Here is the first of 4 parts, in the post-Hogwarts story of a wizard and a witch.

Penelope Clearwater was Percy Weasley's first love, and you never forget your first love. Particularly in the case of Percy and Penny.

In the magical world, the idea of "school sweethearts" becoming lifelong partners is more common than in the muggle world, and idealistic fresh-out-of-Hogwarts Percy thought this would be it for him. He and Penny were good together, both ambitious in their desire to learn and fully dedicated to their every effort. After they graduated, Percy secured a job at the Ministry of Magic, while Penny had an internship at a Potions institute in Wales. Percy, who was in his heart very devoted to Penelope despite the strains placed on their long-distance relationship due to the increasing demands of both her education and his job throughout the Triwizard tournament, was blindsided when Penny broke up with him the April following their graduation. Although she loved him, and she didn't doubt that he loved her, she accused him of "loving his job more than her", giving less effort than her despite the fact that she was the one with strict academic time constraints, and repeatedly "showing her where his true priorities were".

As it tends to be when feelings remain after a breakup, Percy and Penny's split was messier than either would have liked. Percy tried to win her back in earnest, but between her accusations and the doubt of his family following the "return of Voldemort", his pride was wounded and his attempts became both selfish and futile. More often than not, particularly after Penny's internship ended in May, their efforts at reconnecting - having dinner or a drink together, an afternoon helping Percy decorate his new flat, a shopping trip to help Penny find a birthday gift for her mum - turned into reckless hookups that left a nasty feeling in Percy's gut. Then, about a month after Percy moved out of the Burrow into a London flat, Penny unexpectedly paid him a visit, with an unexpected announcement - she was pregnant.

For a moment - seemingly eternal - they both regarded each other in silence. Normally both Percy and Penelope were very talkative people, eager to share things, but at that moment they were quiet. Then Percy broke into a smile, prompting relief, overwhelming relief from Penelope. "Penny, this is amazing news!" he exclaimed, as his tearful ex-girlfriend embraced him.

They both cried that day. Penny said that she wasn't sure how to feel, how she wanted to approach impending motherhood, but she though Percy deserved to know and maybe they could work it out together. "I think I'm almost a month along, Perce, at least three weeks. This is going to be okay, isn't it?"

Percy was astounded by the news, and the fact that she put so much trust in him despite their failed relationship. Though Percy had parted ways with the rest of the Weasleys, he still craved a strong family - part of the reason he left was because he felt betrayed by his own parents, after all - and he saw the pregnancy as a second chance for him. Ever practical, but with the biggest grin on his face, Percy contemplated. "It will be tough, and maybe right now we don't know how we'll manage it, but this is bigger than us, isn't it?" he reminded Penny. "Work is important to us both, yes, but I promise I will show you that I am going to be there for this baby. Work aside, whatever our relationship may be aside, you and me and this baby are going to be family."

For three blissful weeks in September, things worked out. Penny and Percy owled or floo-called frequently, the later always checking on the former and even sending her Jelly Slugs, her favourite sweet. Penny, who lived with her parents, had originally been planning on working in an apothecary nearby but no longer could due to the danger of mixing volatile potions ingredients and pregnancy; she was fortunately able to find a job opening in a neighboring shop and was getting ready to start work. Percy, as junior assistant to the Minister of Magic, was tasked with organizing several reports for Fudge, including ones sent to him from Umbridge at Hogwarts, and he worked as diligently as ever to be able to provide for his new family. The former couple even had lunch together a couple of times, and Percy was planning on going with Penny to her first healer visit for the baby. However, a day came when Percy called Penelope, and got no answer.

At first he didn't think much of it, just sent her an owl that night and went to bed. The next day, when he didn't receive a message back, he told himself that she was just busy. The next day, he wrote to her again, hoping the sinking feeling in his stomach was wrong. The day after that, he was contemplating visiting her in person, when Penny once again appeared at his front door.

Blank-faced, she stepped in to his flat, eyes downcast. Percy, relieved to see her but anxious at the expression on her face, plastered on a grin and greeted her - asked her how she was doing, offered to make her tea, began asking her how the baby was treating her...

"Perce," Penelope interrupted, "baby is gone." She finally made eye contact with him, her eyes hollow and sad, continuing, "it was a couple days ago. When you had called I was busy, but later that night I noticed bleeding. I went to bed hoping for the best, but it only got worse and by the next day she was gone." Penny paused, taking a shaky breath.

"I had a feeling it was a she, but now...it isn't. I couldn't talk about it, didn't know how. I only told my mother today, then I came here. I still don't think I can talk about it, I don't want to, but you needed to know. I'm sorry, Percy."

Percy, who had frozen mid-sentence when Penny began talking, stood speechless for a few seconds more before stuttering, "Penny...Penny I'm so sorry. Don't apologize to me, this is awful for the both of us..." he felt his eyes moisten and reached to hug her, wanting nothing more to hold her as tightly as the crushing pressure he felt on his heart at that moment, to hold her for both her and him. But she withdrew and looked away again. "What can I do, Penny? What can I do to help you, help us, get through this?" he pleaded.

She didn't raise her glance to meet his again, just replied, "nothing, Percy. Absolutely nothing can be done. I need to go." Penny turned towards the door, and called out as she turned the knob, "leave me be for awhile, please Percy. This was my failure to her, and to you, and to myself, and I need to sort it out on my own. Goodbye, Perce."

Percy didn't want to leave it like that, he did still care deeply about her and felt so much love for the family they might have been, but Penelope apparated away before he could stop her. So he gave her space.

After four days, he picked up a quill and parchment and wrote a letter - told her he was thinking about her, hoping she was well at least physically after the miscarriage, hoping that emotional comfort was something they would both find, assuring her she was not a failure at anything and maybe it just was not the right time for parenthood, reminding her he cared for her. Trying to convince himself of the same things. He only received a brief reply in return - "I'm physically fine, Percy. Don't worry about that. I'm just trying to readjust, give me time." Percy didn't try and contact Penny again until a week after her visit to him, but when he owled her again he got a similar response. A week later he dropped by her home, hopeful when he saw the warmth of light from her bedroom window, but her mother turned him away at the door. "Penny isn't seeing anyone," Mrs. Clearwater had said stiffly, with the slightest hint of a frown. Percy could only make his way back to his flat.

When he arrived back at his flat, Percy finally broke down. He had been avoiding it since Penny informed him of the miscarriage, denying himself the grief and needing himself to be strong for Penny, to go through his regular routine, to accept the loss and move on - but this was his breaking point. He felt the desperation and anger rise within him, and for the first time made no attempt to stop it. If his Penny did not need him, if he was once again without loved ones, what could he do? Until that point Percy had been so absorbed in trying to maintain normalcy that he hadn't had time to really miss his "family" at all, and for the first time in the months since he'd left home, Percy just wanted his mother.