Written for Stretch Your Boundaries Competition, Round 3.
Challenge: Write about Percy Weasley (Something New)
Prompts: Punctual, detention, possibilities.
Summary: What was going through Percy's head when he decided to return to his family the night of the war. Who played a major role in his return?
Percy had always been punctual, prim, well-mannered to the point of perfection. He had received no detentions in his Seven Years of Hogwarts. He passed from the magical school in flying colours, got a job many would have craved for.
He knew what his brothers thought about him, he was just a pompous prat for them. But he knew better than to be bothered about their opinions. After all, all he wanted to be great in the Wizarding World. Be rich, be powerful.
He had seen what poverty felt like, what sharing every bit one had felt like, he knew how it felt to be looked down upon because of his family.
All he wanted was to break the stereotype of being Weasley.
But he hadn't realized the repercussions of what he was doing.
He thought that he would be beyond just a Weasley.
Sadly, he hadn't realized back then that being a Weasley was all he was and would ever be. No matter what he became, being a Weasley would be a part of it.
Too late.
He wasn't punctual this time, the time when it mattered the most in his life.
He realized a little too late, how far he had gone, in his want to be more than a Weasley.
"They are fighting there," A voice said, from the direction of the doorway. He had settled himself in pitch black darkness, suiting his temperament.
"They won't be happy to see me there, Audrey," Percy replied, "I messed up, big time. I'm not a Weasley anymore, not one of them."
"Rubbish," Audrey said, coming near his desk, holding her wand, lit at the tip by lumos, "Your mother wanted you to come back since the day you left."
"Well, I made real good use of that emotion, didn't I?" Percy asked rhetorically, referring to the day when he had taken Minister Scrimgeour to his old house. He had seen the expectations on his mother's face and crushed them, cruelly.
"She will forgive you, Perce." She assured.
"They won't," Percy muttered, "Others won't, they hated me even before I left."
"That's not true," Audrey assured, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Just go, everything will be forgotten once you were with them, when they needed you the most. Go and apologize, and fight by their side."
Percy looked at her incredulously, "You think they will accept me?"
"I know they will accept you," Came the reply and Percy jumped off his desk and headed for the nearest apparition point.
~~AD~~
He was in the room of requirement.
His mother was crying, like every other time he had seen her after cutting ties with the family.
His father gave him a look and escorted his mother away from him.
Harry, Hermione and Ron had gone somewhere only god knows, and he was surrounded by his brothers minus Ron all looking at him warily.
"We are big at second chances," Bill said, his scarred face solemn.
"You must know," Added Charlie, with a grin.
"But if you mess this one up," Bill smirked now, "There are no second chances."
He nods, understanding, he wouldn't forgive himself if he messed up this time.
"Well," Bill says looking at Fred and George, "Prank him for the past mistakes."
"We believe in punishments," Charlie smirks, "As much as we believe in second chances."
"And considering we win," Bill adds, "We will need some lightning up."
And Fred and George look like Christmas has arrived early.
Percy is scared of the possibilities.
Word Count: 590 minus Author's Note