A/N: When Percy plays the violin, he shines brighter than his siblings. RxR. FxF. I do not own Harry Potter.
Submission for:
Pick a Card, Any Card Challenge: Queen of Spades: Write about someone who is more than they seem
Harry Potter Cooking Club Challenge: Level 2 - Onion, thyme, Carrot, Lettuce, Tumeric
The Photography Drabble Challenge: Percy telling his mum that he loves classical music
It was night time now and everyone within the Burrow was asleep, except Percy. Instead, he chose to use this time privately while the others weren't around to bother or tease him. Percy opened his trunk and withdrew his instrument, an old violin that he had asked Professor Flitwick to restore for him. Professor Flitwick gladly agreed and gave Percy a few lessons even though Percy told him he didn't want to join the school orchestra. Learning the instrument was for a personal reason entirely.
He tuned the violin before he cleared his throat and started the first song he could think of. Percy allowed the sweet voice of the strings to wash over him, the notes of the melody becoming infused him with his heart. Playing his instrument was the only thing that made him feel so happy and peaceful these days.
Everyone had come back home for the summer holidays just a few days before. Bill and Charlie had already moved out, leaving him the oldest child within the house. As the 'oldest', he should have finally been able to get what he wanted, to be noticed by his parents amidst all the children and not just be the middle child. But he realized that again, he would be overshadowed by the loud hijinks of Fred and George, the neediness of his clueless younger brother Ron, and the doting upon the only girl, Ginny.
But it didn't matter. If his family couldn't see him for who he was, then the audience in his mind would. It was with his violin that Percy truly felt like he was the most important, the star of his own performance on the largest stage in the world. He would express himself the only way that made him feel like he mattered, through the low, melancholic tones of the instrument and move his audience as he was so moved.
He had his eyes closed when the door to his room opened. The person stood in the doorway in silence as he played his song from his heart for the world to see. The song ended sooner than he expected as he finished the last quiet notes. He had learnt that one at school while reading through countless music books and manuscripts. Though it was a sad song, it filled him with warmth every time he played it. It spoke of a war being fought and a wife waiting for her husband to return. Everyday the wife would wait for news of his death, for she knew it was only a matter of time. But at the end of the song, just when she had given up, he reappeared and took her into his arms. To Percy, the message was clear - "Keep holding on and never give up for things would work out in the end."
He was just about to put away the violin when he heard a soft sound. He opened his eyes wide to see his mother staring at him with tears in her eyes. He blushed a bit and said quietly, "I like classical music."
She smiled and shut the door behind her. She walked up to him and drew him into a tight embrace, careful of the beautiful and delicate instrument between. "That was just beautiful, Percy. Play it again for me?"
He smiled at his mother and raised the violin again, a strange feeling of joy and pride overcoming him. The lesson of the song still rang through his head as his mother finally noticed him above the others, his grace and talent shining forth - keep holding on and never give up for things would work out in the end.