Days and months passed and the seasons changed. From the sky, snow fell and the sun barely showed itself. Nothing more was notable that happened at the school, it was all very calm.
The calmth made Percy anxious.
Lavender started joining them out on their walks into Hogsmeade or just around the school. She was a pleasant girl to talk with, the conversations that she held with everyone were nice. Harry liked her, and so did Hermione.
Percy and Hermione worked together to make the mutual pining happen, Hermione kept talking about her with him, making Ron finally notice her. After Ron started noticing and talking with her even more, Percy had put their potions stations together.
It was quite funny because Slughorn started to notice it as well, they shared a laugh together.
Percy wasn't there when they made it official but Hermione said that it was very public. Hermione raged on that they were tip toeing around one another the whole evening, he knew it annoyed her to no end.
"I believe we tip-toed around one another as well." Percy said, and nodded, "Yeah, after a few months, we finally got to it." They were in their little room in the library, he'd never forget sharing short glances with Hermione.
"Well, we were very wary of you in September." Hermione said as she looked up from his chest. "I started to actually have conversations with you in October, I believe that I started to like you in November."
Percy hummed, "Right," he grinned as he looked down at her, "I knew I was definitely attracted to you from the start, I don't just ask anyone if I could sit with them." He teased and winked at her.
The girl rolled her eyes as she put her chin on his chest, a faint grin on her face. "And?"
"I knew I liked you before you made Dumbledore's Army." He bit his lip, "And, I believe that I fell in love with you after you defeated Ron in some duel." Smiling down at her, he nodded. "Definitely."
"So no love at first sight," She teased.
Percy raised his eyebrows, "By the moment I knew I liked you, I knew that there would be no other for me."'Love's refuge sought where gods have no hands.'" He quoted, "Like I said, there is no god that could manipulate my feelings for you as they are genuine."
Hermione leaned over and pressed a soft kiss against his lips, "You always get me with that quote of the prophecy." She said quietly.
He grinned and put a hand on her cheek, "That's why I say it every once in a while."
Hermione rolled her eyes and kissed his palm, "Molly is asking me whether we're going to have Christmas at her house again."
"That'd be lovely." Percy said and pressed a kiss against her forehead, "Do you think we could visit home for a day?" He asked, "Maybe we could bring Harry and Ron. I think that they'd like to have a look at who raised me." He joked.
Hermione laughed but knew that Harry and Ron would like to have a look. Somehow it still isn't comprehensible how a great-grandchild of a dark wizard isn't evil like his predecessors. They laughed but their laughter fell short when the door opened to reveal Ron and Lavender.
"What are you two doing here?" Ron hissed.
"What are we doing here?" Hermione asked back, hissing as well. "We always hang out here!"
"Well, leave?"
Percy awkwardly laid there with his legs intertwined with Hermione, she was still laying on his chest, hissing back at Ron. "No!" Hermione looked at him with a disbelieving expression. "Go find another place to snog!"
"But-" Ron started to protest and Percy quickly waved his hand. The door flew open and Ron finally took the hint, "Blimey." He muttered before taking Lavender's hand and walking out of the door.
Percy chuckled and tapped Hermione to sit up. The moment was gone and it left the moment Ron opened the door. The godling walked over to the door and closed it before looking at the seated Hermione. "We should put a password on this door, don't you think?"
Hermione cringed and nodded, "I believe that Ron will try this a lot."
Percy huffed out a laugh and agreed with her, "What are the runes again, my love?" The girl managed to find her runes book in record time and listened to them all, Percy carved the runes with his sword. "What should the password be?" He asked before he put the final rune in.
Hermione thought about it and with a grin she said, "Love's refuge."
Percy felt his heart skip a beat and he smiled and carved in the final rune. "Love's refuge." He said to the door and a red shine went over it. "Password activated." He said with a smile and stood up from the ground.
"Percy." Hermione called out and the boy looked over at her. "Don't punch McLaggen at this party."
The demigod pursed his lips but nodded, "Within reason?"
"Within my kind of reason." Hermione countered.
Percy nodded, "That's a deal." He said with a smile and sat back down on the couch. He put an arm over her shoulder and leant down to her ear. "Think we could show him a big, red, purple-ish hint to back off?" He whispered.
Hermione looked up at him, blushing as red as a tomato. "Are you seriously that petty?" She asked. Percy shrugged and nodded before he pressed a kiss against her jaw.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
The muggle-born shivered as she felt her boyfriend's lips against her jaw, it was light and not innocent at all. "I wouldn't object, per se." She turned around and pressed a few fingers against his smile. "Just, don't make them too big."
He laughed and kissed her fingers before pushing them away to kiss down her neck, "Is it appropriate for me to joke about something being too big?" His hand moved to her leg.
Hermione gasped as she slapped his knee, "Percy! Scandalous, absolutely scandalous." She turned her head to kiss him on his lips, it was a heated kiss. "You're terrible, you know that?" She teased.
He pursed his lips and pulled her onto his waist, "Just not a terrible kisser." He teased her right back, "We could ask Ginny." He pressed a kiss onto her throat.
"Let's not talk about her when I'm quite literally on top of you." Hermione said and the vibration of her throat made Percy's eyes just dilate.
His hands went up her sides and he looked up at her, "I'd rather talk about you." His fingers made slow work of unbuttoning her shirt, he loosened her tie and threw it aside. "The way your eyes shine and never dim." He pressed a kiss on her bare collarbone now. "The way that your laughter sounds so sweet it's my Isle of the Blessed."
Her breath hitched as she looked down on him, "A romantic and a charmer, aren't you?"
Percy let out a breath in amusement as he looked up at her light eyes, it was exactly what he talked about. How they shine and never dim. "Just saying what I see, my love." He said quietly.
She looked down with a fond expression on her smile, but it swiftly turned into a more anticipating one when Percy's hand began to slide under her loose shirt. Biting her lip she leant down to press an eager kiss against his lips. "We'll be late." She panted out as she pulled away.
"Then so be it." Percy replied and kissed her bare arms as she started to unbutton his shirt.
—
"Blimey." Ron said as Hermione walked out of the girl's dormitory. "Seriously, you tell me to leave to snog somewhere else when you're doing that, with him there?"
Hermione hurriedly walked down the stairs, "We're locking that door from now on!" She called out before hurriedly walking through the door and into her boyfriend. Some were looking confused while others were whispering about the Christmas party.
Percy took a faltering step back and blinked as he looked at her, "Gorgeous." He whispered and she blushed, putting a strand of hair behind her ear. She wore a pink dress with a wide collar, the bruises were faint but still noticeable by someone like McLaggen.
He took her hand in his and smiled when he realized, "Is that my grandmother's necklace?" He questioned and got a closer look at it. The diamonds stood out around her neck.
"Your mother sent it to me, for this occasion."
"Along with her cookies?" Percy questioned and Hermione softly punched his shoulder before locking their arms together as they walked to the party. The two talked and tensed as they passed Filch in the hallway.
"I rather like your outfit." Hermione whispered, "You should wear it more."
Percy chuckled and looked down at it, he wore a white shirt under the black waistcoat. "It's rather plain though." He argued. On the waistcoat was the family crest of Grindelwald engraved.
"Oh shut it." Hermione said and stopped them outside of the door. She reached over to his tie and straightened it. "Plain? You've got subtle greek meanders on your tie?" She argued, and pulled him down a bit to press a soft kiss against his lips. "Don't leave my side, please."
Percy squeezed her waist, "Never." He said with a smile, they turned to the door and it opened. The party was bustling and saw that a lot of mingling was happening, Percy could see many people swarming around Slughorn.
They were surprised at the sudden flash, he looked over at Hermione and in the corner of his eyes he noticed Slughorn walking over. "Mr. Grindelwald, Miss Granger!" He exclaimed. "Such a lovely pair, you're both looking quite dashing."
"Thank you, professor." Percy said and noticed Harry looking uncomfortable. Hermione seemed to notice as well.
"Ah, I see Harry. It was lovely seeing you, professor." She said and dismissed them. The professor smiled happily before his groupies came back to talk with the old man. The two quickly make their way over to Harry.
"Who's this, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"An author-"
"You're looking quite lovely, Luna." Percy complimented, interrupting their conversation. He hoped that the two would take the hint and leave to mingle with others.
"Well thank you, Percy." Luna said and did a small bow. He glanced at the two grown men as they walked off.
"Seriously, you guys?" Harry hissed as he looked over at their necks. "Do you not listen whenever I try to talk to you about this behavior?"
Percy suppressed his laughter as Hermione just looked at him with a disapproving look. "Oh please," She started, "This is beca-"
"Granger." A voice said, happy to see her.
Percy sighed and looked at Harry with a deadpan expression. "Him." Harry looked back and cringed, nodding.
"McLadden." Hermione said and turned to look at him. "How are you?"
"Oh very well, thank you for asking." He gave her a smile that could be described as a donkey smiling. Percy thought it was very donkey like, ask anyone else and they might argue though. "Especially now that you're here." He flirted.
Hermione gave him a flat smile, "Thank you." Percy stepped to stand by her side, a hand snaking around her waist.
"I believe that they're going to play some music, would you like a dance?" Percy suggested, a small smile spread across his face.
Cormac tutted and pointed up, "It'd be rude to leave, won't it?"
Above him and between Hermione and him was growing a mistletoe. Percy's jaw dropped as he looked at the plant growing between them. The godling looked over at Hermione with a questioning look.
The girl looked stunned and disgusted, she nodded and with the snap of his hand, Percy casted a subtle fire spell on the mistletoe. It burned up and dropped to the ground, where it continued to burn in front of McLadden's shoes.
With a smug grin on Percy's face he held his hand out for Hermione to hold, "If you'll excuse me." Hermione said and pulled the godling to the dance floor. "Really? You had to burn it?"
Percy shrugged, "It was that or explode it." He said with a proud grin on his face. The dance floor was spread out thinly and he held Hermione's hand as they waltzed across the floor. The rest of the evening was hushed whispered, diplomatic conversations and a lot of hand shaking.
The two didn't notice the party crasher, so immersed in their own little world. He slow waltzed with his girlfriend and nodded at Professor Snape as the man left the party. The party was slowly coming to an end and the two finally stopped dancing, a few people clapped and gave them praising looks.
"Those are family friends of the Grindelwalds, in the British ministry." Percy nodded at them and smiled. "They were tied up and couldn't make it to the party this summer."
Hermione nodded and the pair walked over to Luna who was without her date. Out of the corner of their eyes they saw the arrogant Gryffindor walk over again. "Want to leave?" Hermione asked, taking Percy's hand in hers.
Percy cringed and looked over at the guy, "Really lovely to see you again, Luna!" He said and nodded at Hermione. The girl basically dragged him away and out of the party. The two laughed as they saw his expression.
"Gods," Hermione breathed out, "We've destroyed that boy's idea of love."
Percy grinned as he silently looked over at her, "You're getting very influenced by me, gods?" He questioned.
Hermione rolled her eyes as a teasing smile appeared on her face, "Don't think that you aren't influenced by me, your cousin teased you about it, remember?"
"Rodrick." Percy said and rolled his eyes, "He doesn't count."
"Yes it does."
Hermione rolled her eyes and squeezed his hand, "Have you asked Harry and Ron about going with us to America?"
Percy shook his head, "Not yet." He looked back at the empty hall, he wasn't as alert as he used to be. Not around Hermione, the girl puts him at ease at any moment she is around him. "We're going to have quite a busy vacation."
"Good thing we have two weeks then." Hermione countered, "Everyone is asking whether you'll be there for Christmas." She complained. "They're not even asking me!"
Percy laughed, "I'm sure they're asking if I'm coming with you or not." He said with a smile and kissed her cheek. "I'm sure that I'd follow you wherever you are invited."
Hermoine smiled, "Good," she then started to list off places where they had to be and Percy underestimated it. "Molly asked if we could stay at hers for about two to three days. Then my parents tried to keep us for a whole week but we didn't have time for that, so I put us down for two days." Percy blinked, trying to keep up. "Your mum asked if we could stay for a day or two, she told us to bring friends, quote unquote, the more the merrier."
He nodded slowly, already losing the attention he was trying to keep on her.
"Then one of your uncle's asked if we could just visit before we go back to Hogwarts, the one uncle with the cat familiar."
"Uncle Duval?" Percy asked, confused.
Hermione nodded, "Yes, that uncle!"
"He didn't send me any owls." He said confused, but nodded nonetheless. The kids were adorable and Percy actually missed the little rascals. "Why did he owl you?"
Hermione looked a bit shy all the sudden, "Well, I talked to him about S.P.E.W. and he really liked it." Percy nodded in realization. His uncle Duval was a politician in France, he was very well educated in Magical Creatures. When Percy was a kid, his uncle used to live in the same village as them but moved when he noticed the treatment of creatures in America.
France happened to be more friendly and open-minded in terms of magical creatures.
Percy grinned at her and pressed a kiss against her cheek, "That's great!" He exclaimed, "I'm very happy that you like my family."
Hermione laughed and pulled him a bit closer by his tie, "They're very lovely people," She said and smiled at him, "I love you." She whispered and pressed an affectionate kiss against his lips.
Percy smiled into the kiss and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I love you too, Hermione." He said.
"It's way past your bedtime!" The fat lady and the door opened to the Gryffindor dorms. Percy snorted into Hermione's shoulder. The two laughed and before he pulled away he pressed a kiss onto her shoulder.
"Good night, love." Percy said with a smile, he was pulling away but he didn't want to let go of her hand yet.
"Go to bed, Perseus." Hermione rolled her eyes but didn't pull away either. Percy laughed and finally let go, walking backwards to watch Hermione walk into the Gryffindor tower. Even though she looked tired, she still took his breath away with no effort.
And good gods, his mother loves her.
—
Percy held the door open for Hermione and smiled at her. "Hermione! Perseus!" The familiar motherly voice called out. The smaller women barreled over to them and pulled them in a hug.
"Hello Molly." Hermione said happily. Percy's glad that she found a home in the Weasley's. Molly pulled away and looked over at him now.
"You've grown, haven't you?" She asked and squinted at him.
Percy chuckled, "My family is quite tall." He admitted with a sheepish smile and stopped adjusting to their height since Molly pulled away from the hug. "Happy Christmas, Mrs. Weasley." Percy said and pulled out a present.
Molly gaped at the present, "There was no need for that, you two!" She said and quickly pulled them in for a hug again. "Thank you. We'll open this in the morning!" She then hurried them into the living room, "Everyone is here."
"Perseus!" A voice exclaimed and Percy whipped his head to look at the owner of the voice.
"Sirius!" Percy said enthusiastically, the two shook hands and laughed, "How you've been?"
"Good good!" The man exclaimed, "I've heard you're a teacher now! Harry says that you're quite good!" The man clapped his godson's back.
Percy gave Harry a teasing look, "Well, I'm just a teacher's assistant, Slughorn lets me lead the classes most of the time." He then clapped Harry's back as well, "He's quite the sensation in class, last year he was extremely clumsy." He knows that it is because of the book, he just doesn't know if Sirius knows.
"Harry?" Ron called out from the hallway and walked into the living room. Sirius looked at the group.
"Well, I will leave you youngsters alone for now. It was nice seeing you, Perseus." Sirius said before shaking his hand once more and leaving.
Hermione shot him an amused look right after the door closed, Percy shrugged at her with a slight smile on his lips. Looking at the people in the room, he noticed that it was only the three Gryffindors and the one Slytherin. "Anyone wanna go to America?" He questioned.
Ron and Harry looked up at him with a questioning look while Hermione just rolled her eyes, "Percy's mother asked if we'd like to visit." She explained, clearing it up.
Ron looked at Harry and they nodded, "We'll ask at dinner."
Percy and Hermione nodded, the girl sat down on the couch and Percy quickly followed to sit next to her. She immediately turned to sit up with her legs stretched out across his lap. Percy snorted and just patted her legs before closing his eyes, tired from the trip.
—
"Dinner was lovely. Thank you, Molly." Percy said as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. He smiled at the mother and looked outside of the window. All of his senses were going off but he just couldn't feel what it was.
He jumped subtly when a hand found its way onto his knee, Hermione looked up at him with a frown on her face. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked back outside. "I'm a little on edge." He whispered to her.
Ron and Harry's request to go to America was denied and Remus silently whispered the reasoning to him, and Percy nodded. It was a tensen time, especially with people disappearing left and right.
They should all be cautious.
Remus stood up from the dinner table and motioned to Percy to walk him and Tonks out the door. The gut in his stomach felt heavier and the lump in his throat wasn't going away, at all. "Remus," Percy said, "I've got a friend who can grow some high quality wolfsbane, for the potions. I could ask her for some and brew you a whole batch, for nights like these." He offered and looked over at the moon.
Remus smiled and clapped his shoulder, "Thank you for the offer Perseus, I might have to take you up on that for the next moon." He then shook his hand, "Stay in England, Perseus. We're all being watched." He warned. Percy clenched his jaw at the warning, gods, he'll have to tell his mother.
The two apparated away in a normal fashion, unlike the time where they used their white smoke to transport in. Percy looked back at Molly and Arthur. "I guess that we're not visiting the family." He rubbed the back of his neck.
Arthur had an empathic smile on his face, "I've heard from Molly that your family likes her a lot, that's quite nice."
Percy smiled, "It's amazing, we wanted to go to France for a few days to visit an uncle of mine. They talked at the family party about magical creatures and that happens to be right up his alley." He chuckled, "He owled her instead of owling me, to ask her."
Molly smiled, "Then they must really like her."
"She was the main attraction, Molly." He said and looked back into the house through the window and at her. She was laughing at something Ginny said.
"You can stay for a few more days, son." Molly said, "I'm sure that the company will be nice." She said with a smile and walked inside. Arthur quickly followed but Percy stayed outside for a bit longer.
He smelled fire, but he didn't know where it was coming from. He felt paranoid but shook it off since he heard Hermione's laughter. He bit his lip and smiled as he walked back into the house.
He sat down on the couch beside her, pulling her closer by putting an arm over her shoulder. "Are you okay?" She asked.
"I'm all good, love." Percy said and kissed her forehead.
That very night he Iris Messaged his mom and explained the situation. Everything was delicate, like some piece on a chess board. One wrong move and it could be a checkmate. She was sad but understanding about it.
—
The nightmare was keeping him awake, disgruntled he sat up from the mattress and combed a hand through his hair. He was extremely groggy and tired. Dazed, he picked up his blanket and pillow and shuffled through the room, making sure not to make any noise.
He stepped down the creaking stairs and cringed. He didn't stop going down until he reached the living room. With sore muscles he threw the blanket and pillow on the couch. His ears perked up as he heard creaking, paranoid, he took the pen out of his pocket and held it out to the door.
"Percy?" A little voice called out into the living room. Percy breathed out and lowered the pen as he saw Hermione walk into the room.
"Hermione." He said, relieved. The girl walked over and pulled him down a bit to put her hands on his cheeks.
"Are you having bad dreams again?" She asked, her voice sounded tired. Knowing that he couldn't lie to her, he nodded. "Oh Perseus." She whispered and pressed a kiss against his forehead.
Silently, she led him over to the couch and he automatically laid down, holding the blanket open for her. "Molly is going to kill us in the morning."
"We're adults." Percy said as he buried his head into her shoulder. He pressed a kiss against her neck, "Thank you."
A hand found its way into his hair, he felt Hermione press a light kiss against his temple, "Sleep well, Perseus."
"Happy one year, love." He whispered, nodding off to sleep with a hand over her waist, pulling her close to him. Their legs intertwined and faces facing one another.