Ficlet: One Step Forward
Harry oftentimes wondered if he was really sane or not. There was the matter of growing up with the Dursleys. There was the fact that he'd almost died more times that he could count on one hand. Then there was the fact that he'd willingly asked Snape to join him.
It had taken quite a bit for Snape to even listen to Harry. But he had eventually listened and had conceded that Harry had a point.
Harry had gotten every single person on his list, with Tonks bringing Kingsly Shacklebolt into the equation. Which had been a welcome surprise, and had added to Harry's growing concern of whether or not he could pull this off.
Now, there was one more person he wanted to bring in, and he was going to do anything he could.
Percy Weasley.
Percival Ignatius Weasley. Who sold his own family for the proverbial fourty gold pieces.
Word had it that Percy had disappeared off the face of the earth, but Harry knew better. He knew in the way Bill spoke with his body about his 'middle' brother. He knew it in the way the twins gave a 'smile' about the fun they'd had with their Big Head brother.
Each Weasley had had a hiding place at the Burrow, and Harry knew that Percy was no different. And as soon as he could do so, he was heading there to talk to Percy. Ron had told him many times about hiding in the attic with only the ghoul for company, trying to avoid Fred and George on one of their random rampages.
And so it was the first weekend of his sixth year at Hogwarts that found Harry scrounging around the abandoned Burrow, the lopsided fourth floor that housed Ron's bedroom leaning just a little more to the right than it had been two years earlier. Harry had escaped his friends and under the headmaster's careful eye by simply saying that he was going off with Neville. Neville would never say anything, especially since Harry had given him some idea as to what was happening.
Wand firmly in hand, Harry burst through the door into the kitchen and turned right. Percy should be just off the kitchen in a small pantry, where Mrs. Weasley had said she kept her cooking books and the biscuits she made specifically for Percy when he'd been younger.
"What do you want?" a scratchy voice greeted him as he opened the door.
Harry narrowed his eyes at the scruffy picture presented to him. He would bet the entire fortune underneath Gringotts that Percy Weasley had never looked this bad before.
"It certainly wasn't for a cuppa," he finally answered.
Pale blue eyes, so much like Ron's, unfocused for the briefest of moments before glaring at Harry. "Then why are you here?"
Harry kicked at the pile of blankets shoved off into the corner. "To get your arse moving and do something, for a start."
Percy flinched and drew himself up into a mockery of the stance he'd held at the second task of the tournament. "And what gives you so much as a by-leave to come here and tell me what to do?" he asked in an indignent voice.
Harry leaned in close, eyes staring into Percy's with an intensity gleaned off of Snape's Occlumency lessons.
"I am here, Percival, to tell you that you have reparations to make, as well as an obligation as a light wizard to do all you can to stop what you helped start."
Percy shrank at that, seeming to fold his tall frame into that of a child's. "I don't..." He shook his head. "I don't... How...?"
"You put one foot forward like the rest of us," Harry said simply. "And the first step you make is up to you. However, I do believe that it should be in the direction of your mother."
"But..."
Harry glared at him. "You threw your own family away, Percy!" he shouted in the other man's face. "You gave up what I would give my magic for! And it's killing you." He pointed to the horde of tinned food and candles scattered about the small room. "You can't forgive yourself until you reconcile with the parents who have always tried their best to do what's right. It may not always be easy, but they've accomplished more than Fudge and Umbridge will ever do in a thousand lifetimes."
Harry took a deep breath, trying to get himself back in control, as Percy hung his head.
"You know what to do, Percy. You can either sit here for the rest of your life, moaning about what could have been, if only things were a little different, or you can get off your arse and do something about it."
Percy still didn't look up.
Harry's jaw clenched and he forced himself to relax. "You know where to find me, Percy. I do suggest, however, you say nothing of me coming here to anyone you speak to."
At that Percy lifted his head just enough to look at Harry.
Green eyes narrowed. "I mean it. And I will hear if you do." He waved his wand in a casual manner at the mess as he turned from the doorway back into the kitchen. "Just make sure you use a good de-lousing spell before you go anywhere."
Harry left the Burrow not looking back. It may take another week, but it definitely looked like Percy could be counted in on his plans.