Aterryboot·:

percyweasley-arc·:

It had been a long day to capitalize a long week. He was steeped in stress about his father missing, his family under the need to find him, and the work that deterred him from focusing on what was happening. It wasn’t unusual for him to find other things to distract him from what was going on. There was a time that his father had gone missing a couple of years ago and his heart dropped to his stomach, his mind already tailing the last time. 

Usually Percy left when Kingsley left and when the Minister had told Percy to go home, it was what it took for him to finally leave his desk. Everyone had mostly thinned out by then, it being well past time to be home and yet Percy took his work seriously. He didn’t want to show Kingsley how tired he was, how much the news was weighing on him. His face changed, becoming more candid with emotion when he knew no one was watching. The idea of going back to his own apartment seemed attainable but he knew his presence might be needed at the Burrow. 

As he was debating where to go while he waited in the lift, he brought his attention to the company added to the lift. Percy’s arm innately reached out to catch her, releasing the hold on the strap for his briefcase. “Late night,” he commented, giving a small smile as to both of them staying late. “By your own admission or your department? Kingsley asked me to leave hours ago.”

-----

Penelope relaxed into the hold that had caught her almost automatically, before her brain caught up with her body and harshly reminded her that her days of laying in Percy Weasley’s arms had long since passed. She coughed, flustered, and tried to remove herself without seeming spastic. Pen wasn’t sure she had been altogether successful, but when faced with your ex-boyfriend, ex-best friend? She’d like to see anyone be completely put together. 

“Thank you for the save, Percy,” Penelope said, cobbling together a smile she thought was both genuine and calm. She took a moment to rearrange herself, shuffling her bag back onto her shoulder and pulling her jacket back into place. “No, it’s my fault, I found the most fascinating journal, from the Founder’s era! It’s incredible, I—” she cut herself off. They weren’t like this anymore. Percy didn’t need to hear her ramblings about her latest fixations. Pen tucked a loose hair behind her ear, lips quirked in a halfhearted little smile. “Sorry, I’m talkative when I’m tired. Um, how are you? I heard about your dad, I’m so sorry.” 

percyweasley-arc·:

The action had been innate and Percy felt his hand lightly on Penelope. It was only a moment and yet he was immediately captured in it. They had both been working at the same place for years now and Percy had done little to reach out to her since after the battle. Acknowledging his feelings was not something he did often and had walked by her department, glancing in to catch a glimpse of her whenever possible. 

“Anytime, yeah,” Percy replied, feeling flustered and putting his hands back to his sides. It had been years since they might have had a proper conversation and many had gone just like this. Percy didn’t have the confidence to do much more than have a brief exchange, not trusting his words to refuse him. “Oh, really the Founder’s? That’s exceptional, what did you find?” Percy asked, his tone fascinated and distracted to the point a stranger would think he was a different person from the one before. It felt like it used to for a moment. His head dropped down and gave a tight smile. Everyone had been giving him condolences as if Arthur was already gone. Every time Percy just gave a brief response to a complex question. “I-yeah, I remember. I am the same. I’m fine, fine. It’s been…an adjustment, yeah.” The lift continued to descend for a moment. “-I’m not fine actually. I’m…scared-do you want to grab a drink…with me? Now?”

-----

She hadn’t seen Percy this close in years. They both worked in the Ministry, so Pen would see him from across rooms, but nothing like this, where she could meet his eyes and talk to him, even awkwardly stunted as it was. She thought he might’ve gotten taller somehow, or maybe it was that he was more confident. Either way, even though he was clearly stressed and tired, Penelope felt a little flustered at the sight of him. He even smelled good, for Merlin’s sake. 

Pen felt the familiar energy of a new interest take hold of her when Percy asked about the journal. It was half of why she’d stayed so late, completely caught up in it. “It’s a journal of a student who attended just after the Founders left the school,” she explained excitedly, lost in the familiar feeling of sharing her findings with Percy. “The translation is hard to read, but I’m hoping I’ll find something to support the new curriculum I’m proposing.” It was a little exasperating to Pen, how she could fight bitterly for her proposals, only to find them quickly accepted if she spun it around the Founders. 

Watching Percy visibly shrink, Penelope was surprised by the force of her unhappiness at the sight. Whatever might have happened between them, he had still been her best friend and she couldn’t stand to see him like this. “You’re not fine,” she told him, warring with herself over if it would be weird to hug him. When Percy admitted that he wasn’t fine, Pen threw out her book on propriety and hugged him quickly, a brief but tight thing where she tried not to get distracted by being so close to him. “I’d love to grab drinks,” she said, pulling back. “We could both probably use a real break.” There was a reason they were still at work in the middle of the night, after all, and it wasn’t because they had too much free time. Pen was determined that this could be a new start for them, to at least find their way back to the friendship they once had. She pushed the button on the elevator for the main floor, finally setting it to move again. “What’s still open, do you think?” 

thoughtnott·:

With orders coming in at an alarming rate and people turning to protection guides, the shop was busier than ever. Theo was thrilled by the time closing came around. It had calmed down somewhat, giving him time to read through the book clubs latest novel. When the shop door opened, he stood from his seat and placed his bookmark in the novel. “Welcome to Obscurus Books and publishing. How can I assist you?” The woman who entered seemed determined and Theo’s mutterings seemed lost to her.

“Stay Out. A Compendium of Locking Spells and Wards by Edith Fowler.” Theodore repeated, mostly to himself to make sure the title stayed in his mind. He turned to the book that housed a list of all the titles currently in the shop and muttered the title once more, waving his wand over the tomb until the pages flipped to display the book information. “It seems we’re out of that title. A lot of people have been coming in for it. We should get a new shipment in tomorrow. Would you like us to owl it to you?”

-----

“I didn’t realize it was that popular,” Pen told the wizard across from her, squinting slightly as she tried to recall his name. Unless she’d had disciplinary issues with them during her time as a prefect, and later Head Girl, Penelope wasn’t always tuned in to the students of other houses. She glances around quickly, eyes finally lighting on a small nameplate. Theodore Nott, yes, a Slytherin five years behind her at Hogwarts. Just knowing who she was speaking to made Penelope feel more at ease. 

“Actually, do you have anything more, well, obscure?” Penelope asked. “My friend is keeping secrets and I need some locking spells that’ll stall her until I can get it out of her.” Normally she wouldn’t explain herself like that to more-or-less strangers, but Pen didn’t want him to think she needed anything dangerous or illegal. 

location: a bistro on diagon alley

status: closed starter for @rowleing​

Penelope picked up her order from the counter, thanking the wix behind the counter and sliding her change into the tip jar. She rarely took the time to actually have lunch, let alone outside of the Ministry. But the sun was shining and Pen couldn’t resist a sandwich from one of her favorite little restaurants along the Alley. 

Luck didn’t seem to be on her side when it came to seating. There was no open table to be found, and Penelope didn’t feel quite like another lunch in her office now that she’d left. She spotted a relatively empty table with only one occupant and steeled her nerves, pushing away her anxiety as far as she could before she approached. Penelope got to the table and forced herself to ask, “Would you mind if I shared your table? It’s so nice out and there aren’t any other tables open.” 

Poetry Inspiration Moodboards | paperthin

I write love letters to Lucifer but all I see is your face

aterryboot·:

“Yeah, I was just visiting Anthony. Making sure he was okay,” Terry told her though even he himself could hear the lie in his words. There was no need to really tell her the full story, that maybe if he checked in with his best friend once or twice a day he’d give up on the plan of locking him inside his house. That would probably just confuse and worry her though there was no way to avoid the bad news in answer to her question.

With a tired look, Terry tried to make his next words come out softer. It was already bad enough that she hadn’t heard and he’d have to tell her, and he didn’t want her to freak out if she could help it. “Oh um, you haven’t heard? The night at the celebration… she was taken.”

-----

Was there something wrong with Anthony? This conversation with Terry was starting to feel decidedly ominous. Penelope felt her shoulders tensing, fingers clenching around the handle of her bag. She had absolutely no idea what was going on, but it was becoming very clear she had missed something big. 

Terry’s words sent a shock of ice down Pen’s spine. What? Taken; a word all too reminiscent of the last war. Penelope’s thoughts spun wildly in her head as she tried to reconcile the terror from only a few years ago with Padma, one of her Ravenclaws and a friend. “Taken?” Penelope whispered, almost to herself. “But, she’s a pureblood, why didn’t that protect her?” She had always mentally counted her pureblood friends as safe, and this revelation threatened to shake the uncertain footing she’d found again in the magical world. 

location: the burrow

status: closed starter for @percyweasley-arc​

Though Penelope and Percy had been working on rebuilding their friendship, somehow Molly Weasley inviting her to dinner at the Burrow still caught her by surprise. She’d been to the Burrow of course, though that was when she and Percy had been... together. And they weren’t anymore. 

Still, it was more time she would get to spend with Percy and she couldn’t deny that as much as she liked the Weasleys, there was only one Weasley that she’d do just about anything for. So here Pen was, walking up to the gate of the Burrow after all these years. 

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the gates and headed for the door. It was a dinner with a friend’s family, Penelope reasoned, there was no reason to be so nervous. Knocking at the door, she let herself in at the call of a voice from inside. Molly was busy in the kitchen, doing something involving copious amounts of flour. Greeting her, Pen offered to help but she was shooed up the stairs to go find Percy. 

Penelope stepped lightly up the stairs to where she remembered Percy’s old room to be, trailing her fingers lightly over the pictures on the wall, smiling sadly at the young and innocent red-headed faces smiling back at her. Her heart twisted seeing Fred and George together. She didn’t know what she’d do if she lost Jason or Izzy, and the twins would never be the same without the other. Shaking herself out of her musings, Pen forced the thought from her mind and knocked twice on Percy’s door before letting herself in. 

“Percy? Your mum said you were up here—oh!” she exclaimed, as she walked into Percy’s bedroom to find him staring at her in shock, totally shirtless. 

percyweasley-arc·:

It had been too long since they had a conversation, saying more than small talk and passing comments in the corridors at work. The war had shifted their relationship and friendship but enough had happened to both of them to shift their perspectives. Being close and talking to her was only stirring the familiar memories of them together. The proximity of them being close was already kicking in Percy’s mind, conscious of it but also keen on listening to every word she had to say. “Of course. I would love to hear all about it. You have my attention and time if you ever need it.” The thought of a promise of seeing her again made him hopeful that this would be a rekindling of sorts. Percy was left stunned when she left, thinking that the short conversation and promise of meeting somewhere else was enough to make him question everything. He smiled at himself with wonder at what it was before following suit.

time jump

One drink had turned into two and Percy couldn’t stop smiling at the conversation they were having. It had been a long time since he had this much fun on a weekday after work and with drinks none the less. It almost felt as if he had stepped back into time when they would do this after graduating or on their Hogsmeade trips. It had been a while since he had felt so relaxed with someone and he kept glancing at Penelope when she wasn’t looking. “Yes, you’re quite right. A lot has changed since school…so much has happened in the last few years to change any person. I’m glad I was able to see you again. Like this. Can’t tell you the last time I let myself do something like this. I should thank you.”

-----

There was a red flush covering Penelope’s cheeks as their one drink turned into several. Even knowing, vaguely, that she should take care to keep her wits about her, Pen couldn’t force herself to revert into the same horrid awkwardness she felt around Percy. Getting to spend this time with him, both of their guards down, was something she hadn’t thought would happen anytime soon, if ever. It was kind of wonderful. Besides, she never really left much time in her schedule for spur of the moment plans, and rarely let herself let loose, so this was probably past due. Or at least, that’s what she was going to tell herself. The lighting in the pub caught the edges of Percy’s face strikingly, and it was increasingly difficult to look away. She nodded along as Percy spoke, heart-sore as she thought about all of the hardships they’d faced out of Hogwarts. Penelope reached out across the table to where Percy’s hand rested, linking their fingers together. It was a familiar gesture, almost to the point where it was subconscious, if not for the warmth it sent through her. “Don’t thank me! This was your brilliant idea, this time anyway. But I’m glad to see you too,” she said with a small if giddy smile, before taking a sip of her drink for some sort of courage. “I really missed you, you know.” 

location: a restaurant in hogsmeade 

status: closed starter for @moonylvpin 

Penelope had arrived at the restaurant over an hour before she’d asked Professor Lupin to meet with her, making sure she was organized and ready. It was probably overkill, but Pen felt much better when she was prepared, and she didn’t want to waste Professor Lupin’s time either. It would be good to see him though, she hadn’t seen him for longer than a passing conversation since he first taught at Hogwarts, her last year. She had been thrilled to have a competent teacher in DADA, and spent a decent number of afternoons in his office to get his perspective on issues she was having as Head Girl. 

She’d invited him to lunch to hopefully get his perspective on how he thought Hogwarts could be improved, and maybe see if he had any input on some of the proposals she was going to be submitting. At the very least, it would be good to talk to him. Penelope’s watch chimed that she had five minutes left to their appointment, and she quickly put away her papers save for a single sheet of parchment to take notes on. Just in time too, as she spotted the wizard heading towards her table. “Professor Lupin!” she said, standing to greet him. “Thank you for coming.” 

percyweasley-arc·:

There had been times that Percy wanted to walk by Penelope’s department and fall into a conversation that they had so easily done so before. The battle at the school had been a lot especially with the after effect that came with a toll. Percy had an unfortunate fallout with her and he had been filled with guilt since. He had liked what they had even with the romantic bits aside, she made for lovely company. She was only a few levels down from where he worked and the thought usually drifted into his mind.

It could have been years since they had a proper conversation and Percy fell into the same energy as they once had. Despite him being incredibly tired and overwhelmed, Percy’s attention was fully alert to Penelope and her assignment. “That is so fascinating,” he emitted honestly. “You must tell me your findings as I would love to hear about anything that has to do with the subject. I’m sure the proposal will go well.” He was already keen to what she was saying, thinking she could talk about anything and she could hold his interest. 

It was the most subtle touch, but it was from Penelope and before his arms could come around her after the initial shock, she was already stepping away. He wanted so much to chase her touch and he couldn’t understand his thoughts now. For years he hadn’t seen her and now it felt like nothing had changed. “Yes, we could probably see somewhere other than our offices. Maybe a stiff drink or two. There’s a place by my flat that we could go to. Doesn’t close until 2 a.m. Would you like that?” Percy had yet to been alone with Penelope like this and he wanted it to be right. He wanted to continue this conversation and couldn’t hide the smile that she was agreeing to go out with him somewhere. Subconsciously he was standing closer to her now as the lift descended. The floo network was still going surprisingly and Percy turned to Penelope. “Um. Three Broomsticks, alright? My place is in Hogsmeade Village…if you remember.”

-----

Penelope couldn’t stop the bright smile she shot at Percy if she tried, excitement from her research and his vote of confidence in her work sending warmth through her. It was a little unexpected, how viscerally she responded to him despite the years of absence. Pen hadn’t realized just how much she had missed him until he was right in front of her, and suddenly the minor heartache she’d nursed all these years caught fire. “That means a lot, thank you,” she told him. Penelope tugged on a loose hair that had fallen from her bun. “If my proposal makes it through the first set of approvals I have to present it. If you ever have a minute, maybe you could give me your feedback? It would be good to get an outside perspective,” she trailed off, feeling awkward and like she might have pushed the boundaries of this uncertain friendship. 

There was a light tingling sensation all along Pen’s arms from where she had hugged Percy, and she had the distant thought that alcohol would probably only make it worse. But it only took another look at Percy and she realized that even if this was a mistake, it was a mistake she was committed to making. “That would be great,” Pen said. It was a chance for the two of them to reconnect, a little break from reality. Penelope thought they could both use one. “Three Broomsticks,” she nodded, before blushing at the memories that sprung to the front of her mind of Percy’s apartment. “I remember,” Pen said, flustered. She realized how close she was standing next to him as they made it to the fireplaces and took a quick step away towards the nearest hearth. “Meet you there!” she called over to him, as she grabbed a pinch of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace.