"I can't believe our Percy managed to break a curse that was over a hundred years old!" Molly Weasley beamed as she set a bubbling pot of potato soup on the long wooden table.
The family had gathered for Mrs. Weasley's birthday at the Burrow and the cheery atmosphere was just what Percy needed, even though he had been seated next to Hermione.
"I've broken curses older than that!" Bill scowled at his mother, his dark red hair making a swishing sound as it slid over his dragon-hide vest. A small hand came up and pulled at Bill's shirt; a child with a round face and white-blond hair momentarily distracting him.
"Of course you have, dear," Mrs. Weasley said in a soothing voice as she caressed Bill's long hair as she scooted behind him. "And we're very proud of you as well. It's just that this is your brother's first."
"How'd you do it, Percy?" Ron asked, leaning around Hermione to get a better look at his brother and Percy felt his cheeks burn.
"I'm actually not allowed to talk about it." Percy was immensely grateful this was true. The Department of Mysteries had paid him a visit shortly after his trip to the Archives and, after a lengthy interview that Percy would rather not think about, they labeled the incident Classified. "At least until they study it some more."
"Ah, come on, Perce," George encouraged. "Can't you tell us a little bit about it?"
Mr. Weasley cleared his throat and his sons seemed to settle down, somewhat. "If the Department of Mysteries is involved we aren't talking about any of your run of the mill Curse. Besides, that's not why we're here tonight, is it?"
Mrs. Weasley gave him a small smile as she waved her wand and bowls started floating through the air to each of the people sitting around the table.
There was Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, of course, along with Ron and Hermione; Fleur, Bill, and Victoire; George and Percy.
"Happy birthday, mum!" The boys chorused out as they caught the bowls and began serving up their mother's delicious soup.
"I do not understand." Fleur frowned, her beautiful face creasing as her French accented voice floated out over the table. "If it is your birthday, why are you doing the cooking?"
"Dad isn't allowed in the kitchen after last time." Ron laughed as the others chuckled.
"One mistake with some bread and you never live it down," Mr. Weasley mumbled.
Mrs. Weasley snorted. "I was getting bits of dough out of odd places for weeks. I still have no idea how some got in the back of the cupboard like that."
"I'd rather not think about it." Mr. Weasley winced at the memory as his wife ladled soup into his bowl.
"Well, it looks as if this year will be just fine," Hermione said, beaming at Mrs. Weasley.
"It would be better if Charlie and Ginny were here, of course," Molly said brusquely. "But he had that birthing emergency and the team needs Ginny to do beyond her best this season. The Quidditch World Cup is coming up!"
"The Cup isn't for months, yet!" George exclaimed.
"Your sister's taking her training very serious this year!" Molly snapped at him. "She's determined to bring a Cup home if she breaks her neck trying!"
"Sore spot?" Hermione whispered aside to Ron as Molly stormed back into the pantry for more dinner rolls.
Ron snorted as he tried to drown out his voice by clattering his spoon onto his bowl and stirring it noisily. "She's with some special coach. Only holds training sessions once a year and this week is it. Hear mum arguing with her about it through the Floo."
Molly got back to the table with a basket of dinner rolls and put them on the table with a thump.
"So, Perce," George said, a little too casually. "If you can't tell us about the curse, can you tell us about the girl?"
Percy felt his cheeks flush. "She seems to be taking well to her change. The spell was tied in to her attacker's bloodline, that's why there are still kinks in her change back."
"So you didn't bungle it, after all?" A red haired-witch strolled into the kitchen carrying a pink box with a blue sparkling ribbon.
"Ginny!" Molly screeched as she hurled herself across the room at her youngest child.
"How'd you get away from that madman you call a trainer?" George asked Ginny curiously.
"Different time zone." Ginny grinned. "Everyone else is asleep."
"You'll be exhausted for tomorrow!" Mrs. Weasley protested, though Percy noticed it was a weak protest.
"I can stay for at least an hour," Ginny said firmly.
"Then it's right back into the Floo with you!" A dark-haired young man with green eyes and glasses walked through the doorway. He was wearing a blue sweater and carrying a present wrapped up tightly in orange paper.
"Oh, and Harry!" Mrs. Weasley clapped her hands together. "This is such a treat! Everyone sit down, sit down!"
Percy ate his soup while Ginny filled Mrs. Weasley in on the training schedule she had planned out and Harry filled them all in on a recent raid they'd just done on the Plumberg estate.
"I swear, the thing grew this long!" Harry held his hands far apart when explaining how a poor wizard's foray into fish farming had gone completely wrong. "And the minnows were just to feed the frogs!"
Halfway through the meal; a delicious dinner of roast beef and potatoes, green beans from the garden, and magically crisped dinner rolls with fresh melted butter; Percy had felt a tickling sensation on his leg.
He ignored it, but as he took a drink of the wine his father had chosen for the special occasion, he felt a feminine hand graze over his lap.
He choked violently and Bill hopped up to pound him on the back. "What'd you do? It go down the wrong way?"
Percy nodded miserably, tears in his eyes as he tried to recover from his coughing fit. He glanced at Hermione and was annoyed to see her biting her lip to hold back a laugh.
Oh, he'd make her pay for that later.
