Disclaimer: I don't own HP- JK Rowling does.
A/N: I'm sorry the beginning is kind of rushed. I hope you like this. It's set 4 years after the final battle revolved around Percy's life. Please review. Tried to make the paragraphs smaller.
Percy Weasley understood that his life was bad. He had understood since the day his brother died before he could properly repent. He had understood since Ron, his youngest brother, wrote his autobiography. He had understood since he read said autobiography and realized that "based on true events" meant not leaving out ANY of the details, or names. He had understood when he walked in to work one day and was greeted by a coworker as 'The Brother Who Left'.
Ron thought it was hilarious. Coined from Percy's departure from his family and used several times to replace his name in the book, the nickname stuck like glue. Spawning from a collaborative brain storm session with George who at the time still held a small grudge, Ron had agreed to the name and attempted a lame attempt at humor in the family's time of mourning. Hermione, his ghostwriter so to speak, agreed vehemently on this name. They all thought it was the most hilarious thing in the world as Percy hunched in the corner and managed a small fake smile. They thought nothing of it, the book wasn't suppossed to be published anyway. Then a publisher disagreed. After just 6 months the book had surprisingly soared to the top selling list, every single witch or wizard with the ability to see had read it. Most more than once.
One day as Percy scanned the aisles in Flourish and Blott's, he noticed a young woman staring at him. Flattered with the attention ,he started to walk over to her. Before he knew it, there was a flash of red light and he felt strong wings of some sort beating his body. He had been hit with a Bat-Bogey Hex.
"You frickin' deserted them. You deserve that, Brother Who Left," The witch said stomping away with another round of swear words. He stared after her in shock, he hadn't done anything and yet he had been hit with a harmful spell like a Death Eater. Percy realized it then that his life was miserable.
Percy sighed as he passed by a muggle movie theater when walked to the ministry one Thursday morning. It was an ugly day, the mist played with his hair. The natural curls around his head frizzed and he kept tugging at the ends. He very rarely was concerned about his look but today was different. Last night due to a missed step, Percy had broken his famous horn rimmed glasses. Ok, so maybe they weren't prescription but how was he to maintain his professional appearance now? He tried not to let the successive bad happenings ruin his whole day but it was hard not to seem so bummed. He walked briskly towards the entrance ignoring the catcalls of subordinate workers.
"Percy!" He heard someone yell. Of course he didn't turn around. It was probably someone else coming to congratulate him on his budding movie career.
"Listen, buddy, I didn't give the movie rights. I get it, I don't exactly look like John Year." Percy said angrily. Of course his little brother's book had to be made into a movie. And of course Percy had to be played by John Year, who had one of the top ten-beach body's and had also been in two sex scandals that year. The resemblance was zero practically in the negatives and he was the object of teasing on a daily basis.
"Percy, it's just me," Percy turned around finally to come face to face with his brother in law. Harry Potter. He was the source of all this mess, thought Percy bitterly. If it wasn't for him, Ron would have never been able to write an interesting autobiography and in turn Percy wouldn't be branded with that awful nickname. But still after 4 years, Percy sucked up his pride and acted pleasant toward Harry.
"How are you, Harry? Any news about the baby?" Percy inquired politely. Just think of the scandal when he entered the office! The director of International Magic Cooperation talking with a high class Auror, people would be running home to check to see if their families were all right!
"Ginny's great. The baby's a-kicking away. The doctor says it's any day now. I know your busy and all, Perc, but you should come over to dinner at Molly's. The last time you came was months ago!" Harry said in a dignified matter. Normally Percy would have bristled up at the nickname but now he only felt regret. He had thought once or twice about going for an impromptu dinner at his mother's but had pushed the idea aside. He was much too busy. He had people to monitor, problems to solve. Everyday was different to him, always something to be done. Percy loved it though; he loved working hard and getting rewarded. The worst days at work were when the world seemed at peace. He hated that; he spent the whole day sitting at his desk doing nothing.
This seemed to be one of these days he realized as he walked into his office. He sat at his desk, waiting for the first assignment of the day. Usually after going home for the night he was greeted to 6 or 7 notes waiting on his desk. But today there was none. He peered curiously on the sleek mahogany staring back at him with no parchment in sight. He quickly got up and walked down the hall.
"Neil, any owls?" He said asking his assistant. Neil, a young lad, peered at him with an annoyed look.
"Were they're any on your desk?" He said in a bored tone.
"No, silly, they don't allow owls into the ministry," Percy exclaimed. One would have thought that the temp who'd been working here for three years would have known.
"Exactly," Neil said peering around on his desk ignoring Percy completely. He left in a hurry with a frown. He and Neil had never gotten along even though they had been working alongside each other for some time. His assistant never did anything; he took hours for lunch and he never paid any respect to his superiors. Though his work was always flawless. Always were the completed papers on his desk at the correct time. Although Percy had yet to prove it, but he knew Neil must have had help from someone.
Percy had about 20 people under him officially. As he walked through his subordinate's desks and into his office, he ignored the sniggering. He specifically heard someone says 'glasses' and 'self conscious'. From the sanction of his office, he completed his own research paper. Why no one should buy The Golden Trio's merchandise. Of course he had finished his work for the next 3 months in one night. He wished he hadn't been proactive as he waited for something to do as he flipped through The Daily Prophet. Lower ranks constantly came to his office for advice yet today all was silent. He wondered if it was some sort of conspiracy.
Percy sat in his desk staring at his blank walls after he'd finished proofreading and perfecting his essay. He only had one picture in all of his office. It was of his family on the trip to Egypt in the summer before his seventh year. They waved at him smiling and Percy wore a genuine smile. He always smiled with a real smile with his family.
He knew he screwed up when he had worked in the Ministry, yet it was hard to put away his pride. Even now he felt like he was to be blamed for Fred's death four years ago, though no one would ever mention it. George though hardly looked into his older brother's eyes. He would never admit it but Percy knew that George put some blame on his older brother's shoulders.
Despite the occasional lunch during work with his father, the only other family member he talked to was Bill. Bill didn't blame, even when Percy looked into his older brother's eyes there was no faultfindings. The only downside to visiting his brother so often at Shell Cottage was the fact that he was married.
Percy had always disliked Fleur, not as bad as Ginny had, but just because of the way she coddled her husband. Fleur was always touching Bill. Percy would try and have a private conversation with his brother but Phlegm was always standing there listening expectantly.
And when Victoire was born, it was twice as bad. The child was as worse as her mother, always wanting attention. She screamed and cried, but Fleur paid no attention to her daughter as she listened to they're conversation. As Victoire began to walk she was just like her mother. She was silent and listened as if her uncle was the next victim of her gossiping. Of course being that she was only three, she couldn't gossip that much. But now as
Percy paced his room waiting for any sort of paper airplane or a knock on his door by a frightened coworker, his mind was not focusing on work at all. Percy didn't mean to act mean towards his colleagues, but when he was in a bad mood, he was anything but pleasant. Truth be told, he always seemed to be in a bad mood. Of course he squinted his eyes as he passed by his coworkers that day, his eyes had become adjusted to his glasses was all. Of course he would get mad if the work was not done. Why couldn't they see that? He opened his door a slit to look at the people working; they were all silent working independently. Maybe he would try to be nice.
When his father didn't come up for lunch sometimes, Percy did try to mingle with his coworkers but everyone seemed to be laughing at him behind his back. In fact he was fairly certain they were laughing at him. He had once slipped into the break room unnoticed to hear them discussing Percy's latest frenzy. They had laughed over a man's impression of him. Percy was deeply hurt by this. He didn't even like interacting with his associates anymore. Why would he bother being friendly when he was just a running joke? Percy had searched several textbooks trying to find out why he hadn't been able to keep any friends. He was a friendly person when given the chance, he was hard working, and although no one had ever said it Percy felt confident about his looks.
Then suddenly he spied it. His eyes slipped to a creature so beautifully visible through the crack of the door made Percy let out an audible gasp. Several people near the door turned and stared at him. He shut the door and returned to pacing. Who was she? Her brown hair and pale white skin seemed angelic even. Her eyes had been a shocking green beneath long black eyelashes.
Why was she here in this office? Percy shook any fantasy that was creeping into his head away. She must just be the wife of one of the people who had made fun of him. She had come to tell her husband how she had just bought a new big house where they could raise their brood of ignorant children. They would laugh and hug as money rained from the sky. How dare he! Percy thought indignantly. He shouldn't even be having visitors until lunch! Although Percy let this rule slip several times this mystery man with no face would be persecuted at all costs. Percy had already placed his hand on the doorknob when he remembered it was all hypothetical.
Lunchtime came and Percy who had been looked in his office since peeking out, a punishment for letting his imagination run wild, had seen no sight of the mystery woman. He drearily took out his poorly made sandwich and began to nibble. How nice would it be to have a lunch made by a caring wife, Percy thought. Percy, whom everyone assumed was so focused into his work, wanted nothing more than having a girlfriend.
Since Penelope, Percy had not gone out with anyone else. He received news that she had died in the war three months after the final battle. Although Percy had ended the relationship ended in their seventh year, they had still been on speaking terms. And now she was dead. Percy couldn't count on his hands the number of people he had lost.
Although friends would be nice, after several other catastrophic bullying events Percy decided that he couldn't be a boss and be liked. So what if Harry was a boss and liked by all? Or what if Heather who led Department of Magical Accident and Catastrophes had managed to receive an individual birthday card from every single one of her coworkers? On Percy's birthday all he'd received was a box of chocolates from his Mum. Of course the card was signed 'From, the family. Come and visit!' but he doubted anyone of his siblings even remembered him. He took another bite of his pathetic sandwich and a sip of his week old water. It tasted miserably like plastic. And backwash.
He heard a knock on his door. His father must have been there. He quickly ran over to the door. His father and he only had lunch once or twice a week; the other days were spent for his father having lunch with Ron and Harry. He looked forward to his visits from his father. He got caught up with news of his family. His father was the second person in his family who liked him. Although they hadn't always gotten along, their relationship had reformed almost completely. They laughed during these lunches and talked about inside jokes relating to work. He had forgotten how much he and his father were alike. Of course Percy wasn't as fanatic about muggle things as his father, but they did like the same music. There humor was quite similar too. The both laughed over a joke that could be compared to the Sahara desert.
He opened the door quickly and almost fell back in shock. It wasn't his father at all; in fact the person standing at his door looked nothing like his father and for this Percy was grateful. Standing in front of him was the beauty he had seen when he been spying through the door. He had to cover his eyes slightly to see past the light that seemed to be shining over her. Her angelic round face seemed perfectly flawless. Her body had curves that she seemed all too happy to embrace. His brown hair curled down her back in waves and reminded Percy of the color of the gravy his mother always made for Christmas dinners. Her perfectly round lips moved and formed words that Percy couldn't catch. He tried to tear his eyes away from her and hear what she was saying. His gaze fell to the ground and immediately his ears cleared.
"I'm sorry. I didn't catch that," Percy said embarrassed. What if she had been informing him of a fire? That would have been a safety hazard.
"No, I didn't say anything. I was just moving my mouth to trick you," Said a voice like honey. It drizzled down and filled every ounce of his being.
"Oh," Percy said dumbly. 'Oh'? That was all he could say? He mentally kicked himself.
"I'm sorry to bother you Mr. Weasley, but there seems to be two people having sex in the supply closet." Her voice sounded oddly sarcastic. Percy just stared at her.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't quite catch that last part," Percy said rubbing his ears just to prove his point.
"What? The part about the about being sorry to bother you or the part about the two people shagging in the supply closet?" She asked, the sarcasm now fully apparent.
"The second part," He said and dashed out of the doorway heading towards to the supply closet. Judging by the loud clacks of the high heels behind him, he figured that mysterious gravy lady was following him. Suddenly he got a queasy feeling in his stomach. What if she was joking with him? What if this was all some ploy to make fun of him again? People looked up from their desks as the couple passed. Eventually Percy made it to the supply closet, conveniently put in the back of the office. He could distinctly hear moaning sounds coming. He knew then that he was not being joked with. He knocked loudly with no answer. He heard a squeal and shuffling. "Alohomora," He whispered trying to catch them before they dissapparated away. He heard the lock click open and he closed his eyes as he opened the door. There stood a woman dressed hurriedly, Heather, he knew, from Department of Magical Accident and Catastrophes. The man with an unbuttoned t-shirt was a colleague that worked in his department, who he knew for a fact, was married. He had a cocky grin on his face completely opposite from Heather's guilty one.
"Gary," He said addressing the half naked man, "You're fired for misconduct in the work place. Please gather your things and leave the premises." The man's grin turned to a frown. From there his eyebrows furrowed. Rage crossed his face and he threw up his hands.
"You can't fire me! I'm the best you've got!" He started. Percy nodded, not caring. Gary was always the leader of the bullies. Percy beamed. Now there was a perfect excuse to fire him! "It's not my fault you can't get any. Maybe if you weren't a virgin maybe you would understand. Half of the people here think you're gay! Nobody would ever want to screw the Brother Who Left!" Gary said knowing now that the fight was futile. He however in the process wanted to inflict some kind of pain on Percy. He seemed unfazed though and as Gary stalked from the niche muttering cuss words. Percy turned towards Heather who had broken into sobs.
"Heather, I cannot fire you. But I will report this, do you understand?" He said softly. He had always liked her. She had waved to him on the occasional mornings when they rode the elevator together. Now she had gone and screwed it all up. "He's scum, Heather. You could do better than that. Go clean yourself off and return to the third floor where you belong." Percy's voice was even gentler. Maybe he was letting her off a little too easy? She scampered away sobbing. But really whom would it hurt if he accidentally "forgot" to turn in the report?
He stood silent. Was that really what everyone thought about him? He sighed and shook his head. It was a wonder they all hated him. Well, he had got what he'd wanted, for something to happen. He hung his head and began to walk back towards his office. It was only until he heard a clicking sound behind him did he turn around. He came face to face with the woman who had taken his breath away just hours ago. "Sorry you had to see that," He said smiling sheepishly. He must have seemed like a dictator to her. She was probably so disgusted with him she had daintily vomited in the trash bin next to the copier machine. Just the thought made Percy upset. He already had no hope with the woman who had smiled so softly.
"No. See I was sitting here over by the copier machine trying to copy a book report, when I had noticed that the copier was almost out of the ink. I try and do a good deed by refilling it and end up getting someone fired," She said smiling big. It was as if she was almost pleased with the prospect of getting someone fired. The smiled that Percy unconsciously returned was suddenly turned befuddled.
"I'm sorry. But who are you?" Percy said unable to hide a bit of rudeness. Why was she in his office in the first place? Was she one of those assassins that seduces you first?
"I'm so sorry!" The woman said placing a hand over her mouth. No ring, Percy mentally said. "I'm Audrey. Audrey Brinkman."
A/N: OOOOOO! A cliffhanger! Now that's unheard of! Please review!