Disclaimer: I don't have any claim on Harry Potter or any of the other Potter characters.

Chapter 9 – Dawning Realization Is A Bitch

Percy sat at his desk, his thumbs absently massaging the parchment in his hands as he read through its contents for at least the tenth time. He let his eyes scan down the page once again, taking in each dreadful word nearly radiating with giddy joy. It wasn't that the owl came as a total surprise… He really should have seen it coming, but he couldn't help the feeling of quiet despair churning in the pit of his stomach.

Dear Percy,

Well, we've done it!!! Isn't this fantastic? I don't think this could have turned out better. I've included the article from "The Prophet" just in case you didn't have a chance to read it. The best part is that I've already heard from Draco. He is absolutely livid. It was so delicious. I just wish you could have been there to see his face. I know you would have loved it.

I really think it's important we come up with our next plan quickly while he's still in a snit. What say you come over, after work of course, and we discuss the matter in more detail? I have a wonderful idea, and I think it will cause him no end of upset once he catches wind of it.

Now on a side note, don't you be too hard with that wonderful secretary of yours. It's not her fault she couldn't keep her big mouth shut. Without her, I doubt "The Prophet" would have known of our little rendez-vous.

Well, I really must be off. Unless I hear otherwise, I'll see you around half past five.

Sincerely yours,
Pansy

Percy released the page, and let out a long, ragged breath as he brought his hands up to scrub at his face. What, in Merlin's name, was he going to do? Up until their date… meeting… performance… whatever the hell it was they did on Friday, he had thought he'd been handling his developing attraction effectively. It was just that – an annoying little crush. As a result of their last goodnight kiss however, it had ballooned into a full-blown, heart pounding, sweaty palmed infatuation.

That explosive, electrifying feeling that rocketed through him as their lips pressed together… their tongues laced provocatively… had left his whole sense of being off kilter. Something deep inside had been whispering incessantly that only her kiss… only her touch would bring him back to rights. He hadn't been able to think of anything or anyone else all weekend.

As Percy glanced down at the news article, he scoffed mirthlessly. He wouldn't be able to forget that kiss now even if he wanted to. It was there, captured for posterity in black and white. He reached over and picked up the offending article, letting his eyes graze the headline.

"THE PRINCESS AND THE PRAT"
An exclusive by Rita Skeeter

This humble journalist has seen many things in her time. She has witnessed the rise and fall of a Dark Lord. She has met with the saviour of the Wizarding world. She has never, however, seen a coupling such as this. To call it odd would be an understatement. It has come to this fine newspaper's attention that one Ms. Pansy Parkinson, pureblood Slytherin heiress of the Parkinson fortune, and his honourable Percy Weasley, Deputy Minister and right hand man of the Minister of Magic, have been indulging in a secret affair for several weeks now, if not months. A reliable source within the Ministry confirmed their involvement, stating:

"I've never seen Mr. Weasley so smitten, and the young lady seemed quite attached to him. They couldn't keep their hands off each other."

The source went on to confirm a dinner date between the pair set for this past Friday. Being the driven and dedicated servant that I am, this journalist pursued the lead only to find the two individuals in question sharing an intimate dinner at the elegant and chic Toparis. Also of interest was the presence of one Draco Malfoy at the restaurant that evening. It is a well-known fact that Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Parkinson have been betrothed to each other since their childhood. It would seem that Ms. Parkinson has finally grown tired of Mr. Malfoy's very notorious, very public wandering ways and found herself, albeit a strange choice, a companion of her own.

This is where, my gentle reader, matters become interesting. Mr. Malfoy, in a drunken stupor, began making some not so quiet defamatory comments about Mr. Weasley and his family. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that the man was clearly in a jealous rage. To her credit, Ms. Parkinson remained with her dinner companion and ignored Mr. Malfoy's ridiculous behaviour. One Harry Potter, who was also in attendance with an entourage of Weasleys, did not! Although Mr. Potter's days of being a hero should be firmly behind him, it would appear the man cannot allow anyone to go slighted. Heated words were exchanged between the two enemies, and Mr. Malfoy left the restaurant sporting a bloodied lip.

It was a dramatic night filled with both love and hate. Although they seem like an unlikely match, Ms. Parkinson and Mr. Weasley's obvious devotion to each other cannot be denied. Unfortunately, they have formidable opposition to contend with not only from Mr. Malfoy, but also their respective families. It is this journalist's ardent hope that this modern day Romeo and Juliet will meet a much happier end than their literary counterparts.

Percy's eyes left off from the last words, being drawn instead to the wizarding photo that came just after. The image of them standing close on her front steps in an extremely intimate posture assaulted his hungry eyes. As the photo version of himself glanced up, the dark beauty before him whose hand he held possessively in both of his, leaned in and took his lips in a searing kiss. Then, as if to draw her closer, he placed her hand on his chest and covered it with his own. This is where the photo froze and began to replay itself.

Percy felt his chest seize painfully at the prospect of having to see her again. It would be one thing if the images and notions in the article were the true state of affairs but that definitely wasn't the case, and her owl only served to reinforce the depressing fact. He knew he couldn't continue on with their little charade much longer without losing himself completely. Nor was he such a fool to believe she could ever feel anything for him in return. He should have taken her words from their first meeting as fair warning. She wanted a man who wouldn't pursue more. She knew the effect she had on men. It wasn't her fault that he'd been daft and allowed himself to fall anyway. It was no surprise to him now that men became utter berks for her. With lips, and eyes, and skin, and… and spirit like hers, a man would have to be dead not to be affected.

It was a sickeningly slow realization, but Percy came to the painful conclusion that there was no way he was going to make it out with his heart intact. It was unavoidable. It had simply become a matter of the sooner he put an end to it, the less amount of hurt he'd experience.

Taking a deep breath and pushing the article aside, he steeled himself for the task at hand. "Phyllis, could you come in here please?"

----------

Pansy paced about the sitting room, having made the circuit of the space more than half a dozen times. Stopping at the mirror over the hearth, she checked her reflection and nervously fidgeted with an odd strand of hair that just refused to stay in place. Suddenly, she heard the door click shut, and felt a small thrill of anticipation race through her. Spinning around, her breath hitched slightly at the sight of him. Merlin, when had she begun to find auburn curls so devastating? It took every ounce of will power she possessed not to skip across the room and pounce on him.

"Hello, partner!" she beamed then giggled.

Percy awkwardly cleared his throat at her choice of words, especially in light of their recent dinner conversation. Was she teasing him? Were his feelings for her that obvious?

He clasped his hands fiercely behind him and offered a tight-lipped "Hello."

Thrown by the unmistakable chill in his air, Pansy's light mood momentarily faltered. Trying her best to shrug off the overwhelming sense of foreboding, she bit her bottom lip playfully and sauntered over to him. Quite smoothly, she laced both of her arms around his left arm and hugged it fiercely to her chest.

"Why such a sad face? Did you miss me that much?" she purred.

Percy stiffened, and unceremoniously yanked his arm free so that he could cross to the window. That all but confirmed it. She was making fun of him.

"I've had a very long day, and am quite spent actually." He muttered, keeping his back to her.

Pansy moved to stand directly in front of him, and belying her growing alarm at his continued aloofness, asked lightly. "Well… how about we have a celebratory drink then?"

"You know I don't drink." He answered quietly, shifting his eyes out the window to avoid the sight of her.

"Right… Right, of course." She paused, frantically wracking her brain for another suggestion until an idea struck her. Stepping forward, she began to coyly fiddle with the buttons of his jacket. "I have a better idea. How about a light supper? I know a quiet, little place…"

Quickly pulling away from her, Percy moved to the settee in an attempt to put some distance between them. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to celebrate with you this evening. I am otherwise engaged."

As he settled onto the couch, Percy tried his damnedest to ignore the shocked hurt marring her features. He had to think of his own heart's welfare now. Her exuberance and coy smiles were far too addictive.

Suddenly, a scathingly black look shadowed her eyes, and she bit out angrily. "What do you mean? What are you doing? Who are you seeing?"

Percy's posture went ramrod straight at the unexpected turn in her nature, and he began to sputter in defense. "What? No…. No one. It's nothing like that. I… I just have a great deal of work to catch up on, so I'll be going back to the office after this."

"Oh." Pansy deflated a little. After another moment's consideration, she asked through a small pout. "You couldn't take the evening off just this once?"

Percy shifted anxiously. He was so torn. She was being so inviting and warm and interested… The better part of him wanted nothing more than to waste away the evening hours with her, coming up with all sorts of silly plans, but he couldn't ignore the voice screaming in the back of his mind to get out and fast.

"No. I'm already behind, and this is a very busy time of year for my department." He lied evenly. "Perhaps we should get on with discussing this next plan of yours."

Wandering over to the fireplace, Pansy began to worry her hands. Who was this detached man eyeing her so coldly? Where had the warm, gregarious, enjoyable companion from Friday evening gone?

"Right. Of course…" She began uncertainly. "Um… well… I was thinking it would be incredibly novel if… if you were to introduce me to your family, perhaps at some kind of get together. We could make sure word of the visit got out, and then Draco would hopefully take it as a sign that we were becoming more serious. He'd be furious. What do you think?"

Percy had grown incredibly quiet, having gone completely ashen.

"Percy? What do you think?"

"What do I think?" he finally uttered just above a whisper. "I think you're insane."

"I beg your pardon." She reeled.

"I have worked my arse off over this past year, trying to get back into their good books. After years of being a complete git to them… Do you know how long it's taken me to convince them I actually want to be back in the family fold? And you expect me to waltz in there with a…"

"With a what?" she fired at him. "With a what, Percy? With a pureblood snob? With a conniving Slytherin? You claim that my friends are close-minded. What about you and your lot? You won't even dare introduce me. If you really loved me…"

"Really loved you?" His voice shot up a full octave as he stood abruptly. "You want me to go in there and before my family, whom I'm trying to win over, confess that I'm in love with you?"

Both went absolutely still, Percy's words having come far too close to the mark for both of their unspoken wants.

Pansy swallowed hard, and tried to muster her courage. "Perhaps if you claimed that you really… well, you know… than your family would take it as a sign that you're trying to be honest with them. Trying to show them what's happening with you. And then, when I leave you for Draco…"

Percy's shoulders rode up with anxiety, the thought instantly making him nauseous.

"Then they could be there for you to pick up the pieces… so to speak." She continued.

Percy tried to think the idea through rationally… logically. It made sense if he looked at it from a completely analytical point of view. Initially, his family would hate the idea of him being with her, but they would learn to accept it if they thought he was really in love with her. Then when she inevitably chose Draco, seemingly leaving him heartbroken, they would flock to his side to comfort him. He could almost see his mother fawning on him, trying to ladle him with food.

This plan definitely had merit. It was a risk, but he'd get back into his family's good graces in a much more timely fashion if they thought he needed the emotional support. It was in fact a very clever scheme save for the minute detail that he actually was falling arse over tea kettle for her, and would be a wreck when the inevitable break up occurred.

"What do you think?" she asked again.

"Is this the last leg of the plan?" he leveled, not an ounce of emotion in his voice.

"What do you mean?"

"Will it be over after this? Are you going to go back to… to him once this thing with my family is done?"

"Do you want me to?"

The question completely floored Percy. "This isn't about what I want, Pansy."

"Yes, in part it is."

Percy's forehead scrunched up in confusion, and he gave his head a quick shake. "What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Well… well, I trust you. If you think it should end after this… then maybe it should. But… but if you felt we should carry on for a little longer…"

"How much longer?"

"As long as you think is necessary."

"No, Pansy. Again, this isn't my plan. You're the one who needs to decide how long it goes on for."

"I'm just saying that maybe we should carry on together for a while longer. Make it seem like a real relationship instead of a flash romance. You could even propose. That would force Draco's hand."

It was a lame excuse, but she wasn't ready for whatever was happening between them to be over.

"No." He bit out suddenly.

"Pardon?"

"I said 'no'."

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"I will not propose to you as some kind of ploy to goad that bastard into action."

"But Percy…"

"No Pansy. This is where I draw the line. When I ask y… When I ask a woman to marry me, I'm going to mean it. It'll be for real."

She stared at him gobsmacked. "Fine." She finally managed. "No fake proposals or engagements."

A thick silence descended clogging the already tense atmosphere between them. As Percy straightened his jacket in a bid to settle his frazzled nerves and sat back down, Pansy felt a burning panic rise in her chest at the disgruntled look etching its way across his face. Cautiously, she made her way over and gingerly sat herself beside him, folding her feet beneath her and laying her arm on the back of the couch just behind him.

"Percy," she uttered softly, "you… you still haven't said whether you're in or not for introducing me to your family. Are you game?"

Without turning to acknowledge her, he considered her words for a moment. Wordlessly, he gave a quick nod of consent as if it pained and disgusted him. Pansy swallowed back the swell choking her, and began to mindlessly play with the collar of his jacket, giving it her undivided attention. This was getting harder by the minute. He wouldn't turn to her. He wouldn't even look at her… His body language was completely closed off.

"When… When do you think would be a good time?"

"This coming Sunday. My parents are coming back from their vacation and we're having a brunch to welcome them home." He offered in a cool, clipped tone.

"That sounds lovely." She responded meekly.

Pansy let her gaze travel to his hair, and found herself becoming entranced by the thick waves teasing down the side of his head – it had definitely grown a little longer since their first meeting. It had gone from being almost too short and frizzy to the point where the natural curl had taken shape giving it an indescribable luster. Unable to stave off temptation, her fingers traveled up his neck and buried themselves in the waves. Instead of tensing further, Percy released an almost inaudible sigh at the contact and his eyes fluttered shut.

"What time?" she asked softly, mesmerized by the play of her fingers through the small curls just at the nape of his neck.

"Hmm?" he breathed out.

"What time does it start?"

"Eleven." He murmured, thoroughly focused on her hand's gentle ministrations.

"When would you like to meet?"

"Mmhm…" He hummed.

Pansy's eyes were drawn to his face and she had to bite back a giggle. He looked to be in a complete state of blissful relaxation.

She leaned in, and murmured in a sweet, low voice. "Percy, I asked when you'd like to meet me."

His eyes popped open, and he glanced about drowsily. "What? Oh, sorry."

Realizing that he had let himself be drawn in again, Percy bolted straight up and out of his seat, leaving Pansy to clumsily fall forward onto the cushions of the settee.

"Well, I really should be off. I'll be by around ten on Sunday to fetch you."

Pansy glanced up to see him retreating quickly toward the door. What had she just done? Why had she felt the compulsion to touch him like that? No one was around. There was no audience. There was also no need for such an affectionate gesture. What must he think of her? She had him all but running for the door now.

"Wait!" she called, staying his departure. He turned back, and eyed her nervously.

"I'm not going to see you until Sunday? Shouldn't we meet before then to… to make sure we've accounted for everything?" she supplied lamely as she rose to her feet.

"Like what?" he asked, taking a step toward her. "Is there something specific you want to have happen?"

"Well, no… not exactly. I just thought that we could… that we could have dinner or something to discuss any factors that might be of issue, such as the twins. We've only just outlined this next step. Don't you think it might be wise to flesh it out… I mean elaborate on it a bit more? We could always have something quiet here."

Percy felt his head begin to swim again. There was no way he could trust himself alone with her. "As much as I can understand how another meeting might help us, unfortunately, I'm quite swamped with work this week. Can we meet an hour earlier on Sunday, perhaps around nine, to go over these matters?"

Percy cringed inwardly at his overly efficient words and manner, but he really had to make it clear to her that their interaction must stay at a minimum for this arrangement to work.

"Um… all right. I guess that will have to do." Pansy replied sullenly.

"Right then. Sunday then." Percy nodded, still uncertain of what had just been accomplished. He had set out to end his involvement with her, and was instead now taking her to meet his family. How was that right?

'As long as I don't kiss her, I'll be fine.' He tried to reassure himself.

Suddenly, with two large strides Percy moved to the door, frantically grabbed for the handle, and fled the room. Pansy was left to mull over not only the feeling of loss squeezing her chest at not being able to see him for an entire week, but also to question his suddenly cold treatment of her.

A/N: Well, here it is. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

namelessxfreak: Falling in love is all in the circumstances. Anyone can be a victim of it.

Cheshire: Why, thank you :)

IHeartMCR: I wasn't making fun. You really did spell it correctly :) I know Percy isn't really that hot, but I wrote it from the perspective of a girl (Pansy) whose unknowingly falling for him.

Avanell: It was Pansy who made that comment to Ron, Dr. Avanell :D. However, there's actually going to be more going on with Ginny than Hermione ;)

kaededainecalwyn: Hey, I was complete shite when I started. It just takes practice, and I still have my off days (lots of them in fact).

sop: I love that... swelling of the insides... hehehe.

MagikCat: I try to update frequently, but life's been a little nuts lately. P and P both have their issues and insecurities that are getting in the way of what's right in front of them. As for Percy's daydream... well, he wouldn't tell me. He was very guarded about that particular fantasy... lol. The 'electric shock' will be explained a little more in later chapters. Harry and Draco are another story entirely, and that's all I'm saying on that.

As for the teaser, I'm not very good at those because I'm such a freak about wording. I can change a sentence's structure or vocabulary three or four times before I'm happy with it. Kind of ruins the teaser thing.

anonymous: thank you :)

Chaotic Demon: Now you know how I felt when I discovered them, and there was absolutely nothing out there to read.

ginger28: hahaha!!! Yeah, and now the show's out of the way. I should be updating everything shortly.