The characters of the Harry Potter universe belong to Ms. Rowlings, and I'm borrowing them for my own imagination.
Chapter 2 - Yesterday
2:00pm The Previous Day
"So, Mr. Weasley, what are your plans for your date with my lovely granddaughter?" Dr. Clearwater asked jokingly.
"I thought we would have some fun at the park, then there is this diner that services ice cream in a dish with the cone on top like a clown. They use chocolate chips for the eyes, and a cherry for the nose." Percy said looking forward to his daddy/daughter date.
Growing up with six siblings, Percy had always enjoyed the quality time alone with either of his parents. Time that was hard to come by. He had told Penny when they first found out she was pregnant that he wanted to have one day a week when he would spend quality time with their child. He would do that with all of the children they would have, though neither of them wanted seven children. They had decided on two pregnancies. If they were blessed with twins, he would just hope that they were not as mischievous as Fred and George.
"Good, just have her home at a decent hour." Dr. Clearwater said as he watched Percy bends down to little Molly's level as she toddled into the family room her mother following behind her.
"Ready to have some funny with Daddy, Luv?" Percy asked his little girl.
She just squealed with delight and held her arms out to him to be picked up.
Rising he lifted her up and plopped a kiss on the top of her head.
"You two have fun." Penny said as she kissed her daughter's head then her husband's lips.
"I love you." Percy said against his wife's lips.
"Love you, too. Now begone with you. I'm gonna challenge my dear old dad to a game of real chess. He's a much better opponent than you any day." Penny said.
"When all this is over, I can't wait to see you play against my baby brother. He is going to wipe the floor with you." Percy said as he grabbed his coat and headed out the door.
5:00pm
"Here is your desert, sir." The waitress said as she placed a clown ice cream cone on the table. Molly clapped with pure joy at the treat.
"Thank you." Percy said ginning at his daughter's glee.
Percy took the spoon and scooped a small helping for Molly and placed it in her mouth then took a large helping for himself.
"Well, don't you two look adorable?" Percy heard the familiar voice behind him.
"Oliver, what in Merlin's name are you doing here?" Percy asked.
"Picking up a cake and ice cream for my niece's birthday. My sister doesn't live too far from here." Oliver responded then bending down to Molly's level. "Hey, beautiful, you enjoying your date with Daddy?"
Molly nodded happily patting Oliver's face. "Ollie!" She squealed happy to see her friend.
"You look so much like your mum, except for that Weasley red hair." Oliver said turning his face to kiss the hand that was patting his cheek. Molly squealed again pulling her hand back.
Being Percy's closest friend and confidante, Oliver was very familiar to Molly. He was the only one outside of Penny's parents that knew of her existence.
Percy and Penny had been lucky that Penny's dad was a doctor, and her mother a nurse. They had been able to deliver Molly in Penny and Percy's room at the Clearwaters' home without involving any outside parties. Oliver had vowed to make sure that Molly was delivered safely to Ron should anything happen to Percy and Penny. Oliver would explain everything, and take Molly himself should his family reject her as Percy had mistakenly, in his hurt at his father's words after the promotion, rejected them.
"Wood, your food is ready." The voice over the speaker called out.
"Well, I better be going. Let's try to get together for lunch at the Leaky Caldron soon before I have to head back to Puddlemere." Oliver said. "Your treat." He added as he disappeared from view.
"Uncle Oliver thinks he is so funny." Percy stated to his daughter.
"Ollie funny." She laughed and he laughed with her. He loved the sound of his daughter's laughter.
6:00pm
Kingsley stood outside of the blazing building. The occupants had been found and laid undercover off to the side of the street. A neighbor identified them as Dr. and Mrs. Clearwater and their daughter Penelope. He knew Penelope's name from the list of Muggle-Born's being wanted by the New Wizarding Order.
He knew that the Clearwaters had been killed with the Killing Curse before the fire broke out. He had seen the traces of where the Death Eaters had been everywhere.
Kingsley had been doing research into the backgrounds of the Muggle-Borns in an effort to protect them. His plan was to start evacuating Muggle-Borns as soon as possible, but for the Clearwaters it was too late.
He believed he knew everything about Penelope Clearwater's life from before, during and after Hogwarts. He knew that she had been studying to be a healer, probably influenced by her parents own Muggle professions, as well as her time in the hospital wing during her sixth year at Hogwarts. He knew she had only one boyfriend during her time at Hogwarts, and that was the part that worried him now.
He had been surprised to see the diamond ring and wedding band on her hand. Rings he now held in his hands. Now he was waiting to see if his guess as to her spouse was correct.
He stood back in the shadows watching the Muggle officials handle the situation when he saw a familiar red headed man with a toddler in his arms approach the scene. The toddler was a bigger surprise, but seeing Percy Weasley there was not considering the rings in Kingsley's hand.
Quickly he moved out of the shadows and approached the young man.
"Mr. Weasley." He said quietly stopping the young man before he could be seen by others.
"Auror Shacklebolt." His eyes were wide with fright.
"I'm sorry, Percy. Penny is dead." Kinglsey said.
"No." Percy said as he clung to the child in his arms, who sensing her father's distress began to cry herself.
Thinking quickly, Kingsley cast a muffliato charm around them.
"Percy, let me take you to your family." Kinglsey said.
"No. No one can find out about my daughter. If the Death Eaters learn that a child survived or that I shared the same sympathetic ties of my family, they would hunt and kill her." Percy said.
"Your family would help protect her." Kingsley said.
"My family is the biggest blood traitors there are. They would make her more of a target. Honest, I love my family, but my daughter is my priority." Percy said looking Kinglsey directly in the eye.
"I completely understand. Come home with me then. I have plenty of room, and my daughter can help you care for yours." Kingsley said.
"You have a daughter?" Percy asked. He was sure he would have heard of this before now.
"Yes, so I can completely understand your need to protect your own." He replied.
Percy nodded his head in agreement, then took a hold of Kingsley arm, allowed him side-long apparate them to Kingsley's home.
TBC