Percy Weasley woke with a start. His daughter, Lucy, was jumping on his knees, laughing. "Daddy's going to 'Mer-ca, Daddy's going to 'Mer-ca," she sang, giggling each time. Percy groaned, but smiled despite himself. She reminded him so much of his brother, George, when she was in this kind of mood.
Sitting up in bed, Percy glanced down and found his wife, Audrey, still fast asleep. Percy marveled at his wife's ability to sleep through anything, a trait he had always envied, especially now that Lucy was six and rambunctious. He shook her gently, shushing his daughter, who stopped jumping but didn't stop giggling. Audrey blinked and smiled at Percy, and sat up next to him.
"Lucy, did you wake your father up again?" she asked sternly, still smiling.
"Daddy has to wake up to go to 'Mer-ca!" Lucy laughed and started jumping again.
"Percy," Audrey said softly, "it's only five. You can go back to sleep if you want. I'll take care of Lucy."
"Not at all my dear," he replied. "I would be happy to get an early start. After all," he said, picking up his daughter, "the sooner I leave the sooner I get back, right Pumpkin?"
"'Mer-ca!" she squealed. Percy set her down and she ran out of the room, probably to wake up her older sister, Molly.
While Audrey made breakfast Lucy helped Percy make sure his trunk was packed. He had three sets of his daily work robes, two sets of dressier robes ("It's always best to be prepared Lucy."), his striped pajamas, and of course his shoes and socks. He also packed a cloak, unsure what the weather was like in America at this time of year. Lucy contributed her Medusa Chocolate Frog Card, a small, pink blanket, and a pair of Audrey's high heeled shoes that she promised Mommy wouldn't miss.
They joined the family for breakfast, Lucy clumsily carrying Percy's trunk down the stairs, occasionally banging it in to the wall. "What on earth is that noise?" Audrey called from the kitchen.
"It's just Lucy, dear. She's having a little bit of fun carrying Daddy's trunk."
"You let her carry it?" She walked in the room with her hands on her hips, her frown reminding him vividly of his mother's. "What were you thinking?"
"It's not heavy Mommy," Lucy sang with an extra thud. Audrey pursed her lips.
"It's enchanted to be feather light, my dear. Father recommended the enchantment for easier traveling."
"Well, it's still clearly too big for her."
Percy laughed and hugged Audrey, kissing her on the forehead. "Let her have her fun. I'll fix the wall." He waved his wand and the dents disappeared, mostly.
"You missed one." Percy's older daughter, Molly, was just coming down the stairs, scowling. She was clearly unhappy this morning. Percy knew she hated when Lucy was in her room, which she surely had been, and she hated being woken up early. But mostly Percy knew she was upset that he was going away, even if it only was for a couple of days.
"Thank you Molly." He waved his wand again, and the last dent vanished. "How are you this morning?" He smiled brightly, trying to lift her mood. She ignored him and stomped in to the kitchen.
Molly was ten, and would be starting at Hogwarts in just a little less than a year. She was different than Lucy in almost every way, but reminded Percy more of himself. She was quiet and thoughtful, very tidy, and adhered strictly to all of his rules. But unlike the rest of his little family, she had no real ambitions and seemed instead content to spend all of her time reading.
Breakfast was fairly normal, if early. Lucy talked so fast and often that Percy wondered how she found time to eat. Molly ate in silence. Audrey spent more time trying to get Lucy to eat than she did eating herself. Breakfast often had a crazed feeling, and this morning was no exception. The thought made Percy smile.
"Why are you smiling?" Molly surprised everyone by breaking her silence. Lucy, indeed, was so surprised that she dropped her fork. "Aren't you upset that you have to go away for so long? Aren't you going to miss us?"
Audrey recovered her surprise the quickest. "Of course you Father will miss you. He'll miss all of us!"
"No he won't. Look at how he's smiling. He can't wait to leave."
Percy sighed. "Molly, we've talked about this already. I love you all very much, but this trip is a part of my job. I can't just not go. I'll send you an owl every day."
"Yeah, but you want to go, you said so yourself. You want to leave." Molly now seemed close to tears. Percy stood up and walked over to his daughter, his arms outstretched. She hopped out of her chair and in to them, sobbing.
"You're right Molly, I do want to go," he said, pulling her away. "But it's not because I don't want to see you every day."
"P-p-promise?" Molly sniveled.
Percy chuckled. "I promise. I also promise to bring everyone home a souvenir. How does that sound?" He knew almost instantly that he'd made a mistake. His wife shot him a look only moments before Lucy started yelling and jumping again. The prospect of a present was too much for her to sit still through. But it was worth it when Molly smiled, just a little.
"Well, I had better be off I suppose. Lucy, have you put my suitcase by the fire?" She nodded fervently. "Thank you pumpkin."
"Girls, give your father a hug, and then start cleaning the table," Audrey instructed, holding Lucy's shoulders in an attempt to keep her feet on the floor.
Unable to be contained, Lucy broke free and ran to her father's arms. "I love you daddy! I hope you have a fun trip." She beamed at him.
"I will pumpkin. You be good while I'm gone, and mind your mother." He kissed the top of her head and smiled. "I love you too." Gently he set her down and nudged her toward her mother. Turning to Molly he opened his arms.
To Percy's shock Molly ran to his arms just as quickly as Lucy had, and then immediately burst in to tears again. He hugged her tightly, rocking her ever so gently, and stroked her hair. "I'm going to miss you Molly," he whispered as he gently pulled her away. She sniffled once more, then wiped away her tears and stood up straight. "That's my girl," Percy winked at her, and she smiled.
Lucy was already running around with plates wobbling precariously on her arms. As Molly sighed and went to help her clear the table, Percy went to his wife and kissed her cheek. "Let Mrs. Hudson know if you need anything at all my dear. I'll be home as soon as possible." She only smiled weakly in response.
With nothing else to do Percy moved to the fireplace, grabbed his trunk, and took a pinch of powder from the vase on the mantle. He threw the powder dramatically in the fire (he knew Lucy was watching) and it turned emerald green, roaring to three times its normal height. Percy stepped in, turned around, and shouted "The Ministry of Magic!" The last thing he saw were his three girls, all smiling and waving, when with a swirling sensation he was gone.
Percy steadied himself as he came to a stop in the large fireplaces at the Ministry. He took a deep breath and slowly stepped out. Floo Powder was Percy's least favorite way to travel, but apparation was difficult to do with something as large as his trunk. He always managed to hit it against something as he turned. On the bright side, he thought, at least I get to see a bit of the Ministry today since I have to walk to the office.
There had, in fact, been a lot of changes at the Ministry since Percy first started in the Department of International Cooperation. Most noticeably, the large golden fountain that had been destroyed had been replaced (after a brief other sculpture that Percy shuddered to remember) by a new silver fountain. This fountain was less remarkable, perhaps, in design than the old one, but Percy liked it better. There were no magical beings depicted, no statues, nothing remarkable at all, in fact. It looked like any old muggle fountain in London. But the water didn't simply spout, it danced, sometimes taking the shape of a mermaid or hippogriff, sometimes just weaving in and around itself in the most splendid formations. The water, also, changed color from day to day, as far as Percy could tell based on nothing more than its own whim. He rarely saw the same color twice.
As he walked past the fountain he dropped a silver sickle in for Saint Mungo's, feeling rather proud of himself. Smiling smugly he stepped in the gold lift. These, too, had been improved by being made larger on the inside, and by moving much quicker. Indeed, riding the lift was now awfully similar to the carts at Gringotts, Percy realized, clutching his trunk tightly for support. Fortunately the Department of Magical Education was on the second floor, and Percy was able to get off quickly.
Three paper cranes sped past Percy on his way off the lift. He smiled. His brothers probably would have preferred the humor in the old paper plane memos that had zoomed around the Ministry, but Percy preferred the elegance of the cranes and thought them a vast improvement, even if they did move a little slower.
Before he could even make it to the office Percy was greeted by Mrs. Hudson, an old lady that had been working in the Department since before Percy was born. She was good at her job, no doubt about that, but a little overeager for Percy's taste. She hurried toward Percy, carrying a large stack of paper and shouting instructions at her bright pink Quick Notes Quill, which scribbled faster than any wizard could have.
"Mr. Weasley!," she shouted across the hall, "So good to see you this morning I have a couple of notices I need for you to sign before you go and can I get you any tea or a Prophet or maybe a nice biscuit?" She spoke so quickly that her words ran together and she was often very difficult to understand. Percy was never sure how she found times to breathe.
The moment their paths met she started shoving parchments in to his free hand. "The first one is approving the new O.W.L question remember it's on the transfiguration test and the second one grants permission for the department to visit the school during the year if anything comes up and the third one is just a letter from the governors no need to worry too much about that and the fourth-"
"Mrs. Hudson!" Percy interrupted, "You must give me a chance to get to my desk and read them first. I've told you this time and again." They finally arrived in the office, which was quite empty this morning. Percy had planned to arrive early so that he would have plenty of time to take care of everything before he left. In a few hours there would also be a wizard about Percy's age named Carl, and a young witch just out of Hogwarts at her first Ministry job named Olivia. The Department of Magical Education was a small department, but they kept in contact with several consultants, mostly former teachers, for their expertise in writing the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, who could been seen in the office on some mornings. But Mrs. Hudson always beat Percy to the office, even when he didn't announce he would be in early. He was starting to think she slept at the Ministry.
"Of course Mr. Weasley I made sure your desk was clear just for that purpose and I already sent our weekly report to the Minister."
"That was unnecessary as I need to visit with the Minister before I leave this morning, but thank you." Mrs. Hudson was always taking it upon herself to do things. Percy usually appreciated her initiative, but sometimes it hurt more than it helped. He walked to his office and sat at his desk, already starting to read the first parchment.
As he read he noticed Mrs. Hudson hovering over him, her pink Quick Notes Quill suddenly still. "Is there something I can do for you Mrs. Hudson?"
Startled, she fumbled with her parchment, spilling them over the floor. "Oh! Dear me! I've gone and made such a mess don't you worry about it Mr. Weasley I can fix that." Percy sighed, but with a flick of his wand the parchment flew back in to her arms, all in perfect order. "Thank you Mr. Weasley you know I really am trying to master that spell thank you again."
"Again, is there something I can do for you?" Percy asked, starting to get a little exasperated.
"No nothing at all sir I will just be leaving if you're absolutely sure there's not anything I can do for you anything at all."
"I could use some time to myself to get this all taken care of, if you don't mind."
"Of course sir of course I'll just be leaving." And with that Mrs. Hudson scurried out of the room. No doubt she's off to harass somebody else, Percy couldn't help but thinking, and swiftly rebuking himself. He knew he was lucky to have Mrs. Hudson working in his office, that she worked hard and got more done than he ever could without her. Still, Percy often found interacting with her stressful and hurried. He just wanted to read his reports.
With the room quiet Percy was able to finish with his reports in a quarter of an hour, signing some and making improvement notes to others. He piled the signed ones neatly for Mrs. Hudson and sent the others flying to the desks of their authors for improvement. Satisfied, he picked his trunk back up and headed to the Minister's office.
Percy headed back to the lift, Mrs. Hudson hurrying after him to wish him luck on his trip. He was relieved to find a lift was on its way down and very near to his floor. He'd had quite enough of Mrs. Hudson for one day. Thankfully it was another short ride back to the first floor to the Minister's office.
Percy exited the lift quickly. The ministry was starting to get busier as more employees arrived to start their day. Percy rather liked the hustle and bustle; it made him feel at home. But today he had his trunk, and though it was feather light, Percy suspected it was big enough for people to bump in to. He hurried along to the Minister's office.
Unlike the other Departments, the Office of the Minster and Staff was carpeted in deep purple, giving the floor a very majestic, royal look. Instead of working in a communal area with an office only for the Department Head, each member of the Minister's staff had his own office behind a handsome mahogany door. The Minister's office was at the end of the hall, the shiny silver plaque larger than the rest complete with a Ministry Crest. Percy knocked politely, but did not wait to be let in. The Minister was expecting him.
"Percy!" Kingsley stood up, moved to the door in a few quick strides, and shook Percy's hand warmly. "How is little Lucy doing?" Kingsley was immensely fond of Percy's family, but especially Lucy who he treated as well as a daughter.
"She is very excited for my trip," Percy laughed. "You'd think she was going herself."
"You reminded Audrey I will be coming for dinner this evening?"
"I had honestly forgotten, Minister, but Audrey has a much better memory for that sort of thing. I believe my parents will be over as well."
"Good, good. I have been meaning to talk to Arthur for several days." He paused. "And for the last time, you don't have to call me 'Minister.'"
Percy felt his face go red. Out of respect he could not bring himself to address Kingsley by his first name when he was at the Ministry. "Yes sir," he replied, awkwardly. Percy caught a twinkle in Kingsley's eye, and wondered once again if he didn't enjoy making Percy feel uncomfortable.
"Well, you aren't here to turn in your weekly report. That eager woman you have working in your department … what is her name?" He thought for a moment, and apparently unable to remember, shook his head. "Anyway, she sent it down this morning."
"Yes sir, I believe she did."
"So why are you here?"
"Sir, I believe you have my Portkey." Percy was startled. He ran through all of the letters and memos quickly in his head, trying to remember if he was mistaken. He was supposed to be here, wasn't he?
"Oh, that's right." Kingsley chuckled. "That woman brought it down last week, but I liked it so much I had forgotten it was a Portkey." Kingsley picked up a small black object with little white writing on it, and handed it to Percy. "Any idea what this gizmo might be?"
"Ah, yes Minister," Percy began, assuming a knowing air. "That little thing is called a Cassette Tape. It's a sort of spell-o-tape dispenser that muggles used to spend quite a bit of money on many years ago. They used something called a walk-man to get the tape out."
"Indeed. Well. You had better be off." Kingsley stood up to shake Percy's hand once more. "I'll be sure to tell Lucy you said good-bye."
"Thank you sir, but if you could relate the message to Molly instead I would be much obliged. I think she may be a little upset I'm leaving."
"Have a nice trip Percy. And please, don't forget, a better report this time."
And, almost as though Kingsley had timed it, Percy saw the Portkey begin to glow a faint blue. He made sure he had a firm grasp on his trunk and had just enough time to say "Good-bye" before he felt the all too familiar tug behind his nostril.