The rest of the summer was some sort of blur. Percy had worked at some sort of apothecary that Snape runs. He enjoyed working with the potions professor. The man was broody but Percy had enough positivity to get through the day for both of them.
Snape never really talked to him about personal stuff but mostly potions, however, he has no problem with that. One time Hermione visited to pick up the hair potion that Percy made and the professor had sent her out of the apothecary, stating that no personal business was done at his store.
The weirdest thing, however, was Malfoy's mother walking through the door once a week that he worked at. She'd be polite to Percy, which was surprising. Then she started talking about his blood and how great it was for it to be passed down so many generations.
Then she would ruin it by calling Hermione a filthy mudblood, Percy had immediately sent her to the back where Snape sat in his office. Sometimes Draco's mother would also ruin it by staring at him before leaving to go to the back. But as far as Percy knows, the mother has knowledge of Bellatrix' fascination with him, probably heard from her death eater husband. He can see where Draco had gotten his manners from.
Talking about Draco, she once walked in with him. The snotty expression on his face never left but he certainly looked surprised to see him working in the store. "Grindelwald." He spit out.
Percy kept his chin up, "Snape is in the back, Mrs. Malfoy." He said, not even acknowledging his fellow slytherin. He watched as Draco sneered at him and he'd roll his eyes. He learnt a lot while he did his apprenticeship at the apothecary. He also rather enjoyed it.
One day he went home to find out that Hermione wasn't there. In a panicking mess he looked around and threw the cushions of the couch over for even a trace of her, but among his apartment were only traces of her. Books, the occasional mug and her Dumbledore's Army coin, she had also taken up the habit of fidgeting with them.
He panicked until he saw the most obvious letter on the fireplace, he read it with some effort and finally sighed out a breath of relief. Percy wanted to surprise her by taking her out for dinner but he supposes that it'll be a group celebration. He had kept the last day of his apprenticeship a secret, so the dinner would be a surprise as well.
Percy apparated after he quickly waved his wand to clean the place up, he appeared outside of their home with a crack.
He knocked on the door and it was quickly opened by Fred, "Percy!" The guy said and pulled him inside, "Hermione was just telling us about you!"
Percy raised his eyebrows, "About me?" He questioned and he was pushed into the kitchen, "You guys already know me?" He called out and he looked at the people in the kitchen, he smiled and awkwardly waved as he walked into the room where Hermione was passionately listing things off while Ginny and Molly listened closely.
"Is this a girl's gossip session?" He asked and was pulled in a hug by Molly, he noticed the woman nod at Hermione while rubbing her arm and flexing it a bit. Then Ginny randomly hugged him which was a surprise because Ginny never before had hugged him.
Percy walked over to Hermione and leant down to kiss her cheek, "I think the twins might be listening with you." He said, "If this is a girl's gossip session." He teased.
Hermione rolled her eyes and looked annoyed. She quickly looked around before looking under the table and pulling out a piece of string from under it. "Molly!" she complained and blushed, "They heard everything."
Percy raised his eyebrows, "Were you saying a lot about me?" He asked, genuinely curious. Hermione stood up after pulling the cable and hearing a thud in the room next door. She hurried Percy out of the door while Molly got rid of the cable. "Missed you too?" He said questionably.
"Sorry, Percy! We need answers." Ginny called out while Hermione blushed and looked up at him. She pressed a kiss against his lips, the kind of kiss that leaves you a bit dazed and flustered, "Is that a sorry enough?" She asked.
Percy blinked a few times and dumbly nodded, "Good, be out in half an hour!"
"Or more!" The voice of Ginny called out. He was slightly pushed aside by Tonks as she also entered and walked through the kitchen door. He looked confused and slightly disoriented as he walked to the living room.
"Nice going," Fred, "Perseus." George. "You know they were talking about you." Fred nodded with an impressed smile on his face. "Looks like you're quite the sensation in bed." George continued and Percy's eyes widened.
"They're talking about that?"
"Just a bit, mostly about your physique." George stated.
Fred continued, "Ginny started it and mum confessed that dad was never in such body shape at your age."
Percy kept blushing and shook his head, "You know what? I'm better off with not knowing what they're talking about." He decided and sat down on the couch. He looked at the sound where the noise of creaking stairs came from and he saw Ron and Harry walk down the steps.
"Oh, Percy." Harry said as he suddenly saw Percy on their couch.
"You're here." Ron added.
Percy nodded, "I am." He said.
"How was working with Snape?" Percy had stayed at the Burrow for a few days before he went back to London in order to be near the apothecary, so he hadn't visited since then.
"Good, could be better." He didn't elaborate any further and they nodded. The two boys looked at each other and nodded, already expecting the answer.
The five continued talking and it finally landed on the topic of Draco Malfoy being a death eater now, Percy frowned and looked deep in thought. It looked like it was a family tradition to follow a dark lord.
The front door opened and there walked through another Weasley, assuming by the red hair. After him walked in another woman, "Fleur?" Percy asked out loud, surprised by the sudden appearance of the woman.
"Perseus?"
Fred and George looked at each other.
He stood up and looked at the Weasley, "You're Bill, right?" He asked as he looked over to the family clock. "Nice to meet you," He said and shook his hand.
Bill nodded and talked some more before Percy and Fleur finally hugged, "Gods I haven't seen you since-"
Fleur and him shared a small laugh. She was a legacy of Venus that appeared to help fight against Gaea. Desperation bled through everyone then.
The three talked some more, after seeing that Bill knows. The respect on his face was noticeable. They talked some more and they eventually left for Arthur's study.
Finally the kitchen door opened and Percy watched as the women streamed out of the door, he watched Tonks shoot him an amazed look on her face as she swiftly walked out of the door. Ginny giggled as she looked over to Percy and back at Hermione.
The girl quickly walked over and sat down next to Percy, burying her head into his shoulder. "What did you tell them?"
Hermione shook her head and just continued to cuddle into Percy. The man shook his head and chuckled before pulling her closer. The two laughed and talked before Percy checked his watch and stood up.
"I should go," He said and looked at Hermione, "You staying the night or are you staying?"
Hermione stayed seated and looked up at him, "I'm staying the night actually." She said, "I'll see you tomorrow morning?"
Percy smiled and leant down to press a kiss against her forehead, "I'll see you tomorrow morning." The girl smiled up at him and he nearly didn't want to leave.
—
When Percy woke up in the morning he made himself breakfast and sat by the kitchen counter as he sipped on his tea. His eyes kept glancing back at the fireplace and he missed Hermione.
The dreams were getting worse and he didn't know how to stop them on his own. However, sleeping together with Hermione did stop them.
His eyes snapped back as he noticed something fly over to his open kitchen window. He gulped when he noticed that it was a red letter, a howler. He noticed the letter already getting hot in his hands and he swiftly opened it.
"Perseus Grindelwald! I have been sending you mail these past two months and there has been nothing of any answer of sorts." The loud voice of Dumbledore carried over the whole house and Percy looked into the hall, the letters were neatly stacked on the small table. "Assuming you don't want your house to explode, you opened this letter immediately!" The man scolded him over a letter and Percy winced.
"Now that I have your attention! You've been selected as a teachers assistant seeing as you don't have to take potions anymore. Professor Slughorn was happy to take you on as an assistant and will be showing you the ropes of being a professor!" Percy looked taken aback, "Your responsibilities will be in your mail, along with other things." He scrambled up and lunged for the mail.
He heard the howler explode and he sighed, he opened the mail and walked back over to his breakfast. Different letters were accounted for, some he had never seen before and some he most likely just didn't want to read.
Out of the corner of his eyes he saw the flames of green and he started to open his letters, "'Mione?" He called out and walked into the living room.
"Yeah?" She replied and another voice cut in.
"Do you know what pants are?"
Percy pursed his lips and turned straight around, "Harry, how nice of you to announce yourself as well." He called out as he went up his stairs.
He quickly put on pants and he walked back down the stairs to see Hermione already sitting and eating his breakfast. Harry was sitting opposite to her, reading a newspaper. "Goodmorning." He said and walked over to Hermione, kissing her cheek.
"Are you finally going through your mail?" She asked and looked back up at him.
He looked at her, "You knew that I had this much mail?"
"I tell you about it every dinner, what made you finally go through them?"
"Dumbledore sent me a howler this morning." Hermione choked on her food and Harry snorted.
"Oh god." Hermione said and looked up at him, "You waited long enough for Professor Dumbledore to send you a howler, seriously Percy?"
Percy pursed his lips and nodded. The letters were still left unread on the table and he sat down beside his girlfriend. He grabbed the letters and started to read. "Oh," He said.
Hermione looked at him.
"I'm getting my own room." He said. "What time are we leaving?"
"In an hour." Hermione said, "Did you also see Slughorn's letter?"
"Slughorn? He's staying?"
"He mentioned that he's the potions teacher now in the letter. We're invited to his club." Hermione said and Percy nodded.
"Alright. When do we need to go?"
—
Percy and Hermione stepped into the prefect carriage and he ignored the side glances that Malfoy gave him. "What are you doing in here, Grindelwald? This is for prefects only."
"Haven't you put it together yet, Draco?" Percy said, "I'm a teacher's assistant now." He informed Malfoy, "I'll be helping Professor Slughorn teach the first years."
"But you're not a prefect." Draco stated.
"No, I don't. But as a teacher's assistant I can be here." He said and sat down besides Hermione in another booth. The conversation was over.
He leant over to Hermione and smiled as he dug his wallet out to show the photo. "How long have we been together now?" He questioned, silently.
Hermione smiled, "I believe that we've been together for about eight months now." She whispered back and Percy smiled as he kissed her forehead. They talked for the rest of the ride until it was finally time to go for lunch in Slughorn's compartment.
Percy quickly scrambled together the documents he had to complete in order to properly be prepared for helping Professor Slughorn teach. He noticed Blaise was standing up as well and he nodded politely.
Never before had he talked with the guy, but if he was going to be in a room with a fellow slytherin, Percy is glad that it is the quiet Slytherin and not the down right offending Slytherin like Draco.
Percy walked through the door after Blaise and looked around, "I don't think they hand these out for teacher assistants, right?" Percy joked as he held his hand out to shake Slughorn's hand. "Thank you for the invitation, professor. I'm looking forward to working alongside you."
"Excited to work alongside you as well, Perseus." The man said and continued to speak, "I was pleasantly surprised that Severous suggested you for this position, I think he recognized himself in your potion making and didn't want the recognition to just pass."
Percy was surprised, Severous recommended him for a position as teacher's assistant? He nodded as he walked over to sit down besides Hermione as the professor continued to greet everyone.
"Perseus, I don't know if you already know Melinda here. Her family owns a large chain of apothecaries." He turned towards the Ravenclaw, "Percy here has gotten his N.E.W.T.S. early by the recommendation of Professor Snape. He will be my assistant whenever he has any free hours."
Percy felt the time-turned feel heavy around his neck. It was only to be used when the classes he has to assist overlap with his own. Hermione cringed upon seeing it, she told him about her third year at Hogwarts using it.
They nodded at one another, exchanging some formal greetings. Ginny and Harry sat besides one another and Percy silently cringed whenever he heard Slughorn ask Neville questions.
"-I'm thinking of trying out for keeper again this year." McLaggen says, "Don't you think that's a good idea, Hermione."
Percy blinked as he looked up from his plate to look at the Gryffindor. Hermione patted Percy's leg, sending him a look stating they were going to talk about it later. "Sure, Cormac. You'll have to go against Ron though."
"That's an easy win." The guy scoffed and Percy looked at Harry with an amused look in his eyes. "Weasley doesn't know the strategy like I do."
"Just don't eat any doxy eggs the night before." Harry said and Percy silently snorted.
Cormac turned to Percy, "What are you even doing here?"
"Well," Percy looked over at Harry, "I've been invited, and you Harry?"
"Well I've actually been invited as well." Harry replied.
"No!" Cormac was red now, "As in why are you invited to the Slug Club?" Everything the guy was doing at the moment was annoying Percy so much. Even the way that he held a spoon was pretentious.
Percy sighed, wondering how many times he was going to have to repeat himself, "I'm going to be Slughorn's teacher assistant, for this year. Potions." Percy said. McLaggen looked suspicious of him and squinted at him.
"I thought you were just a pity invite." Cormac hissed as he looked at the back where Slughorn was talking with someone. "Right Hermione?" He asked, "I'm far better than him."
Percy raised his eyebrows, feeling very confused. "What the fuck?" He questioned under his breath as he looked over at Hermione. Hermione who just looked tired. She shook her head, "No, Cormac. Percy has gotten into the club due to his own accomplishments. His connections in America go well beyond what we can imagine." Percy snorted, damn right.
McLaggen just huffed and held his head high. Gods, this guy is insufferable.
After lunch they talked and mingled some more before they went back their own ways and Percy bursted out with a series of complaints about Cormac as soon as the guy disappeared. "Who does he think he is?" Percy exclaimed. "Asking me why?"
He put a hand on his chest, gesturing at himself, "Why? Because I'm his teacher's assistant and literally one of the youngest to get their N.E.W.T.S. in potions!" He exclaimed and Hermione put a hand on his shoulder and Percy stopped complaining.
She cringed. "He was staring at the aphrodisiac potion which I was holding and smiled at me." Percy raised his eyebrows, "Ginny was looking at them." Hermione hit his arm playfully and Percy laughed, pulling her closer.
"I don't need an aphrodisiac potion." He flirted and winked.
"Seriously? How many more conversations do we need to have about this?" Harry questioned, Percy stepped back from Hermione with a sheepish look on his face. There might have been multiple incidents that Harry had walked in on them making out. The boy was tired of it, and finally sat them down at the start of the summer.
Then three more times after they got back from family visits.
"You know Harry? I can't just-"
"-Not flirt with her, I mean , look at her!" Harry continued for Percy and the godling pursed his lips. He might've said it one too many times. He looked over at Hermione and noticed her blushing and keeping back a laugh.
Percy bit his lip to stop from laughing and Harry noticed, he rolled his eyes walking in the way of their compartment where they've chosen to sit. Percy laughed and pulled Hermione closer.
"Don't start now, Perseus." Hermione warned. She had gotten around to calling him by his full name when they stayed at home, Sally had taught her all of the intimidation tactics that she knew.
Percy furrowed his eyebrows, "Start what?" He asked and grinned at her.
Hermione bit her lip and looked up at him, "No seriously, don't." She giggled and Percy looked around. He noticed a figure around the corner, looking at them. Cormac.
Percy pursed his lips and leant down closer to the girl, he smiled as he noticed her breath getting hitched. "Your favorite admirer is here." He whispered and kissed her cheek.
Upon hearing that Hermione rolled her eyes and pulled Percy down by his tie, pressing a deep kiss against his lips. When they pulled away, his hair was a slight mess and the boy from around the corner was gone.
Percy grinned and winked at Hermione, "Should've gotten him around earlier." He teased.
Hermione pulled away and laughed mockingly. But there was no denying that smile on her face. "Come on." Hermione said and pulled him by the hand towards the compartment where Harry had stormed off to.
Percy frowned when he came into an empty compartment with only Ron in, "Where did Harry go off to?"
"Toilet, I believe. He'll be back." Ron said as he continued to read some random magazine. Hermione sat down and Percy sat next to her. His head on her shoulder as he leant back for some sleep.
Not a few minutes later, the compartment opened and it revealed Luna. "Lu." Percy said with a smile and stood up to pull her in for a hug. "I haven't seen you since-" He pulled away from the hug.
"Since you came by my house." Hermione gave him a questioning look, rather confused.
"I had to do some deliveries from Snape." He explained and looked back at the blonde, "Were the potions good, they do the job?"
"They did the job perfectly." Luna said with a smile, "Thank you for brewing them so fast for me."
Percy nodded, "Medical potions are quite tricky." He stated, "If you did one thing wrong at home, it'd be likely your father would have no bones left."
The two laughed and Luna dismissed herself, Percy sat back down and returned to his old position. This time Hermione's head was leaning against his, tired as well.
—
Percy looked around the train and casted a patronus delivering a message to Tonks who happened to be assigned by the Ministry to guard Hogsmeade. He was in full blown panic now, he couldn't find Harry after he had disappeared with his stupid invisibility cloak.
Sometimes he wonders if Thanatos wants that piece of his cloak back but Percy just stops wondering things when it comes to gods. Eventually Tonks arrived and they looked around.
"Blimey." He heard her say and cast a spell. Percy jogged over and saw Harry get out of the full-body petrification spell, he cringed and helped the boy up. "Gods, Harry. You're getting in more trouble than I am already." Percy said as he looked at his nose, "It's broken, want me to?" he waved with his wand.
Harry nodded, "Episkey." He said and with a crunch Harry's nose was back to normal. Percy fished out the handkerchief that Hermione forced him to have on him and gave it to Harry. "Here."
Percy takes the cloak in his hands and nods at Tonks, "I've got him from here."
"No problem, lover boy!" Tonks said and winked before she walked out of the train.
Percy frowned confused, seriously feeling the urge to pester Hermione once again about asking what she said about him in her gossip meeting with the girls.
They reach the station of all of the horses but he frowns as he doesn't notice any. "Let's just walk-"
"No." Percy said and put two fingers in his mouth as he blew for the horses, the high pitch tone came out and so followed the closest animal there was. Percy patted the Thestrals mane and motioned for Harry to get on.
Harry, already tired, just accepted the weirdness that was happening and got on the horse as Percy called another one over for him. The two finally reach the gate to get frowned upon by Snape.
"Sorry Professor Snape." Percy apologized.
"Just get inside Perseus." The man casted his eyes at Harry, "You too, Potter."
—
The two walk inside and Percy smiles in amusement as he sees Hermione slap Ron with a book. Typical. He walked over and held the book back as he reached down to press a kiss against her cheek. "Enough with the books, love." He teased and looked over at Ron.
"He won't stop eating! Harry is out there and-"
"Harry is here." Harry spoke up as he slid into his seat.
Percy laughed and out of the corner of his eyes noticed that Dumbeldore was nodding at him to get up on the stage. Percy cringed and put the book back down before he walked off to the front of the room.
"As you know there has been some changes, a student has been recommended to do his N.E.W.T.S. early and has gotten his certificate as potioneer. Perseus Grindelwald will be your new assistant teacher for potions. Considering all the years."
Percy smiled as he waved and nodded at the applause. He sat back down at the Slytherin table and quietly stuffed his face with some food. He felt many eyes on him, especially from the Ravenclaw table.
"You're going to be our teacher?" A voice squealed as a plate was put in front of him. Percy looked up to see Holly.
He nodded with a smile, the other two Slytherins sitting down in front of him as well. The trio was complete now, Percy asked one question about their summer vacation and they started to talk, it was a constant stream of talking and there was no stopping it.
He laughed at the hidden joke that Collin made and he looked up, Hermione was staring at him and he smiled at her. "That's your girlfriend?" Penny asked with a smile.
Percy blinked and looked at the three before he nodded, "That's Hermione Granger," He gushed, "Brightest witch of our year. Also, my girlfriend."
Penny and Holly squealed and Collin cringed at the loud noise. Percy chuckled softly and drank his cola. "What class are you most excited for this year?" He regrets asking that question because they started gushing about Percy's teaching.
He looked up at Hermione with a small pleading look but the girl just laughed and shook her head. Truly the biggest betrayal he had been through ever.