The corner booth of the Leaky Caldron was the ideal spot to wait without being seen. Covered in shadow and right by the entrance to muggle London, it was easily forgotten, even by Tom, who had built that booth himself. It was the perfect spot for a one red headed man who was trying to escape.
Percy Weasley rolled an empty butterbeer bottle between his large hands, and slowly peeled away the label, where it fell to the table. He was giving himself a pep talk.
"Come on. No one has looked over here for ages, no one is going to notice you sneak out that door and into freedom. It's only for a couple hours, no one is going to miss you, no one is going to follow you and ask what you're doing. Come on…" he muttered to himself.
He didn't know who first suggested that his father run for Minister of Magic, but he wanted to throttle them. Not that his father wouldn't be great, but it meant that his family had to be above reproach, and had to do things to support Arthur and make him look like the best candidate. He brothers and sister got a little bit of leeway; they were out making names for themselves, living exciting lives, being who they wanted to be. Percy was the responsible one. The one who was making a name for himself in the ministry, and was at his father's side at all the events, drumming up support, making people love their family. He didn't regret or resent it, exactly. He had always loved working for the ministry, and he loved the thrill of politics, but not being able to take a break from it all was exhausting. Even Percy couldn't be the perfect son all the time.
He glanced down at his outfit again, making sure he looked muggle enough to pass in the city. His black button down shirt was slightly too big because he had stolen it from Charlie. No, borrowed it from Charlie. He would clean it and put it back in his closet before he knew it was missing. He had rolled the sleeves and tucked it into his jeans, making it seem like it fit better than it did. His jeans were his own, so they fit properly and went all the way down to his black All-Star converse (another "borrow" from Charlie). Rooming with his brother was turning out to be very beneficial to Percy.
He sighed and thought of his family again. Charlie had come back to London to support his father during the campaign, and make the family image complete. All the Weasley children went to every event, and all went around schmoozing the crowd for support. Arthur didn't like it; he thought it was too much like cheating. Molly had finally put her foot down and told Arthur that his family supported him whether it "looked good" or not and he WAS going to bring them around and every Weasley was going to help him win this. He had looked sheepish during her lecture and had reluctantly agreed with her. He had absolutely refused when Harry and Hermione had tried to insist that they were honorary Weasleys too and wanted to campaign for him.
"I will not use you two at all! It is cheating to have to boy-who-lived and savior of the wizarding world campaigning for me! And Hermione, you are a war hero who deserves a rest from the spotlight! I will NOT abuse My and Molly's love for two to win this election! You will not in any way campaign for me or use your large influence to help me!" Arthur yelled. "This should be about issues and how I would be as a minister, NOT about who supports me!"
Harry and Hermione had argued well into the night, saying that Arthur would be the best minister and anything that helped him would be good for the community.
"You're like my own father now, Mr. Weasly," Harry pleaded. "Please let me help you."
Arthur had softened at this and quietly replied, "I'm honored that you think that. I've thought of you like a son for some time now, and I love you like you were my own. That's why I can't have you use your status as the one who saved us all from horrible darkness to help me. I can't and I won't have you do that. Not when you've done so much and sacrificed so much already."
Harry's eyes filled with tears as he embraced Arthur in a tight hug. "I don't agree with your decision, but I suppose I can live with it…" Harry let him go and went upstairs to the room he shared with Ron.
Hermione remained seated on the couch next to Molly, her brows furrowed in thought. "I think you're being naïve Arthur. I'll keep quiet for now, but I do support you, and I don't see any reason not to tell someone that, if I am asked."
Arthur sighed, "I suppose we can talk about this later, but for now, I'm grateful for your silence."
Percy also thought his father was being naïve. Harry and Hermione alone could make his father minister. They, along with Ron, were hailed as the saviors of the wizarding world. They were highly respected and loved by everyone, and his father had direct links to all three of them. John Mackern, his father's campaign director, almost had a heart attack when Arthur told him in no uncertain terms that Harry and Hermione were not to be brought into the campaign.
"But Arthur, think about what they would mean!" he cried.
"I know what I'm doing, John," Arthur snapped. "This is not up for discussion. If you can't handle that, then I will hire someone who can." He glared at John with a finality that stopped the man from saying what he was going to reply with.
He groaned. "Fine. But I think you're making a mistake."
"I might be, but it's my decision," Arthur stated.
Percy had been the only other person in the meeting, and coughed to cover up his laugh. His father would make a damn fine Minister of Magic.
His bottle fell to the table with a soft clank, surprising Percy out of his thoughts, and reminding him what he was doing in that booth.
"Well, it's now or never…" and with one last look, he got up from his booth and snuck into muggle London.
Obviously I don't own anything, the brilliant JKR does.
Please Read and Review! Thank you!
