Fic: And Guest (Harry Potter, G)
Title: And Guest
Author: sue_dreams
Written For: sumofparts for help_haiti
Fandom: Harry Potter
Word Count: 852 words
Notes: Set a few years after Deathly Hallows.
Prompt: Neville with Percy, post-DH
Summary: Nev's 'date' for the wedding is taking someone else and while there are other options, he's more than happy with the first offer that comes his way.
"It's not a problem, Gran." The assurances rolled off his tongue easily, but Neville was flummoxed once his grandmother's head had disappeared from his Floo. He'd already written Hermione to let her know he and Gran would only be using the one invite between them. He knew Hermione and Ron would gladly make room for him, but with only a fortnight before the wedding, it seemed rather rude to impose upon them.
Not as rude as not going, however. The easiest course of action was probably to pay one or both of them a visit at the Ministry and explain in person. Setting out, he made a detour to the Potions classroom and found Percy poring over an inventory checklist and order form. "Busy?" Neville asked.
Percy's eyes flickered up and he smiled. With a wave, the papers rolled themselves up and the ingredient vials lined up on the edge of his work bench. "Not as such. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I'm heading to the Ministry to catch Ron or Hermione. I need to let them know to expect one more at the wedding."
Something flashed across Percy's face too quickly to classify. "You have a date?"
Neville shook his head. "Gran does, actually." Percy looked as surprised as Neville felt when he first heard the news, earning a laugh. "I know. Apparently, she and Mister Corker have been flirting over tea."
"Good for her," Percy said, looking a bit more relaxed.
"I just came around to see if you wanted to join me. You haven't been out of the dungeons for days." The headmistress had said as much just that afternoon at lunch, and Neville knew well enough to take her word for it. When it came to the goings-on at Hogwarts, McGonagall saw all.
Percy gave him a smile. "That would be nice. You don't have to go all that way, though. Penelope has decided not to accompany me, so Mr Corker would round the numbers out quite well."
Neville nodded. "I'm sorry about Penelope." He wished he could say it was a surprise, but it wasn't. Things had been strained between them and Neville had sat between them at the head table more than once in the months since their official break-up.
"I'm not. I'd actually been worrying about bringing her as my guest at the wedding with the way things stand between us, this is for the best." Neville searched his face for some sign that he was holding back sadness or disappointment, bout found only a vague hint of relief.
"Then if it's not a problem, I'll come along with you."
"Not at all," Percy assured him. He hesitated, hand twitching towards his forms, then he stood erect and faced Neville fully. He was too narrow of build to really loom, but he could still tower. "Actually, Neville. It's the opposite of a problem. It would be my pleasure to have you accompany me to Ron's wedding as my date."
* * *
George grinned and slapped him on the shoulder"Hey, Nev! Which side of the aisle are you on?"
"He's with me, George," Percy answered, appearing at Neville's side.
George's eyes widened. "With-" Before he could recover completely, Molly Weasley called to them.
"Percy!" She pulled Percy and then Neville into a hug. "And Neville, dear. I saw your grandmother and her dear Mr. Corker. Are they an item these days?" She looked behind the two of them expectantly. "Where's your date, Percy?"
"Right here," Percy said, stepping closer and putting a hand on Neville's back.
Molly looked between them and then positively beamed. "Well, then. You boys can sit here with us." She gestured and everyone past Arthur slid down to make room. By Molly's design, Neville ended up at her side. "So, tell me. How long have you and Percy been dating?" He opened his mouth, but she spoke over him. "Because you both responded two months ago and that's a rather long time for a son to not tell his mother who he's seeing."
Percy leaned forward and around Neville, one hand resting on Neville's leg to brace himself. "We haven't-" He was cut off by George throwing himself across Percy's lap.
"You sly thing, Perce! How long have you been courting our dear Neville? Did you follow the plan?" While Percy sputtered and tried to pull free of his brother's arms, George leaned toward Neville. "You see, he succeeded so well in hiding Penelope from us that we took revenge and wouldn't you know it, Perfect Percy had plotted out the perfect courtship in his journal!"
"George," Molly said disapprovingly.
George gave his mother a solemn look, "I'm only teasing him a little, Mum. And he deserves it, hiding the news about Neville. So, Nev, you could have anyone you want and you've settled for Percy?"
Could I? Neville thought. Music filled the air and the guests rose. Neville helped George to his feet and then looked at Percy, who still looked irritated, at least until Neville took his hand. He shrugged George's words away. You couldn't settle for first choice.
Author: sue_dreams
Written For: sumofparts for help_haiti
Fandom: Harry Potter
Word Count: 852 words
Notes: Set a few years after Deathly Hallows.
Prompt: Neville with Percy, post-DH
Summary: Nev's 'date' for the wedding is taking someone else and while there are other options, he's more than happy with the first offer that comes his way.
"It's not a problem, Gran." The assurances rolled off his tongue easily, but Neville was flummoxed once his grandmother's head had disappeared from his Floo. He'd already written Hermione to let her know he and Gran would only be using the one invite between them. He knew Hermione and Ron would gladly make room for him, but with only a fortnight before the wedding, it seemed rather rude to impose upon them.
Not as rude as not going, however. The easiest course of action was probably to pay one or both of them a visit at the Ministry and explain in person. Setting out, he made a detour to the Potions classroom and found Percy poring over an inventory checklist and order form. "Busy?" Neville asked.
Percy's eyes flickered up and he smiled. With a wave, the papers rolled themselves up and the ingredient vials lined up on the edge of his work bench. "Not as such. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I'm heading to the Ministry to catch Ron or Hermione. I need to let them know to expect one more at the wedding."
Something flashed across Percy's face too quickly to classify. "You have a date?"
Neville shook his head. "Gran does, actually." Percy looked as surprised as Neville felt when he first heard the news, earning a laugh. "I know. Apparently, she and Mister Corker have been flirting over tea."
"Good for her," Percy said, looking a bit more relaxed.
"I just came around to see if you wanted to join me. You haven't been out of the dungeons for days." The headmistress had said as much just that afternoon at lunch, and Neville knew well enough to take her word for it. When it came to the goings-on at Hogwarts, McGonagall saw all.
Percy gave him a smile. "That would be nice. You don't have to go all that way, though. Penelope has decided not to accompany me, so Mr Corker would round the numbers out quite well."
Neville nodded. "I'm sorry about Penelope." He wished he could say it was a surprise, but it wasn't. Things had been strained between them and Neville had sat between them at the head table more than once in the months since their official break-up.
"I'm not. I'd actually been worrying about bringing her as my guest at the wedding with the way things stand between us, this is for the best." Neville searched his face for some sign that he was holding back sadness or disappointment, bout found only a vague hint of relief.
"Then if it's not a problem, I'll come along with you."
"Not at all," Percy assured him. He hesitated, hand twitching towards his forms, then he stood erect and faced Neville fully. He was too narrow of build to really loom, but he could still tower. "Actually, Neville. It's the opposite of a problem. It would be my pleasure to have you accompany me to Ron's wedding as my date."
* * *
George grinned and slapped him on the shoulder"Hey, Nev! Which side of the aisle are you on?"
"He's with me, George," Percy answered, appearing at Neville's side.
George's eyes widened. "With-" Before he could recover completely, Molly Weasley called to them.
"Percy!" She pulled Percy and then Neville into a hug. "And Neville, dear. I saw your grandmother and her dear Mr. Corker. Are they an item these days?" She looked behind the two of them expectantly. "Where's your date, Percy?"
"Right here," Percy said, stepping closer and putting a hand on Neville's back.
Molly looked between them and then positively beamed. "Well, then. You boys can sit here with us." She gestured and everyone past Arthur slid down to make room. By Molly's design, Neville ended up at her side. "So, tell me. How long have you and Percy been dating?" He opened his mouth, but she spoke over him. "Because you both responded two months ago and that's a rather long time for a son to not tell his mother who he's seeing."
Percy leaned forward and around Neville, one hand resting on Neville's leg to brace himself. "We haven't-" He was cut off by George throwing himself across Percy's lap.
"You sly thing, Perce! How long have you been courting our dear Neville? Did you follow the plan?" While Percy sputtered and tried to pull free of his brother's arms, George leaned toward Neville. "You see, he succeeded so well in hiding Penelope from us that we took revenge and wouldn't you know it, Perfect Percy had plotted out the perfect courtship in his journal!"
"George," Molly said disapprovingly.
George gave his mother a solemn look, "I'm only teasing him a little, Mum. And he deserves it, hiding the news about Neville. So, Nev, you could have anyone you want and you've settled for Percy?"
Could I? Neville thought. Music filled the air and the guests rose. Neville helped George to his feet and then looked at Percy, who still looked irritated, at least until Neville took his hand. He shrugged George's words away. You couldn't settle for first choice.