Quidditch Reserve League, Season 1, Round 5: Weasleys

Position: Chaser 3

Prompt: Percy Weasley

Optional Prompts: 2. "We're running out of time.", 7. "If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." Wayne Dyer, 8. "Who is she?"

Word Count: 1,218

~End of Author's Notes~

Percy strode into the Ministry of Magic as he always did; with proper posture and plenty of respect for everyone's personal space.

"Oh, hello, Mr. Weasley," said Suzanne at the reception desk. "You're looking dashing as ever today. New haircut?"

"Not today, Miss Hoarfrau. Just my trusty comb and mirror."

"Ah, of course." Suzanne laughed. "Have a good day at work."

"I can't promise that," Percy said as he walked through the elevator that would take him to his office, then poked his head back out. "But it will be productive."

Suzanne nodded approvingly and he stood at attention at the back of the elevator.

"Percy!" came a voice as soon as he stepped into his office. "Right on time, as usual," said his co-worker, a broad man with a beard so sharp it could have made any other man's face baby-bottom smooth. "Are you ready for a day of riveting, edge-of-your-seat action?" He asked as he clapped the younger man on his shoulder.

"I most certainly am not, Geraldo."

"Well, good, because we're fresh out." Geraldo chuckled as he grabbed a folder from his desk and placed it on Percy's. "These are the guidelines sent over from Beauxbatons. Traveling arrangement, regulations, insurance, and all the paperwork you could dream of. Think you can handle it?"

"Do I think I can handle it?" Percy cracked his knuckles. "Did Merlin's Coup of Ten Seventy Seven serve as the foundation for Ministry General Order Number five?"

"According to popular belief!" Geraldo shared a grin with the young man as he plopped himself on his chair. "Your inkpots are all filled up, your quills restocked. May your hand never cramp," he begun.

"And your teapot never empty," Percy finished. What followed was a particularly productive morning of work, work, work. By the end of it, not only had he finished going through his folder but he had been able to make a little time to help Geraldo finish off his.

"You're a legend, Percy" Geraldo congratulated him with a shake of the hand and sent him on his way.

With that, it was off to lunch, and on the way, Percy ran into his father, who was doing the bare minimum to adhere to the no running in the halls rule.

"Dad!" Percy said to him as they arrived at the elevator. "Would you like to join me for lunch?"

"Ah, there you are, Percy!" Arthur glanced at him. "Good day at work?"

"A productive one, at least."

"Ah well. There's always the afternoon." Arthur stepped into the elevator.

"Would you like to join me for lunch?" Percy asked.

"Can't, I'm afraid. There's some kind of muggle used goods market happening nearby; all sorts of things they don't want and won't mind selling for cheap. Microwaves, printers, scales, the lot!" He rubbed his hands together excitedly. "If I'm quick, I can get there and back before the lunch bell rings."

"Very well. Good luck," Percy said with a little furrow of his brow.

"Many thanks, my son!" Arthur dashed out of the doors as soon as they opened. Percy watched him leave and was ready to continue to the lunchroom when he heard a cry from down the hall.

"We're running out of time!" yelled one of his colleagues, a boy not much older than him from the neighboring office. He was standing beside one of the owl handlers, each of them carrying armfuls of folders as they jogged towards the elevator.

"Is there a problem, gentleman?" Percy asked as they passed.

"All the owls caught a bug and everything arrived late!" the young man said. "We've got to deliver these all by hand!"

Percy glanced over at the door where his father had left through, then at his co-worker.

"I'd be happy to lend a hand."

With those few words, a great weight lifted off of the shoulders of both young men. It took a great deal of not-quite-running, knocking on doors, and a breath-catching or two, but the three of them managed to deliver everything by the time the lunch bell rang.

"You are a lifesaver," the owl handler, who he'd learned was called Tom, told him with a relieved smile. "I'd have been in deep trouble if it weren't for you two."

Percy puffed up his chest and returned the nod.

"I was happy to help. But now, duty calls. Let's hope the rest of the day is a little less stressful."

"Aye, that we will," said his neighbor as they went their separate ways. Percy's afternoon went much the same as his morning, with folders stuffed, forms filled, letters sent, and plenty of jokes shared. He was a little hungry, but hard work, good company, and gorging on biscuits from the tea tray was more than enough to sate him.

"See you tomorrow, Percy," Geraldo said as he passed him by, but paused to share a whisper. "I hear Mr. Crouch is very happy with your work so far. Looking to give you a promotion if you keep it up, but you didn't hear it from me."

Percy's heart soared. He wanted to ask questions, but Geraldo was already on his way with a wink and a strut. So Percy shot a look at Mr. Crouch's office, gave it a little salute, and went on his way. The night shift was shuffling in as he was on his way out, but he was called before he could reach the doors.

"Mister Weasley!" Suzanne called to him. "Your mother has sent in a letter. Sorry it got to you so late; did you know the owls all got sick?"

"I did," Percy said as he opened the envelope. "I helped make sure everyone else got their mail on time."

"That was you?" Suzanne smiled warmly. "You're a good sort, Mr. Weasley. Not many would give up their lunch break for that."

"I suppose I'm one of a kind."

The contents of the letter were...what he had come to expect. Talk about how the twins had gotten into trouble again, something she could have told him when he got home. About how he should keep an eye on his father and make sure he doesn't take any diversions on the way home. Asking him to pick up some food from Diagon Alley, talk about her morning...and not a single word asking how his day had gone.

"Do you have a quill, Miss Hoarfrost?"

"I certainly do." Suzanne handed him one with a tip freshly dipped in ink. "What do you need it for?"

"I've begun to see how important things certain things are in my life, and how unimportant some others are," Percy replied as he wrote his reply. "My work life has blessed me with good company, good friends, and fulfilling days. My family...well, I wouldn't want to bore you with the details, but what they offer is not nearly so satisfying."

Of course, he couldn't tell his mother that; she'd probably start crying like it was his fault she never paid him any attention, so he just wrote that he was going on a date. She was always nagging him about that.

"Oh," said the peeking Suzanne. "Who is she? Your date?"

"The Ministry of Magic," Percy said. "Do you have the night shift application on hand?"