Percy
“You lot really are exhausting,” Percy said as his siblings squabbled amongst themselves.
“Sod off,” George said as he pulled the extendable ear from Ginny and placed it under the seat of the carriage they were huddled around.
“Clever,” Percy said with a roll of his eyes. “Oliver, you must never leave me, if I had to try dating someone new with this bunch meddling in everything I think I’d just as soon move countries.”
“I’m not going anywhere, love,” Oliver said with an easy smile.
Percy listened to Ginny, George, and Charlie argue for just a minute more before pulling out his wand. He took the extendable ear from Charlie and changed it to green before stuffing it in the wreath hanging from the front of the carriage.
“Gin, you and George sit there and talk, Charlie you take the other half and go over there and listen,” Percy said, handing Charlie the receiver end of the updated ear.
Honestly, how these people ever got anything done he had no idea.
After a quick thumbs up from Charlie the group made a poor attempt at nonchalance as Fred and Hermione walked over to them.
“Hey guys,” Ginny said, hopping down from the carriage, pulling George with her. “This one’s all ready for you.”
“Thanks,” Hermione said with a raised eyebrow.
Fred helped her into the carriage and the couple set off for a carriage ride around the Wood family’s estate.
Charlie ran over to the assembled group holding the receiver in the middle so they could all hear.
“Are you warm enough, love?” Fred’s voice rang out.
“Yes, thank you,” Hermione’s voice answered.
There was a muffled sound and Fred mumbling something before their voices were clear again. Percy was loathe to admit how invested he’d become in the eavesdropping.
“So did I ever tell you about the time Ginny fell down the stairs at Hogwarts because she was staring at Harry so hard?” Hermione’s voice said.
“That little, she promised not to tell anyone!” Ginny said indignantly.
“That’s almost as funny as the time Charlie fell off his dragon the first time we went to visit him at the reserve,” Fred said, laughter in his voice.
“Oh, what about the time Percy failed a quiz because he’d spent the whole night before snogging Oliver and didn’t study?” Hermione added.
Percy turned red, though was calmed when Oliver put an arm around him and kissed the top of his head.
“I have a great one! The first time George saw Ang make a goal he fell right off his broom. Straight into a mud puddle,” Fred told Hermione.
“What the bloody hell are they doing?” Ginny asked, looking a bit put out.
“I think my favourite though,” Fred said, his voice becoming louder, “was the time my entire family came up with more and more ridiculous plans to get us together.”
Everyone looked from one to the other. They had been caught. But it was hardly fair to lump Percy in with the rest. His meddling had been minimal at best.
“The best part,” Hermione said, “was when they were all so busy trying to get us together that they didn’t realise we came here together. What would they say if they knew you asked me to be your girlfriend last night?”
Wide eyes all around told Percy he wasn’t the only one who hadn’t noticed.
“Oh, I think they would all have rather dumbfounded looks on their faces.” Fred’s voice was just behind them now.
They all turned to see Fred and Hermione standing with their hands clasped together and huge smiles on their faces.
“You two are arseholes, you know that?” Ginny said, though she was bouncing up and down, primed to tackle the new couple.
“We love you, and thank you for opening our eyes, but could you please go easy on the schemes? We are together and happy,” Hermione said.
Percy then did something rather out of character for him, he walked over and took Hermione by the hand. Pulling her close he hugged her tight.
“That may have been the best Christmas gift I’ve ever gotten,” he said in her ear.
“Percy, I didn’t know you were so invested in our love life,” Fred said with a laugh.
“Not that,” Percy said, rolling his eyes. “I never thought I’d see a day where a rule following bookworm would pull one over on this lot. It truly was magnificent.”