Clandestine

By Threeninefour

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Chapter One

A/N: Here is the first chapter of the new version of Clandestine. The old chapters will continue to be up for a duration. Phoenixx Rising brought up a good point to me: readers cannot review twice for the same chapter using the same account. Thus, I'll either be deleting all reviews excluding the ones by Guests, or keeping the old chapters up forever. (I'll continue to ponder between the choices on my own.) This new version will have a different style to it, and I hope you like it. Do take note of the day number at the top of each part, as you may get confused if you don't. Ron will continue to be in the spotlight in this version, but he will be sharing it with Percy. I hope you enjoy this chapter! (Day 1 of the Second Wizarding War is the day of the Third Task in the Triwizard Tournament.)

Disclaimer: I'm not J.K. Rowling, and I do not own Harry Potter.

Day 77 of the Second Wizarding War

…not that Percy Ignatius Weasley acknowledged it as such.

Twirling his quill between his fingers, a habit that he recently acquired and only surfaces when he was nervous (not that he would admit it), Percy sat on his chair and stared at the words on the scroll.

He took a deep breath and brought his hand down, continuing his letter to Ron.

I am sorry that I was unable to see more of you over the summer. It pains me to criticise our parents, but I'm afraid I can no longer live under their roof while they remain mixed up with the dangerous crowd around Dumbledore.

His palm felt clammy and cold, perhaps caused by his mixed feelings.

Opening the wrapped box, Percy opened it and a familiar Weasley sweater greeted him, knitted by his mother herself. His fingers lightly caressed the knitted letter 'P' on the front of the sweater, but he stopped himself when the words of his father echoed in his ears. Steeling his heart, he waved his wand and the box closed and the wrapper repaired itself, looking just like before, unopened.

Pushing an exhausted looking Errol with the package out (after feeding him two owl treats), he closed his window. Errol flapped on the other side of the glass, tapping it with his beak frantically, but finally gave up and flew away. Percy stared at his diminishing bobbing figure in the distance, and when it was long gone, he turned his back to the window.

Ending his letter with 'Your brother, Percy', he sealed the scroll and capped his ink bottle. He always preferred using the old-fashioned way of dipping his quill in the ink, but due to efficiency reasons, he uses the Never-Ending-Ink Quill during work or previously in his school assignments.

Sending the letter out using Hermes to Hogwarts, his heart carried his love and hopes for his brother, disappointment and sorrow for his parents, but also a tender feeling for his mother, no matter how twisted his love seemed to others.

Day 831 of the Second Wizarding War

"Ron! Ron!"

The cries of Hermione still echoed in his ears, and as soon as he landed on hard ground, he regretted what he did and said. Attempting to Apparate back, his left arm stung painfully, leading him to give it up for the moment after several failed attempts.

Ronald Bilius Weasley then noticed the strange atmosphere around him, just as the word 'danger' flashed across his mind, several shaggy looking men stepped out of the shadows of the trees and buildings, wands out and smirks on their faces.

Ron's own wand was immediately raised.

"Oh? Red hair, is it?" The voice was scratchy, and Ron immediately labelled them as Snatchers.

"Injured, too! Stanley, do you reckon…?"

"Definitely–"

"–a Weasley!"

Just as the name rolled off their tongues, three Accio spells came for Ron's wand, rendering a quick but strong Protego and a retaliation of Stupefy.

Knowing he could not duel three Snatchers and win in his injured state, he casted more Shield Charms and ran, praying that, for once, he could safely Apparate out of there in time.

Succumbing to the squeamish feeling in his stomach, Ron puked whatever contents left once his feet touched solid ground once more. He quickly wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and checked for any splinching of body parts.

Completing a check of his major body parts and accounting that they were present, thank Merlin, he felt a light stinging of a fingernail on his right hand. Raising his hand up to eye level, the top of his index fingernail was gone, leaving bloody flesh underneath.

He sighed loudly.

Ron checked his surroundings once more, and his palpitating heart was filled with relief when Shell Cottage appeared in sight. Walking up towards the cottage, and just before his fist landed on the door, he hesitated.

What if they ask about Harry and…Hermione? And Dumbledore's task for us?

Standing there for a full thirty seconds, he made his mind up and knocked thrice urgently. Sod it, I need my finger healed and some food!

"Who is this?" Bill's muffled voice came through the door, and Ron quickly answered back.

"It's Ron! You're married to Fluer whom Ginny calls Phlegm!"

Ron could hear muffled laughter, but the door was still shut tight.

"Okay, Fred and George turned my teddy bear into a spider, and I've been terrified of spiders ever since!"

Ron was still rummaging through his mind for more proofs that only the Weasley family knew when the door creaked open, and Bill's face came into view.

He stared at Bill, and Bill stared back at him. Fluer stood at his side, eyes focused on him too.

Ron then realised what a sight he was, with his left arm in a sling, wand in hand, a finger bloodied, face weary, and muted red hair messy.

"Um. Hey, Bill. Hi, Fluer. And uh, Ginny didn't mean anything by that. By calling you Phlegm. I think. No, I mean, I know she didn't." He broke the silence, awkwardly stumbling over his words.

Fluer's face broke into a small smile. "I know she didn't mean eet. Come in, Ron, don't stand outside!"

Her words signalled Bill to usher Ron in, closing the door firmly behind him. Turning to face his brother, Bill's face reflected worry and care, his gaze sweeping for any injuries on Ron's body, lingering on his arm and finger.

"I'm sorry to barge in like this, Bill, but there were Snatchers and I couldn't fend them off with my arm like this, so I Apparated blindly and landed here."

Bill still kept silent, and Ron continued. "If you could help me with my splinched fingernail and maybe give me some bread–"

He was cut off by a warm hug from his eldest brother.

"–I'll get going?" He ended his sentence with a question mark.

"Bloody hell, Ron! Stay as long as you need to, and thank Merlin you're alive!" Bill broke out into a relieved smile when he let go of his younger brother.

Ron could see unscheduled tears shining in Bill's eyes, and he suddenly felt the urge to cry.

"Me too, Bill, me too." Ron grinned foolishly, keeping his tears at bay. Fluer's head was tilted and she was looking at them with a fond look on her face. Ron was sure she was about to comment something mushy and sweet, and quickly halted the touching moment.

"So, food."

—

Ron lay on the couch in Shell Cottage, shirtless and under Fluer's scrutinising gaze. His face was almost as red as his hair, with Fluer bending over and inspecting the huge tear and scar on his left arm, Essence of Dittany in hand. Bill stood behind the couch, his facial expression oozing care once his eyes landed on Ron's arm.

Splinched when escaping from Death Eaters, Ron had explained.

"Now, this eez going to 'urt a bit, Ron," Fluer warned him.

Ron nodded and braced himself for the raw stinging, and when the first drop landed, he let out a soft hiss through his clenched teeth.

Pop!

The familiar sound of Apparation was heard and both Bill's and Fluer's heads snapped towards the sound, Ron struggling to sit up. All three had their wands trained on the figure in a cloak.

The figure turned to face the Weasleys, and Fluer let out a gasp when a Death Eater mask came into view, and Bill's wand wavered for a second.

The unmistakable red hair of a Weasley.

The figure raised a wobbly hand towards its face, and all three wands, however uncertain, continued to point at him.

The mask fell onto the floor with a clang, and the figure smiled weakly.

"What is this, missing-brothers-reunion day?" Ron croaked out.

Day 80 of the Second Wizarding War

Percy stepped out of the Floo, arranging his robes and wiping the soot off. The Ministry was, as usual, packed with people in a flurry. He really preferred Apparating to traveling with the Floo Network. It was a lot cleaner, perhaps a little faster and convenient, but the Ministry had wards preventing Apparition.

He made his way to the lifts, and by chance, entered the one with Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge standing inside.

"M-Minister! Good morning, sir." Percy self-consciously swept off whatever remaining soot on his body, and Cornelius Fudge chuckled. With a small wave of his wand, the Minister aimed a Scouring Charm at Percy, and the soot vanished.

Percy was beside himself with embarrassment.

"Thank you, sir!"

How stupid of him to forget about his wand!

"Percy! Tell me, how do you find your job so far? Enjoyable?" Cornelius Fudge asked.

"Delightfully pleasant, Minister. Most employees are polite and hardworking, certainly ensuring the best work environment. Definitely because of your leading of the Ministry–"

"How's your family?" Cornelius Fudge cut in.

Percy was put aback by the sudden question of his estranged family.

"I haven't been in touch with the other Weasleys, sir. They-they should be well."

Cornelius Fudge's eager smile instantly disappeared, and Percy could not help but notice the disappointment, which was quickly masked by another polite smile.

Level one, Minister for Magic and Support Staff.

The doors to the lift slid open, and the Voice-of-the-Lift (as Percy called it in his head) announced the floor and its respective department.

"Let's get to work, shall we?" Cornelius Fudge exited the lift, walking towards his office in strides, and Percy hesitantly stepped out onto the purple carpet.

He dismissed the seed of suspicion for the Minister and his purposes and made his way to his office.

Day 83 of the Second Wizarding War

Percy sat in the Hog's Head Inn, sipping his Butterbeer slowly. Aberforth Dumbledore (he'd found out the owner was Dumbledore's brother in his fourth year at Hogwarts) was cleaning the bar with a dusty rag, and the inn was empty except for two hooded figures at the other corner.

No one really knew that Percy frequented the place, not that he would want anyone to know, but he liked it there. It was quiet, the customers spoke in hushed tones, and Aberforth kept to himself. It was Percy's own place to think and be by himself, in a sense.

He downed the remaining contents of his Butterbeer, and proceeded to walk out. The door swung open suddenly, and a familiar face appeared in the inn.

"Penelope?"

Her face was wan, and her eyes slightly red. "Percy." She stumbled into the inn and hugged him, sobs resonating in the enclosed space. Her blonde curls were slightly unkempt, and Percy patted her back.

He guided her to his vacated seat, and ordered a Butterbeer for her. "What's wrong?"

Penelope kept silent, but took her wand out and casted the Muffliato Charm around them. "Percy, please, you've got to help me, I'm sorry I broke up with you but you're the only one I know that works in the Ministry and I can't find anyone else–"

"Start from the start, Penny."

Penelope took a deep breath and started explaining, "Abigail was my friend, colleague at the magical law firm I work at, she's Muggleborn, and about two weeks ago, after dinner together, she requested to sleep over at my apartment. I agreed, and-and in the middle of the night she was crying, and she told me that her parents were murdered. The Muggle authorities deemed it as a car accident but she recognized the signs of the Killing Curse."

She took a sip of the Butterbeer, and looked up into Percy's eyes. "I know the Ministry does not believe You-Know-Who is back, but her parents were murdered by a wizard. Two days later, she disappeared. She didn't come to work, her flat was empty, she–she's gone."

Percy was looking at his hands; they were resting on the table.

"Please, Percy. Help me. Ask around, search for files, anything! You're the only one left that can be of help. Help me find her." Her eyes pleaded with him, and he succumbed.

"Alright, Penelope. I'll try my best, but I can't guarantee anything."

"Thank you, Percy. Thank you so much." She finished drinking her Butterbeer, and smiled gratefully at him.

"Her name. Abigail–"

"–Jones."

Penelope got up from her seat, and cancelled the Charm. "Thank you again, Percy, I'd love to have a chat with you but I need to go," she excused herself.

"It's alright, Penelope. Do take care of yourself."

He gazed at her back, and stared at the closed door seconds later.

And it dawned on him. What did I just agree to?

He ordered another drink from Aberforth.

"Firewhiskey, Weasley?"

Percy was puking his stomach's contents into the toilet bowl that whole night. He considered sleeping on the bathroom floor, but figured his bed was more comfortable.

A/N: The second chapter won't come so fast, I'm still trying to figure out the roles of almost everyone. Please leave a review if you enjoyed this chapter, or if you have any constructive criticism. Mistakes (Grammar or Vocabulary wise) are wholly my fault.

To the Reviewers of the previous update:

Phoenixx Rising: I'm also fulfilling my own dream by writing a Percy and Ron fanfiction, you've brought up an excellent point, I'll look into the reposting rules.

S.R. (Guest): Your opinion helped me, and I find that Percy and Ron are quite similar in certain aspects too! Hope you enjoyed this!

notsing: Thank you for replying to my two questions, and I'm glad you don't hate or dislike Percy! What's your view of this first chapter?

A huge thank you to those who reviewed/PM me, and also to all my readers!