A/N: This story is a collaboration between bryna1714, glass shadow,
Merelyn25, Moonblade, and wordweaver. That's right, count 'em, five names.
The quality doesn't suffer from the multiple authors (or so we hope).
Please Read and Review and, while you're at it, check out our Yahoo! Group,
The Broom Flies for the Other Team.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Broom_flies/
Disclaimer: We do not own any of the characters in this story, except for Kimberly the blond barnacle.
Warning: This will be SLASH!!! Please feel free to run in terror if this squicks you.
"Hey Percy, are you ready for lunch?"
Penelope's bright voice suddenly filled the quiet of Percy's office. He glanced up from a roll of parchment to give her a brief smile before looking back down again. "Hold on a second," he mumbled. "I'm almost done with this report."
"All right," she sighed, flopping down in the chair across from Percy's desk. It always took forever to get Percy out of his office. He invariably had 'one more report to finish' or something that would 'just take a minute' and it was often a half an hour before he could be dragged away from the multitude of neatly arranged papers that decorated his workplace.
As Penny waited, she looked around the small, square room that might as well have been Percy's home for all the time he spent there. His office at the Ministry was immaculate for all the files and scrolls that filled it; not an item was out of place. The photos of various Weasleys waving cheerfully at her were arranged in right angles on the low bookshelf by wall. The lone form of life, a neatly kept though slightly misshapen cactus Ginny had given Percy for his last birthday, was in the corner by the window, as usual. Even the Hogwarts diploma Percy displayed on the wall was carefully hung in just the right place. As Penny's eyes rested on the certificate she was reminded of something that had somehow slipped her mind.
"Oh, did you get your invitation?" she asked.
"Pardon?" Percy said, looking up from his parchment.
"Your invitation. To the reunion." Penny repeated
"Reunion?" Percy asked vaguely, glancing hastily back at his scroll. *I knew she would bring this up* he thought to himself.
"Come on Percy, don't play dumb, I'm sure you got the post this morning…" she prompted. Percy didn't reply. "Well, did you? Get the invitation?"
"Yes," Percy returned tersely. His eyes remained buried in the scroll.
"And…?"
"I crumpled it up and threw it away."
"Oh, Percy you have to come! It's the ten-year reunion. Wouldn't you like to see all our school chums again? Relive the good old times?" she asked brightly. Percy sent her a deeply skeptical stare from over his scroll.
"Perhaps our memories of Hogwarts differ slightly, but I don't recall any 'school chums' or 'good old times' in my years there."
"You're exaggerating, Percy; it wasn't that bad." Penny said. He snorted in reply. "Look, you can always come along with me and Geoffrey."
"I'd rather not play third wheel to you and your husband, thank you very much."
"You won't be, I promise," Penny assured him, but Percy shook his head stubbornly.
"Percy, when was the last time you went to a party?"
"A few weeks ago," Percy distantly supplied.
"Really? Where was it?"
"At Bill's," he admitted. Penny sighed in exasperation.
"That was your niece's first birthday- months ago, I might add! When was the last time you went to a party where most of the guests were out of diapers?"
Percy mumbled something.
"What was that? I didn't catch it."
"I don't remember," he muttered louder.
"See? You need to get out of this cave," she gestured at Percy's office, "and go do something!"
"Maybe I do, but that doesn't mean I'm going to the bloody reunion," Percy stated stubbornly. Penny sighed.
"Why don't we continue this over lunch? I'm starving," she said, standing up to go. As they left Percy's office Penelope suddenly turned around to face him, a slightly triumphant smile on her face. "You know Percy, if you won't think of our dear old school chums at least think of appearances. After all," she added slyly, "what would it look like if the former Head- Boy didn't come to his own reunion?" She sailed out of his office, leaving Percy scowling after her.
Damn. She knew him too well.
*~*~*~*
Percy stood silently next to Penny by the wall, uncomfortably shifting from foot to foot, but not in time with the music of course. Percy had never had a good ear. The great hall was decked out in the colors of the four houses and the tables were spread with a lovely color coordinated display of traditional Hogwarts food. Percy, taking in the garish hall, was thoroughly uncomfortable. Did his classmates really enjoy prancing on the cleared dance floor like a pack of hamsters high as kites?
"Here Percy, hold this for me. I'm going to get Geoffrey to dance, " Penny said as she shoved a glass of pumpkin juice at the mute Weasley. *Apparently*, he thought, *they did. Even Penny seems to want to join in*. She took a second glance at his pinched, pale face and paused a moment. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"You don't have to baby-sit me Penny, I'll be fine. Go dance with Geoffrey." Percy waved her off toward the dance floor but Penny remained rooted beside him.
"My husband can wait a bit if you need me, Percy. You are one of my best friends after all. Besides, Geoffrey's fine; he's over there talking Quidditch with some chaps he just met." She pulled him toward one of the many comfy couches in the corner of the Hall. "Come let's sit. Now what's wrong Percy?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
Penelope sighed. Getting Percy to open up about his problems was about as difficult as getting Percy to leave his office. "No you're not. People who are 'fine' do not look as though they're about to vomit. Really, what's bothering you?"
"Its nothing. I'm alright Pen."
"You can talk to me, you know, whatever it is. It might make you feel better." Penny told him gently.
"Penny I really am fine. Its just…" he sighed. "I hate things like this." Percy looked away from Penelope and out towards all his former classmates.
"You know, it might do you some good to get out there and talk to people."
"I'm fine here." he waved her away again. "Why don't you go over to Geoffrey and dance? He's been…" Percy trailed off, his attention suddenly fixed at the entrance hall.
"Percy?" Penny asked, blinking in confusion. *What's wrong with him?* Percy, who was still gazing straight ahead, made no reply to the question. "Hullo?? Percy??" she repeated, a bit louder this time.
"Hmm?" he murmured idly. His eyes had unfocused.
"What are you looking at-" Penny twisted around to the direction of Percy's focus. "Oh," she murmured.
Oliver Wood, still as handsome as she remembered, had just entered the Great Hall. *Weren't people supposed to get a little chubbier after they left school and the required flying practice?* Penny knew she certainly had, though of course she would never admit it (8 stone 7 for now and always). Oliver, though just as well developed as he had been during Hogwarts, was showing his age in other ways. He had laugh lines crinkled about his eyes and a slight bump on his nose. Probably from some Quidditch accident, Penny assumed.
Her eyes left the handsome Quidditch player and returned to meet Percy's gaze. The only problem was that he wasn't looking at her at all. He was still gaping at Oliver with no regard for anyone else; if she wasn't mistaken he was even turning a delicate shade of pink. Her gaze returned to Oliver. Percy again. As Penny's eyes flicked back and forth between Oliver and her slack-jawed friend a grin slowly spread across her face. She had suspected for years now that Percy didn't have any interest in women, but this was an entirely new development indeed. He had never shown such blatant fascination with someone before.
*Huh…Oliver and Percy. Percy and Oliver…They'd be adorable together! All they need is a nudge in the right direction. Or, perhaps, in Percy's case, a forceful shove in the right direction.* Regardless, it was obvious the situation required immediate attention. Penny almost rubbed her hands together in anticipation as her face took on a determined glint: it was time to meddle.
"Oh look, Percy!" she suddenly exclaimed in an extremely loud voice. "Isn't that Oliver Wood? My goodness he does look good, doesn't he?" This snapped Percy out of his reverie. He looked back at Penny, slightly dazed.
"What? Oh…yeah, I guess so." Percy shook his head, clearing his mind somewhat. "What are you doing checking out men, anyway, Pen? You're married."
"Oh I'm not looking for me," Penny replied pointedly.
"What are you talking about?" asked Percy.
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all," came the breezy answer.
"Penny..." started Percy warningly. The dangerous gleam in Penny's eye made him nervous.
"Um…oh no, look! Geoffrey's been cornered by that Slytherin witch, Elmira Krutchit." Penny stood up abruptly. "Have to dash!!"
Penny hurried away across the dance floor, a wicked grin on her face. She weaved through the crowds, heading resolutely toward the entrance hall. "I think its time I reintroduced myself to Oliver Wood…"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Broom_flies/
Disclaimer: We do not own any of the characters in this story, except for Kimberly the blond barnacle.
Warning: This will be SLASH!!! Please feel free to run in terror if this squicks you.
"Hey Percy, are you ready for lunch?"
Penelope's bright voice suddenly filled the quiet of Percy's office. He glanced up from a roll of parchment to give her a brief smile before looking back down again. "Hold on a second," he mumbled. "I'm almost done with this report."
"All right," she sighed, flopping down in the chair across from Percy's desk. It always took forever to get Percy out of his office. He invariably had 'one more report to finish' or something that would 'just take a minute' and it was often a half an hour before he could be dragged away from the multitude of neatly arranged papers that decorated his workplace.
As Penny waited, she looked around the small, square room that might as well have been Percy's home for all the time he spent there. His office at the Ministry was immaculate for all the files and scrolls that filled it; not an item was out of place. The photos of various Weasleys waving cheerfully at her were arranged in right angles on the low bookshelf by wall. The lone form of life, a neatly kept though slightly misshapen cactus Ginny had given Percy for his last birthday, was in the corner by the window, as usual. Even the Hogwarts diploma Percy displayed on the wall was carefully hung in just the right place. As Penny's eyes rested on the certificate she was reminded of something that had somehow slipped her mind.
"Oh, did you get your invitation?" she asked.
"Pardon?" Percy said, looking up from his parchment.
"Your invitation. To the reunion." Penny repeated
"Reunion?" Percy asked vaguely, glancing hastily back at his scroll. *I knew she would bring this up* he thought to himself.
"Come on Percy, don't play dumb, I'm sure you got the post this morning…" she prompted. Percy didn't reply. "Well, did you? Get the invitation?"
"Yes," Percy returned tersely. His eyes remained buried in the scroll.
"And…?"
"I crumpled it up and threw it away."
"Oh, Percy you have to come! It's the ten-year reunion. Wouldn't you like to see all our school chums again? Relive the good old times?" she asked brightly. Percy sent her a deeply skeptical stare from over his scroll.
"Perhaps our memories of Hogwarts differ slightly, but I don't recall any 'school chums' or 'good old times' in my years there."
"You're exaggerating, Percy; it wasn't that bad." Penny said. He snorted in reply. "Look, you can always come along with me and Geoffrey."
"I'd rather not play third wheel to you and your husband, thank you very much."
"You won't be, I promise," Penny assured him, but Percy shook his head stubbornly.
"Percy, when was the last time you went to a party?"
"A few weeks ago," Percy distantly supplied.
"Really? Where was it?"
"At Bill's," he admitted. Penny sighed in exasperation.
"That was your niece's first birthday- months ago, I might add! When was the last time you went to a party where most of the guests were out of diapers?"
Percy mumbled something.
"What was that? I didn't catch it."
"I don't remember," he muttered louder.
"See? You need to get out of this cave," she gestured at Percy's office, "and go do something!"
"Maybe I do, but that doesn't mean I'm going to the bloody reunion," Percy stated stubbornly. Penny sighed.
"Why don't we continue this over lunch? I'm starving," she said, standing up to go. As they left Percy's office Penelope suddenly turned around to face him, a slightly triumphant smile on her face. "You know Percy, if you won't think of our dear old school chums at least think of appearances. After all," she added slyly, "what would it look like if the former Head- Boy didn't come to his own reunion?" She sailed out of his office, leaving Percy scowling after her.
Damn. She knew him too well.
*~*~*~*
Percy stood silently next to Penny by the wall, uncomfortably shifting from foot to foot, but not in time with the music of course. Percy had never had a good ear. The great hall was decked out in the colors of the four houses and the tables were spread with a lovely color coordinated display of traditional Hogwarts food. Percy, taking in the garish hall, was thoroughly uncomfortable. Did his classmates really enjoy prancing on the cleared dance floor like a pack of hamsters high as kites?
"Here Percy, hold this for me. I'm going to get Geoffrey to dance, " Penny said as she shoved a glass of pumpkin juice at the mute Weasley. *Apparently*, he thought, *they did. Even Penny seems to want to join in*. She took a second glance at his pinched, pale face and paused a moment. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"You don't have to baby-sit me Penny, I'll be fine. Go dance with Geoffrey." Percy waved her off toward the dance floor but Penny remained rooted beside him.
"My husband can wait a bit if you need me, Percy. You are one of my best friends after all. Besides, Geoffrey's fine; he's over there talking Quidditch with some chaps he just met." She pulled him toward one of the many comfy couches in the corner of the Hall. "Come let's sit. Now what's wrong Percy?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
Penelope sighed. Getting Percy to open up about his problems was about as difficult as getting Percy to leave his office. "No you're not. People who are 'fine' do not look as though they're about to vomit. Really, what's bothering you?"
"Its nothing. I'm alright Pen."
"You can talk to me, you know, whatever it is. It might make you feel better." Penny told him gently.
"Penny I really am fine. Its just…" he sighed. "I hate things like this." Percy looked away from Penelope and out towards all his former classmates.
"You know, it might do you some good to get out there and talk to people."
"I'm fine here." he waved her away again. "Why don't you go over to Geoffrey and dance? He's been…" Percy trailed off, his attention suddenly fixed at the entrance hall.
"Percy?" Penny asked, blinking in confusion. *What's wrong with him?* Percy, who was still gazing straight ahead, made no reply to the question. "Hullo?? Percy??" she repeated, a bit louder this time.
"Hmm?" he murmured idly. His eyes had unfocused.
"What are you looking at-" Penny twisted around to the direction of Percy's focus. "Oh," she murmured.
Oliver Wood, still as handsome as she remembered, had just entered the Great Hall. *Weren't people supposed to get a little chubbier after they left school and the required flying practice?* Penny knew she certainly had, though of course she would never admit it (8 stone 7 for now and always). Oliver, though just as well developed as he had been during Hogwarts, was showing his age in other ways. He had laugh lines crinkled about his eyes and a slight bump on his nose. Probably from some Quidditch accident, Penny assumed.
Her eyes left the handsome Quidditch player and returned to meet Percy's gaze. The only problem was that he wasn't looking at her at all. He was still gaping at Oliver with no regard for anyone else; if she wasn't mistaken he was even turning a delicate shade of pink. Her gaze returned to Oliver. Percy again. As Penny's eyes flicked back and forth between Oliver and her slack-jawed friend a grin slowly spread across her face. She had suspected for years now that Percy didn't have any interest in women, but this was an entirely new development indeed. He had never shown such blatant fascination with someone before.
*Huh…Oliver and Percy. Percy and Oliver…They'd be adorable together! All they need is a nudge in the right direction. Or, perhaps, in Percy's case, a forceful shove in the right direction.* Regardless, it was obvious the situation required immediate attention. Penny almost rubbed her hands together in anticipation as her face took on a determined glint: it was time to meddle.
"Oh look, Percy!" she suddenly exclaimed in an extremely loud voice. "Isn't that Oliver Wood? My goodness he does look good, doesn't he?" This snapped Percy out of his reverie. He looked back at Penny, slightly dazed.
"What? Oh…yeah, I guess so." Percy shook his head, clearing his mind somewhat. "What are you doing checking out men, anyway, Pen? You're married."
"Oh I'm not looking for me," Penny replied pointedly.
"What are you talking about?" asked Percy.
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all," came the breezy answer.
"Penny..." started Percy warningly. The dangerous gleam in Penny's eye made him nervous.
"Um…oh no, look! Geoffrey's been cornered by that Slytherin witch, Elmira Krutchit." Penny stood up abruptly. "Have to dash!!"
Penny hurried away across the dance floor, a wicked grin on her face. She weaved through the crowds, heading resolutely toward the entrance hall. "I think its time I reintroduced myself to Oliver Wood…"