I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 33 – Negotiations

"Percy! Do you know anything about this?"

Percy looked at the Galleon in his mother's hand. "About that specific Galleon? I'm sorry, I've never seen that one before."

She rolled her eyes. "Honestly, I'd expect that flippant comment from your brothers but not you."

Percy allowed himself a small smirk. "Perhaps you should explain more then, Mother."

She sighed. "I was emptying the laundry basket and this fell out. I know it's not my Galleon so I'm trying to figure out who it belongs to."

He frowned. "You've taught us to be a lot more careful with money than to leave it lying about like that. Or leave it in a pocket."

"Precisely. If I do find out who it belongs to, I'll have to teach them again." She looked annoyed. "We don't have the kind of money to leave it about."

"Perhaps Father found it lying in the hall at work or something?"

"You know your Father, Percy. If he did find it he would have taken it to Security." She shook her head. "Perhaps he did happen upon it and forgot to take it back. I'll ask him when he comes home tonight."

Percy shrugged and left the kitchen. Molly was right though. His father had turned in dropped Knuts that he found. The man would never entertain keeping a Galleon he happened to find. However, him finding it and forgetting to drop it off made the most sense. No one in the family would leave a Galleon about.

"Psst, Percy!"

He stopped at the landing and looked at Ginny, an eyebrow raised. "Yes, Ginny?"

"Can I talk to you?"

"More than right now?"

She glared at him. "In private."

He sighed again. "Very well." He followed her into her room and waited patiently for her to close the door. He shook his head as he looked about. All her new school supplies were scattered about as well as her other things she was planning on taking. "I see you're making good time on packing."

"I didn't ask you to be my interior decorator," she said primly.

He smirked again. "Good because that is not my specialty. How can I help you then?" He sighed a little impatiently at her hesitation. "Today, Ginny, if you would be so kind."

She stuck her tongue out at him before sobering. "I think I know who that Galleon belongs to."

"Oh?"

"I think it's Harry's."

Percy frowned. "Harry doesn't the type to forget about money in his pockets."

"No, I mean, I know it's Harry's. I saw him earlier, putting something in the basket."

Percy's eyebrows rose. "Did you really?"

She nodded. "I was walking down the stairs and saw him looking around. He didn't see me and I saw him slip something in before he walked away. I didn't think anything of it. I assumed it was a prank Fred and George asked him to do. Then I heard mum yelling about finding the Galleon."

"That's strange," Percy said thoughtfully. "I wonder why he did that."

"Everyone has strange habits but even that seems really weird." Ginny hesitated again. "Do you think Harry did that on purpose? He was…giving it to Mum?"

"Of course he wouldn't," Percy said.

Of course he would, he thought.

"Do…do you think Harry thinks he owes us something? For letting him stay here?"

Percy looked at Ginny seriously. "Have you said anything like that to him or to Mother or Father?"

She looked annoyed. "Of course not! I just, well, I don't know! Harry has some…strange habits." She blushed at the look Percy gave her. "I mean everyone does! But he does some things weirdly. He always picks up after himself and after us too. He spends a lot of time cooking with mum even though he doesn't have to. He sleeps funny."

Percy looked down at her. He hated how she had noticed these things. It meant she was realizing things out of the norm.

She continued speaking. "Does he act like that because of…before he came here? Is this why Fred and George and Ron went to get him?"

Percy could not hide his surprise. "You knew of that?"

"I thought it was weird that he showed up all of a sudden. Then one night soon after he did, I heard Mum and Dad talking." Her face grew serious. "I didn't hear everything but…well…" she began to tear up a little, "did Harry not have a happy home? Is that why he's here?"

Percy cleared a space on her bed and sat, then pulled her towards him. "We do not know for sure, but it wasn't as…warm…as it is here."

She climbed into his lap, resting her head on his shoulder. "That's sad."

"Incredibly," he agreed. "Which is why he's here. So we can provide him some warmth."

"I'm glad he's here."

"Me too." He cleared his throat. "Have you spoken to anyone else about this?"

She shook her head. "No, I wanted to talk to you first."

Again, he could not hide his surprise. "Really? Why me?"

"Mum will get really bothered and not tell me anything. Dad will get red and tell me not to worry about it. Ron will just waffle and say I'm being dumb. Fred and George will just make jokes and change the subject. Bill and Charlie don't know what's going on." She looked up at him with wide eyes. "You won't lie to me. You never have. You'll say you can't explain some things but you never lie."

His face went bright red. "Ah, well, yes. I'll always be as truthful as I can be."

She hugged him tight, burying her face into his neck. He wrapped his arms around her, patting her back soothingly.

Percy looked around the room, trying to find something that would break the awkwardness. His eyes stopped on Ginny's bookshelf and he saw a gap there, a gap that he knew what the books there used to be. "What happened to your Harry Potter books?"

Ginny blushed. "I put them away. I didn't want Harry to see them."

He chuckled. "How does the real thing stack up against the written portrayal?"

"Real Harry is really nice," Ginny said seriously. "I thought he'd be really stuck up or something but he's not. I like when he includes me when he and Ron are playing or doing things." Her voice hitched slightly. "Book Harry seems a lot happier all the time though."

"It's…difficult…meeting those you have only heard of or read about."

"I think I like real Harry more though."

Percy kissed her forehead. "Good, me too." He looked her in the eye. "Don't tell the others what you spoke to me about. I will handle things, okay?"

"Thank you, Percy," she said and kissed his cheek.

He left her to her packing and he was gratified to see her less bothered. He was about to walk up the stairs to Ron's room, but then he walked downstairs. He slipped out the door, walking through the garden and towards the orchard.

He had guessed correctly. Harry was lying against a tree in the sunshine, eyes closed. Percy smiled at the sight. The boy had come to love this spot, being in it whenever he could. The twins had even started calling this specific tree Harry's Tree, going so far to put a tiny plaque on it with Harry's initials. They had tried to shape two of the branches to form glasses but their father had put a stop to that.

Percy sat down beside Harry, leaning back against the tree. He listened to the breeze rustle the leaves and branches around them. The blades of grass swayed gently. The sunshine was warm, just shy of being too hot.

I should do this more often. I suppose living here means I take it for granted.

Harry spoke without opening his eyes. "Hi Percy."

"Hello Harry. Hope you don't mind the company."

"Not at all. It's very nice out and it's nice to share things."

Probably because you never had the opportunity to before, nor anyone to share anything with.

"May I ask you a question Harry?"

"Sure."

"Do you happen to know of the Galleon in the laundry basket?"

Harry did not speak for a long moment. "I know of Galleons, yes. They're gold coins right? Wizarding money?"

Percy snorted and Harry giggled at the sound. "I see you're learning from Fred and George. Deflecting."

He nodded. "They're good at it."

"Indeed," Percy said dryly. "Allow me to be more specific. Do you know about the Galleon that Mother found in the laundry basket? A certain Galleon that someone may or may not have put in it? Somewhere a Galleon should not be?"

Harry opened one eye to look at Percy with. "People don't accidentally find money in the wash?"

"I suppose some do, but not a Galleon of all things. Especially not this family."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. "Not a Galleon then. Good to know."

Percy sighed. "Harry, you owe us nothing."

Harry opened both eyes and looked at the older boy. "Yes I do. You've let me stay here for weeks."

"We're happy to."

"I know, your family is so kind to me. It doesn't feel right to be…freeloading."

Percy bristled. "And how do you know that word of all things?!"

"From my Uncle." Harry winced a little speaking of him but he pushed through the feelings of disquiet. "He said I was a useless freeloader, a parasite. He said I had to earn my keep."

Percy was beyond appalled. "That is absurd. Harry, you are none of those things. You are a child, you do not have to earn your keep. My family may not be so wealthy as others but we can easily take care of you for any length of time."

Harry looked down at the grass. "The Dursleys are wealthy. I mean, I don't know how much compared to wizards and witches. But they had all sorts of new things and they would talk about how expensive everything they had was."

And yet you looked obviously neglected? Dressed in cast-offs that make our clothes look brand new? You who look malnourished and starved come from a family of wealth?

Percy's hands shook and he was trying very hard to not let his temper rise. He fought the bile rising in his throat.

Harry spoke softly. "I have money." He was not bragging; he was not being prideful. He spoke plainly, simply. "I want to share it with your family."

Percy blushed. "Harry, that is your money. It is money set aside for you by your family. You may have to live off of it for a very long time. That is incredibly generous of you and good of you to want to share, but it isn't something you should give frivolously."

Harry looked up at Percy blankly.

"Wastefully," Percy amended. "Or not wastefully. More like with little thought or care."

"I've thought a lot about it. Your family is so nice and happy even without money. The Dursleys have all this money and they seem happy but I'm not sure. At least, their happiness isn't the happiness I like." Harry looked back at the Burrow. "Not the happiness I want anyways."

He looked back at Percy. "I have money but I'm not happy. If sharing it makes me happy and helps you and your family, then it can't be bad right?"

Percy almost felt ashamed by the boy's generosity. How can a young boy show such consideration for others? His shame was overwritten by anger. He knew it was because the boy was craving warmth and kindness that he was forced to recognize kindness for what it was, and not see it as something normal. He lacked it for all his life and now was given it. Instead of enjoying it, he wanted to try and return it, to pay for it somehow.

To secure it.

He put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You're a good boy Harry, with a kind heart. You have good intentions but really, don't worry about that. There is no way my parents would ever approve and honestly, we are fine. We have wealth where it matters and will share it with you unreservedly."

Harry's face became calculating. "But you don't deny that it would be helpful. Money, I mean."

Percy's shame returned. "No, I cannot deny that."

Harry's smile was sly, one normally seen on the twins. "Excellent. Now we can negotiate."

"I beg your pardon?" Percy was thrown off by the sudden shift in mood.

"We've agreed on a principal and now we can negotiate the means of said principal." The way Harry said that was very precise, as if it was something he heard someone else say and committed to memory.

"What have my brothers been teaching you?" Percy asked, more than a little annoyed.

"I never said they were teaching me anything."

"You say the words but I can hear Fred and George voice."

Harry waved his hand, brushing Percy's observations aside. "Must be your imagination." Percy snorted, he had definitely heard the twins say that before to his accusations. Harry ignored the snort. "Anyways, I've been meaning to ask you, you're really good at school yes?"

"Yes…" Percy was trying to follow this new train of thought.

"I heard you did really good on your O.W.L.s."

"All Outstanding," Percy said, trying hard to not sound smug.

"Great job! That means you'd be a good tutor."

"Well just because one knows the material does not mean they know how to teach." Percy was lost at this point, something he usually was when speaking with the twins and it was a strange experience to feel this way when speaking with Harry. "That being said, I am a fine enough tutor."

"I could use your help at school. You can tutor me."

Percy eyes narrowed. "Aren't you near the top of your year in marks?"

"Near the top yes. Not at the top. So I have room to improve."

Percy sighed. "You work with your Quidditch teammates often as well as Hermione if I recall, and they all do well. I can't see how working with me will improve you anymore."

"We won't know until we try. And of course, I expect to compensate you for your expertise."

"Please stop speaking like Fred and George, it's rather disturbing to hear you speak like that." Percy looked stern. "As if I would charge you to tutor you either. You think I am that shallow and greedy?"

"No I don't." Harry stared right at Percy. "I think you're a good brother and someone who cares deeply about their family. I think if I pay you for your time and help you'd share the money with the others one way or another."

Percy felt rather embarrassed to be so dissected by someone Harry's age. He also felt rather flattered that Harry thought of him like that. Not many did.

"If you're really against the idea, I suppose I can pay the twins to play pranks on people."

"Oh Merlin no, anything but that," Percy groaned.

Harry giggled. "Or I can continue to hide money around the Burrow."

"I would not recommend that either." Percy sighed. "You know, it's embarrassing to be outplayed by someone considerably younger than you." He laughed at Harry's look of false innocence. "Okay, now I know you've been learning from the twins." After a moment's thought he held his hand out. "Very well. I will tutor you and will charge you an appropriate fee. You will stop hiding money about the Burrow and try to stop learning shady business dealings from my brothers."

Harry shook his hand happily. "Are they shady if it works?"

"Yes."

Harry sniggered. "Well, okay then. Besides, it's in your best interest to tutor me."

"How so?"

"Ron copies my work so you tutoring me is like tutoring him too, only not directly."

Percy laughed long and hard and after a moment Harry joined in. The orchard rang with the laughter and they eventually stopped. The wind carried their merriment away and the sunlight seemed all the warmer.

"Perhaps I should tell you to stop letting him copy you."

"Then you'd have to take points away and give him detention for not doing well in class. You wouldn't want that."

Percy sighed. "No I don't but I also don't want him to succeed without doing his own work. At least, try, to make him make an attempt, will you?"

"I'll try."

He shook his head to Harry's giggling.

"Should we head back?" Harry asked.

Percy thought. There were some things he could be doing. However, he suddenly found himself reluctant to leave the idyllic spot. "We have some time to enjoy the weather some more. It will be some time before we return after all."

Harry's face fell. "Before you return."

Percy smiled comfortingly. "I expect that you'll always be welcome Harry."

Harry's smile rivaled the sun's brightness.