Chapter Seventeen: The Scarlet Raven

Percy stared into the ceiling and the scarlet apparition which stood there unperturbed. There were several moments of sheer unbroken silence. Then Mr. Malfoy spoke. His voice was as quiet and deadly as the bite of a snake.

"Wormtail. You damned fool."

The small man spoke out for the first time, angry but not assertive. "I know what I saw!"

The Scarlet Raven laughed heartily from far above them. "I thought you might fall for that one. Gentlemen," he said grandly, bowing low, "it's been a pleasure. I do hope to see you again soon."

Without another glance, he strode across the rafters and walked out of a ground-level window.

Wormtail's mouth hung open. "But I --"

Malfoy turned on him. "I will deal with you later," he growled. "Finish this one. Travers!" he barked. The big man grunted in reply and the two of them went rushing from the room in pursuit of the Scarlet Raven.

Wormtail and Percy were left staring at each other uncertainly.

"You don't want to kill me," said Percy, not sounding at all sure of the fact.

Wormtail raised his wand to point at Percy's forehead. "You gave me to Ron when you got the owl," he said.

His words were so unexpected that Percy was rendered speechless. "I--"

"I thought you were going to take care of me," Wormtail growled. The wand, clutched in a silvery hand, didn't move an inch. "You abandoned me. You knew Ron wasn't very responsible."

Unbelievable, Percy thought. My family hates me, my girlfriend leaves me and now I'm being told off by my pet rat. Not to mention that one of my coworkers kidnapped me and killed my owl. "I -- uh -- didn't think you would mind."

"I did." His voice was ugly and sullen. "You could have kept us both."

"I was a school prefect!" Percy scolded. "The school rules limiting the number of pets are extremely explicit. An owl OR a cat OR a toad. You're just lucky I didn't give you to the twins!"

"I thought you liked me. I was a good rat. I learnt all of your stupid tricks --"

"I knew you could read!" Percy burst out. "I must have told Bill a hundred times! Wait 'til I ."

He trailed off. Wormtail had his wand at Percy's forehead again.

"You abandoned me. The master I serve now won't abandon me - he gave me this -" He flexed his silver hand. "And the reward will be even greater when I kill you. Avada -"

He stopped.

His eyes rolled to the back of his head.

He collapsed into a heap on the floor.

Penelope Clearwater lowered her wand and stepped over the fallen man. "Johnny is guarding us," she said quickly. "We need to get you out."

Percy stared. "What are you doing here?"

Penelope hurried around behind him and untied his hands with a flick of her wand. "What are you doing here?" she countered. "Why on earth would they think that you were the Scarlet Raven?"

"Because I am the Scarlet Raven," Percy snapped, untying the ropes around his ankles.

"Then who --" Penelope looked involuntarily at the window through which the Scarlet Raven had made his escape.

Percy sprang to his feet. "Perkins, of course." He dusted himself off, looked around, and then turned back to Penelope. "Go home. I have to follow Perkins."

Penelope put her hands on her hips. "I can't leave now!"

"You can and you will," said Percy shortly. He started poking around the crowds of boxes along the walls. Maybe there was a weapon somewhere.

Penelope's face reddened. "You know, that is exactly like you!"

"Penny, this is not the time," said Percy through his teeth, rooting through the barrels on one side of the room. He tore the lid off of one and unearthed a dozen long, sheathed swords. Drawing one, he made a few experimental passes and then shoved it back into the scabbard. He'd rather by far have his wand, but something sharp would do in a pinch. He buckled it around his waist. He turned around -- and there was Penelope, inches from his face, glaring him down.

"It's never the time, is it?" Penelope demanded. "Because Percy always has to run off and do something important. Taking notes for the Minister -- a press conference -- saving a batch of Muggles --"

"There is nothing wrong with press conferences!" said Percy hotly.

"No, there's not!" said Penelope, not moving an inch. "But no matter what you do, Percy -- good, bad, no matter what -- the problem is that you never stop and think about how it's going to affect other people!"

Percy stopped dead and stared at her.

"Didn't you see how hard it would be on your family when you left? You say that you miss them -- what about the way they miss you? Didn't you realize, when you wrote that letter, that Ron didn't want to hear any more terrible things about his best friend? Do you have any idea what it did to your mother when you sent back the Christmas jumper?"

He was astonished to see tears pouring down Penelope's cheeks. He reached out to wipe them; Penelope batted away his hand and hid her face. Her breath was coming in sobs.

"And didn't you realize -- what it was like -- for me -- to watch you -- turn your back on your whole family -- and wonder -- whether I'd be next?"

"Penny ..." Percy raised his hands toward her awkwardly, then dropped them again. "Penny, I could never turn my back on you." For just a moment his voice was soft and longing. Then, in an instant, it snapped back to crisp rigidity. "Any more than I could turn my back on Perkins. Right now he needs me, I fear, quite badly. You will go back to my flat --"

"I will do no such thing," said Penelope viciously. "And you can't Banish me or Apparate away because you haven't got a wand." She wiped her wet cheeks angrily.

"No," said Percy, his eyes narrowing, "but you do."

He lunged at her.

The tussle was interrupted by a cranky voice.

"You might've waited for a better time to get frisky."

Percy looked up from where he straddled Penelope's waist. "Perkins!" Penelope snatched back her wand. "You managed to shake them?"

Perkins glanced over his shoulder. "Not exactly." There was the sound of frantic footsteps outside the door.

Percy gaped at him. He and Penelope scrambled to their feet. "You brought them back?!?"

"What was I supposed to do? Lead 'em to my house?"

"You were supposed to lose them!"

The door banged open.

Malfoy and Travers burst in, wands forward, sneering breathlessly. Mr. Malfoy's hair was mussed and his pale face was flush in the cheeks. None of them looked surprised to see so many people in the warehouse; without missing a step, Malfoy roared, "You take Weasley and the girl -- the Raven is mine!"

"Come get me," snarled Perkins, raising his wand.

Percy saw Travers advance on them with a smirk. He shoved in front of Penelope. "Stay behind me!" he ordered, and reached for his sword.

"You idiot, I'm the one with the wand!" Penelope cried. She dove out from behind him. "Tarantallegra!"

Travers's feet went off in a wild uncontrollable jig. He managed to stagger a few paces forward before he lost his footing completely. He landed on his side amid a stack of crates, which collapsed and tumbled around him. "Crucio!" he gasped.

Percy flung himself into Penelope and propelled them both several feet to the side. The spell zinged past, bounced off of some barrels, and scattered. Percy bounded to his feet and reached out a hand to Penelope, who sat disoriented in the middle of some sacks of flour. "Are you -- aaaaargh!"

A bolt of violet wandlight struck him in the side and whirled him around like a top. He spun into a pile of cardboard boxes and crumpled.

Penelope scrambled up. Malfoy and Perkins seemed to have a heated duel going on right then, but she didn't bother to look at them -- her wand was focused on Travers, still lying half-covered with crates. "Locomotor mortis!"

"Protego!" Travers snarled, just in time to block her curse. "Relashio!"

A jet of shimmering embers landed on her arm, burning holes in her sweater. Before she had even swatted them all out, Travers was up again. "Expelliarmus!"

The wand wrenched itself from Penelope's hand. It clattered to the ground and rolled out of sight. She backed away. Travers was grinning now, leering in fact, relishing victory. Penelope dodged behind some crates, her heart beating fast. She was no match for him without a wand ... and she had nowhere to go ...

There was a rustling nearby: Percy struggling to stand up. His spectacles were cockeyed on his face, and he was bleeding from his right temple. He still looked a little muddled. Behind him, Wormtail was also beginning to stir. Penelope peeked around the corner to see Travers shift his attention to the red-haired boy. "Percy!" she cried. "Get out of the way --!"

A long howl echoed through the room.

A thick dark form burst through an upper window and skidded deftly down the piles of boxes. It leapt over Malfoy and Perkins -- who were both struggling through a pair of force fields -- and landed in front of Travers with its ears down and teeth bared. Travers started forward with his massive hands outstretched, but Wormtail cried out:

"Keep back -- that's a werewolf!"

Immediately Travers backed away. Johnny growled.

Percy staggered against the pile of crates. He shoved his glasses into place and stared. "Johnny!"

Penelope tore her eyes from the werewolf and cast about on the ground for her wand. It had to be here, it couldn't've gone far ... she spotted the tip of it sticking out from below a bushel basket, in the rear corner of the room. She got down on the floor. Accio, she thought, stretching her arm as far as it could go. Come to me ...

"Stupefy!"

Percy went rigid and collapsed again.

Wormtail hovered over him, his face a horrible mix of fear and anger. His eyes flickered to Penelope.

She wasted no more time. Diving to the corner, she heaved aside the bushel basket and snatched up her wand. She spun around. "Protego!"

It was not a moment too soon. Wormtail's spell ricocheted and went into the ceiling, where it exploded against the rafters.

"Expelliarmus!" she roared. Wormtail went flying backward and hit the wall. His wand disappeared into the piles of crates. "Ennervate!" Percy's eyes flew open. He sprang to his feet. Penelope whirled toward Travers. "Petrificus totalus!"

Travers' face went slack; his arms and legs snapped to his sides and he clattered to the ground, utterly motionless. Johnny leapt onto his chest and howled in victory.

Percy stared at Penelope. "You're good."

She allowed herself a mischievous smile. "I know."

There were roars from the other side of the room. Both of them turned.

Malfoy and Perkins had both lost their wands and were grappling shoulder to shoulder -- Perkins' wrinkled face was white and thin-lipped, Malfoy's a frenzy of hate. Getting his shoulder low, Malfoy flung out an arm and caught Perkins across the chest. The old man staggered back.

Lifting his arms with great effort, Perkins raised his palms toward Malfoy. A bubble of blue light bloomed in each hand. He shoved both arms toward his enemy.

A wave of blue light streamed out and caught Malfoy in the chest. The man was lifted off the ground and thrown across the room. He collapsed into a pile of barrels. His hands flailed for support ... and found the swords scattered from their barrel.

He snatched one up and rose to his feet, glaring at Perkins. "You old fool," he sneered, sliding off the scabbard and tossing it aside as he stalked forward, "you ignoramus --"

Perkins, unarmed and injured, glared back unflinchingly.

Instantly, Percy dashed across the flung himself between the two. He took a stance in front of Perkins and raised his sword in both hands.

Malfoy let out a short laugh. "Stupid boy --" He made a lazy swipe with his sword. Percy deflected it easily.

Malfoy frowned and tried another pass. It was cast to the side. Penelope ran to Perkins and drew him away from the battle. Malfoy lunged. Percy leapt to one side and the blade slid harmlessly beneath his arm. He caught Malfoy's sword near the hilt and sent the tall man stumbling backwards. Sneering, a hint of madness in his eyes, Malfoy brought up his sword and attacked.

The Guardian sword had never been so fierce or so wildly intent. Percy stumbled backward through the rubble of the warehouse, aware that he was literally fighting for his life. Malfoy's blade was a hummingbird, the tongue of a serpent -- the eaves rung with clanging steel and the hum of resonating metal. Roaring in frustration, Malfoy darted forward and caught Percy in the shoulder with the flat of his blade. Percy ducked before it could make its way to his neck and thrust out to scratch Malfoy's side. Panting, the other man retreated for just a moment before charging forward again.

A strange thing was happening in Percy's mind. These attacks, these moves were so familiar -- he had seen it all before, felt its fury amid the walls of Perkins' study. Malfoy was no different than the disembodied sword. And he realized, with dawning amazement, that he wasn't getting wounded. He'd hardly been touched ...

... I can do this.

Percy parried twice in a row and went on the offensive.

Malfoy suddenly found himself at the other end of the attack. Where had this pauper learned to fight? He fended off an upper swing only to be met by a sharp jab in the side. Blood leaked onto his pristine shirt. Suddenly it became clear that the situation may not end as he had expected. He took an involuntary step back.

That was all Percy needed. He leapt forward into the open space, caught the tip of his sword in Malfoy's hilt, and flung the sword across the room. At the same instant, he kicked out a foot and wrapped it around Malfoy's ankle. The blonde man thudded onto his back. Within the flicker of his eye he had his blade at Malfoy's throat.

"Checkmate," he said quietly.

Malfoy grew still. His cunning eyes narrowed.

Johnny came down off of Travers and padded in front of Wormtail, who had started to come back to consciousness. Perkins found his wand under some old linens and took up a post near the door. Penelope kept her eyes firmly on Travers, Full-Body-Bound and helpless on the floor.

When Percy spoke again the room was almost silent. "Is everyone all right?"

Penelope nodded and Perkins grunted assent, although he was holding his side. Johnny barked happily.

"Perkins, was there anyone else after you?"

The old man shook his head.

"Perkins?" Malfoy's eyes lit up and immediately, Percy would have given anything to take back his words. "Not that pathetic old fool who works with Weasley in the Muggle Artifacts department?" He let out a cold, cruel laugh, ignoring that his Adam's apple brushed the tip of Percy's sword. "The Scarlet Raven, a silly old ex-Auror with an office the size of a broom closet?"

"Give me that sword," growled Perkins.

"Keep your eyes on the others," Percy ordered. The point of the sword never flickered. "This man speaks lies."

"Lies, are they?" Malfoy hissed. "Let me speak to you some truths, then. There are those who know where I've been. If I come up missing it'll be in the papers within days -- The Scarlet Raven and Sidekick Go Rogue, Kill Philanthropist. Then they'll be on your trail day and night. Your days of saving Muggles will be over. The Quibbler will no longer salute you. And when you're found, you can be assured of one last kindness -- the Dementor's Kiss."

"False assumption," said Percy, his voice wavering just a bit. "What if we don't kill you?"

"Ah." Malfoy smiled. "Mercy. Azkaban, I presume ... but then your cover is destroyed, your effectiveness gone. We will be the last arrests you are ever able to make. Deny all you want, but consider ... the word of Lucius Malfoy against the word of a boy --" He glanced at Johnny. "Or a half-breed --" Johnny growled and Wormtail cowered back. "Or a fossil --" Perkins gritted his teeth. "Or a Mudblood."

"Give me that sword," Penelope snarled.

"Don't listen to that claptrap," Perkins said. He seemed to be speaking with difficulty; Percy wondered how badly he was really hurt. "We'll work out what to do next once he's dead."

Dead. The word struck Percy with no warning, a verbal bullet. He didn't want to kill. Sword or wand, it came down to the same thing -- murder, whether the victim deserved it or not. But there seemed no other way. Unless --?

"Hesitating?" Malfoy crooned. "He who hesitates is lost ..."

Without taking his eyes from Malfoy, Percy held out a hand to Perkins. "Give me your wand."

Malfoy's face fell. "What are you doing?"

"Finishing this." Percy leveled the wand at Malfoy's head. "I'll see you at the office."

"Wait --!"

"Obliviate!"

***

When Lucius Malfoy opened his eyes he saw the crackling logs in his own fireplace.

He shifted and sat upright in the armchair, and was surprised to find himself wincing in pain. Must have fallen asleep in a strange position. Unusual.

Narcissa breezed in, striking in a silken dressing gown. "Oh, you're back," she said lazily, coming around to drop a kiss on his cheek. "Did you get him?"

"Get who?" said Lucius irritably, rubbing his cheek.

"The Scarlet Raven," said Narcissa, She glided across the room to pluck a book from a shelf that spanned a wall from floor to ceiling. "You were going to kill Percy Weasley because he's the Scarlet Raven. Did you manage it?"

Lucius, halfway out of his seat, let out a short bark of a laugh. "Percy Weasley?" He joined his wife at the bookshelf. "That nearsighted, groveling mendicant? Where on earth would I get such a ridiculous idea?"

"Yes, well I thought it was a bit silly myself," said Narcissa. She slid a cool hand around his neck. "I'm glad you're back. I had planned to spend the night reading. You know how tiresome that is."

Lucius's mouth twisted into a grin despite himself. "Let's see if we can come up with something more engaging."

"Oh, I'm sure we can."

***

Perkins' apartment glowed with the lights on low; the rain had tapered off to a gentle patter on the windows. The old man, nursing a cup of tea, paused every once in a while to readjust the heating pad on his shoulder, and to move the ice pack on his side.

Across from him, Percy slouched on the sofa holding a bag of ice to his jaw. His other arm was around Penelope, who rested her head on his chest. Johnny lay on the floor between them, toying with a soup bone that Perkins had found in his icebox.

"So after the World Cup, Perkins contacted you about this Raven thing," said Penelope, clutching a mug of tea.

Perkins nodded. "Needed someone to take over -- I haven't done the job for ten years. Arthur told me about how his boys tackled that gang of Death Eaters. The other two lived overseas," he gestured with his teacup, "so I had to go with this one."

"After the Triwizard Tournament," Percy said, picking up the story, "everything indicated that Voldemort was back -- not only Potter's story, but rumors in the street, at the Ministry." He removed the ice, prodded the side of his mouth carefully, winced, and put it back. "My whole family was convinced -- and you know Mum, she doesn't make up her mind lightly."

Penelope nodded, snuggling into his side.

"So I hinted to Fudge that I'd be able to spy on my family. Of course I got promoted right away -- then I broke ties with them so I wouldn't be asked to, and so I wouldn't be suspected of having a connection with Dumbledore."

"You might have told them," said Penelope, but her voice was soft, unaccusing. "They would have understood."

"That's what I told him," Perkins snorted.

"All this time, and I never guessed," Penelope sighed, taking a sip of tea. "I wish you'd told me."

"I wish I could have," said Percy. "I didn't want to put you in danger. Clearly it didn't work." He looked down at her fondly.

Penelope met his eyes. Slowly she sat up.

"Percy," she began, setting down her tea, "I want you to understand something."

The grin faded from Percy's face.

She reached out and took his hand, firmly holding his gaze. "If you're in danger, I want to be there. I want to be able to help you when you need it -- I want you to help me when I need it. I want to be with you, Percy. All the time. In everything."

Percy stared at her. "That --" He was conscious of his voice breaking. "That's what I want."

Johnny and Perkins exchanged a glance. Perkins cleared his throat.

"Looks to me like we're not on our own anymore, sprout," he said loudly.

Johnny nodded vigorously.

Percy and Penelope didn't look at them. "You never were," said Penelope softly.

"I wish I'd known that before," Percy whispered.

"Just do one thing for me, Percy."

"Anything."

Penelope smiled. "Write to your mother."

Percy took a deep breath. Then he smiled back.

"You know, I think I will."

Epilogue

Percy rooted around in the back of his closet, dug through the clothes hamper, checked under the bureau and plunked onto his bed in disgust.

"Confound it all!"

Mother Swainbrooke bustled in with a basket of fresh linens. "What's the matter then, Mr. Weasley?"

"Just ... misplaced something," said Percy vaguely, scratching his chin. "I thought for sure ..."

"Would it be this?" smiled Mother Swainbrooke. She whisked the Scarlet Raven cloak from the laundry.

Percy gaped.

"T'was so torn and dirty, I knew you'd be needin' it fresh for tonight," said the landlady fondly. "I patched it up for ye." She laid it on the bed with the rest of his clean laundry. "Now ye'll be in fine shape to capture some Muggle-baiters, right you will!"

"Right I will," said Percy weakly.

The landlady bustled out.

Percy looked across the room at his new owl Mercury. "Was I honestly that obvious?"

Mercury hooted and hid her head beneath her wing.

Finis

~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for reading. If you've stuck it out the whole way, please leave a review so that I know you were here -- and so I and the other, oh, two or three readers can check out your profile. :-)