A/N: OMG, I'm so sorry for the lateness of this chapter. I never intended to let so much time pass without updating. Life just got a little crazy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 17 – The Best Of Intentions

Percy woke with a start, and groggily glanced about. Stretching his sore limbs his palms came into contact with the cool sheets on either side of him, and he became acutely aware of the fact that he was very much alone in the bed.

At this unfortunate realization, Percy bent his arms and let his knuckles settle into the hollows of his eyes, marveling dismally at his newfound solitude. Either last night was a dream – a figment of his wild imagination – or she really had been there but had left. Chose to leave in the early hours, and in doing so, avoided any kind of encounter with him. Both prospects were extremely upsetting – the first a clear indication of his quickly deteriorating mental state, and the second and far worse notion a sign that she not only regretted their night together but also wanted nothing more to do with him.

In an attempt to heave a large sigh, Percy inhaled deeply through his nose and nearly retched over the side of his bed at the incredible stench permeating the air. After finally recovering himself and steeling his resolve, Percy rested on his left elbow and took a big whiff of the air, trying to assess what it was he was actually smelling. The odor was a mixture of smoke, burnt flesh and, oddly enough, bacon cooked to perfection.

His dejection forgotten, curiosity drove Percy to sit up, swing his legs over the side of the bed, and glance toward his bedroom door. Now that his senses were more focused, he could just make out the soft chatter of two voices somewhere further off in his flat. Warily, he stood and made his way to his dresser to pull on a tee shirt and a pair of boxers, never allowing his eyes to stray from the doorway.

He cautiously made his way out of his bedroom, and easing his way down the hall, he tiptoed toward the kitchen, which seemed to be the origin of the conversation. As he peeked into his kitchen, there stood the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on with her hair tied into a messy bun. Clad only in his ratty, old dark green bathrobe, she was glaring down at a rather apologetic looking house elf, eyes big and round pleading for forgiveness.

"Tibby is so sorry, Mistress," the small elf began shakily, "Tibby did not mean to… to make Mistress unhappy. Perhaps Mistress would like to sit down and have a nice cup of tea while Tibby finishes making breakfast."

In the blink of an eye a steaming cup of tea appeared on the table.

"No Tibby. The point was that I wanted to make breakfast for the gentleman myself. You were only supposed to come over and help me clean up this mess. Not make the meal for me."

The small elf scanned the room with a disparaging eye and swallowed hard. It was her pained expression that led Percy to glance about himself. Once his eyes started their journey, he staggered back slightly stunned by the devastation that lay before him. There was a small stream of smoke billowing from his stove, the walls were covered in what he did not know, nor did he even want to venture a guess, and the ceiling seemed to be licked with several scorch marks. It looked as if a barnyard animal, or perhaps three, had literally exploded in the cramped space. Percy shook out of his stupor when he realized the elf had begun to speak again.

"Perhaps Mistress could watch Tibby clean up and make breakfast this time instead, and then Tibby could teach Mistress." The house elf then flinched, awaiting the vicious reprimand to come as a result of her audacious suggestion.

After a few long seconds of pent up tension, Pansy released a heavy breath and dropped her arms. "Oh, I'll just sit down and keep out of the way."

Percy chuckled lightly at her defeated tone, instantly drawing the attention of two sets of eyes. A small gasp sprang from the house elf, and in the blink of an eye, the kitchen was spotless. In the next second a beautiful breakfast spread appeared on the table.

As this all flashed before them, Pansy called out to her loyal servant. "No Tibby, it's all right. He doesn't have to think that I… " But the elf was long gone before Pansy could even finish her sentence.

Pansy glanced to Percy with fretful uncertainty, and playing nervously with the belt of the bathrobe, she muttered, "Good morning."

Merely the sound of her voice addressing him had Percy's heart rate jumping and a mad heat suffusing his face.

"Morning," he mumbled in response, driving his eyes downward to stare devoutly at his bare feet.

Percy shifted awkwardly on his feet and lightly bounced his hands against the sides of his legs before rubbing his quickly dampening palms against his boxers. He looked back up only to find Pansy poring an inordinate amount of attention into examining the frayed ends of the bathrobe's belt.

Unable to bear the tension any longer but at a complete loss as to what to say, Percy finally offered, "Breakfast looks lovely," as he grabbed for a chair and sat himself down stiffly.

The moment he heard his own voice break through the silence though, it was as if a brutal, mortifying reality came crashing into his mind. This couldn't be real. Their night together… this cozy 'morning after' scene…. None of it… It just couldn't be. How could a woman as truly gorgeous and brilliant as the one standing before him be anything but repulsed by the sheer thought of him?

Suddenly, unbidden images from the night before of her wound tightly around one Draco Malfoy in an intense embrace assaulted his mind's eye. Those visions only served to reinforce the vicious reprimands Percy was already inwardly lauding on himself. He was sure, under no uncertain terms, that there could be no way she truly loved him. But would she really stoop so low as to use his feelings for her to finally claim Malfoy? If he were being completely honest with himself, it wasn't a difficult concept to grasp.

He glanced up to Pansy, searching for some kind of reassurance that these fears were unfounded, but she refused to meet his gaze and had yet to make a move to join him at the table. Looking around his small unremarkable kitchen, he felt the weight of his own inadequacies start to weigh on him.

In those same short moments, Pansy's mind had also been working in overdrive but along a much different path. Initially, she had fidgeted where she stood, beyond uncertain of what her next move should be. She'd never felt so vulnerable or smitten in her entire life. One word… one disapproving look from him would easily shatter her. How could she have let this happen? How could she let a man have such power over her? A Weasley no less. This was unacceptable. Yes, she loved him. Adored him in fact. But she would not allow herself to cower and make herself wretched over this unbearable tension that had seemingly come from nowhere. They'd made love several times and freely admitted their feelings for each other. There was nothing to be concerned about. She should not be feeling so raw and susceptible.

Squaring her shoulders, Pansy steeled her resolve and forced herself into action. She jutted her chin out proudly and regally sat down at the table. In a true sign of bravery she glanced to the man seated across from her, who only hours ago had brought her to such unbelievable heights of pleasure, only to be met with a wall of aloof stillness.

She watched him for several long seconds as he defiantly chose to stare at his plate, his expression utterly unreadable.

Her agitation at his continued silence finally getting to her, Pansy snapped. "Are you going to eat your breakfast, or are you simply going to stare at it until it decides to do a two step?"

"What? Right. Yes. Sorry," Percy mumbled distractedly as he picked up his fork and began to push the eggs around on his plate.

Pansy continued to eye him warily, a growing alarm sounding off loudly in her mind. Why was he being so withdrawn? "Is something the matter? Don't you like eggs and sausage?"

"No. No, they're smashing," he muttered softly.

"Then what is it?" she pressed.

His eyes snapped up to meet hers, his piercing gaze like a shocking knife in her chest. "Why did you come after me last night? Why didn't you just stay with him?"

Pansy dropped her eyes down to her plate, flabbergasted. She was speechless in her shock. Was he serious, or simply just stupid?

Quickly finding her anger, she brought her gaze back up and pinned him with a vicious glare. "Are you kidding me? Why do you think?"

"I don't know. You tell me." He forged on through his mounting doubt.

"Because I'm in love with you, you stupid prat!" she railed, briskly standing up and throwing her napkin at him. "I thought that was fairly obvious what with me actually saying it and all last night."

Percy stood as well and tried to placate her. "Pansy…"

"No. I tell you that I love you… something I've never been very comfortable doing… and you have the audacity to stand there and accuse me of…. what… what are you accusing me of?"

"Pansy, I…"

"Did you mean any of it? What you said. When you said… well, you know…. that you…" The insecurity was so heavy in her voice she couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence.

"Of course I love you." He finished for her, but his hesitation was clearly evident.

"Then why are you acting like such an unbelievable ass?"

"You kissed Malfoy!" he finally snapped. "He kissed you! In front of everyone! How else do you want me to be? Do you have any idea what seeing you with him did to me?"

"I told you I don't know why it happened. It came out of nowhere. Why are you harping on this?"

"Because you kissed him back, damn it! You looked like you wanted it. You wanted him. That much was clear. How am I supposed to believe that you really love me when you up and… and snog some other wanker senseless in the middle of a dance floor?"

"I'm not with him, am I? I'm here with you. I gave myself to you. But I could be with him right now, you know." She threatened, her voice taking on a decidedly darker tone. "I could go over there and offer myself to him – heart, body, and soul – and I'm sure Draco would be more than happy to take me in."

Percy began to shake with unmitigated rage and jealousy; his fists clenched at his sides, the knuckles whitening painfully. After several long seconds in which he grew an unnatural shade of red, he finally burst. "Go on then, if that's what you really want! See if I care!"

"Maybe I will!" she snapped at him, hurt by his callousness.

"Fine! Then go!" he barked.

"Hello? You up yet, Perce?" Came a voice from the living room, breaking their spiraling argument.

"Excuse me." Percy muttered, throwing his napkin onto the table before marching from the room.

-----------

He entered the living room and the moment his eyes lit upon the two figures standing by his fireplace an overwhelming sense of dread swept through him.

"This isn't really the best time. What is it? What do you two want?" he grumbled at them.

"We just popped by to check up on our favourite brother." George responded innocently.

"We were concerned. You left the gala in such a huff last night." Fred added.

"Bull swaddle!" Percy spat. "What's the real reason?"

"Whatever do you mean, good brother?"

"Why such shortness. We were only trying to…"

"Please. I don't have time for this." Percy snapped as he glanced over his shoulder.

After their incredible row, he doubted greatly if his guest would still be in the kitchen when he returned, he wouldn't be surprised if she'd gone off to find the platinum blond, toffee-nosed git.

"Just hurry up and tell me why you're really here." He bit out.

Both men heaved a disgruntled sigh, and simultaneously cut worried sideways glances to each other.

"Gin made us. Said we had to make sure you were all right after we'd..." Fred quickly elbowed George in the ribs to stop his rambling admission.

"After you'd what? Why would Ginny make the two of you check up on me?" Percy pressed, suspicious of their apologetic tone. Yes, everyone had witnessed Pansy and Draco, but what did these two idiots have to do with it.

"It was just a silly prank, Perce old man." Fred offered.

"All for a good laugh, you know." George amended.

"What was? What are you talking about?"

Suddenly a female voice from the other room cut into their conversation. "Who's there, Percy?"

Percy's eyes momentarily rolled shut in dread. Maybe it would have been better if she had apparated away.

"No one," he called over his shoulder, "just work. I'll be back in a second."

He turned back to his brothers to find identical fish like expressions plastered on his their faces – eyes as wide as saucers and mouths gaping open.

"Who, the bloody hell, is that?" George hissed.

"None of your concern. Now out with you." Percy managed as he shooed them toward the door.

"Was that… Do you have a bird in your kitchen?" Fred managed, the humour finding its way back into his voice.

"Not just any bird, but Pansy Parkinson?" George snickered.

"Come on. Out with you." Percy opened the door and ushered the two men out into the hallway, ignoring their questions.

"That little bint just doesn't give up, does she?" George snarled.

"Watch it!" Percy snapped, pointing a long finger in his brother's face.

"So it is!" Fred chuckled. "Well, Ginny will be happy to know our little stunt didn't cause that much damage."

"What stunt?" Percy's eyes instantly snapped to his other brother.

The two men gave each other a knowing look and grew a little too serious for Percy's liking.

"We slipped a love potion into Malfoy's wine last night."

"You what!?!" Percy barked, and then quickly pulled the door closed behind him, ensuring Pansy wouldn't hear the rest of the conversation.

"Yeah, that's why he was all over your girlfriend at the party."

"What kind of potion exactly?" Percy pressed.

"Really quite funny actually. He thought he was with someone else. Don't know who it was. It would be brilliant to find out though, don't you think, Fred? You should have stuck around. The look on his face when he saw it was your little Ms. Parkinson he was snogging was priceless."

Percy looked down, his mind reeling with this new information. Suddenly, an alarming notion occurred to him.

"And what were the effects on Pansy?"

"Well, she was supposed to snog him madly once he kissed her." Fred huffed. "You know… give over completely, but she put up quite a fight from what I saw. We're going to have to work on that one."

"Maybe the potion doesn't work if the person already has feelings for someone else," George offered.

"That's a definite possibility. We'll just have to test that hypothesis and try to come up with a way around it if that's the case."

"Wait! Are you telling me they were both drugged?" Percy interjected, finally finding his voice.

"Pretty much." The twins chorused in unison.

"You bloody tossers!" Percy screamed.

"Morning!" A voice called, breaking through the tension.

The three men glanced down the hall to find Percy's neighbour standing in his doorway with newspaper in hand.

"Morning Oli!" George called.

"That was some prank you two pulled on Percy last night. I'd be stark, raving mad as well if it were me." Oliver started to snicker.

The three men just stared at him, utterly confused. Oliver Wood wasn't at the gala. How would he know about the love potion unless one of the twins had told him?

"The moaning and screaming, and all that bloody banging against the wall. Blimey Percy, you sounded like a right stud the way she went on." Oliver started to laugh outright. "Who'd you two use as your 'orgasming witch'?"

"I beg your pardon?" Fred sputtered.

Just then, Percy's face and, most likely, his entire body flushed a deep crimson when he realized he'd forgotten to put a silencing charm on his flat the night before.

"Was it Alicia? Tell her from me that she's quite the little actress. It sounded so real. Mind you, I think it was a little much having it go until three o'clock in the morning, but still a right good gag. You'll make loads on that one. Well… have a good one." And with that, the clueless berk disappeared into his flat.

Throughout Oliver's pleasantly ignorant ramble, both George and Fred's eyes had grown wider and wider as realization bowled them over. Once again alone, the twins slowly turned toward Percy as he faced them.

"Chatting my ar…." George barked just as Percy stepped back into his flat and quickly slammed the door on them.

Pressing his back against the door, Percy desperately scoped about the room. All of a sudden, a light rapping from behind startled him and he realized he'd have to face them and whatever ribbing they felt entitled to if he ever wanted them to leave.

Slowly he turned and eased open the door to find both of his brothers on their knees in a low bow. He stared down at them, confusion knitting his brow.

"What the…" he sputtered.

Suddenly, they both raised their arms up and bowed again. "We're not worthy… " they chanted simultaneously.

"Oh, get up you morons." Percy huffed, looking nervously down to both ends of the hall.

Standing quickly and chuckling, George handed Percy his morning edition of 'The Prophet' and snickered. "And here I thought we were the Romeos of the family, Fred."

"Seems our little Head Boy here has us all beat. Who'd have thought?" Fred rejoined as he stood as well.

"Nice to know you have some of the Weasley charm in you, Perce." George goaded.

"Oh, sod off!" Percy bit out sharply before shutting the door firmly in their faces.

----------

Cautiously, Percy peeked into his kitchen. Still seated at the table was a very sullen young woman deep in thought, mindlessly stirring her tea as she stared off into space. Had he forced that expression onto her delicate features? Did his remarkably idiotic behaviour really affect her that much? An uneasy pang of shame and guilt hit him square in the chest.

Percy took a few shuffling tentative steps forward, but this movement seemed to go completely unnoticed by Pansy. He gave a few final nervous swipes with first his right hand and then his left against his boxers as he juggled the newspaper back and forth. After one final shaky breath, he forced himself on and made his way around the table until he was standing right beside her.

Shaken from her depressing reverie by his close proximity, Pansy looked up with vulnerable, fretful eyes into Percy's down turned face. For the longest of moments he simply met her gaze with an unreadable expression, causing Pansy to fidget in her seat.

'Maybe I should have just left while he was out of the room,' she mused darkly.

Without warning, Percy quickly reached down, grasped her hands in his own, and pulled her to a standing position. In an awkward kind of dance, he traded spots with her and sat himself in her chair. With one final tug he pulled her gracelessly towards him, until she was sitting in his lap.

"What are you doing?" Pansy finally asked, nonplussed by his odd behaviour.

Through a smirk he managed. "I'm going to finish the breakfast you made me, and then I'm going to read 'The Prophet'."

Pansy marveled at this response, and then studied the rather put on dour expression on his face as he unfolded the newspaper and gave it a good shake.

"With me… like this… on your lap?" she asked, just needing confirmation that she hadn't gone crazy.

"Yes." He replied simply as he began to scan the front page of the paper.

"And what if I don't want to be sitting on your lap like this?" she pressed, forcing her chin up and out in an act of defiance.

He remained quite stoic as he met her gaze evenly, but Pansy could just make out the shift in his eyes that belied his uncertainty.

"Do you have another suggestion that you'd like to put forward?"

Pansy tried her hardest to keep the hopeful smile that was threatening her lips from surfacing. Whatever the reason for his change in mood, she was quite willing to leave it alone. He seemed happy to be with her now and she was not prepared to lose that regardless of how curious she may be as to what had changed his mind. That was not to say that she wouldn't make him suffer for causing her such stress though.

"I do, in fact," she responded, as a slightly cruel and playful scheme bubbled within her.

She stood up, took the newspaper from his hand, and placed it on the kitchen table. Staring down at him with as much mock contempt as she could muster, she puffed out her chest, straightened her shoulders, and crossed her arms in front of her. She watched as his shoulders sagged ever so slightly and his face became clouded with anxiety, and knew she couldn't hold out any longer.

"What if I want to sit like this?"

As she spoke, she playfully deposited herself back into his lap, straddling him, and wrapped her arms possessively around his neck. His hands instinctively fell to her hips to steady her, and a mad blush crept up his neck and took residence on his ears.

"Not that I have any complaints about the change, Ms. Parkinson," he stammered through a quirk of a smile, "but what pray tell is the difference?"

Freeing up her right hand, she coursed a finger shyly down his chest, and murmured. "Well, this way I have your undivided attention."

Percy's smile quivered with a suppressed laugh, and he ran his hands around to the small of her back, pressing her closer. "Really? Well that being the case, I can certainly make this concession for you. However, I do have some additional stipulations that must be addressed if we are to proceed."

"Oooh, I love it when you talk dirty," she purred before giggling lightly. "Please, by all means, list your demands."

Pansy swung her legs back and forth like a little girl, inadvertently grinding herself intimately against him. At the unexpected friction, Percy groaned deeply and his eyes momentarily fluttered shut. A devilish grin spread over Pansy's lips as she reveled in her newfound power over him.

Lacing her arms more tightly around his neck, she pressed her chest against his, and whispered. "Unless of course, you'd rather…"

"No. No!" he panted. "There are a few matters that need to be discussed."

Pansy eased back from him a bit and although she didn't know what to expect, in light of their earlier argument, she felt herself retreating from what was possibly to come.

"Go on then." She offered warily.

Percy swallowed back the knot of fear that had risen in his throat and took a steadying breath.

"I was an incredible prick earlier, and I'm sorry," he managed, rubbing her back ever so slightly. "You were thoughtful enough to make breakfast, and I was an inconsiderate clod."

Pansy blinked at him a few times, gobsmacked. She wasn't used to apologies from the men she dated. Normally they would shift the blame to her even if the fault actually lay at their own feet. "That's… um… You were… It's fine. Really…." she stammered.

Pulling his right arm around and between them, he placed his index finger on her lips, effectively silencing her. He then cupped her cheek and ran his thumb over her bottom lip reverently. "It's not fine. I should have trusted you. It's just hard for me to believe that someone as brilliant as you could really feel that way about me of all people. And for the record, I really am mad about you. I wouldn't become such a mindless twat over just anyone."

Her eyes shining a little more than normal, Pansy tittered a little and wrapped her arms around his neck. She then pressed a quick kiss to his lips and hugged him fiercely..

Eventually, Percy pulled away and let his eyes dance over her face before murmuring softly. "Well, with that out of the way, I would dearly love to finish my breakfast. I'm famished, and everything looks absolutely delectable."

At this, his eyes ran lecherously down to the vee of her robe that was starting to ease open. Pansy didn't fail to catch his intent, or his wandering eye.

"And after you've devoured… everything. What then?" she whispered hoarsely.

"I believe I would like to teach you how to make my mother's famous chocolate chip cookies."

"I beg your pardon?" she blurted out, completely thrown by this suggestion. What did making cookies have to do with… well… with what she wanted to do?

"I realize it's not pudding, but raw cookie dough can really be quite a treat."

Pansy's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "Raw cookie dough? I've never had that. Is it any good?"

"You've never had… " he gaped at her, marveling at her lack of childhood experience. "It's amazing… especially when shared." He leered at her suggestively and began to run his hands up and down her back.

"And after that? What then?" she prodded, slowly loosening the knot on her robe.

Following her hands' activity and eyeing the ever-growing revelation of flesh, he managed distractedly. "Well, we'll both be extremely sticky by that point and will be in desperate need of a shower."

Allowing the bathrobe to slip completely from her shoulders, Pansy murmured. "I adore hot showers."

"God! Me too." He growled, coursing his hands up her bare back as he eyed the luscious curves before him.

"It sounds as if you have quite a tight schedule planned for us, Mr. Weasley." She pulled the hem of his tee shirt up and over his head and with little further regard for the garment, threw it across the room. "Perhaps we should get started."

Percy couldn't even summon the presence of mind to respond. He took her lips in a bruising kiss and no more was said for quite some time.

A/N: As I said at the top, I'm really sorry for the wait. Life's been a kicking monster lately. (Lisa, you know what I mean... lol. And why the heck have you still not reviewed? Just kidding... lol)

MagikCat: I can completely sympathize with the craziness of life thing. And you are very right. The paradise won't last ;)

autumnlover: Thank you so much. They're an odd pairing, but so fun when you get into them.

IHeartMCR: Well, I had to give them something. They won't be together for long. MWAHAHAHA!!!!!

Avanell: Yes, but you know me. It won't last... lol.

namelessxfreak: You know Percy so well. lol.

gingerale22: Thank you so much. That wasn't incoherent at all. lol. There are definitely some twists ahead. A few things have to be resolved before they can be truly happy together.

miss Jane Poltergeist: lol. Thank you. I felt little butterflies when I wrote it.

Sunshine Silverjojo: Thank you so much. It always kind of surprises me when people say these two are a strange match. I think they're really well suited to each other.

kalira: It was Percy's turn to nearly stuff it up this time. And surprisingly, it's the twins of all people who set him right.

charma10: It's sad but true. I go hunting sometimes for Percy/Pansy but with little success.

stoneofpurity: COOKIES AND MILK?!? I'll get right on that. lol. That story line is about to rear it's ugly and tumultuous head.

Miss Anthrope: Thank you so much. It means a great deal hearing you say that. I'm so picky sometimes that I can't always see the value in my writing.

EmmaMaelstrom: There may be some angsty H/D in there. I'm just that evil ;)