Vanity Forgotten
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Vanity Forgotten
Pairings/Characters: Percy/Hermione
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: All he ever had was his pride; now she must give him back his dignity
A/N: For Written for Nan on SPEW's 'Duelling Quills' Drabble Challenge Thread on MNFF - Nan's challenge: Hermione/Percy. They have to remain in character, and there must be references both to Percy's estrangement from the family and to SPEW.
Whether he was pacing the pupil-crowded passageways of Hogwarts, strolling through the strident streets of the wizarding marketplace, stepping carefully on the creaky stairways of his family home, or following in the footsteps of someone more powerful and prominent than himself, Percy Weasley walked with a proud and pompous stride.
It was the one thing she had admired about the young Weasley with the horn-rimmed glasses. She too placed importance on her pride; she too walked with a slightly portentous steps, she too boasted her achievements in her words and actions - however indirectly, a slight egotism was always implied.
Her pride was more easily broken, though, and at the same time, more easily swallowed. She did not allow her self-importance to consume her as he did. She was more fragile than he, she showed more humility, too; her insecurities were more visible than those of Percy Weasley.
His pride, that single most defining attribute, had been the one aspect of his personality that had drawn her to him. And yet, it was the same thing that now drove her to repulsion. He was so unwilling to admit his shortcomings, he would throw away his family and the ones he loved.
And yet, there she saw him, as broken as the fragments of glass that were strewn across the wooden surface where his head rested. Miserable, destroyed - a wreck of a human being. The proud Percy Weasley lay fallen on a bar countertop. His vanity forgotten, self-righteousness denied.
It could so easily have been her own shattered soul, sobbing herself to bits and pieces in the girls’ bathroom. But this was not her; this was Percy Weasley - fragile, humbled Percy Weasley, steeping in his own regret, and still too proud to admit to anyone but himself that he had made a mistake.
She approached him, dropping her signature haughty steps and instead treading carefully - as though making her way across an old bridge that had not been used in some time, fearing the jagged rocks that awaited her below. Touching his shoulder gently, she pulled his face to hers with naught more but a sincere gaze.
“I was wrong about the house-elves.”
Simple words, said softly, yet speaking volumes. He lowered his gaze in a half-nod of understanding.
“Come home to your family, Percy Weasley.”
Shame forgotten but dignity retained, he took the hand she held out to him.
Title: Vanity Forgotten
Pairings/Characters: Percy/Hermione
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: All he ever had was his pride; now she must give him back his dignity
A/N: For Written for Nan on SPEW's 'Duelling Quills' Drabble Challenge Thread on MNFF - Nan's challenge: Hermione/Percy. They have to remain in character, and there must be references both to Percy's estrangement from the family and to SPEW.
Whether he was pacing the pupil-crowded passageways of Hogwarts, strolling through the strident streets of the wizarding marketplace, stepping carefully on the creaky stairways of his family home, or following in the footsteps of someone more powerful and prominent than himself, Percy Weasley walked with a proud and pompous stride.
It was the one thing she had admired about the young Weasley with the horn-rimmed glasses. She too placed importance on her pride; she too walked with a slightly portentous steps, she too boasted her achievements in her words and actions - however indirectly, a slight egotism was always implied.
Her pride was more easily broken, though, and at the same time, more easily swallowed. She did not allow her self-importance to consume her as he did. She was more fragile than he, she showed more humility, too; her insecurities were more visible than those of Percy Weasley.
His pride, that single most defining attribute, had been the one aspect of his personality that had drawn her to him. And yet, it was the same thing that now drove her to repulsion. He was so unwilling to admit his shortcomings, he would throw away his family and the ones he loved.
And yet, there she saw him, as broken as the fragments of glass that were strewn across the wooden surface where his head rested. Miserable, destroyed - a wreck of a human being. The proud Percy Weasley lay fallen on a bar countertop. His vanity forgotten, self-righteousness denied.
It could so easily have been her own shattered soul, sobbing herself to bits and pieces in the girls’ bathroom. But this was not her; this was Percy Weasley - fragile, humbled Percy Weasley, steeping in his own regret, and still too proud to admit to anyone but himself that he had made a mistake.
She approached him, dropping her signature haughty steps and instead treading carefully - as though making her way across an old bridge that had not been used in some time, fearing the jagged rocks that awaited her below. Touching his shoulder gently, she pulled his face to hers with naught more but a sincere gaze.
“I was wrong about the house-elves.”
Simple words, said softly, yet speaking volumes. He lowered his gaze in a half-nod of understanding.
“Come home to your family, Percy Weasley.”
Shame forgotten but dignity retained, he took the hand she held out to him.