Sour Grapes

Chapter 35 - A Sort of Mission

Astoria breezed through the atrium of the ministry trying to suppress the smile threatening to overtake her lips.

She was there on business, strictly business. Wedding related... business. Yes.

At least, that's what she was endeavoring to convey to anyone who might take interest in her presence at the Ministry.

Clutching her small bag in front of her waist, she entered the lifts and attempted to look as casual and un-excited by her mounting anticipation as she possible could.

Somehow the sneaking around made everything more... charged.

She and Ron had been exchanging letters all weekend in lieu of being able to see each other in person, and his last missive to her had been quite salacious.

She stepped off the lift and turned to head toward Ron's office. As the golden grille closed, she thought she caught a glimpse of a familiar face in the very back of the lift she'd just exited. Could that have been... it had looked like Pansy Parkinson, but she couldn't be sure. She made a mental note to ask Ron what had happened with Pansy's bid for conviction last week.

No matter, she had better things on her mind at the moment.

She walked past the secretaries, not interested in having herself announced. Walking purposefully toward his office, she made sure to wipe away any pleasant expression that might occur to her traitorous face.

The people she passed, however, were wholly absorbed in their work. No one even looked up at her, and she reasoned that Magical Games and Sports was a far less secure floor than most others.

All the better for her.

His office door was closed and she gave it a muted knock with her gloved hand. She heard him clear his throat before saying, "it's open."

She entered and shut the door behind her quickly, pressing her back and her hands flat against it. He stood. They stared at each other for quite some time before speaking.

"Hi," he said.

"Hello," she replied, barely moving her lips.

Clearing his throat nervously, he said, "So you, er... got my last letter then?"

She took in a deep breath and nodded, a mischievous smirk appearing on her lips.

"Right," he said, putting his hands in his pockets, looking down at his desk and fiddling with a cup of quills before knocking it over and clearing his throat again.

Finally she realized that even though he was the Gryffindor, she'd need to ignite his bravery.

"I'm sure it will come as no surprise to you, Mr. Weasley," she said loudly, "that the amount of time it's taking for you to procure these tickets for my family is beyond unacceptable."

He started to smile, but shook it off with another small throat clearing, beginning to walk towards her as he spoke.

"As a matter of fact, you're correct Ms. Greengrass, it would never surprise me to hear that you or your family are so entitled as to believe it appropriate to march into my office demanding favors on the basis of nothing other than your blood status!"

"That is exactly why I'm here. Were you actually worthy of your blood you'd respond with prompt service and no further commentary!"

"And you have the gall to believe that insulting me and my family further will earn you rewards?"

They were nose to nose now. Her eyes drifted from his eyes to his lips as she reached her hand down to his trousers and felt the evidence of his arousal already there.