Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling
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Five days ago
Percy was severely shaken up. He had thought saving Ron for last would be a good choice. Now that he thought about it again, he wasn't sure he had the energy to do this. But Ron was an Auror. He was the one that they had to have. They could have done this without anyone else, but they needed Ron's support.
Percy glanced down at the file in his hand. Lucius Malfoy had some interesting contacts in the Muggle world. He only hoped it would be enough to persuade Ron.
He knocked on the door. It was Ron that answered. After the incident at the Burrow a few weeks ago, Hermione at been staying with a girl she had been staying with a friend. Percy didn't remember hearing about Hermione having friends other than Ron or Harry, but he supposed he didn't know everything about her.
"Ron, how are you?" Percy asked.
"I've been better," Ron grunted. Percy agreed. Ron had not shaved in several days and coarse, dark red hairs stuck out of his chin, along with his unkempt hair and a shirt Percy suspected had been picked up off the floor only for the purpose of answering the door.
Ron invited Percy in to the house. The house seemed largely clean enough. Ron had probably thought that his chances of reconciling with Hermione would be improved if the house was not a total mess when she got home.
Percy went through to the sofa while Ron fetched a couple of bottles of Butterbeer. Percy accepted it, hoping it would help his nerves.
"Ron, there's something I need to discuss with you," Percy began. "It's a matter of family honour."
"Fire away," Ron said, though his eyes narrowed. Perhaps he did not approve of someone who had previously walked out on the family now talking about its honour. Percy was inclined to agree with him, but this had to be done.
"It's about Ginny and Malfoy," Percy said. "I have spoken to, er, another interested party."
"Lucius Malfoy," Ron said without emotion. Percy's surprise must have shown. "What? Are you surprised I'm keeping track of Malfoy Manor? Ginny and Malfoy haven't been to visit him yet. Not even a Floo call."
"Yes, well," Percy began, before clearing his throat. "Well, the thing is, Lucius and I have come to an agreement. This union between a Malfoy and a Weasley is not beneficial to anyone. We would like to do something about it."
"Do what?" Ron asked. "Ginny is a passionate person. She's not going to take it well if we barge in there and tell her she can't date that ferret."
"Yes, of course. But what I'm proposing is something a little bit more, um, severe than a strict talking to."
For a moment Ron seemed not to understand, until his eyes flashed and he shot to his feet, bearing down on Percy.
"You can't be serious!" Ron snapped. "Kill Malfoy?"
"Well, you tried it once before," Percy pointed out, shooting to his feet to match Ron. Ron still stood a few inches taller, but at least he didn't feel quite so dwarfed. "At the Burrow you cast a curse at him!"
"And nearly killed Ginny!" Ron shouted.
"Yes, but that won't happen this time!" Percy assured him. Ron turned to take a few paces away from Percy.
"How could Lucius Malfoy agree to killing his own son?" Ron asked, not even looking at Percy.
"Yes, the thing about that," Percy said. "Ginny would need to be, er, punished as well."
"But you just said-!"
"Yes, but that would be Lucius Malfoy's job. We would deal with Draco."
"Our own little sister!" Ron shouted. He hurled the Butterbeer bottle to the side where it smashed off the wall and stormed forward to grab Percy and pull him closer. "How could you even think about it!?"
"Ron, you might think differently, once you've read this," Percy said, trying to bring the Muggle file between then. Ron quickly threw him backwards, grabbing the folder in the process and opening it up.
All emotion seemed to die in him as he read on. Percy sat for a long time. So long that he was sure Ron must have finished reading long ago.
"Do you know what this means, Ron?" Percy asked.
"She... a baby," Ron choked out.
"That's right. She murdered a baby," Percy said. He was not proud of this, but it had to be done. "She started dating Malfoy about that time, didn't she?"
Ron obviously got the hint in his statement. The folder fell from his hands. He dropped into an armchair, where he rested his head upon those same hangs.
"Ron, are you with us?" Percy asked. "Everyone has agreed. All we need is your support."
Ron looked up at him again. His eyes looked almost dead.
"When do we start?" he asked.
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