Weasleys In America
DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction featuring characters in the Harry Potter series of books. I am not affiliated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic, or any other large corporation with marketing or licensing rights to the Harry Potter universe.
~~
The room had all the trappings of wealth and privilege. A few Secret Service men stood around, providing surveillance. The Wizarding Secretary of State, Iona LaFollette, held out her hand to the Attaché from Great Britain who stood before her. The tall, willowy, well-dressed man with horn-rimmed glasses smiled and kissed her hand.
"Madam Secretary, on behalf of the United Kingdom, I am pleased to be here," he said.
Secretary LaFollette smiled despite herself. The ambassador was suave and well mannered, and he made an immediate impression on her. "Welcome to the United States of America. I trust you will be comfortable during your stay." She turned to the small crowd gathered in the foyer. "May I introduce to you the Ambassador from the Ministry of Magic in the United Kingdom, Mr. Percival Weasley."
Flashbulbs exploded all around Percy, and a few journalists barked a handful of questions. He kept his smile through the whole ordeal, then he and Madam LaFollette left the room to discuss the topic at hand – the severe shortage of instructors in American Wizarding institutions and the number of green cards given to British teachers to fill the void.
~~
Percy Weasley had shot through the ranks of the Ministry of Magic. At the age of 30, he had achieved more than he had imagined, and now he was the Ministry's envoy to the United States. This trip was his first as an official representative. Only a day ago, he had kissed his wife and young son goodbye and used a Portkey to the Magical Congressional Building, located underneath the Muggles' own Senate building in Washington, D.C.
This was the realization of his dreams, penultimate to becoming Minister of Magic. His career was everything to him. After all these years, he still didn't understand how his father would give everything up to stay in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office and spend more time with his brothers and sisters. To Percy, nothing was more important than making a success in his own life. He could always have more time with his fledgling family.
Percy's relationship with his parents and a few of his brothers were strained after his decision to stand in ordinance with the Ministry of Magic the year after Percy graduated from Hogwarts, but he was able to patch up with most of them after Ron's graduation. Now and then, the old grudges came back (particularly with Ron), but Percy managed to keep everything civil. It seemed that his life was finally complete.
~~
Madam LaFollette offered Percy a cup of tea and a small poppy seed muffin. "Mr. Weasley, I think we can agree that the United States will offer a seven year green card to any citizen of the British Commonwealth who is gainfully employed as an educator."
"Secretary LaFollette, I thank you, the Minister thanks you, and the British people thank you. I believe that, on our end of the bargain, we can agree that the British will lower the tariff on imported hardwood brooms, but only those handcrafted for the Quidditch market. We have enough problems with stateside broom sales." Percy pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose and smiled. He knew he had succeeded in his first task, and it only meant laurels for him.
Secretary LaFollette settled into her armchair and drank her cup of tea. "I believe we can agree on that, Mr. Weasley. We have a deal. So, Percy, let's talk about you. I like to get to know the people I work with."
"Well, as you know, I am the youngest magical ambassador from Great Britain in almost two hundred and seventeen years. I've been working for the Ministry for about…"
"No, Percy, I mean, you. Your family. Tell me about your life."
The question stunned Percy for a moment. He had forgotten that many Americans had the habit of asking personal questions of strangers. Percy began, "I suppose I could talk about that. I have a wife, Penelope, and we have a little boy, William, who is eleven months old. I come from a large family."
"How many brothers and sisters do you have?"
"I have five brothers and one sister." The tops of Percy's ears flushed. He didn't want to talk about his family – what about the many fine things he had done with the Ministry?
Iona LaFollette smiled gracefully. "Percy, don't you miss your family? I mean, you're all alone here in Washington. Don't you wish you could go home and hug your wife and your child?"
"Madam LaFollette, I am here on business, so naturally, I'm not thinking about my family."
"You know, my husband's a lot like you."
"I would very much like to meet him."
Iona sighed. "I wish you could meet him. Delbert is dead. He worked himself to death."
"Nonsense! You can't work yourself to death!" Percy was incredulous.
"Mr. Weasley, I assure you, you can, and he did. The last thing he said was 'I'm late to my meeting.' He had a heart attack. Just a friendly bit of advice, son…don't wait until it's too late to tell your family how much you love them, and to show them that you do. Now, if you'll excuse me…" she stood up.
Percy followed her example. "Again, thank you, Secretary LaFollette. The Minister will be pleased with your decision."
When Percy returned to his hotel room, he thought about what Iona LaFollette had told him. It troubled him greatly that perfect strangers were giving him life advice, but the more he thought about it, the more he wondered why she would think he was like her late husband. Was his devotion to his job actually deadly? Did his father really have the right idea when it came to his career? Was Percy looking at a long, lonely road of alienation from his son? He thought about Iona's counsel - don't wait until it's too late to tell your family how much you love them, and to show them that you do. He had made that mistake before, and it almost cost him his father and brothers. He knew what he had to do.
Percy packed his bags and left a note with the front desk of the hotel. He took a deep breath, and reached for the Portkey.
DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction featuring characters in the Harry Potter series of books. I am not affiliated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., Scholastic, or any other large corporation with marketing or licensing rights to the Harry Potter universe.
~~
The room had all the trappings of wealth and privilege. A few Secret Service men stood around, providing surveillance. The Wizarding Secretary of State, Iona LaFollette, held out her hand to the Attaché from Great Britain who stood before her. The tall, willowy, well-dressed man with horn-rimmed glasses smiled and kissed her hand.
"Madam Secretary, on behalf of the United Kingdom, I am pleased to be here," he said.
Secretary LaFollette smiled despite herself. The ambassador was suave and well mannered, and he made an immediate impression on her. "Welcome to the United States of America. I trust you will be comfortable during your stay." She turned to the small crowd gathered in the foyer. "May I introduce to you the Ambassador from the Ministry of Magic in the United Kingdom, Mr. Percival Weasley."
Flashbulbs exploded all around Percy, and a few journalists barked a handful of questions. He kept his smile through the whole ordeal, then he and Madam LaFollette left the room to discuss the topic at hand – the severe shortage of instructors in American Wizarding institutions and the number of green cards given to British teachers to fill the void.
~~
Percy Weasley had shot through the ranks of the Ministry of Magic. At the age of 30, he had achieved more than he had imagined, and now he was the Ministry's envoy to the United States. This trip was his first as an official representative. Only a day ago, he had kissed his wife and young son goodbye and used a Portkey to the Magical Congressional Building, located underneath the Muggles' own Senate building in Washington, D.C.
This was the realization of his dreams, penultimate to becoming Minister of Magic. His career was everything to him. After all these years, he still didn't understand how his father would give everything up to stay in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office and spend more time with his brothers and sisters. To Percy, nothing was more important than making a success in his own life. He could always have more time with his fledgling family.
Percy's relationship with his parents and a few of his brothers were strained after his decision to stand in ordinance with the Ministry of Magic the year after Percy graduated from Hogwarts, but he was able to patch up with most of them after Ron's graduation. Now and then, the old grudges came back (particularly with Ron), but Percy managed to keep everything civil. It seemed that his life was finally complete.
~~
Madam LaFollette offered Percy a cup of tea and a small poppy seed muffin. "Mr. Weasley, I think we can agree that the United States will offer a seven year green card to any citizen of the British Commonwealth who is gainfully employed as an educator."
"Secretary LaFollette, I thank you, the Minister thanks you, and the British people thank you. I believe that, on our end of the bargain, we can agree that the British will lower the tariff on imported hardwood brooms, but only those handcrafted for the Quidditch market. We have enough problems with stateside broom sales." Percy pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose and smiled. He knew he had succeeded in his first task, and it only meant laurels for him.
Secretary LaFollette settled into her armchair and drank her cup of tea. "I believe we can agree on that, Mr. Weasley. We have a deal. So, Percy, let's talk about you. I like to get to know the people I work with."
"Well, as you know, I am the youngest magical ambassador from Great Britain in almost two hundred and seventeen years. I've been working for the Ministry for about…"
"No, Percy, I mean, you. Your family. Tell me about your life."
The question stunned Percy for a moment. He had forgotten that many Americans had the habit of asking personal questions of strangers. Percy began, "I suppose I could talk about that. I have a wife, Penelope, and we have a little boy, William, who is eleven months old. I come from a large family."
"How many brothers and sisters do you have?"
"I have five brothers and one sister." The tops of Percy's ears flushed. He didn't want to talk about his family – what about the many fine things he had done with the Ministry?
Iona LaFollette smiled gracefully. "Percy, don't you miss your family? I mean, you're all alone here in Washington. Don't you wish you could go home and hug your wife and your child?"
"Madam LaFollette, I am here on business, so naturally, I'm not thinking about my family."
"You know, my husband's a lot like you."
"I would very much like to meet him."
Iona sighed. "I wish you could meet him. Delbert is dead. He worked himself to death."
"Nonsense! You can't work yourself to death!" Percy was incredulous.
"Mr. Weasley, I assure you, you can, and he did. The last thing he said was 'I'm late to my meeting.' He had a heart attack. Just a friendly bit of advice, son…don't wait until it's too late to tell your family how much you love them, and to show them that you do. Now, if you'll excuse me…" she stood up.
Percy followed her example. "Again, thank you, Secretary LaFollette. The Minister will be pleased with your decision."
When Percy returned to his hotel room, he thought about what Iona LaFollette had told him. It troubled him greatly that perfect strangers were giving him life advice, but the more he thought about it, the more he wondered why she would think he was like her late husband. Was his devotion to his job actually deadly? Did his father really have the right idea when it came to his career? Was Percy looking at a long, lonely road of alienation from his son? He thought about Iona's counsel - don't wait until it's too late to tell your family how much you love them, and to show them that you do. He had made that mistake before, and it almost cost him his father and brothers. He knew what he had to do.
Percy packed his bags and left a note with the front desk of the hotel. He took a deep breath, and reached for the Portkey.