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Chapter Text

August 1995

When Percy left Hogwarts and started his job at the Ministry, he had an expectation that his parents would be proud of him. He was the third son, so he wasn't expecting to do anything Bill or Charlie hadn't done already while at Hogwarts. Percy didn't expect to command attention at home like Fred or George did or receive the coddling Ginny did, however much it chafed her. He was more invisible than Ron who had managed to make friends with Harry Potter. But Percy had expected his parents to approve of his choice of career. They hadn't, and he hadn't predicted how badly it all would turn out. Some days it was impossible to trace the steps from there to here, but here was where he most certainly was.

Percy stared morosely down into the cup of tea he was nursing. It had gone cold, the milk forming a greyish skin on top of the liquid. He didn't know what to do. It was the end of August, it had been an impossible summer. The tiny room he rented in the house share with the other Ministry workers like him, was empty and uninviting.

He was going to move out. Ever since the papers reported what had happened to Mr Crouch, his housemates had been edifyingly sympathetic, but Percy wasn't a fool enough to think that they weren't all gleefully glad it hadn't been them. It was time he stood on his own two feet and got used to living alone. It would be preferable to have somewhere he could lick his wounds in peace even if he'd never lived alone before. From the overfull Burrow to Gryffindor Tower, to his current house share, Percy had never been simply alone. It was a terrifying and exciting prospect.

It would have to be a muggle place, and that was the rub, no overt magic. He couldn't afford anything wizarding, or at least nothing that wasn't more than a shoebox, and while he was happy to accept small, he wanted more space than he had now.

His house hunt had been narrowed down to a handful of properties, the details of which were spread in front of him on the small table he occupied in the little bistro café. Going into the Muggle side of London had been the only way he had felt he could get away from the stares and whispers that followed him when he appeared in the Alley.

He'd known enough from the magazines left around Gryffindor Tower to transfigure his clothes into something passable. Something that would allow him to blend in and not stand out like so many magical people that couldn't be bothered to do their research. The muggles he had passed on his meandering path had been wearing much brighter colours and with patterns but for all that, in his sober suit, Percy had attracted no attention. He was invisible.

The waitress bustled around collecting up cups onto her tray. Percy watched her covertly, marvelling at the volume of cups she stacked on the tray and handled easily without a single featherlight charm to help her. The café he was in was nothing like Madam Puddifoots in Hogsmeade, it was inviting. The menu was written in French with the English translations printed underneath. The walls were decorated with framed Muggle posters in French. Percy liked the place.

When the waitress got to his table, he frowned down at the estate agent details and his own notes not wanting to draw attention to himself.

"Are you finished with that?" the waitress asked.

Percy's head jerked up guiltily. "Yes, sorry. Yes, I've finished."

The waitress smiled in a friendly manner. "Do you want anything else? Another pot?"

Percy glanced down at the property pages spread out before him and sighed dejectedly. "Yes, yes please I think I'd better."

She swept the cup and teapot up off the table onto her tray and patted him consolingly on the shoulder. "I'll bring it over love."

Percy smiled his thanks and gave himself a shake, he needed to concentrate and stop dithering. He was going to get his own place to live, he was going to have a place just for him. He was going to make something of himself. If his family ever came around, then he'd be able to show them that he hadn't yearned like a lost puppy, he'd made something of himself.

The waitress slipped the fresh pot of tea and a clean cup onto his table and left as unobtrusively as she'd arrived. Percy dealt with pouring his tea then shuffled the pages and his notes and started looking in earnest. The only advantage he had was that the conversion rate from galleons to pounds was favourable. He'd be able to afford a little better than he'd expected while still maintaining his savings. Percy drew out the map of London he'd taken from the bus station and marked the location of the Leaky. He'd need to apply for a licence to set up a floo connection and if the Muggle property didn't have a fireplace, then he'd need to make sure it was within walking distance, or there was somewhere he could apparate to and from.

He listed the pros and cons of each property in neat, tidy columns before deciding on making an appointment to view three potentials. If he accepted one today, he could then bring the paperwork to the estate agents on his lunch break on Monday. He could slip into the Ministry tomorrow and get all the documents drawn up. No one would think it odd that Percy Weasley was in the Ministry on a Sunday.

One week later Percy was back in the café. The flat he had chosen was a short walk away from the café, and if it wasn't on a sunny terrace in France where he could sip coffee and eat delicious pastry, it was warm and welcoming. The waitress had recognised him when Percy had come through the door and greeted him with a smile that convinced Percy that he'd made the right decision. So far he had done little more than sleep in his new home. He'd been able to collect the keys on Tuesday's lunch break the day after dropping off his documents and deposit, and he'd wasted no time at all in moving his things out of his house share into his new home.

Percy, however, discovered that his things didn't take up as much space as he had thought and the flat was looking rather bare. He would need to find a sofa and a coffee table and a table to eat at. He had considered transfiguring the things he needed but had admitted to himself buying a comfortable sofa was probably a lot easier than transfiguring one, so that was his job for this weekend. He was going to go out and find some furniture and some kitchen equipment, and since his flat was muggle, he might even look into getting a television just to see what all the fuss was about.

Set in his thinking, he didn't notice the café filling up until a pleasant voice broke him from the newspaper he was perusing and the crossword he was trying to complete.

"Is this seat taken?"

Percy looked up to see a woman his own age with a silk scarf of a dark cobalt blue wrapped around her neck and left to hang to her waist.

"Only it's getting a bit full in here," she said glancing around.

Percy tore his eyes from her to follow her gaze around the tea shop. She was correct all the tables were currently occupied.

"No," he blurted out.

She smiled at him in gratitude. "Thanks," she said, awkwardly pulling out a chair balancing her bag and cup in hand. Percy hastily gathered up the newspaper he had brought with him, trying to wrestle it back into the shape it had been before he'd started spreading it about.

"That's the problem with broadsheets, isn't it?" the woman commented. "They never seem to want to go back into place once they're loose."

Percy shuffled the pages as best he could then folded them over a few times clearing room for his companion.

"I'm Audrey," the woman said holding out her hand.

"Percy Weasley," Percy replied automatically taking the hand and shaking it gently once before letting it go.

"Hello, Percy," Audrey said as she settled into the chair unwinding the scarf from around her neck. Percy watched in fascination as the scarf revealed itself to be a lot thinner than he expected but considerably longer.

"I know," Audrey said catching the look. "It's crazy how long it is but I really loved the colour, and I couldn't leave it in the shop."

"It's very becoming," Percy said then cringed internally. Becoming? He sounded like an idiot.

Audrey, if she noticed the odd word choice, only smiled at the compliment and picked up her cup.

Percy stamped on his growing embarrassment and turned back to his now folded newspaper to continue the crossword.

"Are you any good at those?" Audrey asked after a moment.

Percy looked up surprised. "I'm, well. I've never completed one."

Audrey smiled. "Me neither, devilishly hard, aren't they?"

Percy put the folded paper down and picked up his cup, observing his new companion. His mother would have scolded him for ignoring her, and while he no longer felt the pressing need to obey his parents, good manners had been ingrained. "Do you prefer the Guardian or the Financial Times?"

"The Telegraph actually," Audrey replied with a smile.

Percy looked at her and smiled the first genuine smile he had done for a long time. She was pretty, and he had an urge to converse with her as long as he could.

"I don't think I've seen you in here before," Audrey said with another warm smile.

"I moved to the area last week," Percy said. "I moved out of a house share I was in. I wanted my own space."

"I'm not sure I'm brave enough to live in a house share. I know they are all the rage, but what if you end up with someone who drinks all the milk? Or leaves the bathroom in a state? Or throws wild parties every weekend?" Audrey said shuddering.

"I didn't have those problems," Percy said. Silencing Charms were invented for a reason after all, and after living in a house with five brothers, he'd learnt the necessary cleaning and freshening charms at a very young age. His mother had insisted they all had. "But I think it was time for me to move out."

"How long have you lived there?"

"Just over a year," Percy answered. "My housemates, and I all work for the same place, so there's mutual respect about not having parties and such."

"Banker or law?" Audrey guessed.

"Pardon?"

"Where you all work, at a city bank or in law?"

"What makes you say that?" Percy asked curiously.

"The suit," she waved a hand at Percy who was wearing the same Muggle suit he'd worn each time he'd been in Muggle London. "It's too formal for day to day management, so that leaves an older establishment that expects a higher standard of dress than current fashion. Which rules out most things except high-end banking or law."

"Neither I'm afraid. I work for the government," Percy confessed.

"Really?" Audrey said surprised, she considered him again closely. "You don't strike me as the type."

"I beg your pardon," Percy said straightening up, a little put out that she didn't think he could work in government.

"Oh, god, sorry. I mean, you're what my age? So it's going to be some sort of entry-level thing. I have a friend, Rose, who works as a Data Clerk for Whitehall. Which sounds very glam but honestly, she does nothing but complain about it. She was telling me about the blokes there, and well they are either aristocratic arses coming in from boarding school on Mummy and Daddy's money. Or they are the ideological type who won't last six months in the rat race but make up lovely support staff for the aristocratic arses who know how to play the game." Audrey winced. "And, umm, you don't seem like either of those. Sorry, I didn't mean that to come out quite like that," she finished.

Percy who had sat in shock at the diatribe coming from this woman smiled. She was beautiful, especially with the blush covering her face at her embarrassment over her blunt assessment.

"Ah well, I am the type apparently. It's an entry-level post to a department buried within the depth of the government checking on the standards of imported items. It's horribly dull, but I did go to boarding school," Percy said with a smirk.

"Oh God," Audrey said covering her face with her hands. "Could you just pretend I didn't say any of that?"

Percy laughed surprising himself. "Perhaps," he said to ease her embarrassment. "If it helps my case of 'not the type', my parents aren't part of the aristocratically wealthy class."

"Neither are mine," Audrey replied. "You might have been able to work that out for yourself however as you witnessed me placing my foot in my mouth."

"So, what do you do?" Percy asked happy to spare her any more embarrassment.

"I'm in antiques," Audrey replied swallowing a mouthful of her tea.

Percy looked at Audrey waiting for further clarification. When it didn't come, he asked. "What does that involve?"

Audrey shrugged. "If I worked for anyone other than my uncle probably making a lot of tea. It's a bit of a family business, my grandparents used to own an antique shop, my uncle runs it now. I'm an Assistant Valuer. Lifelong exposure to the Antiques Roadshow on TV as a child combined with been taken to the sales on the weekends and during the holidays and I've got the bug. My parents are horrified. Supportive, but horrified. It's not the most lucrative of things to do, and my grades at school were good so they'd rather I got a steady job. But ever since my first auction I've wanted to be an auctioneer. We've compromised, and I'm still taking night classes in case it all goes belly up, and I need a job as a data clerk in Whitehall."

Percy settled back in his chair and crossed one leg over the other. "Most of that meant very little to me. What is a valuer and what are these sales you were dragged to?" Percy ignored the reference to the TV, he knew nothing about it and hoped his silence would be mistaken for understanding.

Audrey nodded as if him not knowing wasn't unusual and proceeded to explain her chosen career and the bug she had developed as a child.

The conversation meandered over antiquities, Percy's need to buy furniture for his flat, Audrey's recommendations of where to get a bargain and parental expectation. It was two hours, and two shared pots of tea later that Audrey bit her lip and shot him a look he didn't quite understand but could see was tinged with a little bit of embarrassment.

"I feel I owe you dinner," she confessed.

"Why?" Percy asked twisting in his seat to see the clock on the wall over the counter that showed it was nearly four in the afternoon.

"Well, I wasn't very honest. You see my last relationship ended badly and I was upset. It was serious, and I liked him a lot. And you know how it goes, one day it's all sweetheart and roses and the next day you're hunting for a flatmate to share the rent. Anyway, I've not been on a date since and it's been eight months, and I don't mind. I'm happy, but my friend, Lucy, who kindly stepped in as a flatmate until I could get out of the lease. Well, she wants me to date, and I told her this morning that I was meeting someone for coffee thinking that she'd leave me be. Only she followed me here, and I didn't have a date so I took a bit of a gamble and asked if I could sit with you knowing she was watching through the window. In my head, it didn't sound crazy, but there you go, now I've said it, it does. But since you've been an absolute trooper and put up with me, I'd like to thank you." Audrey explained in a rush glancing at him with her guilty and embarrassed expression.

"With dinner?" Percy clarified.

"Yes," Audrey nodded.

"Dinner that would make it look like you were moving your dating life onward even further when you reported back to your friend Lucy?" Percy asked in a slightly condescending manner but with a smile to take the sting out of his words.

"Well yes," Audrey admitted squirming. "But that's not all of the reason. I find I quite like you Percy Weasley and I'm hoping you improve on further acquaintance."

Chapter Text

November 1995

Percy began to notice as November started. He suspected that he'd not noticed sooner because it had been a gradual thing, but by the time November kicked in the Muggles had officially begun their run-up to Christmas. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. The wizarding world didn't do anything like this. Percy had the fleeting abstract thought that Professor Dumbledore would have loved it. It was bright, it was loud, it was frankly obnoxious in places, and made Percy recoil. An ingrained sense of propriety offended by the over the top displays.

He had caught himself doubling back the first time he had seen the depiction of Father Christmas. The beard and the twinkling eyes had made him look twice. Although to be fair to Professor Dumbledore, Percy didn't think the meddlesome wizard would ever be accused of being that overweight.

The supermarket close to his house where he did his food shop was the main culprit in Percy's enlightenment. He shopped there because it was easier than owl ordering and he felt should Audrey ask, he needed to be at least aware of his local supermarket and somewhat familiar with it. Also, Muggle beer, something he had tried in a pub with Audrey, had been on sale there, and Percy was taking to occasionally drinking it in the evening. The wizarding world was short on things like bottled beer. Muggles, on the other hand, had a mind-boggling selection catering for every taste.

His more recent forays into the supermarket had been met with a seemingly never-ending loop of the same festive songs and a significant amount of marketing geared towards the holiday. The music was awful Percy decided. He couldn't tell if it was meant to encourage or discourage enjoying yourself, but he'd had enough of it already.

Once he had noticed that it was coming up to Christmas, it had brought up a mild panic that he would have to get Audrey a gift. Percy knew enough from his dating of witches in Hogwarts to know that whatever he gave her would be subject to the scrutiny of her friends and family. Who would use it as a means to judge him worthy of Audrey.

On top of that, there were the Ministry events he would have to attend. The Yule Ball, the charity dinners, the events that were no more than self-congratulatory back-patting for another year over. Then there was the overtime since everyone decided that they were going to enjoy the festivities and someone else could pick up their slack. Added to that was the fact that Percy was estranged from his family and this would be his first Christmas on his own.

Christmas didn't look like it was going to be something he would be celebrating this year.

He didn't know how to feel about that. He was under no illusions that the Burrow wouldn't be full to bursting, that his Mum and Dad wouldn't be hosting as many people as they could. There was no way he could go, however. Even if they managed not to drag up politics, which, considering their likely guests seemed an impossibility, he knew his brothers would be unforgiving. Bill would be unamused, a disapproving elder brother siding firmly with their father. Ron would be belligerent and ill-mannered when he wasn't doing his best to ignore Percy's existence. Harry and Hermione, who would be in attendance, would likely ignore his presence. Not that it wouldn't be any less awkward, but they could be relied on to at least show manners. Ginny would be cold if not outright hostile. The twins, however. Percy suppressed a shudder at the thought of what his two prankster brothers set on the course of their righteous anger might do to him.

He put the thought of his family out of his mind, he had to get Audrey something for Christmas. Something that signified his growing regard for her. He would have to decide between something Muggle, which he didn't have a lot of experience in buying, and was unsure about where he could purchase something that would suit and be of acceptable quality. Or, he could buy something from the wizarding world that was benign enough and not of such superior quality it would cause unwanted questions to be asked.

The problem, Percy mused, was that the wizarding world really was old fashioned and the use of repair spells meant that even the tattiest of things could be fixed up. A girlfriend who could recognise a sixteenth-century goblet at forty paces and assign value based on its condition was a problem. Especially when sixteenth-century goblets of reasonable condition were forty a knut in Diagon Alley, and a few cleaning and repairing spells could have them looking, well, not new, but certainly in better condition than anything that old had a right to be in the Muggle world.

Audrey would love a set, she really genuinely would, but Percy couldn't buy her any because she would have more questions than he had answers. High-quality silk, on the other hand, he mused to himself, remembering the scarf she wore when he first met her, and she'd worn since. Yes, an Acromantula silk scarf would raise fewer questions. The haberdashery in Diagon Alley could be availed upon for such things.

He wasn't going to buy her jewellery. Percy's family might not cleave to the old pureblood traditions but that one his father had told all his sons about. You didn't give a witch jewellery without meaning the promise behind it. The promise that you were making your choice known to the broader community. That you had chosen your witch and she had accepted you. Audrey clearly wouldn't be aware of the custom, but he was, and until he was sure, he would not be gifting her jewellery. Satisfied he at least had an idea that wouldn't land him in trouble, he made a note in his calendar to spend a lunch hour away from his desk one day this week so he could start looking for something suitable.

Three days after his musing about Audrey's Christmas present, Percy woke up in a strange bed that was becoming all too familiar. He reached over to the bedside table for his glasses bringing his murky world into focus and enabling him to look at Audrey in the weak light. She grumbled and rolled closer, still asleep. The t-shirt Percy distinctly remembered taking off her had been reinstated, and he allowed himself a flash of chagrin.

Percy gently dropped a kiss onto her cheek before swinging his legs out of bed. He had to go to work and tardiness, however excellent the excuse, was not a habit he wished to form. Percy headed for the shower snagging his overnight bag on the way.

Pretending to be muggle wasn't difficult, he enjoyed travelling around by public transport with Audrey when they went out. He enjoyed the food, music and culture he had so far been exposed to. He did not enjoy the early mornings he had to endure when he stayed over at Audrey's. His place of work was further away, and he had to act accordingly, which meant getting up earlier. It wasn't all bad, his early starts on the days he stayed at Audrey's allowed him to feel he was not slacking when he didn't work over the weekend because he and Audrey had plans.

Audrey had left the bed by the time he came out of the bathroom, showered, shaved-by magic although he did carry a Muggle razor, and dressed in robes he had transfigured into a Muggle suit. Audrey was leaning against the kitchen cabinets, a cup of coffee steaming in her hands. His cup was laid out next to a steaming teapot as was his preference for brewed tea over Muggle tea bags, next to her on the surface. He added milk to his cup then poured the steeped tea into the cup, a quick stir, and he sipped appreciatively. "Thank you," Percy said.

Audrey lifted a shoulder in a gesture communicating it was nothing. Percy hid his smile behind his cup. Audrey was not a morning person, a phrase he hadn't understood until his first overnight stay with her. Until she had consumed her first cup of coffee, she was practically mute.

"Mum has invited you over for Sunday Lunch."

"I will, of course, accept gladly," Percy replied. "You said I'd be asked eventually."

"Mmmm," Audrey acknowledged taking another sip of coffee. "It's a warm-up. She's going to ask you to attend Christmas. Dad said that your first time meeting them shouldn't be as fraught as Christmas and you should come for Sunday lunch first. Break you in gently."

Percy looked at her in surprise. For this early in the morning that was an unprecedented amount of coherence. Audrey caught the look and pulled one of her own. "I meant to tell you last night, but it seems other plans took precedence."

Percy smiled at that flicking a glance quickly over her. Her t-shirt covered her bum but little else, and it had been washed thin by constant use. It was not an unattractive look with her hair still tangled and unbrushed.

Audrey rolled her eyes at him then more seriously said. "You don't have to come at Christmas. I'd like you there, but you have your own family."

Percy put his empty cup in the sink and ran water over it to rinse it out. "I'd like to think about it if I may. I assume Sunday lunch will be this Sunday?" Audrey nodded. "Then I'll have my answer when they ask." He turned from the sink, kissed her thoroughly goodbye then collected his overnight bag and left for the Ministry.

It seemed that this week in early November was the week the world decided Percy had to think about Christmas and all that the holiday would entail. The Minister arranged a two-hour conference about the upcoming Yule Ball, its guest list and relative importance at being a success. Percy had been unsurprised that the Minister's eager involvement, the wish to be kept up to date and involved in the decision-making had been dumped on Percy's desk. When the Minister said things like that, it actually meant Percy would have to know everything and give the selected highlights to the Minister.

The rest of the day had been taken up by organising the Minister's schedule around those Charities and organisations that had invited the Minister to attend a dinner or party. To give a speech, or hand out an award, or just turn up and lend propriety to their cause only with his presence. Add to that the Minister himself had his own ideas about those people he would indulge and those he wouldn't, by the end of the day Percy felt herding cats would be preferable. He hadn't really considered what his appointment as junior aide to the Minister for Magic might involve before he took the job.

Minister Fudge breezed through Percy's office space seconds after the clock struck five. He paused in front of Percy's desk, an eye passing over the number of bits or parchment and the large planner Percy had laid out trying to get everything to align.

"Weasley. I want the weekends kept clear. I have a family, and they are as entitled to my time as everyone else."

"Minister, the dinner hosted by the International Healers Confederation is on a Saturday," Percy objected.

"Then refuse the invite or tell them to reschedule."

"I don't believe that would be possible Minister," Percy replied hesitantly.

"Nonsense, I am the Minister for Magic aren't I? If they want me to attend this dinner of theirs, then they'll move it or go without. Dinner with a bunch of old cronies wittering on about hideous injuries is hardly something I want to attend Weasley. It sickens my stomach listening to them blather on about spell damage over the main course." Fudge complained.

"Yes, Minister," Percy said dully looking down at his planner in dismay. It seemed very doubtful that the International Healers Confederation, which was an organisation that worked closely with the Ministry and St Mungo's, would reschedule the dinner just for the British Minister for Magic. But, they were an influential group, and Percy was aware if the Minister was not, the importance of keeping relations between the Ministry and them in good health.

"Good," Fudge said before turning smartly on his heel and leaving Percy alone.

Percy groaned in dismay and selected from his pile of parchments those invitations that were set for the weekends. He sorted through to those he could, without too much offence, decline with only the reason that the Minister wasn't attending, from those that the Minister needed to participate in and would require a more diplomatic approach. That done, Percy waved his wand at the first pile sending out the refusals then placed them into a folder with the other rejected events. He then selected the second collection, making notations of when they could be rescheduled for into the Minister's already busy schedule.

He'd managed to juggle things around to allow the Minister to attend two of the dinners and one award ceremony and had sent out the appropriate messages and suggestions before his office door opened once more.

Percy looked up to see his father hover nervously in the doorway. Percy put the parchments down and took a moment to look his father over.

"Ahh, Percy," Arthur said with a small smile and a friendly nod. "I was hoping to catch you before you left for the day."

Percy rose from his chair indicating the chairs by his desk. "Will you come in?"

Arthur bobbed another nod and closed the door behind him as he came forward. His eyes flickered around the office taking the room. It was, Percy knew, sumptuous. Something he had stopped seeing as his working hours got longer and longer. The antechamber to the Minister for Magic's office had carpet that was thick and muffling, the wall hangings were silk, and the ornate frames dotted around the walls held portraits of former Ministers. The desk Percy was sat behind was vast and elaborate. Nothing to the Minister's office, nor to the other department heads, Percy knew, but to Arthur who due to his department had a wonky old desk from the bygone era, the desk at which his son sat at must look impressive.

Arthur settled into the armchair uncomfortably. The chair was nicer than anything at the Burrow, the covering was dragonhide leather of such quality it was butter soft. It was either the quality or the placement of it before his son's desk that was making Arthur uncomfortable Percy summarised.

"Tea?" Percy offered.

"Err no thank you, your Mum is cooking dinner, and you know what she gets like," Arthur said with a smile.

Percy subsided into his own comfortable leather chair waiting for his father to get to the reason he was here.

"You're not working too hard?" Arthur asked glancing at the parchment covering Percy's desk

"Christmas is a busy period for the Minister," Percy replied stiffly.

Arthur bobbed another nod, his fingers fiddling anxiously with the drape of his robe. "Ahh well, that's why I'm here. We were wondering if you'd be coming home for Christmas?"

Percy didn't stop the look of shock crossing his face followed by one of suspicion.

Arthur held up a hand. "Percy, son. It's Christmas, I know things have been said, and perhaps they shouldn't have been, but we worry about you." Arthur cast a not so subtle glance at the closed doors to the Minister's office. "You're a smart lad Percy. Christmas is a time for family. It would mean the world to your Mum and me if you'd come and spend Christmas with your family."

"You'll both apologise?" Percy asked.

"Percy, Ron told us about the letter you sent. I have to say I'm disappointed in you." Arthur said with a stern look. Percy bristled but held his tongue as his father held up a hand and continued speaking. "If you feel you need an apology for our behaviour that is your right, but you'll need to be giving your own. Not just to your Mother and me, but to Harry. You had no right to malign him like that, he's done nothing wrong."

"He's dangerous!" Percy hissed.

"He's not," Arthur replied sternly.

"He is, I've seen the reports! He's going to get someone hurt if not killed, and if you don't heed me it might be one of you!"

Arthur shook his head sadly. "Percy, please." He stood wearily. "This ground doesn't need going over again. Harry isn't a threat, the threat is from You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters. Some of whom walk the same corridors we do. Who are working within these halls of power, not for the good of Wizarding kind but to push You-Know-Who's agenda. The invitation stands, you're family Percy, and we'd like to see you there."

Percy stood as well, his hands balled into fists, hidden in his robes, the same hot anger firing him as had done so when he broke from his family. "Thank you for the invitation, but I won't be attending. I have been invited and accepted an offer of alternative hospitality for the season."

Arthur looked closely at his son. Percy kept his head up meeting his eyes refusing to be cowed. He saw the slight slump in his father's shoulders.

"Very well, I'll inform your mother. Look after yourself Percy." With that Arthur turned and left Percy's office, the door closing softly behind him. Percy felt the anger in him morph into disappointment, and he sat down heavily.

Sunday lunch at Audrey's parents went well. Percy dressed smartly wanting to give off the right impression and made sure to bring a bottle of wine Audrey had said her parents both liked, along with a small bunch of flowers for her mother. It had perhaps been overkill, but they had both welcomed him warmly. When during the coffee after the large meal Audrey's mother invited him to Christmas dinner he accepted warmly and offered to arrive early to help with the preparations. The offer was rebutted, but Percy thought it had been received well.

Percy pushed the meeting with his father to the rear reaches of his mind and concentrated on his work and his burgeoning relationship. It worked well as a distraction up until the middle of December when he heard the reports that his father had been attacked and was in St Mungo's in a critical condition.

Percy forced himself to stay at his desk to continue his day’s work while gleaning as much information as he could from the gossips and whisperers. When five o'clock came around, he left his office returned to his home and called Audrey on the telephone he'd had connected. Percy apologised, cancelled their evening plans, and sat on his small sofa thinking. He needed to go to St Mungo's, he needed to know his father was alright and receiving the best care. Since his family had not thought to inform him of the attack on his father, Percy assumed he would be unwelcome should they spot him. Percy also thought that since his father was hurt in part of the Ministry he had no business being in, he would also have to get around whatever guard the Order had provided.

The trip was not a total success nor failure. With robes and hair charmed, Percy had made it up to the ward where his unconscious father was. His mother had been at the bedside, so Percy had watched them both through the window until the sound of feet further down the corridor had him fleeing in the opposite direction. He had no further information about his father's condition, but he had at least seen he was still alive.

Christmas Day at Audrey's house was much as it was at the Burrow, just missing the use of magic and all of Percy's family. Audrey's family arrived at her parent's house, and Percy was introduced to a veritable horde of people. The uncle she worked for, the sister she had told him about, the grandparents that got her hooked on antiques. An aunt and her husband and children, another aunt with children but no husband. Percy put his mind to the task of remembering everyone and trying not to trip up while answering the dozen or so questions each of Audrey's relatives asked.

By the time they left together, Percy was exhausted. He had a Ministry function tomorrow that would take up most of the day and night, then he was back at work for three days before the weekend.

He and Audrey had agreed that since New Year's Eve was a Sunday and he had to attend yet another Ministry party, he would meet Audrey and her friends in the pub on Saturday night. It would be the first time Percy would be introduced to all of the people he had been told about, but he readily agreed thinking it couldn't possibly be any harder than meeting all of her family.

Audrey smiled up at him amusement dancing in her eyes. "You did very well you know, and thank you again for the scarf; it really is beautiful."

Percy smiled at her. "Thank you for inviting me."

"Your family were OK with you spending the day with me? You've not mentioned going to see them between now and New Year's?"

"No, I won't be."

Audrey noticed the look on his face and dropped the topic. She led him to the sofa and pulled him down next to her. "I don't think I'll eat for a month. I'm so full."

Percy rested an arm around her shoulders pulling her closer ignoring the pangs the thought of his family brought on. "What do you usually do now then?" he asked.

"Watch rubbish on TV until I fall asleep," Audrey replied.

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Percy said getting comfortable. "I'll leave it to you to choose something to watch."

Audrey picked up the remote control turning the TV on and started to flick through the four channels to select from. Settling on something that looked festive on Channel Four she set her head on Percy's chest and let her eyes droop closed.

Percy watched as Audrey fell asleep on him. Once he was sure that she was sound asleep, he turned the TV off and slipped his wand from his sleeve. Quietly and carefully so not to wake her, Percy summoned the book he had packed in his overnight bag and the blanket from the chair across the room. He checked that covering her with a blanket hadn't caused her to stir before summoning his teapot, cup, and tea leaves from the cupboard in the kitchen. Percy filled the teapot with his wand, then brought the water to the perfect temperature with another charm. He summoned the milk from the fridge and added the splash he preferred to his cup before sending it sailing back to the kitchen. Tea steeping, he checked Audrey was still sleeping before slipping his wand back up his sleeve.

Percy didn't mind living as a muggle when he was with Audrey. Spending today as a muggle, fetching and carrying dishes and plates, and washing up by hand had been part of the Muggle Christmas he had just enjoyed. It didn't mean he didn't appreciate his magic though, and if he could get away with it, he saw no harm in using it while he was with her. Making tea the Muggle way would have disturbed her and taken longer. Magic meant a few charms and wand movements later, Audrey was undisturbed, and Percy was supplied with tea and something to read.

He smiled down at the woman in his arms, she'd made a day he had not looked forward to special in its own right. He held her a bit tighter, a bit closer. She mumbled in her sleep cuddling up to him, and Percy embraced the moment where all was right in the world.

Chapter Text

There was something about Percy that was off. On the surface, he was the nice young man her mother had always told her to settle down with. He held doors open, he was unfailingly polite and a little reserved enough to be interesting. He took notice of her likes and dislikes and acted accordingly. He didn't drone on about his job, boring her to tears with how important or how hard his days were. In fact, of his work Percy said very little. He didn't obsess over football, and in fact, he had the first time she mentioned it, asking if he watched or supported a team, looked at her blankly.

That Audrey thought was the thing that got her thinking about Percy. That blank look, the one he hid as quickly as it came. It happened less and less the more time she spent with him, but the source of it puzzled her. Why would a young bloke, well educated, with a host of brothers not know what football was or understand the idea of a soap opera?

Smaller things such as not having eaten Chinese food or pizza had not raised as much suspicion when they had cropped up. Not everyone's parents were adventurous when it came to cuisine, and a Scottish boarding school didn't strike her as likely to serve Chicken Tikka Masala. Percy couldn't drive and couldn't name a single car brand. He'd never flown, but he had spoken fleetingly of a visit to Egypt.

Since she'd started keeping track of the idiosyncrasies of Percy, Audrey realised that there was an awful lot of them.

But that left her in a quandary of its own. She liked Percy. She didn't really want to stop seeing him. But if something was off, she didn't want to wake up one morning and find out she'd fallen for someone who wasn't who they said they were. Or worse, was no longer there at all.

She'd have to confront him, only what to say? Hi, Percy, look there are a few things that don't add up and before I decide I've fallen for you could you tell me if you're a serial killer? Or a con man? Or an undercover something with a fabricated backstory? – Yeah, that wouldn't make her look crazy.

Oh, and how come Percy never got stuck in traffic? Like never ever. If they arranged to meet no matter the weather, or location, or state of the roads he was always on time. He'd had to cancel on her a few times which was refreshingly normal, but if they were going to meet, Percy was always on time. No one managed that on London's public transport. No one.

There was something rotten in the state of Denmark.

Finally, after a week of prevaricating Audrey had done something about it. She'd made a phone call and agreed to a lunch meeting. Now Audrey was sat in the busy London restaurant nursing a glass of wine while waiting for her companion to show up. She stared out the window watching the passing people as they scurried about on their lunch breaks escaping the confining office, the bad lighting, and the terrible canteen food. Audrey thanked her stars she hadn't had to get a job like that. That so far, she'd been able to follow her passion.

Audrey spied Rose coming down the street, and it drew a smile to her face. Rose was fun, quirky, the sort of person who was written off as pretty and shallow by most who didn't see past the blonde hair and the dedication to fashion Rose had slaved to since she was old enough to spend her pocket money unsupervised. Rose came through the door, flirted with the closest waiter by reflex and made her way to Audrey. She dropped into the seat with a genuine smile of greeting. "Hello, I'm not late, am I?"

"No," Audrey assured her. "I came via the market, and it wasn't as good as it could have been, so I was quicker than I planned."

"Someone else had all the good stuff already?" Rose asked with a sympathetic smile.

"Probably," Audrey said. "Drink?"

"Yes, whatever you're having."

Audrey waved a waiter over ordered Rose a drink and settled back into her chair waiting. It was a short wait.

"So?" Rose asked arching an eyebrow.

Audrey smiled hesitantly. "I need a favour."

"Obviously, otherwise you wouldn't have called me out of my little circle of typists to this rather nice restaurant to treat me for lunch, would you?" Rose answered with a cheeky grin.

"It's, well I'm not sure I should be asking you this, but it's Percy."

"Percy?" Rose looked startled, and the cheeky grin faded to real concern. "It's been what? Six months, what's he done? He's not asked you for money has he?"

"No, nothing like that," Audrey reassured her fiddling with the cuff of her sleeve not meeting Rose's gaze.

"Then what? He seems nice enough, smitten with you obviously. Didn't even so much as look at the rest of us in the pub and you've had that goofy grin on your face for months now."

Audrey shifted in her chair taking a fortifying sip of her wine. "He never talks about his work."

Roses face stayed attentive waiting for further information. Audrey swallowed the doubt about what she was trying to explain, making her words come slowly. "He doesn't, at all never. Well alright," Audrey qualified. "No more than how his day was or warning me if he's going to be really busy and working late. Do you not think that's weird?"

"Umm no?" Rose said. "I mean a bloke who doesn't spout off about how fantastic his job is and his never-ending list of workmates who you've never met but are supposed to be able to keep straight and remember sounds great." Rose looked at Audrey over the top of her wine glass before taking a sip.

"I know," Audrey said frustrated. "I know, and it is, and he's interested in what I do, and you know how unusual that is. But Percy doesn't socialise with anyone from work either. He's never said he's gone out with them after work, and he only ever seems to attend functions he's required to. He's not interested in football or any kind of sport other than a passing enquiry if it's something I'm interested in. He'll sit and watch TV with me, but he'll pick up a book more often and not and let me watch what I want."

"Audrey, love, what's the problem and how can I help? He seems pretty ideal to me. I mean, if he had a bit more muscle and was broader in the chest, and was a bit easier going. Because he looks the type to not have piles of clothes on the floor and I live in organised chaos, and I couldn't cope with someone picking up after me or trying to get me to put things away." Rose smiled encouragingly.

"Could you, maybe, you know, find out?" Audrey asked sending Rose a pleading look for understanding.

"Find out what?" Rose replied looking puzzled.

"Who he works with. What they think of him? I've never met any of his friends, he's estranged from his family. Who else is there?"

Rose looked concerned. "Audrey, do you think there's something off about him?"

"Yes. No. I don't know," Audrey said putting her glass down in favour of sinking her hands into her hair. "It's been six months, and I'm not comparing him to, you know, Steve, I'm not, but if I was…"

"Percy's ahead?" Rose provided knowingly.

"Streets ahead. And I don't want to suddenly find out he's been lying to me all this time or God, I don't know, is a con man or something. What if he's got a criminal record!" Audrey exclaimed.

Rose laughed. "Audrey calm down. Percy doesn't strike me as the type. He's straight-laced by the book kind of guy, and he's great. He's witty in a dry way, he's not a foam party type, but he's certainly the type to get you in a cab at the end of the night and home safe. If it eases your mind, I'll ask around the pool, see if anyone knows of him and I'll ask Jennifer to ask around her pool. She's got higher clearance than me."

"You don't think I'm crazy?" Audrey asked worriedly. "That I'm maybe looking for problems that don't exist?"

"No, I think you're crazy, but I get it. Somethings bothering you and this is an easy thing to do. Give me a week or two, and I'll have your answers." Rose reached over and patted her hand. "Now, you promised me lunch, and that waiter has been dying to come over here and introduce himself so what are we having?"

By the time Audrey got home, she half regretted asking Rose to find out about Percy through her contacts, but she pushed it out of her head. It might be untrusting, but if something were wrong, she'd look stupider for ignoring her gut.

Two weeks later when Audrey had managed to forget the favour she'd asked of Rose, she'd settled in front of the TV just as the doorbell went. Surprised since she wasn't expecting Percy, she went to the door to find Rose on her doorstep. The favour came rushing back, and the look on Rose's face made her stomach swoop.

"Come in," Audrey said leading her friend back to her sofa and the burbling TV. Rose shrugged off her coat dropping it over the armchair and settled onto the sofa next to Audrey, fishing a bottle of wine out of her large floppy handbag.

Audrey looked at the bottle and then at Rose's face before wordlessly getting to her feet and collecting glasses and a corkscrew from the kitchen. Back on the sofa, Rose took the corkscrew, opened the bottle and poured two large glasses.

"I'm sorry," she said handing Audrey a glass. "There's no Percy Weasley listed as taking an entry-level position in any of the Ministerial departments that my pool works with which is a good third of them. I didn't want to tell you that, so I asked the others and asked Jennifer to ask around as well. He's not an employee as far as I can find out. I'm so sorry love."

Audrey looked at Rose with a blank face. "So, he doesn't work for a Minister?"

"It doesn't look like it, but only within the bits I can find out about. There's nothing to say Percy works in a different branch. I'm sorry I don't have better news."

"It's ok," Audrey said fighting down her feelings.

"Look, so if he doesn't work for a Minister, maybe he's just a flunkie. A paper pusher buried in a pool of other paper pushers and thought that working for a Minister sounded more impressive. He wouldn't be the first to stretch the bounds of their job description, and Percy's a good guy, you just need to ask him," Rose said encouragingly.

Audrey's smile was woeful. "Ask him how? Something felt off, and I have terrible luck with men, so I thought having my friend ask around about you was a better idea than asking you straight out because I didn't want my heart broken? My god, I'm like every chick lit ever written."

"Yeah," Rose agreed. "But it does mean you were wrong to investigate, although maybe don't mention his habit of being on time was the thing that pushed you over the edge."

Audrey looked at her friend for a beat and they both dissolved into giggles. "Oh hell, I'm mad aren't I?"

"All the best people are," Rose said nudging Audrey with her shoulder comfortingly.

They settled on the sofa turning to the TV and sharing the bottle of wine. When it was finished, and they had talked about Audrey's next move, Rose stood collecting up her discarded shoes, coat, and handbag. "What are you going to do?" she asked referring to the scenarios they had gone through which had ranged from the extreme of leaving the country with no warning to more rationally asking Percy to explain.

"I'll ask him. I'll have to I suppose, I have to now, and we'll see what he says." Audrey said walking her friend to the door.

"I think it's highly unlikely that it's going to be any more than he exaggerated his job to impress you. But if it isn't, just so you know, my freezer has ice cream, and there's wine in the fridge," Rose said hugging Audrey goodbye as she stepped through the door.

"Thanks, Rose," Audrey replied.

"No problem kiddo," Rose said smiling and waved as she headed for the stairs.

Audrey didn't see Percy for two more days. He arrived at her door at half past six on the dot carrying a bag of hot takeaway. She let him in, greeted him with the usual friendly kiss, and they sat at her tiny table to eat the food. Audrey admitted that she made a poor showing and a blind man could see something was distracting her, so it came as no surprise when Percy cleared the dishes away and returned to the table. He retook his seat, and she let him take one of her hands in his. When he asked her directly if something was wrong, she took a deep breath.

"Maybe," she admitted.

"Is there something I can do?" Percy asked. Audrey felt her heart melt at the earnest expression on his face, the way his hair was ever so slightly mussed and knew that if she was this far gone already, it was only going to hurt worse if something was truly not as it should be.

"Percy, who do you work for?"

Percy frowned slightly at her his puzzlement showing. "The Ministry, I told you."

"I know what you said Percy, and to be honest it wasn't much. And well, there isn't a good way to say this, and I know that it's possibly not the best way of handling things, but I didn't know what else to do. I thought that maybe if I were just inventing trouble, then it wouldn't matter because I wouldn't have to tell you, but it didn't work out that way and now—."

"Audrey," Percy interrupted squeezing her hand. "You aren't making sense. What's the matter?"

"I asked Rose to look into which department you worked for in the Ministry. She couldn't find you on the list of people employed within Whitehall."

Percy looked shocked, Audrey bit her lip and tried to explain. "I know I probably shouldn't have, but I thought she'd just tell me you were on the rolls and it would just be me being slightly crazy. But you weren't," she shrugged helplessly. "And now I don't know what to think. I've had this feeling, and I tried to ignore it I did. I wanted to, but I couldn't."

Percy blew out a breath. "Feeling?"

"You're going to think I'm crazy," Audrey said miserably. "I've probably ruined everything already, and you're not going to want to keep seeing the crazy stalker girlfriend who sent her friends to check up on you."

A small smile passed over Percy's face, and Audrey couldn't help the tiny flicker of hope that as nuts as she apparently was, she might still have a relationship at the end of the night

"I do work in the Ministry," Percy said. "I don't know how deep Rose can dig and there's a lot I can't tell you because my work is classified." He held the hand up that wasn't holding hers to halt her reply. "I know that that sounds like an excuse, but it isn't. The work we do is covered by the Official Secrets Act. I simply can't tell you. What I told you I did is the cover I use, no one is usually that interested in something that sounds a lot like boring paper pushing."

"What about everything else?" Audrey blurted.

"What everything else?" Percy asked.

Audrey bit her lip again. She pretty much had to say something now, but it all sounded so stupid when faced with actually saying it out loud.

"I can't tell you if you don't explain," Percy said with a worried look on his face.

Audrey nodded. "I know, but it sounds nuts, it really does."

Percy smiled a small warm smile at her squeezing her hand in encouragement. "I like you a lot Audrey Stone, and I would like our relationship to continue, but for us to do that we need to clear up whatever it is that's bothering you."

Audrey swallowed. She'd never felt just as stupid as she did right now, but Audrey acknowledged that Percy was right, if she didn't explain what was bothering her then she'd probably go looking for problems. Better to have it out now. "It's small things," she said slowly, watching his face carefully. "Not just that you never talk about work, which, if as you say it's classified, I can understand. But you're not interested in football or any sport on TV. Or TV at all really, and sometimes you get this look. This blank look, like you didn't understand what I asked you, even about everyday stuff like famous art, or places, or events that have happened. It's like you don't know about this stuff until I mention it. And you never bring up a topic of conversation that I haven't done first, and it's just, well it's like you don't know what stuff is, but I can't see how you don't."

Percy looked down at their hands still linked across the table. Abruptly he stood, tugging her to her feet and led her to the sofa. He indicated for her to sit and waited until she had before he took his place next to her. Audrey couldn't help the fluttering of fear that appeared around the edge of her stomach. She'd expected him to laugh her off. This didn't look like he was going to laugh it off. She suddenly worried that she'd inadvertently stumbled over something he had been trying to hide because she wouldn't like it.

Percy looked at her still holding her hand. "I understand what you are saying, and in some respects you are right. I don't have an opinion about football or television because they aren't part of my life."

"How?" Audrey said.

Percy's smile grew thinner. "I suppose the modern way of seeing it was that I was brought up in a commune."

Audrey sucked in a startled breath. Of all the things she had imagined Percy would say that hadn't even made it to the list. "Do they even exist in the UK?" she asked before she could stop herself.

Percy smiled wryly at her. "Yes, but it's probably not quite what you are thinking. It was a closed small community. We didn't have mains electricity so no television or kettles or washing machines."

"You're Amish?!" Audrey exclaimed. "That's why you didn't have them in your flat for that first month."

"Yes, well not the Amish part," Percy replied with a nod. "But until I started spending time here and you started visiting I didn't see the need."

"But you said you went to school in Scotland?"

"I did," Percy said. "I was home-schooled until I turned eleven then I went to school in Scotland, but it was the school all the community children went to until I finished at seventeen. The school operated on the same principles."

"But how did you get a job in government? I mean if you lived without electricity how do you even cope?" Audrey asked.

"Well," Percy said. "You adapt pretty quickly. And I did start in an entry-level position, I was just moved quite quickly into the department I am in now, and honestly, it does involve a lot of paper. There's nothing overly modern about reading reports and collating information."

"And your family?"

"It's complicated," Percy answered. "Once we finish school we were sent out into the world to find jobs but with the expectation that we would hold to the values that we had been taught. It's not that I disagree with the values of hard work, honesty, doing the right thing. But the leader I suppose you could call him. He was, well, I thought he was putting my family in danger, and they didn't agree with me, and well, we fought. Things were said that perhaps would have been better not said but…"

Audrey squeezed Percy's hand "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to drag up bad memories."

"It's alright," Percy said. "I never quite fit in but they are my family, and I want what's best for them."

Audrey leant back on the sofa considering everything Percy had said. She turned her head slightly so she could see him and thought about the things that had been nagging at her. It did make sense, the lack of knowledge that he had about things, but she couldn't quite believe that communes still existed in Nineties Britain. It seemed such a sixties thing to do, live in a community off the grid, managing without modern amenities.

"Would you do me one favour?" Percy asked.

"What's that?" Audrey replied.

"Would you not mention it? To your friends and parents. It's just that people don't understand, they jump to conclusions. That is if you still want to see me?"

Audrey scooted closer to Percy on the sofa taking his other hand in hers, so she held both, and looked up into his face earnest and honest. "I do, I do want to keep seeing you. I'm afraid I'm very much on the way to falling for you Percy Weasley, and I'm sorry if I've stepped over boundaries you didn't want me to, asking about your past."

Any worries that Audrey might have had that she might have scared Percy off fled as a grin bloomed on his face. It was a broad happy smile that she didn't think she'd seen before. It took years from him and made her breath catch in her chest at how attractive Percy was.

They got comfortable on the sofa. Audrey leaning into Percy's chest, her feet curled to one side, his arm wrapped around her and by unspoken agreement left the topic of Percy's past alone. Instead, they talked about the next visit to Audrey's parents for lunch and whether or not they should look into taking some time off and perhaps going away for a weekend.

When Percy left that night, he trotted down the stairs from Audrey's flat to the street. Crossing the road, he continued out of sight before apparating home. Once there Percy shed his outerwear and headed straight for his bed. Night time routine complete he found himself staring up at the ceiling, his mind reeling over the evening.

Audrey had actually looked into him, had noticed his lack of knowledge about the muggle world. He rubbed a tired hand over his face, she'd accepted the excuse, and it had been a good thing she had. He knew the rules, he would have had to make a call to the Ministry and have the Obliviate squad come out. It wouldn't do him any favours at the Ministry to be known to be fraternising with Muggles. Worse, though, he didn't want to have Audrey's memories tampered with. She had a right to be suspicious of him, and as much as he was required to keep magic from her, he didn't think she deserved obliviating because he hadn't played his part well enough. Percy vowed to do better to cover his tracks better and to give Audrey no more reasons to suspect him.

Chapter Text

March 1996

It had only been a week, maybe two but not three since Audrey had confronted him with her suspicions. They had talked since that night, Percy had said no more of his upbringing, and she had not mentioned it. He knew that the matter wasn't dealt with and that the story he had told her would invariably come up again at a later date, but for now, they were both happy to let it lie.

It was a Saturday evening, and Audrey had come to his flat after work. She'd spent it working in the shop, and he'd spent it at the Ministry. Legislation was brewing there, laws that had no right being considered, never mind going up for debate by the Wizengamot. It was, Percy thought, against everything the Ministry was striving for, and while he was confident that it would get no further, he was concerned that it was given a voice.

While everyone had the right to plead their case, this law, in particular, seemed to be coming out of nowhere, and it made Percy take note. That, plus his regular duties, plus covering for Undersecretary Umbridge while she was teaching at Hogwarts, was keeping Percy busy.

He had to admit that when he had been informed Undersecretary Umbridge would be reassigned to Hogwarts and Percy would be expected to pick up her workload; he was disheartened. Until that was, the third week or so when he realised that she had been pushing her work on to him for months while she pursued her interests, meaning his workload was only slightly increased. Percy had said nothing, of course, it would do no good, and he did not want to gain a reputation of shirking his duty if he was to make something out of his career. Notice like that never left you.

It was then, pleasant to have an evening with nothing more pressing than making sure the takeaway was still hot when Audrey turned up, the Muggle beer in the fridge was cold, and there was something that Audrey also enjoyed drinking.

After dinner, they settled on the sofa. Audrey sat in her usual position next to him, leaning on him her legs curled under her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. She didn't reach for the TV remote and instead fidgeted with her cuffs shooting him small quick glances. Percy braced himself for an evening of explaining life in a commune. He glanced down at her meeting her eyes, he raised an eyebrow at her and said. "Ask. Ask whatever it is that has you fidgeting so nervously."

Audrey dipped her head to the side slightly, giving him a rueful look. "I was wondering…"

"Yes?"

"Do you think you could get some time off in April?"

Surprised, as that had not been what he had expected to hear, Percy paused lips pursed in thought. "Perhaps, I would have to put a request in soon. As there is one other person in my department that has a temporary reassignment, I cannot speak to the success of such an application. What were you thinking?"

"Two weeks?" Audrey said hopefully.

Percy didn't stop the slight frown as he thought. Two weeks was not an unmanageable amount of time, but he was only a Junior Aide. He was allocated holiday days and had yet to take any, but with Undersecretary Umbridge on reassignment, the request might not be approved. "I can certainly ask, but I cannot promise anything."

"No that's understandable, it is a bit soon, but I have to go anyway, and I thought it might be fun if you came too."

"Go?" Percy asked puzzled.

"To France," Audrey replied nodding her head.

"I think I've missed something," Percy said.

Audrey smiled up at him tucked under his arm, her head resting on his shoulder. "I might have missed some details out." Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled, and Percy mused on how crinkles at the corner of smiling eyes could be so lovely on a woman.

"So, details?" he repeated.

"Every year someone from the company goes to France. In April last year, I went alone for the first time, I've been a few times with my uncle, but last year was my initiation as it were. The trip is due again in April, and I thought you might like to come. We'll start in Paris, drive to Belfort then down through Switzerland to Anancy. From there down to the south coast to Carpentras, Avignon and Arles. Then along the coast and up to Toulouse, then up to Orleans and back to Paris and then take the Tunnel home. It's a huge loop of southern France," Audrey explained.

"For what purpose?" Percy asked.

"For the antiques, of course, those towns have some of the best markets. We might miss some, it depends on how the travelling goes. But we already have pickups in Paris, Arles, Toulouse and Orleans, and we have to collect the Paris pick up on the way out."

"Oh?" Percy inquired wondering at her emphasis.

"Because," Audrey said with a small, shameful huff. "Last year the first time I went alone, the Tunnel was delayed, so I missed the pickup and rather than waiting until the next morning when they would be open again I went straight on to Belfort and made the whole loop. Only by the time I got back to Paris, the van was full, and the sideboard that I was supposed to pick up in Paris wouldn't fit in the van. My uncle had to come over with another van to collect it. Needless to say, it's one of his favourite stories to tell everyone. I'm surprised you didn't get told it at Christmas. Anyway, it turns out that the humongous dresser I had in the van which was the reason the Paris pickup didn't fit, was worth six times more and it sold within a week of me getting back, while we still have the sideboard."

"Ah," Percy said. "Will I not be in the way? I know nothing about your profession."

"No," Audrey said smiling at him for his consideration and acceptance of her idea. "The markets are usually on over a weekend or a couple of days, and in between them, it's a lot of driving. Southern France is lovely in spring. We could if we make good time stop for a few days or so, it's beautiful there, the whole of the south of France is."

"What would I need to accompany you if I am allowed the time?"

"Just yourself, clothes and the like. We'll take the company van and go over on the Tunnel both to and from France. You'll need a passport though, I didn't think you'd have one, so I picked up a form from the Post Office. I can help you fill it in, but you'll need a copy of your birth certificate."

"I don't have one," Percy said automatically then bit his lip, he was trying to be more aware of his slips.

"That's OK you can apply for a replacement from the registry office," Audrey said not seeming to take the news amiss. "I'll help you with that form as well if you like. You need to apply for a full copy, not the short copy, the Passport Office need the full one, or they'll reject your application."

Percy nodded. "Very well, I will put in the request for holiday and apply for a passport."

"Great," Audrey chirped. "I've got the form in my bag, don't let me forget to give it to you."

Percy arrived at work on Monday morning with the passport form in his pocket. He worked quietly at his desk until Minister Fudge entered, then slipped into the office twenty minutes later. Experience told him the Minister would have finished his perusal of the morning papers, his first cup of tea at his desk, but not yet started on the pile of folders Percy had placed on his desk before he had arrived.

"Minister,"

"Weasley? What is it?" Fudge looked up at Percy stood politely in front of his desk.

"Minister, I would like to request some annual leave," Percy stated without fanfare. The request form in his hand completed and just waiting for the Minister's signature.

Minister Fudge looked surprised then narrowed his eyes at Percy. "Annual leave?"

"Yes, Minister, two weeks in April if I may."

"Hmm, with Undersecretary Umbridge already reassigned I'm not sure that I would be able to authorise any." Fudge tried to look apologetic, but Percy was unconvinced.

"I understand that Minister," Percy replied deferentially. "However, as per Ministerial edict 93C subsection 14, I am entitled to take time off if appropriate cover can be found and I have taken the liberty to ensure that your office will be unaffected."

"It's dangerous you know Weasley," Fudge replied eyes narrowed at his assistant.

"Minister?" Percy asked his manner still deferential.

"Finding someone who can replace you so easily at short notice, and if you are to be believed, do your job for you with minimal training."

"Indeed, Minister, I take your point. However, Mr Stubbs is between assignments for the Financial Investigative branch and while being fully qualified to cover my absence, is entirely expectant of a new assignment by the start of June."

"Financial investigations?" Minister Fudge asked eyes narrowing.

"Yes, Minister. As per Ministerial edict 45, subsection 8, annotations 34, any employee of the Ministry can be reassigned to offer cover if not already engaged by their department. Excluding the Aurory, of course, sir."

"Indeed," Minister Fudge said his expression curious.

"Yes, sir," Percy replied straight-faced. "Shall I bring a copy of the edict Minister?"

"No, no," he replied looking slightly ill at the thought. "Very well Weasley, since you appear to have this all in hand I'll approve your time off. Going anywhere interesting?" Fudge waved his hand beckoning Percy forward. He took the form from Percy and inked his quill before signing his approval across the appropriate section.

"France sir, the South of France is supposed to be beautiful this time of year," Percy replied accepting the completed request back.

Fudge nodded. "Yes, yes, quite beautiful. Well, enjoy yourself, Weasley."

"Yes sir, thank you, sir. Your first appointment is in half an hour sir, shall I send them in as soon as they arrive?"

"Who is it again?" the Minister asked.

"Accounting sir, there was a small discrepancy in the budget of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. They applied for more budget than was approved and overspent. Accounting wants to know where it's coming from and Magical Games and Sports aren't willing to cover it."

"Damn Bagman and that new chap Bertram? Bedford?" Fudge muttered.

"Beauchamp," Percy supplied.

"Him! Yes him," Fudge said stabbing a pudgy finger into his desk. "He was told to take over and get the respectability of his department back after the mess that Bagman left, and what's he done? Caused this kerfuffle that's what. Now I have to deal with it. I can't just pull funds out of thin air that's what budgets are for, for Merlin's sake."

Percy stood quietly letting the Minister vent, knowing that Beauchamp wasn't actually to blame for the budget issues and had been the one to report the problem in the first place. Bagman had traded on his Ministry position long after leaving it and doing a runner from the rightly angry Goblins. Beauchamp, Percy thought, was a reliable chap. Pureblood, of course, to be given the department head role, but not bigoted with it, being of a minor family and half French on his mother's side. The Minister finished his ramble and Percy nodded smartly before turning on his heel. His holiday had been approved now he had to get a birth certificate and passport sorted.

Percy's day was long. Once Minister Fudge had swept out of his office on his way home passing Percy's desk with only an acknowledging grunt in his direction, Percy quickly tidied his desk up and left his office locking up on his way out. He made his way through the Ministry swiftly, keeping out of the way of the tides of people pushing towards the exits. He found a space in the lift and pushed the button for the third floor.

Percy stepped off the elevator into the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes and made his way to the office of Muggle-Worthy Excuses. He knocked lightly on the door and was bade to enter by a female voice. Percy entered the room and closed the door behind him before making his way over to the desk and accepting the seat offered to him.

"Mr Weasley," the witch behind the desk greeted him. "How can the Muggle-Worthy Excuses office help you today?"

Percy pulled the passport form from his pocket and handed it over. "I have need of a passport and a birth certificate Mrs White."

The witch put the glasses that had been resting on her desk on her nose and flipped through the form that Percy had handed her. Frowning slightly, she rose and crossed to a filing cabinet. Pulling open a magically expanded drawer, she removed a form from within one of the files and returned to her seat. The witch frowned further as she compared the two forms side by side.

"Ahh," she said looking up with a satisfied smile. "They've changed the forms." She tapped the form she had removed from the filing cabinet. "Not much but enough. May I keep this?" she indicated the form to Percy.

"I'll need a copy," Percy said. "I'm expected to have photographs taken I believe, and submit it via the Muggle post?"

"Of course, of course, but we'll sort the passport out for you. Fill in the form and have the photographs taken if it's necessary but don't put it in the Muggle post. I'll have a passport done for you tomorrow." Mrs White assured him with a smile. "I'll check with my contact that the new form hasn't caused a change in the documentation and it will be ready by the end of the day."

"And the birth certificate?"

"A work of a moment," Mrs White assured him. "You can collect that tomorrow too if you like, or I can do one now?" She looked over at him enquiringly.

Percy shook his head. "Tomorrow will be just fine, thank you, Mrs White."

"Tell me; you were in here just before Christmas needing a cover story. I've received no alerts, so the Muggle authorities haven't examined it." She peered at him over her glasses.

Percy nodded. "It has sufficed, I was unsure if further investigation would be undertaken, but it seems to have been enough."

"Communes often does with muggles. They accept that some muggles would eschew modern living, it's quite amazing what they will believe." Mrs White smiled at him.

Percy shifted slightly, uncomfortable with her interest. Mrs White was trustworthy, she had arranged all his paperwork to get his flat, and when Audrey asked him to spend Christmas with her family, it had been Mrs White who had given him the cover story.

Muggle-Worthy Excuses meant precisely that, and the department handled the Muggle documentation any witch or wizard might need. It was a small overlooked office that was protected from meddling by the secrets kept in Mrs Whites filing cabinets. She had the list of all the bolt holes in the Muggle world that witches or wizards had acquired, and her continued silence kept her office unmolested. A sensible solution in a shifting political landscape, but be that as it may Percy was not going to hand her his secrets.

He smiled at her the empty political smile he had mastered and stood. "Thank you for your help once again Mrs White. I will see you tomorrow at the end of the day."

"Mr Weasley," she returned equally politely with the same nondescript smile. "Always a pleasure."

The business for applying for a new birth certificate and passport the Muggle way was the work of ten minutes. Audrey helped him fill in the forms, and he incinerated them after he arrived at work. After checking with Audrey how long he could expect to wait for the birth certificate to come, he promptly produced it after the allotted time had passed. Percy then took the completed passport form with its photographs and birth certificate to work the next morning and incinerated everything but the birth certificate, which Audrey had told him would be returned with his passport. He then produced both documents after the predicted time had passed.

Audrey was thoroughly delighted, and Percy took pleasure in her joy. She then began to more fully expand on their trip, explaining that she hadn't wanted to in case his documentation had not come through in time. It was a scant two weeks until his official first holiday and Percy allowed himself a small measure of excitement at the prospect.

The day of their departure dawned. Percy had stayed over at Audrey's the night, before his neatly packed bag waiting in the hall for their early morning start. It was still dark when they rose and dressed. Percy put his bag in the back of the large white van and got into the passenger seat. He heard the sliding door slam and Audrey walk around the front to hop up into the driving seat.

Percy, in anticipation of the trip, had paid more attention to Muggle means of transport. He had been on a bus, finding it much less jarring than the Knight Bus and a much more enjoyable experience. He hadn't yet been on any of the trains that the muggles used to travel around London, but he had gone in a taxi with Audrey. The taxi had been nothing like his dad's car, although Percy rather thought the taxi drivers approach to driving was reminiscent of that of Percy's father who at least had the excuse of not knowing the rules of the road.

"Right," Audrey said breaking into Percy's thoughts. "Seatbelts on, please." Audrey reached behind her shoulder, slid the cloth ribbon over her torso and slotted the clip into the device by her side. Percy copied her actions and felt relief when the seat belt stayed in place. His first small test out of the way.

Audrey rummaged through the pile of large slim books on the seat between them before withdrawing one and folding it open before handing it over to him. "You are the official navigator for the trip!" she announced. "I know how to get to the train station, so you only need to follow along and get used to reading the map. The map of France and the route we'll take is in the other map book. I've done the route a few times, so I only need to be given road numbers. There are detailed notes stuck all over the map which if you tell me about as they come up, we'll do just fine." She leant over and pointed at the map she'd given Percy. "We're here, see. And this is the road we'll need to get on to get to the terminal. Think you can manage?"

Percy frowned slightly, following the coloured line which evidently denoted a road through the tangle of other coloured lines. He nodded, though not confidently. "You do know the way if I get the direction wrong?"

"Yes," Audrey said.

Percy gave Audrey a smile. "Then yes I'd like to try."

"Great. We won't stop until we get to France and I'll show you the maps once we're on the train. It's a half hour crossing so we'll have time and I've packed drinks and snacks." She pointed to the plastic bag under the map books. "One other thing." Audrey rooted in her handbag pulling out a black rectangle. "This is the company mobile telephone. It's so Uncle can ring me and let me know of anything he has arranged to be collected other than what's on my list, or so I can check in before I make a purchase. I've got a car charger as well as a plug and adaptor, but I'm hopeless at remembering to charge the thing, so you'll need to remind me if you don't mind." Audrey plugged a thin black cable into the mobile telephone and a fat round end into the silver hole in the dash before putting the mobile phone into a cubby hole. "Right I think that's everything." Audrey grinned, started the engine and pulled away from the kerb chattering about the road they were on and about to turn onto as Percy followed along supplying the name of the next road. Audrey's smile gave him a glow of confidence, and he kept an eye out on the road they were travelling comparing it to his map.

The motorway came upon them, and Percy marvelled that they were moving at the top speed of a Cleansweep Eleven with no discomfort whatsoever. Vehicles were going past them at high speeds, and Percy wondered if in a straight race the latest racing brooms would be faster than the muggles cars. The cars, Percy thought would be a lot nicer to travel in, no cold wind or exposure to the weather.

The radio was on playing to disguise the road noise and making conversation only required if they wished. Audrey broke the peaceful, comfortable silence that had fallen between them. "I'll need the pack of documents out of my handbag please, we're nearly there."

Percy dug around in her bag and found the wallet of papers, laying them on the seat between them. He paid more attention to the scenery outside now they were at the terminal. Audrey guided them through a chicane of cones up to a barrier. There she dealt with the guards who inspected their paperwork before waving them onwards. They joined a queue of other vehicles edging down a ramp towards the train platform.

Percy was very curious. He'd travelled on a train before, but even a small amount of exposure to the muggle world had taught him that the Hogwarts Express was not the usual kind of train muggles travelled on. The times they walked through Kings Cross station they had seen the other trains waiting at the platforms, they had been long and sleek with either square faced or rounded protruding noses.

The train to transport them to France was nothing like anything Percy had seen. It was a light shade of purple. The engine was boxy and square, the carriages were large grey metal containers. Percy watched fascinated as vehicle after vehicle carefully manoeuvred and drove into the carriages. They crept up the queue until they were next to board and Percy watched eyes wide as Audrey drove the van aboard and followed the vehicle in front down the tunnel of carriages. Percy could see where one carriage ended and the next began. Curious he asked Audrey. "There are doors," she supplied. "They swing out between the vehicles, and the roller door comes down on a track from the ceiling, it stops any fires spreading."

Percy nodded. "Now what?" he asked.

"We wait," Audrey answered. "Departure will be soon. We're near the middle so once they've finished loading, we'll be off. There's nothing to see," she said shrugging. "It's a tunnel after all."

The half an hour journey passed without incident and Audrey drove them skilfully out of the train and up the ramp. They had gone over the maps while they travelled and Percy was confident of the next few roads they would need to take. It was as Audrey pulled out on the first road Percy noticed the difference. "You're on the wrong side of the road," he said in some alarm.

"No," Audrey replied with a smile. "The French drive on the other side. It takes a bit of getting used to especially at roundabouts, but it's simple enough."

Percy subsided, curious and alert to more of the differences that Audrey took in her stride, and he hadn't even known about.

The journey to Paris continued without a hitch; they stopped for brunch at a motorway service centre before proceeding on to the hotel.

Audrey checked them in and led the way up to the room. "We'll drop the bags off then we need to meet Monsieur Remir to collect the pickup, it's only a pair of side tables thankfully. Then the rest of the day is ours. How do you feel about being a proper tourist?"

Chapter Text

"I know the introductory stuff about most things. I tend to prefer furniture more than trinkets and objects. I can still tell you something about most things, of course, such as age, condition, and approximate value, but I wouldn't hang my hat on it without consulting someone. I don't have the experience and practical knowledge of someone who has been in the industry fifty years." Audrey explained as she led Percy through a small market town. The fourth or third that they had stopped in.

"Naturally not but you do this to learn don't you," Percy responded.

"Oh yes, and it's one of the best times to be here. I've got a chap I need to speak to. Do you want to meet me in half an hour? I'll show you where his shop is, then if you want to browse the market then meet me at the shop, I can go around afterwards. Or I'll find you if you're not there when I finish." Audrey offered.

"Yes of course," Percy said. "I'll see if I can find us somewhere for lunch, shall I? Or will we need to be back on the road? Who is this chap? Is he a regular dealer?"

"Lunch would be lovely. We've done a few deals that have been profitable, and we're hoping that Monsieur Moreau might agree to become a contact in this area and then we can drop it from the tour."

"That would be a shame, it is quite beautiful here," Percy said glancing around him at the shaded crooked street. It was full of the romantic charm he had thought were the works of artist impressions. Certainly, parts of France were devoid of charm as progress replaced quaint with indistinguishable, and steel and glass took over the skyline. This little town with its older architecture and colourful window boxes had somehow escaped the inexorable march and was still charming.

"Yes, but think we could come here on holiday and appreciate it rather than with work. This is the shop. The market is further down. Take the first left and follow the road until it opens out into the square. I don't expect to be more than half an hour."

Percy nodded and stopped to kiss her before walking away. The sun was warm on his head and shoulders, and Percy let it sink into him, warming him to his bones. England in April was so often drab and dreary. He looked around him with curiosity, the old stone buildings were well cared for, the shutters were all brightly painted and thrown open against the walls. Small metal balconies protruded only wide enough for a single chair. Percy saw some of them were occupied by old French women who sat squinting down into the street, watching the people pass by.

The market was bustling even this early. Percy stepped into the cooler shade of the overhanging canopies and started glancing over the wares. Having been through markets with Audrey had already taught him one or two things. He made sure his politically polite and disinterested mask was in place as he browsed the stalls. Audrey had taught him to pick things up, to turn them over in his hands and feel them, not just look at it from a surface view.

Percy still didn't really have a grasp of everything she'd told him. He had yet to find anything that tempted him enough to try his luck at bargaining and had been content to watch Audrey haggle for whatever it was she had seen. His flat was devoid of nicknaks, he wasn't overly sentimental about things. He had a few bits he'd picked up from the shops when he had purchased his furniture, but they were primarily practical pieces. They held no charm, and Percy felt no deep attraction to them.

He admired a decanter set at a stall he passed, pausing to pick it up. It felt weighty, the glass was heavily cut, it was a pretty thing. Percy noticed that there were three short tumblers with the matching pattern cut into the glass sat by the decanter and he rooted around looking to see if there were more. There were, but he found the last glass of six had a large chip on the rim. He let his disappointment show to the stall owner who had offered a few words. Percy shook his head and repeated. "Je ne parle pas franꞔais." It wasn't an outright lie. He didn't speak French, but the translation charm he cast upon himself every morning in the bathroom meant that he understood the language even if he couldn't speak it.

The stall holder smiled encouragingly and held up a hand. "Cent franc"'

Percy shook his head replacing the decanter with its now assembled tumblers. "Soixante-dix," he offered.

The stall holder grimaced and shook his head. Percy waited patiently for the man to make another offer. He bore the scrutiny as he was weighed up and when the stall holder offered a grudging "Quatre-vingts." Percy held his hand out. The stall owner shook it and gathered the decanter and its glasses together to begin wrapping them. Percy handed over the paper money the Muggles used, accepted his wrapped package with a satisfied nod and moved on. It didn't matter about the chip in the glass although it was helpful as a bargaining tool, he was a wizard after all, a quick spell and it would be fixed. Now he had a lovely decanter and matching tumblers for his fire whiskey.

The next stall held curios that Percy found himself browsing. Silver, gilt and bronze sat about in the form of small statues, goblets, salvers, and other objects. Percy couldn't imagine anyone would want a carriage clock as heavily gilded as the ones set out on the table, and the candlesticks were especially horrendous. If ostentatious had been the aim, then the smith in question had outdone himself. Percy found himself drawn to a small collection of ink bottles. Old, and cloudy at the bottom, never the less they twinkled in the sun that managed to shine between the gaps in the canopies.

Charmed, Percy took a closer look. Some of the bottles were sat on stands, and a small wooden stand with two ink bottles caught his eye. The wood was inlaid in a scroll and flower pattern with recesses for the ink bottles. Carefully Percy removed the bottles to turn it over, looking for some sort of mark. He couldn't see one, but the layer of dirt he could feel under his fingers could conceal it. The stand itself felt sturdy in his hand, the small draw in the front came out smoothly, and there were no visible problems. Percy weighed it up, he could fix and clean the inkstand removing the staining from the bottom of the glass jars. Interesting to look at, it would be practical enough that no one seeing it on his desk at the Ministry would question it.

That decided Percy. They had passed souvenir shop after souvenir shop selling brightly coloured plastic that Percy had no interest in buying. The decanter was practical and would get used, but he would like for his office one memento of his first adult holiday with the woman he was fastꟷ. Well, that bore more consideration. He looked up at the stall holder proffering the inkstand a little in a silent question for the price.

France was as lovely as Audrey had suggested. The weather had blessed them with warm sunny days. Percy had barely touched his magic the entire trip. He had come to appreciate that somethings Muggles were just better at than magical people. There were many things to like about muggles and the way they lived.

Honestly, muggles were tough. When it got hot, they ate ice cream and drank cold drinks. When the seat was uncomfortable after four hours' drive, well, they put up with it. There were no cooling or cushioning charms. In fact, since leaving on his holiday, Percy had barely used his magic. The first night Audrey had surprised him with an open top night tour of the famous Parisian landmarks, and he had subtly cast warming charms on them both before they had left the hotel. But after that, it was a quick translation charm in the bathroom in the morning and nothing else.

Travelling wasn't a small undertaking, but the journey was part of the holiday. No uncomfortable floo or portkeys, just time spent in a van with Audrey, watching the countryside pass by as they sped down the roads to their next destination. They had talked, laughed, and listened to the radio. They had sat on the side of French lakes and eaten cheese and bread taking a break from the driving. Or stopped at the side of the road to photograph a particularly charming vista. They had travelled on the schedule laid out but had happily delayed or arrived early waiting for the markets to open as whim had taken them. Percy wasn't entirely sure that Audrey's trip was as work-centric as it might have been, but the van was steadily filling as the days passed. He forbore not to ask and risk spoiling the holiday.

In Avignon, Percy collected their bags from the van and knocked a box of glassware over. The resulting crash and tinkling of broken glass had caused him to panic. It had only been as he had summoned the courage to go and find Audrey to tell her of the accident, it had occurred to him he was a wizard. The relief that flooded through him as he recalled he could fix this made his knees weak. Percy had cast a repair and cleaning spell on the glass before applying cushioning charms on the inside of the box to prevent any more accidents.

Percy smiled to himself, able now some four days later to see the humour in the situation. He was sat on a beach staring at the Mediterranean enjoying the warm sun, waiting for Audrey to return from whatever errand she had deemed needed to be done before they left the area.

Audrey finally returned with ice cream. Plopping down in the sand next to him she handed over a cone. "Here, I thought you might like one. Uncle has called. We're to miss the next stop and go a little further out than planned. He's had a call from a contact who has some pieces and Uncle wants me to take a look. You don't mind, do you?"

"No," Percy said between licks of the ice cream. "Where ever you need to go, I am a happy passenger."

"Great," Audrey said. "It's inland from now on then, so any sand castles you were planning will need to be constructed now."

"We have time?"

"About half an hour at most," Audrey said apologetically. "It's not long which is a shame because it is beautiful here, but we'll just have to come back."

"I'd like that," Percy said.

Audrey nodded and leant against him watching the sun sparkle on the Mediterranean as the waves came onto the beach.

After the two weeks were up they returned to England, it felt peculiar to Percy to leave Audrey and apparate home. To use his magic to unpack instead of doing it by hand. To flick a cleaning charm around the flat to get rid of the dust that had accumulated.

The acclimatisation to his return to work went smoothly. Within a week Percy could hardly remember that he had been away. The photographs he had developed turned out well, and he put his favourite picture of himself and Audrey on the beach, in a frame on his bookcase with his newly cleaned and repaired decanter and glasses. The inkstand turned out to be rather pretty under the grime, and Percy regarded it with pleasure as it sat on his desk.

It was his second week back when he heard the news, and it was delivered by the Ministers 'friend and advisor' Lucius Malfoy. Percy didn't like the man. It was nothing to do with the ongoing feud between the Malfoys and Weasleys, it was simply that Lucius Malfoy rubbed Percy up the wrong way. The comments were snide and barbed which Percy could deal with, but Malfoy saw Percy as an extension of his Father and Percy wanted to be seen for himself, not for his family. He strove to become his own person in the eyes of his employer, and for the most part, he had achieved that with the people he worked with, but the moment Lucius Malfoy entered a room Percy was lumped back into being 'one of the Weasley brood'.

Percy left the Minister's office after a briefing on the latest legislation being discussed at the Wizengamot, a meeting the Minister had missed, to find the Malfoy patriarch stood in front of Percy's desk turning the inkstand over in his hands.

"Might I help you, Mr Malfoy?" Percy asked as he approached his desk. Lucius looked up at the words.

"Ahh, Mr Weasley, I thought I'd pay my respects to the Minister since I was in the building."

"The Minister has a free quarter of an hour," Percy said checking the appointment book on his desk. "Shall I announce you?"

"Yes, yes," Lucius said vaguely. He looked down at his hands as if only just noticing the inkstand in them, he placed it back on the desk. "An excellent example of Boulle's work don't you think?"

"Yes," Percy replied as he replaced the ink bottles in the stand.

"Where did you find it?"

"France," Percy replied shortly. Lucius raised an eyebrow inviting further information and showing no interest in moving towards the Minister's office.

"I recently passed some vacation time in the south of France." Percy elaborated.

"My wife is an admirer of his work, I did not know you were also."

"I find his marquetry excellent, and France is, of course, the best place to pick up examples of his work. I am sure Mrs Malfoy has found the same."

Lucius eyed him up and down. "Yes, I'm sure she has." He picked up his cane from where it rested against Percy's desk, turning slightly towards the door of the Minister's office.

Percy moved towards the Minister's door as well and slipped through to announce the visitor.

As Percy held the door open for Malfoy to pass, Lucius paused. "You seem to be full of surprises Mr Weasley. Much as your younger brothers I see. It's a shame that unlike you, they were unable to complete their education is it not?"

Percy kept his face as blank as he could as Malfoy swept passed him. Percy promptly pulled the door closed and returned to his desk sitting in his chair blowing out a breath. Audrey had told him of the inkstand's provenance, impressed that it was in good condition and Percy had bought it from the stall holder at a reasonable price. She summarised that the stall owner hadn't realised what he had sold or the cost would have been higher. Percy had listened as Audrey told him the best way to clean and care for the piece and had dutifully used the gentlest cleaning charms he knew once he got it home.

It wasn't, however, Malfoy's mention of Percy's unexpected knowledge of Boulle that had him shaken. The only brothers he had that were foolish enough to leave school without their NEWTs were the twins. Worry niggled at Percy. Something had apparently set the twins on this course, and he couldn't think what it would be. He pushed it down. His family was estranged. Whatever the twins were up to was of no concern to him. He wouldn't think about it. If the twins wanted to leave school without their qualifications, then that was up to them. Percy had work to do.

He heard the news in the Ministry canteen when he was eating his lunch. The front of 93 Diagon Alley had been covered. A new shop was opening, and the Ministry workers sat at the next table over were speculating over who had taken the premises and what sort of shop would be opening.

Percy listened with interest and decided that he might walk down Diagon Alley and take a look himself. He hadn't been in the alley for some months as he arrived and left the Ministry each morning via the Muggle entrance. Flourish and Blots took owl orders, and Percy had no need of Madam Malkin's except for the robes he wore to work, and he had not bought any new ones for some time. He had chosen the cut of the robe he wore himself, it was simple but would also not look out of place as the fashionable cuts came and went. The navy-blue colour didn't make him look sallow or washed out, and the waistcoat and trousers he wore under the cutaway front were Muggle in origin. Percy had bought some waistcoats and matching ties so he could wear the same simple robe. It was a cheaper way of maximising his wardrobe, and he had been gratified that even the dandified Minister Fudge had begrudgingly approved of his work clothes. Lucius Malfoy who routinely sneered at Percy had yet to actually say anything directed at his apparel and Percy had counted that as a huge point in his favour.

Percy left the office at the end of the day, heading to the exit leading to Diagon Alley. The street was bustling with people heading home, and Percy slipped amongst the crowds until he reached the covered front of number 93. He considered the shop front with curiosity. The sheets covered any and all clues as to who might be making their home there. Wondering if he might be able to see through the sheet if he was closer, Percy stepped up to the window.

The wards that sizzled over him made him step back and freeze in place.

The wards were a little further out from the shop front than they should be and Percy recognised that they were set to encourage a sense of curiosity while encouraging the witch or wizard to move along and not linger.

Percy's hand came up by itself and broke through the ward line again. The wards washed over him once more. He blinked and turned away, following the magical urging for him to move along.

As he did so, he made a fist out of his hand thrusting it deep into his pocket. Denying the tingle, and feelings it evoked. He hadn't realised that he missed it.

It had felt like home, like belonging, like loss. It had felt like Weasley magic.

Chapter Text

June 1996

Audrey had a sale in Scotland. Later when the dust had settled figuratively and literally, Percy would remember thinking it was possibly the best thing that had happened to him that week.

Audrey was in Scotland, and Percy was alone in his flat fast asleep when he was abruptly and rudely woken by a loud noise. He reached for his glasses and his wand. His wand instantly stopped wailing. The wards on his office desk that he set every night when he left had been breached. The wailing of his wand was caused by the ward failing. Someone was in the Minister's office. Percy scrambled out of bed, hastily exchanging his pyjamas for casual trousers and a shirt, before throwing on a robe and some shoes and apparating away. He had no notion of what he was going to do when he got there, but he'd think of something.

To his surprise, he found the entrance to the Ministry bustling with Aurors. The Minister himself was stood with a robe thrown over his pyjamas demanding to be let through the crowd to enter the Ministry. Percy immediately joined the Minister.

"Minister Fudge, how can I help?" Percy asked.

"Ah, Weasley. About time, come with me. The Ministry is under attack!"

"Under attack Minister?" Percy said visibly paling.

"Yes!" Fudge declared. "The Aurory came to collect me, Lucius flooed me as well asking if he could assist. I suppose he heard it from someone. I told him no, of course, now is the time for decisive action. I suspect that we'll find that Dumbledore's vigilante group is behind this. That man!"

Percy said nothing but dutifully followed the Minister into the Ministry. They got no further than exiting the lift. Minister Fudge was correct Albus Dumbledore was present, and a quick glance around the edges of the room showed Percy that it was likely that the rest of the Order of Phoenix would also be there. Harry Potter could be seen crouched to one side as Dumbledore duelled a figure clothed in black robes. Percy's eyes swept the room again. There were black-robed, silver-masked figures duelling the Aurors while avoiding being dragged into the main duel between Dumbledore and his opponent. Words were exchanged between the pair, and a blast of magic sent them flying apart before the dark robed figure along with a wild-haired witch disapparated away.

Percy observed the wreckage of the atrium. Slowly the shock wore off allowing him to hear the conversation between Dumbledore and Fudge. Fudge blustered as Dumbledore coolly regarded him. Then with Harry Potter in tow Dumbledore left.

"Minister." A cool, smooth voice came from behind Percy. Fudge turned. "Might I offer my assistance in any way Minister?" Lucius Malfoy stood there not a hair out of place his robes immaculate, but Percy noted his feet were shod in mismatched slippers.

"Lucius, thank you. I think however we have everything under control. I shall owl you if I require anything." Fudge blustered.

"Indeed, Minister. My door is always open to your owl." With a bow, Malfoy smoothly moved towards the lift.

"Oi, is that Malfoy?" A voice called out.

"Yes," Fudge snapped at the Auror who was hurrying over.

"Stop him!" the Auror called out.

"What? Why are you detaining Mr Malfoy?" Fudge demanded.

"We've had reports he was involved in what happened tonight, Minister," the Auror replied glancing between the Minister and the departing lift.

"Nonsense," Fudge snapped. "Mr Malfoy flooed me from his home not fifteen minutes ago, how could he be involved? He was merely offering his help."

The Auror looked unconvinced. "Still we'll have to question him."

Fudge stared at the man in outrage. The Auror stood firm. "He's been involved with the likes of He Who Shall Not Be Named before. A floo call is hardly a solid alibi."

"I think you'll find Mr Malfoy was exonerated of those charges, and if you are casting aspersions tell me why the Ministry of Magic was broken into by Albus Dumbledore and his group of vigilantes, including school children. Is the Aurory unable to defend against children now, Auror Wigglesworth?" Fudge replied scathingly.

"No sir," Auror Wigglesworth replied before moving away sending resentful glances back over his shoulder.

"Weasley," the Minister snapped. "I have to make a statement to the press. Get the department heads here and get a report from the DMLE. I want the full tally of the damage and the names of those responsible."

Percy nodded and moved away as Fudge marched over to where reporters were trickling into the Ministry, alerted that something was going on. They fillled the destroyed atrium with the excited chatter and shouted questions.

Percy continued robotically in his assigned task, his mind reeling with what he had witnessed. You Know Who was back and had been duelling Dumbledore in the atrium of the Ministry.

It was starting again.

The clean-up in the atrium didn't begin until the Minister had made a statement and it was a damning one. Having no choice, Fudge admitted that You know Who had returned and had been responsible for the events in the Ministry that night.

Percy's report detailed the damage to the atrium and the Department of Mysteries. The Hall of Prophecy was recoverable but the Hall of Time had suffered a catastrophic loss. The Death Eaters that had been apprehended by the members of the Order of the Phoenix and the Aurory were named and shipped back to Azkaban that night.

Percy made his way to his office finally remembering the ward he set on his desk had been breached causing him to come to the Ministry in the first place. Nothing in his office looked amiss, but the door to the Minister's office was unlocked. Concerned, Percy entered the room. Nothing seemed out of place. The portraits were all empty as the former Ministers spread out watching the ongoing events. Puzzled but too tired to think on it further Percy absently swept his wand at the fireplace where a small trail of floo powder lay on the hearth. The spell gathered up the floo powder and returned it to the pot.

The Minister's floo was the only floo in the Ministry that was not monitored and able to connect to floos outside the Ministry network. It made little sense however that anyone would bother breaking into the Minister for Magic's office to simply use the floo.

Percy returned to his desk and dropped into his chair with a tired sigh. He'd heard enough of the gossip along with the reports he'd gathered. He'd write up the official report and leave it on the Minister's desk. He didn't know when Fudge would return to his office. If he would. The Ministry had spent the year discrediting Dumbledore and Potter only for the Minister to be proven wrong in a manner utterly irrefutable. It would take some slick manoeuvring on Minister Fudge's part to survive the storm. That meant that Percy would have to keep abreast of all the gossip and news going in and out of the Ministry as best he could to advise the Minister. Not that Fudge had ever appreciated the work Percy did.

A Ministry memo sailed through the door landing on Percy's desk. The bright green of St Mungo's. Percy picked it up, and the magic folded the aeroplane flat. A glance down and Percy groaned in disbelief. Madam Umbridge was in St Mungo's. Percy got to his feet. He would have to go to the hospital and find out what happened. Percy crossed to his floo straightening his robe as he did so. A pinch of floo powder and he was whirling away in the green flames.

Madam Umbridge was not well. She would be resigning her post as High Inquisitor of Hogwarts and Dumbledore would be reinstated effective immediately. The memo was sent out to the press to ensure it was included in the next edition that was going to print. Percy arranged for the Undersecretary's work to continue to funnel through to his desk, and Fudge distractedly authorised his plans. When Percy made it home after a full day's work he immediately fell into bed to sleep off the worst day he had had in his albeit short career.

The fall out of the Department of Mysteries resulted in Fudge losing his job to Rufus Scrimgeour. Lucius Malfoy was arrested and released due to the alibi Minister Fudge provided and the investigation proved that Lucius had flooed the Minister from Malfoy Manor. Percy didn't quite believe that Harry Potter who declared loudly and to anyone who would listen, that Mr Malfoy was present at the Department of Mysteries, was lying this time. But saw nothing would come of him throwing his voice behind Potter's.

Scrimgeour, on the recommendation from Fudge, chose to keep Percy in his role. A decision Percy was grateful for, but understood was as likely motivated by Scrimgeour not being able to replace him that quickly. Percy didn't care, he still had a job and the small hope that Scrimgeour would be able to put in motion the actions needed to squash You Know Who and the Death Eater movement before war descended upon them once more.

September 1996

Hope that Scringemour would have more pull than Fudge when it came to policy died shortly after the events of June.

Percy had read the proposed Marriage law and scoffed at the logic behind it. He held fast to the belief that this monstrous bill that he heard debated in the Wizengamot would be quashed when it came to the vote. He was mildly horrified that it was discussed at all, but had found detailed in the records that every ten years or so someone promoted the idea. Percy cleaved firmly to the thought that this was yet another one of those times. That it would be shot down and that the society he lived in would not do something as insane as force witches to marry against their wills.

Percy went home to Audrey and in the act of self-flagellation brought up the topic of arranged marriages with her. Her resulting scathing opinion was a comfort and a real concern. The Muggle-born did often leave their families behind and fully immerse themselves in the wizarding world, but they did not forget the principles that they were raised with. In a society that did not make it easy for them, assimilation was rarely without its challenges. It seemed to Percy that pushing this law onto the Muggle-born would cause a riot.

Percy was set to be disappointed. The bill passed and was brought into law on the first of September, and a riot was not forthcoming. Percy scanned the reports that crossed his desk looking for details of arrests of Muggle-born witches not adhering to the law, but found none. It occurred to him that Hermione Granger would be caught up in this law and he was curious as to who exactly she would choose from the raft of suitors she would likely receive. Percy remembered she had looked quite pretty at the Yule Ball and in the photographs the Daily prophet had printed of the event.

Curiosity drove Percy into the Department of Records after work, when the rest of the Ministry staff had left for the night. He told himself it was plain curiosity and it was likely there was a betting pool already set up. He wouldn't be doing anything that the overseeing department wasn't already doing.

There was an advantage to reading all the reports that crossed his desk. He knew where the files were being kept and the Ministry worker who oversaw them. He let himself into the office and approached the desk of Mr Thomas. Percy sifted through the files on the desk until he found the right one. Flipping through the list, he found Hermione's name. Surprise and concern filled him. Draco Malfoy was listed next to her as the only applicant.

Percy hadn't been in Hogwarts for a few years, but even he remembered the animosity between the younger Malfoy and Hermione Granger. He couldn't believe that Draco Malfoy had overcome his prejudice and somehow come to love or esteem the Muggle-born witch. Percy flipped the file closed and asked himself why he was here. Why was he looking into the records of a witch he neither knew well or had any real connection to? She had been present at family gatherings and had visited over summer. They had shared a handful of conversations about the wizarding world. He had answered her questions and offered his guidance where he could when they were at Hogwarts, but that was it. Why did this bother him so much?

Percy put the folder back, making sure everything was as it should be and left the office. He was the Minister's aide. He could do nothing in this situation. He did not believe for one instant that his family were going to allow her to marry the Malfoy scion. If he interfered then he might spoil whatever plan they had, they certainly wouldn't tell him of any. Percy nodded to himself once as he made his way out of the department and to the exit. He would wait, watch, and the Order would resolve this so Miss Granger would be kept from the likes of the Malfoys.

January 1997

Percy was under massive pressure. Despite the very public split from his family, it seemed that when Harry Potter and Hermione Granger disappeared it was conveniently forgotten. He was grilled for any knowledge he might have about the pair over and over.

He had hoped that the Order had a plan to save Hermione from marriage to Draco Malfoy. He had expected to see the announcement of her marriage to Ron, or another of the potential candidates the Order would have drummed up to save one of the best friends of the Boy Who Lived. He had not expected them to disappear. He had certainly not expected it to be reported that they had done so seemingly without anyone knowing about it. How exactly did two underaged teenagers disappear from the wizarding world?

The Minister fielded as many enquiries as he wanted to then pushed the task of repeating the same trite lines onto Percy. In light of the total lack of information coming out of the Ministry, the press decided to make up outlandish tales of a soul bond between the pair. Percy read the news concerned that there might be a grain of truth in the articles. If the Ministry were accused of trying to separate a soul bonded pair, the fallout would be disastrous.

The news, however, seemed to be aiming for a peak of ridiculousness with no consideration of the likely truth. It wasn't until the orders crossed Percy's desk for the Minister to sign that Percy realised that Hermione Granger had become a fugitive from the British Ministry of Magic.

At a loss of what to think he spent the evening on the sofa with Audrey, his book laying unattended in his hand.

Sensing his disquiet, Audrey turned the television off. Percy lost in thought didn't notice her observing him. Audrey let ten minutes pass then nudged him none too gently.

"Are you going to tell me?"

"Uh? Pardon?" Percy said coming out of his revery.

"Are. You. Going. To. Tell. Me?" Audrey said patiently.

"Tell you what?"

"Whatever it is that has you off in your own little world. You've been stressed and off for months now Percy. What is the matter?"

Percy pushed his glasses up to his hair and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his free hand. Pushing his glasses back into place he smiled sadly at Audrey. "It's work, and you're right I've been distracted by it for a while now. I'm sorry if I spoiled Christmas I know I wasn't at my best at your parents."

"It's alright," Audrey replied. "I told Mum and Dad you had trouble at work. But will you tell me about it? Or as much as you can?"

Percy looked away wondering if there was any way he could explain anything that he was dealing with without sounding insane or breaking the law. A gusty sigh escaped him, and he shook his head. "Sorry, I can't tell you details. My department is under a lot of scrutiny, and it's been going on since last September if not June."

"You're not in danger of losing your job, are you?" Audrey asked carefully.

"No, I don't think so. My boss resigned last June, and his replacement seems disinterested in replacing me as long as I do my job."

"Oh, Percy, you didn't say."

Percy shrugged. "It was rather sudden and my new boss, well I thought perhaps he might be better, but I'm not sure he really is and its just more work for me. I've been working late a lot recently, and I'm just tired."

"Oh, well, perhaps if you want, we could do something? Maybe take a weekend break? Just a Saturday and Sunday with one overnight somewhere?"

Percy tugged her a little closer and rested his cheek on her hair. "That sounds great. Where are you thinking?"

Audrey hummed. "Well how about somewhere like Prague? We could get a flight out there I believe that it's under two hours."

Percy considered the idea. Just up and leave for the weekend. Be in another country in two hours time and leave the mess that was the British Wizarding World behind.

"The flights won't be expensive," Audrey offered as a further enticement.

Percy considered a little longer. "Do you have a brochure with the hotels listed or something?"

"No, but I can get one tomorrow. So you fancy it then?"

"Yes," Percy said decisively. "Yes, let's do it."

As he sat on the taxiing aeroplane, he felt the jolt of realisation run through him. Hermione Granger was Muggleborn. She would be familiar with Muggle travel. She would know about flying on aeroplanes. Percy mentally marvelled that it hadn't occurred to him before now that Hermione might have made her escape by Muggle means. It was all but certain that she was no longer in Magical Britain. She might still be in Muggle Britain, but Percy considered that she would have weighed that risk against the consequences of being found in violation of the law. He wondered as the plane engines became louder and the plane began its ascent into the sky, if anyone else in the Ministry had put the pieces together. If they had found proof that she had left the country.

Percy glanced out of the window, and further thoughts of Hermione Granger fled from the forefront of his mind. He watched the ground fall away at a rapid pace and roll past beneath them. Percy was flying. He was flying on a muggle aeroplane. He let a small smile of delight slip across his face. Aeroplanes, who would have thought that Percy Weasley, pureblood, sacred twenty-eight blood traitor, aide to the Minister for Magic himself would be the first of his family to get on an aeroplane.

Percy felt strangely at home in Prague. The architecture was a mix of styles which he found familiar and comfortable. Parts resembled that of Hogwarts with it's gothic turreted and spired castles and buildings. The Baroque, Renaissance and Rococo styles of the Manors of the upper echelons of Wizarding society bragged about were present in the buildings. Cobbled streets wound between the buildings. Percy wandered down the streets arm in arm with Audrey, looking at the offerings of the tourist shops and ducking into alleyways to find the less travelled paths. Percy stared in fascination at the Astronomical clock until Audrey dragged him away complaining of the cold. Percy allowed himself to be led away but kept an eye out for a place where he could cast a discrete warming charm on them both. The warming charms proved pointless as they climbed the hill to Petrin Tower then up the stairs to the observation deck. They agreed that it was worth it but would take the cable car back down the hill.

By the time they were flying home, Percy was feeling much better. He could do no more than he was doing and when it got to be too much, he had found someone who was happy to drag him out of his own head and enjoy his company. Percy took Audrey's hand and squeezed it. "Thank you," he said. "For this weekend. I really enjoyed it and I'm also very thankful you've put up with me for as long as you have."

Audrey returned the smile. "You've not been that bad, just distracted and a little unhappy. I'm glad this has helped. I've always wanted to go on a mini break. And Prague was beautiful in the snow. But I'm pleased that we'll be back home before the Valentine hordes descend."

"Speaking of Valentine," Percy replied thoughtfully. "To allow me to make up for my inattention. Would you consent to spend the evening with me?"

"Of course," Audrey replied instantly. "I'd like nothing better. Will we go out or stay in?"

"I'd like to cook for you, but afterwards we could take a trip to the cinema?"

"That sounds perfect."

"Then that's settled," Percy said satisfied settling back in his seat to stare out of the window at the sky they flew through as they returned home.

Chapter Text

February 1997

The Ministry canteen was busy. Percy wouldn't generally take his lunch there, he preferred the muggle cafes and the odd stolen hour with Audrey.

Today, however, it was raining, and Audrey had told him she wouldn't be available for lunch all week. Rather than run the gauntlet of inclement weather with no impervious charm, Percy settled for the Ministry canteen. The food was passible, his salad lacked imagination but was at least fresh and crisp. The table in the corner he managed to snag was one of the last free ones, and he sat quietly, his back to the wall watching the crowd.

Three tables over, a witch and a wizard were having a heated fight no louder than a whisper. If the couple were trying to keep their relationship a secret the very public fight was possibly a mistake. Fingers were thrust and parried at the other, their food ignored and congealing on their plates. The cottage pie looked like it was worth missing out on as it cooled to grey lumps covered in anaemic potato.

"Mind if I join you?" A voice came from Percy's left startling him from his contemplation of the couple. Percy turned to see Edward Harrow, a wizard who had been in the house share with Percy, stood with his lunch tray balanced in his hands and a thick Ministry folder wedged under his arm.

Percy nodded. "Harrow, yes, of course. How have you been?"

"Well enough, I moved out a month after you as it happens. Can't say I really miss the old place." Harrow replied as he set his tray down and retrieved the file from the death grip his elbow had it under. The lunch tray was moved to one side to make way for its bulk on the table and once seated Harrow pulled a quill from his pocket. "Sorry," Harrow apologised. "Wilkins is an arse, and wants all the updates since the last meeting documented. He's had another brilliant idea. I swear if this weren't going before the Wizengamot next week I'd set it on fire. I've done more hours on this one dossier than any other. How's the Minister's office treating you? Don't usually see you in here."

"Long hours and more report reviews than is good for a wizard," Percy replied. "I usually leave for lunch, at least I see daylight once a day then." Percy stabbed some more of his salad as Harrow remembered his own food and took a bite of the limp sandwich. Percy considered as he chewed, reading upside down as best he could. "Is that the proposal for the adjustments for Auror budget increase under section 14?"

Harrows head popped up in surprise, nodding in answer to Percy's question.

"Then it's not going to the Wizengamot next week. It's been pushed back until the end of next month at the earliest. Sports and Games have got your spot. Proposals for bidding on the next Broom Race Championships."

"What?"

"It's true, the paperwork is on my desk. The Minister has, just this morning, rearranged the next six weeks of the Wizengamot's schedule. They will only be sitting four times in the next month."

"You're kidding! This is eight weeks of my life Weasley. You've got to be kidding. Wilkins has had meeting after Merlin be damned meeting. Adjustments, reviews, the lot. Next week was our slot! You're sure?"

"Yes," Percy replied. "I'll have the reworked schedule out at the end of the week as per usual, but I'm telling you, you're not on the docket for next week."

"Merlin! Why?"

Percy looked down and away unsure if he should say anything more. He wasn't supposed to tell anyone about the schedules until they were sent out, but Harrow had been decent when they had shared a house, and long nights for nothing was more than he'd wish on the man.

"Well," Harrow said in disgust not noticing Percy's hesitation. "At least I can make Friday's game after all. Puddlemere are playing. Michaels got tickets. Their Chasers are really starting to come good, you know."

Percy nodded. "Glad I could help."

"Oh, oh no! You said broom racing. Merlin's beard, Michaels is on that proposal. He's not ready for a slot next week. They haven't even sorted the location, never mind the funding. Look, Weasley, will you do me a favour and come with me? He won't believe I'm not pulling his leg otherwise and if he doesn't find out until Friday, then he won't make the game either."

"I can, but it will have to be later. I've got back to back with the Minister and the Department Heads from one till four."

"Yeah, that would be great, half a day isn't going to hurt. Thanks for that Weasley, I owe you one."

Percy waved it off. "Information flows two ways. The next time you're going to come crying for something, a little warning will be appreciated. It goes down better with Scrimgeour if he can have a tantrum behind closed doors first."

"Fair enough. You don't know why the schedule got rearranged do you?"

"Not the exact reason, but if someone were to ask me, I'd say that for being wealthy enough not to have work Mr Malfoy has very regular hours within the Ministry none the less."

"Malfoy, he did this?"

Percy shrugged. "I couldn't say."

Harrow cocked an eyebrow. "No, I suppose you couldn't. Bastard deserved more than two weeks locked up."

"Mr Malfoy's alibi was the Minister for Magic himself," Percy pointed out. "He has been proven innocent of all charges pertaining to the incident in the Department of Mysteries. I believe that he offers nothing more than advice to the Minister in an unofficial capacity."

Harrow snorted. "Sounds like hippogriff shit to me."

Percy smiled. "I always knew you were astute Harrow. I'll call by your office after four."

"Aye, we'll swing by Michaels and ruin his week. You free after work? The least I can do is buy you a drink."

Percy stood up from the table brushing down his robes and collecting up his tray. He nodded. "I appreciate it. Invite Michaels, I'll bring the latest notes on the proposal from the Minister. It might help him prepare."

"Thanks, Weasley."

Back at his desk Percy scanned over the new schedule once again then compared it to the one it had replaced. The budget for the Aurory training had been put back six weeks. The Department of Mysteries had requested funding for experimentation, though in what he didn't know. Either way that had been canned altogether. Regulation of Magical Creatures had been moved up by four months. Their proposal was a rehash of the social responsibility to provide free wolfsbane to registered Werewolves. That cropped up every two or three years. If they had been moved up by four months on extremely short notice, then someone wanted them to fail miserably. Perhaps badly enough that the proposal could be dismissed when it next came up without having to go through review. That would put werewolf rights back years.

Two other proposals that were first time through the Wizengamot had filled the last of the spaces on the new schedule. First time through was nearly always just so the Wizengamot could hear the case, suggest where the proposal was lacking and where lines had to be drawn. They wouldn't pass anything on a first time through, it was unheard of.

Percy flicked through his stack of reports looking for them. New licensing for imports on XX category ingredients. Which would cause a fuss with the apothecary's, but do no real harm. Not unless the new legislation could only be met by one or two suppliers instead of five or six. Then, of course, someone would start making money hand over fist which was probably the point. There was no real reason to add more legislation to category XX imports, the ICW had already set the standard and everyone adhered to it.

The final docket to go before the Wizengamot was something about portkey licensing and relaxing the law regarding creating portkeys for personal use. Percy weighed the idea and came to the conclusion that one could go either way, but it wasn't important enough to snag one of the now very limited slots.

A chime sounded from his desk, and Percy silenced it then began gathering his things together. He would consider the implications later. Right now, he had Departments Heads and a Minister for Magic to manage.

The meeting was arduous, and Percy was glad when it ended. His list of things to do was longer, and he was ready to call it quits for the day.

The Department Heads left the meeting in small groups, chatting, muttering and grumbling together depending on how they felt they had done in the meeting. The Minister was hot on their heels his coat already on.

"Good evening Minister," Percy called as the man crossed Percy office.

"Weasley." Was the abrupt reply followed by the door firmly shutting as the Minister made his escape. Percy snorted in dark humour at the hasty exit. Scrimgeour was under pressure to come up with something to show that the Death Eaters and Voldemort were being handled. The Minister was coming up empty-handed. It had turned the gruff man gruffer and their conversations from terse to monosyllabic.

Percy dropped his notes into his desk draw locking and warding the draw. He collected up his coat and bag swiping the slim file from the edge of his desk before dowsing the lights and leaving his office. He locked the door and made his way to the lift. Harrow was two floors away, and Percy didn't want to be late.

Harrow led Percy to Michaels' office. Percy stood unobtrusively while Harrow broke the news and stepped in to provide the necessary assurances that they were in earnest. Michaels was suitably distressed until Percy offered to look over the proposal with him using the notes that the Minister had already. Harrow also volunteered to help, and they adjourned to the Witch and Wand, the pub that the housemates in Percy's house share had frequented.

Settled in at a table, Michaels went over what he had already. Percy chipped in with what the Minister was expecting and what had gone before in previous successful and failed bid attempts. It was information he had pulled up before leaving his office. Two hours later the three men were feeling quite pleased with themselves for stymieing the attempt to make Michaels look underprepared.

"Thanks for this Weasley," Michaels said for the third or fourth time. "You've saved me a serious headache. Look, I don't know if you've got plans or not, but I can get another ticket to Friday's game if you fancy it? Just as a thank you."

Percy considered it. Harrow was good company, Michaels seemed friendly enough, and it had been a while since Percy had watched a professional Quidditch match. "Can I tell you tomorrow?"

"Gotta check with the missus, do you?" Michaels asked.

"Yes," Percy said. "She's been away for a week with work, and I'm not sure if she's back Friday or Saturday."

"Say no more. Let me know tomorrow, and I'll organise the ticket. A mate of mine at the ground can fix me up."

"That would be appreciated. I really should be getting off though. Let me know if you need any more help, and I can see what I can dig up." Percy said as he collected up his discarded coat.

"Nice one, thanks," Michaels raised his glass in salute followed by Harrow as Percy made his way out of the pub.

In the cold air, he took a breath and considered if he was sober enough to apparate. Deciding he was probably borderline he concentrated on his destination and twisted himself into nothing.

The landing was a stumble followed by barking his shin on the sofa. Collapsing into a heap onto the offending furniture rather than fight to remain upright, Percy considered if he was actually drunk or out of practice apparating after drinking.

Percy heaved himself to his feet toeing off his shoes and pulling off his coat. A swish of his wand and they floated over to the hall. A cleaning charm set to work on both to rid his coat of creases and polish his shoes to a high shine for the next day.

In his kitchen, Percy poured himself a glass of water and sipped it while squinting at the list of dates on the fridge. Audrey had taped it there, listing the days she would be away for. The list of dates included Friday. Percy felt a small frisson of excitement at the thought of the Quidditch match. Taking his drink, he returned to the sofa and dug around in the pile of papers on the coffee table for the latest copy of the Daily Prophet. He had a basket for them with a Notice-Me-Not charm on so Audrey wouldn't find them, but as he had been alone for the week, they had remained folded on the coffee table when he had finished with them. Percy flicked to the back section and settled down to refresh his memory on the current lineup of Puddlemere United and their opponents on Friday.

The Quidditch match was fast and furious. Percy found himself welcomed and wanted within the magical world for the first time in what seemed a long time. Percy thoroughly enjoyed himself and in an act of daring he would not have suspected of himself, smuggled bottled muggle beer into the stadium. He had removed all the labels, and the innocuous brown bottles had raised eyebrows until the caps came off. Then keen appreciation replaced scepticism, and Percy once more found himself toasted as the hero of the hour. After the match, he had joined Michaels, Harrow and more of their friends in a post-match analysis that lasted into the early hours. Happy, tired, and drunker than he had been in a long time Percy stumbled from Harrow's house, where they had all ended up, to find a taxi to take him home. He sat in the back of the dark car watching the street lights flash overhead and realised the weight he had carried had lifted. He might not have friends but he had been accepted, and it felt good.

Percy spent the weekend after the match with Audrey and thought no more of what he had done, further than the offhand promise he had made to help Michaels with more information if he could. When he returned to work on Monday, he set a small charm upon his blotter to highlight folders and information that might be of use and carried on with his day.

Percy had connections in some departments, he could hardly work for the Ministry as long as he did without doing so. But the shadow of the Crouch incident, the estrangement with his family and the fact that he worked for the Minister himself had set Percy apart. He had not known how to breach the invisible barrier between him and the other aides, secretary's and department workers that would allow him to build a network.

One favour, done with no more thought than to save an ex-housemate a few late nights caused ripples.

By Tuesday Heather Thompson was at his door requesting five minutes of his time. Cautiously she laid out the problem she had been having. Heather was supposed to be drawing up the proposal for the latest project for the Department of Improper Use. She was hitting a brick wall in getting the information she needed from the Department of Accidents and Catastrophises, and she'd heard Percy might be able to help her get what she needed.

Percy was puzzled until Heather mentioned that Michaels had told her that Percy had helped him with his proposal. Understanding dawned, Percy offered to take a look at the plan and send over anything he thought might help. Heather smiled brightly dropping the folder she had been clutching tightly on his desk with profusions of thanks and promises of favours owed. Percy picked the file up and skimmed over the first page. Absently he found a fresh sheet of paper and started making notes.

It was the beginning of a small network of favours owed and collected amongst his peer group in the Ministry. Percy found that Michaels and Harrow had put the word out he was willing to help for reasonable favours. The Muggle beer Percy had taken to the Quidditch match had become the stuff of legends thanks to Harrow and Michaels, enabling Percy to buy information he needed with bottled beer with their muggle labels stripped off.

Percy wasn't kidding himself. He knew that by building a network within the Ministry, he was stepping down the same path that Lucius Malfoy travelled. It wasn't much of a justification that he was trying to help the people that Lucius Malfoy and his power mongering were screwing over. It became a small personal crusade for Percy to hinder whatever Malfoy was up to. In that, he supposed he was following his family's footsteps in relation to the other man. He wouldn't stop though. Malfoy was visiting the Minister, the Wizengamot was dancing to the tune that Malfoy 'suggested'. Every proposal that was aimed at bettering and improving society was quashed, or pushed back, or brought forward so abruptly the proper research couldn't possibly be done. It never touched Lucius, his hands were clean. The Minister set the schedule, and the appropriate departments made their cases. If they failed to make their cases successfully, it looked like they had underprepared, not that they had been thrown under the hippogriff with no warning.

If Percy could help, then he would do so. If only to wipe the smug grin off the face of the man that crossed in front of his desk three days a week.

Chapter Text

June 1997

Percy didn't want to feel hurt, but he did. He didn't want to care, but the ache was undeniable. It wasn't as if it would have made any difference anyway.

He twirled the heavy card stock between his fingers feeling the weight of it, the coloured ink flashing as the card turned over and over in his hands. He threw it on the table and stared at it balefully.

He couldn't. He couldn't go. Too much time had passed. How would he ever be able to explain? They certainly wouldn't listen to him. Even though it was clear that while he had been wrong about You-Know-Who's return and the Ministry's ability to deal with the problem, his family had been wrong about Dumbledore and his plans. Harry Potter had left the country. The Death Eaters were attacking innocent people again. The Ministry reshuffles hadn't gone unnoticed by Percy. People were moved around departments and while he no longer feared for his job, he feared that his faith in the Ministry dealing with the problem effectively and efficiently was shattered. Not one Death Eater had been apprehended after the breakout of Azkaban, not one. Oh, there was speculation that You Know Who was no longer in the country but Percy didn't believe that. He was here, waiting, watching. For what, Percy didn't know.

He heard the door open and remembered he had agreed to meet Audrey. A glance at the clock confirmed he was not only late, he was so late she'd come to his flat looking for him.

"Percy?" Audrey's voice was hesitant, surprised to see him sitting in his flat.

Percy stood up and crossed the room to meet her. "I'm sorry," he offered, dropping a kiss onto her hair as he wrapped his arms around her. Audrey's arms came up in automatic response.

"Percy?" She queried.

Percy soaked in the feel of her in his arms before releasing her and gesturing to the card on the table.

Audrey moved to the table and picked it up. "William Weasley? He's your brother?" Audrey hazarded.

"Eldest," Percy confirmed joining her staring down at the card.

"You are going to go?"

Percy shook his head.

"Percy why not? He's invited you, surely that means he wants you there?"

Percy huffed. "They don't want me there. Bill wants Charlie there, Fred and George. Ginny probably, even Ron, but not me. Not unless he can lecture me on my responsibility to my family and how I've hurt Mum and Dad with my behaviour. 'Toe the line Percy.' 'It won't hurt you to do as they want.' 'You don't have all the facts and you have to listen to them.' The sanctimonious elder brother that he is. As if I don't have an opinion to call my own." Percy dropped onto the sofa scowling.

"So, you want to go then."

"What part of what I've just said gave you that impression?"

"Percy, you stood me up so you could brood over an invitation to your eldest brother's wedding. Would you have done that if you didn't care?"

"Sorry," Percy said. "I should have called, or better yet stuck to our arrangement."

"It's fine, they're your family. Being estranged has to be hard on you. Are you sure you aren't going to go? I can come with you if you want. Moral support and all that. Then if it's terrible, we could slip off early and find a pub or something."

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm not going."

"Well, let me know if you change your mind. I've got a dress in my wardrobe that will just need a quick iron."

Percy smiled thinly. "I shan't."

"Mhmm. Do they have a gift list or something? Is Fleur as French as she sounds?"

"Fleur is yes."

"You've met her?"

"Yes, not while she was seeing Bill. I don't think I knew they were together, but she came over from France with her school as part of an inter-school competition. I met her then. She seemed to be a confident sort of person, beautiful, clever," Percy shrugged. "I didn't really speak to her beyond the pleasantries."

"Oh," Audrey said looking down at the invitation again.

Percy heard the tone of Audrey's voice. "She was a student at the time. Seventeen yes, but a student. I'd been out of school a year by then. It was just as everything started going wrong. You have nothing to concern yourself with, I can promise you I did not spare Fleur a passing thought."

"Well, you said beautiful and clever. It's stiff competition."

Percy pulled Audrey to him and held her. "I promise that I am quite in love with you and could not care a whit for anyone else. As for beautiful and clever, be assured that I find you both those things."

"Oh," Audrey repeated, hugging Percy in return. "Well, I love you too."

They were silent for a moment in each other's arms before Audrey tilted her head up to look at Percy. "If they don't have a gift list, we can hunt through the shop for something to send them. We've got some nice bits in. Or, if you're feeling petty, we've got some hideous gilded pieces from a house clearance we did a couple of weeks ago. We'd let you have them for free if only to get them off our hands. They'll never sell."

Percy snorted a laugh. "It's a tempting thought. I'll think about it."

"Take your time," Audrey said warmly. "They really aren't going anywhere. Alternatively, how about an amateur impressionist painting of mutant fruit?"

"Mutant fruit?"

"Hmm yes. I think they are supposed to be apples, but if anyone gave me an apple that colour and shape I'm not sure my first thought would be to eat it. Hand it over for scientific research perhaps. Or how about cherubs on plates? I saw some of those at a sale, we could inquire if they are still available."

"Do you often send gifts to the people unfortunate enough to upset you?"

"Sometimes. Occasionally it's worth the postage," Audrey confirmed. "There's something satisfying knowing that a nicely wrapped and package box delivered with no note will get even the most cynical person's expectations raised, only to find something awful inside. It did backfire once. I sent a chap a genuinely terrible jug, it was a bad fake, looked like a five-year-old had done it as their first school project. Anyway, I saw him two weeks later down the pub, and he was raving about this jug, thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. Convinced it was some early work by a Master that an admirer had sent him. Not quite the reaction I was hoping for."

"And what had he done to displease you so?"

"I don't remember. Likely he made Rose cry. She went through a stage of picking awful men and showering them with crap in prettily wrapped boxes was therapeutic for her. Something about them being a mirror of the people she was sending them too."

"Ouch."

Audrey grinned. "She has a mean streak does Rose, you'd do well to mind it."

"I shall endeavour to. Since I have behaved abominably in missing our date would you care to be taken out for dinner? We can go around the corner to the Indian?"

"Fair enough, although I've an early start in the morning so I can't stay over I'm afraid. You could come back to mine though if you like unless you have to be in work early?"

"Not especially early. Let me put a bag together." Percy said moving towards his bedroom to gather his things.

August 1997

Percy had visited his brothers' shop once. It had opened with all the fanfare that Percy had expected from them. Loud, bold exuberance that demanded you join them. In the crush of inquisitive witches and wizards Percy had slipped in, hidden by the crowds and judiciously placed glamour charms. He hadn't been sure what had driven him to visit. He hadn't approached Fred or George or done anything to attract notice, but he hadn't been able to stay away. He could admit that he wished them well. The gossip going around was that the products the twins sold had become must-haves for the wizarding population. Percy wondered how much of the defence lines he had seen in one corner was being purchased under the guise of shopping for Skiving Snack Boxes. Or perhaps the population, now aware that You-Know-Who was alive, was trying to hide their heads in sand in the form of his brothers' own brand of distraction.

It was Mills that mentioned the latest news to Percy. Mills worked in the permits office, and Percy had been able to add him to his stable of contacts within the Ministry with a few well-placed bottles of muggle beer. When Mills sauntered up to Percy in the corridor early in the morning and followed him into the lift. Percy only acknowledged the other wizard with a pleasant good morning. The lift door rattled closed behind Mills, and the lift set off on what Percy noticed to be the longest continuous journey a Ministry lift was able to take.

"Weasley, something fell on my desk a couple of days ago, and you're a hard man to get alone."

Percy hummed noncommittally.

"Your brothers, run that joke shop. Seems they do well enough at it, but they've applied for a permit to sell wands. The decision is being looked at by my boss. I'm not sure he's going to grant it, they run a joke shop after all. Robards isn't going to run the risk of them hurting a bunch of folks especially eleven-year-olds. I don't suppose you know what they are about do you?"

Percy swallowed his surprise and paused for a moment to think. "Not specifically no. If they have set up to sell wands, then they will have done their research. They aren't in the business of getting people hurt or launching things that won't be a hit. If they fulfil the requirements, I can't see why the permit shouldn't go through"

"Fair enough," Mills said. "I'll tell Robards."

"Don't mention me," Percy requested. I don't want to be on any official record.

"You won't be," Mills replied. "I've got a nephew in need of a wand this year. He's a muggle born. My sister married a half-blood. Her husband's brother and his wife are as muggle as they come, little Trevor though. He's a demon, my sister took him in hand you see, when his parents struggled. Helped like, you know. Flies a broom like he was born to it. I see him when I visit my sister, bright as a button too. Destined for Ravenclaw that one. Beatrice is a Hufflepuff through and through same as her mum."

"He no longer lives with his parents?"

"Oh no he does, just my sister takes him so he can learn, you know before he goes to Hogwarts. It's better for him as well, he learnt to control his magic along with my sister's brood. His parents have been pretty good about it all. Least they don't think he's ill or they are losing their minds. A bit of a shock of course, but not as much as his Hogwarts letter turning up out of the blue. They'll come shopping with him so they'll get to see a bit more of our side of it. We're going to make a family day of it. Beatrice, my sister's eldest, is going this year as well. It's a damn shame Olivander's is closed, my whole family have his wands. Wanted that for Beatrice and Trevor too."

"There are other sellers."

"Yeah but Trevor is Muggleborn. I'm not taking him or his parents into Jerkins Wands. If Jerkins let them over the threshold, I wouldn't trust anything that he tried selling them."

"Fred and George wouldn't discriminate on birth," Percy said firmly.

"No, Weasleys don't discriminate, you can say that about your lot."

"It's not a bad thing to be said," Percy replied.

"I suppose not. Well, this is me," Mills said as the lift stopped and the doors swung open. "I'll see you another time."

"I look forward to it," Percy responded. The doors closed and he continued by a shorter route to his floor and onto his office.

Percy thought about his brothers' latest venture until he reached his desk and started working. Then it slipped to the back of his mind and troubled him not a whit until the week after when he chose to stroll down Diagon Alley for some sun and fresh air on his lunch break.

There, swinging from the frontage of the shop, was the new sign. Percy continued towards the shop peering through the crowded display. Percy paused as he caught sight of one of the twins conversing earnestly with what had to be a crowd of first years on their shopping trip for Hogwarts supplies. Percy stepped closer to the window and watched fascinated as the red-headed wizard engaged the child in small talk then handed a wand over. The wand failed to react to the child and Fred, or George shrugged and gave the child another wand to try. Percy watched in fascination as the process was repeated, his brother keeping the child engaged with whatever he was saying until the fifth wand was handed over and a rain of bright colours fell from the end. The other children gasped in excitement and crowded around their compatriot. Percy's eyes were on Fred or George who nodded in satisfaction and pride. As the next child stepped forward eagerly, Percy started moving again.

Whatever his brothers were up to they were not intent on causing harm and the match Percy had witnessed was as good as he had had with his own wand. Perhaps he would contact Mills and inquire if he had taken his niece and nephew to get their wands yet. It would be interesting to hear what he had to say if he had found wands in Weasleys Wizarding Wands. The unanswered questions of how his brothers had obtained their stock and learnt the craft of matching wands to witches and wizards remained unanswered, but Percy was in no position to get them.

October 1997

When the letter was delivered, the first thing he noticed was that it was not addressed correctly.

It merely said Mr Percy Weasley, Ministry of Magic, it didn't reference his job title, or office, or floor number, as all proper Ministry correspondence should do. While it took the author a little more time to write these things, it did ensure that the post was delivered correctly, and promptly. No one really wanted their personal quibbles being given to the wrong person and splashed all over the Prophet, but by not adequately addressing correspondence that's exactly what you risked.

The second thing he noticed made the first thing moot.

Percy might not have seen his family in a while, but nothing would stop him remembering what his younger siblings handwriting looked like. He had spent hours helping them learn to read and write, and longer regretting it. As invariably, one of their pranks they had cobbled together from a source of books, had been set upon him.

Fred and George had written to him.

It was clearly Fred and George together even though Fred's handwriting was on the outside. Those two had a hive mind and never acted without the other. If one didn't want to, the other would talk them round or change the plan until they both agreed. It was what made them brilliant.

Percy looked at the parchment suspiciously, putting it on the blotter in front of him. He cast a detecting charm on it. The one he had asked Bill for before, well, before and used on any incoming mail he didn't recognise.

The charm said the letter contained no jinxes, that opening it wouldn't turn him yellow, or transfigure his nose into a beak, or anything else the Twins might have come up with.

Sadly, this only made his suspicions heighten. Since when did Fred and George pass up an opportunity to prank anyone? Sending a letter without a prank attached … oh, Merlin. Suddenly a rushing noise filled his ears, and he couldn't swallow properly. Every harsh word he'd ever exchanged with his loud, boisterous, sometimes alien family, came screaming back to the forefront of his mind.

If they hadn't sent a prank, then they wanted him to read it, and if they wanted him to read it… Merlin. He hoped no one was seriously hurt in whatever foolish errand they had gone on for Dumbledore. He hoped that at worst it was a couple of weeks in St Mungo's. That he wasn't being told that fences couldn't be mended with one of them on a permanent basis.

Hands now trembling and throat so tight he thought he might suffocate, Percy ripped the letter open, taking less care than he should to ensure he didn't tear the contents.

His eyes scanned the message not really taking it in just hunting for the news. His shoulders dropped and his head sagged as he realised that it mentioned nothing of any injuries, attacks, and possible deaths. He took a minute or five to get himself back under control.

Percy didn't want to admit it, but Audrey was right, being estranged was hard. He ignored it most of the time, but it never left him. Under the anger and disappointment, he held against his family it didn't stop the worry. Estrangement hadn't stopped him loving them or worrying about them. He heard things about them of course. There were enough gossips in the Ministry to put the Prophet out of business although they probably kept the prophet in business printing rumours and supposition.

Picking the letter up he read it over properly. It was short, succinct for the twins, and written as usual in both their handwriting as they had taken it from each other and penned bits.

Percy,

Don't throw this away. You can't because we've charmed it not to be destroyed. If you want to try, you can, but we suggest you don't set it on fire. Being responsible for evacuating the Ministry at whatever ungodly hour you chose to start work will look bad on your record.

It's true don't try it – unless you know, in case of an emergency sort of thing. Not like a real emergency, where the building is coming down around you and people are already panicking, because no one will notice. But a small emergency, where forewarning was helpful and makes you look good. Seriously, it will work, the siren on this thing is loud. Testing it was a nightmare.

We're writing because we thought you probably didn't want us coming to visit. We'd have to ask at the desk which department you were in, and where that was. Since we're not exactly good for your Ministerial image, we didn't think you would appreciate that.

This isn't about the whole working for the Ministry thing.

Well, it is, but not because you got huffy and walked out on us.

Right, we weren't going to mention that so you'd actually listen, so ignore him. We need your help. It's nothing illegal or dangerous.

The only danger is losing your mind, your arm falling off and a potential national ink shortage.

Exactly, so nothing that is going to make you look bad. We promise to abide by the terms of parley and will meet on accorded neutral ground. We've no idea where you Ministry types hang out anyway.

Will you come? There's a park in London called Kensington Gardens. It's Muggle so you know we can't pull anything. There's a statue of Peter Pan, we'll be there tomorrow after your shift ends. Ask a Muggle for directions.

Your brothers,

Fred and George

Percy dropped the letter onto his blotter again and looked it over. He was willing to take the twins at their word. They never warned you about the consequences of their products unless they were serious about them, and they weren't part of whatever they were planning.

What did they want? They said it wasn't about his separation from the family since they hadn't been planning on mentioning it.

Where did the twins find out about Kensington Gardens? He knew where the Pan statue was of course. He'd told Audrey about his brothers, and she had, in turn, told him the tale of the boy who never grew up. It fitted them somehow. They'd gone to look at it on a weekend, enjoying the autumn colours and the fresh air after a tiring week at work.

His shift didn't end until five, but he needed to do an hour or so more after that to keep on top of the new legislation that was being pushed through. Without checking them over, he couldn't be sure his boss was getting a full and complete breakdown. It wouldn't do for the Minister to be under-prepared to answer questions at any time. He folded the letter up and slipped it into his pocket. When he was ready to go home, he'd think about it then. Otherwise, he had a solid day in front of him.

The end of the day arrived. His office was silent except for the scratch of his quill against parchment. The buzz of activity in the Ministry had quietened and died off as more and more people left for the day.

When Percy reached the stopping point he had set himself for the day, he cleaned his quill and placed it neatly on the inkstand on his desk. He tidied his parchments filing them until tomorrow. He cast a charm on his outbox, the spell had each memo and packet of parchment neatly fold up in an aeroplane and zoom out of his door. They would float to their destinations slipping through the cracks under the doors to settle in the recipients in trays ready for perusal the next morning.

One last thing lay on his blotter. The letter Fred and George had sent.

Percy grumbled to himself. He was going to go. He'd not gone to Bill's wedding despite Audrey's encouragement to attend. He stubbornly shut down any conversation that broached the topic. He had caved to Audrey's urging and sent them a gift, and despite her initial offer, he had turned down the gilded carriage clock and the painting of mutant fruit. Audrey had picked out a delicate bud vase, and Percy had agreed that it would do.

But the twins hadn't sent him an invitation, one of many sent out if he knew anything about his mother. They had specifically written to him and specifically requested his help. Percy wasn't reassured about their assurances that whatever they were doing wasn't illegal. Many things weren't illegal, but that did not mean his prankster brothers should be getting involved with them.

Grumbling to himself he locked his office up and made his way to the floo. The sooner he found out what they wanted, the better.

Percy approached the meeting place, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets. The cold nipped at the end of his nose, and he wondered if his brothers would still be waiting for him. As he came around the corner of the hedge, he paused spying the two lanky forms huddled together, and their conversation floated over to him.

"…Think he's chained to the desk? Manacles rubbing his wrists and ankles sore, wand held hostage?"

"We'd have to think of a daring rescue."

"Heroic, too."

"Of course. Maybe we could ask Charlie for a dragon, a small one. We could have it fly around outside the Ministry, distracting everyone. Drawing them outside to gawk, while we bravely battled through the corridors to rescue our fair brother from his prison."

"I would rather you didn't if it's all the same," Percy said as he stepped out of the shadows and walked towards them. "The dragon alone would need three import licenses signing off."

"Percy!" the twins whirled as one, throwing themselves at Percy.

Percy staggered slightly under their combined weight and effuse thumps of greeting. He had a moment of surprise as his siblings threw themselves on him, followed by a rush of relief that they had done so. As they drew away, he smoothed his hair and robes in an automatic gesture and saw the twins catch each other's glances and roll their eyes. He ignored them and instead said. "You wanted to speak with me?"

"Yeah, we did," The twin Percy thought was George responded eagerly. "Do you want to go somewhere warmer? Only it's a bit cold out here."

Percy eyed them suddenly wary. They had agreed to meet on neutral ground to show they meant to behave. If they went elsewhere would that still stand? For all their joking a moment ago, Percy wouldn't put it past them to take him somewhere he could not leave if they thought it for his own good or they were under orders.

"We're not going to do anything, and no one in the family knows we're here. You can pick where and we'll behave," Fred offered sincerely.

Percy looked at them, concerned as to why they were acting so politely. The twins were not serious people and only earnest when something really mattered. Politics warred with family inside him once again. He sighed in inevitable defeat. "I suppose you can come to my flat. But I'm taking you in, and you are not to touch or otherwise mess about with any of my things."

Once the twins settled on the sofa, Percy was unsure of what to expect. The explanation of their need of his help with their business puzzled Percy. The forms were perhaps detailed, but he had not expected his brothers to find them onerous. When the forms were produced in a dramatic flourish, Percy felt his eyebrows rise. Certainly, he hadn't expected quite so many. A glance through also showed that they were as detailed as Percy recalled. The worry was that the file was surely big enough to cover every product the twins sold, and yet they claimed that this covered just their wand selling business.

Percy sighed knowing he had already agreed to help them in whatever they needed when he had decided to meet them. The idea that it was just dry form filling in relieved him as much as he didn't anticipate the evening of completing the forms in question. He summoned the ink and quills and picked up the first folder indicating they should start.

The conversation stayed for the most part in the safe zones of his brother's wand business. It was some two hours later disheartened by the futility of what the twins were expected to do Percy made a decision. He had enough contacts within the Ministry. Perhaps instead of just acting against Mr Malfoy, he could use that network to help his brothers.

"If," Percy said, drawing Fred and George's attention. "What I mean is, that if you like, if it would help. I can advise you on the newest legislation coming from the Ministry, and help you fill in the correct forms, to make sure you don't build up such a backlog again. Obviously, I can only tell you what has passed into law. Speculation on my part, of anything being discussed at higher levels would be a flagrant disregard of my responsibilities and oaths as a member of the Ministry."

The twins greeted this offer with eager acceptance, and Percy felt a flush of pleasure sweep through him. He had been uncertain if this would be a onetime thing.

Percy summoned the courage to ask after the rest of the family and Fred, and George quickly ran through the family offering insights into the last they knew of them. It was only when Percy cautiously inquired after Harry and Hermione did the old resentments flare up again, and Percy had to bite his tongue to stop the angry words that clogged the back of his throat.

Fred and George exchanged a speaking look and what must have been a silent agreement to change the subject passed between them.

The next words however caught Percy off guard and he felt himself suck a lungful of air in as if there simply wasn't going to be any more in the room other than what he could hold inside himself.

"So, who's the bird?"

Percy couldn't form words.

The picture," his brother pointed to the bookcase. "Who is she?"

"Audrey," Percy replied eventually. "We met shortly after I moved in here."

"What's she like?" Fred asked encouragingly. "Would Mum approve?"

"I, she," Percy shook himself, gathering himself together. The turn in the conversation and the realisation that his brothers would, of course, notice the picture and certainly be interested in who she was, sinking in. Percy wasn't ready for this conversation, he hadn't ever expected to have it in truth. "I would rather that you didn't tell Mum and Dad, especially Dad if you don't mind."

"Eh? Why not? Mum will be thrilled. You know she's desperate to marry us all off."

"Yeah, I see your point there Percy. Best keep it to yourself. Don't want Mum scaring her off."

"No, you don't understand, you see…" Percy trailed off suddenly nervous despite everything. He knew the twins, he knew his family were considered blood traitors but acknowledging muggle-borns was one thing. What he had done, what he was doing, was something entirely different.

"What? Is she a bit posh? Don't worry, we wore Fleur down. Your Audrey will be no match for our charm,"

"I, she. She's a muggle!" Percy blurted, snapping his mouth closed as the last syllable left his lips. He closed his eyes. He knew that if he ever fixed what was broken between him and his family he would have to tell them about Audrey, about her being a muggle. This was not how he had imagined it happening, though.

"Does she know about cinema?"

Percy snapped his eyes open his face a picture of shock, gaping at his brother.

"Oh please! Tell me she can get you Chinese food. Can you get it here?" his other brother said eagerly.

"I, umm. Yes, she knows about cinema. But, she's a muggle, I mean, not that there's anything wrong with that but..." Percy answered reeling at the horror of what he had told them and their confusing reactions. How did Fred and George know about cinema and why would they want Chinese food?

"But what? You didn't think we were going to run screaming, did you? Denounce you for not dating some lovely young witch from the Department of So-Boring-I-Can't-Remember, did you?"

"I, err, well. Yes?" Percy confessed.

"Pfft, she's a muggle Percy, not an alien. Can we meet her? Does she know about us? Not the magic bit of course, but you know, your family?"

"She doesn't think I was born from an egg no," Percy replied drily.

Fred and George seemed delighted that he was dating a muggle and Percy couldn't fathom it. Weasleys don't discriminate. He hadn't been flippant when he said that to Mills, but he had never considered that Weasleys wouldn't discriminate against Muggles as well as Muggle-born.

Their entreaties to meet Audrey had Percy wavering. It would be a relief to have at least a small measure of contact with his family. It would make him feel less utterly alone, but the risk of the twins slipping up and exposing Audrey to magic was not to be disregarded. They were eager puppies anxiously waiting his answer and Percy didn't have the heart to crush their fledgling peace talks with his refusal. He would have to speak to Audrey, and he had no idea of what he would say or how he would explain.

Percy directed them back to the forms giving himself time to get his thoughts together. When they were complete, he offered to send them out to the relevant departments in the morning and herded his brothers out of the door.

The evening had taken a toll on Percy, and he wished for nothing more than quiet solitude to get his thoughts straight. Fred and George knew about Audrey, knew that he was dating a Muggle. Fred and George, his younger brothers. He had spent years looking out for the pair, keeping them from getting into more trouble than they could handle. He had just given them the means to destroy him. One word in the wrong place and Percy knew that losing his job was possibly the best-case scenario.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Audrey was concerned. Percy was edgy, his anxiety was manifesting as an irritating twitch in his fingers. They were twitching and tapping, and the noise was grating on her nerves. Audrey understood that today was important to Percy, but she couldn't decipher if his nerves were caused by his concern of her meeting his brothers or something else.

Audrey had her own thoughts about today. It had taken nearly a month since the suggestion was raised for them to be able to find a weekend when everyone was free. She and Percy had work and commitments to Audrey's family for Sunday lunch.

Audrey was torn over how well her parents had taken to Percy. They insisted he visited regularly, while she was glad they liked him and they all got on, she was a little put out at having to share their weekends with her parents.

When Percy had told her his twin brothers had been in contact and he had met up with them, she'd been cautiously optimistic. Percy had a large family, and while as she understood he hadn't always fit in they had at least accepted him. The split was difficult. She saw it when they were at her parents, he would make every effort to get along with everyone, but she caught the odd wistful look when they were all sat around the table.

Audrey had held out hope that Percy might have attended his elder brother's wedding, but he'd stood firm and refused. Audrey presumed that the relationship between the two was strained. That, or possibly the relationship between them hadn't ever been very good before the split, or things had been said that couldn't be easily forgiven. Percy was hard headed when he set himself against something. She hadn't seen him be properly stubborn about many things, it had happened rarely. Percy was usually quite happy to go along with most things, so when they had run up against something he had stood firm against it was Audrey who acquiesced.

The twins, George and Fred, Percy spoke of with a fond if exasperated warmth. He always had a kind word for them praising either their enthusiasm or underlying cleverness. The age gap was smaller, and Percy said he'd often looked after them. Audrey supposed that their relationship had always been close. Granted Percy spoke of his family hardly at all, but in two years Audrey had gleaned bits here and there.

Then something had happened last week. So far, Audrey wasn't sure if Percy had told her everything. Bill the eldest had been hurt in an accident at work and taken to the hospital. Percy had called to say he was going to the hospital after work. When he had made it back to her flat later that evening, he had been visibly relieved. Bill would live, though with some scarring and Percy and Bill seemed to have gotten over the initial meeting with good grace.

Audrey had been delighted for him. Percy had made inroads with three of his brothers and she thought some of whatever it was that stood between them, might have been resolved.

But then just two days later, it all seemed to go horribly wrong. Again. Something else had happened to upset Percy, and it involved his family. Personally, Audrey was beginning to see Percy's point when it came to his family. They seemed to stumble from one drama to the next. Percy wouldn't tell her what had happened, and he had gone back to shutting down any conversation that broached the topic of his family, bar the proposed meeting of his twin brothers.

The events had done nothing to reassure Audrey that today was going to go well. She wanted it to for Percy's sake, but she remained apprehensive.

Audrey looped an arm around Percy's waist as they approached the vast arched door of the Museum. Percy smiled at her encouragingly, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he led them closer. Audrey scanned ahead trying to see the two brothers they were to meet.

She spotted them leaning against the curved wall and nudged Percy gently. "Is that them?"

"Yes," Percy replied.

They approached, and the twins straightened off the wall standing slightly stiffly upright. Audrey got the impression that they were as nervous about this meeting as she was. Comforted somewhat that she wasn't alone in her nerves she let Percy complete the introductions

"Fred, George, this is Audrey. Audrey these are my brothers, Fred and George." Percy introduced them stiffly. They held out their hands to her, shaking hers gently, smiling broad smiles of welcome.

"How do I tell you apart?" Audrey asked glancing towards Percy.

"Well usually."

"No one can."

"However, we have recently been told,"

"We aren't actually identical. Although it takes specialist knowledge."

"Built up from years of study to be able to tell."

Audrey's glance bounced from one to the other as they spoke, finishing each other's sentences. She glanced briefly at Percy to see his reaction to the odd way of talking. Percy looked resigned and slightly quelling.

"However, since we'd like to make a good impression," one of the twins winked at her with a cheeky smile flashing over his face.

"We promise that just for today, we'll answer to our own names." The other finished triumphantly.

Percy looked startled at their words and was about to say something, but Audrey got in first. "Percy told me that you two liked to play practical jokes." She narrowed her eyes slightly considering them. "Will you tell me who is who to start with? Without knowing who is who until I speak to you, I'm not sure that your offer is as good as it sounds."

The twins said nothing but stood silently smiling at her. Audrey's own smile slowly built. "Fine!" she said laughing. "I'll take what I can get. After all, I've got Percy on my side, I'm sure between us we can work it out."

"Challenge accepted!" One of the brothers declared holding out his hand. When Audrey placed hers in his, instead of shaking it, he turned it and bowed slightly over it. Releasing her hand, he swept an arm dramatically towards the doors of the museum and the people streaming inside. "Your museum awaits milady!" he said winking at her. She eyed him, amused and tucked her arm back through Percy's.

They set off up the stairs and into the museum proper. The group paused briefly inside the door to drop their donations into the box and walked forwards. The twins halted as they glanced to the side and caught sight of the diplodocus. They stood and gawked openly, stepping closer to the towering frame.

Audrey came up beside them, Percy by her side, delighted laughter in her face at their expressions. "It's always like that the first time," she murmured to Percy. "You can always tell the new visitors to the ones that have been before."

Percy looked at her. "I'll try and get them to behave." He shot a worried glance to his brothers who were starting to amble down the length of the fossil, their identical grins blooming.

"Nonsense," Audrey said. "They are grownups, I'm sure it will be fine, and anyway, dinosaurs work for little and big kids alike. Do you think we should take them there first or promise they can go if they are on their best behaviour?" She smiled up at him mischievously, and it drew an answering smile to his face, the worried creases smoothing away.

The twins came bouncing back words tumbling out in their excitement. "How do we get to the dinosaurs? The rest of them. Is the T-Rex still here?" they asked over each other.

Audrey sent a smug look at Percy before turning back to the twins. "Dinosaurs first or last Fred?"

"First!" Fred said.

"George?"

"First!" he immediately chimed in.

She nodded. "This way then." Leading them out of the hall and into the flow of people.

Audrey liked Fred and George. She'd had no luck with their names, having not managed to guess correctly the first time she addressed one of them. She didn't mind the game though, they were polite and courteous and genuinely funny. It was clear to her, that like Percy when they first met, their experiences of life outside whatever commune they had been brought up in was limited. They did nothing overtly obvious, but some of the displays in the museum seemed to be genuinely new ideas and concepts to them. Perhaps though, Audrey admitted to herself, she was watching for these things. After all, she and Percy had been together a while, and he had finally lost the blank looks that had caught her attention in the beginning. Now she had an idea of what caused them in the first place it was simple to spot them on the faces of his brothers.

They stared at Westminister Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben like typical tourists. Audrey led them down Parliament Street filling them in with what little information she had managed to retain from her school days. As they passed the Cenopath, she explained the significance of the monument knowing that British history was something that they didn't have, thanks to their upbringing. At the gates to Downing Street, she quietly giggled as they peered through the gateway to the quiet side road in disbelief.

"I don't know why that house," Audrey replied to their inquiries. "I guess that at some point, one of the Prime Ministers lived there and bequeathed it to the government for the purpose of housing the Prime Minister or something. I honestly don't know, but all of them live there."

"Oh," they said unconcernedly. "So, are you hungry yet? Because we're hungry and I've been dying to try Chinese food."

"George?" Audrey hazarded.

"Yes," George grinned back.

"Well then George, if you aren't too fatigued then I suggest we get back on the tube and head over to China town."

"China town?"

"You'll understand when you see it," Audrey said. "Come on I know a couple of good places." She started back towards the tube station. "We'll just need to jump on the tube for ten minutes then across a few streets."

Soul searching the muggles called it. Magical folk didn't. Souls were real things in the magical world. If you didn't know what you were doing, messing around with your soul got you into the kind of trouble that St Mungo's couldn't fix. It would likely as not get you a lengthy stay in the Department of Mysteries. That's if you survived whatever you'd done of course.

Percy wasn't soul searching. He was doing the next best thing. He was reviewing his life and weighing every decision he had made. He was plotting his future. The likely outcomes, assigning variables and tracking the results through a complex arithmancy equation that was at least fifty percent complete rubbish. Drawing straws would have given him as much clarity, but the swirling numbers gave him the illusion that there was logic fuelling his thought processes.

It was time to pin his colours to the mast. It was time to sign up, stand up and be a part of fighting for the future he wanted.

It terrified him.

The consequences stared him in the face from his glowing equation. Total loss. Audrey, his family, his job, his home, his freedom.

Death in the face of that seemed simple. Percy didn't think he was worth torturing. He held no information that You-Know-Who didn't already have. At least if he were caught, it would be quick.

He noticed the curious glances of his brothers and Audrey and realised he had missed whatever was being said. He screwed up the piece of paper he had been scribbling on as they walked ahead and chatted. He had tried to keep his head together today, but seeing Fred and George treat Audrey with civility and warmth was eroding his ability to keep his worlds separate. They would want to see each other again. She liked them, and the twins seemed to like Audrey in return.

If he wanted to live in a world where that was possible, then it was time.

"Percy?"

Percy shoved the piece of paper deep into his pocket and smiled apologetically at Audrey. "Sorry I was miles away. Where are we going for lunch?"

"George wants Chinese food, so I thought The Lotus House? It's only fifteen minutes away. Or maybe The Great Wall if they are busy."

"Sounds like a good idea." Percy wrapped an arm around Audrey kissing the top of her head before tucking her against him as they continued down the street.

His brothers chatted and joked, Audrey laughed and returned their humour with her own. Percy hung his hope that this would not be the last time but the first of many.

Lunch had been followed by a walk in one of the large parks until the daylight had begun to wane and Audrey had made polite noises about getting home. Percy sent Audrey home without him, explaining he wanted a quick word with his brothers and he would meet her at her place. They walked her to the Underground station, and she vanished inside.

He led Fred and George to a side alley full of collapsed cardboard boxes rotting away into grey mush and apparated them to his flat. Coats and shoes divested he led them to the sofa and indicated for them to sit down.

"It will take Audrey half an hour or so to get home, so we've got that long," he said as he dropped into the other chair. "Not that I am not grateful for the efforts you have made," he said without preamble. "But it makes me wonder where you two learnt how to operate in the muggle world."

George looked surprised at the accusation in his tone. "We didn't want to muck it up for you Percy, and we wanted to meet her, she's nice."

Fred pulled out his notebook handing it over. "We asked some people we know for help," he explained. "We took notes, lots and lots of notes. They told us what to wear and how to get around."

Percy looked down and opened the notebook flicking through the pages. They were covered with notes; how to buy tickets, how to navigate the trains, and buses, the shops and restaurants. Notes about the money, directions, and comments about trivia, bits of history that any ordinary muggle would probably know. All scribbled in Fred's hand. He swallowed, "You did this just to meet Audrey?"

"We didn't want to look like loonies did we? And Audrey's great." Fred said nonchalantly.

Percy looked up at them both sat clearly wanting to please. "You sent me that note, about Bill." Not sure what he was asking.

"Well yeah, your family, we thought you'd want to know. We sent it as soon as we found out. Err sorry about the state it was in, we were in the workshop, and it was all we had to hand."

"Dad. Dad didn't come and see me until a day and a half later." Percy admitted quietly. He drew a hand down his face. "It didn't go well." Fred and George winced, Percy ignored it and continued. "Thank you for that. For letting me know as soon as you did." They shrugged as if it hadn't even been a consideration. Percy leant back in his chair weighing his next words. "I've been thinking. I've been able to help you with the shop, and the forms and what not—,"

"We're really grateful," George broke in.

Percy's brows drew together faintly at the interruption. "Yes," he said quelling his brothers into silence with his stare. "I was looking through the latest legislation from the Ministry that might affect you…" he trailed off again, making his mind up just to go with it. "What do you know of the new apprenticeship scheme?" he asked abruptly.

"Err," Fred said. "Well, we were sent some sort of diversity questionnaire about who we employed, then received a pack back about taking on an apprentice and some of the reasons why. But the shop work is handled by Verity, and the back end stuff?" he shook his head. "It would take too long to train someone up from scratch, and finding someone who has the knack for it is like searching for a needle in a haystack. The wand business is too small to need anyone. We're doing OK, so we have mostly ignored it."

Percy nodded. "That makes sense for you I suppose. I had a look over the paperwork in case you indicated an interest. If, if you know anyone, who wants to take one up," he said haltingly, even though he had decided to say something, he still struggled to get the words out. "Tell them to take any contract to a solicitor, a good one."

"Why?"

"The standard Ministry contract leaves the apprentice open to..." Percy paused searching. "Well it boils down to indentured labour," he said finally.

Fred looked at him a faint frown on his face, the thoughts flickering through his sharp mind. "The only people who would use a standard Ministry contract are those who wouldn't know to draw their own up, or quite what a magical contract can entail," he said.

"Solicitors are expensive," George put in. "Especially a good one."

Percy said nothing allowing them to draw the conclusions he had.

"The apprenticeships would be taken up by those without the connections, the people whose families don't have the money or position or connections to get them something," George mused, following the logic.

"The muggle-born," Fred said with a sigh. Percy nodded once, wordlessly.

"How bad are they?" George asked grimly.

"Bad," Percy said. "They could get themselves into a lot of trouble very easily, without proper guidance."

"Which wouldn't be readily available to them," Fred pointed out. "What can we do?" Fred asked George.

"To fix this? You can't," Percy interrupted. "The apprenticeships have got a lot of backing; it was approved by nearly three-quarters of the Wizengamot. You won't be able to stop them. The Order, well, there's nothing they can do except make a fuss and paint targets on themselves. I didn't tell you so you could stir up trouble."

"No," George said. "We weren't planning on doing, but we can get the word out, let Hogwarts know, and they can tell the students."

"Dumbledore voted in favour of them," Percy said. "He's not going to withdraw his support."

Fred and George exchanged a glance. "We weren't thinking of Dumbledore."

Percy looked at them with sharply narrowed eyes. "Oh?" The single word carrying more weight and questions.

"Look, Percy, you said you didn't want to be involved, and we're not going to drag you into something you don't want to be a part of, so the less said, the better?" Fred offered, no humour showing on his face.

Percy met his gaze. "I am a part of it. As much as I don't want to be, I am. Bill is in the hospital, you two are up to who knows what, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say Mum and Dad don't know?" he didn't wait for the shaking heads. "I can give you information, not much, and not a lot all at once, but maybe it will help." He took a deep breath releasing it in a heavy sigh. "If I stand to one side and do nothing they'll win. Dumbledore wants to overthrow the Ministry but not lead it, leaving a vacuum that will be filled by the person with the most clout and not the best person for the job. You-Know-Who wants to have the Ministry in his pocket to run a dictatorship over us all. The current Ministry doesn't care if Audrey is a Muggle. Unless we have children, she's to be kept in the dark about magic, and I can see why that's reasonable. If we split up and she told someone, they'd think she was crazy. The next administration, I don't believe that they'll be as forgiving. So I'll help, as much as I can. I'd still rather this was kept quiet, though."

Fred and George exchanged another long look. "What if we could find someone, someone trustworthy and dependable. Someone that you could pass the information along to, that worked in the Ministry? That way you wouldn't have to risk being spotted seeing us."

"How many people are there like that in the Ministry? That isn't in You-Know-Who's pocket or Dumbledore's?" Percy asked dispiritedly.

"Percy," George said. "Since when have we failed to deliver?" He smiled reassuringly. "We'll find someone. They'll make contact as soon as its sorted. Don't worry mate, we'll keep your secrets. No one will find out about Audrey from us."

Percy checked his watch. "I need to get moving, Audrey will be home soon, and I should probably pick up something to eat for us both."

They all stood and went to retrieve their coats and shoes from the hall. Fred and George clapped Percy confidently on the shoulder. "Thanks for today Percy, and tell Audrey thanks too. We should do it again sometime." George said.

Percy looked slightly startled but nodded. "I'll pass along your thanks." They vanished with a crack and Percy paused only a moment to centre himself. Relief at the decision he made flowing over him, along with a new host of worries. The consequences of someone catching him squirrelling information out of the Ministry to Fred and George's contact resurrected the old fear he'd buried deep within him.

Chapter Text

November 1997

Kingsley Shacklebolt winked at Percy as he left the Minister's office and passed by the younger man's desk on the way out the door. Percy pretended not to notice. He had come to the realisation that the six requests by the Head of the DMLE to see the Minister this week were part of a ploy. It was Wednesday, nobody needed six meetings with the Minister in three days.

The Minister was, Percy knew, getting more and more annoyed about the constant disruptions and meeting requests, never mind the meetings themselves. He hadn't been able to turn Kingsley down, they had been to discuss the budget for the DMLE in light of the wave of attacks that had taken place, Percy's brother amongst them.

Auror Shacklebolt was pushing for paid overtime, better equipment, and more training. In short everything the Head of the DMLE would push for in such a case, but rather than being polite about it, Auror Shacklebolt was getting up the Minister's nose. When the Minister had been unable to have the actual meeting due to his schedule, he'd come back from his lunch breaks muttering imprecations. Percy got the impression that Auror Shacklebolt had somehow managed to find the Minister at lunch, and turn the hour-long leisurely meal the Minister liked to enjoy, into a half-hour meeting about budgeting.

"Weasley!" The demand came from inside the Minister's office, through the open door. Percy picked up his parchment and quill and walked through the door to stand in front of the Minister's desk.

"Yes, Minister?"

"Weasley, it cannot be borne."

"Minister?" Percy asked deferentially.

"Six meetings Weasley! Even when I say no he's finding me in the corridors and at lunch! You are to block all further requests from the Auror Department!"

"I'm sorry Minister, but Auror Shacklebolt has the right to speak to you directly," Percy said. "To block his requests would be acting against the legislation of the Minister for Magic's office and could lead to a formal complaint." The Minister's face turned an interesting shade of pink on hearing the news.

"Minister," a cold voice drawled, heavy sarcasm on the title. "What is the good of having staff if you don't use them? Have Weasley here meet with Shacklebolt. If that doesn't impinge on legislation?" Lucius Malfoy was sat in the corner of the office, his sneer firmly in place, a lazy hand resting on the head of his cane.

The Minister looked at Lucius before turning to Percy. "Well?" he snapped at Percy. "Would that work?"

Percy paused framing his response. As he did a Ministerial memo folded into an aeroplane flew into the room and stopped, hovering in front of Percy. Percy plucked it out of the air and unfolded it, he glanced over it quickly. "Auror Shacklebolt requests a meeting at your convenience to further discuss implementing the new proposals you have discussed."

"That's it!" The Minister shouted, banging a fist down on the desk for emphasis. "I will not see that man anymore. Weasley, deal with it."

Percy opened his mouth to object.

"I don't want to hear it. Meet with him, take notes, write a report. I don't care! I will not have this office continuously interrupted by that man again. Just where does he expect me to find the budget?! Well? Why are you stood there? Get out!"

Percy nodded to the Minster and turned to leave, nodding to Lucius Malfoy, as little as he could without being rude. Lucius smiled a condescending smile and nodded more deeply in reply. "Good day, Mr Weasley."

Percy left the room and closed the door firmly behind him. He went to his desk and jotted a reply onto the memo, setting up a meeting for that afternoon. He sent the plane whizzing from the room, Fred and George had come through. They'd found him a contact and their soon to be meetings the idea of the Minister himself, helped along by no other than Lucius Malfoy.

Percy swallowed, pulling a report towards himself, he stared at it determinedly, forcing his thoughts to clear and focus on his work. He'd made his choices, now he would honour them.

An hour of diligent work later, Percy tossed a quick spell at his door and another at the Minister's before he cleared his desk. Yes, he would have to speak to Shacklebolt about his budget, but that was not the point of the meeting after all. The meeting was all about what Percy could supply and how much that might help. Percy pulled the Minister's briefing reports towards him. A quick scan provided no more information that Percy already had.

The Head of the DMLE would have his own battles, budgets and funding the least of them if things continued. Perhaps if Percy could offer a way to ensure that Shacklebolt could trust the Department he headed up unequivocally, that might at least give Shacklebolt more latitude. Decided that that would be enough to bring to the meeting in the first instance, Percy flicked his wand at one of his magically expanded filing cabinets.

The filing cabinets were stuffed full of files from every Minister for Magic that had sat in the office. After a hundred years passed the originals were sent down to the Archives, but copies were kept in the Minister's aides office. It would not do for a Minister for Magic to have to send a request down to the Archives to retrieve a file. Much better for the Minister's aide to produce the relevant file with a simple spell taught to each aide that sat at Percy's desk.

Percy had had to take an oath of allegiance to the Ministry of Magic upon becoming the Minister's aide. After making that oath, he had to swear a number of other vows, one of which was that the spells to operate the filing cabinets would never be divulged to anyone but his replacement. Peculiarly confidentiality of what went on in the Minister's office was not covered by any of the oaths or vows required. Percy presumed that it had been included initially, but persons throughout history who had planned a takeover would have needed an inside man, and the Minster's aide was as inside as it got.

The filing cabinet drawer slid open, and a file flew up and landed on Percy's desk. The draw slid closed again sealing with a solid sounding thunk. Percy glanced down at the folder, an eyebrow raised at the dossier's title but never the less he pulled parchment and inked quill towards him and started to read.

Percy knocked lightly on the Minister's door. On receiving the permission to enter Percy opened the door and moved into the office. Malfoy was no longer lounging in the corner, so he must have left when Percy had been away from his desk or via the Minister's floo.

"What is it, Weasley?" Scrimgeour asked.

"I am about to leave for my meeting with Auror Shacklebolt. I expect to be away from my desk for half an hour or an hour perhaps. Shall I leave the door open?"

"No close it. An hour of uninterrupted peace sounds just the thing."

"Very well Minister," Percy said before turning and leaving.

In the corridor outside the entrance to his office, Percy cast another spell. When someone came by the door would display a message that the Minister for Magic was unavailable and to come back later. The spell would allow department messages through to await Percy's return, but everyone else would find no way of getting through the door.

Percy walked through the Ministry on his way to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He exchanged greeting and polite nods with those he passed. Upon entering the department, he made his way towards Shacklebolt's office and knocked on the door. Shacklebolt bade him enter, and Percy did, trying to look as unruffled as he wished he felt. He felt as if the eyes of every Auror in the department were boring a collective hole through his back and he was determined that they wouldn't see him squirm.

"Ah, Mr Weasley, I expected the Minister, is he running late?"

Percy stepped over the threshold feeling immeasurably better when the door closed behind him cutting off the stares. "I am here in the Minister's stead Auror Shacklebolt."

"I see. Well down to business then. Take a seat. Would you like a cup of tea?"

"No thank you," Percy replied as he took the seat offered.

"I should tell you that you are free to speak freely here," Shacklebolt said seriously, retaking his seat.

Percy nodded then said bluntly. "What do you need to know?"

"Everything."

"That seems a little unachievable. Do you really want to know that the Minister has a preference for coffee over tea though he always drinks tea in public because he thinks it makes him look more 'British'?"

"He does?"

Percy nodded.

"Well no, not that. But who is he meeting with, talking to? What is being done? Actually done, rather than the sound bites."

"You would know as much as I, after all the Aurors must know the law to uphold it."

"Pre-warned is pre-armed, and you know how these things go. Just because it's the law doesn't mean that it is inflexible. Whatever you can get, what departments are lost, what legislation is coming, that sort of thing. Who is still with us, those that we can rely on and trust. They might be able to come together and fight back."

"Or become targets themselves."

"Everyone is a target. I don't need to know your reasons Mr Weasley, but you aren't in any danger, are you?"

"I believe Auror Shacklebolt that as you have just said, everyone is a target. I perhaps don't share the ideology that my family does, but it does not mean I lost my morals along the way."

"No, I didn't mean to imply you did, only that if you found a situation which became untenable you…"

"Thankfully no such ill fortune has befallen me. I thank you for the offer, but currently, it is entirely unnecessary."

"Good. That is good."

"The Aurory Department no longer take the sworn oaths, do they?"

"No," Shacklebolt replied. "Why do you mention it?"

"You are looking for ways in which to boost the Aurory are you not. Training, equipment, and so on, as I am sure the Minister has told you, is expensive. The vows of office that the Aurory used to swear, unite the department do they not? Inspiring a bond between Aurors. Offering the assurance and confidence that each fellow Auror is in a position to support and protect their brothers and sisters in service. These oaths do not require any additional budget yet have a proven boost to the performance of the units. You might find, Auror Shacklebolt, that while the Ministry budgets cannot be stretched to offer a tenth of what your latest requisition has asked for, no one would think it strange that the Aurory Department renewed their oaths. Indeed, an Aurory that was operating under such vows might find public relations much more comfortable. The public, I am sure would be reassured that their Aurory was working under an oath of fairness and non-discrimination. Don't you?"

Kingsley looked at Percy puzzled. "The oaths of office as a tool? I do not think that they have been in use for quite some time. There might be some resistance to enforcing them once more. Where did you hear about them?"

"The Minister's office is privy to the minutiae of how each Department of the Ministry is run, Auror Shacklebolt, even if some of those methods are no longer in use."

"Perhaps they might be worth looking into. I can see that they might be able to offer advantages that we do not currently have."

"Quite," Percy replied. "As it stands, the Ministerial budget cannot offer any additional funds. Perhaps in the next quarter review, it could be readdressed, but for now, Auror Shacklebolt if you will excuse the Muggle expression. I suggest that you work outside the box. By motivating your staff and improving their performance, you may find that the Review Committee looks more favourably upon your request. No one likes to think that tax payer's money is being thrown down a black hole. Prove your department has what it takes to step up to the challenges they face with no budget. Prove a measurable improvement. Chart what more funding is expected to do and then the Review Committee will find refusing your request that much more difficult. If you discover that you are struggling to pull the relevant information together, I may be able to offer my services. It behoves me to ensure that you are not wasting the Minister's time after all. He finds that much of his days are taken up with meetings with Mr Malfoy."

"Mr Malfoy?"

"Oh yes, Mr Malfoy has been generous enough to aid the Minister by offering him advice regarding juggling the demands of the office."

"I see. Is the Minister in need of such advice?"

"The Minister for Magic is a position of power and responsibility. Opinions and advice can only be welcome, do you not think? I am sure that Minister analyses a great deal of information before making his opinion known. Mr Malfoy suggested that I could attend these meeting in the Minster's stead. I, myself, informed the Minister that this would not break protocol and would fulfil the obligation of the Minister for Magic's office towards the department heads if the Minister was unable to attend in person."

"I see," Kingsley replied again, a thoughtful look on his face as he scribbled something on a scrap of paper.

"I am sure that you do Auror Shacklebolt. Now I believe that concludes our meeting for the present. I can pull together some information for you this afternoon and have it on your desk first thing in the morning. You are familiar with the 'brevis notitia ex fama', perhaps?"

"I do not believe so," Shacklebolt replied politely.

"Very well." Percy pulled a report from Shacklebolt's in-tray towards him. "Observe." He took his wand and with a full circle and a flick he recited the incantation. The front page of the report shimmered and coalesced into succinct bullet points. Percy looked expectantly at Shacklebolt who glanced at the report then Percy and nodded.

"Some of the reports can be lengthy, and it can help draw out pertinent information," Percy said blandly. He stood from the desk, smoothing his robes. "My report shall be on your desk first thing in the morning Auror Shacklebolt. If the Minister for Magic's office can be of any more help, do let me know I have been tasked with dealing with your requests personally."

"I believe that I may call upon you further then Mr Weasley if your report pans out. I shall certainly call upon your services regarding information for the Review Committee. I am committed to ensuring that the Aurory offers the best service it can," Kingsley replied.

"I shall ensure I clear a spot in my diary for you then," Percy replied. "If you have a preference then do let me know. I shall inform the Minister that you are willing to work with me in his stead."

"That would be satisfactory," Kingsley said standing to offer his hand to Percy. Percy accepted the handshake which was brief and firm on both sides, then the younger wizard left the office. Kingsley sat at his desk wondering why after so long in this job it surprised him that people could still surprise him.

December 1997

"PERCY!"

The shout brought him to a halt. A glance around showed that other than the two of them, the corridors were yet empty, and no one would discover them.

Huffing and wheezing Mills caught up to him. "Weasley. Merlin, I'm out of shape. I've been chasing you through this accursed place for ten minutes."

"My apologies," Percy replied waiting while Mills caught his breath. "Something troubling you?"

"Yes! Yes, of course, anyone with half a brain is troubled and you Weasley, you are not missing half a brain."

"You flatter me."

"I don't. I need info, Weasley. I need it, and I'm about willing to pull in every marker I've got to get it. I'll owe a few if that's what it takes."

Percy frowned sending another glance up and down the corridor. "How is your day looking?"

"Fucking awful."

Percy rolled his eyes. "After work tonight, the Witch and Wand. You can lament your appalling love life to me, and I will listen with the patience of a saint. I will not, however, pass information to you about a witch who has made her intentions clear."

Mills looked at Percy with a frown. Percy continued. "That's my offer, take it or leave it. You know White won't stand your complaining anymore."

The sound of a scuffed footstep came from further down the corridor out of sight of the two men. Mills looked at Percy in silent question. Percy twitched a hand in acknowledgement.

"Tonight, the Witch and Wand and you can tell me your troubles," Percy said encouragingly.

Mills nodded. "Thanks, Percy, it's just, she won't even speak to me."

They met outside the pub and Percy paused on entering. "Perhaps we could go somewhere else? It looks a little busy, you wouldn't want to put people off their drinks."

"Sure," Mills said. "My place?"

Percy nodded, and Mills whipped them away in a crack of apparition. Once the preliminaries of arrival had been dealt with Percy settled on to the sofa.

"Drink?" Mills offered.

"Yes, something soft, please."

Mills pulled his wand from its holster, and it dipped and twirled summoning the drinks from the kitchen. "I don't have a girlfriend or ex."

"I know," Percy replied. "But the reason you chased me through the Ministry is the same reason we're here tonight, and if anyone asks you are lamenting the fact a witch won't pay you a moment of consideration."

"It's bad then?"

"If you've heard the rumours flying about the canteen, then yes."

"How long has the Minister got left?"

"A week at best. Though more if Scrimgeour goes quietly."

"Percy, my family. You know that they are on the wrong side. I do not want to tell either my nephew or niece that they are orphans. You've got to help me, Percy."

"There little I can tell you. Scrimgeour is going. So far I don't know who will replace him or if I'll even have a job once they do."

"Your family your parents they're part of the Order of the Phoenix, aren't they?"

"Yes."

"Percy, are you? Is there anything the Order can do to keep my family safe?"

"I'm not, and I cannot tell you not to go to the Order. I will say that if you want something from them, the cost is not always commensurate with the result."

"Then what can I do? There's got to be something!"

"There's very little at the moment. Malfoy is engineering it from the Ministry side, and I don't suppose there is any doubt about who is giving him orders."

"So that's it?"

Percy was about to reply when a knocking came from Mills' front door. The two wizards exchanged a look before Mills got to his feet and went to answer the door. He was back moments later followed by White.

"I heard you were down the Witch and Wand tonight. The place is packed. When I couldn't see you, I thought I'd try here." White said. "Now what's this about a witch that won't pay you any mind?"

"How did you hear about tonight?" Mills asked

"Theresa in Accounting. Caught me on the way out, said that if I was passing, I might find you there. Said she'd heard it from her boss that Mills had been knocked back by some witch. Thought it was fishy since her boss is hardly someone anyone with sense socialises with."

"He was likely whoever it was listening in," Percy said.

"Listening in?" White asked in surprise. "What for? Phil getting knocked back by a witch isn't exactly groundbreaking. Happens all the time."

Mills flushed but replied. "There is no witch, you git. Percy made that up."

"Then what?"

"Tony, you bloody cretin, you've heard the rumours. Now use that brain of yours for something useful. My family, Tony. My niece is half-blood, and my nephew is muggle-born."

"Oh."

"Yes, bloody 'oh'. Now, before your interruption, we were discussing something. Can you keep your trap shut or not?"

"Yes, yes of course sorry."

Percy leant forward sipping from the orange juice Mills had given him. "Look it's not simple, OK. Do anything obvious, and you might as well paint the targets on them yourself. The muggle parents, how much do they know? How often do you see them? Will not seeing them for a few months cause upset? You need to minimise the contact. The regime coming, it's going to go after the muggle-born first. Then the blood traitors and half-bloods no one is getting out of this unscathed unless You-Know-Who is stopped."

"The Order, they worked against him last time. What about this time? Everyone's heard how your brothers herded people into their shop when the Alley was attacked, and nothing got through their wards. They've got to be getting help."

"I don't know. I don't have any contact with the Order. My family do, my parents have more sway than any of my brothers that might have joined, but I don't exactly speak to them. Look if you are desperate to get your family in under the protection of the Order, I can maybe find someone and get it passed up the chain. But they won't shelter muggles, and the best you can expect is a safe house somewhere and waiting it out."

"And if we don't want to wait it out?"

"If we want to do something?"

"Overt action on your own, alone, will get you killed. This isn't some kind of action film where the lone hero stands against an army and triumphs. You will be killed, and that will be the end of it. Rational caution is the best thing at the moment."

"What about you?"

"Me?"

"Come on Percy, you're the Minister's aide. You're about to work hand in hand with whatever puppet they put in that swanky office. And your girlfriend is a muggle."

Percy froze.

"Fuck, she is, isn't she?!" Mills exclaimed with a trace of guilt.

"What?" White exclaimed his head spinning to face Percy.

"I knew it! Well, I suspected. You never did ask when I prattled on about the kids and the muggle world, and you knew what I was talking about. There are not many ways to be that familiar with the muggle world. Action film? Lone Hero?" Mills shook his head.

"A muggle really? I'd never have thought. No wonder you kept her quiet." White chimed in.

"I am not ashamed of Audrey," Percy snapped at White. "I have nothing to be ashamed of, and I will thank you for keeping comments like that to yourself."

White held his hands up. "Woah, Woah. I didn't mean it like that. Just you never brought her up, never introduced her to us."

"My private life is my own," Percy said frostily.

"Yeah of course, but as she's a muggle she wouldn't have been able to come to the pub would she. We could have gone muggle," White said. "Phil has dragged me to enough of them with his family I can manage the muggle world quite well."

Percy shook his head. "I think we have strayed from the topic at hand."

"Not really mate," Mills said. "But if you're as invested as me then fine. I'll let Trevor's parents know we need to lay low for a while."

Percy rubbed his head. "Until the Minister is replaced keep your head down. There have been rumours of more reshuffles coming. They can't put anyone with ambition in office in case he doesn't toe the party line, but a complete idiot is going to need too much handholding. Malfoy can't exactly deliver all the speeches, can he? Either way, it will be an opportunity that won't be passed up to get rid of the dissenters."

"That ponce would like to try," White replied. "I don't think I've ever met a man who loves himself quite as much as Mr Malfoy. How long does it take to brush his hair in the morning? Do you think he puts in in a braid like your Beatrice used to before she went to sleep? To stop it tangling?"

"You're a strange bloke Phil," Mills said.

"And that's the image I'm going to be thinking of tomorrow when he swans into the office. Thanks for that." Percy said wryly. "Lucius Malfoy with a braid and silk pyjamas because you know they'd have to be silk."

The three shared a laugh before the mood went sombre again.

"If you can share more will you?" Mills asked. "Nothing that's going to put you in the firing line but anything that will help keep my family safe."

"Yes," Percy said. "Yes of course."

"Weasley, a word if you would."

Percy nodded rising to his feet, straightened his robes and followed the Minister's retreating form into his office.

"Shut the door, Weasley."

Percy did as requested, and stood waiting for further instruction. To his surprise Scrimgeour drew his wand sending a twist of magic out into the room, activating the inbuilt anti-spying wards embedded into the fabric of the office.

"No doubt, as you seem to keep yourself well informed, that you are aware that my tenure as Minister for Magic is over."

Percy nodded mutely.

"Yes, well as I said, you do keep yourself well informed. However, what you don't know is that Pius Thickenesse will be taking over. He's a moron, but he will fulfil the role prescribed for him. I have for what it's worth, put a word in for you. Whatever your views, you've never let it affect your work and being well informed at least has made you useful."

"Thank you, Minister."

"Don't thank me," Scringemour replied. "I didn't do it for the right reasons. You're a good worker but that split from your family, well, I doubt you'll ever get out from under it. Not many people set themselves against Dumbledore and win. The other side, of course, is stupid enough to think you'll toady to them. You won't. You're many things Weasley, but sycophant isn't one of them. You've never liked me, but you've worked for me, and I'm not such an arse I can't recognise it. So here's the brass tacks. Thicknesse is to be Minister, but he won't be sworn in. I don't know if it's because You-Know-Who wants to be able to replace him if he becomes a liability. Or because their sources aren't as good as they should be, and no one but me or you can clue them into what taking the oaths mean."

"He won't be able to control the Ministry; the wards won't recognise him," Percy said.

"Exactly. I will be surrendering my post, Weasley. I will comply with Ministry protocol, and that will leave just you with access. Keep your job, Weasley. Get in contact with that ragtag group of idiots Albus calls an Order and end this. I've done things I shouldn't, in weakness I accepted that what I needed and thought little of the consequences. Well, my chickens have come home to roost and there's nothing more I can do. I don't regret it, I'm not some sop to think I could have done better. That some glorious victory could have been mine if only. I did what I could, what was possible. I'll live with that for as long as they let me."

Scrimgeour sent another twist of magic out into the office cancelling the wards. "You'll at least be able to hear everything. Though whatever drivel that might be, I wish you the joy of. I shall be glad not to have to listen to Malfoy's condescending drivel any longer. One bright spot I suppose." Scrimgeour glanced around the office. "Right then. Weasley," he said with a nod then walked past Percy out through the door.

Percy didn't move. He stood frozen listening as the outer door opened and closed behind the Minister.

Percy wand came up in his hand. His hand made a movement. His wand twirled swooped and dipped mirroring the actions of the Minister from moments before. His magic washed outwards. The wards rose at his command. Percy knees promptly gave way leaving him crumpled on the plush carpeting, the desk of the Minister for Magic looming over him.

The Minister's aide could only control the Ministry wards when given direct permission from the sworn Minister for Magic and would only revert control when the sworn Minister desired it. Technically it meant that the aide could act in the Minister's stead when they were unavailable or travelling. In this case, as Thickenesse wouldn't be sworn in, it would leave Percy the only sworn Ministry employee with access to the full might of the Ministry. From this very office, he would be able to lock the Ministry down, close off floors, shut down the floo, the apparition points, all the public entry points. He had the ultimate power over the Ministry itself. He had become the Keeper of the Keys.

Logic fought blind panic and won long enough to get him off the floor and back to his own desk. Logic declared this nothing new. He'd always had the access. Never the permission, but always the access. Logic also demanded that he pull himself together. If he was reading Scrimgeour right, then Percy was carrying the responsibility until this was all over. Puppet Minsters might come and go, but as long as Percy held his job, the Ministry wouldn't be available to You-Know-Who.

Percy sank into his chair and gave blind panic a moment to rip through him. He had always believed that he was relatively unimportant, he was one person doing what he could to keep the magical world on an even keel. Now the target on his back was a lot bigger.

A large extended breath blew out, and in a moment Percy was back on his feet heading back into the Minister's office. Behind the desk, he paused once more then grit his teeth and took hold of the bottom right-hand drawer. He pulled sharply, and the drawer slid smoothly open. Percy gulped. Then snorted in annoyance at himself. He had expected it to do that. The fact that it had opened was further proof he didn't need, but Percy persevered and reached down into the desk for the bottle and glass he knew were there. A quick cleaning spell on the glass and Percy poured a healthy measure into it from the bottle.

The spirit went down smoothly sending tendrils of warmth outwards from where it pooled inside him. Percy cleaned the glass and replaced it and the bottle back in the drawer. Fortified and nerves held at bay by the false bravado the spirit had provided, Percy scanned the Minister's desk. He collected up all the files he had sent through to the Minister for final review along with any remaining correspondence. Then he marched from the office and closed the door behind him. Dumping the files on his desk, Percy turned back to face the door. His wand was in his hand, and the spell was spilling from his lips before he acknowledged to himself he was effectively locking everyone out of the office until Thickenesse was given the job. The door wouldn't open till Percy told it to and he had no plans to do so until the day he walked into the office, and Thickenesse was waiting for him.

Percy stuffed the folders into his bag along with the other files from his desk he had been working on before Scrimgeour had spoken to him. He was going home. He'd had quite enough for the day, and if he was going to do what he very much thought he was going to do, then he needed to get on top his work and quickly.

The next morning Percy took a diversion on the way to his office. The deviation would make him late, but then it wasn't as if the Minister would be at his desk expecting him. The detour led him past every Head of Department's office where he handed back the budget reports he had spent the night working on. Each department head was given the same information. All budget reports were to be returned to him as soon as possible or would languish until the New Year to be signed off, likely once the budget had been allocated. He was met with grumbles for the most part. The sneering condescension from the few, he chose to ignore. If they thought that because they were getting a Minister who was controlled by You-Know-Who would mean they could throw their weight around, then they were in for a rude awakening. Thickenesse would be able to sign off whatever budget he liked, but Percy was the only person left on the Ministry account that could authorise the spending. And he had no intention of doing so unless proper channels were followed.

When he finally arrived at his office, Percy found Lucius Malfoy lounging against the door outside.

"Mr Malfoy," Percy said politely unlocking the door and leading the way in. "I wasn't aware I had an appointment with you this morning."

"You don't." Was the reply Percy received as the wizard followed him into the office.

Percy nodded and took his place behind his desk. A flurry of memos came into the room settling into his in-tray. Lucius watched but turned away when Percy turned to face him. Percy collected up the notices and pulled his ledger from his desk opening it up. More memos fluttered in, and Percy began to read them acutely aware of the man loitering in the room.

It didn't take Lucius long to attempt to open the door to the Minster's office. The rattle of the handle brought Percy's head up from his work. "Can I help you?"

"This door is locked."

"Yes."

"Then open it!"

"I'm afraid that the Minister for Magic is the only person that can open the door."

Lucius frowned briefly. "And the Minister's work?"

Percy shrugged. "Awaits the Minister."

The look he received in return was cool and assessing. Percy held himself under it refusing to flinch. They wanted to take the Ministry then they were damn well going to have to their own research. He certainly was not going to volunteer a knuts worth of information.

Malfoy sneered the left in a swirl of expensive robes. Most likely silk. Percy wondered if the plans for Thickenesse's arrival had just been moved up. If the idea had been to gain entrance to the office of the Minister for Magic with no Minister in place, Percy had thwarted the attempt. He wondered if there would be another or if the Minister would take office before Christmas.

Chapter Text

January 1998

Christmas and New Year had been stressful. It had taken all of Percy's skill to keep his temper, his job, and a lid on his burning desire to lock the doors of the Ministry and tell them all to fuck off.

Balls, parties, and dinners. All to welcome in the Puppet. All to congratulate themselves on passing another year with their heads in the sand.

Percy had attended as he had been ordered. He had stayed to the outskirts of the ballrooms where the feckless flocked and fawned. He had participated in dinners and made polite conversation with those on his table, that like him, were there because they were support staff. Not guests.

Percy missed Christmas and New Year with Audrey. He hadn't spent a weekend with her over the entire festive season, he had barely made it home to sleep. He had apologised, begged forgiveness and promised that he would make it up to her. All the while not knowing how or when his time would become his own again.

When the Minister insisted Percy attend a small party at short notice Percy protested. It was the third of January, Percy had attended something nearly every evening for the last fortnight, and he had had enough. The Minister's diary was full for the first whole working week of January as well, and Percy was dreading it. He would be working during the day putting in long hours on top of the events in the evenings.

At his mutinous face, the Minister smiled a smile that Percy trusted not at all. "Very well Weasley. Attend this evening, and I will release you from your duties at the rest of the functions in my calendar next week. That should satisfy you, should it not?"

Percy deliberated long enough for the smile to fall away and be replaced with a slight scowl. "Thank you, Minister," Percy said with a subservient nod. "I would be grateful to accept your gracious reprieve."

The Minister smiled once more. "Marvellous. This is the floo address." Thickenesse handed over a small card. "You are to be there at six. Do wear something appropriate and try not to be late. It wouldn't do to upset the host now would it."

Percy went home on his lunch break to gather his dress robes for the evening. He wouldn't have time to come home, eat, and change. Instead, he would raid the Ministry canteen and change in his office, before making his way to the evening's event.

Percy wasn't sure where the event was, the floo address had been vague. One of those 'if you have to ask' situations, where he had declined to ask and merely lashed the floo powder into the fireplace at the prescribed time and wished himself elsewhere.

The floo room was large, exotic marble covered the floor, and Percy got the impression that this was not an 'official sponsor of the Ministry gets to entertain the Minister' event.

The main ballroom he was shown to wasn't crowded, but enough people were milling around to make it look comfortably populated without being over full. Percy ran his gaze over the crowd trying to pick out the Host the Minister had neglected to name. There were several senior Ministerial employees in attendance. Some were those that Percy knew were in league with You-Know-Who, others were neutral or on the fence according to Percy's information. The room also included some people Percy recognised as Death Eaters such as Malfoy, or those suspected of being supporters by Kingsley who had asked Percy for information on their comings and goings about the Ministry to build a picture of their allegiance.

The air of the party was not what Percy had come to expect. The Ministry people were acting like they had been let into the adult's party for the first time. There was no preening and boasting of their own achievements to a crowd of admirers. A feat all but unheard of at any sort of party where they attended, as Percy had duly witnessed in the last fortnight. Instead the tide of people centred around a man. He was nondescript, but the aura of power that radiated from him was clear from across the room to the corner Percy occupied.

The deference that was offered to this man by the obviously wealthy and connected people in the room made Percy twitch. He didn't get closer. It didn't take a genius to work out that You-Know-Who must have a public face since nose-less, red-eyed rage wasn't exactly endearing.

Percy hadn't thought he'd ever see it. He hadn't thought he'd ever be in the same room as You-Know-Who. Percy knew his Occlumency wasn't strong. He had the basics that he had taught himself on and off over the years, but the basics in this room were like saying you knew how a bicycle worked because you had seen someone ride one once.

Percy stuck to the shadows of the room. Hopefully, he was here as a show of power by the Minister. A demonstration of how things really were and what was on offer if he toed the line, or what would happen if he didn't.

A shadow loomed up by his side and Percy fought not to flinch.

"Mr Weasley you are an unexpected surprise." Severus Snape commented quietly.

"Yes," Percy said keeping his eyes fixed on a particularly ugly piece of art depicting a wizard slaying a dragon while he built up his meagre shields. Or at least that is what Percy presumed the wizard to be doing. It was hard to tell really; the composition was such that the wizard could have been trying to conduct the dragon in song. "The Minister insisted I attended the reception. I do not believe my invitation extends to dinner."

His companion hummed thoughtfully. "The Dark Lord was not expecting you, the Minister will have to explain your presence. I believe making your excuses before dinner would be satisfactory."

"Could you point out my host?" Percy asked. "I did not have the good fortune to be introduced on my arrival."

"You do not think the Dark Lord is your host? "

"I believe I thought him to be the guest of honour of the evening." Percy dared to meet Severus' eyes and hoped the fear he was feeling wasn't showing.

"You are correct, I shall introduce you to your hostess. Madame Hortensia du Barry has arranged this little soiree."

"She is French?" Percy asked quietly as they crossed the room. More than one eye was drawn to their progress, and Percy let his steps fall slightly behind that of the dark wizard, giving the impression of a subordinate following a superior.

"She's as French as English tea," Severus replied, his head tilting in approval at Percy's action. "The pretence, however, is one that is indulged."

Severus directed them towards a witch that was conversing with a pair of wizards. Her dress was elaborate, layered with tiers of fabric and lace, and she was fluttering an honest to goodness fan in her hand as she cooed at the wizards attending her.

The wizards melted away as Severus stopped by the witch. Madame du Barry frowned slightly after them before turning and fluttering her eyes and fan at equal speed at Severus.

"Oh, Monsieur! Must you always be so formidable?" she purred coquettishly, closing her fan in an attitude of rapt attention.

"Madame. Mr Weasley had the misfortune of not making your introduction upon his arrival. If you would allow me?"

"Certainly, Monsieur Snape I shall indulge anything that you wish of me."

"Madame du Barry may I present Mr Percival Weasley. Mr Weasley, this is our hostess, Madame du Barry."

Percy stepped elegantly forward and held out his hand politely.

Madame du Barry hesitated, flicking a puzzled look at Severus and Percy before she reached out with her own. Percy caught the hand twisted it expertly and performed a short half bow.

"Enchanté Madame," Percy said over her hand with a French accent Audrey would probably laugh at him for. But if his hostess were indulged in her whimsy it would be rude of him to ignore it. And he had a suspicion that it would gain him some measure of favour. He straightened up releasing her hand and observed the blush that had spread to her cheeks, her other hand rose to snap open her fan, fluttering it by her face. "Oh! Monsieur Weasley, I do not think that…."

"No, Madame the fault is mine," Percy said smoothly. "The Minister asked me to attend him, but I was unaware that it was a private function. You have my deepest apologies for intruding upon your hospitality. I do so wish not to cause you any inconvenience and shall take my leave at once."

Madame du Barry fluttered a little more, apparently overjoyed at the attention from a younger man and slightly torn at having to give it up. A quick glance around the room decided her. "Very well Monsieur Weasley you shall have my forgiveness for your transgression."

"A thousand thank yous," Percy said as charmingly as he could, offering another short bow. He straightened, backed away two paces and turned heading for the large double doors out of the ballroom.

"I shall ensure he does not get lost, Madame." Percy heard Severus say as he made his way to the edge of the crowd. Percy felt rather than saw the presence of Snape loom up behind him, clearing his path in front of him.

Once out of the ballroom and away from the prying eyes Severus stepped up next to him. "This way Mr Weasley, I will get you back over the ward line. It would not do for you to find yourself trapped."

"Merlin no," Percy muttered quietly with a small shudder.

Severus led him to a room off the main hall past the floo chamber. Stopping in the middle of the circular pattern in the marble he indicated for Percy to take his arm. "I shall take you to a street I know in London."

Percy nodded and took the proffered arm, Severus twisted them away, and they landed in a side alley off the main thoroughfare. Cars travelled down the road indicating that they were in Muggle London.

"Thank you," Percy said.

Severus scowled. "What do you think you were doing walking into that viper's nest? The Dark Lord is a skilled Legillimens."

"I am aware," Percy said. "I was only told to attend. I did not have the luxury of the details or a refusal."

"Try not to be caught out again," Severus said. "I do not attend when it can be avoided, and I will not be able to extract you again."

"I am grateful you made my exit more graceful than my own plan."

Severus raised an eyebrow.

"I was going to do a fade out of the room and run like hell back to the floo," Percy said with a deprecating shrug.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Be thankful that you managed an exit more graceful than that."

"Madame du Barry, does she have any standing?"

"No," Severus said. "A hanger-on who runs the gossip mill of the ladies' circles. She likes to brag that she can get anyone to attend her evenings. She has significant contacts in France as she spends time over there to authenticate her ancestry. If the Dark Lord is to move on from England, it is people like Madame du Barry that will get him an audience with those that matter."

Percy leant back against the stone wall, enjoying the coldness of the brick seeping through his clothes after the warmth of the ballroom. "Do you think they bought it?" he asked.

"Madame du Barry certainly did. You will feature in the discussion over petite fours and tea tomorrow, I am sure."

"Mother will be proud," Percy muttered.

Severus raised an eyebrow at the bitter tone.

Percy sighed. "Well no she won't, but I suppose there's no point in learning the elegance of courtly manners if you don't use them when the opportunity arises. Not that the Weasleys hold with that sort of thing," Percy said slightly sourly. "Should you not be heading back?"

Severus shook his head. "I despise such events. I had permission to leave least my sour mood spoil the soup."

Percy snorted a laugh then let the humour roll out of him with the stress of the evening's events. When it died away, he met the eyes of his former potions teacher. "Thank you."

Severus nodded. "Do try to take more care next time you floo into a room on the Minister's orders."

Percy nodded then offered his hand to the other wizard. The handshake was brief, the calloused hand of the potions master sliding over the smoothness of Percy's own.

Severus turned away in a flare of dark robes and vanished with a crack, leaving Percy to gather himself and prepare for his own disapparition.

After that night Percy regained his evenings and also the forgiveness of Audrey for his absence. The rest of January was less socially busy but just as fraught.

Percy began his campaign to sabotage the new Minister for Magic with the power he now wielded, in earnest, and devoted nearly as much effort into not being discovered doing it.

It was a sophisticated use of the bureaucratic nightmare that was the Ministry of Magic. Percy was exceptionally glad he had seemingly been born with an innate understanding and patience for paperwork, forms, and hoop jumping.

He was burying everything he could under a mountain of legalese, of triplicate forms, authorisations, sign off reviews, and committees. All the while he stood before the Minister for Magic and his handler explaining that the Ministry was a machine made up of many parts. Much like a Swiss clock, each one moved another. There was no waste, there was no redundancy. It was a marvel of governance that had served the Magical population of Britain for a millennium, and this was simply how things were done.

It was the biggest pile of tosh Percy had ever tried to sell.

Percy had an unforeseen advantage. His mother had an inbuilt bullshit detector that was more sensitive to lies, obfuscation and hyperbole than any other person he had met. He had grown up in a house full of mischievous siblings, and if he hadn't been one of them, he had witnessed them wiggling out of trouble enough times to have a fair idea of what would work.

And he was motivated. Oh gods, was he motivated.

The legislation repealing werewolf rights and imposing restrictions upon them turned his stomach and made him grit his teeth. 'Tom', as Fred and George called him had used the werewolves to cow the population in fear in the last war. He was using them again in this one, or so could be assumed from the number of attacks on the rise, but he clearly had no intention of rewarding their loyalty. Percy didn't want to know what 'mandatory routine monthly testing' meant, but he had an idea it wouldn't be anything particularly enjoyable for the afflicted.

Muggle-borns were, as predicted, doomed. From birth, they would be monitored. Once magic manifested they would be removed from their family homes and placed in 'welfare centres'. Percy's muggle history had been filled in in the years he had lived among them. It was plain to him that if these 'welfare centres' didn't entirely mimic the concentration camps of the past, then it would be a close-run thing. There was no way that he would allow the proposals the light of day while he could act.

Percy worked his network, collected and owed favours to feed himself with enough information so that if he needed to bury something deep enough or have something thrown out on a technicality, he could. He made a pact with himself that nothing would be put into law that trampled over the rights of those in magical Britain unless it was utterly unstoppable, and he was extremely motivated to stop whatever he could.

That didn't stop the Minister from assuming things and acting as if they were law. There was no way Percy could prevent him from acting, not without throwing away everything he was trying to achieve. Percy fortified himself that the worst wasn't getting through, and kept his head down. He presented the persona of ambitious yet meek secretary, who could answer nearly any question but had no real power or future without those above him.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

19th February 1998

Audrey had come over to Percy's to stay the night. She had a late start in the morning, so it made sense for her to come to him rather than for Percy to travel the extra distance to her flat. Not that distance was a problem for Percy, but she found the habit was ingrained. It had only been seven days since she had found out, so she didn't let the slips in memory worry her. Now that she knew, Percy was a lot more relaxed than she'd seen him. He was still stressed about work, but he did try not to bring it home to her which she appreciated.

Percy hadn't really used much more magic around her. He acquiesced to her point about doing the dishes. It would hurt neither of them if Percy let the housework charm take care of them and it wasn't that much different than if either of them had a dishwasher installed. She had also seen Percy's work wear. The outer robe which looked to Audrey more like a long frock coat over his suit wasn't terribly odd. He had changed the robe to what he had said was a more traditional closed fronted robe to show her the difference. The closed fronted one reminded her of a monk's habit, and she expressed a preference for the open fronted one. At least that she could identify as taking root from more recent fashions if you had to consider Regency as recent.

They had split a fish and chip supper then to her delight Percy had cast an air freshening charm to get rid of the lingering aroma. Audrey was pouring the wine to take through when a loud hammering came from the front door.

Percy scowled at the intrusion and went to find out what the issue was. The door opened to reveal Fred and George on the doorstep. "What on earth-" he started to say, but his brothers pushed him none too gently back into the hall, shutting the door behind them. The scowl melted off Percy's face to be replaced by a look of pinched concern.

"Percy," one of the twins said. "Percy you've got to come with us." They herded him back into the living room coats and shoes still on. Percy frowned down at their feet, but they ignored him. "Percy please, now is not the time. We'll clean the damn carpets later. You've got to come now, pack a bag."

Audrey came into the room, a glass of wine in each hand, a puzzled frown on her face. "Fred, George. Why does Percy have to leave?" She came and stood next to Percy, and his arm went around her.

"Audrey, love! George." George greeted her and introduced himself quickly, the warmth of the greeting and the smile on his lips not managing to replace the pinched worry of his eyes. "It's great to see you, in fact, you've saved us a trip."

"What?" Percy said. "What do you mean?" He pulled Audrey closer to him as if to shield her from whatever the twins were saying.

"Percy, mate, you've got to come, Audrey too. We've got somewhere, a safe house for you to go. It's got excellent wards."

"Wards that Bill would give his eye teeth for ten minutes with."

"They won't find you, either of you."

"But," Percy said his frown deepening.

"Percy, it's tomorrow. You can't go back to the Ministry, and they know where you live. You do not want to be here." George said pleadingly. He glanced at Audrey. "Err Percy? Does Audrey…?"

"Does Audrey know about magic and the apparent existence of an entirely separate world running parallel to the one she lives in?" Audrey's voice was tart but amused. "Why yes, she does. Does she also happen to know that you two are also wizards? Why yes, she does. Does she understand totally what that means and why you two are so desperate for us to leave? No, no she does not."

Percy closed his eyes, hiding from his brothers questioning glances. "I told her, not everything obviously, but enough."

"Umm, Percy, the law?"

Percy took the wine glass out of Audrey's left hand and held it up so the twins could see.

"Right," George said. "Doesn't quite cover you but we're not in a position to complain about bending the rules. Welcome to the family Audrey! We're delighted! Now, how do you feel about a weekend or maybe longer away in Scotland?"

"We are not going to the castle!" Percy said instantly.

"No, we weren't suggesting that. I think we used the term 'safe house' not 'safe castle'."

Fred dropped a kiss on Audrey's cheek. "Congratulations," he said. "We really are pleased." He slipped around her, heading for the bedroom.

Audrey turned to watch Fred pulled his wand from somewhere about his person, her curiosity won out, and she crossed the room to see. Whatever he did made Percy's clothes fly out of their respective places and fold themselves neatly on the bed. "I've not seen much magic," she said to him as he turned and caught sight of her. "Percy doesn't use it around me. I think he doesn't want to frighten me. How much danger are we in?" Audrey asked as she watched as a bag came out of the wardrobe and everything filed into it. The bag he then shrank and shoved into his pocket, Audrey's eyes widened as the large bag disappeared.

"Shrinking charm, extension charm and wizard tailoring," Fred explained walking back to her. He took her arm guiding her back to where Percy was obstinately shaking his head at George. "And enough that we'd like to move you elsewhere. It might not come to anything; it might be bad."

"But, I don't understand," she said.

George turned to her and in a calm tone, explained. "Percy works for the Ministry, the Government, a separate system to the one that governs you, but your Prime Minister is aware of what happens in our world. Percy's boss, he's not a good man, and he's mixed up in some shady deals and with bad people. The people he made those deals with put him in power and are directing him, but they are about to make a move to remove one of the few individuals who can rally support against them. A 'hit' if you will. They are a bit like a mob family crossed with a terrorist group."

"Percy's family work openly against them. We do too, only it's slightly more convoluted where it comes to us. We know the coup is going to happen tomorrow, so we want to get you and Percy away." Fred added.

Audrey took the wine glass Percy had taken from her back from him, putting it and the other one she was holding down on the coffee table. Then she turned back to him and took both his hands in hers looking up at him earnestly. "Do you trust them?"

"Yes," he said looking at her his face a mixture of fear and worry.

"Then let's go. If it's just a couple of days, I can tell my boss you proposed and whisked me away for a long weekend, it's only one Friday. I don't suppose you'll need to tell your boss anything." She looked at Fred and George. "Have we time to swing by my place and collect some things?"

"No," Fred said. "But we'll send someone to get them."

She nodded and with one last squeeze of Percy's hands moved away. Walking calmly to the hall to put her coat and shoes on, she brought Percy's back to him. He was still stood frozen in the middle of the room, he accepted them, and it seemed to snap him out of his stupor.

"How are we getting there?" he asked as he sat down to pull his shoes on.

"We'll take you to the flat, and you can go through the floo," George answered.

Percy shrugged on his coat, and George took Audrey's arm. "You'll need to come with me. Percy, Fred will take you in, we closed the wards."

Percy nodded, and Fred grasped his arm and vanished. Audrey stared at the spot they had stood in then looked up at George for an explanation. She didn't know if she could teleport as well, she had no magic.

"It's called apparition. I'm going to take you in what's called a side along. It's mostly horribly uncomfortable, and you might be sick when we land. Don't worry its normal."

"I'm not looking forward to this," she muttered but nodded her permission. George grasped her firmly and twisted them away. Audrey dropped to her knees as they landed. Her stomach heaved, but she didn't throw up. Percy was instantly by her side.

"Are you ok? You're not splinched?"

"Splinched?" she asked. Percy stopped and bit his lip realising that the explanation might not be all that reassuring.

"We'll explain when we're there," Fred said stepping in. "Now, this time you can travel with Percy if you like."

"Travel how?" Audrey asked staggering to her feet. Fred threw a pinch of floo powder into the fire, and the flames flared green. "You have got to be kidding me," Audrey said looking between all three men. "Through the fireplace?"

"Well more through the flames actually," George said.

"Do you have any normal methods of travel?" she asked hopefully.

"Flying brooms and a magic bus," George said smiling ruefully. "But brooms would take hours to get to Scotland, and it's a cold, uncomfortable way to go that much distance. The bus is well, it's all kinds of awful, to be frank, and it's public."

"Right," Audrey said shaking her head. "Well then, by all means, lead on."

Fred stepped forward to the hearth. "I'll go first. They do know we're coming, but better safe than sorry." He stepped into the flames and called for McGonagall Lodge.

Percy's eyes widened at hearing the address.

"Percy, you've got questions, Audrey's got questions, and we'll answer as many as we can. But not here." George pointed at the fireplace. "Please, Percy."

Percy nodded and took a pinch of floo powder, drawing Audrey close to him he called out the address and was gone.

Percy and Audrey stepped out onto the hearth. "Well that was marginally better than apparition," Audrey said as she staggered only slightly. Fred pointed to a chair, and she walked on wobbly feet over to it. George came out of the fireplace next, and Folly reappeared to vanish the soot from him as well.

"They are on their way down. I have a room made up for your guests," Folly informed Fred, then she vanished again.

"Where are we?" Percy asked abruptly.

"Minerva McGonagall's family home. It's been in her family for generations. It's as safe as we're going to get. No one knows where it is and yes, we have permission to be here. The wards will keep you safe."

"What are wards?" Audrey asked from her chair. "You keep mentioning them."

"Err," George said. "I'm not sure of the muggle comparison but I know someone who will, and they are going to be here any second."

Percy whirled as the door to the study opened, and a blonde woman came into the room. She looked vaguely familiar to him.

"Percy! How lovely to meet you properly at last, and you must be Audrey. I'm Helen Granger." Helen held out her hand to Percy who shook it automatically.

"Granger?" Percy said. "As in Hermione Granger?"

"The one and the same. I'm her mother." Helen let go of Percy's hand and moved to greet Audrey offering her hand to the woman.

Percy drew himself up and glared at his brothers. "I think there are some explanations due."

"Yes," Helen said. "There probably are." She smiled warmly at Audrey. "Don't worry, we're muggles too, Dentists if you can believe. When we found out Hermione was magical, it was a bit of a shock, but you adapt quite quickly."

The door opened again, this time admitting a tall man with unmistakable curly brown hair followed by Hermione herself with Harry bringing up the rear.

"You've been here? All this time you've been hiding in Professor McGonagall's house and no one knew?" Percy spluttered at the sight of them.

"Hello Percy, Audrey. And no, we haven't been here all the time, we got here a few weeks ago." Hermione said in an amused voice. Harry smiled and waved standing next to her.

"Hello Percy, Audrey," he said genially.

John walked up to Percy and held out his hand. "I'm John, Hermione's father. Pleased to meet you." Percy shook the hand reflexively and looked around him bewildered. "I, I don't think I understand."

"No, that's fair. Come through to the library. Have you eaten? Folly will bring some food if you're hungry. We can explain and answer your questions there. I'm sure Audrey has more than one or two." Helen said.

"Closer to four or five," Audrey replied coming to stand by Percy, feeling more like herself after her first experiences of wizarding travel.

Helen shepherded them all out of the room, as they moved, Audrey turned her head back over her shoulder. "Have you done the apparition thing? Or the fire travel? Is it always terrible?"

Helen smiled. "We don't travel by floo very often, that's what they call the travelling by fire and as for the apparition? No, it doesn't get any better, you simply get used to it. Although we've found that elf apparition is less awful. Though only by degrees. You don't feel like you're going to lose the contents of your stomach when you land at least."

Audrey looked thoughtful for a moment. "That isn't that encouraging," she said.

Helen smiled. "No, I suppose not, but our flying carpet is lovely. Though not very practical for long distances."

"You've got a flying carpet? They are real?" Audrey stopped in shock, dragging Percy to a halt beside her. "Can I see it?"

"Yes, they are real. Of course, you can see it, and if we can find a space big enough, you can have a go if you like. It's simple enough to drive."

"But you're muggle, aren't you? Like me? I thought we couldn't use magic?" Audrey said confused as she started walking again.

"You can't," Percy said, looking at Helen with puzzled curiosity.

"That's true, we can't use wands to channel magic through ourselves. But there are such things as squibs, non-magical people born into magical families. Not all countries treat squibs as poorly as England. Our carpet is useable by squibs, and as a consequence useable by muggles, us."

"I think my number of questions just jumped to double figures," Audrey said ruefully.

Helen patted her arm comfortingly. "We have time, and anything John and I can't answer, Fred and George, or Hermione and Harry probably can. Anything they can't answer Minerva probably can, and anything she can't answer, Severus probably has a cutting remark about."

They arrived into the sitting room as she was speaking and when she finished a smooth baritone drawled. "Madam, if you so insist on disparaging me, why would you expect civility?"

"Oh, Severus, I didn't know you were here." Helen arranged her face into feigned shock that an intelligent five-year-old wouldn't believe.

"I find that highly doubtful," he replied glancing up from his book. Helen grinned wickedly at him. His face stayed in its blank mask, but the corners of his eyes crinkled upwards.

He stood and moved over towards Percy and Audrey who had remained standing by Helen. Severus held out his hand to Percy. "Mr Weasley, it is good to see you have come to no harm for your endeavours."

Percy shook the hand. "Thank you, Professor Snape, sir," he paused briefly and remembered his manners. "Allow me to introduce my fiancée Audrey Stone. Audrey, this is Professor Snape, my former Potions Master."

Severus took her hand gently and bowed over it. "Miss Stone, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"And you," Audrey murmured back politely.

"Minerva will be joining us after dinner at the school. Kingsley may or may not drop in. Can I suggest that your business associate is made aware if he intends to join us downstairs?" Severus addressed the twins.

George nodded and vanished through the door.

"Business associate?" Percy asked

"Garrett Ollivander," Fred supplied.

"The wands smith?" Percy asked.

"Yes," Fred said.

"But he's dead!"

"Evidently not," Severus murmured as he returned to his chair, picking up his book and for all intents and purposes ignoring everyone in the room.

"Well you see this is where it gets convoluted," Fred said.

"And involved breaking any number of laws" Severus added helpfully from his seat, his eyes never leaving his book. Percy turned to look at his brother, a silence falling around the group.

George re-entered the room during the pause. "He's going to stay upstairs; crowds are a bit much still." Noticing the silence, he looked around. "What did I miss?"

"Is he alright?" Audrey asked. "I mean it's not because of us, is it?"

"No, no, he's a bit of an odd duck, and what happened to him hasn't helped. He likes company but in small doses. He is happiest when he can sit and make wands." George said. Audrey smiled at him, but it was small and uncertain.

"I think there's quite a bit to explain. Shall we sit and we can give you the Cliff Notes version?" Helen said leading the group over to a grouping of sofas and chairs. Percy and Audrey settled on the small sofa, and everyone else spread out around them.

"So," Helen said taking control. "Is there anything, in particular, you want to know or questions you would like answering?"

"Well," Audrey said. "I'm not very clear on who you all are, and how you all know each other. Could we start there?"

Helen nodded. "Hermione is our daughter. When she turned eleven, we were told all the odd things that happened to her were due to her being magical. Since she had turned eleven, she would be allowed to go to Hogwarts to study magic and learn how to control her own. Percy, Fred and George are brothers which you obviously know, they have one younger brother called Ron. He, Harry and Hermione started Hogwarts at the same time. Hogwarts is the magical boarding school that most magical English children go to, all the Weasley children went. Severus is the Potions Master there and has for the last two years taught Defence Against the Dark Arts. Which is sort of like how to defend yourself against creatures and magic that might harm you. This house belongs to Minerva McGonagall who is the Deputy Headmistress of the school. She teaches Transfiguration, which is basically turning one thing into another."

"I'm sure she'll be delighted to know you have boiled down years of rigorous study and training into five simple words" Severus drawled.

"You haven't heard me describe potions yet," Helen shot back.

"Please do," he said still not looking up. "I'm sure I would find it utterly fascinating to hear."

Helen turned back to Audrey. "Basically, Potions is the art of chucking a load of improbable, random things, that you would never think would do anything at all, together into a cauldron of hot water and giving it a stir."

The former students of Severus Snape snorted with laughter. The man himself slowly raised his head from his book to stare at Helen. "It is a wonder, Madam, that your child turned out as well as she did. Truly the art of brewing potions is a science, full of subtly and exactness. Not just any blithering idiot can achieve the correct results, and fewer still can excel in the field."

"So, you all went to school together?" Audrey said indicating the younger people in the group and interrupting the interplay between Helen and Severus.

"Yes," Helen nodded.

"But Percy said you were in hiding?"

"This is where it gets a little more complicated," Helen said slowly.

"Is this to do with Percy's boss?" Audrey asked trying to link what little information she had together.

"Yes and no," Helen said. "There isn't an easy way to explain, and it's a long story. But you should probably be told what's going on since you are here. Twenty years or so ago a wizard called Tom Riddle decided that he wanted power. In the way it usually goes, he wasn't too bothered how he got it as long as he did, and he could keep it.
To finance his rise to power, he played on the fears of those with the money and standing to give him what he wanted. These people were from old families. Those that had long lineages of only magical people. These people feared that those born to non-magical parents would dilute the bloodlines and thus reduce the magical community over time. The magical community is about a hundred years or so behind the muggle one. Not just in their technology and science but in their social attitude. Women are still possessions, children are to be seen and not heard, that sort of thing. It's not everyone," Helen reassured a horrified looking Audrey.
"Some families are more accepting. The muggle-born, however, were being born and raised for the first eleven years of their lives in the muggle world where the attitudes are significantly different. Respect to the landed gentry was wiped out generations ago, but it is how the magical society still operates. No muggle born would know about the customs of the magical world because they weren't raised in it, they were probably causing offence left and right and wouldn't know any better. Those coming in weren't showing, I presume, the expected amount of deference to those in power.
Tom used this, used this fear of diluting bloodlines, of social superiority, and he set them against each other, and while they were distracted fighting each other, rose above them all. There were some that fought back that didn't believe what he was peddling. Harry's parents were part of that resistance group called the Order of the Phoenix. Tom, however, decided that Harry was a threat to his plans through some information he gained, so he killed Harry's parents and tried to kill Harry. But, because Harry's mother put herself between Tom and Harry when he killed her and then tried to kill Harry something happened. Nobody knows what, nobody understands how Harry survived the killing curse only that his mother's sacrifice was something to do with it."

"That's awful, so this Tom is dead?" Audrey asked her eyes as round as marbles, glancing between Harry, Helen and Percy.

"No," Helen said. "Before he died he had made sure that he had a way to come back, to live again. It took him fourteen years, but he managed it. He came back to life, called his followers and picked up from where he left off."

"So, you've been hiding from him?" Audrey said.

Helen's smile was sad. "No, we've been hiding from the Ministry of Magic. Tom has infiltrated them, and because Harry is lauded as having defeated him, and prophesied to be the only person that can, he's still trying to kill Harry. As an attempt to get to Harry, Tom's followers pushed through a law. The law required all muggle-born witches to marry into pureblood or half-blood families. Hermione is a year older than Harry, she came of age before him. Fred and George both offered for her, but the proposals were blocked at the Ministry. They wanted her married off to one of Tom's followers so she could be used against Harry."

"That's, that's appalling!" Audrey cried. "How could that even happen?"

"There is a social stigma for being muggle-born," Helen said gently. "They are just… less. Half-blood is acceptable, but muggle born to many, are inferior. No ancestry, no lineage. Upstarts I suppose."

Percy squeezed Audrey's hand gently drawing her attention. "Nearly half the Ministry is under his control. It only affected the muggle-born witches so relatively few people. The individuals in power thought that being able to control the women who would bear the children that would dilute the bloodlines, would be the best way to manage the problem they perceived. I'm not proud of everything this government has done Audrey, but there was nothing I could have done, nothing any of us could have done." Percy looked down at his lap, unable to meet Audrey's eyes.

"Last time it was bad, people were afraid, they were being attacked, people were dying. The government had been rendered impotent." Helen explained.

Percy nodded. "It was like a sickness, a malaise that swept through and settled on everyone. Nobody smiled, nobody laughed. Mum and Dad, they used to hide the paper. Bill and Charlie would find it, of course, I think because it had been hidden. I'd have to put it back later so they wouldn't be found out. Mum and Dad, they tried, they did, but you could see it, the fear. The smiles that fell away. They told me to be good, to look after the twins, to stay out of trouble. So, I did, I thought that if I did as they said they'd come back. They'd stay safe, they'd be happy." He closed his eyes as the pain and confusion of his younger self washed over his face, his eyes were dry though and his tone expressionless,

"You were good," Audrey said clutching hard at him, reassuring him. "You kept them safe, Percy you did."

He opened his eyes and looked at her, raw, desperate emotion in his face. At that moment there were just the two of them, everyone else melted away. Audrey understood more now than she had before. Percy's face begged for her forgiveness, and she could not withhold it. Audrey felt the tears rise and didn't stop them instead she leant against him forcing his arm to come around her so she could embrace him. Percy leant into her for a moment before he stiffened his shoulders again pulling a crisp, clean handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. Wordlessly she took it and wiped her tears, getting herself back under control.

"You went into hiding?" Audrey said to Helen bringing the conversation back on track away from Percy.

"We sold up, the house, the practice, everything and left. Hermione asked Harry if he wanted to come and he said yes."

"But your family?" Audrey said turning to Harry. "Didn't they protest?"

"My Aunt and Uncle are probably euphoric never to see me again. They didn't like me, I was a freak to them and, well, it wasn't a happy home." Harry said keeping his tone flat.

"So why are you back then?"

"The things that Tom was using to stay alive have all but been destroyed. We have an opportunity to move against him to destroy the last of his horcruxes and stop him. So that's what we are going to do." Helen said firmly.

"Just you?" Audrey asked looking around the small group. "But there's nine of you! And you and John are muggles, what can you do?"

"There's a few more than nine," Helen said. "But yes, it's a small number. As for what we're going to do were going to do what it takes. This man, if you can call him that, has to be stopped. Until he is no one is safe. He won't stop with Britain; he'll solidify his power and move to the next country until he can't be stopped."

"My God," Audrey said. "Percy only told me magic was a, a thing, a week ago. Now you're saying that there is a war on?"

"I'm sorry," Percy murmured. "For dragging you into this."

"Don't be daft," Audrey snapped back. "It's a lot, but I'm hardly some fainting damsel. I just need a minute, or maybe five." She shook her hair out of her face and straightened her shoulders and spine. "OK, Magical war, Corrupt government, anything else I need to know?"

"Dragons and Unicorns are real," Harry offered with a smile from his place by Hermione. "Wizards don't know what the metric system is, so their currency makes no sense what so ever and you'll quickly develop an appreciation for biros."

Audrey looked at him unsure if he was pulling her leg.

"Oh no," Hermione said catching the look. "He's right about the biros. Quills!" she said throwing her hands up. "I mean honestly, just why?"

"I'm wounded Granger that you would besmirch the fine institution of proper calligraphy. It's a subtle art, perhaps some could call it a science. Not just any blithering fool can pick up a quill and create a masterpiece of lettering." George said casting his gaze dramatically to the ceiling in mock despair.

"While of course, the unicorn and dragon are available in your average Forbidden Forest. For the escaping lovers, there is nothing better than a winged Pegasus." Fred joined in.

"But romantic moonlight flights across lakes should only be done on the back of a noble hippogriff," Harry added winking at Hermione. She rolled her eyes at him and nudged him in the ribs with her elbow.

"So all those things are real?" Audrey asked unsure if they had just wished to lighten the tone of the conversation which had grown heavy.

"Yes," Percy said. "Although I'm fairly sure there's a story behind everything they just mentioned."

"Do you have zoos or something?" she asked Percy then glanced around the room at everyone else.

"Actually, that's a good question," Helen said. "Do you?"

"No," Percy replied. "We don't, not like you do. There are the dragon reserves of course and some enclaves of the larger magical species where those interested go and study, but not in the way that you do."

"Mum," Hermione said. "Did we bring the encyclopaedia?"

"Oh, I'm not sure," Helen replied.

"Encyclopaedia?" Audrey asked.

Hermione nodded. "You must be eleven on the first of September to attend Hogwarts. I had to wait a year, so we bought an encyclopaedia about magic, so we could learn about it in the meantime. If you like, you can have a look through it."

"That would be quite helpful," Audrey said. "Why are they sniggering?" she asked pointing at George and Fred.

"Because," Hermione said with a sniff, a toss of her hair and a smile. "I happen to like reading books and studying, and those two think that the only way you can learn anything is by making it explode."

"Hermione, saying you like reading books is possibly the understatement of the year. It's like saying Tom is slightly interested in my life ambitions," Harry said.

"How are you so calm about it?" Audrey asked.

Harry shrugged. "You get used to it. Since I was eleven, I've had some crazy adventure every year until the last one when we were in hiding. Honestly, you have to let it go, or it drives you insane. Also, I'm young and stupid enough to secretly think it's a bit exciting." Harry and the twins burst out laughing at the different expressions of horror that appeared on the faces of the others at Harry's pronouncement. "I'm joking!" Harry said holding his hands up, trying to get his face into some sort of serious expression. "It's terrible, awful, very dangerous. I'm completely focused."

"Right," Audrey said. "Even I'm not convinced by that, and I've not known you very long."

"Well you're with Percy, so presumably you're quite smart," Harry replied with a shrug.

"Stop it," Hermione said to Harry as Audrey looked at him warily. "She'll think we're all mad."

"I thought all the best people were," Audrey replied automatically with a smile at Hermione.

Hermione laughed. "Yes, that's true."

"So now what?" Audrey said. "What do we do?"

"The hardest part I'm afraid," Helen admitted. "We wait. Our plans are laid, the people who need to be informed are informed, and until tomorrow there's nothing we can do. So, I propose dinner?"

Chapter Text

They didn't eat as everyone admitted to having eaten already or not wishing to. Instead, they remained in the library and drinks and nibbles were brought by the elves.

Time passed in a blur. Audrey sat between Fred and Percy letting the conversation swirl around her. Fred and George seemed comfortable with the Grangers, and Audrey got the impression that they knew each other quite well. Helen and John were involved in the conversation that went on around the group and seemed unfazed by all the talk of magic and spells. Audrey thought perhaps that she could take comfort in that.

These two people who had only learned about magic alongside their daughter, had managed to accept what that involved. They had then given up everything to keep their magical daughter safe, and not insisted Hermione leave magic behind. If they could do that, then Audrey thought she might stand a chance too.

Percy was right, she probably wouldn't have taken it well if they had a child born magical and the first eleven years she had spent worrying that there was something wrong. The anecdotes that the Grangers told about Hermione's accidental magic were humorously related and made the young woman blush and laugh. But Audrey thought that while it had been happening, the Grangers probably hadn't been so amused.

Audrey glanced at Percy. He was sat listening, his face thoughtful, and she wondered what Percy thought of the Grangers. Were they reassuring him the way they bolstered her?

Audrey admitted she had adapted to the whole magic situation quite well, but when it appeared to be nothing more than a few cleaning spells, outdated clothes and ability to teleport, it hadn't seemed so much to accept. The future, their future, children and schools had been hazy and far off, and her prevailing thought was that she would deal with it when they came to it. That train of thought had been derailed as she sat in the study of a house in Scotland belonging to a woman, a witch, who Audrey had yet to meet. She had been abruptly told about an ongoing war, a corrupt government that had implemented forced marriages, and a class system that seemed to belong to the annuals of history. And she was marrying into it.

Percy must have felt her gaze as he turned to look at her. He scrutinised her face before squeezing her hand comfortingly where it rested in her lap.

They were due another talk. Percy had said being a wizard was his secret. What exactly did a war qualify as then? Possibly it wasn't as significant a bomb drop as realigning her worldview to include magic as a thing, but still. She had gathered already from the things that Helen had told her they intended to throw themselves in the path of danger, but just how much danger?

As the conversation began to dwindle people began to drift away to other pursuits or their beds. Audrey lingered in the room allowing the others to leave so they could have the room to themselves. Percy stayed by her side, and when they were alone except for the elves who came to clear the empty glasses, she turned to Percy.

"War? Really?"

Percy reached out tugging Audrey towards him, closing the polite gap they had sustained while in company

"Not a war like you think. Yes, there's going to be a fight, a skirmish or whatever but wizards don't fight like muggles. There is no army in the real sense, the numbers tomorrow if they top a hundred will be over the estimate."

"But you're going to hurt people, possibly kill people and they will be looking to do the same to you," Audrey clarified.

"Yes."

"Percy! Do you know how mad that sounds? You work in an office! Do you know how to fight?"

"Yes," Percy replied. "It's been obvious to anyone looking that this was coming, I've made sure that I could defend myself."

"Percy..." Audrey said clutching at his arm.

Percy covered her hands with his. "I know this is more than I should ask, for you to accept and understand that this is something I must do. But I need you to."

"Why?" Audrey exclaimed.

Percy struggled to find a way to explain. "The magical and Muggle societies are supposed to be separate. You aren't supposed to know about any of this. But if I want our future, then I have to fight for it. I'm not prepared to give you or our future up. There are going to be enough people who think they have something to say about our relationship if we win."

"Is it so very unusual?" Audrey asked curiously.

"Possibly not. But generally, because of the restrictions, and because as witches and wizards, giving up or hiding our magic isn't easy, many people don't bother looking outside the magical community. It does happen, but it isn't spoken of, and those people don't advertise. I am afraid that we will become public fodder and there may be no way to stop it."

"I don't want you to be hurt," Audrey protested returning to her original topic.

"I don't want to be hurt either, but it's a possibility. As is my not returning," Percy admitted.

"Percy—,"

"No Audrey, please. It has to be said and I'd rather you know where you stand. I moved the bulk of my assets into the muggle bank I use. I've named you the beneficiary in my will, and you'll get everything."

Audrey shook her head denying his words.

Percy squeezed her hand understandingly but continued. "I've got the name and number of the solicitor, he works in both worlds. He is instructed to terminate the lease on the flat and settle any outstanding payments owing there. Then he will close everything up in the magical world and transfer it to the bank account."

"I don't want it," she said plaintively. "I don't."

"I know," Percy said gently. "I know you don't."

"Percy, I don't want you to go."

"I know that too," Percy replied. "I don't really fancy it much either. They are planning to hold this thing at my parents' house, my family is going to be in the middle of it. My friends, people I care about. I cannot stand aside. I've been working inside the Ministry to stop the worst of the proposed legislation getting through and becoming law, destroying our society. But everything I've done won't be enough if we don't win tomorrow. If we don't finish this for once and for all. I want a better future for us, our children, my brothers. I want to believe that I will be able to marry you knowing that I've done everything possible to ensure that we will be able to have everything we want."

"Is there nothing I can say?"

"No. I am sorry. This isn't fair on you, I do know that."

"I'm scared," Audrey admitted quietly. "Everything that Helen said. About being less, about the system of discrimination. I don't know anything about your world, about magic, and I can't talk to anyone because it's a secret."

"Perhaps, if you feel you could, you could ask Helen and John. They seem to have a good understanding of magic. They are the people who taught Fred and George to operate in the muggle world, perhaps they might be able to help you adjust."

"You wouldn't mind?"

"I don't believe that I can honestly understand your viewpoint. The Grangers have at least got the same frame of reference," Percy offered.

The door to the library opened interrupting them. Audrey looked up to see a woman dressed in the closed formal robe Percy had shown her, enter the room.

Percy immediately stood. "Professor McGonagall."

"Mr Weasley, Miss Stone, I apologise for my late arrival, but the students detained me," Minerva explained as she approached the couple.

"Of course, Professor. Might I introduce you to my fiancée Audrey Stone? Audrey this is Professor McGonagall."

Audrey had stood up alongside Percy and smiled cautiously at the other woman.

"Call me Minerva dear, and you as well Mr Weasley. I am no longer your professor, and I was never Miss Stone's."

"Audrey," Audrey said stepping forward to offer her hand. "Thank you for letting us stay here. It is very generous of you."

"Audrey, you are both very welcome," Minerva said shaking the proffered hand. "Now since you are both here might I take a moment of your time?"

"Of course," Percy answered immediately.

Minerva took one of the armchairs waving her hand towards the sofa Audrey, and Percy had been sharing. "First, think nothing of using McGonagall Lodge as your home until it is safe to return to your own. Currently, the Grangers, Harry, Hermione, Garrett Ollivander and your brothers Fred and George are staying here. There is room for more and more might yet arrive. The elves will see to anything you wish for. You may call Stitches who will attend you both personally. If she cannot attend you, one of the others will. Now I would caution you, Audrey, that while the bathrooms are all fairly mundane, the lighting is not. Any room you walk into will light for you, but if you wish to alter the brightness or turn it off, you will need to speak aloud. The elves have been instructed to listen for such commands and will act in your stead. It is a service that John and Helen also require so do not think you are putting them out. If Mr Weasley is with you, then you shall obviously not need the assistance, but I wish you to feel that you can move freely about the house. As to that, please be aware that some of the books in the library while safe to read, may choose to interact with you. Some make noises, some will ruffle their pages at you. They are harmless and merely seeking some attention. I live in the castle during the school year leaving only the holidays for me to spend time here and I cannot give the books quite the level of attention they wish. If you do run into difficulties, call an elf, and they will be able to assist."

"Thank you, this is very kind of you."

"Actually, I'm not generous or kind," Minerva replied with a smile. "The elves are over the moon to have so many people to look after and are quite excited to have people staying who need a little more attention than others. House-elves are magical beings that take great pride and pleasure in their service. I have several elves and have been unfortunately unable to keep them fully occupied until now. They are quite delighted with me currently for filling the house." Minerva paused peering at the two of them over her glasses.

"Now, Audrey, I would also like to offer my time to you in particular. I am one of the members of staff that visit the Muggle parents of magical children. I am not sure what Mr Weasley has told you regarding the magical world, but I am quite willing to sit with you and answer whatever questions you have. Can I also suggest that if you have not done so already, you speak to Helen and John? No one is expecting you to just accept things blindly. Helen and John have a perspective of magic that is entirely unique from that of most muggles and magical folk, and it might help you find a balance."

"Percy and I had discussed approaching Mr and Mrs Granger," Audrey confessed.

"Do call them Helen and John," Minerva advised sagely. "Is there anything pressing this evening, or shall I have Stitches show you to your rooms? Mr Weasley gave the elves directions, so I believe they have collected your things for you, Audrey."

"They have? But how did they get in without a key?"

"Apparition," Minerva replied. "Elf magic is different to ours, and they can go where they have been sent without having visited before unless there is a ward stopping them."

"I don't suppose they brought my hairdryer, did they?"

"Unfortunately, even if they did, this house is not wired for electricity. Also, the magic of the house would stop it working. Mr Weasley should be able to help you with your hair or Hermione will know the charms to dry it."

"Oh, OK," Audrey said shooting a glance at Percy. He nodded at her which Audrey took to mean that Percy knew the charms to dry hair. "To be honest I would like to take you up on your offer, but I don't know what to ask. There's so much I don't know, and I am uncertain as to what is important and what isn't. Especially after what I learnt this evening."

"That's understandable," Minerva said. "Take tonight to think about it, we will have some time tomorrow."

Audrey nodded then glanced once more at Percy who got to his feet helping her to her own. Minerva rose with them.

"I will see you both at breakfast or shortly after dependent on my duties at the castle."

"Thank you, professor," Percy said

"Thank you, Minerva," Audrey echoed.

Minerva smiled at both before leading the way out of the room. In the hall, she called for Stitches.

"This is Stitches," Minerva said introducing the elf. "Stitches this is Percy Weasley and Audrey Stone, you are to serve them while they are guests here."

"Stitches will serve," the elf squeaked bouncing slightly.

Minerva smiled fondly at the elf before nodding to her guests and removing to her study.

Audrey stared at the elf in fascination. "Hello Stitches," she said offering her hand. "I'm Audrey."

Stitches stared back for a long moment before holding her own hand out. When Audrey clasped it and shook it gently Stitches regarded her with greater curiosity.

Once free of the handshake Stitches straightened up and said proudly. "Stitches collected the Miss Audrey's things."

"Thank you Stitches," Audrey said gratefully. "Would you show us to our room please."

Stitches nodded and turned to the stairs Audrey trailing behind with Percy bringing up the rear.

The room Stitches showed them to was well appointed and surprisingly large. When assured they wanted for nothing Stitches left the room with a pop that made Audrey jump.

"Are all house elves like that?" she asked Percy.

"It can vary, but I find most elves a little odd. They aren't human so don't think or react like a human. I doubt Stitches has ever shaken hands before."

"Oh, was I not supposed to do that?"

"I doubt very much it matters. As long as you treat them kindly and politely, you should get along."

Audrey walked around the room. She couldn't see the bag that had been brought for her, nor Percy's. She opened the wardrobe and was slightly surprised to see her clothes hanging neatly next to Percy's. Audrey pulled a dress out of the wardrobe. "Are we dining out?" she asked waving the evening dress. "This isn't exactly what I would think to pack in the circumstances."

"There are more practical clothes?"

"Yes, jeans, jumpers, tops, and even a scarf or two from the looks of it," she replied with humour.

"Then Stitches likely took a selection of everything."

Audrey replaced the dress and closed the wardrobe door then crossed to the chest of drawers. Pulling open the drawers she was surprised to find t-shirts folded neatly. Picking out a t-shirt to sleep in Audrey raised her eyebrows in surprise as it unfolded crispy with no creases. "They iron?"

"No, laundry charms. House-elves have the market cornered on them along with the cleaning and cooking charms which makes them so highly valued."

"Oh,"

"Does it bother you?"

"No, not really I hate ironing. It seems, I don't know, just different."

"Do you want to take a shower?"

"Yes."

Percy opened the bathroom poking his head around the door. Audrey followed him t-shirt in hand. "You know how to dry my hair?"

"Yes, it won't harm your hair."

Audrey nodded and stepped into the bathroom closing the door. She examined the shower discovering it was as Minerva said. She twisted the knob to start the water. It came out of the shower head warm. Audrey tried not to be surprised. She felt that she shouldn't be when she knew that magic was involved but she still was, it was all still so new.

Audrey turned from the shower, undressing and put her clothes into the hamper. They promptly vanished. Hoping that nothing had happened to her clothes, she stepped under the spray. Her shampoo and soaps were on the shelf next to Percy's. It seemed that Stitches had been thorough when fetching her things.

Audrey finished her shower and returned to the bedroom in her t-shirt and her hair wrapped in a towel. "The hamper eats clothes," she warned Percy. Percy raised an eyebrow making Audrey wondered if there were hampers that actually ate clothes. "The clothes vanished," Audrey clarified.

Percy nodded. "They will have been cleaned and returned to the wardrobe and drawers."

"That fast?"

"Magic."

Audrey pulled a face at Percy who shrugged in 'a what can you do motion'.

"I can dry your hair before my shower," Percy offered.

"No, its fine," Audrey waved him off. "After will do."

Percy vanished into the bathroom an Audrey went back to the wardrobe wondering what else the elves had packed. There were her usual day to day clothes, a suit that she had worn once or twice and to her delight her dressing gown. Slipping on the warm dressing gown Audrey snuggled into it taking comfort in the familiar.

Curiosity made her explore the room more. Audrey peered into the top of the table lamps wondering what kind of light was used. A ball of light glowed from the top of the lamp where a bulb would typically be. She stepped back. "Lower the lights please," she said clearly. The lights dimmed.

"Brighten them again?"

The lights responded with her voice. Audrey paused unsure of what to do next. She licked her lips realising she was thirsty, but she had no idea of where the kitchen was. Minerva had said that Stitches would be listening for her. Perhaps she could ask.

"Umm, could I have a glass of water please?"

A quiet pop and a glass of water appeared on the bedside table.

"Thank you," Audrey called out. She wasn't sure if she was expecting a response or not and was only half surprised not to receive one.

Audrey took the water and sat on the edge of the bed waiting for Percy to finish in the bathroom.

Percy came out of the bathroom cutting a glance towards her. He crossed the wardrobe and rifled through the clothes searching for his own dressing gown. Not finding it Percy shrugged. He summoned his wand he cast a drying charm at his towel before transfiguring it into a dressing gown.

"Fred didn't pack yours?" Audrey said a trace of smugness in her voice.

"No, but it's not a problem. Let me dry your hair," Percy said joining her on the bed.

Audrey pulled the towel off her hair, Percy took it from her and sent it sailing back to the bathroom.

"How do you know hair drying charms? Yours hardly needs more than a towel."

"Hogwarts was a mixed school. There were always magazines left lying around the common room in the tower. They had useful bits of spells and charms in them, primarily aimed at girls, but helpful none the less. I did also date," Percy added wryly. "You pick things up."

Audrey hummed an agreement as Percy waved his wand chanting something softly. Audrey felt her hair lift, and a warm tingle spread over her scalp. It was only seconds later her hair fell back against her shoulders and neck, thoroughly dry. She stood and crossed to the mirror over the chest of drawers.

"Wow," she commented. "You can do this again. I can never get it looking this good with a hairdryer. It's got swish!" she said with a laugh shaking her head gently from side to side watching her hair move. She returned to the bed stripping off her dressing gown, draping it over a chair and crawled under the duvet. Percy joined her, and she cuddled up to him.

They remained silent for a time before the churning thoughts in Audrey's head coalesced into a coherent thought. "Quills? Why quills?"

"Tradition, mostly," Percy responded not missing a beat at the question.

"But they're so inconvenient. You don't use one, do you?"

"At the office? Yes."

"No! How do you keep your hands clean?"

"Magic."

"Oh, well yeah, I suppose. But it still seems so odd. What about a fountain pen?"

"Hmmm? Oh, too Muggle."

"That's silly, it isn't as if a wizard invented calligraphy."

"Might have done," Percy said with a smirk.

"It's simply not possible. Not if your population numbers are correct. It would have been impossible for wizards to develop every advance in society especially if you left it." Audrey pointed out tilting her head to see him better.

"Only after sixteen eighty-nine."

"Still. I'm going to get you a fountain pen. It's not a ballpoint there's plenty of traditional ones about at the trade fairs it won't be too shocking. Although I think I'm going to have to adjust my ideas of old-fashioned. Quills, honestly."

"Candles."

"Pardon."

"The Great Hall at school, it was lit by dozens and dozens of floating candles."

"Wizards are weird. I can see your point about electricity, but what about the lights that are in the lamps? What's wrong with them?" Audrey asked indicating the table lamps next to the bed.

"I don't know," Percy shrugged.

Audrey fell quiet again, an idea turning over in her mind but unsure if she could give voice to it. Deciding to risk it she asked hesitantly. "Do you think you could show me a unicorn? Don't laugh, it's just, you know, it's a unicorn."

"Muggles are weird," Percy said stifling the laugh that wanted to escape.

"Touché, is that a yes?" Audrey replied drily but unable to hide the eagerness in her voice.

"Yes."

"Brilliant!"

"I didn't think you'd be so accepting," Percy commented. "Not in the beginning and not after today."

"Why not?" Audrey asked puzzled.

"It's what we're told. That muggles can't understand and would fear it, or something."

"What about all the parents like Helen and John?"

"I don't know, it's not something we're encouraged to think about. Witches and wizards belong in our world, their Muggle parents don't, they leave them behind."

"It's a high price of admission don't you think?"

"Yes, maybe. I suppose." Percy said absently. "I've never had to think about it."

Audrey scrunched herself down into the bed. "Turn the light off would you please."

Percy complied and settled himself down in the bed rolling to hold Audrey to him. If it took a little longer than usual for them both to fall asleep no mention was made of it.

Chapter Text

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Percy took a breath before he followed Kingsley into the kitchen of his family home. The glamour ring was hiding him in plain sight. The little group the twins called the Secret Order obviously knew who he was despite it, but he'd already seen Bill and his elder brother had not recognised him.

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21 st  February 1998

Kingsley arrived at McGonagall Lodge late that night. An elf had been dispatched to see if Minerva would allow him entry and had returned with one of Minerva's elves in tow.

It was late, he should be going home, but there were questions that he wanted answers to. Answers that wouldn't wait in until morning. Not if he planned to get any sleep which he would need, if he were going to navigate the next few weeks.

The elf deposited him in the hallway and indicated the library. The warm glow from under the door assured Kingsley someone was waiting on him. Minerva and Severus were both in the room, John Granger with them.

"Good evening," Kingsley greeted them and settled in a chair regarding the three people. "I am sorry to interrupt, I would like to ask your opinions and I hope that you will indulge me."

Kingsley waited for the collective response of acceptance and curiosity before asking. What do you think of Percy Weasley?"

"Percy?" Minerva asked puzzled. "Haven't you been working with him?"

"Yes," Kingsley allowed. "But not intimately. That will obviously change now I've taken up the Minister's role, but I wondered what your opinions of him were."

They exchanged puzzled glances between themselves before John quirked an eyebrow at Kingsley.

"Ambitious, idealistic, but not naive. He's helped Fred and George extensively with keeping their business open in the face of the pressures brought to bear on them by the Ministry. Percy is exceptionally well informed on how the Ministry operates. Organised and a bit of a perfectionist according to Audrey. He's also honest to a fault, depending on your point of view," John said. "He's hardly a coward considering what he's done and risked. It's not run head first into danger courage though, it's the courage of standing up for your principles and accepting what may come because of it."

Kingsley looked at John in surprise. "I hadn't thought you had spent so much time with him."

"I haven't, but I've spoken to Audrey quite a bit and Fred and George, Harry and Hermione. They've all spent time with him, I was just summing up their words."

"Percy is intelligent," Minerva offered. "His grades were excellent at Hogwarts. His NEWTs while not record-setting were certainly high enough to be proud of. He held the position of Prefect and Head Boy and was commended by other members of staff on his diligence. Perhaps seeing as by the time he attained Head Boy his elder brothers had left home he didn't get the recognition he deserved from his family for achieving the positions, but he never seemed to hold it against them. He was able to ferret out what the twins were up to better than most. In fact, once Percy left the staff noticed a marked increase in the trouble the twins were causing. I understand that the issues with Percy's career only drove a wedge between him and his family once the dust settled from the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Although I confess to not following his career at the Ministry at all."

Kingsley nodded to Minerva acknowledging her words then turned to the dark wizard who had remained silent.

"He's got a cool head on his shoulders," Severus said. "He'll think a problem through. He extracted himself from a meeting where Riddle was present without causing offence or causing a scene."

"What?" Minerva demanded. "What was he doing at a Death Eater meeting with Riddle?"

"Thickenesse was evidently annoyed by him and thought to demonstrate his power and standing."

"Oh, Merlin."

Severs shrugged. "He made his apologies to the hostess, flattered her and made his excuses and left unscathed. It could have been worse. The event ensured that Riddle was aware of who he was. If we hadn't won the day, it is likely that he would have been approached by those with more clout than Thickenesse. The Dark Lord valued competence. Especially capability that came from a line of pureblooded wizarding family, he would have been offered power, authority, money."

"When was this?"

"New Year."

"Then yes it could have been significantly worse," Kingsley said.

"Percy is hardly Death Eater material," John objected. "Despite what his mother seems to think Percy doesn't subscribe to the dogma of the Death Eaters."

"No," Kingsley said shaking his head. "I didn't mean that. Perhaps Percy can explain better, but as far as I understand it, he is the only wizard in Britain up until my swearing in as Minister that could wield the authority of the Ministry of Magic. And has been so since Scrimgeour left office. You see my concern wasn't him joining up, it was that Percy was and still is a valuable asset to whichever side he throws in with. I don't know if he has any Occlumency, but being in the presence of Riddle while being the only wizard to be able to control the Ministry of Magic is perhaps not a situation that was best for the health of either Percy, or the wizarding public."

"What do you mean?"

"As I said, perhaps Percy can explain it better. I can safely say I barely understand it. If we can ask him to join us?"

"Yes of course," Minerva replied calling for Stitches and sending the elf off with the message. It did not take long for the younger man to appear at the door.

"Minister? You requested my presence."

"Sit down Percy, get yourself a drink. And drop the title, it's been barely an hour."

Percy nodded and moved to comply. Once he was seated, Kingsley addressed him. "I have a few things I want to speak to you about in regards to recent events, and the situation moving forward. I was nominated to take over as Minister for Magic by the Wizengamot as you know. Upon my appointment, I was asked if I would take an oath of office. Prior to recent events, I had no knowledge of what oaths of office truly meant until you, Percy, chose to enlighten me. By doing so, you allowed me to take control of the Aurory unchallenged. The oaths bound everyone to the common cause and to my orders when issued as such. You did this I assume as a show of good faith when we first met."

Percy nodded."The oaths would resolve several issues you were facing. The loyalty of your department was no longer in question. The leaks would be stopped as they swore to confidentiality as pertains to Auror business. It would allow you the latitude to act on behalf of what Fred and George called the Secret Order."

"Percy, I took the oaths. I'm a sworn in Minister for Magic."

Percy's shoulders slumped in relief.

"Thickenesse didn't take them, did he?" Kingsley enquired.

Percy shook his head. "Scrimgeour, they had him on something, though I don't know what. He resigned his post before Christmas. He was a sworn Minister. He didn't tell them about the oaths. He speculated that Thickenesse wouldn't be taking them because it's easier to get rid of a Minister not sworn in, or they weren't aware of what the oaths involved. As you are aware, they have fallen out of favour with most departments other than the Department of Mysteries which still operates at the highest levels of secrecy. Either way, Scrimgeour chose not to inform them. He granted me permission to act in his stead before he resigned and gave up his oath."

"When do you think you were going to mention you were the only wizard in Britain with access to the wards that control the Ministry of Magic itself? When, Percy, did you think you would have mentioned that you locked every single person in wizarding Britain out of the Ministry of Magic itself yesterday while we took to the field against Riddle. If you had died on that field Percy, we would not have been able to access the Ministry whether we had won the day or not." Kingsley levelled an inscrutable look at Percy.

Percy shook his head. "If it had gone badly, we would have needed somewhere to pull back to. The Burrow would be of no use, the Orders headquarters was secret kept by Dumbledore, and he wouldn't have allowed it even if it was able to hold everyone. The Ministry has room to spare. We could have pulled everyone in, we could have sheltered everyone. The Order, volunteers, innocent bystanders, the lot. The Ministry canteen is supplied by contractors, staffed by elves. We could secure a floo for supplies to be delivered indefinitely. It has an army of house elves bound to it. Riddle would have been forced to lay siege to the Ministry of Magic itself, and he would not have succeeded. It was our last option and one I am glad we did not have to use. If it had gone the other way, if we hadn't won, he wouldn't have been able to take control. Not without the oaths. If I had died, then control of the Ministry would have passed when the next aide or Minister was sworn in. If that didn't happen, then either they would have had to find a curse breaker team good enough to break them or would have had to act around them."

"But if Riddle had forced the Wizengamot to swear in a Minister."

"Then yes, he could have wrested control from me. But the Wizengamot has to be in accord and has to be inside the Wizengamot chamber to swear in a Minister. Not all of them are in his back pocket, and he still would have had to get inside the Ministry."

"When did you think you were going to mention all this?"

"Never," Percy replied. "My oaths on taking my position are to the Ministry, not the Minister. I serve it first, the Minister second. Ministers do come and go," Percy said whimsically.

"The Ministry of Magic has wards?" Minerva interrupted the conversation between the two wizards.

"Yes, much like Hogwarts. From the Minister's office, you can control everything, and I do mean everything. Entry points, access to levels within the Ministry, you can remove the locks on the holding cell doors if you so wish. The Ministry accounts at Gringotts, the staff of house elves that work inside the Ministry, power over legislation, everything. And until about lunch time today, Percy was the only wizard who could," Kingsley replied.

There was a general air of shock as all eyes fell on Percy.

"I believe Minister that that information considered as confidential." Percy said fidgeting slightly in his seat.

"I'll take their vows of secrecy in a moment then," Kingsley said.

"Merlin," Minerva murmured. "The wards at Hogwarts are complex. I cannot imagine holding the Ministry wards."

"It's tiring," Percy replied dryly. "I would ask Minister that you revoke permission."

"That I would, but I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't know what I'm doing and for the next few weeks you are going to be teaching me everything. Having access means you can catch what I miss before it becomes apparent. We must look strong, or this won't take."

Percy frowned but considered the idea. "Very well."

"Thank you by the way," Kingsley said. "I am not sure that what Scrimgeour did was the right thing, but I am glad he did it."

"How much is needed to be undone?"

Percy shrugged. "Everything that was sent through official channels and approved was signed off. Everything that didn't wasn't. I put up as many roadblocks as I could, but it wasn't as much as I would have liked, however, there are some legislative proposals currently mired in a bureaucratic swamp from which extraction is difficult."

"Wait," Minerva said. "Let me get this straight, Thickenesse was put in as a puppet Minister, but since he never took the oaths of office he could never fully control the Ministry?"

Percy and Kingsley nodded.

"Because Scrimgeour gave Percy permission before he left Percy could control the Ministry?"

More nods.

"So Thickenesse wasn't just a puppet for the Dark Lord but you, Percy, could undermine him as well?" Minerva asked eying her former student.

"Yes. Much of the legislation that was introduced by Thickenesse, tried to use the emergency power of the Minister for Magic in time of war to circumnavigate the Wizengamot. To put the Ministry into a state of war, the Minister himself must intervene. You can't just declare it, and it is so. You must alter the setting to 'war' as it were. Obviously, that wasn't done, so the legislation was buried in the pile of 'to do'. Thickenesse didn't know, he assumed it was done. Malfoy's knowledge of the Ministry isn't as detailed as he'd like due to the nature of the oaths taken." Percy explained letting a small smug smile grace his lips at Malfoys lack of knowledge.

"So, it's not as bad as we imagined?" Minerva asked looking slightly relieved.

"No," Percy answered. "The worst never happened. The registration of muggle-born is illegal. The Ministry might be sued by a few, but the records can just be destroyed."

"You've been acting as the Minister for Magic." John clarified quietly.

"No," Percy shook his head. "I have never stepped beyond the bounds of my role of Minister's aide. I am quite sure of that."

"Wouldn't Umbridge as undersecretary know this?" Kingsley asked.

"Possibly, but Madame Umbridge was retired due to medical unfitness. Any access she had was revoked and her vows, like mine, call for confidentiality regarding her role. I can speak because I have permission." Percy indicated Kingsley. "I have not divulged more than what the Minister has asked of me."

"There's more?" Minerva asked with concern.

"Of course. I imagine that there is more to Hogwarts wards than easily anticipated."

Minerva nodded.

"Bill's ward, you applied it directly to the Ministry ward matrix?" Kingsley asked. "And the holding cells? They aren't temporary?"

"No. You may, of course, if you have control of the wards, alter things. But what I have done so far is permanent. The wards will need to be changed to open the doors again before the first shifts start on Monday. I have a report of who has tried to access the Ministry since the point where I locked the doors as it were on Friday."

"That is why you returned to the Ministry?" Severus asked.

"Yes," Percy agreed. "A risk I thought worthwhile. I was able to apparate into my office no one saw me."

"Then if you would, I will need to spend some time with you tomorrow, or considering the current hour later today, going through what you can tell me about the Ministry. What departments we will have to restructure etc," Kingsley requested.

"I am at your disposal Minister."

Kingsley sent a ruefully humorous look at Percy. "I suppose I will have to get used to that. But enough of that, what can you tell me about the Order meeting?"

The mood instantly shifted.

"Oh," Kingsley said perceptively. "I see, it went that well did it."

"Albus Dumbledore is certifiable," Minerva growled.

"We recorded the meeting Kingsley," John said. "Percy has a copy of the transcript. To summarise Mr Dumbledore has decided that the Horcrux within Harry has been able to take possession of his body. The horcrux was previously contained by the blood wards surrounding Harry's relatives home and the inherent magic of Hogwarts. Mr Dumbledore believes that Harry's relocation with our family has caused the circumstances to come about."

"Alright, and this is tosh, and we can prove it, can't we?"

"Yes and no," Minerva snarled. "As Albus well knows. The Order is divided there are those who have been kept slightly better informed and are aware its rubbish. Tonks, Ted, Andromeda perhaps Bill and his wife, but Molly is vocally in support of Albus as she always is, and they call me his lieutenant."

"And the plan going forward?"

"What makes you think we have one?" Minerva asked.

Kingsley laughed. "Minerva really. John, Helen, Hermione and Harry were here listening in. You, Severus, and I assume you Percy, and Fred, and George, all returned here after the meeting. That by my estimation left you with four hours to come up with something. Even if I were a betting man, I wouldn't touch those odds."

"Helen has fielded the idea that we speak to the press and set the story right," John said. "We'll get our version of events out before the more ludicrous stories can see the light of day."

"Do we have a contact in the press with a readership large enough?" Kingsley asked. "I know a few reporters but not with a readership broad enough for a venture like this."

"Yes," John replied. "Hermione has had dealings with Rita Skeeter and has been able to agree on terms with her before."

"Skeeter?" Kingsley repeated with surprise, he caught the expression on Minerva's face and held up a hand. "On second thoughts don't tell me how, that way I can deny everything should I be asked. As long as Percy is kept abreast of developments I can claim that the Ministry office is aware of what is going on without having to lie. If that is alright with you Percy?"

"Yes, Minister."

"Will the interviews do enough though?"

"They will build interest in the public domain which we are going to use to launch an investigation into Mr Dumbledore," John replied.

Kingsley choked on the sip of whiskey he had taken. "You're sending Skeeter after Dumbledore?"

"Yes," John replied sanguinely. "It's Helen's idea, Rita is rather good at what she does, and Mr Dumbledore has had a very long life."

Kingsley sent a worried glance at John. "Remind me not to cross Helen Granger."

John smirked. "That would be wise."

Sunday was given over to planning. Percy sat with Kingsley, and they went over all the information that Percy had been collecting since the events at the Burrow, the information that Severus had handed over and the progress of the Auror department. Along with what information Percy had collected himself he was willing to share with the Minister.

There would be a limited number of entrances made available come Monday morning. The entire Auror department would be split between them. Any that the ward rejected would be taken into custody.

"If we can present a front of business as usual, there will be less backlash from the public in general. While the Ministry cannot expect to have its praises sung in the newspapers will at least be shown to be headed up by those that took action," Percy said scribbling himself more notes and reminders. "You'll need to have a meeting with the department heads as soon as possible. Not only to assure them that the Ministry of Magic is operating business as usual, but also to let them know you are stepping up. The current Wizengamot schedule is light at best. While it is a travesty that the council is being so little used for the next month, you might wish to keep it that way. You are, as Minister, expected to be fully conversant on each and every issue going before the council, and it is my job to ensure that you are. I attend the weekly meetings that are held for those due in the Wizengamot the following week, and I have a report issued by the council on the issues raised etc. The minutes are also available although I usually provide a summary of those. They tend to be long, and if the council gets bogged down, they can be deathly dull."

"That's fine," Kingsley agreed. "We'll keep it as is for now then. Do I set the Wizengamot schedule?"

"Yes," Percy answered. "The Minister sets the schedule and the frequency which the council meets, although I can tell you that you will fail miserably if you expect them to achieve more than three times a week."

"Right, you can walk me through that when it comes to it I think. Set up the meeting with the department heads we'll get that done first thing as well, give them time to spread the word."

Percy snorted. "It's the Ministry, Minister, gossip travels as fast there as it did at Hogwarts."

6t h  March 1998

Percy and Kingsley sat in Kingsley's office at the end of an eventful week. Using the cover of Rita's interviews the week before, they had quietly rounded up all the remaining Death Eaters they could, along with those supporters of Riddle that were unmarked and buried within the Ministry that they had dirt on. The week of Rita's investigations into Albus kept the public riveted enough that most of the trials had been done and dusted before the public had thought to think of them. The remaining were scheduled for the next week but were few enough not to cause too many ripples.

"I've got the notes of the meetings scheduled Monday morning before the trials in the afternoon," Percy said reaching for the satchel at his feet. He'd given up trying to carry all the folders and files he needed in his arms after the first day and resorted to a satchel which had some useful charms cast on it.

"Enough Percy," Kingsley protested. "It's Friday night, shouldn't you be going home to Audrey?"

Percy shook his head. "She's away with work this week. There's a fair in Wales somewhere."

Kingsley frowned slightly. "What does she do again?"

"Antiquities," Percy said. "She works for a company that do valuations and restoration work and have a small auction house on the side. She's training to become an auctioneer."

"I knew it was something to do with furniture," Kingsley said.

Percy nodded leaning back in his chair to relieve the ache in his back from being on his feet all day, closing his eyes briefly.

"So," Kingsley said the clink of glasses bringing Percy's eyes open to look at his boss.

"So?"

Kingsley poured the drinks and pushed a glass over to Percy and raised it. "Here's to the second most powerful man in the Ministry of Magic. Without you, this last two weeks would have been impossible. We got the bastards, well most of them, and have pulled the teeth of the rest so they shouldn't be a problem."

Percy demurred. "Hardly powerful."

Kingsley sipped his drink observing Percy. "I don't know how to do this. You've been telling me what to do since I took office. Oh certainly, I've had ideas, and I've not been blindly following, but I was the head of the DMLE after being an Auror. I've no pretensions to knowing how the office of Minister runs."

Percy tasted his drink before answering. "You're the Minister. It is my job as your Undersecretary and Advisor to guide you. Until you can do it without me and then by gathering and disseminating all the information you need to run the office. I've done nothing more than I'm supposed to."

"I don't want it you know, the office as Minister," Kingsley confessed.

"Then why accept it?" Percy asked.

"Because I was the best one for the job," Kingsley replied. "Because the measures that were already in place, measures we had put in place, meant that the Ministry wouldn't crumble, and we could clean house. The tide of legislation that the Ministry has been approving that is doing nothing but discriminating against sections of our society can be turned, and we can achieve a brighter future. We're failing our future generations clinging to trivialities such as blood purity. No bloodline can stay 'pure' without risking dying out there's enough proof of inbreeding being hushed up along with the increased risk of the birth rates. The Ministry needs to be leading the charge on inclusion and acceptance, I can do that, and I already know it's something you support."

"My relationship with Audrey isn't about inclusion," Percy said sharply. "I love her. It's no more or less than that."

"You love her, and you're making a life with her despite the views of the magical society," Kingsley said.

"We're not going to be a rallying point," Percy said firmly placing his glass down. "My relationship is exactly that, mine. It's nothing to do with my work."

Kingsley held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Do you want it?"

"Want what?" Percy asked suspiciously.

"The job, as Minister."

Percy gaped at him.

"Come on Percy, don't tell me you haven't thought about it," Kingsley grinned.

"I, that is, I suppose yes, I have," Percy admitted. "But never seriously."

"Why not? You could do it. Your credentials check out, you know the way the office works, and you got here on your own merits."

Percy snorted at that.

Kingsley gave him a sympathetic look. "I know what your family said, and they were perhaps not so much misguided in their concerns as the way they expressed them. You might have moved up to the Minister's office as a way to keep track of Harry, but you stayed on the back of your hard work. Once you broke with your family, they could have buried you again. The fact you managed to keep the job and your principles, well it says a lot about you."

"I've never seriously considered it," Percy said. "Not as any real possibility and considering my choices I doubt it's something I could achieve."

"You could do it," Kingsley said confidently. "No one can doubt your bloodline or your family's allegiance."

"Audrey, she's a Muggle. They'll never elect a Minister married to a Muggle."

"Not today," Kingsley agreed. "Not even next year, but they will. We'll continue to clean house. We've got the chance to do it properly this time. Those marked can't hold Ministry jobs and everyone else we'll bind to an oath of loyalty like they used to do in the old days. We're on the cusp of a new dawn when we can push for change this time. Malfoy's gone, his blackmail network exposed." Kingsley thumped his glass down on the desk decidedly. "We're going to drag this place kicking and screaming out of the Dark Ages."

"My family," Percy shook his head.

"What about them?"

"They… well,"

"Percy, your family are loyal and have shown that blood doesn't matter. You've got connections through Minerva, Severus, your brothers, your contacts here at the Ministry. Even Harry and Hermione would support you if you asked. Your sister helped lead the contingent of Hogwarts students which had led to a political change already. Don't think for a minute these things won't matter."

"My parents are hoping I'll change my mind about Audrey, they worry about the grandchildren being squibs," Percy admitted his anger and shame at is confession colouring his voice and face.

Kingsley winced. "All your family? I thought the twins?"

"Mum and Dad, possibly mostly Mum. She asked me to lunch last Sunday. Wanted to talk to me about what the Prophet was printing and possibly get the Minister's office to come out against it."

"But we didn't," Kingsley said sending him a regretful look.

"No," Percy agreed. "We didn't, but she also didn't extend the invitation to Audrey, so I didn't go."

"Are you, ahem, planning on a family?"

Percy shrugged his face closed. "At some point but if they are magical or not, I don't care. Healthy, happy, that's important. If they aren't magical, then they'll grow up as Muggles. I wouldn't turn a child away for the lack of magic."

"We've got four years until the next election," Kingsley said. "If you don't want it or aren't ready for it I won't push, I'll take another term."

"I don't think you get to decide, do you? Since the Minister is an elected office," Percy commented wryly.

"It is," Kingsley agreed. "But we're going to use the time we have to get you ready so that I can return to the DMLE, and wizarding Britain can hold its head up again."

Percy looked at Kingsley before sighing. "I see you leave me with little choice." He raised his glass to Kingsley in salute.

Kingsley grinned. "You're welcome."

Chapter Text

10th March 1998

The pub was muggle. It was familiar to both Percy and Audrey, and quiet enough on a Tuesday night they didn't run the risk of bumping into anyone they might know. Percy and Audrey were already there seated at a corner table when Bill walked in followed by Fleur.

Bill noticed them and came over. Audrey and Percy stood to meet them.

"Hi Percy," Bill said pulling Percy in for a quick hug. "Audrey," Bill said turning to her. "We've not been introduced, I'm Bill, Percy's eldest brother. This is my wife, Fleur."

"It's very nice to meet you both. Sit down, please. What are you drinking?"

Bill's eyes flickered to Percy.

"Beer?" Percy offered.

"Yes," Bill said looking a little relieved.

Audrey turned to Fleur. "I'm on gin and tonics, the wine here isn't up to much, unless you prefer beer as well?"

"No thank you, I will try what it is you are drinking."

"Two G and T's Percy. Here, it's my round." Audrey pulled out some cash from her purse.

Percy waved her off. "It's fine. You can get the next one."

"If you're sure?" Audrey said putting the cash into her pocket.

Bill glanced at Fleur before following Percy to the bar.

"Well," Audrey said looking over at Fleur. "That was subtle."

"Oui, yes." Fleur settled into the chair next to Audrey looking around the pub in interest. "I have never been to a place like this before."

"Oh well, it's nice enough," Audrey said leaning back giving the pub an assessing glance. "It's halfway between where I work and where some of my friends do so we come here a bit. Or the Queens Head which is just around the corner. It's noisier there, they have quite a lot of live music, and it can be a bit much."

Audrey watched Bill and Percy at the bar. Percy was holding himself stiffly while Bill was leaning on the bar looking a little uneasy. "Does Bill not come into the muggle world much either?"

"Non, we do not. It is only recently he has found out that the twins and Percy do so. For all that his father is interested in muggles, they have not spent any time in the muggle world."

"Percy's Dad is interested in muggles?" Audrey asked in surprise.

"Oh yes, he has a shed full of muggle things. Molly does not approve so it is kept there out of the way."

Percy and Bill came back to the table placing the drinks down in front of their respective partners and taking their seats.

"What are we interrupting?" Bill asked with a smile.

"Your Dad has a shed of muggle things," Audrey asked an eyebrow arching at Percy.

Percy nodded. "He's been collecting it for years."

"What kind of things?"

"Batteries, small electronics. Dad has a car, but it's got that much magic running through it, it resembles nothing much like a car."

"A car, really?"

"Yes, it flies."

Audrey sipped her drink processing that. "Well, I suppose, you wouldn't get stuck in rush hour."

Fleur tried her drink cautiously making Audrey hide her smile. Did wizards not have gin?

Fleur obviously liked her drink as her next sip was more confident. "I do not think I remember you from when I visited at Hogwarts. Were you in the same year as Percy?"

Audrey exchanged a glance with Percy. "This is going to come up a lot, isn't it?"

"Yes," Percy said.

"I'm not sure if I should find it amusing or irritating."

"I would suggest you find it amusing for as long as you can because it will become irritating," Percy advised.

"What?" Bill asked.

"I didn't go to Hogwarts," Audrey said.

"Oh? I did not know that there were other magical schools in Britain," Fleur said with interest. "What was it like."

"No, you misunderstand," Audrey said. "Although I don't know if there are any other magical schools in Britain either. I didn't go to Hogwarts. I didn't go to a magical school. I'm a muggle."

The puzzled looks on Bill and Fleur's faces as they tried to understand what Audrey was saying morphed into surprise as she announced she was a muggle.

Fleur put her drink down. "Really? You have no magic at all?"

"No," Audrey said with a small smile. "Not a lick."

"You're not a squib?" Bill asked squinting at her.

"A child with little to no magic born to magical parents," Percy clarified. "And yes, irritating."

Audrey looked back at Fleur. "I assure you I am as muggle as Helen and John Granger."

Bill rounded on Percy. "And you let her come to the Burrow? She's a muggle! She could have been hurt, if not by a stray spell then by any of the enchantments on the house!"

"Percy didn't let me do anything," Audrey snapped back, her eyes narrowing at Bill. "I am an adult, and I decide what I do. I was escorted by a house elf, and John, Fred and George were with me at any given point. Don't you dare accuse Percy of putting me in danger, it wasn't Percy using mind reading spells on me. It wasn't my mother accusing him and his fiancée of being Death Eaters."

"Death Eaters?"

"Fiancée?"

Audrey blinked at the two responses glancing at Percy looking for clues as to who to answer first.

Percy shook his head at her with a small smile of amusement. "Now look, love, you've thrown them both. Yes, Audrey is my fiancée. I asked her at the beginning of February. And yes, our Mother thought that my refusal to give up my position in the Ministry was directly related to my choosing the 'dark' over the 'light'. Hence the split and the reason we have not been speaking. Upon meeting Audrey for the first time at the Burrow, well, you both witnessed how that went."

"Percy," Bill said. "Audrey, she's a muggle."

"Yes," Percy replied with a smirk. "I did know that."

"She's also right bloody here!" Audrey said pointedly.

"The Statute of Secrecy! Percy, the law! Merlin's balls, do you know what you've done?" Bill exclaimed aghast.

"Yes," Percy agreed. "I happen to be fully aware. Why do you ask?"

"How are you so blasé about it? It is punishable by life in Azkaban! Merlin."

Percy shrugged. "I'm not sorry, and I'd do it again."

"As far as I can see," Audrey said reasonably. "The only reason your Oblivitiators need to worry is if I go spouting off. Since I'm not going to do that, there's no problem is there? And once we have a family I'll be told anyway, so I don't see what the fuss is all about."

Bill frowned at her. "Have you considered what life imprisonment for Percy might mean?"

Audrey shrugged. "Who is going to care? Your society has bigger problems than one clued in muggle running around, when in fact I'm not running around shouting the odds. I'm marrying Percy. We're going to have a family, and if you have a problem with that, I suggest you either get over it immediately or accept that you will not be spending time with Percy in the future."

Fleur took Audrey's hand in hers, her eyes shining with delight. "I would very much like to get to know you better. If Bill has a problem with it, he can join his mother. She does not like me although she has never called me a Death Eater. She would not have me as I am part Veela. She will not have you either as you are a muggle."

"What's a Veela?" Audrey asked. "I don't mean to be rude, but I'm still learning."

"We are considered creatures," Fleur said with a sniff of contempt.

"I can get you a book," Percy said quietly.

Audrey nodded. "Which part of France are you from?"

"The south."

"Really? Where? I've spent a bit of time in France. Percy and I are due to go again in a few months."

Fleur looked at Percy in surprise. "The village is in the hills towards the border with Switzerland."

Audrey nodded. "We travel through that area. Remember Percy? The valley we went through before we reached Arles?"

"Yes," Percy nodded. "I had not realised your family lived there."

"Non," Fleur said. "We are small and closely knit."

Bill shook his head lifting his beer. Percy, the brother least likely to break the rules had broken the biggest of them and was blasé about it.

"I have not travelled much," Fleur was saying. "It is not the same for us. Port keys and floo and apparition."

"I've not done port keys," Audrey said. "But I'm not much of a fan of the other two. Although Helen and John took me out on their flying carpet and that was very exciting."

"Where else have you been?" Fleur asked.

"Well, we went to Prague recently. Percy needed a break from work, so we went for a weekend."

"How did you travel?" Fleur asked.

"Oh, we flew."

"On a broom?" Fleur said aghast.

"No," Audrey laughed. "On a plane."

Bill spat out his mouthful of beer, muttering apologies he surreptitiously cleaned up the mess before turning to his brother. "You've been on a flying muggle plane?"

"Yes," Percy said. "It was before Audrey found out I was a wizard, so I didn't have a lot of choices."

"That's a point, now I understand better, how did you get a passport?" Audrey asked curiously.

"It's fake," Percy deadpanned.

"What!?"

"It's fake," he repeated.

"But security, they said nothing, not when we went through the tunnel either."

"It's a very good fake," Percy said. "Magic, remember? There's a department at the Ministry that provides muggle documentation when you need it. There's enough of a paper trail in the Muggle world now that if they did a check on me, my address is correct, my bank account and so on. I do exist there now."

"You know it's totally illegal to travel on a fake passport."

Percy shrugged. "What can I say? It's totally illegal to tell you about magic. It appears I'm more like my brothers than I knew."

"Oh yeah," Audrey said drolly with a roll of her eyes and a wide smile. "You're a total badass."

"Pretty much," Percy joked.

Bill looked between them. "I'm flabbergasted," he admitted.

"Why?" Audrey asked. "Because I'm a muggle or because you didn't know Percy was a rule breaker?"

"No," Bill said. "Percy just made a joke. I feel I should write it down or something or at least let Fred and George know."

Audrey's eyebrows climbed her forehead, her tone came out cold and her words sharp. "I'll have you know that Percy is funny. He's also kind, loyal, brave, and fantastic in bed. Just because you don't know these things doesn't make them less true."

Fleur shot Bill an annoyed look. "Could you please not offend everyone at the table. I would like to get to know these people and you are acting as if you are intent on never seeing them again."

Bill held his hands up placatingly. "I'm sorry I didn't mean it."

"It is not me to whom you should apologise," Fleur replied tartly before muttering insults in French under her breath. Bill nodded at Fleur then turned to Percy and Audrey. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend."

Audrey checked that Percy was unconcerned before she shrugged at Bill and picked up her drink. Before she took a sip, she said quietly "Avoir les deux pieds dans le même sabot."

Fleur choked back a laugh. "You speak Français?"

Audrey tipped her head in an affirmative. "Necessary for work since we travel through France. It wouldn't do to not understand what the traders are saying."

Fleur smiled broadly then shot Bill a hard look. "You will be polite. I wish to have Audrey as a friend, we have much in common."

Bill nodded raising his hand placatingly again. He looked at Percy. "You don't speak French as well do you?"

"No, I cheat and use translation charms. I plan on learning enough to get by while I'm with Audrey though."

"Ha!" Fleur said having heard Percy's response. "See, Percy will make an effort. You must. It is no good for you to rely on the charms to speak to my family."

Bill hunched down a little under his wife's insistent look. "I know, you've said so before."

Percy smirked at Bill. "Something for the to-do list?"

Bill grunted tipping the last of his drink into his mouth using it as a reason not to respond. "I'll get the next round, shall I? Same again?"

A chorus of yes sent him to the bar with Percy to help with the money leaving Audrey with Fleur once again.

"I would like to be friends," Fleur said. "It is not easy with Bill's family, it would be nice to have someone that doesn't judge me."

"I'd like that. Fred and George are great, they've been nothing but kind. I've not met Ron or Ginny yet. What are they like?"

Fleur frowned a little. "Ron, he was fourteen or fifteen when we first met. My magic, it is an allure, it would not affect you unless you prefer women. Ron, he was affected most severely. Perhaps it was just that time of his life, the hormones no?" Fleur shrugged elegantly. "I spent very little time around him. It is hard to know that you affect people and cannot stop it, it is uncomfortable to be stared at. You learn to block it out, but it makes it no less terrible. I am a quarter Veela, for me, it is not as bad as if I was half or full. That is why we live in small close villages."

"That sounds difficult. To be stared at and approached with unwanted attention."

"Yes," Fleur said. "Ginny, she was younger still and Molly, she did not like me and encouraged Ginny in this. She called me 'Phlegm' and pretended I could not hear."

"And I'm a muggle," Audrey said pulling a face. "I suppose she won't like me either."

"Perhaps, perhaps not," Fleur replied. "She was very much infatuated with Harry then, and Harry was as affected by me as Ron. Hermione was not pleased either although she remained polite. I understand. No one wants to see their chosen partner looking at another woman."

"Percy seems unbothered," Audrey said. "Not to say you aren't beautiful, you are. He told me you were beautiful and clever when I first asked about you. But he isn't acting any different than he does with my other girlfriends."

Fleur shrugged. "For some, it is not the same. Percy has you, he is in love, what need of me has he?"

"So, your allure doesn't work on those in love?" Audrey asked slightly sceptically. "I mean no offence, but it seems a bit of a reach. How would you know if they were in love or I don't know, just infatuated?"

"It is magic," Fleur replied simply.

Audrey groaned. "Magic. Bah humbug."

Fleur blinked. Audrey was saved from having to explain by the return of Bill and Percy. They handed out the drinks and retook their seats.

"Is work keeping you busy? Dad said he hasn't seen much of you at the Ministry and you didn't go to Sunday lunch last week. Mum said she'd invited you. She wanted us all back I think, well except Ginny and Ron." Bill commented as he settled back into his chair.

"If you're about to start campaigning for our Mother, then I would prefer you not to," Percy replied stiffly.

"Campaigning?"

Percy looked at Bill carefully, trying to determine how much he knew. "The owl I received extended an invitation to Sunday lunch for myself alone. It made no mention of Audrey or her being welcome. It also hinted at the opportunity to discuss my future and the wishes of those in the Order. Regardless of the fact I want nothing to do with Albus Dumbledore and his Order if Audrey isn't welcome I am not stepping foot over the threshold. The invitation did not contain an apology for insinuating Audrey was a Death Eater, nor an apology for accusing me of being one. The owl I returned to her made it quite clear that until both apologies were sincerely given in person, I would not be attending any meals at the Burrow. As far as I am concerned nothing has changed, I am estranged from my family."

"Well, not from Fred or George, and seeing as we're both sat here not us either, and did you really fall out with Charlie? I mean he's barely been back to England three times in the last few years."

"Yes, well, if you wish to be pedantic I am estranged from some of my family."

"Are you going to give them a chance to straighten it out?" Bill asked leaning back in his chair his pint glass in hand.

"That sounds an awful lot like campaigning for us to become one big happy family again."

Bill shrugged. "I'm the eldest, born mediator. It's basically my burden to carry to make you lot sort yourselves out. But you can't complain you haven't had the apology you're due if you never give them a chance to give it."

"Could we change the subject?" Percy asked pointedly.

"Sure," Bill agreed. "So you can change the wards at the Ministry. Odd that, because I had a chat with a mate of mine who happens to know a thing or two. He says that the Ministry wards are some of the most complex and powerful anyone could get to play with should they be given the opportunity. He also said that if someone were to try and break them, it would take the biggest team of overqualified curse breakers you could find. Which would be impossible because they would all laugh and say it couldn't be done. But you, little brother, waltzed into the Ministry and set up my ward matrix on the ward network itself after watching me do it once, and my ward set only sat on the surface."

Percy nodded. "I'm sorry if there was a question in that I think I missed it."

Bill shook his head. "No question. Just letting you know that I know."

Percy lifted an eyebrow at his brother. "I am unclear if the beer is affecting you more than you think since I'm quite sure you don't know what you think you do."

Bill grinned at Percy. "Oh really? So you weren't sharing a house with Fred and George? And that house didn't happen to belong to a Professor of Transfiguration?"

Percy shrugged. "I concede you might know one or two things."

Bill laughed. "Percy, you got careless. If you're going to have meetings with the Minister for Magic, the Order's former spy, the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and a muggle that no one is quite sure what to make of, then ward the door."

Percy blinked then groaned as he realised what Bill was driving at. "Damnit."

Bill smirked. "Yep. You got played brother mine. Though you have to hand it to them, you wouldn't have known if I hadn't told you."

"Well that's not entirely true," Audrey piped up.

"Pardon?" Percy asked Audrey.

"Well as I understand it, Kingsley asked for Minerva and Severus' wand oaths not to reveal certain information relating to your Ministry work. John Granger does not have a wand and Kingsley in a show of seemingly typical wizarding behaviour, forgot to ask John to keep it quiet. He told everyone else what was discussed the next morning. Although he did say, he hadn't told us the parts Kingsley hadn't wanted to be shared. He saw it as a gentleman's agreement since there was no way he could have made a wand oath even if Kingsley had asked."

"You know? You've never said."

"I've had no need to, although it's likely you would have found out when I knew more than you had told me. You would have told me if I needed to know and I know you take your job seriously," Audrey explained. "Between us all, we pieced a bit of a timeline together. I remember how you seemed to get more stressed out in November, then Christmas and New Year were a write-off. I feel bad you know, I wasn't exactly thrilled you were spending so much time at work. I'm sorry I added to your stress."

"No," Percy said. "Don't apologise. You didn't know, you couldn't know. You acted exactly as you should have."

"It's true then?" Bill said taken back. "I thought the twins were playing it up."

"I don't know what they've told you."

"You were running the Ministry. You were spying for the Order undermining Thickeness and killing the legislation You-Know-Who was trying to put through."

Percy shrugged.

Fleur leaned over covering Percy's hand with her own. "Thank you," she said sincerely pausing for a moment before taking her hand back. "The legislation to those considered not fully human that was coming was, well, I think I would have been more comfortable moving back to France."

Percy nodded accepting her thanks.

Audrey smiled at him as well then turned to Fleur. "So what do magical folk do when they go out for the evening? It's still early so we could catch a film if you fancied it?"

"Film?"

Audrey threw a rueful look over at Percy shrugging, she would let him decide if it was something they could do together.

Percy nodded. "Come on, we can either catch a taxi, or I can side-along you both then come back for Audrey."

Bill and Fleur exchanged a look. Audrey caught it and offered. "Fred and George have seen one, and they enjoyed it."

"I would like to see a film," Fleur said. "I have not travelled in a taxi either. We took the knight bus here, and it was not pleasant. They are not similar, are they?"

"No," Percy reassured the witch. "Muggle cars are quite comfortable."

"Then yes, I think we should go," Fleur said finishing her drink and looking expectantly at Bill.

Bill downed the dregs of his pint and nodded at Percy. "Let's go."

Chapter Text

Percy was working late. Audrey was away overnight, so his guilt was offset by the knowledge no one was waiting for him. When the door to his office opened, he didn't immediately look up. After hours visits to his office had become a bit of a regular thing. Those he had sent warning and shield rings to had come to thank him, to ask him about the magic he had given them. The explanations had become pat he had repeated it so many times.

"Percy."

His head lifted to regard his father. It seemed that they would forever be in this situation, Arthur visiting after hours.

"Percy, I want to apologise."

Percy blinked.

"I cannot continue like this." Arthur sat himself down in one of the visitor chairs. "This thing, whatever it is, that is causing this rift, I want it resolved. I have seen you working with Kingsley these last few weeks, and I will admit that I have perhaps previously not understood your role. I have not comprehended how hard you have been working and I want to apologise. When you were promoted, I— we. We were genuinely worried that you would be put into a position where you would have had to choose. Not between the Order and the Death Eaters but your life or that of your family. I did not want you in a position where you were forced to compromise yourself to keep yourself or us safe. I feared for you Percy, and somewhere, somehow, that fear for your welfare became the thing that drove us apart. I am ashamed that we have been through the events of the last month, and yet we are unable to sit and talk or share a meal."

"Audrey was not invited to the Burrow, and I would not insult her by attending without her."

"I didn't know Percy," Arthur replied. "I thought your mother had extended the invitation to the both of you."

"Even though you think she might be a Death Eater?"

Arthur sighed. "No, I do not think Audrey is a Death Eater. I am sure that she is the lovely young lady she appeared to be and for what it is worth I apologise for both Albus and your mother."

"And what of the accusation that I am a Death Eater?"

Arthur looked sadly at his son. "I have never considered that you would join the ranks of You-Know-Who's followers, never. It is inconceivable. I know that Molly has said it, but I fully believe she was angry and scared. The war, the risk of her children being injured or dying is not something your mother is able to deal with. I thought her words were merely lashing out in anger. I've never considered that she seriously meant them."

Percy looked away. "I believe she meant them. She accused Audrey of the same. She insists that Dumbledore knows best and everyone is either with him or against him. The world is not so black and white."

"I can only apologise that you feel that way. Will you come to the Burrow with me? Speak to your mother, explain this to her. Explain so that she can understand, and we can fix this. She wants what is best for you Percy, we both do."

Percy regarded his father. He wasn't sure, but he thought that Bill had something to do with this. Perhaps Bill in his role as the officious elder brother had told their father where the base of the problem lay so Arthur could at least get this far. It would be like Bill, meddling, officious, peacemaker. Although his father had come to see him more than once. Even though those visits had usually ended in heated words being exchanged, his father had still tried.

Percy sighed, irritatingly Bill was right. If he never gave them a chance to apologise, then they never could. It would be something to end the estrangement that had plagued them. He had had an owl from Ginny already stating as far as she was concerned Audrey could be pink with green spots as long as Percy was happy. And if just so happened Audrey was available to take Ginny muggle clothes shopping then they could get to know one another a little. It had made an odd sort of sense that Ginny had been unfazed about the Audrey being a muggle, if only to be contrary and get something she wanted out of it.

Audrey had seen the note and been somewhat relieved. She had agreed to the shopping trip when Ginny returned for the summer and had given Percy some fashion magazines to send with the reply. Audrey had confessed that Fleur's stories of how she had been treated by Ginny and Molly had had her worried and a shopping trip seemed a small price to pay for having one more family member on-side.

Which just left his mother, who would be at the Burrow cooking his father's dinner and any of her children she had managed to coax to her dinner table.

Arthur waited patiently allowing Percy to think through his answer. When Percy nodded slightly to indicate that he would accompany him, Percy saw his father's shoulder drop from the release of tension.

Percy tidied his files, folders and parchments, clearing his desk as he prepared to leave for the night. Arthur watched silently as he went through his routine patiently waiting until, satisfied that everything was as it should be, Percy summoned his cloak to him and indicated to the door, signalling he was ready to leave.

Molly sat at the kitchen table, the one they had sat around as a family as long as he could remember. The kitchen was in full flow of preparing the evening meal. The pans stirred by enchanted spoons, the ones they had bought her for presents as children. Heavily used and loved. This domestic scene, one he had seen so often, no longer warmed him. No longer gave the comforting feeling of everything been right with the world.

"Percy!" Molly said in greeting as he followed Arthur through the door. She rose from the table coming to greet Arthur in their customary manner. "I'll set you a place. You'll stay of course. You've lost weight, you are eating properly, aren't you? I can prepare a basket you can take home with you."

"Molly, no. Please, come sit down," Arthur urged his wife. "Please."

"Why? What is it? Arthur, what's wrong?"

"Molly, Percy has come to speak to us, both of us."

Percy watched his mother's worried face move from her husband to look at her son properly for the first time since he walked through the door. The distracted attention she had given him when he had walked in was nothing new, he was the quiet one. The one that no one noticed. Percy gestured to the table. "Shall we sit?"

Arthur summoned the tea things making up three cups. His mother casually halted dinner preparations with a twitch of her wand. She sat at the table accepting the cup of tea Arthur pushed on her and Percy joined them accepting his own.

Percy exchanged a glance with his father, Molly caught it and crossed her arms. "Would someone explain to me what is going on?"

Arthur broke the tension. "Molly, when Percy received his promotion things were said. Things that have been left hanging between us. I want very much for our family to be whole again Molly, I want Percy to feel welcome in our home and, so we thought it best if we cleared the air."

"Of course our family is whole," Molly rebutted. "Percy was working with Kingsley, Kingsley was working with the Order. Although I'm not happy that no one told me that you were doing so and putting you in danger like that. But it's over now, You-Know-Who has gone. Of course, Percy is welcome here, he always has been."

"Molly, love, it isn't that simple. You said some terrible things to Percy and while I don't think you meant them, and said them in anger you do need to apologise."

"What things?"

Arthur grimaced. "Molly you accused Percy of siding with Riddle, you accused him of joining the Death Eaters."

Molly frowned as she looked at her husband and son. She turned to Percy. "You refused to listen, you abused poor Harry. Accused him of terrible things, of putting us all in danger when it was You-Know-Who all along. You refused to join the Order or leave your position at the Ministry even though it was clear that You-Know-Who was going to take over which he did. You repudiated Albus Dumbledore more than once Percy. What was I meant to think?"

Arthur drew back from his wife in unhappy surprise. Percy had remained silent and passive as his parents spoke and fought to remain stoic in the face of the idea that his mother hadn't just been angry. "You were not supposed to believe that I would join the Death Eaters," Percy said quietly but firmly. "You were supposed to believe better of me as my mother if nothing else. I have never demonstrated that I agreed with the propaganda of the Death Eater movement. I was raised not to discriminate, I was raised to believe that everyone deserved equal treatment and respect. You, my mother, taught me these things, yet you, my mother, thought I would abandon the principles by which I was raised."

"You refused to join the Order Percy. You refused to listen to Albus, the only wizard who was leading the fight against him. You chose your career over us, Percy. You chose the Ministry, the Ministry riddled with witches and wizards working for You-Know-Who, over your family. No son I raised would do that. Each of my children except you have expressed a desire to join the Order to fight against You-Know-Who and yet you did not."

"You are judging your children's worth by their willingness to sign up to a vigilante group? A group that you have expressly forbidden your children from joining," Percy clarified incredulously.

"Molly, what you are saying makes no sense. Percy had a right to choose to join the Order or not. Not joining is hardly an indicator of joining the other side. But regardless of that, Percy is not a Death Eater, nor has he ever considered being one. You owe him an apology, Molly."

Molly looked at Arthur and Percy in turn. "Yes, I can see that I was wrong," she nodded. "I do, and I am sorry. I should not have suggested that you were a Death Eater."

Percy nodded his acceptance unsure if the apology was enough to heal the hurt that his mother clearly held reservations about his loyalties, especially when it had been given in the manner it had.

"Right, now, that is cleared up would you care to tell me why you didn't invite Audrey for Sunday lunch?" Arthur asked his wife.

Molly blinked. "Well because it was a family lunch, I wanted us all to be together. I am sure that Audrey would have understood that. Although your reply made it quite clear you thought she should have been invited."

"Yes, I believe that she should. Audrey is my fiancée you insinuated that she might be a Death Eater. I believe that an apology for that is owed as well. It disturbs me greatly that you believe so little of me that you accuse me of consorting with Death Eaters as well as being one myself."

"Nonsense Percy, Audrey appeared in the middle of an Order meeting. The precautions that were taken were not so unusual. If Allister had still been alive, then she would never have been able to enter the house without someone to vouch for her. You didn't join the Order, Percy, you don't realise that security is taken very seriously."

"Professor Dumbledore performs Legilimency on everyone that is introduced to the Order, does he?"

"Well," Molly hesitated. "I don't know what security measures he considers to be necessary as anyone entering an Order meeting has already been vetted, but it would not be so unusual for legilimency to be used."

Percy shook his head. "And you can't see the problem with that? The invasion of privacy? The inability of most who have no skill in occlumency to protect those parts of themselves that need not bear scrutiny? Nothing but powerful occlumency shields could stop Professor Dumbledore taking anything he wished from such an intrusion."

"No one said it was pleasant Percy," Molly refuted. "But we were at war, and sometimes the ends justify the means."

Percy shook his head appalled that Dumbledore would demand such things from those who volunteered their efforts but pushed the thoughts away. The Order had grown, if it was a necessary ritual, it seemed few objected. "Audrey is not affiliated with the Death Eaters."

"Percy, you have no way to be sure. She might be a plant to gain information from you or your family or the Order."

"She isn't!" Percy snapped. "Please stop it. Your paranoia is unwarranted and unwelcome. Audrey is a muggle. She wouldn't qualify to become a Death Eater, and it seems highly unlikely she will sign up to an organisation that believes in the extermination of people like her."

"A muggle?" Molly repeated shocked.

"Yes," Percy said. "A muggle, I met her in muggle London."

"She's not a squib?"

"No, I haven't researched her ancestry as I saw no need, but her parents and grandparents are non-magical," Percy replied.

"Albus he said he couldn't feel much of a magical signature from her. I didn't want to believe him, but you've said its true, oh Percy! What were you thinking? You have to end it," Molly said earnestly. "I'm sorry Percy, but you've got to end it before it gets serious."

"I will most certainly not!" Percy responded indignantly.

"Yes Percy, yes, you must."

"Why in Merlin's name?"

"Percy she's a muggle. And she came here! Oh, Merlin! She came here, we'll be arrested, thrown into Azkaban! Oh, Percy, what were you thinking? Your father could lose his job and then where will we be?" Molly's alarm and distress visibly grew as she spoke.

"Why would Dad lose his job?" Percy asked confused.

"Because she's a muggle and it's against the law Percy! The Statute of Secrecy. I told you, I told you every day while you were young that you weren't to let the muggles see and now look you've gone and told her."

Percy held up his hand. "Yes, I've told her. Due to the upcoming battle, I thought it the honourable thing to do but Audrey understands the law, she understands the risks that we're taking, and she isn't going to say anything. No one would believe her anyway. We're going to marry and start a family. If the child is magical, then she'll be told anyway."

"Married? A family? but Percy you can't!"

"Why can't I?"

"Because she's a muggle!"

"I fail to see why that means I cannot marry and have children with the woman I love."

"But your children they might be squibs!"

"Any child I had whether with a witch or a muggle has the chance to be a squib."

"Not with the right witch and there are rituals to help with conception, but she's a muggle!"

"And it makes not a lick of difference."

"Of course, it makes a difference Percy. She's a muggle, she has no magic. A child needs magic in the womb for healthy development. They need to have magic running through their mother's blood, the blood they share to aid their development."

"That logic seems inherently flawed," Percy replied testily. "Especially since squibs are born of witches and wizards and the muggle-born are born of muggles. Is your only objection to Audrey that she is a muggle?"

"Percy, she is a muggle. It's insurmountable, you can't marry her. Percy, please reconsider. Find a nice witch, one that you can take the Ministry functions and what not. A Slytherin if you must and if she's from a pureblood family, we, your father and I, can brush up on the old ways. We can meet away from here. Your career Percy, a muggle wife, won't be able to help you in the Ministry. You need someone who can stand beside you, build a network of the society wives. Someone who can garner support for you in that way."

"You think I should marry someone like Narcissa Malfoy?" Percy asked incredulously. "She performed that exact role for her husband, but I did not know you admired her for it."

"I don't," Molly replied stoutly. "But I am not so blind as to not understand that Narcissa Malfoy did much to build her husband's position within the Ministry and their toadies. You will, if you wish to succeed in the Ministry, need a witch who can help you do that and Audrey cannot. And she's a muggle. Oh, Percy, how could you?" Molly buried her face in her hands, elbows propped on the table refusing to look at Percy.

Arthur and Percy exchanged confused concerned glances. So far this was not going the way either had hoped.

"How could I what?" Percy asked reluctantly.

"Muggles Percy! The influence of muggles on the magical community has a, a diluting effect if you will. We need to halt the disintegration of our culture which is why the Statute of Secrecy was put in place, to protect our society. It became essential to take steps to establish a clear and clean separation between the two races. Because we are magical, we can never suffer a muggle race which has nothing to do with us to claim the leadership of our people. It would be absurd, and your actions are the very thing that risk that happening. I thought you understood, I thought you knew better. Percy, muggles are dangerous."

"Audrey is not dangerous."

"Perhaps one muggle alone is not," Molly said. "But if she tells her friends and they believe her, and they tell their friends and families then the whole thing comes down, you will expose our world to the muggles. There are more of them than us, we could never survive if they joined forces against us. They won't understand what magic can be used for and what it cannot, they will just see an easy solution to their problems and when they don't get the answers they want, then they will hunt us. That's why we went into hiding in the first place."

"I'm not telling the whole of the muggle world I'm telling one woman."

"But Percy that's how it starts. You tell one muggle, and someone else tells another and then another and another."

"Mother there are over fifty-eight million people in Great Britain alone. There are not enough magical people to each tell a muggle and what of the parents of the muggle-born who already know about magic because of their children the so-called collapse has yet to happen. "

"Muggle-borns join our world, Percy, they don't stay in both."

"Some do, but we digress. I am not giving up Audrey. We are getting married, and that is the end of it. Will you welcome her to the family or not?"

"I'm sorry Percy. I think you are making a mistake and I cannot will not, be party to it. Perhaps you've gotten away with telling her because you're working with Kingsley and you think your children will be magical, but you are risking everything and no. No I cannot," Molly threw her hands up, shaking her head she stood from the table and retreated to the kitchen.

"Then I'm sorry but I shall not give up Audrey, and it seems we are at an impasse," Percy said stiffly.

Arthur looked after his wife then indicated Percy to stand. Quietly they both left the kitchen for the garden and apparated away.

Percy took Arthur's arm when they landed from the first apparition and side-alonged him to the front door of his flat. Leading the way in Percy stripped his cloak and shoes off hanging them up and holding out his hand for his father's outerwear. Divested, Percy led the way to the sofa dropping on to it and waving his wand to summon the whiskey decanter and glasses. Healthy measures were poured, and Percy took a mouthful before he spoke.

"I cannot return to the Burrow. I will not put Audrey aside. I love her, we are engaged, and we will marry. Audrey is to be my wife, and she was treated abominably when she was at the Burrow. I will not expose her to the same thing again."

Arthur nodded silently in agreement looking around his son's home in interest. There were things that he did not recognise, things that he assumed were muggle in origin but put his curiosity to one side to deal with the current crisis at hand.

"Percy. There are things I should tell you things I didn't think you needed to be told but I see that I was wrong. Things that might shed light on your mother's attitude.

We thought you too young to remember the war, we thought that you'd escape the worst of it. I told Bill and Charlie, I'm sorry it's taken so long to tell you, but there are things you should know. It's about your mother, Percy."

Percy looked up at his father in interest. Arthur settled back into his chair obviously organising his thoughts.

"Her parents died shortly after our wedding. Dragon pox took them both. Molly was the youngest, and while she was graduated and married, she had been close to her family. I had married into the Prewitts if you like. It hit her hard when they died, and she clung fiercely to her brothers and me more than ever because of it.

We had always planned a family, we hoped to be able to have more than one child, but nothing was certain. Bill came along, and we were delighted, then Charlie, then you, then the twins, Ron, and then Ginny. We were happy. Each child we thought would be the last. It's unheard of to have so many successful births. We were blessed. Yes, your mother wanted a daughter, but we would never have terminated a pregnancy. Magical children are a gift, more so because of the problems so many families face." Arthur sipped his drink shifting to get comfortable for what was likely to be an uncomfortable conversation.

"When the first war started, Molly was more concerned about raising you then the fighting. I was involved in the periphery but nothing dangerous. Nothing that would risk my ability to come home to you all. Molly's brothers, they were involved in the front lines, and they paid for it." Arthur shook his head. "Molly, she was lost. I honestly thought I might lose her, she was depressed, grieving. I could do nothing to help her, then Albus came along.

It was unwise of me, but I admit I didn't know what else could be done. Molly was so deep in her grief it was unfathomable. Albus offered her something, something that helped her pull herself out of the despair that was drowning her. She came back to me, to us, slowly, but she came back. She was a mother again, and I could breathe a sigh of relief my children would not be motherless, I would not have to mourn my wife. The price for that seemed to be that Molly believed in Albus.

We attended a few Order meetings, but my job provided very little in the way of useful information and your mother's time was taken up with your care. Then it was all over. He was gone, and I thought that we could finally get on with living.

I know you think badly of me for my job and perhaps you have a point. I never sought advancement, I never lusted for the fame and glory that came with the higher profile and prestigious departments. But Percy, I had seven children and a wife to support. In the shifting sands of political alliances, I could not afford to risk losing my job. The department isn't glamorous, and it is much maligned, but it pays a good wage. It meant that while you may never have had new everything and anything, you always had food. You always had a roof over your head, and you always had a family that loved you dearly." Arthur looked over at his son. "Job security means much more when there are children at home that look up to you. Rely on you to love them, shelter them, feed and clothe them. We might never have been wealthy, but we were rich in the things that are often overlooked."

Percy nodded. "I know what I said when I left that summer was cruel. I do regret demeaning you in that way. I have never doubted that as little as I seemed to have in common with you all at times, I wasn't part of the family. It was only after the events of the summer where I felt I could no longer stay and I am unsure how much of it was justified hurt and how much was stubbornness."

Arthur laughed. "Stubbornness is a Weasley trait I am afraid, along with the temper and the red hair. But you are my son, and I have never stopped loving you or your siblings, nor has your mother and we are very proud of each and every one of you. But I digress." Arthur sighed looking down into the tumbler of whiskey he was swirling gently. "Your mother isn't the same witch I married, her brothers' death broke her. Albus helped her, the loyalty she showed him after was a concern, but what could I say? Molly took her cues from Albus. I don't hold with blood supremacy and wouldn't abide it in any of my children. Molly never discriminated, but Albus enforced the idea in her that muggle-borns belonged in the magical world. That Muggle-borns should be shown how to live in the magical world, and that rejection of the muggle world was only natural.

It wasn't until Ron made friends with Harry that I began to realise that Molly was still loyal to Albus in ways I thought she had left behind. The boy clearly had problems at home, but when Albus told Molly that Harry was to stay with his relatives, she agreed. Not a word to be said about it. I suggested we brought him to the Burrow and she wouldn't hear of it saying Albus had said that the muggles were the safest place for him and moving him was a risk to him and us.

I couldn't change her mind and to be honest Percy, perhaps I should have tried harder. For Harry's sake. When he came to the Burrow, I saw a sad little boy starved of love. Molly has always loved you fiercely she treated him as one of her own and Harry needed that. But she was adamant that he was to return to the muggles, that Albus had a plan and we could do nothing more for him than offer a few weeks in our home over the holidays."

"I don't understand why she believes in him. Ginny could have died."

Arthur looked pained. "We weren't told."

"We wrote! I certainly kept you informed."

"You did," Arthur said. "But when we followed it up with Albus he brushed it off as students playing tasteless pranks."

"Students were petrified. Penelope, Hermione, both of them and a first year!"

Arthur nodded. "Yes, but I couldn't find out anything about their condition as I wasn't responsible for them, and again Albus assured us that while the students were in the infirmary, they were not harmed in any way, and the cure was imminently going to be administered."

"They were petrified for months."

"Percy, if it had been one of you we could have done more. Our hands were tied, they weren't our children. Molly wouldn't hear of keeping you from attending school. She was of the mind that Hogwarts with Dumbledore at the helm couldn't be dangerous."

"But Sirius Black broke into the castle a man accused of murder! How was that safe? The school was surrounded by Dementors!"

"I know Percy. Truly I do, but there was nothing to be done. Albus was the Headmaster, and he told us that everything was under control. Albus saved your mother. I don't know what he did to do it. After all this time, I don't want to know, but whatever it was, it was enough to pull her out of her grief enough to get her through the hardest time of her life when her children and her husband weren't enough. She will never stop believing him, and Albus Dumbledore believes Magic is Might."

"She will never accept Audrey, will she?"

"I don't know Percy I truly don't. But please, son, don't cut your self off again. Whatever your mother says or thinks or believes, I have no problem with Audrey, I don't wish for this to be the next things to come between us."

Percy nodded sipping his drink with quiet resignation.

Arthur allowed the silence to stand for a few minutes then half guilty looked over at his son. "Is that a telly-vision?"

Percy's head snapped up registering what his father had asked. He smiled, amusement and weary resignation in the small smile that wormed its way on to his face. "It's a television Dad. Here, let me show you how it works."

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

August 1998

"Mum is up to something," Audrey said as they arrived at the out of the way ginnel that Percy apparated them to.

"What do you mean?" he asked as he followed her out of the narrow, overgrown path to the main footpath. He offered his arm as they turned up the road that would lead to Audrey's parents' house.

"I mean Mum was insistent that we visit this weekend and that both of us come."

"Well we haven't seen them in a few weeks," Percy offered. "It's probably only been once since we told them we were engaged."

"Yes, that's true, but still, there was something in her tone."

"I imagine we'll find out soon enough," Percy said genially. "It is unlikely it will be anything too terrible."

"Ha! You say that because you didn't have to talk her out of that party she wanted to throw."

"It was kind of her to offer."

"It would have been awful. She would have found every relative and school classmate from her childhood to drag there and parade us round like prize cattle. We've have been stuck in a room with people we didn't know, who would most likely delightedly tell you that they hadn't seen me since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. Oh, and hadn't I turned out well? And weren't we a lovely couple? We could chop children up into small pieces for fun, and they still would say the same things."

"You seem to have thought about this a lot," Percy commented.

"Experience," Audrey said grimly. "My cousin's christenings. God, they were awful. I swear I didn't think I had that many living relatives."

"Your cousins are ten now yes? There's a chance a few of them might have died," Percy offered nonchalantly tilting his head towards her with a smile of conspiracy.

Audrey smothered a laugh, lightly hitting his arm in admonishment. "Percy that's awful!"

He grinned unrepentantly. "I said might."

"Yes, well despite your proposed wish to bump off my elderly relatives, I thought the party might be better missed completely."

"Will they be at the wedding? Assuming they live that long?" Percy asked as they turned on to her parent's street.

"Probably. Mum will invite them."

They arrived at the bottom of the short drive on which Audrey's mother's car was parked. A narrow paved path ran up the side of the car to the front door. Percy gestured her forward. "Shall we learn our fate?"

Lunch was, as ever, tasty and plentiful. Rick Stone took great pride in his ability to lay on Sunday lunch, and it was the one meal he refused to let his wife help with. Once everyone had eaten their fill, the coffee, and tea had been brewed and drunk the small family sat back to take stock.

Percy was adamant that he would help with the dishes and dutifully removed the plates along with Audrey's Mum Lizzy. In the kitchen, Lizzy belted the apron around her waist with quick efficiency. "Wash or dry?" she offered.

"Wash please," Percy said rolling up his own sleeves.

Lizzy acquiesced and returned to the dining room to retrieve the rest of the plates. Percy began to run the warm water into the sink and sort the mound of dishes on the sides into a semblance of order.

"I fetched your wine," Lizzy announced as she came back through. "You might as well have it while you wash up and we can have another cuppa before you go. We'd like to speak to you both anyway."

"Audrey said you were plotting something," Percy admitted accepting the wine and placing it on the window sill in front of the sink.

"Ha! Little Miss Smarty-Pants."

"Something about insisting we came?"

"Well," Lizzy said as she found a clean tea towel in the draw and began to dry the glassware Percy had carefully washed. "I do want to speak to you both and its easier face to face than over the phone."

Percy's head shot up at her words his brow crinkling in concern. "Lizzy, there's nothing wrong is there? With you or Rick?"

"What?" Lizzy asked confused.

"You're both well?"

"Oh, oh no! Silly boy, whatever did you think that for? No, we're both fine. It's not that."

Percy let a breath of relief out. "I'm glad."

"So," Lizzy said after some moments pause. "Audrey tells me she's met some of your family."

Percy assented. "My elder brother and his wife. My younger twin brothers and my sister, who is the youngest of us all."

"How many siblings did you say you have?"

"Six," Percy replied. "Bill the eldest is married, his wife Fleur is French. Then there is Charlie, but he lives and works abroad in Romania in animal conservation. Then me, then the twins Fred and George. Then Ron who Audrey hasn't met then Ginny."

"My, your mother had her hands full with all those boys."

"Yes," Percy agreed. "I suppose she did."

"Audrey also said you'd met up with your father?" Lizzy asked delicately.

Percy nodded fixing his eyes out of the window, on the garden. The grass was a tired winter green surrounded on three sides by borders of plants and shrubs with a small shed tucked in one corner. The fence rose up behind the plants shielding the Stones' garden from the neighbours. The housing estate was only ten years old, and the trees and shrubs that had been planted were only just beginning to fully mature. "We've put a few things behind us. We are going to make a bit more effort to see each other and speak."

"That's good isn't it?" Lizzy asked softly.

"Yes. Yes, I suppose it is."

"Well, I'd like to meet your family. If you think we could?"

Percy shook himself focusing his rambling thoughts, looking over at Lizzy. "I don't know. My mother and I are still not speaking."

"That's a shame, but I'd still like to meet the others." Lizzy laid a hand on his arm. "I know you're only just getting through your estrangement, and it's great that you are, so maybe not straight away, but, we'd like to meet the other half of Audrey's family. So we know who is who and we can build some sort of relationship with them. These are the people we are going to have to compete with to see you at Christmas after all. Not to mention babysitting duties once you start a family. I need time to suss out the competition you know."

Percy smiled at Lizzy's humour. "I will do my best. It's early days yet."

"Well, then that will do nicely. And if it doesn't work out we'll get you both on all the holidays, won't we?"

Percy concurred then asked Lizzy about her work. Lizzy accepted the change in conversation and related an anecdote about her colleague while they finished the dishes.

Once everything was done Percy helped Lizzy fill the tea tray with the various necessary things and carried it through to the lounge for her. Lizzy dished out the tea and coffee to each person then sat on the sofa next to her husband and cleared her throat.

"Audrey, Percy."

"Yes, Mum?" Audrey replied shooting Percy a knowing look.

Lizzy ignored Audrey and continued. "You both are aware we wanted you here, and it's because we wanted to speak to you both about your future. We understand that currently, you aren't looking to get married soon. Instead, you want to save up for a deposit for a house and the costs of the wedding. Well, your Dad and I think that there is merit in your plan. It is no bad thing that you try living together properly. Sleepovers most nights of the week aren't living together Audrey," Lizzy explained cutting across the objection Audrey was about to make. "Living together is about finding out that Percy never replaces the loo roll or that you leave the last half a splash of milk in the fridge because you didn't want to be the one that used the last of it. Or find out which of you cooks the best and which of you is willing to learn because you cannot live on takeaway. Living together is about more than just sharing bills and space. So, since we agree that its sensible of you to want to live together, we've decided that we will gift you a sum of money to help towards your deposit."

"Mum, Dad that's really generous of you, but I've got some savings, Percy has too."

Lizzy shrugged. "Technically its money we saved for you. When you and Rachel were born we put a little money aside for you and Rachel both. We did that every month until you turned eighteen. Originally it was to help you both go to university if you wanted. Rachel had hers when she attended Loughborough, to help with feeding her although I doubt it was spent on actual food."

Audrey grinned. "She assured me it was possible to live on nothing but liquids for a week before you felt it."

"Yes well. Anyway, you haven't chosen to go to university, so we thought that putting it towards a deposit for a house might be the next best thing. Or, if you want, if you've got the savings between you, you can leave it alone and use it for the wedding. Rick, be a dear and get the bank book, will you? I left it in the hall table."

Rick got up and left the room, returning moments later and handed Audrey the book. Audrey looked at her parents waiting for permission before she opened the book looking for the last printed page.

"Mum, Dad, that's six thousand pounds." Audrey gasped her eyes wide in shock.

"Well," Lizzy said looking at her daughter fondly. "We wanted you to have a good start, and with you following in the family business you can't expect to get a very high wage. Your Uncle is already paying you top drawer salary until you finish your training."

"Thank you," Audrey said standing up to hug both her parents the bank book clutched in her hand. Percy also stood to offer his thanks.

Lizzy reclaimed the bank book from Audrey. "You're the named beneficiary, but you'll need one of us to access the money. Once you've settled on what to do with it, your Dad or I can arrange the transfer."

"Do you have any plans for your house?" Rick asked.

Audrey and Percy looked at each other before turning back to Rick. "Not specifically," Percy answered. "I'd like a garden. Audrey would like to remain near to or in Richmond. We'd like something with a bit of space, maybe two or three bedrooms, but we haven't given it an awful lot of thought."

"Well," Lizzy said with a smile clapping her hands together with enthusiasm. "That is where Rick comes in."

Rick sat up facing Percy and Audrey. "I wondered if you would let me help you find somewhere. I can do a bit of the legwork for you. The details you've given me will be enough to start with. We can find out what's available, then if you like, we can sit down and work out a proper budget for you both."

Percy smiled. "I would find that helpful. The few estate agent windows we've looked in have had such a broad range of houses I'm not sure what we should be looking out for."

"We can start with three and two beds with a garden in the Richmond area. Do you not want to stay close to your work? Commuting across town can be hard work some days," Rick asked.

"I don't mind it," Percy said. "Audrey has more ties to the Richmond area than I do to where I live. I quite like the café where we met, but there is nothing to stop us going there even if I no longer live where I do."

"Don't let Audrey bully you into something," Lizzy warned. "You've got to be honest about this. Buying a house is a big step, if one of you does all the compromising, then neither of you will be happy."

"I assure you that my commute is a lesser concern," Percy said. "My parents have a large garden and a small orchard attached to their home. Outdoor space is much more valuable to me."

"Fair enough," Lizzy said. "So, give Rick a week, and he can find you some properties then we can all go and do the viewings. The viewings are my favourite bit."

Percy left work early. No more than half an hour but the frisson of guilt he felt for leaving early annoyed him. He had been in early and worked late all week. Half an hour would matter to no one. He had managed to shower and change and begun to consider what he would cook for dinner when a knock sounded at the door.

He paused, some instinct screaming caution. Very, very few people knew where he lived. Fewer still would arrive unexpectedly.

The knock came again.

Percy's wand was in his hand as he opened the door, a spell on the tip of his tongue.

The person on the other side of the door didn't make him feel any more comfortable.

"Dad."

"Percy."

A pause.

"Might I come in?"

There was the smallest of hesitations before Percy stepped away from the door allowing his father entry.

Arthur closed the door behind him feeling his son's wards sizzle and snap as they went back up. "Thank you."

Percy led him to the living space after claiming his coat and shoes. Arthur settled on the sofa, accepting the offer of a drink. Percy moved to the kitchen briefly returning with two bottles of beer from the fridge. A simple spell had the caps off, and he proffered one to his father.

"Oh, is this the beer that Bill was telling me about? You went to a muggle pub?"

Percy took his seat relaxing back into the sofa cushions. "Similar but not the same. This is one Fred, and George found in a supermarket. I quite like it."

Arthur tried the drink. "It's terrific," he commented with a slight shake of the head in admiration. He bit back on the urge to compliment the clever muggles who had brewed it. Fred had quietly pulled him to one side and explained 'clever muggles' came across as patronising and condescending. Muggles weren't clever because they managed simple things without magic. They were clever because they had discovered X-rays and put a man on the moon and taken pictures of planets. Arthur had been surprised at Fred until Fred had imparted that Hermione had commented on how awkward it had made her feel interacting with him. Fred had assured him that Percy wouldn't stand for such a perceived attitude towards Audrey.

"We don't make a beer like it," Percy said not noticing Arthur's introspection.

"It's good. If you could, perhaps you could get me some? I could keep it in the shed to have while I tinker with the car. A cooling charm won't hurt it will it?"

"No cooling charms are fine, and that's not a car Dad. It's completely behind the times and so full of magic it wouldn't register as a muggle artefact anymore."

"I know," Arthur agreed. "It's officially an experimental wizarding transportation according to the DoM. They ask me about it every now and again, but I doubt it will ever catch on. It's a good excuse, however. I've got a comfy chair in there you know. A nice bit of quiet to catch up on the latest arithmancer journal or the quidditch match analysis. It was hard to get a bit of calm in a house as full as ours, and well I suppose I've just not broken the habit. Not that you need to mention that to your Mum mind. She tolerates my strange hobby, but I feel she might not be as forgiving of the truth."

Arthur looked up from his beer over at his son. Hesitantly he spoke. "If you would permit me, I would very much like to make the acquaintance of Ms Stone. Fred and George speak very highly of her."

Percy put the beer bottle down on the coffee table. "It's up to Audrey. She is aware of the reasons of the split and is not inclined to see it as a simple misunderstanding. She is accepting but wary after the more recent events. If she is at any point uncomfortable..."

"I did not think you thought me an ogre." Arthur protested.

"Perhaps not," Percy acknowledged. "But whatever you might have heard, Audrey is a muggle. She is mine to defend and protect, and I shall do so to the last breath in my body. So, if she feels threatened at any point I will ask you to leave."

Arthur met Percy's stare. "You have my word."

Percy nodded shortly. "She'll be here soon, if she is amenable, then you are welcome to stay."

Arthur professed his thanks, reclining in his chair, Percy picked his beer back up and tried to release the tension he could feel gathering in the back of his neck. "Have you been to any Quidditch matches recently?" he asked Arthur to break the uneasy silence growing between them.

"Not recently, although if Ginny is going to try out for a team once she graduates I should probably make more of an effort to go. I keep up via the Prophet, but it's hardly the same? You?"

"Not since last year a match in February I went with some work colleagues. Puddlemere, Good game though considering how fast they caught the snitch I think they were worried about the Magpies seeker. She has shown promise in games since I believe."

"Yes, the pundits have said she might yet rival Krum."

"That seems unlikely, Krum was already an exceptional seeker at seventeen, Johansson is good, but she's already in her twenties. Krum has three years at least on her, she might be as good, but I doubt that unless she is truly remarkable, she'll eclipse him."

Arthur protested Percy's stance, and their conversation became more comfortable as they discussed the relative merits of the current players flying. A half an hour passed barely noted by either until the sound of a key in the lock brought the conversation to a screeching halt, and the previously forgotten tension between the two returned abruptly. Percy shot his father one more concerned look before getting to his feet followed by Arthur.

"Percy, are you home?" Audrey called from the hall her voice muffled as she removed her coat and shoes.

"In here," Percy answered moving towards the door.

Audrey came into the room a large envelope in her hand, halting at the sight of Percy's guest. She moved over to Percy's side smoothly, unruffled but her wary gaze did not leave Arthur.

Percy took her hand squeezing it. "Audrey, I would like to introduce you to my father."

Audrey glanced up at Percy, he tilted his head in encouragement, she squeezed his hand and stepped forward, away from Percy towards their guest.

"Mr Weasley,"

"Miss Stone," Arthur replied formally holding out his hand.

"Audrey, please," Audrey offered as she accepted the handshake.

"Arthur," Arthur offered with a warm smile.

Audrey nodded and indicated the seat that Arthur had risen from. Audrey sat closest to Arthur's armchair next to Percy on the sofa, tossing the envelope down on the coffee table.

"Is there any wine?" Audrey asked Percy. "Since we're starting early, I'll have a beer if there isn't any. Are you staying for dinner?" Audrey turned to address Arthur.

Percy flicked his wand and noises from the kitchen resulted in a glass of wine floating towards Audrey who plucked it from the air.

Arthur threw a glance at Percy waiting for his cue from his son as to if he would be welcome. Receiving none Arthur turned back to Audrey. "If you would find it no inconvenience, then I would be delighted to stay for dinner."

"Excellent. We'll have Chinese if that's alright?" She looked at Arthur and Percy in turn.

Percy agreed wordlessly, and Arthur did the same. "Thank you, I would be delighted."

"So," Audrey said sipping her wine. "George and Fred have told me that you have a fascination with muggle culture. Your job is something related to what you call muggle artefacts? Is this visit an opportunity to stare at the muggle like an exhibit in a zoo or have you come with the intention of suing for peace?"

Arthur blinked at the bluntness of the statement but acceded that some suspicion might be warranted. "Audrey," Arthur began. "I have already apologised to Percy for my role in the split in our family. I hope that we will be able to move forward and begin again although I by no means expect that to be immediate. Percy is my son, you will become my daughter in law. I wish to get to know you. Yes, I have an interest in your culture. It is different to ours, and I have not been so fortunate to be able to spend time in it. I do not, however, wish to observe you like a monkey in a zoo?"

Audrey glanced once more at Percy. He was watching their interaction, but she could detect no censure or disagreement from him. "Well then, if Percy is amenable, I am sure we could do something towards getting to know one another. Shall we order?" Audrey got to her feet to retrieve the takeaway menu handing it to Arthur. He accepted it opening it up to look at the list of dishes.

"Is there something you recommend," he asked Audrey.

"You've not had Chinese either?"

Arthur shook his head.

"Well then perhaps we could order a banquet. That would allow you to try a little of many dishes. We did the same when George and Fred first tried it."

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Arthur replied smiling and handing the menu back.

Percy roused himself fishing his mobile from his pocket. "Which one?" he asked Audrey.

"Oh well I'm quite hungry today was a lot of lifting so number five?"

Percy sent her a quick smile of agreement and dialled the number, he placed the order and hung up. "Half an hour or so," he announced. "Do you want to come with me to pick it up?"

"No," Audrey replied. "You can go, I'll stay here if you don't mind. You won't be long after all will you."

"No," Percy said with a faint smile.

"Is that a telephone," Arthur asked curiosity winning out.

"A mobile telephone," Audrey replied. "One that can be carried anywhere, they are becoming more and more common. Telephones usually must be plugged into the socket to connect to the telephone lines to work, but mobile phones don't. They are a bit like the mirrors that Fred, George, and Hermione made, but you only get sound and no picture."

Arthur nodded in understanding but forbore from asking more questions about the muggle device. "I am not sure I know what it is you do for a living Audrey," Arthur asked a little awkwardly in an attempt to keep the conversation going.

"I work for my family's antique business," Audrey replied. "I assist in the valuations buying and selling. My uncle took over from my grandparents."

"That's based in London?"

"Yes, though we travel quite a lot for auctions and house clearances. We spend a few weeks a year in France collecting things from the markets there."

"Bill, my eldest, his wife is from France," Arthur said. "Which part do you travel to?"

"From Paris to the east then down the border to the south coast then back up the west coast finishing off in Paris again," Audrey answered sipping her wine slowly. It was so very awkward and odd. She wondered if this is what Percy had felt like upon meeting her family.

Silence fell over them again, with no one seemingly able to find something they could say that might make the situation easier.

"So, what is it you do Arthur? Obviously, the twins told me it was to do with muggle things," Audrey asked a little desperately.

"Err, well, my department investigates muggle artefacts that have had magic applied to them. We try to keep them out of muggle hands to preserve the Statute of Secrecy and prevent the muggles getting hurt." Arthur explained. He hesitated, wanting to ask questions about the muggle world and the artefacts he came across, but sure that Percy and possibly Audrey would take offence, he held back, and the conversation lapsed once more.

Audrey glanced around the room searching for something that they could discuss and keep going as a topic. If they couldn't find anything, then the rest of this evening would be acutely painful. Her eyes fell on the envelope on the table. She leapt upon the idea and reached for the envelope.

"Dad came into the shop today. He dropped these off for us to take a look at." Audrey pulled the wad of papers from the envelope, handing them over to Percy. "I've not had a look through yet, but I thought we could go over them. I know we need to sort out the budget, but Mum is chomping at the bit a little and well Dad," she shrugged and turned to Arthur who was looking on in polite curiosity. "We're looking at buying a house," Audrey explained.

Arthur blinked. "I see," he said hesitantly shooting a confused look at his son.

"Is there a problem?" Audrey asked bristling at his reaction.

"Ah, no. I'm sorry. I wasn't aware Percy and yourself were actually married. You are still using the name Stone," Arthur trailed off at Audrey's confused and surprised expression. She turned to Percy.

"Percy?"

He looked at her and shrugged. "It's a cultural thing."

"Percy," Arthur rebuked gently. He leant forward, capturing Audrey's attention. "It is customary in our culture that a couple marries from their home or at least it was. Nowadays children do leave home when they come of age. They move into flats, houses, house shares, that sort of thing, but living together as a couple, without being married is not something that is done."

Percy huffed. "Yes, it is. What my father means to say is that the older generation sees it as 'living in sin'. Not because they are overly religious but because the wizarding culture is somewhat behind the times when it comes to progressive attitudes towards women. For a witch to live with a man she is not related or married to is seen as to be a failing on the witches' part. Her reputation would be ruined, her morals loose, and in short not the type to be associated with. The wizard, of course, will come out of it unharmed possibly with the label of 'cad' should he make a habit of living with several witches. This, of course, is another reason that muggleborns are derided within society by those cleaved to the old ways. They're all loose women you see. They co-habit with their friends be them male or female and don't understand that its frowned upon and can affect their careers because no one thinks to explain it to them. House shares are usually advertised as single sex only. While Hogwarts is a mixed school, the dormitories are all single sex. Not that that actually achieves anything."

"You're kidding? It's not the eighteen hundred's I thought that sort of thing went out with the suffragettes!"

"Wizarding culture missed out on the suffragettes," Percy pointed out. "We don't have a democratic voting system. It's hereditary seats that make up the Wizengamot who cast a vote. While some positions such as the Minister for Magic are an elected role, it's not by public vote directly. The Wizengamot vote them in due to pressures brought to bear by the people that they have politically aligned themselves with."

"No wonder you had a war," Audrey muttered. "I'm amazed you've survived this long. Well anyway, we're not married, and we aren't planning on it yet. We're going to buy a house together first. Muggles, well some muggles, because I'm sure there are some that probably think your way too, but muggles tend to try living together before marriage. After all, you can always sell a house and move on. Divorce is a bit more involved."

Arthur assented, accepting that in this anything he said would be unwelcome. He had no real objection with Percy and Audrey doing as muggles would even though he had to admit to a small twinge of concern at the idea. "Are you looking at mixed residential areas?"

Audrey looked puzzled once more.

Arthur winced hoping he hadn't put his foot in it again. "Where magical and muggles live together there are a handful of such places although I understand that the houses can sell quite quickly."

Audrey turned to Percy raising an eyebrow in question.

"No," Percy answered both Audrey and Arthur. "They are scattered around the country. Your work is in London, and there are no such places in the city. While travel is of no consequence to me, you will not enjoy a three-hour commute to work each end of the day."

"Oh no, you're right," Audrey said. "Is that the nearest place?"

"Yes," Percy said. "I had looked briefly as it is easier with established places such as those to blend the muggle and magical lifestyle, but they are not suited to us."

Audrey shrugged accepting what Percy said.

"You'll be living in a muggle house then?" Arthur commented.

Percy agreed as he handed Audrey the details of two of the houses in the packet, so she could look through them. Audrey handed them straight over to Arthur.

"Muggles advertise their homes with estate agents. My Dad has gone looking for us to find us a starting point to whittle down what we want and what we would compromise on. He likes finding the hidden gems. If my Mum would let him they would probably move to a new house every couple of years."

Arthur looked down at the pages Audrey had given him. He read the description flicking through the details before returning to the front page and the first image of the outside of the house. What held his attention, however, was not the static, unmoving picture but the number underneath it.

Arthur placed the paper carefully back on the coffee table. Percy had handed Audrey another sheaf of paper, she was reading through, and he watched them both absorbed in what they were doing before letting his eyes wander around the room and take in Percy's home. There were few personal items on display as he had expected of his more reserved son, but those that were displayed were obviously significant. Quietly Arthur got to his feet his actions receiving a curious but uninterested glance from Audrey. Arthur felt rather than saw Percy watching him as he stepped over to the bookcase. He resisted the urge to touch anything, but the picture had caught his eye, and he watched as it cycled through. After its third rotation, Arthur returned to his seat. Percy had returned to reading the details of the houses, but Arthur supposed that his son was more than aware of his actions. Clearing his throat brought Percy's head snapping up supporting Arthurs supposition.

"I know practically very little about the process of buying a house in the muggle world. However, I do know a few things about buying houses, and that is you need money to do it. Judging by those numbers quite a lot of it."

"London is expensive," Audrey agreed.

Arthur continued. "It is customary, well I say customary, but perhaps that's an exaggeration. What I mean is that when each of my children was born, I was determined that I would help them establish themselves when they finally left the Burrow. The idea was that by saving each month for each of my children, by the time they were grown and reached their majority, I would be able to hand them each a nest egg to ensure their start in life. The wizarding world has very few professions you understand, and while Ministry work is paid well, it is subject to fluctuating political favour. I had no notion of what my children might wish to pursue when the time came, but I hoped to be able to provide for them the means to achieve it. I admit that at times once I realised how large our family was that this meant that we wouldn't be able to provide the things that others could, but I thought it worth the sacrifice."

Arthur fidgeted slightly in his seat at the confession. "Anyway, for better or worse it is done. To date, Bill has received his, as has Charlie. Bill and Fleur used it towards Shell Cottage. Charlie for relocating and settling in Romania. I wanted you each to have need of it, something meaningful rather than a lump sum handed out on your birthday. For a wedding, or a home, or like Charlie, for a start in a career." Arthur smiled fondly. "I have a notion that despite your mothers wishes Charlie will never leave his dragons. He'll perhaps find someone as devoted to them like him or he'll stay single and married to the beasts. Though don't tell your Mother, she wants him settled quite badly, preferably with someone that might persuade him into a less dangerous career."

Arthur shook off the thoughts of his second eldest and concentrated on his third. "The money is yours to help you buy your home. There are no strings. I'm not trying to buy my way back into your lives. It's yours free and clear. Each of you will receive the same amount when the time comes."

"You didn't give Fred and George theirs to help them with their business?"

"No," Arthur said. "The twins went their own way as they ever do. I had no notion they wouldn't finish Hogwarts. They don't know yet, and I ask you don't tell them as I asked your brothers before you. When they need it, it will be there for them, but their business is stable, and neither of them has plans to settle down yet."

Percy sat for a long moment in silence before looking over at his father and meeting his eyes. "I won't say anything. Thank you for the gift," he said sincerely.

Arthur smiled gratefully. "I'll have Gringotts transfer the money over to your vault. I hope it is of some help."

Percy stirred glancing at the clock. "I will be back in a minute."

"Take my purse," Audrey said. "It's my turn to pay."

Percy shook his head. "It's fine." He went to put his shoes and coat on shooting his father and Audrey one last look before he vanished.

Chapter Text

Audrey got to her feet. "Do you want another drink?" she asked collecting the empty beer bottles and her wine glass up.

"Yes, yes please," Arthur said.

Audrey heading for the kitchen. Returning with the beer before beginning to set the table. Arthur stood immediately hovering by the table.

Audrey smiled gently. "Take a seat Percy won't be long. Your ability to apparate means the food will still be hot. Could you put a warming charm on the plates for me?" she asked holding them out to Arthur.

Arthur readily agreed, pulling his wand from his sleeve and casting the spell silently.

Audrey smiled her thanks, laying them at the place settings. "Thank you for the money, it is very generous of you."

Arthur shook his head. "I want what is best for my children. I might have regretted it on occasion when they were younger and asking for things we couldn't give them, but I think it's better this way."

"My parents have given us a sum as well," Audrey said. "My sister used hers to go through university. They want us to use it for the house or the wedding. We've been very lucky to have such generous parents."

"Might I ask why you aren't marrying first?"

Audrey took her seat at the table waving Arthur into one. "For me? I love Percy I do, and I honestly think he's the one, but we've got to be sure, you know? We're still young, I don't want to be married at twenty-three and divorced at thirty. And, possibly this isn't really fair on Percy but, I've spent a bit of time with the Grangers and Hermione and Harry. I talk to Helen and John quite a bit on the mirror. They are helping me understand this world of magic I've been thrust into. It's not as if I can ask my parents for help you see." Audrey paused searching Arthur for understanding. "The law that made them leave, the one demanding Hermione marry. It's wrong. Not just unfair, or badly worded, but wrong. How can I marry Percy knowing that Hermione can't freely marry? How could I do that when Hermione can't? I'm not political, I don't protest or march or anything like that, but I know that it's wrong. As a muggle, my not marrying will have no effect whatsoever on this law, but if refusing to marry until they can, is the only way I can support them then so be it."

"It's under suspension now. It's no longer affecting any of the other muggle-born witches." Arthur pointed out.

"Yes, its suspended," Audrey agreed. "And they know that, but like John said, suspended isn't repealed. Suspended means that a political shift could bring it back and the muggleborn witches would be stuck again. Once it's repealed, they would have to pass it again, and that might meet more opposition." Audrey sighed. "I don't know. At the moment it just seems grossly unfair. I don't think Hermione and Harry would mind if we got married, but I think I would."

Percy reappeared with a small crack, a plastic carrier bag in one hand the smell of the hot food flooding the room. He eyed Arthur suspiciously at the sombre mood of the room. Audrey perked up and smiled brightly. "That smells good."

"Everything alright?"

"Yes, Arthur asked why we weren't marrying straight away, and I told him about Harry and Hermione."

"Ah," Percy said understandingly, he placed the bag down on the table and pulling the containers from within. Audrey started taking the lids off as Percy put them down.

"The suspension is to be reviewed in the autumn session," Percy told Arthur. "Since it is likely the law will be repealed once it undergoes that review I don't believe that it matters overly much to our plans. I have no objections to starting our home life before we marry." He shrugged as he sent the bag back floating back to the kitchen with all the lids of the containers. Taking a seat, he offered a serving spoon to Arthur and one to Audrey.

Arthur accepted the spoon and served himself some of the nearest containers. Rather than dwell on the topic of politics, he turned it back to the more immediate subject of houses. "What is the process for buying a house? Is it very different to ours?"

"Well," Audrey said between bites. "We'll work out the budget then see if there's anything we can afford we like, then do the viewings. Once we've found somewhere, make an offer and hope the sellers accept it."

"Not very different to ours then. We do viewings but also inspections of the magical foundations of the house. Will you be putting a hearthstone into the house you buy?"

"What is a hearthstone?" Audrey asked.

"It's a stone, literally, about the size of this plate that is covered in runes. Runes are magical symbols that have a variety of uses in a home. They are usually used for such as protection or to make the house welcoming to those that live there. Some can reduce illness in the house, so if you or Percy got a cold, you might get over it quicker if you stayed within the home as the magic of the Hearthstone will help you along."

"What sort of things do you have on your hearthstone?" Audrey asked fascinated.

"Ah well some things are family secrets, so I can't tell you, but we have one rune set that helps the garden grow. It also powers the wards that protect the house from being seen by our muggle neighbours as well, which was very necessary when the children wanted to fly." Arthur leaned over to Audrey conspiratorially. "We told them never to fly higher than the tree line when they played, but the wards on the house would have shielded them if they had flown at regulation quidditch height."

Percy sputtered at that. "They would?"

Arthur smiled serenely. "Oh yes," he waved a hand casually. "Not that we wanted you flying that high when you were younger. The accidents!" he shuddered.

"What else?"

"Well, there's things to ward against fire and flood. To help the structure support itself. Paint never peels, and the window cases won't rot or leak, that sort of thing."

"And we can put one of those in our house?"

Arthur glanced at Percy. "Well, it depends I suppose."

"On?" Audrey asked.

"The Burrow has a minor ley line running through the land. The ley is what powers the hearthstone in part as well as the magic of my family. I don't know if you will find a house on a ley line if you are looking for one in London. If you don't have a ley you can tap the magic from, it has to be infused with Percy's magic, and they can take a lot of magic to get up and running. Once they are in as long as Percy lives there, it will draw small amounts of his magic to keep it going."

"Oh," Audrey looked over at Percy hopefully. "Will we not have one then?"

"I had thought we might have a small one put in, but nothing as elaborate as some houses. Wards will need to be set around the property edges, I was going to ask Bill for his help." Percy admitted.

Arthur offered hesitantly. "If you like, I can help with your hearthstone."

"But you said it needed Percy's magic," Audrey pointed out.

"It does," Arthur explained. "Percy is my son; his magic came from mine and his mother's. I can help Percy do this because he's family. It wouldn't work with someone that wasn't closely related. I will speak to Bill and the twins if you have no objections? Between us, we can get a decent stone laid in. That is if you'd like us to help?"

"I would," Audrey declared. "And Percy would too. I think it's a very good idea to have something that can help protect our home."

Percy shook his head slightly and conceded gracefully. "Thank you. It is generous of you to offer."

Arthur shook his head slightly as his son's response. "I have to say this food is rather good. Do you eat it often?"

"Yes," Audrey said. "There are some good take outs close by. It's one of the reason we'd like to stay in the area. Perhaps next time you come for dinner, you might like to try an Indian? Curries are pieces of meat in a spicy sauce eaten with rice."

"That sounds intriguing," Arthur admitted. "I would be very interested in trying it."

Three days after Arthur had attended dinner Audrey and Percy sat down intent on working out their budget and how much they could afford to spend on a mortgage.

"If we can," Audrey said. "I'd like to leave the money my Mum and Dad gave us to one side for the wedding. I just think that if we can find somewhere that we like and don't need to use it, that means when we choose to get married when we want."

"That seems reasonable," Percy replied sitting down with a few sheets of blank parchment and the fountain pen Audrey had bought him. He rather liked the pen and found it much more pleasurable to write with. Audrey had a notebook open on her knee and a biro she was thoughtfully chewing the end of.

"I did some sums, my living expenses are seven hundred and twenty-five pounds a month including bills. The rent on the flat is five hundred a month, and the council tax is another eighty-five. Gas, electric, telephone bill, tv licence, food and a small clothing and entertaining budget make up the rest." Percy said writing the number down on the parchment.

Audrey sighed. "Mum helped me with mine, she came over to the shop last week and gave me the Spanish Inquisition. Needless to say, it was very thorough. I've got five hundred and fifty coming out of my pocket every month. There's a couple of saving I could make here and there but nothing spectacular. I've got nineteen and a half thousand squirrelled away in a savings account. I've been putting about thirty percent of my wage away every month. My low rent has helped boost that though."

Percy nodded as he jotted down the details. "I've done similar, I put nearly half of my wage after tax into savings. I know now why we didn't ever have a lot of money growing up but being brought up with very little money, I didn't want to live like that. I wanted the security of money in the bank and not worry about paying for new clothes."

Audrey reached out for his hand. "Was it that bad?"

Percy shook his head. "No, it wasn't, hand me down clothes and books didn't bother me it was the way my parents were treated because they were 'poor' and yet, they were sat on an enormous amount of money."

"Percy, how much did your dad give you?"

"Two thousand galleons."

Audrey choked. "That's ten grand. Holy mother of…. There's seven of you!"

"I know," Percy agreed. "It was a bit of shock for me too. It's genuinely amazing that he did it. That he held to the idea when they had so many children. Halving it would have still have given us each a lump sum and eased the burden on them while they brought us all up."

Audrey took a moment to marshal her thoughts after the bombshell of Percy's dad saving seventy thousand pounds to give to his children. "Right well, how much in savings do you have?" Audrey asked.

"In pounds?"

"Please, unless its an easy number the conversion is difficult."

"Sixty-four thousand."

Audrey felt her mouth drop open. "Pardon?"

"Sixty-four thousand," Percy repeated obligingly.

Audrey gaped at him her brain fumbling for purchase. She had always been proud of her savings. Her current pay of seventeen and a half thousand year before tax meant most of her friends earnt more than she did. She had thought her savings were impressive even if they were subsidised by her inflated wage and low rent. "How much do you earn?" Audrey asked flabbergasted.

"Currently just over thirty-eight thousand a year after tax. Pay rises at the Ministry are stringently enforced so there will be another in April."

"I didn't know," Audrey said faintly. "I mean I guessed you were paid well what with your working for the Minister but dear lord, that's a fortune!"

Percy shrugged. "It's paid in galleons. Eight thousand galleons seemed less."

Audrey smiled faintly. Eight thousand did sound less until it was multiplied by five. She shook off her surprise and picked up the details they had received from her Dad. "Is there anything in this pile that has caught your eye?"

"Perhaps," Percy admitted. "But I think we need to make an appointment and find out how much we can afford before we get to set.

Audrey concurred. "I'll ring the bank and make an appointment. You bank with a different bank, don't you? Do you think you should ring them? Can your wizarding bank offer a better deal?"

"I think we should stay muggle. It will make things easier in the long run."

"You mean they might not deal fairly with me?"

"Perhaps, perhaps not. But if we keep the mortgage in a muggle bank it isn't a problem."

Audrey shrugged largely unbothered, she wasn't magical after all, perhaps it was illogical to expect them to deal with her. She shuffled through the packet of estate agent details. "I liked the look of this one."

Percy accepted the house details and held his hand out for the pile. He selected the details of the house that had caught his eye and handed it to Audrey who started to smile then laugh. "Oh no, they couldn't be more different!"

Percy laughed as well. "I thought that. It seems compromises will be in order, but this is the first look at some details. Rick may yet find something that suits us both."

"Let's hope so."

Two weeks later the appointments at the bank had been attended, and they had a better understanding of the position financially. Lizzy had dragged them to see both the houses they had liked out of the initial pile while Rick set to work on finding something within budget. Neither houses had really been right for them, and they were happy to wait until something better came along. So when Rick called on Friday night and asked them to meet him the next morning, the agreed happily.

Saturday morning found them in Barnes on Madrid Street. The street was quiet, filled with tall semi-detached and terraced houses. Rick and Lizzy were waiting for them on the corner of the road as agreed.

Rick clapped his hands together after the hellos. "OK, what do you think so far?"

"It's nice," Audrey said glancing up and down the street. "Quiet, but I thought this area was the top end of our budget? These are not small houses. They must be well over two hundred thousand."

"They are," Rick agreed. "Except this one," he said taking three steps forward and pointing.

The house was sad. The windows were original wooden frames with peeling paint and dingy net curtains sagging behind dirty glass. The garden was overgrown, and the tiled path moss-covered.

"I know what it looks like," Rick said. "And I promise you inside isn't a picture, but you can see what it could be. These houses are big, you'll be able to raise a family here as long as you aren't afraid of a bit of hard work."

"How much is a bit?" Audrey asked. "It looks like it's going to fall down."

"It's not," Rick said a little impatiently. "I wouldn't show you anything that was that bad. It needs new windows. Certainly the gas and electric will need to be sorted, and it's going to want a new kitchen and bathroom. Obviously, it will need decorating completely, but you could make it yours. There's a garden that while overgrown currently is a good size."

"And how much will this hard work cost us?" Audrey asked warily.

"Let's look around it first," Rick said. "Then if you really hate it, it doesn't matter."

Audrey looked at the house misgiving writ large across her face. "What do you think?" she asked turning to Percy.

"Hard work isn't a problem," Percy replied looking at the house. Audrey turned to her Dad and indicated to him to lead the way.

"The estate agent is already here; the owners have already left," Rick told them as he half lifted half swung the gate open for them.

Audrey muttered under her breath and followed the group up the path. The front door was peeling the stained-glass porthole obscured by dirt.

Inside, the long dark hall led to the rear of the house with two doors leading off it. The estate agent who had been waiting for them inside the hall greeted them brightly and started rattling off the particulars about the house. "There's a front room and separate dining room. Of course, you could knock through and make it one lovely large room. This leads to the kitchen, at the back, there's some potential to expand that into the garden." The voice faded away as she led Rick and Lizzy into the kitchen. Audrey gingerly stepped into the front room. The walls were brown, and the carpet under her feet was dark and sticky. She tried not to think about that too much.

"Percy," she whispered to the man at her side. "What are we doing here?"

"Looking at a house," Percy replied.

"Percy, look at it, it's awful, someone probably died in here!"

Percy shook his head at her. "Rick wouldn't have brought us if he didn't think it was a good idea. Didn't you say something about hidden gems?"

Audrey snorted rudely. "There are hidden gems, then places like this Percy. It will cost a fortune to fix and take god only knows how much time."

"Presumably its cheap," Percy pointed out.

"It should be free," Audrey muttered darkly.

Percy snorted in amusement. "It's not likely to be, but magic is."

Audrey had been examining a suspect stain on the wall over where the sofa was unsure it if it was damp or something more sinister. At Percy's words, her head whipped around. "What?" she hissed quietly.

"Magic," Percy said again his eyes dancing with mirth. "Audrey I'm a wizard. This," he held his hand out expressively. "This is a swish and a flick."

"Really?"

Percy smiled wider. "I don't know the right spells to sand the floor or sort the plumbing, and there aren't any spells for wiring the electrics, but at least some of the things that you are worrying about are not issues. I can learn the spells. You'd be surprised what a good cleaning spell will do."

"Do they have fumigation spells?" Audrey asked.

"It's not that bad," Percy laughed. "Under the dirt, I think it has charm."

Audrey choked. "Charm?"

"Yes," Percy said decidedly. "I think it does. Come on, let's go and find out how bad it is. Stop looking at the dirt and start thinking of how nicely your bureau would go in that alcove." Pointing as he turned them towards the door.

Audrey glowered unconvincingly. "I'm not going to be swayed by having space for a bureau Percy."

"Well, you can't blame a chap for trying. I'm sure you've done estate sales worse haven't you?"

"No," Audrey said. "I have to say that this has stolen the top spot for 'most awful house'."

They stuck their heads around the dining room door which was gloomy and dark due to overgrown bushes and dirtier net curtains. The room was a good size, and the previous owner's table clearly sat eight with ease though currently buried under a mountain of unidentifiable detritus.

The kitchen was worse. The cupboards were hanging off the wall, and the sink and cooker were missing completely leaving cables and pipes hanging forlornly out of the wall.

"Yes," the estate agent said seeing their looks of horror. "Unfortunately, the local kids broke in. The bathroom is in a similar state I'll warn you now, but that wasn't kids. They didn't really get very far into the house, it was the kitchen that took the brunt of the damage before the police turned up."

Audrey exchanged a horrified look with her mum who was clearly on the same page as her daughter as they followed the estate agent back down the hall and up the stairs.

The two main bedrooms were both large. The master bedroom at the front of the house took up the entire width and the large windows overlooking the overgrown front garden. Dutifully Audrey stuck her head around the bathroom door and wished she hadn't. The fittings were gone as was the flooring. The room was a bare shell with pipes protruding where a sink, bath and toilet should have been.

"What happened?"

"A tap was left on, and the bath overflowed. The floor was ripped out as it was ruined."

Audrey gave the ruined space a final glance and headed to the final bedroom at the back of the house. The window was boarded from the inside with a piece of ply, and she was unsurprised. "The garden?" she asked wanting to get out of the house.

"Yes of course," the estate agent said leading them back downstairs and out through the kitchen. "It's rather overgrown as you see," she offered lamely. "There's a large shed, big enough to get a car in."

"Is there access for a car?" Audrey asked in surprise.

"Well no, but for scale, as we don't have a key for it so I can't show you inside."

"It's probably where the bodies are anyway," Audrey muttered to her mum who had come to stand by her as Rick and Percy had ventured up the garden to see this large shed.

"What do you think?" Lizzy asked Audrey quietly. Ignoring the furtive looks coming from the estate agent.

"I think someone died here," Audrey said. "And I really hope it doesn't have a cellar."

"Oh it does!" the estate agent piped up eagerly.

Audrey exchanged a horrified look with her mother and the pair burst out laughing.

The estate agent looked on unsure of what to say. "Do you want to see it?" she offered anxiously.

"No," Audrey said firmly. "Absolutely not, but I think Percy and Dad will. You can show them."

The agent hesitantly smiled her agreement. "It is such a shame, the house, letting it get this bad. It's got such potential, and you can see that the neighbours have already extended out the back to give themselves bigger kitchens."

Audrey nodded politely at the estate agent's words waiting for Percy to return. As they came out from the overgrown jungle, she called out. "It's got a cellar. Mum and I aren't going down there."

"It has?" Rick said excitedly.

The estate agent gestured back to the kitchen. "Shall we?"

As they passed, Lizzy said in a sotto voice. "If you find a chest freezer, don't open it."

Audrey giggled and stayed in the garden while Percy went to explore more of the house. The garden while overgrown was large and she walked the perimeter of the paved patio, occasionally looking at the jungle of green a few yards away.

"Do you like the area?" Lizzy asked gingerly leaning back on the house tilting her face to the sun.

"Yes, it's weirdly quiet," Audrey said after a moments consideration.

"That's not a bad thing."

"No. It's big isn't it?"

"Yes, there's one for sale down the road we're going to next. A bit of, if you don't want to do the work then here's one already done for you."

"I don't think Percy would mind doing the work," Audrey commented.

"He wouldn't?"

"No, but Mum I couldn't live here while we were doing it. I don't really want to go back inside to get out the front door, it's awful!"

"At least it doesn't smell of cats," Lizzy said.

"Oh god yes, that would actually make it worse."

"There you go a bright side. Oh, come on, they're back, and we can go see a nice house now."

Audrey looked through the window to see a dim figure gesturing at her and followed her mother back through the house.

As the estate agent led them up the street to the second house, Audrey tuned out the spiel about the area looking around her instead. The street was quiet, there were cars parked and the odd shout of a child playing in the back garden. There were odd trees planted up the pavement, and the front gardens were all green and vibrant.

The house was near identical to the one they had just left, but it was well presented, tidy, and clean. The rooms were large and full of light, and the kitchen extension had already been completed.

After the tour, the estate agent bade them goodbye, and they piled into Rick's car to travel to the Stone's for a debrief. The journey wasn't long but was oddly quiet. It wasn't until everyone was sat around the dining room table that Rick kicked the conversation off.

"So, what do you think?"

"Someone died in that house," Audrey said.

Rick rolled his eyes. "Did you like the second house?"

"Yes," Audrey said cautiously. "How much was it?"

"Three hundred and seventy thousand."

Audrey choked on her tea. "How much?" she wheezed.

"Three hundred and seventy thousand," Rick repeated blandly.

"But that's way out of our budget!" Audrey exclaimed.

"I know," Rick answered.

"How much was the first house?" Percy asked catching on.

"They're asking eighty."

"Eighty thousand?" Audrey said shocked. "As in eight zero? Even when half way up the road it's over three times as much?"

Rick nodded. "The first house is a wreck, it's a complete re-wire for the electrics, the gas and water will need replumbing. The kitchen, bathroom, and every room in the house will need overhauling. It's going to need serious money spending on it, but you'll get it back. This is one of those houses that don't come along very often, love. It has potential, but you have to see past the surface."

Audrey looked over at Percy who was studiously not meeting anyone's eyes as he fixed his gaze out of the kitchen window. "Percy?"

He turned to her a half-apologetic look on his face.

"Oh no!" Audrey groaned. "You want it, don't you?"

Percy inclined his head slightly. "Yes, but not if you hate it. The second house that is what it could be, and I admit there were things I liked about that house. It wouldn't tie us to owing the bank for the next twenty years. The garden was big enough, and we could add on to it when we were ready."

Audrey looked around the table. "Am I the only one that didn't instantly fall in love with this house?"

"No," Lizzy said. "I didn't either, but if you want me to be honest, you don't have the money for what you want. So, you can either compromise and take something that isn't quite everything and hope you can sell it when you find something better or take a risk."

"With our life savings," Audrey pointed out.

Lizzy nodded. "Yes. There is that. But you'll turn a profit even if you do the bare minimum to it."

"Can I think about it?"

"Of course," Percy assured her. "I would like to arrange another viewing," Percy addressed Rick. "My father and brother Bill have expressed an interest in anything we find that is a potential."

Rick looked at Audrey briefly before turning to Percy. "I'll set another viewing up for you. I know they are asking eighty, but according to the estate agent, there has been next to no interest. They've had a couple of silly offers but nothing they would consider accepting. That being said I don't think you'll need to pay eighty for it. I reckon we can get it for close to sixty."

Audrey blinked. "So little?"

Rick shrugged. "I think so."

Audrey sighed torn. Percy had told her it wouldn't be as much work with magic and she knew that that was swaying her towards it more than if they were going to have to do it without. Yes, they would have to find an electrician, plumber, and gas fitter but the idea of just using magic to fix everything else made the house a lot more appealing.

"Second viewings then if someone doesn't snap it up," Audrey agreed finally after a few minutes.

"Really?" Lizzy asked.

"Yes," Audrey said her eyes moving to Percy and his delighted expression. She smiled herself at the sight, perhaps living in her flat while they did the work wouldn't be so bad. She'd get the opportunity to have real input into how the house looked as well, and she'd always had a thing for wooden floors.

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December 2002

It was an honest offer of a child-free day. A chance to run errands and make a start on the Christmas shopping. A chance to do all the things she'd been putting off. Like visit her vault and remove some pieces. She’d had a buyer passed to her by her uncle, they wanted something out of the ordinary and Audrey thought she had just the thing tucked away.

All of it she could have done with Maggie of course, except the rollercoaster ride to her vault perhaps, but it was just so much more difficult. Her attention was always on her daughter and what she needed.

Which made it incredibly enticing, the thought of being herself for a day, so much so that she’d practically bitten her Mum’s hand off when she made the offer.

When Fleur had called, Audrey had faltered, going so far as to ring her Mum to cancel. Explaining that Fleur, alone while Bill was on a work placement abroad, had asked to spend the day with her. Her Mum instead had offered to take on Fleur’s two as well. Fleur had been torn, as eager as Audrey at the thought of a day of being herself and concerned that leaving three very small children with one woman was asking rather a lot, especially when the woman in question was unaware of the magical nature of her charges.

 Lizzy had convinced her, however. Fleur had flooed to Audrey’s before Lizzy had arrived and stepped out of the front door with Audrey, after Lizzy had assured her that everything was fine, and Audrey had her mobile phone should things get too much, with only the slightest misgivings.

They walked around the corner of the street, ostentatiously heading for the tube, but at a sheltered corner with no one around, Fleur grasped Audrey’s arm and apparated them to around the corner of the Leaky Cauldron on the muggle side. Audrey took a few moments to recover from the mode of transport she rarely took with good reason. Her first steps were a bit wobbly, but her balance soon came back to her, and she shot Fleur a reassuring smile.

“The bank first,” Audrey suggested tying her scarf tighter around her neck in reaction to the December weather. They walked arm in arm through the door of the bar and out to the Alley. They meandered up the cobbled streets discussing their latest news and who would be hosting who for Christmas. There was a general consensus that it would likely take an act of war to get Fred and George away from Maggie on Christmas Day and so they would probably be joining Audrey and Percy for Christmas dinner. Audrey's parents would be hosting their own dinner with her sister and would visit later in the day. Fleur and Bill would be hosting Fleur’s parents and her sister. A brief visit to the Burrow would be made on Boxing Day, long enough for the grandparents to see their grandchildren but not long enough to join in any sort of meal. The visit would mainly be for Arthur’s sake, who was stuck between disapproving of his wife’s behaviour and being unable to alter it.

“We’ll see him on Christmas Eve, he’s going to come over and give Maggie her present,” Audrey told Fleur.

They reached the bank and Audrey approached the counter. The goblin approved her key and waved her towards the doorway where the carts were. The journey made her nauseous, and she was glad she hadn’t got Maggie with her as she stumbled slightly. Fleur caught her arm, giving her a concerned look which Audrey waved off.

The door opened under the goblin's hand and Audrey’s key. The small magical globes of light that Percy provided her with to light the inside of her vault shone gently. Audrey made a quick circuit around them checking for fade, making a note of those Percy would need to come and refresh for her. Fleur walked forward into the vault curiously poking about amongst the pieces of furniture.

“What do you have these all for?” she asked.

“It’s essentially overflow stock,” Audrey answered. “The wizarding world has genuine antiques kept in a condition that is nearly impossible to find in the muggle world. I buy it in your world and sell it in mine. Even with the exchange rate being what it is the amount of money that can be made is astounding. I keep it here because flooding the market with it would drive the price down. Also, because my Uncle, who technically owns the business, doesn’t know about magic.”

“Aren’t they full of enchantments?”

“Percy found me suppliers that strip out all the enchantments. Only the preservation charms remain. The cost of the item is dependent on how much effort it took, if the item had any hexes or curses applied. Even so, I haven’t yet found anything that hasn’t or won’t turn a profit when sold.”

Fleur looked interested. “How much does that usually cost?”

Audrey paused, looking over at her sister-in-law. “It depends I believe; the better services are more costly, but then the peace of mind is there. I don’t want anyone hurt. The biggest risk is that I’m a muggle and not everyone will work with me, and some don’t think the anti-muggle enchantments need removing. There’s trust that needs to be built, and it's more difficult given that I’m not magical. I do alright here with the suppliers I have, so it’s not something I’ve actively pursued.”

“But you could buy more?”

“Well, furniture seems to be pretty steady, so maybe a little but not much. Curiosities and ornamental pieces there might be a market for, I’d have to brush up on my knowledge as I don’t know enough to truly launch into that area with confidence. Then there’s the jewellery market, which I haven’t really touched because according to Percy the hexes, jinxes, and curses tend to be that much nastier thus driving up the price of having them removed. I have some bits, though. That’s what I’m here for today actually.” Audrey beckoned Fleur over to the chest she was stood by. “We’ve a customer who is getting married in the new year and wants a tiara to be her statement piece.” Audrey selected three velvet boxes, opening them and turning them to face Fleur. “Nothing as lovely as the necklace and earrings you leant me, but I think any of these would do the job.”

“Yes,” Fleur agreed gently removing the tiaras and handling them carefully. I wore Bill’s Great Aunt’s tiara, it was beautiful.” Placing the tiaras back in their boxes, she withdrew her wand, casting a spell over each item.

“Fleur?” Audrey asked.

“I wished to check the work,” Fleur replied with a shrug. “If you are going to sell these,”

“I do have the paperwork if you want to look it over.” Audrey offered.

“Call it professional curiosity. These are clear of anything other than the preservation charms.”

“Did you do a lot of curse breaking on jewellery?” Audrey asked, closing the jewellery boxes up and placing them into her bag.

“Some, mostly in training. As you say, it can be tricky due to the wealth of things you run across but rewarding too.”

Audrey nodded, indicating that she was finished, and they could leave.

Fleur followed casting a considering glance back over her shoulder at Audrey’s vault.

Once back on the surface, Audrey hooked her arm through Fleur’s. “Come on, where are we going next?”

“I would like to replace some of Bill’s things, he is hard on his tools. Also, Bill has asked me to post some things off to Charlie for him and I will need to buy his Christmas present so it can be sent at the same time.”

“Right let’s do that. I’m going to get the twins and Percy presents from the muggle side. What would your girls like?  Dolls? Clothes?” Audrey looked conspiringly over at Fleur. “If you swear to keep it a secret, I can show you Ginny’s secret weapon against the twins.”

Fleur gave her an amused glance. “Isn’t that supposed to be a heavily guarded secret? I’ve heard Fred and George try and get the information out of her.”

“To be honest, it’s not, at least not in the muggle world and if they thought about it for even a minute, they could probably have worked it out. I think they just like the fact that she’s made an effort to get one over on them to try too hard.”

“Are you ready for them at Christmas? I cannot say that I am not almost a little jealous on behalf of Victoire and Dominique that Maggie has their devotion.”

“I think that might be more the Percy effect than any effort on Maggie’s behalf to be charming. They’re brothers, Percy is a little stiff, and the twins are a little reckless, they balance each other out. They accept the help he is offering, and he accepts that they demonstrate their love by being playful. Honestly, I’ve just sort of accepted that they will always be there in some form. They’ve all but imprinted on Maggie, and as long as everything stays the right side of playful, I’m not going to complain. I did consider putting a limit on Christmas presents considering what they did at the hospital. But I doubt they’d listen, or they’d find a way to get around it.”

“I did say almost,” Fleur pointed out wryly. “I do not think I could handle such exuberance all the time.” 

 As they completed their shopping, magical and mundane and started to debate lunch, Audrey felt her stomach roll. Stopping, so she could concentrate on breathing through the sudden nausea, she hoped she wasn’t coming down with some sort of winter virus. She leant on the wall trying to be casual about the sudden weakness.

“Audrey?” Fleur asked quietly.

“Sorry,” Audrey said wanly. My stomach is all over the place. I’m probably just hungry.”

Fleur cocked her head. “I do not think you are.”

Audrey lifted her head to look at her sister-in-law. “Oh?”

Fleur held out her hand. “Let’s find somewhere more private.”

Audrey took the hand and let Fleur lead her down a quiet side street. Glancing all around her Fleur withdrew her wand and held it down by her side. “Take off your ring,” she instructed. Audrey complied tucking it securely in her jeans pocket. Fleur lifted her wand and in a careful motion, cast a spell. The spell surrounded Audrey and glowed yellow.

“What’s that?” Audrey asked.

“It’s a pregnancy test,” Fleur said simply.

“What?” Audrey asked. “Why would you…?”

“A hunch,” Fleur replied. “Your balance has been off all day, and you’ve been suffering bouts of sudden nausea. Victoire was like that for me.”

“So, it was positive?”

“Yes,” Fleur said with a growing smile. “You’re pregnant.”

Audrey slumped against the wall again, her own smile matching Fleur’s. “I’m pregnant? My cycle has been a bit all over the place, I can’t say that I’ve really kept track. Does your spell know how far along I am?”

“No, it’s a household charm, for that you would need to see a mediwitch.”

“I’ll make an appointment with the doctor. So, I’m pregnant.”

“Yes. But you should also eat. Will you tell Percy tonight?”

“I want to pick up a test on the way home. Not that I don’t trust your magic,” Audrey said reassuringly. “But it’s the muggle in me I suppose,” she laughed. “Unless I pee on a stick, I won’t believe it.”

Fleur shook her head. “We can get one of these tests easily?”

“Yes, any chemist we pass will have them. Come on, you’re right, I need to eat.”

 They sat at a table in the restaurant, having sent the waitress off with their orders. Fleur gazed out of the window, her expression telling Audrey her thoughts were a million miles away. Audrey didn’t mind, her own thoughts were a little distracted. She was pregnant. She ran the calculation, even if she was only a couple of months along the gap between Maggie and this child would be roughly a year and a half. That was close to what separated her and Rachel, and they had a good relationship growing up. Similar in age that they were friends as well as sisters. It meant that her plans for going back to work might have to be looked at again. She’d been hoping that now Maggie was a bit older she’d be able to take her to sales. That might not be possible if she was pregnant again. The idea of being as tired as she had been at points in her last pregnancy and dealing with a fractious Maggie didn’t appeal.

“What will you do?” Fleur asked, bringing Audrey back to the present.

“About?”

Fleur twirled the stem of the wine glass on the table between her fingers pensively. “Things are different for you, yes? Muggles don’t homeschool their children, you expect to return to work.”

“Err, well, yes. Lots of families have two working parents. Once Maggie is three, she’ll be able to go to nursery. I’ve been talking to Helen and John Granger a lot. They’ve been through this before and to be honest, as stupid as it sounds, I had it in my head that Maggie would go to nursery, get upset like kids will do and have the entire nursery floating on the ceiling. I know it sounds daft, but I’ve heard the stories about the brothers and Ginny growing up from Arthur, and from Percy and the twins and it didn’t seem that much of a stretch to be honest. Helen and John have had a bit of a job talking me down from a ledge. Percy has his own concerns because he doesn’t have any experience of the muggle school system, but I do think it will be best for Maggie.”

“Then you’ll return to work, once she is at school during the day?”

“That was my intention, well until about twenty minutes ago,” Audrey smiled. “What’s this about Fleur?”

Fleur sighed, leaning back in her chair. “I love my job. I left France, learnt English, yes, to pursue Bill, but also to become a curse breaker. I love my children. The expectation is that until they go to Hogwarts, I will be at home with them. Eleven years. I do not think I want that.”

“What has Bill said?”

Fleur waved a hand in negation. “His mother raised them. She stayed at home. That is what Bill knows.”

“It's not really the same, is it?” Audrey asked, breaking off as the waitress laid their plates in front of them. Once she’d gone, Audrey picked up her knife and fork and continued. “Molly, for all her faults, had seven children practically one after the other. Bill was born three years after she left school, that’s what? Essentially twenty years with children underfoot. Being a mother was her career. If you want to work, is there something stopping you other than the expectation that you won’t?”

Fleur poked at her food. “Curse breaking requires you to go to the location. You can be away for an indeterminate length of time. The dangers aren’t to be underestimated either. Even a role within a team based in the country is hardly safe. Bill’s accident was at his desk.”

Audrey ate some of her food, hoping her stomach wouldn’t get upset. Cautiously she suggested. “Have you considered muggle schooling? Just until their letters come. That would let you do something.”

Fleur laughed sourly. “Would you be surprised if I said yes?”

“Maybe a bit,” Audrey replied, not liking Fleur’s tone. “I take it, Bill wasn’t keen.”

Fleur took an angry bite of her lunch, chewing it with as much emotion. “No, he was not. I am their mother. As if that is all I am.”

“Well, in fairness to Bill,” Audrey began cautiously feeling as if she was navigating a field scattered with land mines. “If you hadn’t met me, would you have considered anything else than staying home and homeschooling?”

“No, but I think I might have found myself unsatisfied. It’s just now I can see an alternative, I want an alternative. I do not want to just be a mother and yet I feel as if I am betraying my children saying they aren’t enough.”

“Ha! That I do have the answer for. It’s in one of my parenting books. Basically, you’re allowed to feel like that. It’s perfectly normal, and you aren’t allowed to beat yourself up about it. You were a person before your children, and you are still a person with them, it’s just, you know, people see the kids first.”

“Percy will let you work with no expectation you should stay home. He will let his children go to muggle schools.”

Audrey winced. “I’m not going to compare the two. But you forget that I’m not magical. I have my own expectations of marriage and children. We are constantly compromising because we are trying to blend two worlds which are very different. For all intents and purposes, you and Bill are operating within the same expectations.”

“My expectations have changed!” Fleur declared, stabbing viciously at her food. “He flooed last night, the dig has been extended. He doesn’t know when he will be home. This is not a problem because I am home. Home to look after his house, to be a mother to his children, while he enjoys himself, grubbing around in a tomb doing work he loves with no expectation of giving it up.”

Audrey took a long sip of her drink wishing she’d ordered wine. This was fast turning into a wine and ice cream conversation. The waitress approached the table to inquire if everything was alright with their meals and it was on the tip of her tongue to ask for a bottle, but Fleur answered with the expected pleasantries, and she left before Audrey could form up the words.

“Sorry, this is not—." Fleur apologised.

It’s alright,” Audrey interrupted. “Honestly it is. I’m still in contact with my antenatal group, we get together once a month when we can. Once we’ve finished bragging about who’s grown the most it basically turns into conversations like this.”

Fleur smiled wistfully and said nothing else. They finished their meals and declined pudding in favour of coffee.

Fleur turned her cup in its saucer her face once again thoughtful. “You said that you needed trust to buy pieces to sell.”

“Yes,” Audrey said warily.

Fleur nodded slightly. “And that you sometimes had difficulty because you aren’t a witch.”

“Yes,” Audrey agreed.

“Then,” Fleur paused, catching Audrey’s eyes. “You could trust me? If you give me some pieces, I could remove the enchantments. You could have the pieces checked to be sure my work was good. Then, I could, I mean, perhaps if you needed, with a seller because you aren’t a witch, do this for you?”

Audrey propped her elbow on the table, resting her chin in her hand, scrutinising her companion. “You’re suggesting what? We set up a business together. I find the pieces I can sell; you help me where the seller will only deal with a magical person then clean them up, and we each take a cut of the profits?”

“That, that is more than I was thinking,” Fleur confessed. “I thought perhaps I could charge you for my services. Small pieces I could work on at home. It’s not about the money, especially. I want to do something. To use my skills, to still have something for myself besides my children. But a business? I, I don’t know how to do that.”

Audrey smiled at Fleur. “You’re right, we can start small. A few pieces of interesting jewellery or ornaments to start. I’ll speak to my Uncle, see what he thinks, and I’ll let you know. I was supposed to go on the trip to France in April, I suppose that might change depending on how far along I am, but, well, do you want to come with me? Maggie is staying with Percy. If Bill can’t have Victoire and Dominque, could your parents? What are the limits on apparition? Could you make the trip each day from them to wherever I will be? Or perhaps find a local floo?”

Fleur looked at Audrey with a radiant smile. “You’d let me do this? To come with you on your trip. To help you?”

Audrey laughed. “I’m not letting you do anything. I’m accepting your idea, I’m willing to give it a try at the very least, of course I am. But yes, I am inviting you on the trip, that is if I do go, and if I do, I’ll probably need your help since I’ll be the size of a house.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

January 2004

Audrey was heading upstairs to check on Lucy, who was beginning to make whimpering noises through the baby monitor as she woke from her nap. Audrey hastened her pace as she heard the noises increase in volume, she'd only put her down to sleep ten minutes ago. At five months old Lucy still needed at least one nap a day despite her difficulty in settling down for them.

Audrey reached the nursery, her old bedroom her parents had repurposed for when their grandchildren visited, quietly she slid into the room. Leaning over the cot, she gently soothed Lucy until she slipped back under again. Just as she was leaving the room, pulling the door closed behind her, her mother's voice rang out in panic from downstairs.

"Audrey! Audrey! Oh, Christ!"

"Mum!? Mum?" Audrey ran down the stairs and back into the sitting room where she'd left Maggie and her Mum watching a DVD on TV.

Lizzy was standing by Maggie, arms outstretched as if to snatch her up, but fear held her frozen in place.

All around Maggie, the plastic tea set she had been playing with danced in a parody of the animation on the television screen.

Audrey didn't think, she crossed the room and swept Maggie up in her arms. Maggie turned to her a bright delighted smile on her face.

"Look, Mummy!"

"I see Maggie. I do, but love, can you stop it now, please. Can you put them down?"

Maggie looked at her sadly. "Stop?"

"Yes, love, let it go, make them sit on the table again, please. Can you do that?"

Maggie looked sadly at the dancing tea set and slumped a little. The plastic dishes clattered to the tabletop.

"Good girl," Audrey said, giving her a cuddle. "Are you a bit tired now? Shall we sit down and watch the video? You can have a nap if you want one. Mummy will stay here and talk to Grandma."

"Audrey," Lizzy interrupted shakily. "Is this something she can do? I mean, does? A lot?"

"Yes," Audrey said calmly sitting on the sofa, letting Maggie sit next to her. She stroked Maggie's hair, allowing her to lean upon her chest. She knew that Maggie would be tired, it was more magic than she'd seen her daughter display before and she'd always been tired and grumpy afterwards. Percy had reassured her it as just a little magical exhaustion, and a nap would set her right. After the second display that was. The first time, he'd been shocked then near panic as Maggie had slept nearly four hours solid. Only the second and third opinions of Arthur and Fleur had calmed him down.

"There's nothing wrong with her Mum," Audrey explained, keeping her voice calm so as not to upset her daughter. She gave her mother a warning look purposely, dropping her eyes to Maggie's head then back to her mum. Ted had been clear that no kind of censure was to be given for Maggie's accidental magic, it was something to be treated as standard so that problems didn't arise later.

"But," Lizzy said with a helpless gesture to the tea set on the coffee table

"Look, I can explain everything. Shall I get us a drink, and I'll answer everything."

"Your dad still keeps whiskey behind the spaghetti jar," Lizzy replied.

"I was going to offer tea."

"Audrey, I do love you, but does this strike you as a tea sort of conversation?"

Audrey started to get up, but Lizzy waved her back. "You stay, she's nearly asleep. I'll get the drinks."

"Water please, Mum. Without alcohol."

I'm not going to water whiskey." Lizzy muttered as she left the room. She returned in short order with a tumbler of whiskey and a glass of water for Audrey. Audrey shot the tumble an assessing look, was it the first or second?

"Less of that thank you," Lizzy said sharply. "So, she has ESP? She's like one of those kids on the science fiction shows that the government always locks up?"

"No, she's not," Audrey said, slightly appalled.

"How long have you known? How long has all this been happening? Why haven't you said anything? Well, alright, ignore that, but how are you even coping?" Lizzy paused to sip at the whisky pulling a face at the taste. "I really do prefer gin, but I can't take it neat."

Audrey rolled her eyes at her mother but forged on to answer her questions. "We've known since she came home from the hospital."

"Since she was born?" Lizzy interrupted. "She's been able to do that? How have we never seen it before?"

"No, Mum, let me explain! This is going to sound a bit mad, but Maggie is a witch. No, look, I know what you are thinking. I do. I really do, but the thing is magic is real. What Maggie just did was magic. A wandless levitation charm with an animation charm. Not that she knows that, or she has any control over it. It's called accidental magic when they are young like she is. She can't help it. It's not a bad thing, it's normal for her, she's not doing anything wrong. If she gets upset or overly tired or stressed or just happy and excited, things happen around her, and it's her magic responding to her."

"Audrey, love."

"Yeah," Audrey nodded at the hugely sceptical look on her mum's face. "I am aware it sounds nuts. That I'm probably giving you lots of reasons to book me into a padded room on the looney ward, but I'm telling you the truth. She's only two, as she gets older, these episodes will stop as she learns to control it. I'm not, by the way, magical. Not at all, none of our family are or ever has been. She got it from Percy."

"Percy? It's heredity?"

"Yeah, Percy is a wizard, and he was born into a magical family, one of the oldest magical families in the country. He went to a magical school, he has a magical job, and is actually on track to become the Minister for Magic."

"As in a Government Minister?"

"Yeah."

"And you believe him?"

"Yes." Audrey gave her a lopsided look and gestured at Maggie, who was now dozing against her chest. "The thing is, I've known for years. Since we got engaged. Percy told me everything before he proposed. And I promise you I took it about as well as you are. But I accepted it, him, knowing that Percy is a wizard. He wasn't supposed to tell me, but he didn't want to lie and ꟷ."

"Oh, Audrey…"

"Mum, it wasn't like that. You know Percy, he's the same person you happily watched me marry."

"Yes, but Maggie was born exactly nine months later, dear."

Audrey bristled. "I was not pregnant on my wedding day! We were engaged for years before we got married! You've just seen Maggie surrounded by a floating, dancing tea set. Which stopped when I asked her to stop. Why is this so difficult?"

"Audrey, magic? Really? I just… No."

"What if, well, let me call Percy. Can he come into the house? It's considered rude usually, but you need proof, and he can provide it."

"I'm not going to refuse him entry," Lizzy replied. "I'd like this all explained properly, but he's still your husband and the father of my grandchildren."

Audrey groped for her handbag from where she had left it by the side of the sofa, pulling it onto the half of her lap that wasn't covered in a toddler. She fished her mirror out of her bag and flipped it open one-handed. "Percy Weasley," she said clearly.

"What are you doing?" Lizzy asked.

The mirror connected, showing Percy's face. "Audrey?"

"Daddy," Maggie roused at the sound of her father's voice.

"Yes, it's Daddy," Audrey said, smoothing her head back down. "Mummy just needs to talk to Daddy."

"Is everything alright? Is Maggie OK? Is something wrong with your Mum?" Percy asked in a concerned rush.

"Percy, I need you to come to my Mum's."

"Why what's wrong?"

"Maggie levitated her tea set and made it dance along with the video she and my Mum were watching."

"Shit," Percy swore. "She's alright? Nothing broke?"

"She's fine. She stopped when I asked her to, but Mum…"

"Oh. Oh yeah, give me five minutes to tell Kingsley and move a couple of things, and I'll be right there."

"Can you come directly into the front room?"

"Yes, if that's alright with your Mum," Percy agreed hesitantly.

"It's fine, I asked. I appreciate your difficulties, and I don't have a rabbit handy."

Percy smiled at the reference. "I'll be right there. Tell Maggie, I'm proud of her."

Audrey nodded then snapped the compact closed, cutting off the connection. She chucked it back into her handbag and put the bag back on the floor by the sofa.

"Video conferencing on a compact mirror?"

"Not quite, but yes. It doesn't use telephony, it runs on magic. It is linked to a select number of similar mirrors that other people have. Percy wanted me to always be able to ask for magical help should I need it or if anything happened to him. He's going to appear in a minute."

"What did you mean when you said you didn't have a rabbit?"

"When Percy told me he was a wizard, I didn't believe him. For much the same reasons you don't believe me. He turned his wine glass into a rabbit. It was just a wine glass out of the cupboard, he put it on my lap and turned it into a real-life rabbit. I think I screamed a little. I can't remember, but yeah, it was a moment."

"Audrey, I don't understand. How can you believe in magic? That Maggie is a witch of all things? It's just not…"

There was a muffled crack that made Lizzy jump and heralded Percy's appearance.

"Daddy?" Maggie's head popped up, on seeing her father, she wiggled out of Audrey's lap and ran across the room to him.

Percy scooped her up. "Hello, lovely, Mummy tells me you've been a clever girl."

Maggie nodded her head her smile bright she pointed to the tea set. "Dancing, Daddy."

"Yes, the plates were dancing. Mummy told me."

"Again, Daddy?"

"No, not right now lovely, maybe when we get home. I've come to talk to Grandma. May I sit?" Percy asked of Lizzy.

"What? Oh, yes," Lizzy said. She'd been eyeing Percy's robes and not paying a lot of attention to the conversation between him and Maggie.

Percy sat beside Audrey, shifting Maggie on to his lap where she promptly wrapped herself up in the drape of his robes.

"You weren't hiding outside or something?" Lizzy asked abruptly.

"No. Wizards can apparateꟷ."

"Teleport," Audrey broke in, at Percy's look, she shrugged. "Our word is better."

"I was at work when Audrey called on the mirror. I ap-teleported here as I said I would once I had told my boss I needed to leave. I've got an hour before I need to be back at the office."

"And teleporting is normal?"

"Yes," Percy said. "All magical people are given lessons on how to do it at seventeen. It is considered rude to teleport into someone's house without direct permission, which is why Audrey asked if I might."

"Right, I'm just. Lost. Really, really, lost."

"It's alright," Percy reassured her. "The first thing is that magic is real, and there is nothing wrong with you or Maggie. Maggie is a witch. It is likely that if it is genetic, then she got it from me. However, very little is understood how magic manifests. There are magical children born of non-magical families who have no history of any magical child in their ancestry. It could be that Audrey would have always had a magical child, but her chances of doing so greatly increased when she agreed to have a family with me."

"And that's it? Magic is real, and I'm supposed to accept that? Carry on as if nothing has happened?"

Percy exchanged a glance with Audrey. "There are very few options open to you at this point."

"Options?"

"Well, I could have a team come in and take the memory of Maggie's magic from you. You wouldn't remember her doing it nor any of the conversation afterwards. Then every time she displayed magic around you, the process would be repeated. This would continue until Maggie could control her magic. Or, because we don't know how many times Maggie might display her magic, we can take the memory from you and reduce the amount of time Maggie spends with you to decrease the risk of repeat displays and repeated memory loss. Or you can accept that Maggie did something you aren't comfortable with and stop seeing her without the memory being taken. Or you can accept that Maggie is a witch and that this is part of her life."

"You'd take my grandchild away from me?"

Percy looked calmly at his mother-in-law. "Lizzy, I do not want Maggie to grow up without her Grandmother, but her happiness goes before everything else. She will realise that her magic is what you are afraid of, and she will respond to that. How I don't know yet, but I will not stand to see her hurt. If it is too much for you, then I'd prefer we made the break when she is young enough to get over it."

"Or I just accept it? Accept that you are some sort of wizard, my granddaughter is a witch, and my daughter kept it all a secret from me."

"To put it baldly, yes."

"This is insane. Have you seen a doctor? Has Maggie? If she's been able to do this from birth?"

"She's not ill, neither am I. I do understand that this is difficult for you. It's not part of your world and adjusting to this is challenging, especially when you can't talk about it to anyone who doesn't already know. Audrey and I will always answer any questions you might have, and we have some books that might explain the differences in raising magical and non-magical children should you wish to read them."

Percy withdrew his wand, keeping his eyes on Lizzy. Maggie made an encouraging noise at the sight of his wand. "Daddy, do magic?" She reached for the wand, but Percy deftly moved it out of her reach catching hold of her hands and blowing raspberries on them to make her giggle.

Audrey held out her arms. "Come here, love. Daddy is going to show Grandma some magic. You don't want to get in the way."

Maggie obligingly crawled over to Audrey and settled on her lap her eyes on Percy.

Percy waved his wand, and the tea set tidied itself up, laying itself out for five to take tea. Cups sat on saucers with spoons, the sugar bowl and small milk jug placed in the middle of the ring. Another flick and the cleaning charm whisked around the room, making the room notably cleaner in its wake. The box of toys kept for Maggie, who had emptied them all over the floor, packed itself away neatly and closed with a thump making Lizzy jump.

Lizzy looked over to Audrey. Audrey smiled encouragingly. "It's big, I know, but it's not that bad."

"Why didn't you tell us?"

Audrey bit her lip. "Because I wasn't supposed to know. Magical people are governed separately, they have different laws. The Statue of Secrecy is what keeps us muggles finding out about magic."

"Muggles?"

"Non-magical people."

"Right."

"Magical people aren't supposed to tell muggles about magic. Breaking that law is a lifetime prison sentence with no parole. If they had discovered that Percy had told me he would have been sent to prison. I couldn't risk that, so I didn't tell anyone. Honestly, it wasn't exactly difficult not to say anything, you wouldn't have believed me without proof, and I couldn't give it to you. Just before the wedding the current Minister of Magic, Percy's boss, gave us, well, me, a document that grants me Informed Muggle status going back to ninety-eight. Basically, it's a legitimate way of getting around the law without Percy getting into trouble for having told me. Once Maggie was born, and she was magical, the rules change slightly anyway."

Percy picked up the thread of the conversation. "Because Maggie can't control her magic, it is expected that muggle parents will discover that magic is real. In a mixed marriage like ours, it means that I could tell Audrey I was a wizard. In a non-magical marriage, most of the time from what I understand, the parents just cope as well as they can until Hogwarts – the magical school, sends out the letters and the teachers go around to all the Muggle-born and explain to their parents."

"So, it's common then, these mixed marriages?"

"No," Percy said. "They are the opposite. That isn't to say they don't happen, but due to the necessary secrecy most magical folk look for relationships within the community."

"How big is the magical community?"

"About one per cent of the population in the UK," Percy replied. "We haven't had a consensus in some years, so the numbers are approximate. We've had two major conflicts in the last thirty, which hurt our population numbers."

"Conflicts?"

"Yes, a wizard tried to seize control of the government back in the seventies. It was a rather dark time. A lot of people died before he was stopped in eighty-one. Then at the beginning of the nineties, he resurfaced and started to rebuild his power base to try again. He was killed, and his group of followers were arrested or killed alongside him in February ninety-eight. A number escaped justice, and we have been largely successful in rounding them up."

"You got engaged in February ninety-eight."

"Yes. The decisive action against Riddle was drawing closer. My future was uncertain, it wasn't perhaps the best course of action for Audrey's sake to ask her to marry me then. Explain magic was real, then have her find out that the magical world was at war and I might be killed in the final confrontation, but I have to say she took it very well."

Lizzy looked appalled.

"Percy," Audrey hissed. "It wasn't that dramatic Mum," Audrey said. "I was never in danger. And the final fight was over in five or six hours. I spent the entire time at a safe house in Scotland well away from the action which was taking place in Devon."

"Your family, they are like this too?"

"Yes, my brothers, sister, parents."

"Everyone that came to the wedding on Percy's side was magical, Mum. The dress, you know how we didn't think it could be fixed? I had it mended by magic."

Lizzy sat back in her chair. "I don't know what to say. No offence, Percy, but I've always thought some of your family were a little odd, but I didn't expect this."

"Some of my family, my twin brothers for example, spend more time in the muggle world than others. They are more familiar with it."

"Mum, do you want to go?"

"Go? Go where?"

"To Diagon Alley, we can go if you like. You can't go without Percy or someone else magical, but you could see it then. See that it's not that different."

"You've been?"

"Yes. Percy, would you do me a favour? Nip home and get the wedding album."

"Of course," Percy said. "Do you mind if I leave from the hall?" he asked Lizzy

"You're going to teleport? Yes, it's fine."

Percy stood up and left the room the crack of his disapparation reverberating in the hall.

"How long?" Lizzy asked. "How long before you got used to it because I'll be honest Audrey, this is all really strange to me, and you're sat there as calm as can be."

"Do you remember the Grangers at the wedding? The dentist that went to live in America?"

"Vaguely."

The pop of Percy reappearing came from the hall.

"Come sit here, Mum. The Grangers are non-magical like us. But their daughter Hermione is a witch. They didn't know that when she was young, all the things that happened around her were because she was a witch. She pulled books from shelves, mended favourite toys that were broken by accident. Made clothes she didn't like tear or shrink. Helen and John took her to doctors like you suggested because they were worried. The doctors found nothing wrong with her and the episodes became fewer. Then when she was eleven, they found out she was a witch and all that that entailed. It's normal for you to struggle with this. I struggled with it, but it's part of Percy, who he is, and it's part of Maggie too."

"Why have you got your wedding album? I've seen it before." Lizzy asked as Percy handed over the book and scooped Maggie up from Audrey's lap. She went willingly, cuddling into his chest, her eyes drooping with tiredness.

"You haven't seen this one," Audrey said. "Magical photographs are different from ours."

Audrey lifted the cover of the album showing the first picture which was of Audrey and Percy walking down the aisle together towards the photographer.

"We hired a young photographer who was also muggle-born so he could do both sets of pictures."

Lizzy was struck by the image, the two of them arm in arm radiantly happy, walking towards the edge of the picture. Audrey turned the page. The wedding pictures all moved, the photographs of Audrey getting ready with her mother. Percy talking to his family. The guests arriving. Audrey arriving. Percy fidgeting at the top of the aisle. The moment that Audrey entered, and Percy turned to her was captured. Audrey ran a finger over the image, smiling softly at Percy, who smiled back.

Lizzy took the album flicking through them until she stopped once more with a sharp intake of breath. "I remember this, it was so perfect. We couldn't believe that you'd managed to choreograph it and keep it quiet."

Lizzy was looking at the picture of their first dance. Percy waltzing Audrey around the floor then joined by Harry and Hermione, Mr and Mrs Granger, Severus and Minerva, Kingsley and Tonks, Andromeda and Ted. They had all come on to the dance floor at the same time. Percy had brought Audrey to a pause then each couple had resumed dancing each moving off at the exact same time as the others. The picture showed the swirling couples rotating around the dance floor for a minute before it started again.

"It wasn't choreographed per se," Audrey confessed. "Percy's brothers make a product called Dancing Shoes. This was the first mass test run before they moved into production. This image is actually now quite famous," Audrey said with a smile. "They used it for their marketing."

"Dancing shoes? But you were wearing your wedding shoes."

"The shoes come as two pairs a practice pair that makes your feet move in the steps until you get them memorised. Then you can put the 'going out' pair on, and as long as you take the right steps at the right time once the enchantment is started, they are just like regular shoes. If you try to make a misstep, they correct you. That's why we all looked so perfect; the spell starts on the same step for everyone."

"So, you can't dance like that?"

"Well I probably could," Audrey said. "I practised a lot, it's probably embedded into my muscle memory, but that's what the shoes aim to do you see. The enchantments wear off by which point you should have it memorised."

"That's, that's quite clever." Lizzy looked at her empty glass. "I think I need another." She made to get up, but Audrey put a hand on her arm as Percy summoned the bottle from the kitchen. It floated over to the sofa where Audrey plucked it out of the air and unscrewed the cap pouring her mother another measure.

"Did that,"

"Yes," Audrey said. "It makes you a little bit lazy being able to summon things from around the house, but it's amazingly convenient when you lose your keys or Maggie's hidden the TV remote."

Lizzy tasted the whisky cautiously as if she wasn't sure it was safe. She pulled a face at the taste again then slumped back into the sofa. "What am I going to tell your father? I can tell him, can't I? because I don't want to keep secrets from him, in fact, I won't."

"You can tell him," Audrey soothed. "He would find out much the same way as you have anyway."

"You said its heredity," Lizzy said carefully. "Does that mean…?"

"Yes, in this case, Lucy is also a witch. She probably won't display any magic until she is about Maggie's age or later, but it has been confirmed that she is also magical," Percy replied, answering the unfinished question.

"Right, so both of them."

"Yes," Audrey agreed. "Both of them."

"Your Mum, this is the reason, isn't it, because Audrey isn't magical. That's why isn't it? Why she won't have anything to do with you."

"Yes. I cannot explain to you how extensively her behaviour hurts both of us. Audrey has done nothing to deserve her censure, and I cannot reconcile her behaviour with the woman who raised seven children to not discriminate," Percy said his expression solemn.

"Arthur is struggling with it. He's at a loss with her. We've tried to get her to talk to us, to work it out. It's torn the family apart really. Fred and George won't speak to her, Ron avoids going home. Ginny moved to the States and uses the distance as a reason not to speak to her. There's only Bill who is still trying, and Fleur thinks its residual guilt," Audrey told her mother.

"Well, that's just ridiculous. Why should it matter if you can do this magic stuff or not? You love each other, you're both responsible people, you've got a good life together, and both your children are happy and healthy. Does she know? About Maggie and Lucy being magical?"

"She is aware that we have children, but it was made abundantly clear when Maggie was born that unless she accepted Audrey fully, she would not be welcome to see her granddaughters. It is likely that she is aware they are both magical, it hasn't been kept a secret from my family," Percy explained.

"She isn't willing to come around at all? Not even a little bit? That seems almost unreal. Is her attitude so unusual though, I mean, you said your situation wasn't common, although that doesn't excuse her in any way."

"The magical society has always suffered some discrimination against those from a muggle background by those from a magical one. Children from pure muggle families only find out about magic at the age of eleven when they are invited to attend the magical school. They enter the magical world with as much information as they can glean from books and the like, it can make the transition quite jarring. The Statue of Secrecy ensures our separation, which means there is a lot of ignorance on the magical side when it comes to the muggle world and the people who live in it." Percy hugged Maggie to him as he explained. He kissed the top of her head before continuing. "The magical world as it were, could be considered by the muggle-born as behind the times, antiquated if you like. We use candlelight, quills and ink. We have nothing that resembles the internet. We don't have electricity, so many of the modern conveniences that come with it are unheard of. Magic can do so much, so it is unsurprising that our paths have diverted as much as they have. Both Maggie and Lucy will have the advantage of straddling both worlds. Like those of similar family make up before them, they will have the option of which world they live in, or if they too may live in a world like mine and Audrey's, where they have the advantages of both. If they choose to, they will be able to take their GCSE's while studying at Hogwarts and they will have the option if taking their A-Levels as well as their magical qualifications."

"Maggie and Lucy, will they go to this magical school?" Lizzy asked.

"Yes, their names went down for it at birth, that's how we knew they are both witches. The Headmaster informed us, you've met him, Mum, Severus. Minerva is the Deputy Headmistress. It's a boarding school in Scotland."

"Boarding school? In Scotland? Isn't there something closer to home?"

"The magical community is not so large, and Hogwarts is one of the preeminent schools in Europe. Legally, they are required to attend a magical school as citizens of magical Britain."

"There's a school in France as well Mum, it's the one Fleur went to. They don't teach subjects that you need to take your muggle exams though."

"Fleur? She's a witch too?"

"Yes,"

"How many other people have I met that are like this?

Well, as I said, everyone that Percy invited to the wedding was magical, so you've met quite a lot really."

"So, Fleur's children, they are witches too."

"Yes."

Lizzy sighed heavily. "Well I suppose, if you're sure, I'll just have to wrap my head around it all. I think you might have to help me tell your father though. Can Rachel know?"

"It, it might be best if we wait till Maggie does something in front of her. When the muggle-born do the unexplained in front of their family, the urge is not to talk about it, which feeds into keeping the magical world a secret. I'm honestly not sure where we stand and crossing the line with the Statute of Secrecy is not something to be brushed off lightly," Percy said hesitantly.

"So if Maggie does something, you can explain to the family, but otherwise it's a trick of the light, and there's nothing to see here?"

"Yes," Audrey said. "That's pretty much what I've been planning on doing."

"What about nursery? Primary school?"

Audrey shrugged. "We roll the dice and see what happens. She might never have an accident. It might be fine. Or she'll do something, and everyone will scramble to find an answer that isn't Maggie is a witch. We'll tell her when she starts school, she's not to tell anyone. It's a lot to ask, but with a bit of luck they'll think she's an over-imaginative child."

"Well, there's a few of those about so I suppose it's not the worst idea."

Chapter Text

October 2005

Lucy was just over two when her magic manifested. She was in the front room, playing on the floor with a set of blocks. Audrey was helping her build castles, balancing the blocks in illogical places to make turrets and crenels.

The sun was coming through the front windows warming the room and bathing the alcove shelves in a warm beam of light. In the patch of sun, an egg-shaped rock bigger than a tennis ball sat on a small cushion.

Lucy's gaze fell on the rock and seemed to fix upon it. Audrey noticed the direction of her daughter's gaze but couldn't see what had caught her interest so wholly from her spot on the floor.

Lucy let out an excited squeal of sound as she climbed to her feet, her hands outstretched towards the shelf. Audrey watched bemused wondering what her daughter wanted.

Lucy let out another excited squeal of sound thrusting her hands further forward. The rock shot off the shelf into Lucy's outstretched hands. The power of its arrival knocked her back onto her bottom. Lucy didn't seem to notice at all. Her attention was on the rock in her hands. She cradled it close to her body, her face bent to it, her attention fixed upon its smooth, shining surface.

Audrey was about to reach for Lucy to check her fall and catching the rock hadn't caused any injury as well as congratulate her daughter on her first bit of magic when Lucy's words stopped her short.

"Hello."

Audrey did a double-take when Lucy's greeting was answered with a cheep.

The rock wasn't a rock. It was a phoenix egg. The phoenix of a famous wizard. A phoenix who had retreated into its egg nearly ten years previously. For eight years they had been custodians of the egg.

At first, Percy had taken it to every meeting, party, dinner and conference hoping that someone would tempt the bird from its egg. After two years, when everyone in their circle had come into contact with it, Percy stopped taking it. He was worried about it being stolen or damaged and decided that if Fawkes wanted a new companion, then he'd have to hatch first. It seemed Fawkes had taken him at his word.

"Fawkes," Audrey said softly to the chick that was emerging from the egg onto Lucy's lap.

Fawkes bright black eyes were fixed on Lucy, Lucy was equally fascinated by the whole process, uncharacteristically sitting still while the chick got its feet under it. Finally free of the eggshell, Fawkes spread his skinny little wings, its chick fuzz damp and stuck together. Lucy reached out a gentle finger to stroke Fawkes head.

"Hello," she said again.

"Careful Lucy," Audrey whispered. "Gently. You need to be gentle."

Fawkes bobbed his head under Lucy's finger, then when her hand retreated, his plumage began to gently flame.

Audrey had a moment of panic thinking the bird was going to burn Lucy then set the house on fire in short order. By the time she had unfrozen, Fawkes was no longer on fire, and his plumage was dry. He was the bright orange and reds of flames; his tail was still short and stubby, not like the pictures Percy had shown her when he first brought the egg home.

Lucy giggled madly, reaching out to touch Fawkes again. The chick allowed it but shuffled in place after a moment or two.

"Alright, Lucy, that's enough, let get Fawkes a bed, shall we? He probably wants a nap, being born is hard work."

Audrey grabbed a doll blanket from the play box and made a makeshift nest out of it on the coffee table before carefully holding out her hand to the chick.

Fawkes looked her over before taking wobbly steps and falling into her hand. Gently and carefully, Audrey transferred the chick to the blanket nest.

Fawkes settled down and tucked his head under his wing. Lucy scooted up to the table edge, her eyes fixed upon the sleeping bird.

"Lucy, you mustn't touch him again, alright? He's small, and you don't want to hurt him. Mummy is going to see if we can find him something for a better bed."

"Sleep with me, Mummy."

Audrey nibbled her lip. She really wasn't well versed in magical pets and if Fawkes would want or need to be near Lucy for the foreseeable future. "If he will sleep in a birdcage until he's bigger, he can sleep in your room." She got to her feet and held out her hand to Lucy. "Come one. I think Daddy left an owl cage in the cellar. We can go get it and find somewhere to put it in your room. Fawkes will be alright for now."

Lucy happily followed Audrey to the cellar door and down into the back half of the cellar. Amongst the collected detritus was an owl cage. It was a big brass thing that would dwarf the chick, but the loop in the top meant it could be hung from the ceiling and not need to be placed on the furniture.

Audrey took the cage into the kitchen to give it a wash. Once clean, she took the cage and Lucy up to Lucy's bedroom to choose where it should be hung. Lucy picked a spot by the window and seeing no reason not to agree Audrey nipped downstairs to get the tools. Twenty minutes later, the cage was hung, and the chick transferred to his new home. Audrey sat on Lucy's bed while her daughter stood on it next to her, peering into the cage to see her new friend.

Audrey shook her head once. She had no idea what Percy was going to say about this. Or Maggie, for that matter, when she got home from school. They had never gotten around to getting a cat when Percy had first suggested it. Now with a bird in the house, it seemed like a recipe for disaster. Perhaps Maggie wouldn't want a pet as well, or maybe she'd settle for a guinea pig or rabbit. Something less magical and more explainable.

When Percy returned home, he was somewhat surprised to be met at the floo. Audrey was usually upstairs with the girls and would greet him once he had put away his satchel and hung up his outer robe.

"What's wrong?" he asked, reaching for his pocket wondering if he'd missed a call on his mirror.

"It's Lucy, her magic manifested today."

"It did?" he asked a pleased smile growing on his face. "What did she do?"

"She woke Fawkes from his egg."

Percy felt his smile falter as his brain took a minute to understand what Audrey had said. "Fawkes? The phoenix, Dumbledore's phoenix?"

"Lucy's now," Audrey responded. "They've been all but inseparable since he hatched in her lap just after lunch. I've hung the old owl cage up in her bedroom for him to sleep in, but Percy, I know nothing about keeping birds, especially not magical birds that grow as big as swans. I mean he's going to dwarf her, and we're going to have a swan sized bird living in the house! It will be like having a dog flying around at head height. It's going to be a complete nightmare, but I can't take him away from her. Her magic woke him up, that's got to be something, hasn't it? In magical terms that's important, isn't it? She summoned the egg right off the shelf, and he hatched in her hands."

Percy dropped his satchel on his desk and hung up his robe. "Yes, it is, we can't separate them. We're going to have to register him."

"With the vet?" Audrey asked with a laugh that verged on hysterical. "How the hell are we going to explain that?"

"No, with the Ministry. He's a class XXXX magical beast, if he's chosen Lucy, then he'll be with her until she dies. Usually, and I don't mean to say that domesticated phoenixes are common because I only know of two and one of them has apparently bonded to our youngest daughter, but usually when their chosen witch or wizard dies like Dumbledore did, they fly away, vanish, do whatever phoenix's do for the rest of their lives. That's what made Fawkes such an odd case. He didn't vanish, he chose to stay in his egg. They can take years to incubate, so it wasn't harmful to him to do that. Now he's hatched, after his burning days he'll only be chick sized for a few days before reverting to his normal size."

"Well, currently he's about the size of a blackbird. He was about the size of a sparrow when he hatched, but he's been eating fruit and salad like it's going out of fashion, and he's grown a bit. Which is good actually, because he was a bit too small for me to be comfortable with Lucy handling him. She wouldn't mean to hurt him, but he was tiny."

"I don't know how fast he will grow," Percy said helplessly. "I never thought I'd see him hatch if I'm honest. I thought perhaps I'd just look after his egg for the rest of my life. I can owl Newt Scamander again and see if he has more to offer in terms of what we can expect in rates of growth. Since he hatched rather than burned, perhaps he will have to grow like a freshly hatched phoenix would the first time. Swans take a year to grow to full adulthood."

"We need to go upstairs. They're watching the telly, but you know the peace never lasts."

Percy followed Audrey up the stairs his mind running over the things he would have to do in the morning to make sure Lucy could keep her phoenix. "Do you think he'll want a new name? I don't know who called him Fawkes first."

"Well, I've been calling him Fawkes, and he doesn't seem to mind. We can't let Lucy name him, she'll call him something daft like 'biscuit'. I think Fawkes will do."

"I may have to take them both with me in the morning to sort everything out," Percy said as they entered the sitting room.

On the sofa sat close next to each other, the two bright red-haired heads of his daughters were bent over, concentrating on something in Lucy's lap. A wool blanket was bunched up on her thighs and from within the folds glinted the jewel-bright red and gold feathers.

Fawkes was watching both girls his head tilted. He warbled, and Maggie giggled, feeding him half a grape. Once he'd swallowed it, he made the sound again, and Lucy fed him another half.

"Who trained who?" Percy asked quietly with a laugh.

"Shh!" Audrey said, smothering her own giggle. "I think it was a team effort."

Audrey indicated she would be in the kitchen and slipped away. Percy approached the sofa drawing the attention of its occupants.

"Daddy!" Maggie said wiggling free of the sofa, throwing herself at his legs, hugging them with her arms and her chin tilted up at him. "Look! Lucy has a bird!"

"Yes, she does, and he likes grapes,"

Maggie giggled again nodding her head. "Yes. We did sums at school today, Daddy."

"Well, that is very impressive. Will you show me?"

"Yes. Do you want to say hello to Lucy and Fawkes first?"

"Yes, please."

Percy let Maggie go and carefully took her seat next to Lucy. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, carefully pulling her gently into half hug. "Hello Lucy, would you introduce me to your friend."

"Fawkes, Daddy."

"Yes." Percy lifted a hand a finger extended and ran it gently over the elongated neck and back of the bird. He was warm, his short tail feathers nearly hot. "He's very special, Lucy, you're very lucky he chose you."

Lucy looked up at him with a beaming smile, and Percy knew that somehow, they were going to have to make living in a muggle semi-detached house with a phoenix who would, as Audrey said, grow to rival a swan in size, work. Merlin only knew how they were going to explain it to Lizzy and Rick.

Percy kissed Lucy's cheek. "Love you, Lucy-Loo. Look after Fawkes while Maggie teaches Daddy to do sums."

Percy left the sofa as carefully as he sat on it, holding out a hand to Maggie, he asked her. "So, these sums you learnt, think you can teach me? I think they might be useful."

Maggie giggled and went to get her school bag as Percy dropped into the armchair. Bringing it back, she scrambled on to Percy's lap pulling out the worksheets she had brought home.

As Maggie told him all about her lessons and showed him how she could do the examples, Percy found his eyes land on Lucy from time to time. Fawkes had been fed the rest of the grapes and was now sleeping on Lucy's lap, his head tucked under his wing in the blanket nest. Lucy was gazing at him with a look of wonderous delight on her face.

When Audrey came back into the room to tell the girls they had to go and get ready for bed, he lifted Maggie from his lap and crossed the room to Lucy. "Let me take him, Lucy," he said quietly, waiting until she had nodded at him before carefully scooping the bird and blanket up in his hands. Letting the girls go up the stairs first, he followed Lucy into her room and opened the door of the owl cage, gently placing the bundle in the bottom of it. Fawkes woke up as he was placed down, so Percy left the door open.

Percy went into his and Audrey's bedroom stripping off his work robe waistcoat and tie, rolling up his sleeves and slipping off his shoes in favour of his slippers. He ran the bath for the girls and listened as they chattered at each other. While he supervised the bath, he heard Fawkes trilling from Lucy's bedroom. The sounds were climbing and sliding down a scale but seemed to indicate no sound of distress. Cocking his head Percy listened, the sounds started to warble a little, and Percy realised that Fawkes was teaching himself to sing.

Audrey stuck her head around the door. "Everything alright? I sneaked a look through the gap in the door. He's not in any distress."

"Phoenixes sing," Percy said. "I think he's just giving his voice a warm-up."

"Oh," Audrey said. "Are we going to have to chuck a sheet over his cage at night to make sure he sleeps?"

"I don't think so. They are intelligent birds. He'll presumably settle to our routine."

There was a loud pop making everyone jump and turn to the windowsill where it came from. Flapping wildly, Fawkes hovered just above the windowsill a bizarrely smug expression on his face.

"What the…?"

"Oh," Percy said. "Umm, they can apparate as well, although I didn't know they could do it so young."

Fawkes settled onto the windowsill tucking his feet under him. He shuffled his wings and stretched his neck so he could peer down at the bath where Lucy was.

"He can already fly?" Audrey said.

"Well it doesn't seem for very long, but I suppose small flights will help his flight muscles," Percy said with a shrug. "We might have to carry him back to Lucy's bedroom."

"Right," Audrey said with a sigh. "And he couldn't be a cat because?"

"Sorry love,"

"Not your fault. Will you have to take Lucy in tomorrow?"

"Yes, do you have the egg still? It might help to explain where we got him from."

"Yes. I put it to one side in case it was useful for potions or something. It's in a Tupperware box. Want a hand? Dinner is just warming through in the oven."

"I've got it. Go sit down, I'll be down as soon as the stories are done."

Audrey nodded and left him to it.

In the morning, Percy got ready for work then as Audrey got Maggie for school, he went into Lucy's room and helped her dress. He handed her over to Audrey to supervise teeth cleaning and hair brushing while he went downstairs to make breakfast for everyone.

Audrey brought Fawkes downstairs with her and for want of a better plan let him perch on the back of Lucy's chair while she ate her breakfast.

"I'll see if Lucy and I can go and get some perches for him today from the pet shop. Are you sure he'll be alright just eating fruit and vegetables? There's nothing he needs vitamins wise?"

"I'll owl Newt once I get back to my desk. We should be finished by the time you get back from dropping Maggie off. If you aren't, I'll take Lucy to my office, and if you just call me when you get in, I'll ask Kingsley if we can use his floo or I'll bring her back to the atrium floos."

"Why is Lucy going to Daddy's work?" Maggie asked.

"Daddy has to take Lucy and Fawkes to work to be registered so he can stay with us," Audrey explained.

"Can I go?"

"You've got to go to school, Maggie, I need you to learn some more sums to teach me. But as soon as I can I'll take you too," Percy told Maggie kindly.

Percy stood from the table, dropping a kiss on Audrey's cheek and one on Maggie's before holding his hand out to Lucy. "Come on, Lovely. Let's get Fawkes registered then you can go shopping for him." Lucy jumped down from the table, and Percy swept her up into his arms. "Right you've got to hold Fawkes, Lucy. OK? We're going to go through the floo, and you need to hold on to Fawkes and me very tightly."

Lucy nodded, so Percy scooped the phoenix off the back of Lucy's chair and summoned his things from the kitchen before heading to the cellar stairs. Holding on to Lucy, he removed the grate that closed the floo, shrank his bag and put it into his pocket and took a handful of the floo powder from the jar. He ignited the floo and with a determined 'The Ministry for Magic', they vanished in a swirl of green flame.

Percy stepped smoothly out of the floo at the Ministry for Magic and moved to one side. Stopping, he checked he had both his passengers and they were no worse for wear. Lucy was clutching him sniffling into his neck. Fawkes was making distressed cheeping noises where he was squashed between the two of them. Gently, he got Lucy to sit up in his arms. A swirl of his wand and the soot was gone. "It's alright Lucy-Loo it's over now. It's not very nice, Daddy's sorry, but we had to come to get Fawkes registered."

"I don't like it," she sniffled.

"I know, but look, we're here now."

Lucy looked around her with wet, unimpressed eyes. Fawkes trilled at her, and her attention dropped to the bird. A small hand ran over his feathers, and he chirped soothingly at her. A small smile twitched her lips upwards, and Percy let out a breath of relief.

Searching in his pocket with his free hand, he handed over his handkerchief. "Wipe your eyes lovely." When Lucy had smooshed her face into the handkerchief, he took it back from her then held it over her nose. "Blow," he said with a smile. She complied giggling as he playfully pinched her nose. "Come on then, let's sort all this out. Mummy will be waiting for you to get back so you can go shopping."

Percy strode towards the lift, ignoring the glances they garnered. He stepped into the elevator and took up a position towards the back. The elevator wasn't very full which Percy was glad of, and they travelled to level four. Percy stepped off the elevator and made for the office of the Head of the Creatures department.

Percy knocked on the door and was bid to enter.

The wizard behind the desk in the office looked up in surprise. "I'm sorry, I thought you were my secretary. Are you lost?"

"No," Percy said, closing the door behind him. "I'm Percy Weasley, this is my daughter Lucy. I've brought her to register her pet."

"We don't need you to register kneazles, its taken care of when you make the purchase," the wizard said dismissively.

"I am aware," Percy said drily. "Lucy's pet isn't a kneazle." Percy cupped Fawkes in his hand and brought him out so that the wizard could see him. "It's a phoenix, and I believe that as per the regulations regarding beasts classified as XXXX, he must be registered with your department."

The wizard blinked dumbly at him.

"The registration of my daughter's pet," Percy prompted him.

"Yes, of course. There are some forms." The wizard shook off his stupor a wave of his wand had a filing cabinet drawer opening, disgorging a roll of parchment and snapping shut. The parchment unrolled and settled on the wizard's desk.

"Might I take a seat?" Percy asked, pulling out the seat in front of the desk and sitting in it settling Lucy on his lap and handing back Fawkes.

"Oh, yes, of course. Right, full name, please. Yours and your daughter's."

"Percy Ignatius Weasley, Lucy Cassia Weasley."

"Where did you find the phoenix?"

"I have been in possession of the egg since September ninety-eight."

"Egg?"

"Yes," Percy reached into his pocket and withdrew the Tupperware box. "My wife saved the shell after Fawkes hatched."

"Fawkes?" the wizard did a double-take.

Percy sighed. "Yes. After Mr Dumbledore died, I was one of the first people on the scene along with the Minister of Magic. Obviously, I knew of Fawkes and went to check that enough provision had been left out for him until something could be organised. I found his egg in a pile of ash on the tray of his perch. I took the egg."

"You should have reported it at once to my department."

"Which I would have done, had Mr Dumbledore not have a living relative."

The wizard subsided. "Ahh, yes, carry on."

"I took the egg with me to notify Mr Dumbledore's next of kin. When his brother declined to keep the egg for himself, I asked him what he wished me to do with it, and he told me to keep it. I consulted a Magi-zoologist regarding the care of the egg. Yesterday my daughter summoned the egg from its place, and Fawkes hatched for her."

The wizard's quill was moving across the page, recording everything Percy said. When it had caught up, the wizard read over it and nodded. "Very well. You'll need to read over this and sign it. As your daughter is so young," he paused

"Two and three months."

"Yes," he looked at Lucy, who was humming gently at Fawkes, running a finger over his back. Fawkes had his head cocked and eyes fixed on her as if he was listening intently. "I will have to run a quick diagnostic spell on the phoenix to check his health, but it seems undoubtedly there is a bond there."

Percy nodded, pinching the parchment between two fingers and flipping it around so he could read it. Happy it was an accurate recording of what he said he slid his pen from his pocket and signed it before flipping it back over to the wizard.

"Do you want a copy?" the wizard asked.

"There's no need," Percy said. "I have access to the archives should I need a copy I can get one."

"Oh? l'm sorry, just what is it you do?"

"Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic."

The wizard gulped. "Ah, very good. Now, umm that diagnostic? Then you can get on your way. Wouldn't want to keep the Minister waiting."

"No," Percy answered, repressing his smile. "Best not to."

Percy lifted Fawkes onto the desk where the wizard cast him another glance before casting a spell on Fawkes. Fawkes chirped disgruntled, and Lucy reached for him. "Daddy!" she protested when she couldn't reach. Percy scooped Fawkes up and handed him back to Lucy.

"It won't have hurt him," the wizard assured Percy. "Probably just felt a bit cold. They run hot phoenixes."

Lucy was petting and crooning to the bird who was fluffing up his feathers. Percy watched as the bird shuffled a little then his feathers flickered with flame. Instinct made him catch Lucy's hands to keep them away, and he felt the momentary thrill of fear of having fire sat on his lap even though Audrey had told him no harm had come to either of them the day before.

"Well," the wizard said as Fawkes shook himself, extinguishing the flames and trilled happily. Percy let go of Lucy's hands, allowing her to touch the bird again.

"Yes," Percy said drily. "Is there anything else we need to do?"

"No," the wizard said. "You're all done."

"Thank you for your time," Percy said, settling Lucy and Fawkes before standing again. He turned to the door and left the office. He reached into his pocket, withdrawing his mirror and calling Audrey. She didn't answer indicating she was around muggles still, so Percy set off for his office hoping Kingsley wouldn't mind a visitor.

Kingsley was surprised but gave permission for Lucy to use his floo when Audrey was at home to receive her. In the meantime, Percy settled her on his knee at his desk and pulled some parchment to her and handed over a quill and inkpot so she could draw. Fawkes was put on his desktop, and Percy kept half an eye on the bird as he walked over the desk investigating. Percy left his mirror out, waiting for Audrey to call him and pulled a report forward to read.

Kingsley cleared his throat, breaking Percy's attention from his report. A quick glance told Percy less than ten minutes had passed. "Yes, Minister?"

"Nothing in particular," Kingsley answered. "She's cute as a button."

Percy glanced down at Lucy, who was scrawling an inky mess across his parchment. "She's heavier than one," he said, tightening the arm around her waist briefly.

"That's really Fawkes?" Kingsley came forward.

"Yes, you might recall you suggested turning him into an omelette."

Kingsley barked a laugh. "Yes, something like that wasn't it. Didn't think I'd see him again, to be honest."

"You aren't the only one." Percy's mirror rang out, interrupting what he was about to say. Percy flipped it open.

"Sorry," Audrey said. "The mums were going on and on, and I couldn't get away. I'm home now if you want to bring her through. Did everything go, OK?"

"Yes, everything is done. I'll bring her now." Audrey nodded, and the screen went blank. "If you don't mind?" Percy asked Kingsley.

"Not at all. You don't want to have to take her all the way back through the ministry when my floo is just here."

Percy took Lucy's quill and collected up Fawkes carrying them through to the floo. At the sight of the green flames, Lucy's face fell, and she buried her face in Percy's neck. "Sorry, Lucy-Loo," Percy whispered to her. "It won't be long. You keep hold of Fawkes for me." Percy ignited the floo and stepped into the flames calling for home. He stepped out the other side with Lucy once again sniffling.

"Oh, Lucy," Audrey said, holding out her arms. "Come here. Was it not very nice?"

Percy transferred Lucy to Audrey catching Fawkes in the cross over and setting the bird to perch on the back of his office chair. He swished his wand to remove the soot from their travel and closed and locked the floo putting the grate over it.

"I'll be back tonight at the normal time I think," Percy said, stepping forward to kiss Lucy and Audrey. "She was very brave about the floo though it wasn't very nice."

"Go on, you best get back. Thank Kingsley for letting her stay, and I'm sorry if it interrupted your morning."

"It's fine no harm done she was happy to stay on my lap and draw for ten minutes." Percy stepped backwards and apparated away to the ministry.

Audrey rubbed a hand up and down Lucy's back, soothing her until she had quietened. "Come on, let's get ready to go out and see if we can find Fawkes some nice things." She scooped the bird up and took them all upstairs.

Chapter Text

November 2005

When Percy got home later that evening, Audrey made sure the girls were occupied in their bedrooms before beckoning Percy into the kitchen. She explained the spat and left out the part about Molly. "I'm worried that Maggie thinks her magic is the reason Stacey's not speaking."

Chapter Text

Percy's day had been thrown off its neatly scheduled tracks by not one, but two meetings overrunning. Since the third meeting had been cancelled outright, he had decided twenty minutes to eat his lunch in the Ministry canteen was what he needed to prepare himself for his upcoming afternoon. His afternoon was unfortunately looking like it would be more hassle than it was worth. The Prophet had been left on the table by the previous occupier and hadn't yet been tidied away. Percy idly flicked through it as he ate.

It was a small piece in the Prophet's Letters to the Editor section, barely three hundred words. But then, it wasn't the length, it was the content. Positioned as a concern piece, the letter asked if muggleborn children were better off raised by muggles. The missing eleven years meant assimilation was more difficult. The muggle world was always experiencing one upheaval or another and for the good of the magical children, wouldn't it be better if they could be found and brought into the magical world earlier? Ensuring not only understanding of their developing magic but that there was no need to bridge the gap between the muggle and magical world because there would be no gap.

It didn't seem to Percy that the article in and of itself was terribly troubling. Misguided perhaps in the understanding of logistics and possibly out of touch with modern muggle society. Assuming 'upheaval' was being used as a euphemism for war. But still, he took out his wand and with a neat severing charm removed the article from the paper. Once he had finished his lunch, he made his way down to the Aurory. The small office of John Dawlish, the Auror in charge of Public Security, was off the main corridor before you reached the larger shared space of the active Aurors. Percy knocked on the door and waited.

The door swung open on silent hinges. Facing the door was a desk behind which sat Dawlish, who was lowering his wand, having cast the charm to open the door.

"Come in Mr Weasley."

Percy took the seat offered and shook his head at the proffered teapot.

"So," Dawlish said, niceties dealt with, "What can I do for you? My reports aren't behind."

"No," Percy agreed. "They aren't. I was wondering however if you had seen this?" Percy handed over the letter from the prophet.

Dawlish scanned over it, dropped it onto his desk then leant back to observe Percy. "I have, and I have the others like it."

"There's been others?" Percy asked in surprise

"The last four weeks the Prophet has published something along the same lines."

"It hasn't been in your reports."

"I haven't anything to report. No one has done anything wrong, there's been no call to action, no view expressed that contravenes current policy or laws."

"But you have a file."

Dawlish nodded. "These letters are either the work of one or a few individuals, if it's more than one and they meet up, then it may be that they do no more than sit about and dream up grand ideas while drinking tea and eating biscuits. Happy to have found a group that agrees with them."

"Or they decide to become organised and do something about it?"

"Or that, yes."

Percy nodded. "Could you perhaps include a summary in your next report? I'd like the Minister to be informed, the last thing we need-,"

"Is another blood war." Dawlish cut in. "Wouldn't look good for the incoming Minister would it?"

Percy smiled thinly. "I assure you, Mr Dawlish, I am a lot less worried about my candidacy for the position of Minister, than I am at the prospect of our society descending once more to the violence of blood rhetoric." He stood, nodded farewell to Dawlish and made his way back to the Minister's office.

Now he was aware that the letters were being published Percy kept an eye on the Prophet. It seemed as if there wasn't much to them until he spotted a reply to one of the letters, not a fortnight later that made him sit up and take note.

The reply was in support of the idea of early adoption of the muggleborn. Citing that personal experience of magical children raised with Muggles had shown the muggles to be abusive and cruel, denying the child of access to wizarding families to offer help and guidance, and in a particular case the muggles had denied the child a Hogwarts education. Removing them from the British magical world entirely. It had been the vague details, along with the sign-off 'PW Devon', combined that clued Percy in that this topic was a little closer to home than he'd like. He sat unsure of what he should do. Did his Dad know? He reread the letter. It hadn't outright stated names, but the details were undeniable if you knew the magical children in question. Which Percy did.

The letter at least didn't attack Audrey directly. For which Percy supposed there was some reason to be grateful. But, with the overarching theme of the letter being Muggles were cruel abusive and unable to properly care for magical children, it didn't seem like much of a consolation.

Percy did not want another conversation with his mother. The very last thing he wanted was to give this letter legitimacy by confronting his mother over it. Percy clipped the letter from the Prophet, if the housewives were beginning to weigh in, he assumed it wouldn't be long before someone brought it up at a meeting with the Minister and he would be thrown into it from there.

December 2005

He didn't want to think they had been lulled into a false sense of security or that they hadn't paid adequate attention. It had been seven years. They had at first, been on high alert waiting for the other shoe to drop. It seemed impossible at the time that something wouldn't come out of the woodwork and turn their world upside down. It just hadn't seemed likely that nothing would happen. Albus Dumbledore had never struck Percy as a humble man. Now seven years later he was starting to appreciate that Dumbledore had always believed in the long game.

It had started slowly. Articles published in the Prophet. Small things to begin with building to an editorial piece which sparked conversations and gossip around the Ministry. He'd kept abreast of Dawlish's reports and had even started keeping a file of his own on his desk at the office. Little bits of information were gathered from his network. Hints here, titbits there, painting an increasingly worrying picture.

Muggleborn reform they called it.

Merlin, would they ever just stop?

This time and Percy felt his stomach sour at the thought, it wasn't about excluding the muggleborn. The poor beleaguered part of magical society would probably like to be left the hell alone. This time it was about including them. Catching them shortly after their first accidental magic, bringing them into the fold of magical society.

It spat in the face of the educational reforms Percy had managed to push through. It horrified him in the carelessly cruel suggestion that muggles weren't suitable parents for magical children. It made him simply angry that there had been a war over blood supremacy and yet within a ludicrously short time frame, they were back at it. They hadn't learnt a damned thing.

The group hadn't given themselves a name. They had given themselves a patron though. Albus Dumbledore. There had been letters, apparently. Percy hadn't seen them personally and he didn't know who, if anyone, had verified that they had been written by Dumbledore himself. These letters had been somewhat conversational in tone, written to a select few friends lamenting the wars and the way in which society had yet to satisfactorily solve the muggleborn question. Quotes had been published in the Prophet, detailing how Dumbledore had been dissatisfied and thought the muggleborn needed more support and the work was being left unfinished.

Funny, that under his tenure as Headmaster, he hadn't offered this missing support to the muggleborn. Percy also found the date of the letters suspicious. They were all sent within the six months between the end of Riddle and Dumbledore's death.

It was officially on the agenda for his weekly debrief with Kingsley, it was going to be an awful conversation. Not least because Dawlish had gone undercover to the last 'meeting' of this group which had been held openly in a local wizarding establishment in Abergavenny.

Percy had looked it up on a map. The market town in Wales, on further investigation, had a small wizarding community. Just on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, it was the only wizarding community that didn't have anything to do with the dragon reserve.

Dawlish's report mentioned nothing of this of course. It hadn't needed to. It contained damning enough information as it was. The group had met openly, they hadn't been hiding, it wasn't some manor house behind wards, and they hadn't worn a uniform or masks. They'd just gathered in a public space above the bar of the local wizarding pub.

It had read like every early start to a Goblin uprising that Percy had studied at Hogwarts. Of course, his mother hadn't attended a Goblin uprising, so perhaps it wasn't quite the same.

He blinked when he read her name on the list Dawlish had supplied. There had been a few others that he recognised, Elphais Dodge who had been a close friend of Dumbledore, and the recipient of the letters. Hugo Merrythought, a wizard who had spent the last fifty years of his life on the Wizengamot. He had always been a staunch supporter of Dumbledore and had been one of the few publicly chastising Skeeter for her exposé. There were more, but committing their names to memory became rote after he saw his mother.

According to the report the meeting had focused on how to get their message out and grow support for their platform. A coup in the making indeed.

Percy had no idea how his meeting with Kingsley was going to go. This had moved from letters in the Prophet to an organised group with a manifesto faster than he would have thought.

It was an uncomfortable meeting, to say the least. Kingsley had read through Dawlish's report. He closed the file tapping it on the desk to align the parchment within. Then he placed it with care on the desktop neatly centring it on the blotter. That done he leant back in his chair letting out a long, tired sigh.

Percy empathised. A lot.

"So, it's happening. Again. This is absolutely awful timing. If this group," he waved his hand at the report. "Get enough groundswell approval it is going to cause us a lot of headaches. I want a report done, a study, I don't know what, something. Find out if the statistics bear out their manifesto points. Get an economic analysis organised as well. We might be able to head them off if it works out too expensive."

"Yes Minister," Percy said jotting notes down.

"This is going to cause some problems, Percy, I can't deny it. I know you don't, but is there any way you can speak to her? We've got four weeks until the gala and the announcement of your candidacy. Wouldn't she let it go? For you?"

"No," Percy said shaking his head. "Our relationship is non-existent. We haven't spoken in seven years or so. Unless you count the arguments."

Kingsley nodded. "I'll have a word with Arthur."

"I don't believe it will help," Percy responded. "She has resisted every attempt to get her to see reason about myself and Audrey. This just seems the next step."

"Still," Kingsley said. "I'll have a word. Now, I want your candidate names for the undersecretary job while you're here. Even if by some ludicrous reason you don't win the election, there should be a junior undersecretary."

"Edward Harrow. He's wasted in legal. I've spoken to him and he's keen."

"Can he do the job?"

"I believe so. We've never worked directly with each other before. We lived in a house share together when I first joined the Ministry. I know him personally slightly as he's part of a wider group of friends and associates."

"Fine. Get him in for an interview. None of the other applicants has impressed me so far. Have you spoken to Audrey about the Gala?"

"Not yet, I was waiting until the date was firm so I could organise childcare."

"It's firm," Kingsley said. "I've had confirmation through."

"Oh?" Percy said somewhat puzzled as to why he wasn't aware.

"I've moved the venue," Kingsley explained.

"Minister, the security," Percy protested. "Not to mention the dignitaries coming. Changing the venue, well, it's just…"

"Necessary," Kingsley said firmly. A smug smile settled on his face. "I've got the Spanish Ambassador to come."

Percy arched his eyebrow in surprise. The Spanish Ambassador was Kingsley's equivalent. The trade talks going on with that country were in a particular state of détente and the Ambassador was notorious for refusing invitations to galas and the like. "How did you get him to agree?"

"I said his wife could come."

"His wife?" Percy queried.

"She's a squib," Kingsley explained. "Her family is magical several generations back, but she was born a squib. Her younger brother is a wizard so inherited the family business instead."

Percy winced.

"Yes, but by all accounts, she is on good terms with her family and met the Ambassador at one of the family summer parties. He refuses any invitation that excludes her, which is why he has a reputation for not travelling and preferring to host events at the Castillo de Magia."

"It could be seen as political suicide if his support base wasn't so firm," Percy mused.

"And if he hadn't married into the foremost family of potioneers in Spain," Kingsley agreed. "His wife's family supplies over 40% of the Spanish market."

Percy nodded. "Very well, what accommodations will be required?"

"None," Kingsley replied airily. "I've taken care of it."

Percy sent a silent questioning look at Kingsley.

"The hotel Occamy is hosting the gala event and has kindly reserved a suite for the Ambassador and his wife."

"Ah," Percy replied in dawning understanding. "I see."

"I rather suppose you do," Kingsley said wryly. "Considering this was your point was it not?"

"Yes, but it's only been four years, the first crop of NEWT students has only just started. We've had OWL students, of course, those that didn't move on to NEWT as well as a number of part-time summer workers."

"Well, the Ambassador is interested and wants to see it, or rather his wife wants to see it. If we can impress on this, he may well come around on the last few points on that trade deal. It will be a feather in your cap if it pulls off. Nothing like being heralded as the next Minister for Magic leading Britain into a brighter future, while standing in a ballroom which is a clear example of your goals, is there? And sealing a trade deal with the Spanish Ambassador."

Percy nodded faintly and made a mental note to read the last report he had received from the hotel again.

Tidying up his notes he returned to his desk and sat at it letting a wave of mild panic wash over him.

It was one thing to be announced as a candidate for the upcoming Minister of Magic elections. It was another thing to be announced as the favourite by the incumbent Minister. They were not small things. They were in fact, quite large things. He'd worked hard, he'd known and agreed that he would stand as a candidate ever since Kingsley took the office. The length of time between that conversation and the actuality of it coming to fruition had perhaps lulled him into a false sense of security. A security that was crumbling beneath his fingers. He couldn't help but flash back to the taunts and jeers he had received from his siblings when he received his prefect badge then again when he got Head Boy. Admittedly he had the self-awareness now to wince at his behaviour then, but still. It stung that he had been mocked rather than congratulated. The Minister for Magic was a lot bigger than Head Boy. Common sense reared its head, sounding distinctly like Audrey in his mind, pointing out that Fred and George were no longer children and his relationship with them had flourished in ways he could never have predicted. They wouldn't mock him this time, or well they probably would, but it would be because they loved him and were proud of him.

He made his peace with his concerns over his siblings' reactions while he sat at his desk, or at least he convinced himself he did. While he could admit to a considerable bout of nerves at the upcoming public declaration, he had had quite a long time to wrap his head around it. It wouldn't be a surprise to his colleagues or those close to him. He would need to get his head on straight, Kingsley getting the Spanish Ambassador to attend was a notable achievement. Percy would have to do the rest to get the trade deal signed and prove that he was the right candidate.

Percy gave up and went home early. He wasn't really getting any work done, his mind splintered in all directions every time he tried to concentrate. He arrived home just before four, surprising Audrey and delighting Maggie and Lucy who clamoured to tell him about their day. It helped, this slice of normality. Audrey followed him into the sitting room silently waiting for him to explain his sudden arrival. "Audrey, we need to have a chat."

"Oh?" she gave him a concerned once over then asked, "Is it urgent? Or can it wait till after the girls are in bed?"

"It's probably best left until they're in bed," Percy agreed.

"It's nothing bad, is it? You have come home early and well, should I be worried?"

"No. Just, it's a lot."

"OK, dinner is nearly done so if you want to round them up and bring them through in about a quarter of an hour."

Percy nodded letting Maggie and Lucy pull him to the sofa where they clambered onto his lap and started detailing everything they had done. When he heard Audrey moving dishes into the dining room he stood up and shepherded them to the table. Once dinner was finished Percy took them upstairs to their baths and then stories. It was an hour and a half later he returned downstairs to find Audrey on the sofa with a wine glass in hand and another waiting for him on the coffee table.

"It seemed like a reasonable precaution," she offered as he picked up his glass and settled back onto the sofa. "So?" She said nudging him gently. "I've braced myself."

"Do you think your parents would babysit for us? There's a gala being held which I have to attend, and I was hoping you might join me."

"At the Ministry?"

"No, at the hotel. It was supposed to be at the Ministry, and I would have invited you to attend there as well. I had some ideas about how we could manage, but Kingsley changed the venue. It's the first time we're holding an event away from the Ministry. Mainly as Kingsley wanted the Spanish Ambassador to come and he doesn't travel without his wife. His wife, Antonella is a squib and faces much the same problems you would in moving about, so they rarely travel to foreign events. It's quite a feather in Kingsley's cap and with the trade agreement stuck in stalemate anything we can do; well it all helps."

"So it's a WAGs party then?"

"I'm afraid it shan't be as glamorous as that. I can't offer you overpriced champagne and diamonds. I can provide you with reasonable food and conversation that wanders towards dull as it will invariably turn to work. But I should like you there regardless."

"Fine, I'll ask Mum and Dad if they'll take them, and I'll go dress shopping. Wizarding or Muggle?"

"Whatever you feel comfortable in, but it is black-tie."

"Are you wearing muggle or wizarding?"

"I believe for this I shall wear muggle."

"Alright then, I'll get Fleur and Rose to go shopping with me. How long have I got?"

"Four weeks. We're just confirming the guest lists."

"What's the cause by the way?"

"Traditionally this is the gala where the candidates for the election are announced. If Kingsley was planning on keeping it, he'd be there making the most of his successes. As it is, Kingsley would like to start touting me as the next Minister. He's been dropping hints to his counterparts, and he's decided to make them broader. By taking me around with him and introducing me, he's essentially telling the world I'm his preferred successor."

"Don't you know these people already?"

"Yes, of course, but being a competent undersecretary is a lot different than being the next Minister for Magic. They know me and have dealt with me for many years. It isn't my competence that is up for debate; it's my promotion from dogsbody to head honcho."

Audrey laughed. "Do you say things like that in the office?"

"Only when Kingsley annoys me."

"Will Edward be there?"

"Yes, Kingsley wants to interview him, but I can't see him not getting the job. He will be there for much the same reasons I will, to be introduced as the next undersecretary. It will be his first formal event since joining the office."

"So, both of you are running the gauntlet."

"It seems that way."

"Is he bringing his partner?"

"Yes, but he's gay so you will have to amend your acronym."

"This is it then, is it? The start of your campaign."

"Yes," Percy agreed, taking a larger mouthful of wine.

"Do you still want it?" Audrey asked carefully.

"Yes. Yes, I do. There's a lot I don't know yet. How you'll be received once the public realises you aren't a witch. How we'll handle security living in a muggle neighbourhood. The impact on Maggie and Lucy."

"Some of that you won't know till we've lived it though. You can guess, there must have been Ministers with children before and not everyone can live in a humongous manor house. At least some of them had to have lived in muggle neighbourhoods."

"Most would use charms to hide their homes. We can't. It increases the risk. I don't like it."

"But you can't change it, so we'll carry on and we'll do what we need to increase security. I'm with Fleur three days a week most weeks. I'm not completely defenceless, and I am a hundred per cent sure that if we ask, George and Fred will come up with something like my protection jewellery that the girls can wear all the time."

"Are you sure you are happy to do this with me?"

"Yes, yes of course. You'll be brilliant at it."

Chapter Text

They had drawn stares when they had walked through the door of the hotel ballroom and been announced. Percy was slender, with the wiry build of a runner. His suit was made for him at an exclusive London tailor, and Audrey had admittedly winced at the cost. Though she did not doubt for a moment it wasn’t worth every single penny. Also, Percy was a wizard, so it was never going to wear out or not fit him. In those terms, the suit was a bargain.

In the room full of men in wizarding robes and a mixture of muggle suits, Percy was far and away the best dressed of them all. Audrey caught the looks he was getting from the women in the room and shifted a little closer, leaning on his arm to whisper in his ear. “You are the best-looking man in the room, and I am the luckiest woman alive.”

Percy turned his face to her, dropping a small kiss on her lips. “I was thinking the same thing about you.”

Audrey grinned, running a hand down the sparkly floor-length gown of wizarding origins she was wearing. “Well, it's my first gala, I wanted to make a good impression.”

They made their way over to Kingsley, who was standing with a blonde in a revealing dress on his arm, and two other couples.

Audrey narrowed her eyes at the woman. Kingsley and Tonks were keeping their relationship secret, but she’d not thought Kingsley would be the type to bring someone else, rather than attend alone. She smiled tightly at Kingsley and the woman as introductions were made. The Spanish Ambassador and his wife made up one of the couples, the other being a guest of the ambassadors who were there to discuss some Ministry business.

Audrey accepted the embrace of the blonde who was introduced as Marlene with a polite if not warm smile on her face.

As Marlene drew closer to plant air kisses on each cheek, she whispered. “It’s alright Audrey, you don’t have to geld Kings with the soup spoon.”

Audrey started at the familiar voice, drawing back, trying to keep her confusion from being visible. Marlene winked her eye, flashing it to a more familiar colour to go along with the voice, and Audrey remembered Tonks could shift her appearance at will. “Oh,” she said in realisation. “I'm sorry, it's good to see you too.” she squeezed Tonks’ hands, slightly embarrassed.

Tonks smiled. “We’re still keeping things quiet, with Kings heading back to the Aurory once his stint at Minister is up, we didn’t want to become office gossip.”

“Don’t they already know?” Audrey asked. “It’s been years after all.”

“We’re not seen together in public much,” she shrugged. “Things like this, I come but, well, I can be someone different each time.”

Audrey nodded musing on the situation. Percy drew her attention however introducing her to the Spanish Ambassador and his wife. Audrey exchanged polite hellos and then waited to see if they were expected to mingle further.

They were, so she took a glass of champagne from a passing tray and linked her arm through Percy’s as he began the slow circuit around the room. Audrey discovered that on Percy’s arm, she only had to give brief details of her employment. A family antiques business was perfectly respectable and for those that queried further, the explanation of her partnership with a certified ex-Gringotts curse breaker was enough to satisfy even the most curious. It was never questioned that she didn’t belong. It was surprising that even with the hotel crossing the divide between Muggle and Magical that it simply didn’t occur to these people that she might not be one of them.

The ballroom was not quite a crush. There were a significant number of attendees present that Percy knew would normally have refused the invitation. The venue change seemed to have brought the curious out in force. He was waylaid in his slow trip around the room by two familiar wizards.

“I didn’t know you had been invited,” Percy commented as he and Audrey stopped in front of them.

Fred shrugged. “We do own a chunk of the place. Seems that we might have made the guestlist based on that. They sent an invite to Harry and Hermione too, though if that was based around ownership or celebrity, who can tell.”

“Are they here?” Audrey asked craning to look around the room.

“No,” Fred replied. “Harry is still hiding from the press and it’s a bit like shooting fish in a barrel in here. They’re everywhere.”

“Shame,” Audrey said. “So, what have you two miscreants been up to? Spiked the punch? Put something in the soup course?”

Fred and George affected unconvincing innocence. “Why Audrey, we would never!”

“You might need to keep an eye on this one,” George mock whispered to Percy. “Seems like she’s got plans.”

Percy shook his head. “Your influence no doubt.”

“No, we’re here as respectable businessmen. Hoping to make a few contacts, and maybe do a couple of deals over the cheese course. Nothing like Percy here, but we’ve got a couple of things in the pipeline,” Fred responded with a sharp grin.

“Then I wish you luck, and if you come round for lunch on Sunday, you can tell us both all about it,” Audrey offered.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Fred said. “But I think our allotted time with the future Minister for Magic has run out.” He indicated over Percy’s shoulder at the approaching figure of Edward.

“Back to it then Perce. Don’t conquer the world before the brandy gets laid out, will you,” George said with a cheeky grin.

“I shall endeavour to consider your desires,” Percy replied drily turning to Edward as he joined the group.

“The Ambassador’s party is looking for you,” Edward said quietly.

Percy glanced around the room. “We’re about half done. I’ll speak to him now, but if you can make sure that I get some time with Bragge, Warbeck and Jiggers afterwards. They have the biggest stake in the trade deal.”

“Of course,” Edward said glancing about and making a note of where the people Percy mentioned were. “Warbeck might hold a conversation with the Ambassador without embarrassment,” he offered.

Percy nodded his agreement. “Keep Bragge away at all costs. The man is a closet bigot and he’s got at least one door cracked open.”

Edward nodded then moved to return the way he came. Percy exchanged quick farewells with his brothers before leading Audrey after Edward.

The Ambassador greeted them formally, his wife was standing at his side. Understanding her role in this conversation, Audrey smiled over at her. “Have you been to England much?”

“No, this will be my third visit. We came on holiday once,” she replied with a polite smile.

“Oh, was it a city break or?”

“A city break, I enjoyed the museums.”

Audrey smiled warmly. “They are good. I took Percy and his twin brothers to the Natural History Museum when we were first introduced.”

“You visit the muggle world a lot, Mrs Weasley?”

“I am a muggle,” Audrey said plainly.

The Ambassador's wife blinked. “Truly? I had not heard.”

“Oh yes. Percy and I don’t spend too much time in the magical world and as such the media has made assumptions that have never been corrected.” She looked over at Percy who was speaking to the Ambassador, another gentleman had joined the group, who she presumed to be Mr Warbeck. “It will come out, of course, at some point, and cause untold amounts of drama, I am sure. Percy has concerns, our home is in a muggle neighbourhood and our children are both very young.”

“How old?”

“Margaret is three, she’s at nursery now. Lucy is two. I suppose its something that they are both witches.”

“They are? You know this?”

“Yes, Maggie had a couple of episodes of accidental magic and well, Lucy has a magic familiar. Do you have any children?”

“No, we don’t. Through choice you understand. But that is astonishing, a magical familiar, she’s so young. You seem very calm, to say you have magical children.”

“Well, I met Percy over ten years ago, we were together when Riddle tried to rise to power again. I found out then, so I’ve had quite a long time to get used to it. I’m glad the girls have magic; their worlds are so much bigger with it.”

“Don’t you worry?”

“Of course, but who wouldn’t want to give magic to their children if they could?” Audrey said with a small shrug.

“I don’t have magic and I see the difference it has made.”

Audrey paused. “I am sorry, I meant no offence. I can understand that it would be difficult in that situation especially if you don’t have any muggle family.”

“Your family are involved?”

“Yes, the girls are with my parents tonight, they will take them if I need to be away for work. The balance will be more difficult once they are older, I think. For now, magic is an accident or something that their dad and uncles, aunt and grandfather can do.”

“What is it you do? And please you should call me Elena.”

“Then you must call me Audrey,” Audrey responded, before answering the question asked. “I work for my family’s antique firm, and I have a small subsidiary of it set up with my sister-in-law, where we deal with jewellery and trinkets. She is a curse breaker. She removes the harmful spells and jinxes on the pieces then I find buyers for them.”

“She is a witch,” Elena confirmed.

“Yes. Fleur Weasley nee Delacour.”

“Do you not worry about your safety? It is not easy, and I do not think the English are more understanding of those without magic.”

Audrey paused to take a sip of her champagne. There must be a cooling charm on the glass, as she had been nursing this one glass for over an hour and the champagne had neither grown warm nor flat. “Yes,” she said quietly. “I do. I am wearing a full set of protective enchantments tonight. I know Percy has concerns over what will happen when the news comes out or if he is elected. We are both concerned for the girls, but they too will have a full set of protective enchantments. We can’t live in fear. Things are changing. This hotel is proof of that.”

“Yes, do you know about this hotel? I am very curious.”

“It was Percy’s brainchild. When the educational reforms were proposed at Hogwarts to include muggle examinations, he came up with the idea of something to offer jobs and apprenticeships. There are several partners involved in the hotel, but I understand that it has been very successful and there are more applicants than places currently. There is some talk of expansion, but I do not know if that is here at the hotel or another venture.”

“I do not think that many would do something like this. It skirts the line of the statute of secrecy does it not?”

“Possibly,” Audrey conceded. “There are muggles who are employed here, there were not enough witches and wizards or squibs with the knowledge and experience required to get the project off the ground from the off. I believe that there has been a shift over time and the muggles employed here all know of magic from either relatives or other situations where our two worlds meet. That enables the statue to be upheld.”

“I confess, that I am curious if this could be replicated.”

Audrey tilted her head. “I admit to knowing nothing about the political situation you face and can only comment on what I know and what Percy tells me. But I believe that with the support of Hogwarts and giving the students something to aim for, as well as opening it to those the magical society does not quite know what to do with, there was little the opposition could do. Hogwarts does not answer to the Ministry, and a hotel owned by a private group of individuals can, within the bounds of the law, employ who they wish.”

Elena considered that for a moment. “I see, it would take someone with the position and power to enact both things simultaneously.”

“Yes,” Audrey agreed.

“It was for your children’s benefit?” Elena asked.

“No,” Audrey denied. “I don’t deny that they will benefit, but the reforms were put into place the year before Maggie was born.”

Elena looked startled before covering it. “I had not realised; philanthropy so rarely lasts in politics.”

Audrey smiled, looking over at Percy fondly. He must have sensed it as he glanced over, sending her a small smile and raising an eyebrow to enquire about her comfort. She nodded slightly in acknowledgement then turned back to Elena.

The Ambassador’s wife was watching the exchange. “I do believe I shall like your husband’s politics,” she said. “The Ambassador and I were unsure about how long we would wish to stay in England, but I can see that we shall remain at least a week if not more, while this trade deal is resolved. While we are here, I should be glad if we could meet less formally. I may perhaps be able to offer some advice as to what you might expect in the future.”

“I should like that,” Audrey responded gratefully. “If you can let me know when you are free, I can arrange childcare.”

“There is no need,” Elena replied. “I would be delighted to meet your children. Staying on the non-magical side would make it simpler, we would not need either of our husbands.”

Chapter Text

It seemed that everyone was quite pleased with Audrey. Percy had, after the Gala praised her to the skies which while been quite nice, was hardly unheard of from him. He had passed along Kingsley’s thanks and praise, and she had received a knowing nod and smile from Tonks as they had made their farewells the night of the event in question.

Apparently, being able to hold a polite and civil conversation was something to be praised.

In fairness, Audrey knew that it was more than that. The Spanish Ambassador's apparent willingness to remain in Britain and hash out the details of the trade deal had been heavily desired but barely hoped-for outcome. An outcome that would possibly not have come off if Audrey hadn’t been able to hold a polite and civil conversation with his wife. The Ambassador was obviously quite in tune with his wife’s happiness and treatment by the magical world. For all that she had been born into it, her lack of magic had set her apart. An apartness that Audrey could understand.

And anyway, Elena was perfectly nice and quite interesting to talk to, so it had hardly been a chore.

Perfectly nice, interesting to talk to, an important figure in Magical Britian’s ongoing dealings with Magical Spain despite her squib status, and due to arrive at the front door of Audrey and Percy’s perfectly- well mostly, muggle home in half an hour.

Audrey was quietly panicking.

Percy had been of no help. Honestly, she could usually rely on him to help navigate the political waters she stood on the edge of due to his role. She was so little involved that it wasn’t as if she had needed a lot of instruction. But in this, he was utterly useless, he had shrugged and merely offered she should do as she would when entertaining any other acquaintance.

There was a whole underlying concern she could read in the slight furrow between his brows as he read the note she had received with the date and time of Elena’s visit. Nominally, it was understood that Elena had her husband’s ear, and Percy was unsure as to the extent of her influence and thus how much could ride on this informal meeting. He had, to Audrey's pleasure and distinct alarm, decided to trust her with it. Audrey had never entertained a foreign dignitary before. Certainly not in her own home with a toddler underfoot.

He had tried, and he had reassured her that as it was a private visit she would not be required to follow any of the procedures and protocol an official visit would entail.

This had not been reassuring.

Audrey was thoroughly uneducated in the protocol and etiquette of entertaining dignitaries, foreign or domestic. She’d even resorted to getting on the internet and putting it into one of the search engines. The veritable flood of information had not helped in the slightest.

Resolved to not panic, she decided to follow Elena’s lead and basically wing it. If she mucked something up, she was going to blame it on being a muggle. It was slightly galling that the excuse would probably be acceptable.

It would have been something if she could have gotten the best china out and made sure there was a supply of dainty sandwiches and cakes on a pretty stand.

They didn’t own any best china, and Audrey didn’t have time between work and the children to make pretty cakes even if she had the skill, which she was certain she did not. She could whip up a Victoria sponge, but it wouldn’t be anything like high tea down at the Ritz. She’d sent Percy out to the local better-than-average supermarket to get a cake, to assuage some inbred British hospitality that she didn’t know she possessed, that made her want to serve tea and cake. He’d obliged despite the late last-minute hour of her request and forbore to mention that she might be being daft.

The knock at the door brought her out of her mental ruminations. Quickly checking that in her distraction Lucy hadn’t done anything terrible and thankful that she was still engrossed in her toys Audrey headed to the front door.

Elena stood on the step in a smart trench coat and long boots in deference to the terrible weather. Audrey smiled welcoming her in. She closed the door on the weather outside and took her coat.

“Are you alone?” she asked in surprise. “You don’t have any security or your version of Aurors?”

“Oh no,” Elena said in understanding. “If we were to remain in the magical part then Sebastian would be with me, and we would have his. I value my independence.”

Audrey showed her into the sitting room where Lucy glanced up from her toy box. “This is Lucy,” Audrey offered. “Lucy, could you come here and say hello to Elena?”

Lucy obligingly rose to her feet and toddled over to her mother, then in the way of young children became inexplicably shy. Refusing to speak she thrust her hand out offering the plastic dinosaur she was holding.

Elena accepted the dinosaur and reached into her handbag pulling forth a gaily wrapped present and offered it to Lucy.

“Go on,” Audrey encouraged softly.

Lucy took it and with only a slight prompt, made her thanks before tearing the paper off. It revealed a plush bear which she hugged in a strangling motion while staring up at Elena.

“She is quite adorable,” Elena commented. “With very pretty manners. I have another for your other daughter in here,” she handed over another present.

“Thank you,” Audrey said lifting the present out of Lucy’s reach.

“It is no trouble I assure you.”

A flash of light and a loud pop interrupted. Fawkes hovered in the middle of the room his wings beating as he manoeuvred himself onto one of the perches in the room closest to the toybox. He had grown again and was now the size of a tawny owl. A comparison that Audrey had no trouble making as she had found him one morning, sharing his perch with one of the owls that brought the Magical newspaper and post.

“Ay Dios mio,” Elena said softly.

Fawkes ignored the visitor and looked only at Lucy. He let out a trilling sound which caused her to smile and toddle over to the perch. She thrust the bear up toward him for inspection. Fawkes made a musical note to which Lucy nodded and said only “Pretty.”

Used to the behaviour of both bird and daughter Audrey kept half an eye on the pair before turning back to her guest. “I’m sorry, it has become, well normal is possibly not the word, but ever since he hatched for her a few months ago, this seems to be his way of getting about the house.”

“You mentioned she had a familiar, I thought perhaps a cat... but a phoenix, I never could imagine,” Elena trailed off.

Audrey smiled. “I should offer you something to drink. I have tea and coffee. Fawkes will keep an eye on Lucy while we’re in the kitchen.” Elena stood and followed Audrey down the hall to the kitchen. While Audrey put the kettle on and got the cups down Elena glanced around the room.

“Your house is not very magical? You did not choose one of the mixed places?”

“No, we have been here, oh seven years now. When we were looking Percy said that the nearest place where there was a mix of magic and muggle was too far for me to commute. We have a floo connection and there are charms that take care of the housework and cleaning, but the house itself is muggle. Percy’s family helped put the hearthstone in so perhaps it is not as muggle as it was,” Audrey mused. She gestured to the tea and coffee things then at Elena’s indication made up two cups.  Handing over Elena’s cup, she led the way back to the sitting room. Lucy was still by her toy box humming quietly to herself while Fawkes looked on with his head cocked listening to the tune.

Elena sat back down her gaze fixing on the phoenix. “Forgive me,” she said, “I have never seen one before. I know of their magical properties of course. But other than phials of tears, or the occasional feather. I have never seen a living one.”

Audrey smiled. “It’s quite alright, Fawkes has that effect on people from the magical side of things. My parents took it all much better than Percy’s family. I suppose it doesn’t help that prior to coming to us Fawkes used to belong to Albus Dumbledore.”

“Really!” Elena asked her eyes wide. “How did he come to be with you? I thought Mr Dumbledore had died many years ago.”

Audrey related an abridged version of the tale. “Honestly, I am not sure how it will be received when it becomes public knowledge. Even if we can keep it quiet before she reaches Hogwarts, a phoenix returning to Hogwarts will be a story few would refuse. If Percy is elected,” Audrey sighed softly sipping her tea.

“It may be very difficult,” Elena acknowledged.

Conversation moved on and the time passed quietly before Audrey noted with some surprise that they had been chatting for over two hours. Slightly chagrin she turned to Elena who had tempted Lucy to sit beside her and show her book. “I’m so sorry, I’ve just noticed the time would you like some lunch? Lucy will want something and then she’ll need her nap before we collect Maggie.”

“If it is of no trouble,” Elena answered.

Audrey shook her head. “It’s just sandwiches I’m afraid. Oh, and well, there’s cake too.”

Elena smiled. “I am quite happy with that I assure you.”

Audrey hurried off to the kitchen. As she was slicing the fruit for Lucy and Fawkes to share, she heard the mirror in the dining room chime. She carried the fruit and the last of the lunch things through then turned to find Elena led by Lucy and Fawkes coming into the room.

“Sorry,” Audrey said. “Let me just see what this is. Lucy, can you let Elena help you into your chair while Mummy answers the mirror?”

Lucy dragged Elena over with the singlemindedness of a hungry toddler Audrey stifled the smile and turned to answer the mirror.

Fleur greeted her in a flurry of exasperated French aimed slightly down and out of sight. “Ah,” Fleur said slipping into English when she looked up. “Apologies, I did not know you had company.”

“Is something wrong?” Audrey asked.

“Non. Dominique!” Fleur cried out in frustration. She bent out of the mirror’s frame then straightened hoisting the squirming child onto her hip. “Shush chérie, Mama needs to speak to Tante.”

“Tante,” Dominique called out excitedly.

“Dominique,” Audrey replied, “Why aren’t you at nursery?”

“She has the wheeze,” Fleur replied. “Which is why I am calling. We have just got the results from the medi-witch.”

“Wheeze?” Audrey repeated in puzzlement.

“Oui, it is a childhood illness, I do not know where she picked it up from, but you will need to take Maggie and Lucy to be checked. It is contagious but nothing to worry about.”

“What about Percy or me?”

“You, I do not know,” Fleur said apologetically. “Percy will have had it when he was a child.”

“Right,” Audrey said nodding. “Thank you for letting me know. I assume that if either of them has it then Maggie shouldn’t be at nursery.”

Fleur waggled a hand back and forth. “I do not know if muggle children can get it. I will keep Victorie at home with me as she will get it from Dominique anyway.”

“Oh,” Audrey said as she had mentally started to run over her week. “The meeting with…”

“Oui exactement,” Fleur said her frustration showing.

“How long does it last?” Audrey asked.

“Usually not more than two weeks,” Fleur said.

“Ok. I should go, I’ll speak to Percy, and I’ll call you later tonight or tomorrow.”

“Of course. My apologies for interrupting you.”

Audrey smiled and reached for the mirror frame to end the call as she saw Dominique lunge for the mirror to presumably do the same on her side.

“I’m so sorry,” Audrey said turning back to her guest and daughter.

“It is of no concern. I confess I was most interested; we have heard of these mirrors, but I have not yet seen one work.”

“They are extremely convenient. I can’t use a floo to make calls. This way I can contact any of Percy’s family if I need to. I’m so sorry, the wheeze, are you inoculated against it? Or have you had it before?”

Elena held up her hand. “I had it as a child also. Before we found out I didn’t have magic. I am in no danger.”

“Oh, thank God.” Audrey took her seat putting some fruit on Lucy’s plate. Lucy promptly seized a slice of apple and held it above her head where Fawkes who was perched on the back of her chair took it gently and swallowed it greedily. “Could you tell me a little about it?”

“Of course, that was, your sister-in-law?”

“Yes, sorry that was Fleur, she’s married to Percy's eldest brother. They have two girls, Victorie who is a year older than Maggie and Dominique who is a couple of months younger. She’s also my business partner.”

Elena nodded politely. “Well, it is called the wheeze because of the noise. The breathing is not harmed in any way, but it makes a wheezing sound. It can be quite acute in some. My brother when he caught it,” she shook her head with an amused laugh. “He sounded quite terrible, like an old door. Generally, children are left to let it run its course. If the child suffers from any difficulty catching their breath or breathing normally outside of the noise, then there is a potion which can be administered which will ease the symptoms.”

Audrey nodded. “That doesn’t sound so bad. With Maggie at nursery, we’re constantly battling all the things the children pass between themselves. I have never been so delighted with magic as when Percy told me there was a potion to stop them from picking up nits and lice from the other children. The coughs and sniffles are quite enough to be going on with.”

When Elena finally rose to leave, shortly before Lucy was to have her nap Fawkes trilled once. Lucy, never far from him reached up to pet him. When she pulled her hand away, she held a single semi-plume feather in her hand. Lucy batted the feather on her nose giggling at the tickling of the fluffy golden down that faded to red as the feather formed a more rigid shape at the tip. Audrey held out her hand. "Is that for Uncle George and Uncle Fred?" she asked.

Lucy shook her head clutching the feather a little tighter. She held up the feather to Elena. “For you.”

“For me?” Elena said with surprise. She hesitated, looking over at Audrey.

“If Lucy says it’s for you,” Audrey said lifting a shoulder.

Eleana accepted the feather dropping to her haunches. “Thank you, Lucy, and you Fawkes. This is the prettiest thing I’ve ever been given.”

Fawkes preened smugly while Lucy nodded her head in agreement. “Pretty,” she said patting the bird gently.

Elena rose putting the feather carefully in a pocket. “I shall treasure it. For a feather freely given is a gift indeed. Does Fawkes often give feathers?”

“Give? No,” Audrey said leading the way to the front door holding Lucy’s hand. “He moults, those feathers we collect. Percy’s brothers take them, they are inventors and use them in their various experiments. Fleur took a wing feather and made it into a quill, I gifted her a metal tip so she wouldn’t have to trim it. It’s quite the most ostentatious thing I think I’ve seen anyone write with. I much prefer a pen.”

“Truly you are a surprise,” Elena said with a small laugh. “I do not know of many who could be so casual about something so very different to their expectations.”

“Oh no, Percy has had to talk me down off the ceiling more than once. But this is their world, I want to be a part of it as much as I can. Percy has the same opinion of the muggle world. Neither of us would want to have to choose one or the other. Both is much better.”

Chapter Text

January 2006

Percy looked up from the report he had just finished compiling, quietly casting the spells that would enable its proper location when filed and to produce the summary page that he included on all his reports for Kingsley's benefit. The second spell was the same one they had used when Percy had been smuggling information from the Minister's office to the Auroury. It was a useful bit of magic really.

The quiet noise of another person in the room had him supressing a flinch of surprise, he hadn't realised how used to being alone he was until Edward had joined him.

Training Edward hadn't been difficult, other than Percy's own acknowledged reluctance in sharing his workload which he put down to habit more than anything else.

He now had a little more time on his hands and while he rather thought he should be using the time to take a more proactive interest in the Minister's role, he wasn't.

Pulling his desk drawer open he removed a file that made him rather unhappy.

All through December, through the highs of the successful Gala, and Audrey's afternoon with the Spanish ambassador's wife, which looked like the beginnings of a tentative friendship. The joy of Christmas where the girls had been gifted their first bikes by Audrey's parents and their first training broom by his Dad, this file had been the cloud to his silver lining.

The group still hadn't found a name, but they had become more visible. The meetings had continued though currently their manifesto was broad enough that Percy hoped cold hard facts could keep them from gaining any traction.

Earlier inclusion of muggleborns into magical society was the headline of their movement. The inclusion was proposed to be as soon as the first accidental magic was detected and at the exclusion of their muggle relatives. Ministry sponsored 'homes' would be needed for those where suitable families couldn't be found.

They wanted to steal children. They wanted to steal children and put them into orphanages.

Because magical orphanages were better than muggles.

The Department of Mysteries had been helpful, or as reasonably helpful as Percy had expected when he had sent his request to them. The statistics they returned painted a very grim picture of what the future would look like if this group got any of their half-baked ideas off the ground.
First accidental magic in muggleborns was on average performed at the age of two. Children of magical parents on average performed their first accidental magic at the age of 18 months, though this was presumed because not only were the parents watching for it, but the children would see examples of magic in their daily lives and therefore be more likely to mimic what they saw.

Percy had read the report and had wanted to smash something into tiny little pieces that magic would be unable to fix. Both Maggie and Lucy had performed their first magic around their second birthday. If anyone had knocked on their front door and tried to take either of his children from him, Percy was very sure that he would have reacted with extreme prejudice. He couldn't even begin to imagine how you could unentangle a child from their family to remove it to the magical world. It would require something as drastic as death. The extent of cruelty it would take to make it believable made Percy reel.

It simply wasn't possible. It was nothing short of inhumane to even contemplate.

The problem lay in the balance, the muggleborn had always faced challenges. earlier inclusion that was not ripping children from their families may help support their early development. It could be used as a way to identify those children at risk because their non magical family were unable to accept and adjust to magic.

Percy flipped through the report again letting his eyes scan the page slightly out of focus while he mulled over his thoughts. Perhaps orphanages were the place to start. Not in creating them for muggleborns but finding those muggleborns that were without families and offering a place in the magical world earlier, might be worth looking into. while he didn't expect cold hard reality to sway these people, if up take by magical families for orphaned muggleborn wasn't high it could be used to undermine at least some of their proposed plan.

Percy scribbled himself a few notes and ideas before hunting out his list of contacts to find who might be able to help him put together a more comprehensive plan. He'd need someone in Child and Family Services, and Accidents and Catastrophes. He'd need to know the current demand for magical adoption and its process before he could suggest anything further. There was also the issue of locating the muggleborn.

Percy and Audrey were having a rare, slow, Saturday morning. They had no plans and no expectation to be anywhere. It was just the four of them, sharing breakfast at the dining room table and potential plans for the rest of the weekend.

The idyl was broken by the arrival of an owl. Portends of doom that they were.

The front page of the Prophet held no hint of the chaos it contained; it was the third page with its centrally placed article and a photograph taken from the gala, that shouted the news to the world

CANDIDATE MINISTER MARRIED TO A MUGGLE

Percy pushed the paper over to Audrey just as the mirror began to chime. It was obviously a signal as the landline started to ring.

"I'll get this, you get the phone?" Percy asked rising from his seat.

Audrey left her seat for the hall table where the landline was shrilly ringing. She picked up the handset dropping down to sit on the bottom of the stairs.

"Hello?"

"Audrey, have you seen the paper?"

"Hi Mum, yes we've seen it."

"Well?"

"I don't know yet Mum, we'll probably have to release a statement or something."

"Is it going to cause trouble? Will Percy still get elected."

"I don't know, look, I'll ring you later as soon as I know what's going on but its not something that we weren't expecting eventually."

"Alright love, let me know if there's anything we can do? Give my best to Percy and the girls."

"Thanks Mum, Bye."

Audrey put the phone down then returned to the dining room. Kingsley was on the mirror. She dropped back into her seat and pulled the paper over to read the article properly.

"Look Percy, we're going to have to release a statement of some sort. If we don't get out in front of this tomorrow's headlines will be worse."

"I understand that, but I don't feel that my family needs to be dragged into the spotlight. Audrey has a waiver, that's all they need to know and that should be enough. If they want to come up with conspiracy theories of how she'll become the power behind the Minister they'll do that anyway no matter what we say."

"I don't disagree Percy but allowing at least an interview and a couple of photographs of the girls."

"My answer is no. The last thing I want is for someone to hunt down Audrey at work or find out which school Maggie attends. The house is safe enough but there is nothing that can be done to safeguard Maggie's school or Audrey's place of work other than the threat of breaking the statute."

The doorbell chimed interrupting their conversation.

"I'll go," Audrey said getting up. Maggie and Lucy had both given up on their breakfast and were whispering with each other, she collected them both up and sent them in to the sitting room with permission to watch TV as long as they didn't start squabbling. Happy that they would be distracted and reasonably well behaved for twenty minutes or so, she pulled open the door to see Bill and Fleur standing on the step. "You've seen the paper then," Audrey asked ushering them in.

"Yes, and we have come about the wards," Fleur said to Audrey as they followed her back into the dining room where Percy was wrapping up his call with Kingsley.

"Oh? Where are the girls?"

"Dad agreed to pop over and keep an eye on them while we are here," Bill answered.

"I have been thinking about this and we," Fleur indicated between herself and Bill, "have come up with a few things that we think might help. You cannot hide the house, and these things have a habit of getting out, you do not want people hanging around outside."

"Ideally no, not just because of the statute but I'd rather not have the neighbours annoyed at us," Audrey agreed.

"So, we are going to alter your wards, it will mean magical people who do not know your house is here and have not been invited will be encouraged to walk past. This way you should not be bothered."

"That sounds perfect," Audrey agreed. "It won't stop anyone we know visiting, will it?"

"No, though anyone who has not been before will need to be brought to the house. It is not a Fidelius charm, that is too much, it is a version of it though. I will put a little something extra in as well to stop a certain animagus reporter."

"Oh yes, please do." Audrey huffed a laugh, "I am sure that she must know that Percy was involved in the cabal that blackmailed her to write those articles after the war, and while it did make her name and fortune no doubt, she'd be happy to get one over on any of us."

"We'll start now, and it shouldn't take too long. You still have everything anchored in the cellar?" Bill asked as he guided Fleur towards the hall.

"Yes," Percy said. "If I won't be in the way I'll come with you. I'd like to know what you're putting in and how it works."

Bill nodded. "Of course, depending on what the matrix can support there's a few other things on the possible list, you can have a look over it and see what you think."

Chapter Text

June 2006

The fall out of the newspaper article was not as bad as it could have been. A statement detailing Audrey's status as an informed muggle who had been involved in the efforts against the second uprising of Voldemort had put paid to much of the outrage. The details had remained deliberately vague with the backing of the Minister's office to protect all parties involved. Or so it had been declared. It was a delightful bit of obfuscation that had Percy's wholehearted support. Some of his friends had been more than happy to go on record stating that Audrey had been integral but were unable to elaborate further due to confidentiality clauses. Percy had tried to stop them, believing that it would be obvious that these were his friends and thus at worse biased in their statements or, as they actually were, outright lying. He was summarily overruled and could only watch as his friends banded together in glee at feeding the press hints at what Audrey could have been involved in. In fairness the papers had never been all that keen on fact checking, so he presumed what they were being fed was not more outlandish than what they could come up with on their own.

In short after a brief week or two of outrage the matter was dropped and plans proceeded apace. He received a kind note from the Spanish Ambassador but thought that was more likely due to the friendship that had sprouted between their respective wives.

Planning meetings had taken a slightly more intense mood. There was a small but vocal faction who were protesting his candidacy. While he thought it very unlikely they would stop his election, it seemed that it wasn't going to be unprotested. They were currently demanding he stepped down, there were no overt threats of what would happen should he not, but that itself was worrisome. The security planning for the event had taken up several hours of his days and as the day got closer Percy felt the tension growing.

"Have you decided if Audrey and the girls will attend?" Kingsley asked at their weekly meeting, the topic had been broached before but a decision either way had never been reached.

"I am not sure if it is altogether feasible, never mind advisable." Percy replied, leaning back in his chair with a heavy sigh.

"We'll get an Auror guard personally assigned to them. Come on Percy this is your big day you need your family there. It's as much of a statement as everything else."

"I have said this before, my family is not a rallying point. I will not have them turned into a political movement."

"Well, it might be a bit late for that." Kingsley pointed out kindly. "It doesn't take a genius to join the dots, everything you have achieved over the years, it's all very obviously linked."

Percy sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yes, but thankfully most people haven't put it together otherwise I don't think the concern would be Audrey becoming the power behind the Ministry as much as it would be pointing out that she already is. But yes, fine, if Audrey is comfortable in coming to the Ministry, then we can assign an Auror team to her. My family will stay with them, as well."

"Your mother?"

"I fully expect her to be there," Percy said. "She'll likely be the one waving the placard protesting my election. Ask Hooper if he will assign my brother and his partner to Audrey. I don't wish to pull rank over the head of the department assigning his teams, but I would be happier if it were Ron and Neville looking after them. They will all be wearing a full suit of protective enchantments, and between Fred, George, Bill, and Fleur I don't believe that they will be easily targeted."

"Excellent, I'll make the request of Hooper, I doubt he'd say no anyway. The Spanish Ambassador has requested an invitation as has the delegate from France." Kingsley informed him waving the parchment that had the current list of political guests.

Percy frowned slightly. "Who is the French delegate? I don't recall who is currently aide to the President of Magic."

Kingsley scanned the list. "Jean Luc Delacour."

Percy tilted his head in surprise. "Really?"

"You know them?"

"No, but he's probably a relation of Fleur, my sister-in-law, the Delacour family isn't small, but they are very close knit. I'll ask her."

Kingsley snorted. "You know, if I wanted to keep this job, I think I would have to have you assassinated. You are hideously well connected. I almost feel sorry for Robards. A career leading the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is traditionally the way to the Minister's office. He hasn't done badly at it either, no major scandals or incidents, normally he'd be a shoe in."

"Almost?" Percy asked curiously.

Kingsley gave Percy a flat look. "You are undeniably good at this. You have without any doubt been the biggest support and ally I could have had taking the role on. But you are also a massive pain in the arse. You can and have undermined this office when you have decided to. You have thrown me to the wolves to suit your own agenda." Kingsley held his palms before him. "I know that until the vote is in it could go either way, but there is so little chance Robards could win this from you. So yes almost, because I need you to win, and him to resign on the tails of his defeat so that I can finally return to where I want to be, which is not swimming in the murky pool of British politics while my undersecretary is the biggest shark in the pond."

Percy blinked. "Other than that one exception, I have never used this office to undermine you."

"No," Kingsley agreed. "And I can't say that I'm not grateful for it, working with you has been one of the better parts of the job. Anyway, enough of this, we've four weeks left. Is there anyone else we need to plan for?"

Percy drew the guest list over to himself scanning down it, putting Kingsley's words to the back of his mind for later consideration.

The doorbell rang, its peel of sound sending Audrey to answer it with her mother on her heels. The opened door revealed a crumpled and creased man casually leaning up against the wall, a dusty duffle bag at his feet.

"Charlie?" Audrey said, surprised. "I didn't know you were coming."

He shrugged bending to pick up his bag. Audrey caught the wince that crossed his face. "You're hurt?"

Charlie waved a hand in a negative motion. "Nothing serious. Part of the reason I wasn't sure if I could be here. Matilda was being a pill about her relocation."

"Matilda?" Lizzy asked from behind Audrey where she had come to see who was at the door.

"Ah, err umm one of the animals at the reserve, ma'am."

Lizzy snorted. "Good lord with excuses as poor as that it's a wonder we haven't twigged earlier."

"Mum," Audrey said, chivvying Charlie into the front room. "Leave him be. Mum knows, you don't have to hide it around either of my parents."

"Oh righto," Charlie nodded agreeably.

"I'll take that," Lizzie said nodding at his bag. "You're staying, I presume."

"Ah, yeah if you don't mind. Only Shell Cottage is a bit small. I'm alright on the sofa."

"We've got a spare room," Audrey said. "It's fine. Percy had it put in with wizarding space. We'll do an actual physical extension when the girls are a bit older."

"Where are they?" Charlie asked

"In the garden with my Dad, running off their excess energy before having to behave for a couple of hours."

The thunder of running feet echoed down the hall, Maggie and then her friend Sophie, threw themselves into the room. "Mum! I caught a frog!"

"Of course you did," Audrey replied, looking at her grubby daughter. "You left it outside, didn't you? Frogs don't like houses."

"Yes, it hopped away after I kissed it."

"Why did you kiss a frog?" Charlie asked bemused.

"To see if it would turn into a prince. All the frogs in the stories turn into princes, and I wouldn't want to be a frog if I was actually a prince and since frogs can't talk how would you know which ones are princes and which ones are frogs without kissing them all?" Sophie answered promptly.

"Did you have another kid?" Charlie asked Audrey with a raised brow.

"No," Audrey replied. "This is Sophie, Maggie's friend, she and her sister Gwen stayed over last night for a sleepover, and we're taking them home just before we need to get ready which is about ten minutes away. They live four doors up on the other side of the street. Sophie, can you run upstairs and make sure your bag is packed, please. I'll ring your Dad."

Sophie nodded and left the room, Maggie on her heels.

Audrey turned back to Charlie. "Do you need some pain killers? Or there's a cabinet in Percy's office with some potions in it if you think they might help."

"Maybe," Charlie said. "Moving is a bit awkward at the moment."

"Come on then, we'll see what we can find." Audrey led him to the door down to the cellar. Lucy and Gwen came charging in, forcing Audrey to hold out her hands to stop them running into them both. "Gwen, Sophie is upstairs packing your bag. Can you go and help her, please? Lucy, Grandma is up there as well, and you need to start getting ready."

Lucy nodded happily and followed Gwen as they continued down the hall.

Audrey watched to make sure they got to the stairs, and Gwen was helping Lucy before opening the door. She showed Charlie the cupboard, and he raided it for a few potions. "

I'll replace these," he said, slipping them into his pocket.
"There's no need," Audrey assured him. "Percy can pick some more up next time he's out or we can order some to be delivered."

Back upstairs, Audrey made a quick call before corralling Maggie's friends. "The girls will shower first, then it's all yours," Audrey said to Charlie. "Bill and Fleur will be here soon. We're meeting Fred and George at the public entry to the Ministry. Percy had them send Ministry cars for us. As well as an escort although that's Ron and Neville so more family really. I'll be back in a minute."

Audrey shuffled the girls out the door, leaving Charlie alone. Curious, as he hadn't seen his brother's house before, he wandered through to the kitchen poking around a little before sticking his head around the other door off the hall. The dining room was, as far as Charlie could see, perfectly normal. The large mirror hung on the wall overlooking the table was the one that he knew they used to communicate. But nothing in the room struck him as out of the ordinary. It was a clean, comfortable home that was a world away from the haphazard Burrow and the cute charm of Shell cottage. It was decidedly Percy, Charlie concluded. Deciding that he should do something about becoming presentable, he made his way upstairs.

"You're in there," Lizzy pointed to a door, as she waited outside what Charlie guessed was the partially open bathroom door. There was no sound of running water but an off-key humming. "Lucy's drying herself. She needs help getting washed, but she's insistent that she's mastered drying herself," Lizzy confided with amused pride.

"You're not joining us?" Charlie asked.

"No, Rick and I are staying here in case the girls activate their portkeys."

Charlie's eyebrows rose.

Lizzy huffed. "You don't know?"

"I am a bit out of the loop. The job is demanding, and I don't get much time to keep in touch."

"Well, there are a few people that aren't keen on Percy's election. Hence the security that's surrounding Audrey and the girls. It's not just because Audrey's going to be one a very few muggles that have seen the inside of this Ministry of yours."

"He thinks someone might try something?"

Lizzy shrugged. "Who knows, but Percy isn't the type to take the risk."

The bathroom door opened, and Lucy came out wrapped up in her dressing gown, red hair laying wet on her shoulders. Maggie tripped out of her room. "My turn!" she shouted, giggling as she shot past everyone and slammed the door closed.

Lizzy took Lucy's hand. "Right, this is my cue. Come on Lucy let's get you into your fancy robes."

Charlie heard the door open and glanced down the stairs.

"Only me!" Audrey called out as she came in.

"Up here," Charlie replied.

Audrey jogged up the stairs. "Is Lucy out of the bathroom?"

"Your mum just took her to put her robes on."

"Mmm, I best do the same. Luckily, I had a shower earlier and refrained from crawling around in the garden and kissing frogs, so I reckon I'll pass muster. Want a snack before we go? There's food eventually apparently, but I'm not sure when and we'll have to give the girls something to tide them over."

"Ever known a Weasley to turn down food?"

"No," Audrey said. "Not ever. Give me a minute, and I'll lay something out in the dining room. Bill will probably join you."

Audrey turned back down the stairs and Charlie went to sort himself out. Pulling out his robes, he shook them, trying to reduce the creases. He heard someone enter the bathroom, persuading Maggie to get out of the shower. After a couple of minutes of indistinct but emphatic conversation, he listened to the shower shut off. There was a gentle knock on his door as he gathered his toiletries.

"I'll leave you fresh towels out here," he heard Audrey say from the other side of the door. Charlie called back his thanks and stripped off his coat, t-shirt, boots and socks. He cast a waterproofing charm on the bandage that was covering his latest injury then stepped out of the room into the bathroom.

Showered and dressed he headed downstairs to find Bill and Fleur had already arrived. Victoire and Dominique were on the sofa, heads bent together over a book full of bright pictures.

"Charlie," Bill said warmly in welcome. "You made it."

"Mostly in one piece," he replied, giving his brother a hug. "Fleur," he said nodding at his sister-in-law.

"Oh no, you cannot look like that," Fleur said in concern.

Charlie glanced down, household charms had never really been a strong suit, and despite his efforts, his robes were looking somewhat rumpled still. Fleur's wand was out and waving before he had a chance to mount a protest. The creases vanished, the fabric stiffened as it had when it had been new, and a small cloud of dust made its way from the material to be vanished.

"There," Fleur said with a satisfied nod. "You cannot disgrace Percy on such an important day."

Charlie's eyebrow rose at Fleur's defence of his younger brother.

Bill caught the look and shrugged resignedly. "Come on, Audrey put food out. I doubt there's going to be any at this shindig."

Charlie followed his brother out of the room to be stopped in surprise as Audrey came down the stairs holding on to a daughter with each hand. "Wow," Charlie said in honest shock.

Audrey grinned. "Don't, I really have to concentrate not to trip over the hem. You'll make me slip."

Fleur following on Charlies heels ducked around him exclaiming. "Oh, Audrey, I knew you would look stunning. And Maggie and Lucy too. You look enchanting."

Audrey reached the bottom of the stairs releasing Maggie and Lucy, who shot into the sitting room to greet their cousins. The witch's robes that Audrey had chosen were in heavy brocade of dark blue fastened up the front with a multitude of tiny jet buttons. The sleeves were close-fitting, and the neckline was square and bordered with more jet beads.

Audrey twirled. "Shall I pass?"

"Of course," Fleur smiled widely. "And Maggie and Lucy will as well. I have to ask because Percy insisted I remind you, are you are wearing all your jewellery?"

"Yes, Lucy and Maggie have the necklaces on and portkeys in their pockets. They've been told in the sternest tones not to wander off and make sure they always stay with me or Fred and George or you and Bill. I am wearing my ring, and I've got a portkey in my pocket too. Mum and Dad are staying here in case anything does happen."

"Mummy," Lucy came out into the hall.

"Yes, Lucy?" Audrey turned, her eyes automatically running over her daughter's dress checking for mishaps.

"Can Fawkes come?"

Audrey bit her lip. Fawkes was fully grown, as large as a swan and flamboyant and brightly coloured. He was unmistakably a phoenix. He was also capable of magically travelling between spaces and carrying loads she couldn't imagine any bird should be able to. That weight would include both her daughters, and as much as Audrey believed that Percy had gone overboard on the security, she also knew that she would be helpless to stop any magical attack on their children. Fawkes could get them out of trouble. He might even be able to get all three of them out of trouble. She crouched down in front of Lucy. "OK, he can come, but he stays on his perch all the time. If there's trouble, he's to take you and Maggie home."

Fawkes trilled an affirmative from the perch up on the wall he had fluttered to as they came downstairs.

"Alright then," Audrey said. "Go and get his collapsible perch and put it in your pocket."

"I've already got it," Lucy said with a sly smile.

Audrey huffed. "Well alright then, but you're responsible for him Lucy. He's not to get hurt, and you've got to look after him as much as he will look after you." Lucy nodded emphatically. Audrey stood from her crouch. "There's some food out on the dining room table. Go and have some and put some grapes in your pocket for Fawkes. Ask Uncle Bill to put a spell on your pocket to stop them from getting squished."

Lucy nodded and skipped off into the dining room, Fawkes fluttered after her, his wings unable to fully open in the cramped hall space.

"You are sure about the phoenix?" Fleur asked.

"No," Audrey said. "It's going to draw attention we can do without, but if Fawkes can get the girls out, which he can, then I'll take it."

The car pulled up outside the Ministry entrance, and Neville got out first. He glanced up and down the street cautiously. Maggie shot out of the car despite her mother calling her back. "Uncle Fred! Uncle George!" she shouted, running full tilt at the waiting wizards. "I kissed a frog."

Fred and George looked down at her and grinned. "Did you now."

"Yes! Sophie helped me catch it, and we both kissed it then it hopped away. It didn't turn into a prince."

"She's going to tell someone really important that story," Audrey said, getting out of the car and shaking the creases out of her robes. "I'm going to have to stand there and explain how it's not because I'm a muggle my daughter is trying to turn frogs into princes, it's because her father, yes the Minister for Magic, no I do mean him, reads her stories at bedtime where frogs regularly turn into princes. Yes, it is muggle literature, and yes, perhaps she is taking it a bit too far, but he's the Minister for Magic, and he likes reading the stories with happy endings to his daughter."

Fleur came up beside her motioning for her to remove her ring. Audrey slipped it from her finger long enough to let Fleurs neatening charm wash over her robes then slipped it back on.

"Think we got away with that?" Audrey asked with a sly smile to her sister-in-law.

"No," Ron said. "Could you maybe not do that again. It's not just that you're family and Percy will come up with ways to make my life hell if you so much as chip your nail polish but this is my job, and I'm good at it."

"Sorry, Ron."

He shrugged. "Can we please get off the street? It's going to take an age to get us all through the entrance."

"Of course," Audrey turned to collect Lucy from the huddle of cousins. "Lucy, will you go with Uncle Fred and George?"

Lucy considered then looked over at Charlie. "Uncle Charlie?"

Audrey glanced over at him. He shrugged. "If she wants."

"Ok with Uncle Charlie then, but you'll be good and stay with him?"

"Yes," she said, holding up her arms in the universal signal for 'up' to Charlie.

He paused for a moment hoping the potions had done their job on his injury but willingly picked her up. "You know Lucy I've never met a phoenix before," he said as he walked towards the telephone box.

Lucy shrugged. "Fawkes is nice."

"Yes, he is."

Fleur herded Victoire and Dominque forward letting Ron follow them. It took a few journeys, but eventually, everyone arrived in the Ministry atrium.

Percy strode into the Minister for Magic's office and stopped. His formal robes lay heavy on his shoulders, his abrupt halt set them swaying gently around his feet.

He had just come from the Wizengamot Chamber. It was done. As of five minutes ago, he had officially achieved the dream his fifteen-year-old self, had barely dared to dream. He had ten minutes to familiarise himself with his office and settle with the wards before he would be publicly announced to the crowd in the Ministry atrium. It was perhaps time he didn't need given his familiarity with the office, but he took it all the same.

He, Percival Ignatius Weasley was Minister for Magic. Two and a half months shy of his thirtieth birthday he was the youngest ever elected Minister in Britain. 

His head was buzzing. Not just with the magic of the wards that were rubbing up against his senses like a loveable cat but because he'd half thought that this day was never coming.

His wife was a muggle. He spearheaded the repeal of the Marriage law. He had engineered educational reforms the likes of which the magical world hadn't seen since Hogwarts opened its doors. He had made friends and allies, but he'd also made enemies.

The last eight months of his life had been spent out-manoeuvring and putting down a political movement led in part by his own mother. That had been something out of a muggle science fiction novel and had nearly made him throw in the towel over getting elected. If it hadn't been likely that Kingsley would have personally murdered him, and if Audrey hadn't spent her evenings listening to him rant, while she offered words of reassurance and comfort, and when that hadn't worked, called his brothers to take him out and make him forget, then he wouldn't have made it.

As it was there was yet another 'project' underway. A collaborative effort across multiple departments to discover the orphaned muggleborn and relocate them into the magical world through adoption. So far, they had managed to find three muggleborn under the age of attendance at Hogwarts and two who were currently attending Hogwarts and settle them with magical families. There was a horrendous list of things that needed to be done and checked up on and the amount of bureaucracy involved on the magical side was extremely frustrating, never mind on the muggle side. But it was a start and it had blunted the teeth of the group that had been calling for more draconian measures.

The next steps were to create a wizarding liaison for muggleborn families. When their children first showed their magic, they would be assigned a liaison who would then be a point of contact for the wizarding world. Someone for the families to get in touch with if they were struggling and a source of information about the magical world that would hopefully help bridge some of the gaps between them. The plans were laid, the department that would need to be created inside of Family Services was all set out, the people who would be needed had been approached and sounded out about moving over and additions to legislation to ensure that oversight and proper procedure were in review ready to go to the Wizengamot. All it needed was for Percy to get elected so that he could throw the power of the Ministry fully behind it. It was going to be a long hard slog to get the program where he wanted it, but it was going to be worth it.

Percy wandered over the desk. Kingsley had cleared his things out the day before, all his ongoing files, meetings and agendas had been handed over, not that it had taken particularly long given who Percy was, but the ceremony had been observed. He sat in the chair and as he had all those years ago, he took a breath and pulled the bottom drawer open.

It slid smoothly on its runner and Percy couldn't help the bark of laughter that escaped him. He had no idea why the act of opening this drawer that convinced him this wasn't a dream.
He'd been at the vote declaration. He'd shaken Robards hand and said all the right things he was supposed to, to the other man. He'd immediately promoted Edward to Undersecretary and told him to go ahead with the plans to poach the people he wanted to the Junior Undersecretary role. The dominos had been falling one after the other in perfect formation that was the result of the immense amount of planning that had gotten him to this day.

He was the Minister for Magic.

He gathered his scattered fragmented thoughts and pulled himself together. His time was nearly up, there was the announcement of his successful election to get through, then the traditional ball where he would have to make nice with all and sundry who were going to be sounding him out on all manner of things and watching him like hawks for any missteps. More importantly his family was waiting for him. Audrey was waiting for him.

A knock on the door brought his attention snapping back.

"Enter."

The door opened, and Edward walked in. "Minister Weasley, is there anything you need me to do for you?"

"No," Percy replied. "Is everything ready for tomorrow's meeting with the Prime Minister?"

"Yes, Minister Weasley,"

Percy nodded. "Let's knock that off, shall we? In public, yes fine formal address, but you can't call me Minister Weasley every time we speak, it's ridiculous. Percy will be fine within these offices, unless you are desperate for me to address you as Undersecretary Harrow constantly?"

"A bit much?" Edward laughed as he leaned against the door frame

"A lot much," Percy agreed. "Did you hear back from Miss Greengrass? I meant to check in yesterday but," he trailed off waving a hand to encompass everything.

"I have and she is going to say yes."

"Going to?"

"Mmmhm, obviously yesterday you weren't the Minister, today however," Edward grinned. "It's a bit political with the family being historically neutral but Daph isn't a traditional heiress and her work within International Co-op was excellent. She'll be an asset. She is also friends with Draco Malfoy." Edward paused giving Percy a considering look.

"Is this a problem?" Percy asked.

"No, it simply came up when I mentioned that the office was looking for a Junior Undersecretary. I wasn't aware of the details, but it seems you made an impression."

"I do do that," Percy agreed with a smile. "Bad habit I should think. Does she have any plans?"

"Not overt ones, I sounded her out a little, there's no projects or causes she currently wants to champion but, well you've set an example, so in a year or so that may well change."

"I shall endeavour to keep an ear to the ground," Percy replied. "What about your plans?"

"Same for me yet," Edwards said genially, "give me a little longer to get my feet properly under your old desk and we'll see."

Percy nodded. "It is not as simple as it was, but my door will remain open, and I do happen to have quite the network. If you need any help, you or Miss Greengrass. Additionally, I would be grateful if you could keep an eye on the adoptions and flag up if it seems to be struggling. My attention must be on the new department in Family Services, but I don’t want it to be neglected."

Edward grinned. "I'll let you know, and of course I'll keep an eye on it. Right, enough shop talk. Let's get you downstairs and announced. Security have confirmed that your family are all here. Your wife and daughters have two Aurors assigned and two plainclothes in the crowd. They are to the centre left of the stage when you step out. There's been a small protest gather by the floos but they've been moved on. I've also had the confirmation that the hotel has been swept and is ready and waiting. The Ambassador and his wife arrived ten minutes ago as you specifically wished to be informed, and the French delegate has already greeted your family in the atrium."

Percy nodded as he headed to the door of the office. Edward stepped out of the way as Percy exited and locked the door himself. "I'll teach you the spells first thing Monday," he commented. "It's a bit more access than you've had previously but nothing too exciting." They exited the outer office and Percy waited while Edward locked the door. Then they strode down the corridor towards the lift and the waiting crowd.

They were in a group off to one side of the centre of the dais where it had been agreed by the security team they would stand. They were close to a door that led to a room that contained a floo and had been specially warded for them in case anything was to go wrong. Audrey had been approached and congratulated by a veritable flood of Percy's friends and colleagues and the tide had finally died down leaving them as a family group. Audrey, Fleur, and Ginny were idly gossiping when the younger witch who was facing Audrey stiffened.

"Oh, hell to the no," Ginny spat with quiet venom. Audrey turned around to see what Ginny had caught sight of. Molly Weasley was hovering at the edge of their group. A quick glance showed that Ron and Neville were eyeing her with some level of suspicion. Audrey searched out her children, Fred and George had placed themselves between them and their mother, Bill had stepped forward while Fleur remained at her side.

"I would like to speak to Percy's wife," Molly said to Bill. He turned his head over his shoulder; the silent question asked.

Audrey sighed. “Can you put up a silencing charm around us?” she asked Ginny and Fleur. Ginny nodded so Audrey moved forward took a step forward with both at her side, Ginny with her arms crossed, and an insolent look on her face. Arthur came up behind them a frown on his face directed at his wife.

Ron moved further back towards where Maggie and Lucy were chattering away not yet having noticed what was happening. Ginny twirled her wand, and the silencing charm sprang up around them in a bubble.

"I would like to stand with my family during this event." Molly said in a quiet voice.

"You're really going to do this here?" Audrey asked irritably. "You're going to force me to make a decision in public that would be better left private."

"Molly," Arthur said in a cold tone. "This is inappropriate."

Molly sent a quick glance at her husband. "I would like to stand with you."

"With me or with them?" Audrey asked, indicating the array of Weasleys. "Because I'll be honest, Mrs Weasley, you've all but written my existence off when it suited you, and that's been the last eight years at my count. You accused both Percy and me of terrible things. You denounced me for being who I am, you refused to attend our wedding, you didn't attend either of my daughters' births, and you have missed all of their lives so far."

"I,"

"Look," Audrey interrupted, letting her tone harden. "This isn't a public conversation. I am not about to make a scene. If Percy comes out on that dais and sees you standing next to me, he's going to flip his shit. That is not what I want for him."

Molly's shoulders slumped, and she looked away.

"So," Audrey continued. "You are going to stand there by Neville and Ginny, and my children and I are going to stand here with all of our family between us. If you so much as look at them sideways it will go badly for you. This is not forgiveness or understanding. This is not an olive branch or the first step on the path to reconciliation. This is me doing what is best for Percy, which is not causing a scene and asking for you to be escorted out. You will not speak to me. You will not approach or try to speak to my children. You may stand there and that is all. If that is something you cannot do, then I suggest you leave now. I have no interest in your reasons or excuses. You have behaved terribly. You have said derogatory things about me that have been repeated to my children.  I am not going to expose myself or them to the sort of person you have proven yourself to be. My daughters and I are wearing enchanted jewellery to protect us from magic from people like you, and all three of us have portkeys in our pockets. Do not make us use them."

Molly turned back to face Audrey with something pitifully close to gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you."

"I’m not interested in your thanks." Audrey stepped backwards, out of the circle of the silencing charm, moving towards Fred and George. Maggie wriggled out of Fred grasp and over to her side.

"Mummy? Is that Grandma Weasley?" Maggie asked in a loud whisper.

"Yes love, it is. She's going to stand with us so she can see Daddy come out on the stage."

Maggie shot her grandmother a profoundly suspicious look. Fred caught her hand up. "Come here, Maggie. It's nearly time for your Daddy to come out. Do you want me to lift you back up so you can see?"

"Yes, please," Maggie said. "I need to stay near Lucy though in case the bad people come."

"We'll stand right here. Look, Uncle Charlie has lifted Lucy up so she can see too. Mummy is going to stand next to us so that you Daddy will see you when he comes out on stage."

George made a pointed movement and took up a position at Audrey’s side sandwiching her between himself and his twin. He reached out, taking Audrey's hand and giving it a squeeze. She sent him a small smile in return trying to relax and not draw any further attention from the hovering press. Family drama on today of all days was the absolute last thing she wanted them to see.
Ginny kept her arms crossed standing next to Neville a serene look on her face though in her hand, her wand rolled between her fingers. Bill and Fleur lifted their own daughters up so they could see, staying close to Audrey.

Arthur who had exchanged some harshly whispered words with his wife, stepped over to his daughter in law. "You don't have to do this," he said quietly. "It's not fair to put you on the spot publicly."

"It's alright," Audrey with a slightly forced smile. "We're going to stand here, Percy's going to come out, then the press is going to look for his family for the photo op. We should be stood together. There's been a bit of a rumble what with the legislation that Percy is putting together and with the adoptions, if this makes things a bit easier for him, then I can stand here and make nice."

Arthur patted her hand. "We don't deserve you, but I'm delighted we have you."

Audrey smiled more genuinely. "We'll get through the glad-handing at the hotel after this, then the girls will go home to my parents. Once they're out of the way, I'll feel a little less on edge."

"They are doing very well," Arthur said comfortingly.

"Well, they have Fred and George entertaining them," Audrey said. "Favourite uncles go a long way. Although I think Charlie might be moving up a spot or two for Lucy." She tilted her head where Lucy was chattering away to Charlie.

"It's probably the phoenix. He could never resist an exotic pet," Ron said quietly.

Audrey bit down on a laugh. "Jealous?"

"Nah, kids aren't really my thing. Yours are great, but you know."

"The single life of a bachelor still treating you well?"

"Very well," Ron confirmed with a smile as his eyes moved over the crowd.

"Well, you're welcome for lunch on Sundays if you get bored with Pot Noodles."

"What's a Pot Noodle?" he asked.

Audrey's grin grew a little. "I'll get some sent to you. Dead quick filling meals. You just add hot water to a pot, and it makes noodle soup. Loads of people eat them. Quite good for lunch at a desk."

"Huh," Ron said. "I'll try anything once."

"Shh," Fleur said. "Look, it's starting."

The door at the back of the platform opened and the Wizengamot filed out to form a semicircle on the dais. Kingsley stepped forward through the Wizengamot and cleared his throat pointedly. "Ladies and gentlemen. I stand here before you to formally resign my post as Minister for Magical Britain. My resignation has been accepted by the Wizengamot in accordance with our laws. The election of the candidate to replace me has been carried out, and the new Minister for Magic has been duly appointed. Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to introduce you to your new Minister for Magic, Minister Percy Weasley."

With a flourish of Kingsley's hand towards the back of the stage and a choreographed step sideways by the Wizengamot, a gap opened, and Percy stepped through in the formal dress robes of the Minister for Magic.

Raucous applause broke out as he came to the front of the stage and shook hands with Kingsley. They parted, and Percy turned to face the crowd. His eyes scanning until they fixed upon his family. His eyes flickered to his mother in shock then back to Audrey, who was smiling widely and clapping. His daughters were clapping and waving wildly supported by their uncles and Percy couldn't help the small smile that slipped out at the sight of them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you. I, as your duly appointed Minister for Magic, hope that we can continue to make the improvements to our society that we have been making for the last eight years. I have always believed in a better society for all magical peoples and will continue to work towards that goal. I firmly believe that it is time for our society to step from the shadows of our past and become the vanguard of progress. We have amongst our community some of the best and brightest. It is my desire as Minister to give these people the support and platform they need to allow them to put our society back at the forefront of innovation. In light of that and in a slight break from tradition, the ball that is usually held within the Ministry has been moved to a different location.

Some four years ago a ground-breaking educational reform was made at Hogwarts. The students who chose to take the Muggle Studies elective were given the opportunity to gain muggle qualifications equivalent to an OWL. Those students who decided to carry on to NEWT level were able to take the Muggle equivalent exam and earn a role in a variety of muggle led industries. This opportunity has led the way for the recent expansion in magical hostelry and of Diagonal Alley with the opening of several new places of business. Tonight, to honour the hard work of those students and the bravery and daring of our leading educational institute, the Hotel Occamy will be hosting the ball where our past students will be able to demonstrate their achievements to you. The hotel has agreed to open the floo connection to its grand ballroom, if you would kindly make your way to floos six through to twelve."