II

"I can't believe that Fudge…of all the nerve…!"

Percy grumbled to himself as he Apparated and Disapparated to Mrs. Figg's house, bringing more of his things from his apartment. He could have easily packed everything into a trunk but out of his frustration, didn't even think of it. Mrs. Figg watched Percy's actions in surprise and some fear. Dumbledore had told her he was a young and stable man but that was not what she was witnessing. Smiling to herself, Mrs. Figg shook her head. She just hoped that he was more responsible than Mundungus.

After bringing the last of his belongings, Percy settled in his room and instantly began flying things all over the place and into their proper positions. Fortunately the room was large and had an open window that blew in fresh air. Percy did his best to relax as his possessions flew about him in an irrational manner. It was a strange scene for Mrs. Figg—a young man sitting at his desk looking as if he was contemplating something important with his wand swaying gently in the air and everything else flying to different places. It was the first time she had witnessed a male wizard actually knowing all the household spells and charms and she couldn't help but smile.

"What can't you believe about Fudge, young man?" she asked, hearing the words muttered from Percy before.

Percy looked up in surprise but his concentration on the spell was still going as he spoke, which only impressed Mrs. Figg even further. "I told Fudge that I wanted to quit because I found something else I would rather do. He nearly cursed out at me and told me what could be better than being Junior Assistant to the Minister!" he exclaimed suddenly, jostling Mrs. Figg from her position by the door. Everything was now in place and Percy lowered his wand and placed it on the desk as he slammed his other hand against it. "I just took my stuff at the office and stormed out of there without a word. I just couldn't believe he would be so rude about it. He never acted like that with me before!"

Mrs. Figg looked perturbed and walked over Percy unsurely and placed a hand on his shoulder. The redhead looked up in surprise. "Listen, you should know by now that Fudge has a darker side to him than what he lets on. It's good Dumbledore told you to leave that office. I fear Fudge might have used you for something else much worse if you continued staying," she said bracingly.

Looking at the older woman's eyes for a moment, Percy blinked and straightened himself before standing up. "Yes, I think I will go check up on Harry now," he said brusquely, walking towards the door. He paused and then looked at Mrs. Figg for a moment. "Thank you," he said simply, turning around quickly and not waiting for a reply.

Once outside the door, Percy looked down at himself. He had done his best to dress in regular Muggle style with loose black jeans and a white tee shirt with a picture of the globe on it. Percy's hair was spiked as usual and he wore the two earrings on his ear proudly. He had seen enough Muggles pass by his apartment each day to get a good grasp on what they wore and how they behaved. He had heard that Harry's neighborhood was a rather strict and proper one, though, and they would probably take him as some kind of hooligan. Percy smiled to himself. Not that it matters anyway what they think or say.

He strolled down the block until he reached the one where Harry lived and took out his wand, placing a Disillusionment Charm on himself. He walked around the driveway and the house until he spotted Harry, lying on a bed of flowers under a windowsill. The voices of his aunt and uncle could be heard from inside and Harry looked bored. Percy understood that Moody had given his guardians a lecture on treating him all right or else.

The Muggles are probably scared senseless.

Percy walked up to Harry until he was a mere few feet away from him and eyed the boy carefully. He appeared to be healthy and didn't look as scrawny as last year and he seemed to have grown a bit more. But Harry was still thin for his height and age. Percy shook his head and smiled slightly. He was worse.

"Is someone there?"

The redhead looked up quickly to see that Harry was still staring upwards, but his eyes were now wide in alert. Percy narrowed his eyes slightly. Well, Harry was always a perceptive boy. Removing the Disillusionment Charm, he bent down and faced Harry. "You mean me?" he greeted owlishly.

Immediately Harry jumped and sat up quickly, still managing not to be seen by his aunt and uncle. He stared at Percy in pure shock before it turned into anger. "What are you doing here?" he snapped. "I don't suppose Fudge sent you here did he? Well, I'm not going anywhere with you."

The words stung Percy but he remained unmoving. "Actually Dumbledore sent me," he said, watching as Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm supposed to watch over you this summer and make sure you don't get into any trouble—basically replacing Mundungus's duty. He was far too irresponsible but a good wizard nonetheless," he finished, taking in Harry's unbelieving look.

"How…you work for Fudge, though!" Harry pointed out, staring at Percy as if he was relieved but still on guard.

He remembered all too clearly what Ron had told him last summer about what happened between Percy and their father. Yet here he was now saying he was there to protect him? Harry stared at the young man harshly. It could have also been an illusion. Last summer it was dementors, why not now an illusion? Or it could have been the real Percy under Fudge's orders. Either way Harry was not going to be fooled so easily.

Percy watched Harry and mentally groaned to himself. This is going to be hard… "Worked for, you mean," he began, "I quit a few days ago and now am here to resume my duty in guarding you and making sure you don't do any magic even if it is dementors."

Harry's eyes narrowed. Percy had been one of the people that witnessed his hearing last summer and he acted like he didn't give a damn. "I don't believe you. Either you're someone else using the Polyjuice Potion or you really are Percy on some sick call from Fudge," he accused.

"You're pretty good, Harry," Percy applauded, "but then if I was truly working for Fudge without any contact from anyone else, do you really think I would know anything about the Order or the members in it? You think I would know that George and Fred pretty much left school last year and started their own joke shop at Hogsmeade or that Ron became Keeper of your Quidditch team? If I truly did work for Fudge and talked to no one else you think I would know all this?"

The surprise in Harry's eyes pleased Percy and he found himself calming down. He had been quite bitter in saying all that but it was only because he wished he had been there to see it all happening. The sacrifices I make for this Order… Percy waited for Harry's reply patiently.

"But…why then? Why did you leave?"

Relief crept into Percy's head. "I didn't want to but it…," he began before looking behind Harry, where he could see his aunt and uncle entering the living room. He grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him away from the window and down the street. "Come, we will finish this at Mrs. Figg's house," he ordered.

"Mrs. Figg's house?"

Percy just nodded as he led Harry down the block until they reached the house. He welcomed Harry in and to his relief Mrs. Figg was nowhere to be seen. Percy closed the door and brought Harry upstairs to his room. He really did not want Mrs. Figg to be making a scene about Harry's arrival, which he knew she would. Right now all Percy wanted was some peace and quiet as he informed Harry of what was going on. Dumbledore had given his permission to do so, but in a very subtle manner.

At the moment, Harry was gazing all around Percy's room in awe. He had seen the latter's room once when he still lived at the Burrow but now it seemed his tastes had completely changed in the last couple of years. It was neat as ever with papers stacked in piles and a small library at the side. An enormous ebony desk occupied the corner and a file cabinet was right next to it. The bed was a full sized mattress and took up the space by the window and a bureau stood beside it, small figurines and picture frames decorating its surface. The room itself was wide and free and besides those things, that was it…oh, and a small couch in the middle of the room with a table in front of it where Harry could see a chess set sprawled on top.

Looking at Percy finally, Harry smiled slightly. "Nice place you have here," he said.

"Yes, well, working under Fudge did have its advantages."

At this comment, Harry's eyes darkened and he stared at Percy more severely. "Now before you forget, you were about to tell me why you left the Weasleys. Last year I thought you had left us forever," he said.

"I have not forgotten; I was just contemplating my answer," Percy began, looking at Harry tiredly. "Basically I left for their safety—and yours in fact. Fudge knew my family was close to you and he always suspected Dad of having dealings with Dumbledore and also of his Muggle obsession so he began questioning me ruthlessly each day about them. I used to say as little as I could but it still somehow managed to be turned into something else in his mind so I finally decided that I had to leave them in order to ensure their safety for I couldn't just lie. He could have easily checked up with Dad about everything I said. So leaving was the best thing I could do…not to mention it left me to watch over Fudge more carefully without worrying about you guys."

Harry blinked and a confused expression was on his face. "Wait, watch over Fudge? You mean you were on our side all this time?" he inquired, his suspicions proving true when Percy nodded at him. "Then…for how long have you been on our side? How long have you been working for Dumbledore?"

Percy sighed and looked out the window for a moment. "Ever since after the Triwizard Tournament…since I was working in the office, Dumbledore requested I help watch over Fudge. Later when I was promoted, he offered me an invitation to join the Order. Naturally, I agreed and became an official member—or rather a secret member considering no one knew about it except him. I knew everyone else who was a member and even though I saw Tonks, Kingsley, and Moody at work, I couldn't talk to them for they had no idea I knew they were in the Order. The reason I was kept as a secret was because I was a liability for them. I was close to Dad and rather than question him, Fudge found it much easier to question me. And he definitely didn't know any of the others were involved with Dumbledore so I was his main focus. I had to leave all of you because of that."

"But couldn't you have just make some stuff up?"

"I told you, Harry, I couldn't just lie. You know the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister? Er…you know Dolores Jane Umbridge—she would have gotten a hold of me and probably use Veritaserum on me. It was better for me to leave the family so Fudge could think that I really had no relations with them or Dumbledore anymore."

"But when you were at my hearing…you were…so cold and distant."

At this Percy laughed. "It's called acting, Harry! Honestly, I wasn't that cold was I?" he remarked with a glint in is eye.

Harry blinked several times before smiling slowly. "Yeah, you were," he replied lightly.

All of his doubts and suspicions were gone now. This was the real Percy before him and his explanation seemed reasonable and coincided with everything that happened perfectly. That and Harry just had a feeling that he was telling the truth. Staring at the older man, Harry thought to himself. But he had changed so much. The Percy he had known was a bit cocky and a perfectionist. This Percy was different…older, more relaxed, and somehow cooler with his appearance.

"So I can stay with you this summer then?"

Percy titled his head to the side slightly. "Ah, not exactly. You still have to stay with your aunt and uncle for that is where you'll be safest. I'm just here to watch and guard…and talk if you ever need it," he answered slowly, watching Harry's hopeful expression change before his eyes. He really did not want to disappoint him but it was for his own good.

"Oh…I see then. You have any idea if I'm going back to stay at the Order any time soon then?"

"Not a clue. I haven't received any news from Dumbledore and he really is my only source. The others don't know I'm here remember? In fact the only people who know now is you, Mrs. Figg, and Dumbledore. And I must ask you to not mention it to anyone else—especially Ron or anyone in my family," he replied, looking at Harry sternly.

The younger boy nodded and Percy sighed deeply. "I apologize for my rudeness but it really is crucial business," he said wearily, looking at the family picture sitting on his desk.

Harry noticed this and smiled, though Percy could not see it. "You have my word. You're doing this for all of us…even me. All this time I was cursing you out. I'm sorry," he said apologetically. "And thanks. You know after this whole mess is over Ron and the others will have a heart attack to know you were working with us. They never say it, but I know they miss you."

"Thanks, but there's no need to give me false words of endearment," Percy said tonelessly. He looked at Harry. "I know they don't really miss me. They're probably glad that they now have a real reason to hate me. I was never a good brother or a good son."

"But—"

"How are you anyway?"

Harry blinked and forgot what he was going to say to Percy. "What do you mean?" he asked confusedly. Percy turned his body completely around to face the younger boy fully.

"I mean how are you now? Are you coping well?"

Now Harry knew what Percy was talking about. Freezing over, he turned his eyes somewhere else. He would have no idea. The dreams he had of Sirius dying over and over again, though in them he came back as a ghost, haunting and tormenting him. Cedric was also involved. Both of them in his dreams kept asking continuously why he had let them die. It was more than enough for Harry to stop sleeping altogether.

Percy watched Harry carefully. The bags under his eyes were probably the first thing he noticed when he saw him and he could only assume the reason for it. And judging by Harry's silence, he had assumed correctly. "It wasn't your fault you know. I'm sure you heard this a million times but it is true. You can never take the fault of someone else's death unless you did it yourself with your own hands and I know you didn't. Think of Cedric. His spirit helped you hold back Voldemort's attack during the Triwizard Tournament. You think he blamed you? And Sirius…well, I didn't know him really but I don't think he would want to see you like this now, blaming yourself. If anything, Harry, you should remember what they did and release yourself from the burdens you put on yourself because they wouldn't want you to be suffering."

Those words, despite hearing something similar from everyone else, sounded so much more powerful from Percy than Harry ever thought possible. The fact that he, someone he never considered himself close to, was supporting him and sympathizing with him made Harry contemplate those words more closely. He had never even known Percy knew that Cedric's spirit helped him. Dumbledore must have informed him. It also made Harry wonder what else Percy knew for it seemed that he was more informed than his own friends…or even himself. That was a reassuring thought, though.

Feeling lighter than he had in a long while, Harry looked up at Percy and smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

Percy shrugged, though a small smile was on his face. "No one should live in the past."

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TBC

Revised: 10/10/04