It was the second Friday of the school year, and Percy was very much excited. Not over the fact that all the school was in an uproar since he had ate the jelly bean-ified Pansy Parkinson, but because The Dark Lord has invited him for a few drinks, and some chips.
As he arrived at a rather shady pub in Hogsmeade (The Bloody Broomsticks), he wondered if a promotion was finally in order.
He was motioned by the pub owner into a small corner of the room, where a hooded figure sat. He wondered if the other guests realized how close they were to the Dark Lord. A few witches and wizards turned and stared at him as he walked past, but he just returned their stare. Pathetic fools, they didn't know a loyal ally of the Dark Lord when they saw one.
"Master," he whispered, bowing to the hooded figure.
"Sit," said Voldemort in a bone-chilling voice that Percy wished he had. Apparently his master was in his Totalitarian Dictator mood.
He sat down. "Drink." He commanded, pointing at the glass of red liquor beside him.
"I don't drink," confessed Percy.
"Imperio!" said Voldemort. Percy immediately gulped down the liquor.
The Dark Lord looked pleased. "Well?" he demanded.
"No one suspects," whispered Percy between gulps. "Sir." The glass refilled as he drained the first one.
"Good, good…" Voldemort tapped his fingers together. "I hear you've destroyed Pansy Parkinson, a slytherin. Her family is most dedicated to our cause…"
Percy trembled and hiccupped. "Well.. sir… it was a mistake. I really meant to destroy one of the Gryffindors… perhaps… Neville Longbottom?" he suggested.
"Do not lie to me," was the reply, and Percy remembered that the Dark Lord was a skilled mind-reader. "No need to be worried," he continued, with a small, low laugh. "It'll put off any suspicion that it was the doing of the Dark Lord… No need to have them upon us just yet. No indeed, Percival." He sipped his own drink, a terrible green colored concoction that emitted steam that wrought itself into little skulls.
"Now, news on little Potter?"
"He should be under the spell sir, as the Gryffindors and Slytherins are." Percival began to feel his mind cloud over. The world was beginning to slightly blur…
"Excellent," was the approving response. "Hmph, it's about time those young Slytherins served me as their parents have done."
Percy nodded. "I should have the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs under the spell soon as well," he said.
"Inventing a new spell?" suggested Voldemort. "I was most pleased with your creative jelly-bean one," he said, though Percy could not tell if he was truly pleased since he was in his dictator mood.
"I could use that one if you want—"
"Did I say that?" was the steely voice. "Are you backing out?"
"No, no," flustered Percy, and took another gulp. Truly, the stuff tasted awful.
"Well then make up a new one."
"Yessir."
"Get me another drink. One of yours."
Percy bowed, and excused himself, and stumbled to the bar counter. As he turned back to point at the red drink he had (he still did not know it's name), he noticed that a familiar face had just entered the pub…
"Sir, it's him," Percy whispered frantically, as he flew quickly back to the table. "Shall we? Do you—"
Voldemort turned to see Harry (Dudley of course) enter. "Now is not the time," he said. "Not yet…" he said. "Humor him, and tell me how well he is under the spell." And with that, Voldemort retreated into the shadows, and vanished.
"Professor Weasley?" said Dudley. "Is that you?"
"What are you doing here?" Percy said, suppressing a hiccup. Thank goodness he could finally stop drinking that horrid red stuff!
"Actually, I was just going to get a drink…" Dudley made a face. "I mean, I accidentally got lost here…"
"Right," said Percy. "Well? What are you standing here for? Back to school you go."
"Sir," said Dudley, not budging. "Tell me more about Dark Magic."
Percy smiled to himself. So that spell did work! He felt extremely proud of himself. Harry Potter, asking about Dark Magic! He pretended to look stern. "Are you suggesting that I teach you Dark Magic?"
"Oh, I know you're the defense against dark arts professor and all, but…" trailed off Dudley as a nearby witch gave him a curious look.
"Say no more. Follow me…"