Love, Weasley Style

"Wands out and books away, please. Today will be a practical lesson."

Percy Weasley put his Defense Against the Dark Arts book and parchments neatly inside his bag. Curiosity nearly made him ask why Dumbledore and not Gilderoy Lockhart was teaching this lesson, but remembering his position, he silenced himself.

"I will pair you up. Oliver Wood and Dorothy Carney. Jan Dixon with...let's see... Etta Mercado. Percy Weasley and Penelope Clearwater. Kara Edwards Malcolm Kirk," Professor Albus Dumbledore said.

Percy didn't hear any more of the pairings as he snuck a look over to Penelope Clearwater.

Penelope Clearwater of Ravenclaw. She was smart, she was beautiful, and she was Percy's dream girl...no, woman. At the same moment Percy looked at Penelope, she also looked over to him. She blushed, and his ears turned red, a horrible Weasley heritage.

"Hurry up and sit with your partners," Professor Dumbledore said.

There was a bustle of students exchanging seats, and Percy too, got up and seated himself beside Penelope. When he reached forwards to get his quill, his hand bumped with Penelope's, and his ears flushed. He looked at her and was surprised that she too was gazing at him. Both pair of eyes looked away almost instantly.

"We're going to practice the Stunning Spell. Does anyone know the incantation?" Professor Dumbledore asked, weaving through the desks.

Percy's hand rose automatically.

"Anybody other than Mr. Weasley?" Professor Dumbledore asked, chuckling to himself. "No? Alright, Mr. Weasley, what is the incantation?"

"Stupefy," Percy mumbled.

"Yes. Five points to Gryffindor."

The Gryffindors in the room beamed.

"Come down here," Professor Dumbledore said, beckoning the students to come down to an empty part of the classroom where they wouldn't be bothered by desks. "For the rest of the lesson I want you to practice the Stunning Spell with your partners, taking turns. I will be going around amongst you. Does anyone know the incantation for the counter curse?"

Again, Percy's hand rose. This time, so did Penelope's.

"Ah, Miss Clearwater?"

"Enervate," Penelope said.

"Excellent. Five points to Ravenclaw. You may start now. Remember, Stupefy and Enervate."

Percy and Penelope stood a meter apart, neither looking at the other.

"You go first," Percy said.

Actually, he was afraid. He didn't want to stun Penelope. His mother had once told him never to hit a girl. He reasoned Mrs. Weasley wouldn't allow him to stun a girl either.

He knew it was in a lesson, and Professor Lockhart had actually paired him up with Penelope, but she wasn't just any other girl. She was special. No way was he going to stun her.

"Er-Stupefy," Penelope said. Nothing happened.

"Don't hesitate," Percy said on impact, not really thinking.

"Urm...alright. Stupefy?"

"You're still unsure," Percy said again.

Professor Dumbledore came over to them. "Mr. Weasley is quite right; you have to be sure, Miss Clearwater. Actually, Mr. Weasley, why don't you show Miss Clearwater how to do it?"

Percy's head snapped in the teacher's direction. "No!"

Professor Dumbledore looked a little taken aback, but his twinkling eyes showed that he was really expecting it. "Oh? Why not?"

"She's a girl," Percy pointed out desperately.

"Yes, I know."

"I can't curse her!"

"And why not?" Professor Dumbledore asked, arching an eyebrow.

"My mother wouldn't approve."

"Five points from Gryffindor. Sit over at your desk, Mr. Weasley. And see me after class," Professor Dumbledore sounded annoyed, even though his insides were bouncing. He knew Arthur from his frequent visits to the Ministry of Magic, and he was surprised at how Arthur's son was acting. Not so surprised, just more...intrigued.

Percy watched sullenly from his desk, watching Penelope as she was paired up with a blue-haired Ravenclaw. He was too far away to see her expression, but he could see the blue-haired Ravenclaw lick his lips, anticipated.

Penelope stunned the blue-haired Ravenclaw perfectly and quickly, and waited around a while, looking at the other pairings. She suddenly turned around and their eyes locked. Percy felt heat rise into his face, and she looked away. Seconds later she was the one being stunned by her partner.

"Class dismissed," Professor Dumbledore said, his voice ringing out over the stunned and stunning students.

A sudden rush for the door blocked Percy's view of Penelope, and he, sadly walked towards Professor Dumbledore.

"Tell me the real reason why you don't want to stun her."

Percy inhaled. "I'm sure you know, professor. I've-er-got it bad for her."

Percy felt his ears flush as Professor Dumbledore chuckled. "Got it bad for her? So why don't you just tell her?"

Percy's eyes widened in shock and surprise. "You've got to be kidding, professor."

"Why would I be?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"She wouldn't like me!" Percy cried a little louder than he anticipated.

"Why don't you just ask me to find out?"

Percy spun around and saw Penelope standing there, her blue book bag on her shoulder. Percy's ears blushed even redder, if that was possible.

He turned around to Professor Dumbledore, who had a twinkle in his eye. "I have to go meet someone, somewhere," Professor Dumbledore said, dismissing himself lamely.

"Penelope, I-" Percy started hoarsely.

"It's alright, I heard," Penelope said quietly, blushing.

When both were faced with an awkward silence, Penelope continued.

"Well? Don't you have something to ask me?"

A smile broke out on her face, motivating his own to do the same.

"Er-yeah. So, Penelope, do you-er-want to be my, you know, girlfriend?" Percy asked, swallowing a particularly large ball of spit.

Penelope nodded. "Actually, I don't approve of girlfriend-boyfriend ownership, but I guess it's with you, so, alright."

Penelope was smiling triumphantly. Percy was grinning like Crookshanks.

In the shadows, Albus Dumbledore smiled to himself. This could go down on my Chocolate Frog card, right beside Order of Merlin, First Class. Bringing together third Weasley boy with woman of his dreams.