Written for The Stratified Agate Competition [Always Open].
"I'm bored," Ron said loudly, kicking his legs in the air as he sat on the couch, glancing at Percy who was sitting next to him. Percy sighed and looked up from the book he was reading. He had agreed to watch Ron for his parents since Bill and Charlie were staying with their Hogwarts friends, Fred and George were with Mum for an all-day shopping trip because Mum didn't trust them to stay home with Percy and Ron, and Ginny was with Dad because it was Father-Daughter day at the Ministry. Which left Percy and Ron, neither of whom wanted to tag-a-long with anyone. Percy didn't realize though how hard to entertain Ron was.
Ron didn't want to read, he didn't want Percy to read to him, he didn't to play any games but chess and no one wanted to play chess with Ron anymore because Ron always won, and Percy was not going on a broomstick.
Though at this point, Percy was seriously considering chess. It might be boring and Ron would win ten times in a row, but at least Ron would stop bugging him.
Heck, he might even get on a broomstick if that would get Ron to stop annoying him with comments about him being bored.
Percy was just about to open his mouth and ask what Ron wanted to do when his little brother asked suddenly, "Percy, what House do you think you'll get into?"
Percy frowned. "What are you talking about? I'll be in Gryffindor, of course."
"Yeah, but what if you're not or the twins aren't or-"
"If you're not," Percy finished for him. Ron nodded. "Ron, just because I might not be in Gryffindor or the twins or you or Ginny, doesn't mean our family won't love us any less. They might not understand it, especially if it's Slytherin, but they won't love us any less."
"But what if they do?"
Percy wrapped his arms around his little brother. "Well, I won't love you any less, I can promise you that."
Four years later, everybody watched in surprise as the Sorting Hat yelled "SLYTHERIN!," Percy was the first one to clap.