Disclaimer: I in no way, shape, or form own any of the characters contained in my story. They are the property of J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter universe. Not all of the ideas contained in this story are original; I just thought I'd try my hand at writing what I considered fantastic concepts. I do not make any money from my writings. I write for the enjoyment it gives me, and the possible enjoyment reading gives others. With that being said, taking something from another writer without crediting them is plagiarism, and it's against the law. So please don't do it.

Chapter 1

Percy looked up as the interdepartmental memo flew into his office. It was a deep red paper airplane, indicating it was from the minister himself. Percy sighed. He dreaded his daily memos from the minister. They begin normally enough, the projects and paperwork to be completed by the end of the working day or week. However, they usually contained tidbits of information about his family at the end. Now that the war was over, Percy looked at this information carefully. It was difficult to jump back into familial relationships after ostracizing himself for so long. Not that he didn't want to reconnect with his family.

Percy found that his relationship with his brothers was now strained. Ron looked at him with distaste, like everything he did was of poor quality. George wouldn't talk to him at all. But then again, George wasn't talking to many people at the moment. And even Bill and Charlie, whom Percy respected and admired growing up, kept Percy at a distance. It was as though his betrayal was contagious, and his brothers didn't want to catch it.

Ginny, on the other hand, was the most difficult of his siblings to understand. She accepted Percy's return to the family without questions or comments. Percy thought part of that had to do with her relationship with Harry Potter. Not many people could say they felt the force of Voldemort's wand and lived. And Harry could say it twice. Percy thought it was Harry's most recent brush with death that led Ginny to accept Percy for who he is, not who he was.

But it was his parents that Percy felt the most apprehensive about. His mother, glad to have her son back in her life, smothered Percy. She sent cakes, casseroles, and knitted pieces of clothing to his apartment biweekly, and the letter that accompanied the food detailed every moment of her days. It was as if she feared he would detach himself from the family again, and needed to assure him that she wanted his love and wellbeing.

Mr. Weasley was another story. He didn't imply anything. Instead, he regularly met with Percy for lunch, telling tales of his siblings and their current predicaments. Bill and Fleur were expecting a baby, and Bill was getting nervous father jitters. Charlie was preparing to go back to Romania, only staying long enough to make sure his family was truly safe. Weasley Wizard Wheezes was back in business, but George was hiding something, and no one could figure it out. Ron and Harry joined acting Minister Shacklebolt at the ministry and have begun official auror training, with daily reports back to the minister on the effectiveness of the program. And Ginny was preparing to go back for her final year at Hogwarts.

Yet, Mr. Weasley withheld any information about himself. Maybe he thought his wife was relaying information to Percy through her letters each week. Or maybe he was too afraid of the conversation he would have with Percy if they talked about each other.

Percy picked up the red airplane from his desk.

Mr. Percy Weasley,

Thank you for your quick assessment of the current One Wand for One Wizard Act. The details were impressive and will be taken into careful consideration during our deliberations. I would like to remind you that the report for the Reissue of Goblin Security Detail is due in three days. If you need assistance in compiling the required data, please see Hannah in the Department of Magical Creatures office.

In other news, your brother Ron is doing incredible well in our auror training program. His battles with magical beasts are extraordinary, particularly with a heinous breed of mountain troll.

I look forward to reading your next report,

Acting Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt

Ever since Shacklebolt became acting Minister of Magic, Percy's desire to stay within the confines of the ministry have slowly diminished. His working title was now "Assistant Undersecretary to the Junior Assistant of the Misuse of Magical Laws and Regulations Department." Percy's job entailed compiling many detailed reports on vaguely important laws dealing with magical restrictions. Percy enjoyed working on the more obscure laws that no one would care about until years later, when the stress from the recovery of the Second War was long behind them.

The only reason Shacklebolt sent daily memos to a ministry employee so far down the ladder was because Percy was a Weasley. It reminded him daily of his lack of substantial ties to his family. Since the Battle of Hogwarts, Percy saw less and less of his family. He feared their rejections, yet wanted their approval and acceptance.

Percy began rubbing the knots in his neck as an indigo colored memo entered his office.

Percy,

How about lunch today? Noon, in my office?

Dad

Percy scribbled a quick acceptance on his own white memo paper, and watched in fly out of the office. He had tried denying his father a few times, and it always turned futile. His father was a persistent man, and would seek Percy out whenever he refused an offer of lunch.

Percy continued to work on the Reissue of Goblin Security Detail until five of twelve. He noted a few key items he would need to go to Hannah for help with, and then made his way to his father's office.

Despite his involvement with the Order of the Phoenix and his friendship with Kingsley Shacklebolt, Arthur Weasley continued to work for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. He was offered another position, a higher more prestigious position, yet he declined. Arthur enjoyed his work and the interaction it gave him with the Muggle World, and he saw no reason to deny his personal happiness now that the war had ended.

A glimpse of red hair caught Percy's eye as he made his way past the Auror department, and he quickened his steps in order to avoid his brother. Percy often thought about what he would say when he finally confronted Ron. "I'm sorry I was a prat," was usually the first thing to come out of his mouth. Yet he avoided his brother, afraid of what Ron would say back.

As he came closer to his father's office, Flynn, his parent's new owl, flew past him with a paper bag in its mouth. He knocked on his father's door.

"Ah, Percy. Come in. Your mother has just sent lunch." Arthur pointed to Errol's replacement and the bag now sitting on his father's desk. "Meatball subs, if my nose is correct. Leftovers from last night's dinner."

Percy sat across from his father. The chair, positioned directly across from Arthur, always made Percy feel as though he was attending an important interview. His palms would sweat and his glasses would slowly slide down the bridge of his nose.

Arthur smiled as he set out their lunch. "How are things going with the Laws and Regulations?" Arthur began each of their lunchtime meetings with the same question.

Percy smiled. "They're proceeding nicely. The minister was pleased with my findings regarding the One Wand for One Wizard Act, and now I have moved onto researching Goblin Security measures."

Arthur nodded as he stared at his son. "That sounds interesting."

Percy took a bite from his sandwich and relished in his mother's cooking. "It's informative."

The two sat in silence and continued their meal. This was the part Percy hated the most. His father would think of ways to interact with Percy, and fail. Instead, he would fall back on his knowledge of his other children.

"Ron is doing well in the Auror department," said Arthur.

"Yes, the minister informed me this morning. I hear he battled a few mountain trolls," said Percy.

"Oh, yes. It was very exciting."

Percy looked around the office as his father continued his tale of Ron and the mountain trolls. Apparently, Ron and Harry told the story a few days ago when they were at the Burrow for dinner. He fixed his gaze on a photo hanging to his right. It was of the family, right before Charlie started Hogwarts. Percy looked at his eight year old self. He was staring at Bill and Charlie with fascination. He wanted more than anything to be like his older brothers.

"And we're taking Ginny shopping for her school things next Wednesday. It's a bit upsetting to know that your youngest is in her final year at Hogwarts. Why, I remember your first train ride, Percy. You were so serious. You refused to let Bill or Charlie help you, insisting that you could carry your trunk on the train yourself. And when the twins tried to say goodbye, you pushed them away, saying you were a grown up now, and grown ups didn't have time to play with little children." Arthur let out a forlorn sigh, upset at the memories regarding his son. "Were you ever happy, Percy?" Arthur asked.

Percy turned from the picture and looked at his father. When he saw the concern mixed with confusion in his father's eyes, Percy looked down at his half eaten sandwich. "I don't know what you mean," he said, his voice quiet, almost inaudible.

"Where did we go wrong with you? It is so much to ask that you join us as a family once in a while? You might gain a new perspective of the world."

"I have to get back to work. Thank you for lunch. I'll see you next week." With that, Percy leapt from his seat.

"Come with us to Diagon Alley next week," Arthur blurted out.

Percy paused in his attempt to flee the office. His hands positioned on either side of the doorframe, prevented him from walking out the door.

"It would only be your mother, myself, and Ginny. No more of the traveling with our own personal Quidditch team, reserve players included. Just the four of us. We could meet at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch."

"I'll think about it," said Percy, his back still to his father. He slowly lowered his arms and walked out of the office.

As he made his way back to his own office, Percy thought about how Arthur had broken their unspoken code. Up until that point, neither of them talked about why Percy differed from the Weasleys. They simply accepted it. But now his father wanted answers to questions Percy was afraid to ask himself.

As Percy sat back at his desk, he looked over his half completed report and realized that he'd have to go see Hannah before he was able to finish it. That meant he couldn't hide in his office in an attempt to avoid all people for the rest of the afternoon. Percy sighed and began gathering the notes he would need to take with him.

Percy took the stairs rather than the elevator. At the Ministry of Magic, very few employees relied on the stairs to travel between floors. This ensured that Percy would have limited contact between any unwanted interactions. Right after the Second War had ended, Percy encountered a dispirited quasi-Death Eater alone in one of the elevators. The other fellow took one look at Percy's red hair and began listing all the reasons Weasleys were the problem with the Ministry and how the Dark Lord would return like he did before. That employee no longer worked for the ministry. Even so, since then, Percy tried to avoid unnecessary contact with other Ministry employees.

The sound of his polished black oxford shoes clicking against the metal staircase comforted Percy. Its echo confirmed that he was the only one taking the stairs at that time. Percy slowly made his way up the staircase, thinking of how to avoid his father for the next few days. He paused in front of the door to Level 4: Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast, Being, and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liaison Office, and Pest Advisory Bureau. The glass window was opaque, preventing Percy from seeing what was happening in the department. The last time Percy made the trip up to Level 4, experimental chickens were pecking at every wizard that tried to capture them. Yet, strangely, they would whistle at the witches and went willingly into their arms.

Percy straightened his tie and realized he had forgotten his robes. Though in the past Percy liked to present himself in the manner he saw fit for a ministry employee, he no longer enjoyed wearing dress robes. Instead, he often dressed in muggle office wear, dress pants, a buttoned down collared shirt and tie, under his dress robes and would remove his robes when entering his office.

He straightened the folders in his arms and opened the door. It was quiet. Too quiet. Percy stood still, waiting for the ambush of creatures that were inevitably hiding somewhere in the department.

Hannah strolled out of the file room, saw Percy standing there with his eyes wide, searching for disaster. She sighed. "They're all out on assignment. We should be good for a few hours yet."

Percy nodded and followed Hannah to her desk. Despite Hannah's reassurance, he continued to look around corners for an unexpected creature to come bounding out at him.

"You're here for the data on the Goblin Security, right?" Hannah asked.

Percy nodded his head. "Yep. Goblin Security this week, Werewolf Precautions next week, and possibly Troll and Dragon mating rituals the week after that."

Hannah laughed. "You don't sound too thrilled." She paused in her search for her file on Goblin Rebellion techniques and looked at Percy. "Ok, what happened?"

Percy lifted his chin as he sat in front of Hannah's desk. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"That's bullshit, and you know it, Percy Weasley," said Hannah as she pointed a file on the restrictions of magical pets at him. "I've known you for too long to have you sit and brood over some asinine comment a coworker made about you."

"It was my father." Percy's voice was soft and slightly muffled as he lowered his gaze to the files on his lap.

"Oh." Hannah sat, afraid that her legs wouldn't hold her up for this conversation. "What did he say?"

"Does it really matter? I'm different from them, and they can't understand why I'd choose to back the ministry instead of following them under Dumbledore's instruction."

"Have you tried talking to them?"

"What would I say?" Percy stood up and began pacing in the small space allotted in front of Hannah's desk.

Hannah sighed. "We've been through this before, Percy. It doesn't matter what you say to them. You just need to start a conversation. And not about your family, about you."

Percy sat again. "What can you tell me about Goblin Security?"

"Avoiding the issue won't make it go away," Hannah said as she shook her head.

Percy placed his files in front of Hannah. "No, but it will get me back to my apartment at a fairly decent time tonight. So if you please, Goblin Security."

"Fine," said Hannah, "but if you change your mind, I'll be at the Green Goblin Pub tonight, there's a big Quidditch match, we wouldn't be heard over all the noise."

Later, as Percy finished organizing the data and began to write up the report, he thought about Hannah's offer. It would be nice to talk to someone about his family. But Hannah was too detached from his life. Sure they attended Hogwarts together, but Percy never gave her much thought until after the war when the two worked together to finish various reports. With the frequency the minister put the two of them together, Percy was starting to think that he was trying to play matchmaker. Unfortunately for the minister, the reason why Percy and Hannah got along so well was because they were both same sex oriented.

Percy smiled as he thought of the Green Goblin Pub. It was a known gay bar, one of the few in the wizarding world. He had only visited it once, and walked home with napkins and pieces of parchment with numbers and addresses written on them in places he didn't know even a skilled pickpocket could reach. Percy didn't call any of the numbers; instead, he left them in the top drawer of the table next to his bed.

On nights when he felt particularly lonely, Percy would take out the numbers and fantasize about the life of each man, based solely on his handwriting. His favorite was a quickly scribbled number that was crossed off, and then rewritten. It reminded Percy that other people were like him: unsure and afraid of taking an adventure. In his mind, this man was tall, equal in height to Percy's six foot one inch frame. But his mystery man would have broader shoulders, a deeper voice, and exert strength and masculinity.

Yet Percy knew it was more likely that the chicken scratch handwriting belonged to a middle-aged wizard with little experience and only hopes for a decent one-night stand. Percy sighed as he stared at the papers sitting in neat piles on his desk. His sexual experience was probably more limiting than his puny, overweight mystery man's. He had one girlfriend at Hogwarts, Penelope Clearwater. And though they built their relationship on their ability to succeed in school, the sexual attraction between them was nil.

In the male department, Percy had kissed exactly two men. Andrew, his first, was right after graduation from Hogwarts. Though it was short, and little more than experimentation between two friends, it gave Percy the confidence to accept his sexual orientation and break things off with Penelope. The second, a muggle named Thomas, was Percy's boyfriend for three weeks. Thomas worked as a bouncer at a popular muggle gay club, and broke it off because Percy didn't feel comfortable getting in bed with a man he barely knew.

This was all before the ministry recognized the beginning of the Second War. Since then, Percy hid from men, especially men that flirted with him. Jackson in the Department of Games and Sports was frequently finding excuses to talk to Percy. It wasn't that Percy wasn't attracted to Jackson, he just thought it would be better he chose one man to spend his life with, and he didn't want to waste his time going through the wrong men first.

Sure that no more work was going to be done that night, Percy packed the more important papers in his briefcase and stored the rest in the left drawer of his desk, placing an anti-theft charm on the drawer. He wrapped his robe around his shoulders and walked to the main Atrium of the ministry, where he Apparated to right outside his apartment.

"Hi, Hermes," Percy said as he walked into is apartment. "I hope your day was better than mine."

Hermes hooted in response.

Percy nodded as he began to undress, charming his clothes to follow him to the bedroom and place themselves in the hamper. "That's what I thought."

Hermes followed Percy expectantly.

"I don't have any correspondences tonight, Hermes. I'm sorry. I'll try to remember to bring some home tomorrow night."

With that, Hermes flew out the bedroom window.

Percy sighed as he sat on the edge of his bed. "I can't even keep my owl happy." His voice echoed in the sparse apartment. Because of his quick exit from the Burrow years before, Percy had very few personal possessions. No pictures hung from the walls, no knickknacks littered his flew mantle, and few non-work related clothes hung in his closet.

After completely undressing, Percy lay back on his bed. His fingers slowly traced patterns on his chest. His breath speed up and he grasped his cock with his right hand. He furiously began to jerk his hand up and down, the wanted friction causing his body to heat up. Percy looked down his chest; his body was slowly turning red as he moved his hand faster. A few pumps later and Percy was finished.

As his breath returned to normal, Percy waved his wand and cleaned up his mess. He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling, watching his room slowly darken as the sun went down. He closed his eyes, afraid to sleep, yet afraid to stay awake. Percy knew the nightmares would come either way.