Between the Headlines
It was a quiet Tuesday morning at the Ministry when Hermione entered her office, the familiar scent of fresh parchment and ink greeting her like an old friend. The pile of paperwork on her desk was no different from the day before—mundane reports, new regulations, and various memos from the departments she oversaw. But as she set her bag down and started to organize her thoughts for the day, she noticed something a bit different: a thick stack of The Daily Prophet newspapers, already delivered to her office along with the other Ministry employees' morning supplies.
Hermione, her mind still running over the various tasks that lay ahead, picked up her copy of The Daily Prophet, her fingers automatically flipping through the front page with practiced ease. The usual headlines greeted her, their titles as familiar as the morning breeze. “Minister’s New Stance on Magical Transportation” caught her eye first, a piece outlining the latest changes to international travel regulations, emphasizing the Ministry’s stance on restricting unregistered Apparition near high-security zones. The new regulations were sure to stir up some controversy—several international bodies had already voiced concerns about the Ministry’s increasingly strict approach to magical transportation. Hermione made a mental note to review the details, knowing it would require her attention sooner or later.
Next, she skimmed past an article on “International Trade Regulations—What’s Next?” which delved into the ongoing debates about the shifting tariffs on magical imports and exports. A few countries had recently imposed new taxes on the sale of rare magical herbs and potions, causing ripples in the global market. The article noted how the Ministry had sent diplomats to negotiate new terms, aiming to strike a fairer balance between magical and Muggle industries. Hermione had already been briefed on the developments, but she made a note to follow up on the updates with the relevant departments later.
Her eyes moved down to a brief article on “Advancements in Potion Brewing,” which discussed a new collaboration between the Department of Magical Research and the Apothecary Guild. The article highlighted how the combined efforts of researchers had led to breakthroughs in potion efficiency, particularly in the development of healing potions that would take a fraction of the time to brew compared to their previous counterparts. The work sounded impressive, and Hermione made a mental note to read more on the subject after she had finished her immediate tasks.
She flipped the page, intent on diving into the remaining content of the paper when—there it was.
The next headline seemed to jump out at her, stealing her focus:
"Granger & Weasley: Ministry’s Power Couple Still Going Strong"
The headline was emblazoned across the top, much like the previous week’s article had been. Her heart sank a little as she recognized the photo accompanying the piece. It was a shot of her and Percy, taken just outside the Burrow during the weekend, most likely taken by none other than Molly. She had known the moment they stepped out into the yard that the cameras were following—Molly had been far too excited to have them together to leave it to chance. The photo had captured them just as they stood side by side, Percy with a small, affectionate smile on his face, and Hermione—well, she had been trying to appear composed, but it was clear in the way their bodies leaned just a bit toward each other that the photo spoke volumes.
She began reading the article, scanning over the familiar words. The piece began with the usual, exaggerated praise of the supposed “power couple” status.
“The Wizarding World has been abuzz since last week’s announcement of the engagement between Hermione Granger, the brilliant Head of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement, and Percy Weasley, the tireless Undersecretary of the Ministry. The two have captured the attention of the magical community, with rumors swirling about their deep connection, their shared goals, and the undeniable chemistry between them.”
Hermione rolled her eyes slightly, though there was a reluctant tug at her lips. They did have chemistry—whether or not they had planned for it. Her mind flitted back to the weekend, the soft gestures, the way he had smiled at her over the rim of his teacup… She quickly pushed those thoughts aside and focused back on the article.
“In an exclusive interview with The Daily Prophet, sources close to the couple reveal that Granger and Weasley have been inseparable since their first public appearance together. ‘They’re always together, always supporting each other,’ said one anonymous Ministry insider. ‘They’ve become the heart of the Ministry, and I don’t think anyone’s surprised that they’ve become so close so quickly. It’s clear that they’re in love.’”
Hermione’s brows furrowed. She never had an exclusive interview, and she certainly hadn’t spoken to any “insiders.” She bit her lip as she read on.
“The couple has been spotted together on numerous occasions recently—at the Burrow, in Diagon Alley, and even at private Ministry events. Most notably, Granger was seen standing by Weasley’s side at the annual Ministry gala, looking every bit the part of a perfect couple. ‘They’re incredibly well-suited,’ said one attendee, ‘and it’s obvious they care about each other. They have this magnetic energy when they’re around each other. It’s something you can’t fake.’”
Hermione couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly at that line. “You can’t fake it,” they’d said. And yet, it felt like that was exactly what they were doing. She shook her head and continued reading.
“Sources also reported that Granger and Weasley have been ‘inseparable’ during work hours, with Weasley frequently dropping by Granger’s office for impromptu meetings and discussions. ‘They’re constantly collaborating, always in sync,’ said another anonymous source. ‘They really seem to have found their rhythm together, both professionally and personally.’”
Hermione’s throat tightened as she read the word “inseparable.” She hadn’t thought anyone was paying that much attention to them during work hours, but as it turned out, every glance, every moment, had been under scrutiny. She paused for a moment, letting out a soft breath as she skimmed through the rest of the article. There were a few more remarks on their “adorable” interactions, quotes from “eyewitnesses,” and even a comment from Molly—though no mention of the actual people involved in this so-called engagement. The article ended with a large, moving photograph of her and Percy outside the Burrow, laughing together, arms lightly brushing as they made their way toward the house.
Hermione couldn’t help the small, bitter laugh that escaped her lips. “In love,” they’d said. How could she possibly explain this to herself? To Ron? And what about Percy—how could they possibly convince themselves they were not faking it?
But the funny thing was, as much as Hermione wanted to scoff at it all, part of her couldn’t deny that there was some truth to the way the article depicted things. The more time she spent with Percy, the more she found herself appreciating his presence, enjoying their time together—more than she had expected. There was something about him, something beyond their act, that seemed to make everything feel... easier. Percy’s dry wit had become a comfort, and, more than once, he had made her laugh in moments when she needed it most. The humour he so effortlessly injected into their interactions was infectious—something she never thought she would find so endearing. And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that their rehearsed touches—the way his hand brushed against hers the previous day, the way they had laughed together—felt less like a performance and more like something… real. Something that made her heart flutter in a way she couldn’t quite explain. It wasn’t just part of the charade anymore. In moments like that, it felt like it might be something more—something she wasn’t entirely prepared for. It made her question the boundaries she had carefully set in her own mind about what she could or couldn’t feel.
But then, of course, there were the other moments—the moments where she was acutely aware of the lie they were living, the performances they were putting on for everyone around them. She couldn’t forget that, even if some part of her was beginning to believe in it. She was living a contradiction. And it was becoming harder and harder to draw the line between what was for show and what was real.
With a long, drawn-out sigh, she set the paper aside, the weight of the article still pressing down on her. She wasn’t sure why it affected her so much—why it felt different than the first time it had happened. But it did. The portrayal of her and Percy as the Ministry’s “power couple,” with all the assumptions and gossip that came with it, had hit harder than she expected. She hadn’t realized how much the eyes of the wizarding world could weigh on her.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft fluttering sound from the window. Hermione looked up just in time to see an interdepartmental memo come sailing through, a small parchment crane tumbling gracefully toward her desk. It landed with a delicate flap on her cluttered surface. She immediately unrolled it, her fingers moving automatically as she recognized the neat handwriting she had come to associate with Percy. His writing was almost as orderly as his personality—clean, precise, and efficient. And yet, there was something calming about it.
She read the message quickly, then again, making sure she hadn’t missed any of the details.
Hermione,
Are you up for a discussion tonight about today’s article at my apartment? It’s best we go over it sooner rather than later.
Percy
The moment she finished reading, Hermione leaned back in her chair, a sigh escaping her lips as she looked at the parchment in her hands. She had known this conversation was coming. Of course, he would want to talk about it. How could they not? It was only a matter of time before they had to address the reality of their situation—the publicity, the expectations, the complications that came with pretending to be in a relationship. And yet, she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. She hadn’t even processed what she wanted to say to him yet. There was a heaviness in her chest that had grown over the past few days, a mounting pressure that she couldn’t entirely ignore. But as much as she wanted to find an easy way out, there wasn’t one. They were in this together, whether it was a game, a performance, or something deeper.
She set the parchment down on the desk and grabbed a fresh sheet, her quill poised over it. Her hand hesitated for a moment, unsure of what exactly she wanted to convey. She wanted to be careful with her words—this wasn’t just a casual memo, after all. This was a conversation that would affect everything.
Her quill finally scratched the surface of the parchment, the words flowing as she wrote.
Percy,
I think that’s a good idea. See you tonight.
Hermione
She paused for a second after writing the last word, her eyes lingering on the paper. Was that enough? Was it too formal? She knew it wasn’t about the message itself, but the quiet tension beneath it. It wasn’t just about what they needed to discuss; it was about how much they both had yet to confront—not just the article, but the truth of what was happening between them.
With a small sigh, she rolled the parchment up. She flicked her wrist, sending the crane off into the hallway with a wave of her wand. The small flying parchment drifted out of her office, and for a moment, the silence in the room felt even heavier. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, sinking into her chair.