Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I make no claims to ownership.
Note: This is a one-shot from A Different Perspective, and starts about a year from the beginning of that story.
Percy's Woes
"Mary is dating somebody," Percy announced at breakfast.
"Really? Whom?" asked Audrey, not looking up from her paperwork. A strand of light chestnut brown hair had fallen out of its bun, and his hand itched to fix it for her. "She mentioned a black boy at Christmas."
"Marius Black," he corrected, frowning. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I promised I wouldn't," she answered simply. "It was when you were refusing to call her Mary."
He picked at his eggs, scowling like a reprimanded child. This year, his eldest daughter had decided that Molly was diminutive sounding, and besides, it was confusing with two people named Molly in their family, so everyone was to call her Mary. Lucy had gotten a gleam in her eye then, and Percy anticipated a similar argument with her soon.
"He's a fifth year," he said grumpily. "She's only fourteen. Much too young to be dating. Especially an older boy."
Audrey rolled her eyes, but didn't point out how Mary would be turning fifteen soon. Instead, she mused, "I wonder if he's related to James' friend Sirius."
Percy shrugged. "Doubtful. I heard this boy is a half-blood, and his father is Muggle-born."
Clearing her throat, and failing to keep a straight face, Audrey remarked, "You've done your research."
"Of course I have," he said defensively. "She sent this letter saying that he'll be visiting over the summer holidays. I had to do background research."
This time his wife didn't hide her smile as she took the letter from him. While she read it, he looked at a photo hanging on the kitchen wall. Mary beamed triumphantly from it, her Beater's bat thrust into the air, her brown eyes still wide with adrenaline, and her russet colored hair windswept. She looked so innocent.
"He sounds like a good boy," Audrey commented. "I look forward to meeting him."
"What? No!" Percy exclaimed. "He's not coming anywhere near her ever again."
"You're going to have to accept that Mary's growing up," she said wryly.
Percy jabbed his fork into his eggs a bit more forcefully than necessary, causing Audrey to shake her head in amusement.
"ROSIER?" Percy shrieked.
Cin, who had changed her nickname from Lucy shortly before she graduated, crossed her arms. "If Mary can marry – heh, that's funny – if she can marry a Black, then why can't I date a Rosier?"
"Because – because…" Percy spluttered. "At least Marius was a half-blood!"
She narrowed her eyes. "Really, Dad? I didn't know the lack of blood purity meant so much to you."
Percy looked to his wife for help, but she just idly turned the page of her book. The message was clear: He was dealing with this on his own.
