It was late that evening. They were now involved with a game of cards. The twins got bored with poker after they started winning each hand, so Fred brought out his deck of Exploding Snap. Rosette laughed each time a card exploded, but Rich commented on how that was a dangerous game to be playing, especially in these times. "Oh you're just upset cause it's exploded on you every time," stated Rosette, flashing the twins a pretty smile. They grinned back.
George leaned over, whispering: "That's cause we put a charm on it to do that." Rosette laughed again, and Rich went red in the face.
Forgotten in the merriment, Percy rose quietly and went to sit on the balcony that overlooked the town. Admiring the peacefulness and the view, he sat back in the lawn chair that Rosette had placed outside in case any of them wanted to sit there. He could overhear the laughter echoing from the room, resisting the temptation to both join them or tell them to shut up. Closing his eyes in relaxation, he thought peacefully to himself for the first time in a while. What's happened to us? Because of one man we allowed our whole civilization and everything we've ever worked for become dust in the wind? Not while I'm around. But I forgot...my magic's fading. Maybe the twins haven't noticed it yet. I can't do half the things that I used to be able to do. I can't do many of the things that they can do! Hell, I probably couldn't have flown that broomstick today. The world's all messed up, and it's probably all my fault. Sighing, he took out the old journal and carefully started writing his thoughts down, trying to clear his mind of all his troubles.
The world's screwed up. It's not supposed to be like this! Muggles were never supposed to realize that us wizards existed. The one time before this happened, they tried to slaughter us all. Fortunately, we survived that catastrophe. But now? I don't think I can go on. It would be so easy just to surrender to the dark side of things. It would let me rest...rest without worry or nightmares. I can't help but wonder what's happened to Ron or Ginny, or even poor Harry, who they are no doubt torturing as I write here complaining about my life. I'm probably one of the people who're better off. He glanced up, hearing his name being called, and ignored it for the time being, letting his thoughts flow. Soon, I feel the end coming. When the last drop of magical ability is gone within me, then I shall kill myself. I cannot live without my magic! It's everything to me. I never thought of an alternative life. I love being what I am, but if God so wishes me to be forever in yearning for it, then I can't take that. If I can't have magic, I'll have nothing at all, damn it all.
"Perce! We've been calling for you for a few minutes," exclaimed Fred's voice, and Percy quickly shut the journal.
"I just came out for some fresh air." He smiled wearily.
"What's that? Oh, your diary," grinned Fred, calling it a name that he hadn't used in a long time. Percy grinned back. "Can I read, please?"
He sighed, debating the matter for several minutes. What caused him to give it up was the mere fact that Fred would find a way to read it even if he said no. "Oh very well," he murmured, handing it over reluctantly. Closing his eyes, he sensed Fred's thoughts as he slowly read over the disturbing words. When he heard the book fall from Fred's hands, he glanced over. "Happy?"
"Your magic's fading? Why didn't you say something? This is serious, Perce!"
"I'm not an idiot. I know it's serious." He shook his head. "I didn't want to trouble the two of you with anything else. It doesn't seem to be affecting you two, so it's not catastrophic. As long as there's some magic left in the world, then there's hope."
There was silence between the two of them before Fred managed to speak again. "It hurts to hear you talking like that! You! Mr. Minister of Magic himself. You can't just keel over and die like you're trying to, Percy. We'll help. George and me'll help," assured Fred, causing Percy to smile.
"Oh I'm sure you will. But can you?" asked Percy, peering at him curiously.
"Of course we can! What do you mean by that? We'll always be able to help," Fred said cheerfully. "C'mon back inside, will you? It's getting chilly out here." He shivered as if to prove it. Percy smiled wearily, giving in and heading indoors. "Found him! Hah! I win!" George looked disappointed, handing over five Knuts to Fred. They both looked at Percy who had, obviously, seen this. "What? It's not like we're losing money...just friendly betting to make things interesting."
"It's interesting enough," he said shortly. George shook his head, glancing in Rosette's direction.
"So what's in store for us next, eh? Another round? Or perhaps some wizard's chess!" he exclaimed eagerly.
"Wizard's chess?" she said curiously, tilting her head to one side skeptically.
"Aye...a dreadful game that's just a show of violence if you ask me personally," interrupted Percy. "Care if I go back outside then? It's only a two-person game, although I guess you could have teams. Just like Muggle chess...um....your chess...only spiced up a bit, I suppose is the best way to explain it."
George grinned. "Okay, here's an idea! If you wanna go and sit over yonder pondering about whatever nonsense crosses your head, go then...I'll come get you. Fred plays the winner!" he stated.
"Bet you five Knuts that you can't beat Rosette," Fred suggested.
"It's a deal! C'mon!" Sitting down, he started to set up the chessboard. Percy smiled, listening to George's explanation of the game, before heading back out to the balcony.
The following day was much a repeat of that day. They had fun playing a few games, teaching Rosette and Richard many of the things about the wizarding world. Percy even joined in with a few of the rounds of wizard's chess, winning easily without having to think much at all. It wasn't until lunchtime that day that things started going off course.
They were in the middle of about the twentieth chess game. It was Percy versus Fred. George was cheering on Percy: he'd bet that Percy would beat Fred just to get back at him for helping Rosette win and causing him to loose five Knuts earlier. Fred moved a pawn to A8 and as Percy was about to counteract, he suddenly had a warning that something was going to happen...something deadly. Looking out the window, he paused before touching the chess piece. Rising to his feet, Percy walked out to the balcony, ignoring the stares that he was getting especially from Rosette. Richard had gone to taking care of the children so she could have a bit of fun. "What is it, Perce?" Fred started to ask. He hardly got past the 'What' when something exploded.
Percy was flung backward into the living room where the others were sitting, knocked out after a second. Fred instantly leapt to his side while George pulled Rosette downward to safety. "Perce? Percy?" he cried in astonishment, shaking Percy desperately. But there was no answer from the unconscious Minister of Magic. Fred looked shocked. Richard had run out into the main room at the sound of the explosion, a look of terror on the man's face.
"What's going on? You brought this on us, you did!" Rich accused pointedly once he'd checked to see who'd thrown the grenade in their direction. "We would have been perfectly fine without your type crawling around our house!" Rosette frowned coldly.
"C'mon, dear, you know that's not true. It only happened a week ago prior to this," she commented gently, "you should note." Her eyes went to Fred, who was panicking about Percy. "We've gotta help them. They're worse off than we are, and you know it!" Richard gave in reluctantly, sighing deeply as he nodded, skulking back to the other room. Rosette managed to peel Fred off of Percy, and with the twins' help he was carried onto the couch, where Rosette studied him carefully. "No real damage," she assured, smiling. "He's tough, this Percy is. I reckon it was just the fact that he was thrown from that balcony that caused it, cause of the blast. I've seen it before. He'll be back to normal in an hour or two."
But Fred wasn't so sure. He hadn't told George or any of the others what he'd read in Percy's journal. What if this shock had caused his magic to disappear all together? He shook his head with a sigh, trying to ignore the growing worries that were creeping up on him. At George's quizzical look, he laughed it off, adding: "Course, ol' Percy's as stubborn as a barn owl. Can't get him to give up anything he wants, and I'm sure he wants to live!" But even as he said those words, he knew better. Percy's words echoed in his mind, about what he'd do without magic.
"C'mon, Fred, stop lettin' it get to ya. He's fine, according to Ms. Rosette here!" George tried reassuring. "I'll take his place, let's finish this game, shall we?" Fred, with a final glance at Percy resting on the couch, looking quite dead as it was, sighed but reluctantly agreed.
They gave up on playing games towards suppertime when Percy stirred weakly. Fred was instantly at his side, as was Rosette. George hung back a little; he'd never been too fond of Percy and personally couldn't really care less of what happened to him. If it weren't for the fact that they were brothers he'd have left him, that and the fact that Fred had gotten closer to him lately. "Perce?" asked Fred cautiously, bending over Percy warily. Percy moved to sit up and felt a hand on his shoulders, pushing him back down. Smiling as he realized it was none other than Fred, he yawned sleepily.
"How...how long was I, um..." he trailed, unable to finish the sentence. Fred smiled gently in return.
"Only half a day, Perce. Rosette says you're just fine, that nothing serious was injured," he commented, but he caught Percy's eye warningly, frowning. As Percy's expression darkened, Fred guessed that he caught his meaning. There could be a chance that his magic was gone now. There had been so little left before, after all. His hand moving to his pocket, fetching his wand, Percy took it out and murmured the simplest of spells that he could think of. It was the basic spell that lit up the end of a wand during the night. With dusk coming upon them, Percy knew he could see and more than likely feel if the magic was working properly.
"Lumos," he murmured, then watched fearfully. Nothing occurred. His heart sank miserably, sighing deeply, whispering mainly for Fred's benefit: "It's gone and happened. It's gone..."
"You sure? I mean, maybe you just lost it, er, temporarily or something like that?" Fred tried comforting. George was looking suspiciously confused, while Rosette stayed next to him, trying to figure things out for herself.
Percy looked at Fred sternly and snapped, "I think I would know if I had magic or not!" Fred subdued, falling silent. "Sorry...Got back into my old habits there for a second." He smiled weakly. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to try once more. Maybe it just might work. Lumos!" He tried this a second time with a more powerful voice, a broad grin spreading on his face as the tip of his wand lit up brilliantly. Rosette took a frightened step backward and George put a hand on her shoulder.
"Easy there! Just a spell that lights up your way in the dark. You learn it the very first year you start magic training," George explained. Rosette nodded with understanding.
Feeling a little bit more confident, Percy thought for a moment, before trying: "Nox!" He nodded with satisfaction as the light blinked out.
"Well, see, there it's not all gone!" Fred stated cheerfully. Percy rolled his eyes.
"I wonder..." He looked around the room briefly, spotting a pillow halfway across it, and pointing his wand in that direction. "Accio!" A bright yellow pillow soared towards them, landing neatly on the floor beside the couch. "Well, that's working too. I guess you're right. Just...I still want to see if my spells are working..."
"Your spells? Weren't those them?" Rosette asked curiously. Percy chuckled.
"Those are spells every damned wizard can do. I invented a few of my own...a year or two ago, before this hell war started," he returned. He grinned at the twins' shocked looks. "Oh come now, haven't you seen Ministry wizards walking around with a deep red book? Sort of hard to miss there, but that would be mine! About five hundred pages worth of homemade and hard worked out spells are in there." Percy thought curiously. "Oh damn, I've left it back at the Burrow...oh well. I know them all by heart anyway." Glancing around the room, he pointed at an old pillow that looked ready to fall apart. "Don't mind if I take that, do you?" He looked at Rosette.
"What for?" she asked, growing curious. Magic was beginning to intrigue her.
"To test a spell out on. Don't worry, you'll get it back safe and sound if I have my saying," he said hurriedly at her worried look.
"Sure, alright..." Rosette agreed hesitantly, running a hand through her hair nervously.
"Accio!" Percy called that pillow to him, grinning widely as he was pleased to notice that his magic seemed to be working actually better than it had been in a while. "Infernumus!" The twins exchanged glances. They knew enough about magic to guess what would happen, and George pulled Rosette away from the pillow as it burst into flames. "Nainfermas!" Immediately the fire died out, and the pillow was as good as new. Percy was in a pleasant mood at this point, though exhausted. "Well, that proves I've magic still...but pardon, I'm worn out."
Fred laughed. "That proves it's still fading," he said seriously. George raised an eyebrow.
"So that's what this whole thing about losing magic's about!" George stated, nodding.
Percy smiled. "Yes, it's still fading, but it's not gone..." Looking sternly at Fred, he whispered so that only he could hear, "and therefore I won't be gone. Not so as long as I have magic left in me." He yawned tiredly, just as comfortable as he'd been for the past day and a half now.
Rosette walked over to him, and threw a light blanket over him again. "Yes, you boys had better take this opportunity to catch up on your sleep. Who knows when you'll relax, once you leave here! You twins can have your couches back. I think I'll get some rest too, matter of fact. Rich will stay up on guard." Percy was already sound asleep, and the twins soon followed his example. Rosette, fascinated with the magic that she'd witnessed that day, was determined to keep the brothers around as long as possible. She hoped to be able to buy a wand from somewhere, now that she knew a few spells. After her first shock, she'd realized how useful they would be, and started learning them as the elder boy said them. She was careful not to give this information away to Rich, however, and would wait until tomorrow when she'd send him out to market, determined to get her way.
By noon, the boys had woken and were fed. Richard was gone to market for the day, since it took that long to do anything anymore. Rosette watched as Fred and Percy sat in discussion, while George was fiddling with building a card tower out of a deck of Exploding Snap cards. She'd offer them lunch and then pop the question. Waiting a moment longer, she walked in, put on her usual cheerful smile, before saying: "Would you boys care for some lunch?" The twins grinned broadly.
"Course!" George said. "Blimey, I've been bored out of my mind."
"What mind?" Fred countered. "I thought you lost it back in your sixth year."
This statement caused Percy to start giggling, and Fred allowed himself a grin. George went red before falling silent. Rosette nodded, but instead of heading to the kitchen she sat down across from them, looking serious. "I'm curious, boys...how can I become a wizard? Er, whatever I'd be called..."
"Sorceress or witch, take your preference," Percy managed once he'd stopped laughing. "At any rate, one normally begins training at the age of eleven. Nowadays, though, I suppose it's open to anyone, Muggles alike. I guess there'd be a way, eh?" Fred shrugged.
"You could give her what's left of your magic!" George suggested. Percy's eyes narrowed coldly. "Only joking, geesh!"
"I guess it wouldn't take to any harm to help you. I mean, you've taken care of us without complaint and that's a lot to handle." He smiled brightly. "You'd need a wand though...which I'm sure I could make if I have the right material."
Fred stood and saluted suddenly. "Name it, I've probably got it in my pockets still," he stated. Percy laughed at that, remembering their years at school.
"Alright...let's see now..." He studied Rosette carefully, before nodding. "Unicorn hair." Fred frowned momentarily.
"How'd ya come to that conclusion? I'd say phoenix hair!"
"Dragon hair!" George added.
"Dragons don't have hair," hissed Percy. "Alright then, phoenix hair, have any on you?" Fred started digging through his pockets, and finally pulled out a strand of brilliant colored hair. "I don't believe it..." He took the hair into his fingers, examining it carefully. "Well, I'll be damned...it's phoenix hair all right!" He smiled again, looking to Rosette. "We'll explain later. Next um..." He studied her again carefully, before concluding: "Oak wood, you suppose? Naw, maple goes better with phoenix hair.."
"Right." Fred started throwing things down onto the ground at random. "Oops...don't eat that, that's a Canary Cream...something we invented. Or that one...we hexed it with something, can't remember, aha! Finally, maple wood!" He handed a stick over to Percy, who stared with wide-eyed disbelief.
"I don't believe you still keep these things in your pockets, but alright..." He chuckled as a lizard crawled out of Fred's pockets and walked away. "That should do it for now. Everything else I can handle." Taking a seat on the floor, Percy put the things in front of him and went to work. Rosette watched, fascinated beyond belief, as he made her a wand. The twins were astonished as well, not knowing all of Percy's skills. Within four hours, he'd made her a ten and a half inch long wand of Maple wood and Phoenix hair. Handing it to her, he instructed: "Just wave it a bit, let's see if I've got this combination right..." Rosette, frowning, waved the wand in front of her, laughing loudly as sparks shot out of it. "There we go! Perfect!" He grinned.
"I don't believe you!" Fred teased. "How come you never told us you could make wands? Then we wouldn't've had to get in trouble so much by hiding our own places after pranks!" Percy looked at them quite seriously.
"I've only recently acquired this skill. It takes years of practice normally to become a skilled wand maker. After Crouch first accepted me as his assistant, I started to learn whatever I could about the wizarding world. Even after his death, and I was moved up to fill his position, I knew Fudge saw me as a prime applicant for his replacement," Percy started. "You see..."
"We get it," both twins said at the same time, grinning at each other. Percy fell silent. "Don't get 'em started on his job," Fred warned Rosette, "he'll go on for hours." Percy blushed furiously.
"No, actually, I know someone who'd be quite interested in him. She's my niece...you might know her, she's a wizardess, or witch, whatever you call her. Katie Bell?"
"What?" the twins exclaimed in unison again. "She's your niece?" Fred said. "She never mentioned being of Muggle background!" George stated warily. Rosette laughed.
"Guess she's not too much of a Muggle if she can work magic," Percy interrupted.
"Right you are there, Mr. Weasley. See, I got the letter when I was eleven. My mother let me look over it then burned it. Said it was evil. So, that's my story. I was never a, um, whatever you call us...Muggles?" She continued as they nodded in affirmation. "I've always loved trying to hear about wizards. Now, I've finally got my wand!" She looked thrilled, waving it around and causing sparks to fly out. "Lumos!" she tried, sighing when it didn't work.
"Don't worry...it takes practice, and it's exceptionally harder once you've become, er, older," Percy comforted. "Keep at it. You'll get it soon." Rosette tried for half an hour on the same spell, then laughed excitedly as her wand finally lit up. Percy looked at the twins happily. "Great, Rosette! It took George here half a day if I recall...Fred kept complaining on how he ended up getting poked in the back each time he waved that wand around." George blushed.
"Oh come off it. I'm just as good as both of you now," George whined. Percy and Fred raised their eyebrows: identical expressions. They turned to each other, smiling.
"Naw, I'm far better than both of you put together," Percy said at last. Fred grinned.
"Sure, you're just more ambitious. I like jokes instead," he added.
"I reckon you're right," Percy agreed, smiling, his eyes twinkling pleasantly. Rosette was trying the 'Nox' spell now, disappointed when it didn't work, but pleased when it worked faster than her first attempt at magic. "We've a lot to catch you up on, Rosette, if you're to pass for a witch! But not to worry, between me and the twins, we'll get you up to date."
Rosette beamed at them. "Thanks...I finally get to be what I wanted to be since I saw that letter," she told them, partially lying. "Oh, Rich will be home any minute I'd imagine." She carefully hid the wand into her pocket. "I'm not quite ready for him to hear about this....don't mention it, please?" They nodded, and she nodded back. "Good! Now for supper! Forgot about lunch...oh well...supper time again." She hurried into the kitchen and began cooking.