Disclaimer: This story is based on the universe created by J. K. Rowling, super genius.
A/N: It's been a long time since I updated this story. Chapter six is actually almost done. In case you read this story only when it first came out, I've gone back and re-edited chapters one through four, fleshing them out somewhat. This chapter introduces Percy's side of things. I hope you like it, please R&R! More to come for this story soon, as well as a new chapter for Private Lessons, I promise!
Chapter Five – Percy's Perspective
Percy collapsed into his brown leather recliner with a deep sigh. He glanced around his living room. It was very tidy, with clean white walls and shiny hardwood floor, and many mahogany bookshelves lining the room. He rubbed at his eyes, and kept them shut for a while.
'Who knew a simple request for an interview would turn into this?' he thought to himself.
He let out a deep sigh, feeling emotionally drained. Seeing someone from his past, someone connected to his family stirred up a lot of old emotions. Day by day, he had been living without hope of seeing his family again. It had been hard, certainly, and it only got harder after Penelope…
'Gods, poor Penelope…'
That was just more old pain he had to rehash for Hermione tonight. Percy had long since stopped pining for his dead love and moved on with his life, though he still felt occasional twinges of guilt for doing so. He knew she wouldn't have wanted him to stop living on her account, just as he would not have wanted that for her if their positions had been reversed – and for months, he had wished that was so.
But despite the decision to keep living, his life for the past several years had been rather lonely and empty. Few friends – more colleagues than friends, really, as Percy's lifelong habit of keeping anything personal private made it difficult for him to connect with people. Finn had really been the only one to force his way in.
There had been women, of course, but nothing with any potential for permanence or real emotional intimacy, so things always fizzled before long.
Yes, there had certainly been a gap in his life, one that was supposed to be filled by family. And worse, he had to live with the fact that he himself had created that gap, and had no clue as to how to bridge it.
But Percy had a feeling rising in him that he was sure he hadn't experienced in a long time – hope. Seeing Hermione tonight had given that to him. Oh, she was mad, no questions there, but she had eventually heard him out. Agreed to help him, even, which he wasn't sure she would. And no, she may not be family, but she was as close to them as he'd been in a long time.
'This might just be exactly what I've been waiting for all these years,' Percy mused to himself as he reclined, and began to drift off. 'A chance.'
A strong sunbeam managed to breach the cracks between the blinds of Percy's windows and fell across his closed eyes. His eyes squeezed shut more tightly for a few moments before opening slowly, through several blinks.
"Mmph," he mumbled incoherently to himself. "What time is it?"
He rolled over in the large, comfortable chair, and started to fall back to sleep. In the second that his eyelids fluttered, however, he caught a glimpse of the clock on the wall.
"NINE THIRTY?" he hollered, hurling himself out of the recliner and halfway across the room in a single bound. "How did it get to be this late? I'm never late for work, never! Eldritch is going to do his nut if he catches me. Where are my shoes?"
He continued to ramble irritably to himself as he hurried to find his briefcase and shoes. He quickly weighed the options of whether he had time for a shower and a change of clothes, but realized that it would only make his tardiness that much worse.
Percy attempted to smooth his hair in the hallway mirror, followed by a quick Cleansing Charm in effort to spruce up a little, before finally Apparating into the Ministry entrance – now officially over forty minutes late for work.
Finn's eyes widened at the sight of his ever-punctual co-worker trying his best to sneak over to his desk well past the start of his shift.
"If I wasn't seeing it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it! Percy Weasley, just where have you been?" Finn asked, slightly louder than Percy would have preferred, as he approached his desk.
"Shut up," Percy hissed, looking around the office to see if their boss was anywhere in sight.
Finn laughed. "Ha! I don't know what you're worrying about, Percy. Eldritch doesn't get in before half past ten. You wouldn't have noticed, of course, as you always get in an hour early and don't look up from your work 'til lunchtime. But it's completely safe for me to be taking the piss right now."
Percy glared at his friend, but breathed a sigh of relief all the same. He removed his robes, and rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt before sitting at his desk. Finn's eyes widened further.
"Oh no. Oh no! Not only late for work, Percy, but is this the Walk of Shame I detect?" he asked, his voice getting louder as he took more pleasure in the ridicule.
"What are you talking about?" Percy grumbled, somewhat absently, while sorting his desk.
Finn stood and pointed at Percy gleefully. "You! In the same clothes! As last night!"
Percy looked at his own rumpled outfit, and put his face in his hands. "Oh god."
"I saw you follow that reporter. Percy, you got shagged last night, and you came into work late! Ha! Who'd have thought you'd have it in you to be that reckless with a workday? It must have been pretty great in order for you to forget to change, and come in over an hour and a half later than usual. Let's see, who should I tell first?"
"No, you don't understand!"
"Not Eldritch, he'd fire you on the spot… 'fraternizing inappropriately with the press' or some such grounds. Not that he and that Rita Skeeter didn't used to be involved in an illicit affair – the hypocrite. I can't tell sweet little Hazel from Accounting, it'd break the poor dear's heart, I think she's always held a candle for you… Never mind the fact that she's about thirty years your senior…" Finn rambled on.
"Would you knock it off?" Percy said finally, some anger in his voice.
"What, you really don't want me to tell Hazel?" Finn asked mischievously.
"No, you just don't understand everything about last night," Percy insisted, exasperated. "The reporter… Hermione Granger… She was, well…"
"Very attractive, mate, a very nice bit of skirt, I can understand why you slipped away from me to chat her up some more," Finn interrupted, trying to validate his friend's actions for him.
"No! She, she…knows my family," Percy finished.
"Oh," said Finn, colour draining from his face as he gained understanding of the situation. He awkwardly shifted his weight from one side to the other, while trying to come up with something to say. "Are they… close?"
"Extremely. She's practically been adopted by them."
"Wow. Well then." Finn paused for a long while, and Percy used this opportunity to start getting his work out. It seemed as though he was going to be able to make up for the time he lost coming in late when Finn spoke up again.
"Right. You're coming to dinner tonight."
Percy put his work down. "No, Finn, I couldn't possibly."
"You could and you will," Finn answered.
"I have too much work to catch up on; I'm already behind on my day from coming in late…"
"You're in early every day. We both know you're ahead on your work. And mine, for that matter."
"I don't want to trouble Moira…"
"Moira's making a ham tonight, and always cooks too much. And Aisling hasn't seen you in ages, so you'd be best bringing her a surprise if you want to stay on her good side. She has a mean cold shoulder, you know," Finn insisted. He knew he was playing his cards right. Past experience showed that Percy could never say no to Aisling.
Percy sighed. "What time shall I be by?" he asked, resignedly.
Finn clapped. "Excellent, mate! Be by at six thirty! I'll let you off the hook of talking about last night 'til then!"
Percy rolled his eyes, but was glad to be able to focus on his work.
Percy arrived at Finn's house at six twenty-five – always punctual. He raised his fist to knock on the door, but it swung open before he could.
Finn smirked at his friend standing in his front door. "So predictable, Percy," he greeted him smugly. "Always five minutes early."
Percy grinned wryly, and passed his friend a bottle. "I brought you some wine, and a little something for Aisling."
"That'll make her happy. Come in, Moira's just finishing up in the kitchen."
Percy followed along to the kitchen, where Moira, Finn's wife, was setting the table.
"Evening, Percy! Glad you could join us tonight," she greeted him with a smile.
Moira was only one year Percy's senior, with very pale skin and jet black hair she kept in a tidy pageboy cut. Percy was about to return Moira's greeting when a tiny girl came sprinting in his direction.
"Uncle Percy, Uncle Percy!" Aisling squealed, wrapping herself around Percy's left leg.
"Hi Aisling, how have you been?" he asked fondly, placing a hand on her head. Aisling, Finn and Moira's energetic four-year-old daughter, looked exactly like a miniature version of her mother. However, having been born and raised in England, she didn't have the thick Irish brogue of her parents.
She suddenly unwrapped herself from Percy's leg and stood with her hands on her hips, frowning at him. "You haven't come to see me in forever," she grumbled.
Percy bent down to eye-level with her. "I know, and I'm sorry. Is there any way you can forgive me?" he asked.
She huffed angrily for emphasis. "I don't know…" she said.
He drew his hand into a pocket inside his robes, and pulled out a silvery-coloured plush panther. Aisling gasped gleefully, clapping her hands together.
"Just like Mummy's Patromus!" she exclaimed, taking the toy from Percy's hands and giving it a hug.
"Exactly like your mum's Patronus," Percy replied, while Moira grinned at the pair of them.
"What do you say to your Uncle Percy?" Finn asked over his shoulder, pulling the cork from the bottle of wine Percy brought him.
"Thank you, Uncle Percy!" Aisling chanted, giving him a hug. As she let go and stepped back, she had a stern look on her face again. "But you'd better not wait that long before visiting me again!"
He hung his head in mock shame. "I won't," he replied, sounding thoroughly reprimanded.
Looking satisfied that her lecture had sunk in, Aisling ran off to put her new toy with her other cherished possessions.
"Come along, then, Percy, Aisling's already eaten. It'll just be the grown-ups at the table tonight," Moira said in her charming lilt.
"Yes, come on, Perce," Finn said, pulling out the chair for his wife to sit down. "And Moira, I believe he has a very interesting story for us this evening."
Percy had finished relaying the whole sordid tale of the night before by the time Moira was setting out dessert of sticky toffee pudding. He made sure to tone down the verbal abuse slightly in case Aisling overheard.
When he finished, Finn let out a low whistle. "What a night you had, mate. Again, I'm real sorry for taking the piss this morning."
Percy waved his hand, as though to convey Finn shouldn't think anything of it. "You couldn't have known."
"Hardly the point," Finn said, looking guilty.
"Just forget it. I've got bigger fish to fry now, anyway," he assured him.
"So what's going to happen next?" Moira asked, trying to hold in an urgent, impatient tone in her voice.
Percy sighed. "Well, she said that she would help me. We're going to meet regularly. I got her to agree to once a week – Sunday lunches, but starting next week. I don't know what we're going to do, or what she has planned… But, surely it's a better start than the last several years, isn't it?"
Moira and Finn nodded enthusiastically.
"Definitely," Finn answered. "This is what you've been waiting for, isn't it? You must be thrilled."
Percy drummed his fingers on the table. "I've been waiting for the opportunity to get back in touch with my family, certainly. But through Hermione Granger? I'm a bit nervous about that, to be quite frank."
"Nervous? Why would you be nervous?" Finn asked. "She forgave you, didn't she? And she seemed nice enough. Lovely girl."
Moira turned to her husband, eyes suddenly shooting daggers. "Was she now?" she said, in a voice that bordered on the dangerous.
"I… uh… only in that she…" Finn stuttered.
Percy cut in. "Don't worry, Moira. He followed the rules, and acted like a complete sod. No woman in their right mind would find him attractive after that."
"Is that true?" Moira asked, suspiciously.
Finn held up his right hand. "I swear, Moira, I was a complete div. She would have no reason to like me."
"She even called him smarmy later," Percy added.
"You didn't tell me that," mumbled Finn, annoyed.
Moira looked satisfied. "But why would you be nervous about this, Percy?" she asked, taking up the prior conversation with a folding of her arms. "If she seems so nice…"
"Nice, brilliant, hard-working, heroic, yes. But if I recall, the spats she'd get into with my brother Ron were legendary. And when she tore into me last night, let's just say it was only slightly less terrifying than that encounter with Fred and George from some years back that I've told you about," Percy finished.
Finn and Moira winced at that remark.
"But you're still going to try?" Finn asked.
"Well, yes, of course," Percy answered. "But for all I know, she still thinks I'm a git, and she couldn't be blamed for thinking that. But what if she changes her mind, and decides not to help me? This is the first chance I've had in years, and it could very well be the only one I ever get. I'm going to have to do something to convince her otherwise, to prove that I'm not the same Percy who left my family behind because of pure, bloody egotism."
Moira smiled. "Well, you're not that Percy anymore," she assured him, patting his hand. "We know that, you're such a good bloke. Does this Hermione know any of your friends? They could make for character references, of a sort. She sees you know good people, who think well of you… It proves you're a good, likeable person. Right?"
Finn nodded. "That's not a bad idea. Got any friends who she knows?"
Percy grimaced. This was a confession he didn't really want to have to make – it sounded pathetic. "Not so much, no…"
"Well, who do you see socially? You can introduce her to your friends if you're going to be seeing each other on a regular basis," Finn pressed on.
"It really would make sense," added Moira. "Who do you know?"
"Well, there's you two…" Percy stated flatly.
When the silence had continued a bit longer than it should have, Finn spoke up. "And?"
Percy sighed. "And that's it."
Moira cleared her throat. "You're kidding."
"Well, I'm busy with work, and I just… am not very close with many people," Percy finished.
"Merlin," Finn said in response, rubbing his hand against his shaved head. "I knew you were separated from your family, I didn't know you had separated from the rest of the world, too. Well, that seals it, Percy. We will help prove to Hermione that you're not a git."
"How? She thinks you're a git, too," Percy pointed out.
Moira cut in. "Look, Percy, if Finn and I meet this girl with you at some point early in to this, we'll be able to help vouch for your character. You just try and explain at some point why Finn was acting like a complete tit. In the mean time, you should try and prepare for your first meeting with her. Think about things – what this means to you, how far you'd be willing to go to get your family back. Strategize. Organize the way you would for work. Then she'll understand how seriously you are taking this."
She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms, looking satisfied with her advice, and smirking at her dumbstruck husband. Percy leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"You're right, Moira," he started. "I've… I've got to go home and think. You've both been a great help to me, and I'd like to introduce Hermione to you both fairly soon, if possible. I know you've already met her, Finn, but you could meet her properly, and not have to act like a complete twat."
Finn looked momentarily offended, but seemed to give in quickly. "Guilty," he acknowledged.
Moira smiled. "We've love to meet her," she said.
All three stood up from the table. "Thank you for a lovely dinner, Moira," Percy said, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. He shook Finn's hand, and made his way to the door, his friends close behind.
"I'm going to think this through. Hermione won't be able to change her mind or refuse me if I'm fully prepared," he spoke aloud, trying to assure himself along with Finn and Moira.
Finn slapped him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit, mate. I know you, after spending the night mulling this over, you'll come into work tomorrow one hundred percent sure it's all going to work out."
Percy grinned, and stepped out the door, thinking to himself, 'I hope you're right.'