This story is written for the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition
ROUND 1
Wilbourne Wasps - CHASER 3 RESERVE
(posted after waiting 48h for a requested reserve)
Write a theme you've never written before (eg. if you've never written about a wedding before)
Theme: Brunch at the Burrow
Prompts: No prompts apply
This is an AU without Voldemort and without the war, so the Weasley family can enjoy their regular family drama.
Summary: Percy has something to announce to his family, but it's not easy to find the right moment.
Percy fiddled with his tie. He didn't even know why he had bothered with it in the first place. It was not like his family expected anyone to dress up nicely for their monthly family brunch. But today, he had something to announce so he had felt the need to show up accordingly. He sighed and with a last brush over his robes to straighten out the creases, he knocked on the door to the Burrow.
"Percy! So wonderful to have you here today, come in, come in!" His mother kissed him on both cheeks and moved him inside.
"Hello Percy." Arthur clasped his hand in a warm but formal handshake.
"Mum, dad. There is something I want to tell you," Percy started. "I… I mean, Pen-"
"MUM!" He was interrupted by his little sister shouting from upstairs.
"What is it Ginny?"
"Tell Fred and George to stop exchanging the toothpaste with pepper jelly!"
Arthur turned back to Percy. "Where is Penelope? Didn't she want to come?"
"Yes, where did you leave that darling of yours, brother?"
"Hello, Fred," Percy said tersely. He was always a little wary around the twins. "She wasn't feeling well this morning."
"Oh, poor child. Do you want to take some chicken broth home with you? Maybe it'll make her feel better."
"Mum, we can take care of our selves, you don't need to feed us," Percy whined. He hated to be treated like a child.
"Itsy bitsy Percy is an adult now, mum!" Fred teased.
"Yes, mum! Don't coddle him," his twin added, grinning.
"Oh, shut it you two!"
"Molly, I'm starting to get hungry," Arthur interrupted them.
"Okay everyone! Sit down will you? I'll get the scrambled eggs." Molly Weasley steered everyone towards the kitchen, before calling upstairs, "RON!"
"He's still asleep, mum," Ginny said as she emerged from the stairs.
"Then why don't you go and wake him up, darling?"
"Why do I need to wake him? I already knocked on his door twice this morning. It's not my fault that he is a lazy oaf."
"Ginny! Don't speak like that about your brother."
"But it's true," she mumbled, earning her a stern gaze.
There was a loud knock on the front door.
"Oh, that must be Charlie!" Molly Weasley scurried back to the entrance and excitedly tore open the door.
"Not Charlie, mum," her eldest greeted her with a roguish smile.
"Oh Bill! You actually came." She hugged him tightly.
"These are for you, mum." He pulled out a bouquet of lilies.
"What lovely flowers!" Molly smiled. "Thank you darling," she said with a kiss on his cheek. "Come in already. Take a seat, we're only waiting for Ron and Charlie now."
"About Charles…"
That moment, the youngest Weasley son came trotting down the stairs. "Ron! There you are", Molly cooed. "Put some socks on, will you? You'll catch a cold."
Ron grumbled unintelligibly but didn't make a move to get socks.
"You'll catch a cold, Ronniekins!" one of the twins mimicked his mum in a high pitched voice, causing his still half asleep brother to wince.
"Leave him alone, Fred," Molly chastised.
The twin pulled a dramatic face. "I'm George, mum! You always get my name wrong but never Fred's. It's like I'm not even my own person sometimes. You hurt me…"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Georgie darling."
"Just joking mum, I'm Fred." He quickly ducked out of the way of her swat and laughed.
"Mum, about Charlie…" Bill began again.
"What about Charlie, Billy?"
"He won't make it. He floo called me this morning, they transferred him back to Romania last night. There was some kind of emergency at the Sanctuary."
"And he couldn't tell me that himself?"
"Wimp!" Fred said at the same time as George shouted "Coward!" from the other end of the room where he set the table.
"I haven't seen him for nearly half a year," their mother said disappointed.
"Don't be sad, Molly, I'm sure he'll visit soon," Arthur soothed her.
"Yeah, mum. I'll kick his arse next time I see him," Bill grinned.
"So, if we're complete, what are we waiting for?" She quickly straightened up, plastering on a smile.
"Won-won is already sitting at the table actually," Fred observed. "We'd better start soon or he'll eat his plate!"
"My poor hungry baby boy," Molly patted his cheek.
"Muuuum, I'm not a child anymore!"
"For me you'll always be my baby boy," she ruffled his hair.
"Ronnie-bonnie baby boy!" the twins chanted with delight and proceeded to muss up his hair as well before taking a seat left and right of Ron.
"Mum, is there anything else but this," Ginny complained, holding up the jam. "I can't stand it anymore. Don't get me wrong your homemade marmalade is delicious, but my taste buds will fall off if I eat one more toast with apple-pumpkin jam."
"Im sorry, darling, there is nothing else. I forgot to buy it."
"How can you forget to buy something when you stand in front of that shelve for five minutes, mum? I had to practically drag you out the market!"
Molly's mouth hardened. "I forgot," she repeated.
"Molly, it's alright. It happens to the best of us." Arthur put a reassuring hand on his wife's shoulder. "Are you alright, dear? Why are you trembling?"
She suddenly burst in tears. "I couldn't - we couldn't afford it. I didn't forget it! We just couldn't afford it. We ran out of money this week."
"Mum, don't cry," Ginny tried to soothe her. "It's alright. I love it, I was just exaggerating."
Percy still waited for the right moment to come out with the news he had planned to share today. But in between the friendly banter and family drama the right point just didn't show itself.
He felt like an outsider among them at times, as if he didn't belong. He saw no fun in the outright cruel jokes his twin brothers pulled constantly, he envied his eldest brother for being the star of the family and successful in his job and he equally envied Ron and Ginny for their careless way of living everyday and every moment as if the future didn't matter and their lives would never lead them out of the comfort of home.
Most of all, he was unable to connect to his parents who clearly disapproved of his career choice, as if working in International Cooperation held no honour, as if all his colleges were manipulative and career-obsessed. He couldn't fathom how his father was stuck in Misuse of Muggle Artefacts for decades now - an underpaid job that was reserved for the most incapable ministry employees that no one else wanted to deal with.
In school his parents had praised his ambition, but they had never acted as a model for him. After getting his job at the ministry, it had been outright uncomfortable to stay at home any longer, living with the lingering disapproval for his career choice. He had moved out and into his own home with Penelope quickly after that, making sure to properly propose and marry her in advance, just how it was expected. But even then, trying to make everything right, his parents had never welcomed Penny like family and Percy felt as if they were punishing him for his choices in life.
Frustrated that he didn't even dare to tell them what weighted on his chest, he buttered his toast, managing to rip a hole in it in the process.
"Billy, how come you're here today? Don't you have to go on a field trip?" Molly quickly pulled herself together and dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief.
"Mum, let's not skirt the topic. You need money and I earn enough to feed five of me. Let me help you out until times are a little better."
"Absolutely out of question, William!"
"Dad, be sensible."
"We managed before and we will manage now, end of discussion!"
Suddenly, Percy emitted a surprised cry. Everyone turned towards him, watching in fascination how his knife had bent like rubber and now bounced wildly as he tried to straighten it again.
"What in Merlin's - OUCH!" He had managed to cut himself as the knife wobbled with increasing force.
"Fred and George Weasley!" their mum thundered at the twins that had fallen from their seats, rolling into the aisle.
"This time you went to far! You hurt your brother! End this AT ONCE!"
They sobered quickly at Molly's fury and George flicked his wand, pacifying the knife that had started to uncontrollably jump and twitch on the table where Percy had dropped it.
Fred grinned proudly, forgetting his furious mother for a moment. "How do you like our newest invention: Flailing Forks and Convulsing Cutlery?" The faces of his family told him, that they were less than impressed. "Wait until you see the Step-Dancing Spoons…"
"That was dangerous!" Arthur thundered, helping Percy stop the bleeding with a quick Episkey.
"Maybe we should have added a blunting charm," George mumbled abashed. Fred nodded approving, only to duck his head as Molly started to scold them loudly.
Percy had had enough. He just wanted to go back home. But he was no coward so he got up and shouted over the commotion at the top of his lungs. "Penelope and I have something to announce!"
Everybody turned towards him and finally shut up.
"Oh no, please tell me you're not going to divorce?" his mum asked with wide eyes.
"What? No! Why would we - nevermind. We have something to announce."
"Spill the beans, darling brother!" Fred grinned.
Percy took a deep breath. "Penelope is pregnant," he rushed out.
Everyone fell silent immediately, even the clattering of cutlery on china stopped.
"You're having a baby boy?" Molly choked.
"A girl actually," he shrugged meekly.
She suddenly burst into tears again. "We're having another baby girl! Come here my son, I'm so happy for you!" She surprised Percy when she pressed him to her bosom.
Suddenly, he found himself surrounded by the whole bunch, each hugging him and clapping him in the shoulder.
"Congrats, Percy. And here I was worried Penny had caught the Dragon Pox," George said.
"Just some morning sickness," Percy mumbled through the heartfelt embrace his father gave him.
"Make sure she'll be there on the next family bruch. I'm certain she'll need some tips," Molly said, smiling fondly.
Percy had never felt more happy and accepted among his family.
A/N: I wrote this in a couple of hours because we didn't find a reserve, I hope you like it anyway :)