The meal was soon over, as everyone was excited to be off. Cassi and Hermione were helping Mrs. Weasley to clear the dishes - or rather, the girls cleared the dishes while Mrs. Weasley berated the others for just sitting around. "We've got people expecting us and if you all wait for me to get everything done we won't be there before next Friday, and that's for certain!" she exclaimed finally. In response Fred lazily stood and said, "Sure thing, Mum. I'll go grab our trunks-" And with a loud crack that made everyone but George jump, he Apparated away. Mrs. Weasley huffed and gave the others a glare before carrying the soup cauldron into the kitchen and scrubbing it viciously. Half a minute later he returned empty-handed with a second crack, saying just a little too casually, "Hey, Georgie, give me a hand with these, will you?" He disappeared again, leaving George to stand slowly and then follow with yet another resounding crack. Upon their return, they managed to time their reappearances so that just when you've got over the initial fright of the first ear-splitting sound, a second one comes and scares you even worse than before. Mrs. Weasley restrained her annoyance, though, and contented herself with muttering to the inside of the cauldron.

Eventually all trunks were accounted for (although the twins kept thinking of things they might want to pack and Apparating away to fetch it, even though Cassi knew they had packed absolutely everything in their room the first time), the dishes were cleared, and all was in order. "Well, the last time we tried this it didn't work out so well," said Mr. Weasley as Ginny shot Fred and George a look, "so we'll do this a bit differently. Ron, Ginny, grab your trunks and come over this way-" they obliged "-and then Hermione and Cassi, you stand by Molly there. Fred and George, you're on your own. Stand over there by the table." Once everyone had done as Mr. Weasley directed, he continued. "Ok, Ron will you hold my trunk please, that's it, alright, now I'll keep hold of your wrists, and Molly, you'll do the same for the girls, hm? Everybody situated? Right then, let's go-"

Just then something unexpected happened. The front door of the Burrow opened, and in strode Percy Weasley. Mrs. Weasley shrieked and dropped Hermione's and Cassi's wrists, running over to hug him fiercely. "Oh, Percy, you managed to get off work! Will you be coming with us, then? We're staying at the Headquarters, you know, well, anyway, how much time do you have off? Dear, it's wonderful to see you again!"

Percy dutifully returned his mother's hug, then disentangled himself. "Actually, Mum, I didn't get time off. I'm just on break for a few hours. I was granted leave to come home and tell you the good news!" He paused for dramatic effect, beaming proudly around the room. Mrs. Weasley burst out, "Well, what is it? Don't keep us all in suspense, for goodness' sake, tell us what's happened!"

Percy cast one last triumphant glance at everybody present, then announced proudly, "I've been promoted to Minister Fudge's cabinet!"

Deathly silence fell over the room

Cassi looked uncomfortably from the smug Percy to his stunned father. She didn't know exactly what was going on, but she did know that Mr. Weasley had never exactly been on the Ministry's best side, mostly because he was a "blood-traitor", so Mr. Malfoy did his best to encourage everyone to hold the Weasleys at arm's length. She also knew that the Weasleys full-heartedly believed Harry's account of You-Know-Who's return, while the Ministry in general (and Fudge in particular) refused to even consider the possibility of such an event. For Percy to now be working in Fudge's office..."Why would he do that?" Mr. Weasley blurted. At Percy's angered expression, he hastily amended his query. "I mean...you're a hard worker and loyal subordinate, no doubt about that, but after Crouch...why would the Ministry promote you?"

"Well maybe they're trying to prove that trustworthy people can come even from a family of deluded half-wits who believe everything they hear," snapped Percy hotly. Mrs. Weasley and Hermione gasped, the Weasley men grew angry, and Ginny and Cassi glanced at each other. "Now wait just a minute, here-" began Mr. Weasley, but he was cut off suddenly by his very irate son. Percy let out a tremendous rant, which sounded as though he had been planning it for a long time.

"No, you wait!" he nearly yelled. "You stop and think about what this means! I've finally gotten this promotion, which I've been aiming for ever since I graduated, and you ask how on earth I got it! Well, I'll tell you how! Through incredibly difficult, time-consuming, sometimes even dangerous work, unshakeable loyalty, and a head for what's right and what isn't, I've finally managed to distance myself from your lousy reputation! Finally, the Ministry can see me as me, instead of "Arthur Weasley's son"! And look where it got me, Dad! Your - your reputation for being a blood-traitor and a Muggle-lover have been ruining my chances for a decent future my whole life. Well, not anymore. I've taken pains to assure the Ministry that I in no way share your beliefs or your instabilities. I'm my own man now, and I've already made more progress than you can ever hope to!"

At that moment Cassi abruptly turned and left the kitchen. She didn't need to listen to the Weasleys' private affairs, and she certainly didn't want to be around when Mr. Weasley began yelling back. As soon as she was out of sight, she began running. She ran through the living room, out the back door, and across the lawn. Past the broomshed, around the garden, into the first of the many fields surrounding the Burrow. She finally stopped when the house was almost too small to distinguish from the trees nearby. A second later, she noticed that Hermione had followed. Her friend fell to her knees and covered her face, shoulders shaking. Cassi knelt beside her and put a comforting arm around her. Neither of them spoke for a while.

Soon Hermione stopped sobbing and the girls sat staring back at the house, thinking of the horrible things that were most likely being said and feeling indescribable pain for those who had to experience such a breaking of a family. Cassi knew a little of how it felt - her parents being killed, her closest relative hating her, Snape refusing to talk to her. The only people who had ever been constantly there when Cassi needed them had been Fred and George. Now they were the ones who needed her. She realized how silly her own troubles were in light of what her friends were going through now, and she glanced back at the house in worry. I hope everything will be alright.