The Life and Time of Mr. P. I. Weasley.
To the Readers of This Tale,
Greetings.
Due to the recent release of the Harry Potter series, I have noted that there is increasing interest in the lives and actions of the characters that participated in this tale. I, Percy Weasley, have taken the time to record my role in these events in order to correct some of the interesting opinions about me and my role. However my dear wife and I are having some disputes over which order we should put these stories, chronologically or in order of importance. We have reached an agreement; whichever one we finish first.
Please enjoy the first of many small segments of my life.
P. Weasley.
Chapter One: The Length of One's Stride
How long had it been? How many hours had Percy been pacing this piece of carpet?
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, turn. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, turn.
He glanced at the clock, 9:15pm. He should have heard by now! Damn, where was that bloody letter?
He went back to pacing.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, turn. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, turn. One, two, three, four… four
"You changed the length of your stride." Charlie told him, grinning widely. Percy stared at him, blinking owlishly.
"No, I haven't. I don't change the length of my stride. It's is exactly one meter in length. It has been that long for years. It has never changed!" Percy explained as if to a child, though his voice somewhat higher than usual.
"Perce is right, it didn't change. These two-" Here Bill indicated Fred and George. "-Have shrunk the rug."
Percy glared at his brothers, who fell about laughing. "This. Is. NOT. A. Laughing. Matter!" He hissed through clenched teeth. Chuckling, Bill stood up and put his arm around his little brother.
"Perce, you are going to have to calm down. I promise you will get the Owl soon."
"You said that exactly –" A quick glance to the clock. "-Forty three minutes ago."
"They probably just forgot to owl you in the excitement of the moment." Ginny tried to sooth him.
"Forgot! I am the single most important person in her life and you think she would forget?"
"The most important?" Ron grinned.
"Without doubt."
"Well, maybe she has met someone else to take your treasured spot." George said dramatically.
"After all, she has been out of your sight for almost fourteen hours." Fred reminded him.
"Thirteen hours and fifty-six minutes." Percy muttered subconsciously, his brow creased with worry. "She wouldn't, would she?" He asked Bill desperately, Bill being the only sibling he could place a somewhat small degree of trust in.
"Boys, stop teasing your brother." Arthur chuckled as he walked into the living room. "This is a very stressful time for Percy, so show him a little support. I should know, I went through it seven times." Arthur grinned, clapping a hand on his son's shoulder. "She'll be fine."
"Does it get any easier?" Percy muttered, taking his glasses off to rub the bridge of his nose, shoulder's dropping.
"No." Arthur chuckled, sitting down. It was the same chair that he had sat in for as long as Percy could remember. Actually, looking around, Percy noticed that everyone had taken up residence in his or her usual seat at The Burrow. Bill and Charlie sat on the couch with Ginny squashed between them, Fred and George lay on the floor and Ron occupied one of the hard wooden chairs, leaving the other one for Percy. Percy had, however, abandoned it some time ago to 'stretch hie legs'. Four hours and nineteen minutes ago, to be exact. It should be here by now…
"That's it! I can't stand this anymore!" Percy declared, walking towards the floo jar. "I have got to go and make sure she's all right."
"NO!" Seven voices yelled, and suddenly Percy found himself buried under all of his siblings.
"You are not going anywhere!"
"She does not need you there!"
"The stress would do her more harm than good!"
"Hey! He's putting up a fight!"
"Grab his wand!"
"Ow! He bites!"
"Percy, don't bite!"
"I've got his wand Ginny!"
"Good for you, Ron!"
"Thanks Bill! Dad, catch!"
"Gerroff me!"
"Not a chance, little Bro."
"Gah, he's fighting back!"
"He's got my hair! Help!"
"Pin his arms!"
"Arms are pinned!"
"We are far too old for this."
"Speak for yourself, I'm still young and beautiful."
"You're young…"
"Hey, you're meant to be on our side!"
"Sorry!"
"GET OFF ME!"
"He's still struggling!"
"Why won't he just give up?"
"He's a Weasley, that's why!"
"Boys! Ginny! What are you doing to Percy?"
"Nothing, Mom-"
"He was threatening-"
"We couldn't let him-"
"She'd die-"
"- to go-"
"- he's not allowed –"
"- embarrassment!"
"Quiet! Arthur, what's going on? Why do you have Percy's wand, for Merlin's sake?"
"Ron gave it to me!"
"Oh, thanks Dad!"
"Hermes!" Percy cried, wriggling out of his siblings' grasp and racing across the floor. Molly smiled and disappeared into the kitchen. With trembling fingers Percy took the letter from the ancient owl, only to have it whisked out of his hand.
"George!" Percy bellowed as his brother danced out of the way. "GIVE THAT BACK!"
"To me!" Ginny called gleefully as George threw the letter. With a cry of exasperation Percy dived after her, only to see that the letter had moved into Charlie's grasp.
"Damn it! I demand that you give me that letter!" Percy roared as he tried to snatch it back, all pride and dignity forgotten.
"On what grounds?" Charlie teased, tossing it to Fred.
"As the bloody recipient! As ex-Head Boy! As the bloody Vice Minister of Magic!"
"Well, as another 'ex-Head Boy', I take back all your claims!" Bill grinned as he caught the letter.
"Bill!" Percy lunged at his brother, furious.
"You know, technically you may not be the recipient." Bill mused as he tossed to letter to Ron.
"What?!? You bloody well know it's for me!" Percy gasped out, his hair mussed and glasses skewed.
"S'right. I don't see 'Percy Weasley' on it anywhere. All it says is 'Weasley'. It could be for any of us really."
"It's for me and you know it! Hermes is my owl, I'm the only one expecting a really important letter right now! Ron, please, give me the letter!" Percy begged, hand outstretched, pleading desperately with his younger brother. Ron hesitated, obviously feeling some pity towards his older sibling, but his decision was made for him when a group of women walked into the kitchen.
"Ron, what's going on?" Hermione asked her husband, brow raised.
"Nothing much." Ron told her, feigning innocence.
"What's in your hand?" Penelope asked, amused.
"Penelope! The letter's here and these traitors won't give it to me!" Percy told his wife despairingly, still with his hand towards Ron.
"It's here? Oh, let me see!" Penelope squealed, and Ron, pleased to have discovered a way out of his dilemma, gladly handed it to her.
Sitting down, she tore the seal open and quickly read the contents of the letter, Percy studying her face.
"Well?" Fleur cried, crossing her arms impatiently. Without a word, Penelope passed Percy the letter, staring at him.
Percy took it, fingers trembling as he read the contents. Minutes passed, and Percy slumped into his chair, hands covering his face.
"Gryffindor." He croaked. "My little girl's a Gryffindor." He smiled as the room erupted into cheers. Percy let out a loud 'whoop' and grabbed Penelope by her hands, dancing her around the room until the collapsed on the couch, breathless and laughing.
Percy took her face in his hands and kissed her soundly. "I believe that is ten Galleons you owe me, Mrs. Weasley." He teased her, grinning.
"Oh, sod off, you great git." Penelope pouted, her eyes sparkling. She sighed dramatically. "Courage has not left me, as I firmly believe that the next one will be in Ravenclaw."
"Anna? Oh, I doubt it. She's a Weasley through and through. She'll be in Gryffindor." Percy replied airily. Penelope raised a brow.
"Care to bet on that?"
"How much?"
"Ten Galleons."
"You have yourself a deal."
Dear Mr. And Mrs. Weasley,
I am pleased to inform you that your daughter, Emmaline Weasley, has been sorted into Gryffindor and is settling in nicely. I am positive that she will contribute greatly to her class and peers, just as her parents did. Please do not hesitate to owl me if you have any questions or concerns.
Regards,
M. McGonagallHead of Gryffindor House, Deputy Headmaster
This was one of the most important days of my adult life. With Emmaline in Gryffindor, it gave closer to all my rash actions as a youngster. My poor choices had not influenced my children. It was also one of the first times that I truly felt part of my family again, they teased me as they used to, I could use the word 'traitor' without it being followed by an uncomfortable silence. I was officially a Weasley once more, and I had passed on that legacy to my children.
Because even though everything around you can change, there are some things that, at the end of the day, will always be the same. Like the length of your stride.
P. Weasley.