Rare Pair Shorts

(continued from above)

When she spoke, it was a whisper. 'That was more along the lines of how I thought our first kiss should go.'

He settled his hands on her hips before he found his voice. 'Can I convince you to forget all about that display in the garden?'

'I don't know what you referring to, Percy,' Hermione said, eyes unnaturally wide as she tried to look ignorant.

'Good,' he said. He smoothed out the fabric on her dress and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. 'I didn't want what... what we have to be public without talking to you about your desires.'

'So you kissed me instead?'

He blushed. 'It really was just a frivolous bet, Hermione. I didn't think I stood a chance of losing. Your timing, though, could not have been better. I admit to feeling a great relief when you arrived, as I wasn't about to kiss another woman besides you.'

'Ron just happened to name me, then?' she asked, reaching up to straighten his bow tie. 'He doesn't know about us?'

'Not yet,' Percy said, emphasizing the last word. 'Not until you want him to.'

'Good,' she said. Hermione reached up, pulling Percy down into another kiss, this one softer than before. 'We'll tell everyone when we're ready. In the meanwhile, what Ron doesn't know won't hurt him.'