After supper, Rich announced that he would try and head into work. Little did he realize that they would be working as well. They waited half an hour after Rich left, before Percy got to work with Rosette. The twins watched lazily as he went through every single subject in less than three hours, catching her up for the most part. She learned up through fourth year Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology and even History of Magic she learned. He taught her Potions as well, remembering every word that Snape had ever mentioned to them. She absorbed the information hungrily, eager and ready to learn, for she had a plan in mind.

Rosette enjoyed learning this magical information, and certainly this young Minister was charming and intelligent. He needed to work on his sense of humor, she found herself thinking after three hours of the same form of teaching. Percy finally couldn't talk any longer, smiling weakly in apology, looking at Rosette cheerfully. "You're doing great," he croaked, his throat dry from talking for so long. The twins took over, explaining to her about the sport world, about Quidditch and all its fun rules. They also rattled on about the World Cup, which had abruptly ceased about a year ago. Both seem extremely excited to also talk to her about every single prank they'd ever pulled, including some that Percy had never caught them on.

"What?" he said, astounded. "I was so stupid not to think that you two would try something like that!" This was after the twins saying that when Percy first started working at the Ministry they'd sent him strange things that he thought was just hate mail or some foreign wizard sending it to the wrong department.

"It's true!" Fred said, unabashed.

"Yeppers, and great fun," George echoed. "Can't beat a good prank," he added to Rosette. "And back in Hogwarts, we were the kings of pranking." Percy grinned.

"That you were, even though pranking is not a word."

"Shush. You've had your fun. Let us have ours!" Fred said indignantly. He grinned happily, then looked around in boredom. "Bloody hell, what's this?" All present turned to look at what he'd discovered. Percy walked forward, leaning up close, trying to see whatever it was that Fred was indicating. "Look out!" he cried, then pulled out a fake wand and let it explode right into Percy's face, laughing merrily at Percy's terrified, then horrified, expression. "Oh c'mon, Perce, it was just a joke. A joke? You do know what I'm saying, don't you?" Percy looked extremely annoyed.

"Yes I know what a joke is," he spat furiously, his mouth working angrily. He looked like he wanted to say more but chose not to. Fred beamed: It was a change for the better, he thought. After a moment of silence between the four of them, Rosette decided to speak up once more.

"Thank you, boys, thank you, for teaching me all of this....magic stuff," she finished lamely. The twins were grinning and their elder brother smiling fondly. "I really did learn a lot today." Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she locked gazes with the three boys. "In fact, I learned probably too much..." her voice changed. Percy was frowning by this point. He's too damned smart, Rosette thought to herself. He controls these twins more than they think he does. Get him out of the picture, and they're mine to control. Unless, I can find someway to control him as well. What was that curse that they suggested once? Oh yes, the Imperius Curse, wasn't it? I could use that on the boy. Or that killing thing, Adeva Kedevra, that killed so many people before. These boys don't know who I am. She smiled falsely. I am a wizardess from long ago, who had her wand taken from her in her first year of training because of siding with the Dark Lord. Yes, yes, that's who I am. They should have figured it out by now. I'm surprised this young Minister hasn't. And now that they've willingly assisted me, they're to blame for His return! She eyed them warily.

Her fingers played with her newly made wand. Grasping it, she kept eye contact with the boys, hoping that none of them would spot her movement. Her eyes narrowed as she whipped the wand out, then she gasped loudly as she saw Percy's wand pointing directly back at her. The twins had taken a step behind Percy. "Oh, you're good, young Minister, but not good enough! You see, you revived what I'd already known from my first year." Percy's eyes raised, but he didn't remove his wand from the position that it was in. "Yes, I imagine that you're thinking what I presumed you'd be thinking before this. I sided with the Dark Lord. That's why I was forced to become a 'Muggle'. Rich doesn't know any of this so don't blame him for being ignorant. I lied to him as I've lied to you all."

Percy sneered, saying in a cold voice, giving her a harsh and angered look: "I've purposefully left one spell out of the picture, Rosette. At the wave of a wand I can make you forget all that we've just told you." His wand had begun to tremble due to his anger. "You've committed treason and betrayal beyond belief. You deserve to die..." He wet his lips eagerly. "I've waited...long years to try the Killing curse. When I received the title of Minister, I thought I'd have the chance. I knew, even then, that I would be one of the few wizards who could perform it successfully." He chuckled coldly. "But as Minister, I learned that the tracking down of dark wizards was left to Aurors. I considered changing positions. But, my ambition took the best of me, you could say. Now I'm the most powerful wizard in Britain...."

"A pathetic title!" interrupted Rosette angrily, getting annoyed with this kid rambling on. "If you want to kill me, just kill me, because I don't think you have the nerve to do it." Percy glared furiously. The twins had backed up against the wall, their wands in their hands for safety precautions.

"Any last words, then?"

"Just don't tell my husband. Leave. Get out of here." Rosette scrambled for paper, writing her husband a quick note. "I've told him that I've left, and that I loved him but didn't want to endanger him any more," she said swiftly. "Get it over with if you're planning to do anything." Rosette stood with her new wand facing Percy, looking defiant.

Percy risked a look at the twins. Both nodded, supporting his decision. Returning his gaze to Rosette, he murmured: "Very well. You would have made a brilliant wizardess, Rosette, had you not been on the Dark side. Now, you pay the penalty..."

"Get on with it!" she hissed hurriedly. Percy sighed.

"If you insist. Goodbye then," he added softly. "Adeva Kedevra!" Pointing his wand at Rosette, he said the Killing curse with a strange, venomous voice that neither twin had ever heard him use before. The room was filled with a blinding green light. The twins covered their heads protectively, frightened. He didn't even hear a final scream as Rosette was murdered that day. Once the green light was gone, Percy felt himself trembling from head to foot. He limply moved forward to see if there was a body. The curse had been so powerful that the body was gone as well. Sinking back against the wall wearily, he looked at the twins. "Did....why did I..." he tried stammering. Before he could say anything more, Fred's arms were around him as he aided Percy in walking outdoors, away from the scene of the murder.

There was silence between the three brothers until they were safely outside of London, and they stopped at an inn on the outskirts. Whether or not the clerk recognized that they were wizards was unknown to all present. Fred took responsibility of checking them in, giving the man as much money as he could afford at the moment. Leading Percy upstairs to the room they were instructed to go to, the twins let Percy have the only bed in the room. Taking the pillow, however, and an extra blanket each, they curled up on the floor after seeing to it that Percy had fallen asleep.

Fred surprisingly woke first with a kink in his neck from sleeping on the floor. Stretching, he ran a hand through his hair, looking up and was relieved to note that Percy was still sound asleep. He seemed to sleep a lot lately, and Fred was worried about his older brother. It seemed a lot more than just his magic was deteriorating. Fred wouldn't have been surprised if Percy's health was also beginning to fail, even though he was only twenty some years old. George was now awake. Both twins were watching their elder brother in anxiety. Fred held his breath for a moment, expecting Percy's chest to stop rising and falling as he slept.

"He's worse off than he tells us, isn't he?" George asked quietly, careful not to wake Percy. Fred sighed.

"As much as I'd like to say no, it's yes," he agreed in the same tone. Percy still hardly stirred from where he slept like a rock. "Normally he's the first one up out of all of us. But today..." Fred shook his head. "After what happened last night, I'm not surprised, I guess." George shuddered.

"I'd never seen him act like that before. I guess that's what happens when you turn out being something bad and come up against the Minister, eh?" the elder of the two twins joked for a moment. Fred smiled, then looked serious.

"Yea, it is what happens. Makes me wonder what Percy would do if he ever met up with Voldemort," commented Fred. "Not to mention what we'd probably do..."

"Yep," George finished softly, "we'd do just as much as he would if we could. No saying what Percy's capable of now, I suppose. All I know is that he's our last hope, pretty much." Fred appeared surprised. George had never once said a word of compliment about Percy before. Never once, but now he had. Fred smiled lightly.

"Perhaps it's true," he agreed, sighing. "I've never been so frightened of somebody before." He kept his gaze on Percy, anxiously hoping that he'd wake soon. Fred, at least, wasn't planning to leave Percy's side until then.

It wasn't until the middle of the afternoon of that day when Percy had woken. George volunteered to bring up lunch, but Fred refused to eat and suggested that George go and help himself. It would give him and Percy some time alone. Seeing Percy's eyes open and stare blankly around, Fred immediately stood up, coming next to the bed. He gently lifted his brother's head and placed the pillow underneath it, and covered him with a blanket. Percy seemed to gain recognition of his surroundings moments later, staring over at Fred miserably. Fred carefully reached over, putting his hand in Percy's, but this caused a strange reaction. Percy jerked his hand away abruptly, a horrified look befalling him. "Don't touch me!" he cried, quite loudly. "I've murdered someone." Fred was shocked to see Percy trembling with fear once more, and disgusted with himself. He sighed.

"Percy, shh...it's alright. You did what you had to do. You were fulfilling your duties as the Minister of Magic...." Fred tried comforting, not wanting to draw attention to them.

"Damn that!" Percy moaned. "I've killed someone. Go away." He rolled over on his side, curling up. Fred looked helplessly forward.

"Percy...."

"I said go away."

Fred wouldn't take that as an answer, however. Grabbing Percy's shoulder, he shoved him so that he was lying now on his back. "And I said I won't! Listen here, Percy. So you've killed an enemy. Hear that? You've killed an enemy. We all have. It doesn't matter how they were killed. It's not like you can get caught! You're the Minister!"

"You don't understand. He knows," murmured Percy distractedly.

"Who?" Fred urged, genuinely concerned.

"Lucius," Percy whispered fearfully. "He'll be coming for me..." Fred stared horrified. How in the world Percy had discovered that bit of information, he didn't know.

"Well, we won't let him hurt you, Perce. You did what you had to do," Fred soothed uneasily. He didn't like the notion that their enemy could see what was going on everyday, and for obvious reasons. If Lucius knew that Percy had killed someone, just what else did their enemy know? He could know...anything. Fred shuddered nervously. Percy, however, was looking at his younger brother with adoration in his eyes. Fred smiled weakly in response, catching Percy's gaze. To the younger twin's amazement, Percy sat up and moved sideways on the bed, giving Fred room to sit. Fred smiled at the invitation, accepting it. It didn't shock him at all when Percy leaned up against Fred, as if he were using his younger brother to hold him up. Smiling lightly, Fred ran his fingers through Percy's now dirty, curly red hair, an act of kindness that was only meant in attempts to calm his brother. He knew that their mother, and sometimes their father, had done this when they were little, and so he thought that it would help now. His thoughts proved right. Percy, within a few moments, seemed relaxed enough. At least the trembling had ceased.

"Fred?" It was Percy's unsteady, quiet voice. "What's going to happen to us?" Fred was surprised at this question. Never once had Percy been uncertain of himself and his ability, and now that he was, it scared him. Trying to appear nonchalant about the whole situation, Fred smiled warmly, gazing at his elder brother with genuine concern.

"Whatever happens," he remarked, laughing a little as he realized how much like Percy he was beginning to sound. "You can't go around hoping for something that's not going to come true. All you've got to do is accept what's being given and use it for the best." Those words comforted Percy more than Fred knew. After a few more minutes of silence, Fred removed his fingers from Percy's hair and turned to ask him if he wanted to find a shower or something, then nearly laughed when he saw that Percy had fallen asleep again with his head lying on his shoulder. George chose that time to return, an ice cream cone in his hands, and a sandwich in the other. "I see someone had a successful afternoon."

George smiled weakly. "Perhaps I did. Brought the ice cream for you...and the sandwich for Percy if he ever decides to wake up," the second twin agreed, his eyes twinkling in eager anticipation. Fred purposefully decided not to fill George in on their last conversation; it wasn't worth it. He laughed softly in response, lying, and finding it odd that he didn't really mind the fact that he was lying to someone who had, for years, been so much closer to him than Percy had.

"Ah, I'm sure he'll wake up to the smell of food!" Fred laughed, reaching over for the ice cream cone, savoring its memorable flavor. "At least I always would." To his amazement, however, Percy actually did wake at that. Yawning, he muttered if they could keep it down. But then he opened his eyes more and spotted the sandwich in George's hands. Fred laughed loudly now, and George echoed his laughter, handing the sandwich over to Percy, who almost immediately wolfed it down. Fred was grinning as he finished the ice cream. "Still hungry then, eh?"

Percy watched the last of the ice cream cone vanish from Fred's hands with a low moan of despair. "I guess that's a yes," George remarked gaily. "You stay right there then. I'll be back with the same meal I found!" With that, he hurried out of the room and down the stairs. Fred was still laughing.

"Never seen you eat anything like that, Perce," said Fred enthusiastically. "What'd that spell do to you? Make you take on the personality of the one you killed?" Percy's momentary happiness quickly washed away at those words. His face paled and he looked ready to collapse. Fred put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. "I was only joking. That seems to be all I'm capable of." Percy smiled, but it was a forced smile. He had something else on his mind. What if Fred was right? It could very much be true...he shook off the thought, hoping it wasn't. George returned, this time with a plateful of delicious looking food. Percy had it finished in a matter of minutes.

The twins both appeared amused by his recent appetite, and Fred took the liberty of going off to find him another dessert. George caught him as he came back, whispering, "I'll bet you five Knuts that we can stuff him full."

"You're on," Fred grinned in response. The twins took turns going and finding Percy food, until at last Percy caught on. When he was alone with Fred, he asked what the bet was this time. "Aw, no fun. You found us out! Oh well. Our little secret, eh? George bet me five Knuts that we could stuff you. So mind helping me out a bit?" He didn't have time to hear Percy's response. George had reentered, having apparently scavenged some chocolate cheesecake. Percy, unable to help himself, ate it ravenously. After that, he was beginning to feel slightly full. Deciding to play along with their little game, knowing the losing twin would brainstorm some other challenge they could pull on Percy, he refused more food after that.

"Ha! Pay up, Fred, I want my five Knuts back," George stated simply, holding out his hand.

"But I never said I was full..." Percy interrupted. Fred gave him a sharp glare and George gaped.

"You cheated! Not fair! You told him about it, did you?" George began furiously, his mouth working to find words of insult. Percy got in between the two.

"Hey...watch it! None of that!" He whacked Fred's wand out of his hand. "He didn't tell me. I found out on my own. Kinda not hard to do." Fred grinned sheepishly while George scowled, his face turning the color of his bright red hair. Percy smiled in amusement. "I have an idea. I'll bet you both five Knuts that you can't find me a decent shower. First one to come back and take me to it gets it." The twins exchanged a glance.

"You're on!" they said in unison, each hurrying off with a grin. Percy smiled broadly, laughing. It was fun, betting on pointless things, he thought to himself while he waited for their return. It kept you amused and happy at the same time...gave you something to look forward to. He knew he was going to keep doing this in the future. A knock sounded on the door. Leaning forward in anticipation to see which twin it was, Percy grinned broadly as Fred entered the room.

"C'mon. George found it, but I saw and found a shortcut there! Not much time," Fred stated. Percy let himself be led to a side room. Upon entering, he gazed around. The carpet beneath his feet was a deep maroon, with fancy white designs lining the outside. Looking up, he gasped at the beautiful mosaic on the ceiling. A huge bay window gave a beautiful view of London. Percy stared in admiration around him, unaware that Fred was tugging him forward. "Just a suite. C'mon Perce!" Percy snapped back to reality, hurrying after Fred. The bathroom was just as magnificent. A huge shower was in the corner, while a strange looking bathtub was near the window. A single sink, trimmed with gold and with golden faucets, was opposite the tub. Percy gaped openly now. Fred saw his expression and grinned. "That'd be five Knuts."

"Not fair! You cheated again," George remarked from behind, poking his head into the room. "You and your bloody shortcuts."

"What can I say? I'm talented that way," Fred returned, holding out his hand to Percy, who absently dug them out of his pocket and gave Fred the money. Now that the competition was over, the twins fully took in the view of what they'd discovered, and they too stared around for a moment in shock. It was Fred, though, who took George's shoulder and turned him round, leading him outside the room. "We'll be back at our room, Percy, when you're done. We want a fair turn in the shower too you know. It was us who had a team effort to find it." He grinned, and handed George two of the Knuts. "I was just faster, you're the clever one who found it." George, too prideful however, handed the two Knuts back.

"You keep it! You earned it! It's not like I lost anything," he commented wryly as they headed down the stairs. Percy could still hear them arguing a while later. Smiling to himself, he glanced at the shower, then at the bath. A bath would be so much more relaxing...almost like those back in the prefects' rooms. And, he even found bubbles. Turning on the faucet delicately, he undressed and soon climbed into a warm, relaxing bathtub. Not caring that he couldn't find anything to wash his hair with, he decided to just use the bubbles that were already in the warm water. Filling the tub nearly to its top, he curled up in the water, amusing himself with the bubbles that floated delicately on its top.

He was in such a state of relaxation that he didn't hear someone enter the room, then the bathroom. When they came calling, however, he nearly leapt to his feet in shock, remembering just in time that he didn't have clothing on. A girl stood at the door. Percy stared at her warily at first. Her long dark hair was braided tightly behind her, with touches of silver streamed throughout it. Her beautiful emerald eyes sparkled with the same look that the twins often had when they were ready to tease someone. Percy recognized the expression she beheld very well, and prepared himself for whatever was coming. And, she didn't dress like someone who came from London would. She wore an elegant gown made of red satin that went down to her knees. He couldn't help but stare at her speechlessly for a few moments.

"Well, I see my bathroom has made me quite famous," she commented. "First two boys who I believe were twins kept arguing about it, though I couldn't say what about it they were arguing over. And then I come here to find you in my bathtub." Percy blushed, unable to find words for now. "Well, dear me! I've forgotten to introduce myself! My name's Tama. I'm staying here currently because of my job." Percy smiled gently.

"My name is Percy Weasley," he introduced himself. "My brothers...the two twins you saw earlier...and I are here, well, for relocation. Our old home happened to be in the way of lots of fighting, and we just wanted to get away from it all." He found that the lying came more easily, especially when one knew that it was partially true.

Tama appeared thoughtful. "I know that name from somewhere..." Percy tensed. If she recognized him as the Minister...a whole bunch of deadly things could be unleashed. It was all he could do not to shiver. "Oh well," she shrugged it off, smiling prettily. "It doesn't matter right now anyway. Pleased to meet you, Sir, and feel free to finish your bath if you'd like. From the looks of these clothes I'd say that you don't have much to live on." Percy blushed deeply again. The clothing, which the twins had somehow thought of grabbing before leaving, was a quite simple Muggle outfit: black pants and a shirt. From the look of Tama, Percy would say that she was very rich. As were they, just not with Muggle money.

"Forgive me, Tama. It was my brothers' idea...they keep betting things for fun between themselves. I was rather fed up with it, so I told them that the first to find me a decent shower would get five..." He hesitated, then hurried on, realizing that he had made his first mistake. "Dollars. They accepted, and I thought either they wouldn't find anything or it'd be something public. You know, like at a swimming pool." He used the Muggle terminology awkwardly, even though he'd had Muggle studies back at Hogwarts. Tama laughed merrily at that, however, not seeming offended.

"Don't worry about a thing. In fact, if you'd have a care, I'd invite you to join me for supper this evening," she remarked, the twinkle still in her green eyes that seemed to study every inch of him. Percy found himself blushing again.

"It'd be an honor," he returned, smiling warmly.

"I'm here alone, so you won't have to worry about any more interruptions." Tama winked, then shut the door behind her as she left. Percy relaxed again, breathing deeply. He'd almost made a terrible mistake. He'd almost given away that he was a wizard. If she were in London because of her job, it was more than likely that she worked, if not indirectly, for Lucius. And the last thing he wanted was Lucius finding out where he was...he froze. He'd given her his real name without thinking. Cursing himself silently, he prayed that either she'd forget it or not mention him to any of her coworkers. He assumed the latter would be more reasonable.

He waited until the bath water started getting cold, before draining the water and changing. Yawning in order to wake himself up, Percy exited the pleasant bathroom to find Tama lounging in the room that was connected to the main room. She had what Muggles called a television on. Restraining the urge to go over and mess around with it, he smiled handsomely as she noticed him. "Well now...you could clean up very nicely," she murmured, studying him curiously. "I imagine that you and your brothers don't have any fancy clothing?"

"Fancy?" Percy looked down at himself, slightly disgusted. Slowly, he shook his head. Tama grinned mischievously.

"Not to worry! It's a fancy restaurant that we usually dine at, so I'll be sure to have outfits for the three of you. I saw your brothers earlier, and I'm pretty decent at guessing size on appearance. At any case, I'll see you around....how would eight do?" she asked after checking her watch. "It's a late dinner, I know, but sometimes work keeps people out later than usual."

Percy was so eager to accept her invitation that he didn't bother to ask her who else they would be dining with. Thanking her for the use of her bathtub and apologizing once more, he stumbled out of the fancy room and quickly returned to theirs. Scowling angrily when he saw the twins lounging about in what seemed to be deep discussion, he scolded: "I thought you two idiots would have enough brains to not walk into somebody's room!"

George gaped. "The bloody door was wide open!"

"Maybe someone just stepped out for a moment?" he raised an eyebrow skeptically. George looked aghast, but Fred chuckled.

"Hey, I'm not complaining. It looks like you got to take a bath after all," the second twin commented wryly.

"Yes, and I got us a dinner invitation," Percy said softly. The twins stared in silence as he explained the awkward situation of encountering Tama. Intrigued, they could hardly wait for eight that evening to roll around. Once it did, the twins were rushing back to the room, taking Fred's shortcut. Tama greeted them at the door, cheerfully learning Fred and George's names. Checking her watch, she quickly fumbled through her closet and somehow withdrew three men's suits. The twins, much to their joy, had identical outfits. Everything that had happened during the past month now seemed to slip from their memories as if it had never been there. Tama seemed to soak them up, making everything right and happy again. The outfit that she'd chosen for Percy looked marvelous on him. He came out of the changing room, dressed in a suit of vibrant, deep blue. His red, normally curly hair had been straightened and sleeked back. While the twins appeared shocked at his appearance, Tama grinned broadly.

"I knew you'd clean up nicely," she remarked, "almost as if you were someone famous or something." Percy blushed deeply, his fingers trembling a bit. Had she found him out somehow? He cast a dark look at the twins when they heard this, especially when he saw Fred open his mouth. Fred, catching his glance, immediately shut it and pretended to just lick his lips. Tama studied the twins. They seemed to fit her satisfaction in suits of deep purple. She nodded moments later, still wearing her red dress. "Alright then. Let's get ready to go."

She led them down many alley ways, and even down the main street of London, before arriving at a fancy restaurant. They watched cars drive by, and the twins were almost tempted to chase one. Percy restrained Fred, and George followed the example. They walked into a huge restaurant, filled with millions of Muggles. The three of them were staring around in awe. It was Percy who gained control of the situation, nudging George who in turn nudged Fred after a minute. They followed Tama's lead for the most part, letting her do the talking. Only when she led them to a nearly full table save for four seats did they panic at all.

For sitting at the head of that table was none other than Lucius Malfoy. Fred and George immediately closed ranks on Percy, gripping their wands in their pockets. Percy reacted much the same. There was no way that they could slip past Lucius. His attention wasn't on them yet, but when the blond haired wizard did look up, a look of hatred froze on his face. Despite the new outfits, Lucius obviously had recognized his enemy. Tama glanced at him in confusion before quickly moving to the side. "Well.... if it isn't Mr. Percy Weasley himself," Lucius hissed. Percy took a moment to survey the other members at the table. Crabbe and Goyle, he realized, were there also. Of course they were. Looking to Lucius' right, he smiled wryly as he saw Draco at his father's side like always.

"Oh....oh!" Tama exclaimed. "I honestly had no idea he was who he was, Sir! I just ran into them and they were very nice and polite, so I...."

"Enough babbling, woman!" Lucius interrupted coldly. Tama fell silent, looking down. Percy reminded himself to thank her later for her sparing the information of how they really met. "Now, Mr. Weasley, are we ready to compromise?" Percy looked around the restaurant now. Former wizards and Muggles alike, he noticed now, were gathered here. And all had stopped what they were doing, their gazes focused on Percy and Lucius.

"What do you coin yourself as, Lucius?" Percy asked coldly, keeping the space between him and the twins limited. Lucius chuckled darkly.

"A wizard, full blood, none other. Why?"

"Because since you claim that you are a wizard, you are under my command," Percy continued calmly. "I am in control of all wizards of Britain. And unless you've changed nationalities, that would mean you."

"Or unless I behead you and take your spot!" Lucius hissed. Fred immediately leapt forward, forgetting magic and wrestling Lucius to the ground. Draco took charge then, ordering people to attack them. Percy, however, pulled Fred off Lucius, watching his brother regain some control.

"I want to keep this 'meeting' civil, Lucius," Percy muttered darkly.

"As civil as two enemies can be," Lucius agreed quietly.

"As I see it, you know that I am rightfully in command of you. And you don't like it. So you rebelled, formed your own little group. Fine by me. But then you had to reveal our world to..." His gaze went to Tama. "Them. Muggles. That's called treachery. And do you know what we do with traitors, Lucius?"

Lucius looked more defiant than ever as he responded firmly, "Kill them. But you'd have to kill your younger brother, Ron. He's here, you know, just cowering under the table." Fred took the risk and ducked under the table, and Percy's heart dropped as he heard the familiar greeting.

"Oy there, Ron! Hiding isn't like you at all! You and Harry were always at the top of the action! Now come on, come home now, would you?"

"Bugger off, would you, Fred? I'm not thirteen anymore. I was just tired of being tortured." Percy smiled politely at Ron.

"Don't worry," he mouthed, then turned his gaze to Lucius once more.

"What do you want to compromise on, Lucius?"

"Who has power," the latter wizard said rather simply. "You want it all, but you can't have it all, damn it! I deserve some, for what I've done for Britain..."

"Not to mention Voldemort," muttered George. Fred nudged him into silence.

"Look...let me take Ron, and I'll think about it this time. Alright? I'll think about it. No guarantees, no words or promises. Thinking only," Percy said seriously, whispering to Fred to take Ron out of there. Lucius looked like Percy had just said yes; his face was radiating with joy of apparent victory, and he was grinning even.

"Very well. I'll let you take Ron for now," Lucius returned coolly. "And I do hope you think wisely, Percy. Because if you don't, things will turn out horribly for you."
"Aren't they bloody horrible already?" Fred murmured as he draped an arm around Ron's shoulders and started to lead him out. "Oy! What about supper?" Tama hurried over to them.

"Use my phone in my room to order room service. Don't tell anyone about this...I'm sorry, really, I am. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Percy smiled. "You've helped us in ways you can't begin to imagine," he remarked mysteriously, before tracking his way back to the inn they were staying at. They kept Ron close to them for the remainder of that evening. Fred volunteered to order food, fascinated with the telephone even now. Once he'd placed their orders, he was more than eager to try it more, but it was Ron who warned against it.

"That would give us away," he murmured, now sitting on one of the soft chairs that were in Tama's room. "They'd realize it wasn't that Muggle girl...Tama she calls herself...who was in here. Any Muggle would be decent enough not to go calling people at this hour of the evening." Percy smiled curiously, letting the subject drop, though. Ron had changed. Studying his youngest brother closely for the first time since rescuing him from imprisonment, Percy noticed many things that were different. To start off with, Ron was skinnier than he had been before. His bright red hair was the same length as it had always been, though Percy figured that Lucius had cut it sometime recently, or had someone else do it. The latter probably fit better. The other thing, besides Ron's appearance and the fact that he'd obviously grown taller, was his personality had been altered. He wasn't the usual carefree, blissfully ignorant of the rest of the world boy that Percy remembered. He seemed so much more serious and in tune with what was going on...almost a younger version of himself, Percy thought in amusement.

Fred and George had been staring at Ron this entire time, as if shocked to have him back. "Say, Ron, whatever became of Harry? You two were captured together, right?" George suddenly asked skeptically once their food had arrived. Ron, eating ravenously as if he hadn't touched a decent meal in weeks, paled.

"I really don't want to talk about it...."

"Oh, it can't be that horrible, can it? I mean, had they killed him someone would of snitched and told all of us..."

"George, I said I don't want to talk about it!" Ron cried helplessly, gazing at his older brothers with fear in his eyes. George persisted once more, however. This caused Ron to stand, and throw George one of the angriest looks that Percy had ever witnessed. "I said no!" George cowered and backed away a bit.

"Sorry...didn't mean to get your knickers in a knot," the eldest twin stammered, returning to his food. Percy smiled to himself, thanking the delivery boy when food arrived. Handing most of it to Ron, he passed out some to the twins and a little to himself. He was still full from earlier. It was pleasant to have most of them together again. After enjoying the meal that Tama had suggested, Ron was sitting cross-legged on the bed. Percy had sent the twins on an errand, knowing they'd be glad to get out of the hotel. Coming to join Ron, he smiled gently.

"As much as you wouldn't believe me, I think I know what you went through," Percy started softly, "and because you didn't give up, I honor you." Ron glanced up at Percy, frowning. The last he'd seen of Percy was when his brother was chastising people still. He'd only just begun to befriend the twins.

"How could you know? You're just the Minister. Some title," sneered Ron. Percy shook his head. Ron had definitely changed. Before he'd always slightly admired leaders.

The older brother smiled lightly, sitting close to Ron. "Perhaps you're right. Perhaps I'll never know what you went through. Nobody could. Torture is different to each person, each time it's done. I can tell you something, though. It may have been frightening, unpleasant, but it's changed you, whether or not the twins realize it yet. You're different. Stronger, I'd say. That's the sort of thing we need. Lucius doesn't realize it yet that he's helped us." Ron looked across at Percy, startled. Percy had changed too. He wasn't sure quite how yet, but he knew it didn't matter. "I am glad to have you back though. It's been....lonely." Percy sighed.

Ron smiled. He preferred this Percy compared to the one he'd left. Carefully he pulled something out of his pocket: a very familiar leather-bound, red book. Percy's eyes widened slightly as he caught sight of the spellbook that was of his creation. He had designed every last spell within those leather-bound pages. "I didn't let Lucius discover this one. He took everything else I owned...even Harry." Percy couldn't help but ask what happened to Harry. "He's, well, I think he's in Azkaban. I wasn't allowed to know where he went. All I know is, after they tortured him for a year or so, they shipped him off somewhere. I tried to stop Lucius, nearly got myself killed doing it..." Ron gulped for breath, it suddenly being hard to find.

Percy glanced at his brother sympathetically, smiling. "It's alright....we've all done....stupid things recently." He regretted having told Rosetta all he had before he'd gotten to know her better. It was Ron's turn to question again, apparently.

"Why are you here anyway? Didn't you know that Lucius was in London again?"

Obviously, Percy hadn't known, otherwise he wouldn't have thought to bring them to London. He wanted to avoid Lucius at all costs, especially now. "Well..." He took a deep breath and explained all of the events leading up to why they were here now. Ron listened, fascinated with every detail of the story. Percy had, however, left out the part where he was loosing magic, as much of it as he could afford to leave out.

"Wow, that's, um, amazing," was all that Ron had to say. It seemed he didn't like the topic very much, and brought attention to Percy's book. "So you wrote this entire thing? All the spells are yours?" Percy, glad to be on a happy topic, was more than happy to answer.

"Every last one. Let's just say I had a lot of free time on my hands when we were pretty much trapped in our own house. The twins got unnerving, so I locked myself in my room and composed those spells. I also learned how to make wands..."

"Oh," Ron cut him off as he saw Fred and George entering, their arms full with bags.

"Clothes and food to last us some time," George said proudly, dumping them on the floor in front of Percy and Ron. He looked in between the two, then his eyes landed on the book that Ron was holding. "Say, isn't that Percy's book?" Fred reached over to take it, examining it closely.

"Oy! George, Percy's got a fan! Our dear little bro," Fred remarked, winking. Ron sighed. It was Percy, however, who came to Ron's defense.

"Let him alone, Fred. Why don't you two go on and check out what's downstairs for me, eh?" Fred raised an eyebrow, taking the hint if there ever was one. George smiled half-heartedly, patting Ron on the back.

"No hard feelings then." The twins left again, leaving Ron and Percy alone once more. Ron smiled thankfully, nodding slowly.

"Percy?" Ron started, looking into his older brother's eyes skeptically. Percy glanced down at Ron with an expression of sadness, but there was no pity to be found. "You're hiding something from me, aren't you? On purpose, I'd imagine, I don't think it would be otherwise." This surprised Percy. How had Ron known about his magic...? He smiled however, nodding uneasily.

"Yes, Ron, I've been hiding it from you. You shouldn't have to worry about too much. But...since you asked. I don't know if it's everyone, but magic is slowly...deteriorating from me. It might just be because I'm the Minister. I don't know. What I do know is," here he glanced sideways at Ron with a sad smile, "if one day I wake up with no magic, then that will be my last day." Ron frowned.

"What do you mean, your last day? You'll kill yourself? You won't try to get it back?" Ron was worried. Percy sighed deeply, stretching.

"Once magic is gone from a wizard, it cannot be returned, unless you believe in reincarnation," Percy murmured. He rested his hand on his chest. "For sometimes, when a wizard looses magic...they loose their life slowly. It's already started...I can feel it...everyday breathing becomes harder. I can't do half of those spells anymore." Percy motioned to the book that Ron held still. "I feel myself slipping away, and there's nothing anyone can do about it, nothing anyone can do about it..." Percy trailed off, whispering that last phrase over and over to himself.

Ron watched his brother lie down with an anxious look. Percy was scaring him. He now wished he hadn't asked that question. Keeping his gaze firmly on Percy, he sighed, then watched as his brother started shivering. Reaching over, Ron pulled covers over Percy tightly, smiling kindly. "Shh, it's alright, Perce, just get some rest...you've worked yourself out as usual again." Percy's eyes had closed by the time Ron was finished covering him up. Fluffing the pillows beneath Percy's head, Ron smiled as he watched Percy fall into a light slumber.

"Bit of a pain sometimes, isn't it?" a voice said from behind him. Whirling, reaching for his wand and ready to defend Percy, Ron relaxed when he saw that it was Fred. He laughed nervously, putting his wand away. "Taking care of Percy. As much as he's changed, deep down he's still the same." George was standing next to him, shaking his head sadly.

"Fred reckons one morning soon he just won't wake up," the other twin stated. Ron looked up, horrified.

"Just won't wake up? You mean, he'll die?"

"Well, yea, we all do eventually, silly Ron. But, Percy's time is almost up," George muttered, as much as he didn't want to say those words. He came to sit on the edge of the bed, Fred joining him and dragging Ron with him. "And I never thought I'd say this, but I'd be sorry if he left us." Ron glanced at the twins skeptically.

"So you just give in like that, eh? Is that how it works?" Ron asked loudly, raising his voice purposefully, wanting Percy to hear him.

"Yup, guess so," Fred responded with a slight smile. "We can't fight a war against all the world, Ron, not yet. Maybe Percy could....or would have been able to at one point in his life, but not us. You couldn't even fight Lucius. George and I haven't tried yet. I doubt we could either, so don't get all grumpy on me. With the few true wizards left in the world, we could barely destroy one man. Then we'd have to deal with his cronies. Is it really worth it, Ron? Killing ourselves in one horrible attempt to defend the world?" Ron was gaping. He'd never heard serious words come out of Fred's mouth before. Then again...Percy had never, other than once before, complimented him. And that compliment hadn't been a welcomed one. Things were definitely different.

Ron sighed though, letting it go. "If that's the case, we'd better get some rest since there's nothing better to do than let Harry rot in Azkaban." Lying down on the bed beside Percy, he soon pretended to be sound asleep, knowing that it would be a while before he'd actually get to rest. The twins exchanged a glance, one expression mirroring the other.

"Damn, that didn't go as I thought it would," Fred muttered, sitting on the edge of the other bed in the suite. It was a while before he remembered they were in Tama's room, not the one they'd reserved. But it was too late to move now...there'd be no chance in waking the other two up until morning. George joined him, yawning.

"He'll come around. It'll be a matter of time before Ronnikins decides what to do," George assured, glancing over at the pair. "He's a mini Percy, that's what he is now. It's disgusting, really."

"Aww, come off it. If you'd gone through torture, you'd be like Percy too. It's a wonder he's still alive," Fred joked, winking. George smiled, but didn't laugh. Jokes didn't seem as funny anymore.

"Ron's right. We'd better turn in to get rest while we can. Who knows what we have in store for us," stated George, and without bothering to change, he was soon asleep on the bed. Fred, sighing, realized he probably couldn't get to sleep that evening. There was just too much to think about. That was when an idea struck him. Seeing the leather bound volume of magic hanging out of Ron's grasp, Fred reached over and took hold of it elegantly. Walking over to sit at the nearest table, he turned on the lamp, covered the light with a small blanket so that there was just enough to read by, and busied himself the rest of the evening by reading Percy's spellbook, wondering what use it could be to them now.