to make a spectacle of themselves? Do you think it had anything to do with us?" she asked hopefully.

"I guess that's possible." He supplied darkly, turning back to the table.

"Well, I hope Draco is all right."

A quiet kind of despondency stole over Percy's features as he stared at her, and he quickly glanced down and then to the bar. "I'm sure he'll be fine." He offered in a low mumble.

"Yes… yes…" She cleared her throat, instantly sensing Percy's darkening mood. She let her gaze run over him again, and then uttered softly. "You look very nice tonight."

His eyes snapped to hers, and he looked to be at a complete loss for words. "Um… thank you." He managed awkwardly, uncertain of where that compliment had come from.

"Did someone help you shop?" Pansy's eyes instantly went wide as soon as the question escaped her lips. "I didn't mean to say… That is, I'm certain you can choose…"

He put up his hand to silence her, a slight smirk teasing at his lips. "My sister, Ginny, went out with me. She helped me pick quite a few new articles of clothing from the monies you… you so generously provided."

"And your hair?" she blurted out, without thinking.

"What about my hair?" Percy stuttered defensively.

Pansy winced inwardly. Couldn't she have a conversation with him without making it sound like she was passing judgment or cutting him down?

"What did you do to it? It looks darker."

Relaxing slightly, he replied. "Nothing… Nothing except I let it grow out a bit."

She paused to regard him. "I like it."

It was a simple statement, but her words had quite the effect. Percy flushed red again and grabbed for his almost empty water glass. She eyed him covertly, and had to bite her lip from giggling at his reaction. He could be quite adorable when he became flustered. She'd have to find more ways to unnerve him.

----------

As they came to a stop at the foot of her steps in front her house, Percy shuffled his feet awkwardly and drove his hands deep into his pockets. He wasn't certain how to go about this portion of the evening. This wasn't exactly a real date.

Although he'd never had such a pleasant evening before, his companion being not only very easy on the eyes but also incredibly entertaining, he had to keep reminding himself that this was all just for show. The slow, luscious curl of her red lips as she would begin to laugh, the flutter of her dark lashes when she would grow shy, the delicate pink that would infuse her cheeks every time he teased her… it wasn't real. He couldn't allow himself to be drawn in.

As Pansy took the first step, he called to her tentatively. "Well, goodnight then."

She turned quickly, and regarded him with an almost accusing stare. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Well, you're… you were heading up, and…"

"What about the mandatory goodnight kiss?" she offered with a coy smile.

Percy took an anxious breath, and gave a short nod. "Right. Sorry."

Pulling his hands from his pockets, he took the necessary steps to bring himself just in front of her. With her standing on the first step, they nearly came eye to eye. For a brief moment that felt like it lasted an eternity, Pansy watched his eyes play over her features in an adoring dance that made her heart hammer violently in her chest. She'd been waiting for this all evening.

Suddenly he looked down, then took her right hand carefully in his, and brought their linked hands up between them. His other hand came up, and curling his fingers around her slight wrist, he began to smooth his thumb over the back of her hand. Regarding it with tender focus, he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her hand. Many a man had kissed her hand before, but none had made her feel quite so light or faint. The sensation his simple action caused her was unworldly.

As he pulled up, he swallowed hard and whispered breathlessly. "Goodnight, Pansy."

Something indescribable engulfed her, and without thinking, she leaned in and captured his mouth in a soft, full kiss. In the next moment, the feel of her tongue dancing along his lips made Percy moan lightly, giving her the opportunity she was craving to deepen their connection. As they continued their languorous exploration, he mindlessly placed her hand on his chest over his heart, and covered it protectively with both of his.

Breaking from him slightly, she murmured against his lips. "Come in for a night cap?"

"I… I… it's late Pansy, and…" He breathed out shakily, fighting madly against his longing to follow her inside and let the evening go where it may.

Forcing her bottom lip out in a teasing pout, she simpered. "Percy." She then seductively brushed her lips over his before continuing. "Please don't make me beg."

In response, Percy released a whimper laced within a shuddering breath. She mustn't have any idea of what she was doing to him. She couldn't. If she did… well, she wouldn't be doing it, right?

His mind was reeling with questions. What was she playing at? Was this real, or was it all for the camera undoubtedly trained on them at that very moment? Would she merely ask him to floo home as soon as he made it through the door? He didn't want to read into anything she was doing or saying for fear of looking like a complete fool when she inevitably rejected him.

It was with this final thought in mind that he took both her hands in his and brought them down to their sides. Regretting painfully the choice he had to make to protect his heart and his ego, he answered her softly. "Pansy, it's probably best I don't come in. We both know someone is watching, and… and I really wouldn't want anything indecent written about you."

Pansy looked slightly startled. She hadn't even been thinking about appearances. She simply didn't want the evening to end just yet. She had envisioned a warm fire, a nice glass of something amber, and hopefully some snogging on the settee. She couldn't stop the delicious smile wreaking havoc on her pout for the thoughtfulness of his concern over her reputation though.

"I understand." She sighed out melodramatically. "Can I at least have another kiss as consolation then?"

Unable to resist her playfulness, he murmured as he leaned in. "I… I think I can manage that."

The kiss, unlike any of their others, was warm, comfortable, and unhindered. A languid understanding seemed to flow easily between them, making the moment feel seamless. She released his hands to course her fingers up his arms, ultimately driven to weave themselves through his hair. He, in turn, encircled her waist, drawing her to him. Both released a contented sigh as they pressed closer together and fell deeper into a euphoric fog.

Suddenly, something in both of their magical cores snapped and sparked, and the current that they'd grown accustomed to experiencing in their embraces turned into an electrifying rush, tearing through them like a shockwave. Both gasped and broke away suddenly, the blinding surge having sent them apart.

A little dumbfounded, Percy stumbled breathlessly to the side. Clutching his head, he mumbled. "I… home… lovely… Night!"

Pansy was far less coherent. Everything within her was screaming for him to return, but her voice seemed thoroughly disconnected. Grasping firmly onto the railing for support, she watched him stagger away through hooded eyes as one thought resounded through her mind.

'What the bloody hell was that?'

A/N: Well, there you go! The plot thickens ;)

IHeartMCR: Perfect spelling on the word intriguing by the way :D I know you want to know, but you know I can't tell... lol. It's better this way.

MagikCat: Thank you so much. I'm always a little speechless when people say they like my work. I just do it for shits and giggles. I've recently become obsessed with little ships too, especially this one. They're so odd, but so well suited to each other.

namelessxfreak: You only ship Draco with Pansy, and yet in this fic she's mainly with Percy. You have to understand I can't let the poor boy be without love if Pansy's getting some. I hope I can pull it off too ;-)

kaededainecalwyn: lol... Thank you so much. I'll try to keep posting on a regular basis :-)

stone of purity: thank you, sop :-)

Miss Anthrope: kybosh: to put an end to. Had to give you that. I love that word. Well, as you can see, Draco is definitely back and in fine form... lol.

anonymous: thank you

Avanell: Oh, they can be so stupid some times, but I think she's on her way though.