Authors Note: well I had plenty of time today to write a chapter, as someone stole the wheels off my car. I just didn't want to get too angsty so I just wrote a little. Thank you so much for the reviews.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I don't really know how to say this, I never planned on leaving. I should be in France by the time this letter reaches you. I'm taking a vacation, of sorts. I need a little time to figure out what I'm going to do now that the war is over. I won't be going back to the ministry and I think you know why, Dad. My whole life I planned around being a ministry official, perhaps even working my way up to Minister. You never questioned that and so, neither did I. When I was little I had so many dreams; my dreaming of a Ministry position made you both so happy, I made it my goal. If we are all honest I'm not even suited for the Ministry. I would have made a better librarian a thousand times over than a good department head. It's my own fault really, I should have found something I love rather than something I was good at. Perhaps that is what I am doing, searching for something to give my heart to, or maybe I'm just on vacation. I haven't really figured that out. Another one of my faults, rushing headlong into something before I have figure which end is up. I was just so lonely and aimless, and when Snape finally gave me a destination I wanted so badly to understand that I just left. If you can understand that. I know I should have told you. I know I should have planned and repaired. But I have spent at least half of my life being responsible and careful. I've taken this chance and I'll live with the consequences. I just hope once more you will forgive me.
Love and all my regards, Percy
Molly Weasley was the kind of woman who had a fuse shorter than a fire cracker. So when she reached the end of the letter, her husband Arthur sat patiently waiting for the ka-boom. The ka-boom never came. Instead, a quiet shower of tears fell down her face as Arthur looked on. "Do you think that this is our fault, Arthur? Did we push too hard, conforming him to our own standards?" Molly questioned her husband. "Was he ever what he wanted to be, or just our perfect angel Percy because he thought he was making us happy?" Her body now shaking with sobs, she leaned into her husband. Rearranging himself in his chair, Arthur looked around the kitchen as if the homely setting or the stewing soup could give him the answers Molly wanted. "He was always different, Molly. He lived his life to please others, now maybe he will live life to please himself." Arthur sighed and felt tears welling up in his eyes also. Both sat quietly dwelling on reasons their recently returned son would leave again.
Arthur replayed memories of Percy's youth, trying and finding all the evidence he needed of Percy's unhappiness. I never saw it, Arthur told himself. He smiled as much as all the other children, but never as part of the group. He always stood a little to the side, as if afraid of intruding. No, only later. Percy was one of the happiest children he had ever had, until Charlie and Bill left. That was when Percy went from extrovert to introvert. Maybe Percy was better of leaving England to search out a future. Arthur smiled, fully sure Percy's vacation in time would take him through Romania and likely Egypt.
Molly thought of her perfect child. He was so happy when he was at home. As much as Molly tried she couldn't think of a possible reason why Percy couldn't just move home and go back to work for the Ministry. His letter sounded unhappy, Molly argued with herself. He couldn't write those things and not be at least a little unhappy. Molly also thought of all the smiles she had seen on Percy's face. None of those smiles were faked. Unhappy or not Percy hadn't left after Hogwarts like his brothers did, why would he leave now? Molly thought over his letter again and spotted something she hadn't notice in her haste. Snape suggested? What exactly had Snape suggested? That the Weasleys couldn't handle Percy's problem, that Molly and Arthur weren't good parents for not noticing? Well, damned if she wasn't going to find out. Percy might not be here but Snape would have hell to pay for his answers.
Making up here mind, Molly stood up and readied herself to apperate. Startled out of thought, Arthur stared on as Molly verbalized her intentions." Damn that man, of all the nerve..." Molly raged. "Calm down my dear, damn who?" Arthur asked clearly confused. "Snape," answered Molly. "He suggested Percy leave, it's in the letter. I only just noticed." "And what do you think he suggested," Molly asked as her voice tightened and her volume increased. "He told him to leave us, he didn't warn us, he didn't let anyone know. He just saw a problem and told Percy to run away from it. What the hell kind of professor is he?" With a pop, seconds later she was gone, leaving Arthur pretty sure of her destination and extremely glad he wasn't Severus Snape. The ka-boom was yet to come.