Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter/Wizarding World. They were all created by the genius that is J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note: Just wanted to thank everyone who's reading this story. You all are great and your reviews really mean a lot to me and any suggestions you make I do take into consideration. Let's see if I can get this chapter to where the place that the last chapter was supposed to go which is how Percy Weasley ended up wearing mashed parsnips.
Chapter 8: Percy and the Parsnips
Harry woke up Christmas morning to find something shiny and tacky dangling in his face and Ron standing over his bed. It took him several times attempting to focus on whatever it was before remember that he wasn't wearing his glasses. Wiping the sleep from his eyes he picked them up from the nightstand and slipped them on. The sight of a huge brassy heart pendant with the words 'My Sweetheart' engraved on it almost made him want to take them back off. "I know that we're best friends Ron but I'm already spoken for and you're truly not my type." Harry said dryly.
"You know bloody well I didn't get it for you." Ron said in a murderous voice.
"Is that what you got Lavender? You should really let Hermione and Ginny help you out next time. You can't possibly give that to her." Harry slowly set up and raked his hand through his ever messy hair.
"I didn't get it for her!" Ron said his voice rising again.
"Then who did you get it for?" Harry asked.
Ron shook his head. "She bought it for me! She's punishing me Harry!" he started pacing the floor.
Harry bit back a chuckle and tried to keep a straight face. "Well at least it doesn't say My Won-Won."
"You think it's funny don't you? That would be considerably better than this. Do you think she actually thinks I'll wear it?" he asked.
"I wouldn't let Fred and George see it." Harry said picking his own over flowing stocking up.
"Blimey…they'd never let me forget it." Ron said his face which had been magenta was now almost as pale as Malfoy's.
"Don't worry your secret dies with me." Harry assured him as he picked up his first package which was rather soggy and smelled horrible.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"From Kreacher." He said cautiously opening it to find a box of maggots causing Harry to leap out of bed.
"I wouldn't feel bad for not buying him anything mate." Ron said helping Harry dispose of it.
The rest of the presents were much more promising from Fred and George the latest of their new jokes some of which wouldn't be available to the public until after the New Year. His gift from Hermione was simple but it touched him deeply. It was a picture in an antique pewter frame that she had snapped of the two of them on the foot bridge at Hogwarts. The both were laughing and looked completely happy. An hour later after Harry had finished opening his presents and dressed in the sweater featuring a Golden Snitch Mrs. Weasley hand made for him. He opened his trunk and dug to the bottom to find the brightly wrapped package. He'd found it before coming to the Burrow in August. From the moment he saw it he knew that it was meant for Hermione. He'd been nervous about giving it to her which is the reason he didn't have it placed along with her other gifts for her to find on Christmas morning. It was a far cry from the books that he usually gave her. He found his chance as everyone was making their way to the table for Christmas lunch. He pulled her into the sitting room so they could have a few minutes alone. "You're being all mysterious." Hermione said when he shut the door and turned to face her.
"I wanted to give you your present." He said handing her the small box. "It's not much but when I saw it I knew it was meant for you."
Hermione smiled as she tore the shiny paper red and silver paper then opened the box. Lying inside of the white tissue paper was a silver pendent the center was etched with tree and the words, 'Be the change you wish to see in the world'. On the back in elegant script was engraved, For Hermione who has the heart and strength to change the world one House-Elf at a time. ~Harry. "Oh Harry, it's beautiful." She said.
"It's kind of…cheesy.' He shrugged his cheeks a faint pink.
She shook her head, "No it's the nicest thing anyone's given me." She said leaning up to kiss him softly, "I love you Harry."
He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back. "I love you too." He pushed her hair over one shoulder and picked the necklace up out of the box and fastened it around her neck.
"Now I wish I would have gotten you something better. I just wasn't sure; I usually buy you something practical but that didn't seem appropriate this year." She said toying with the pendent.
"I love your gift the best." He assured her as the joined the rest of the family for lunch.
Everyone set down around the table, it was a bit on the crowded side but nobody seemed to mind. Mrs. Weasley was beaming over the new hat and necklace Fred and George had given her. And Harry couldn't help but notice the gold chain that disappeared into Ron's shirt. He knew that he was wearing the horrible gift Lavender had given him. Ron had always had a knack for complaining about things he cared about. Harry knew that Lavenders gift meant a lot to him, no matter how terrible it and because of that he wouldn't say anything. "Why don't you pass the mashed parsnips Won-Won?" Fred asked.
"I hope you choke on them." Ron grumbled his ears turning pink and he debated on throwing them at his brother. In the spirit of Christmas and because his mom was in such a lovely mood he decided against it.
"Ronald Weasley! I won't have you speaking like that to your brother, it's Christmas!" Mrs. Weasley snapped at Ron.
"He started it!" Ron protested.
The argument was never sorted out because the most shocking thing of all happened, "Percy!" Mrs. Weasley gasped, "Arthur it's Percy…Percy is here."
Mr. Weasley and everyone else turned to look out the large window. Sure enough Percy, impeccably dressed as ever, was walking through the snow covered yard. Everyone was in shock and Mrs. Weasley eyes were filled with tears. Ever since Percy had parted ways with his family she'd been hoping for him to come back. This was the Christmas miracle that she needed more than anything else. "And he's not alone I see." Lupin said when the Minister of Magic, Scrimgeour came into view.
Everyone was completely stunned; Mrs. Weasley jumped out of her chair and went to the door opening it. "Merry Christmas, Mother," Percy said his voice was cold and formal. Nobody would have known that I was addressing his mother who adored him or being reunited with his family most of which he hadn't seen in well over a year.
"Oh Percy!" she cried and threw her arms around him hugging him tightly while Percy remained unmoved.
The Minister gave a quick explanation as to what brought this very sudden unannounced visit. That they were in the area on business and being so close to The Burrow, Percy craved a visit home for the holiday. To everyone there it was quite clear that this was very far from the truth. To be honest the only person who looked truly happy to see him was Mrs. Weasley. Arthur and the rest of the Weasley children all had mutinous looks on their faces. "Harry why don't you join me for a walk in the garden while Percy catches up with his family," Scrimgeour suggested. Harry stood up and Hermione started to follow. "No dear you should stay here where it's warm." He said to her clearly he wanted to see Harry alone.
"Harry?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at him.
"It's fine Hermione." He assured her before grabbing his coat and following the Minister out.
Mrs. Weasley ushered Percy to the chair Harry had vacated between Hermione and Ron both of which scooted their chairs as far from him as they could. There was a ridged silence at the dinner table that hadn't been there before Percy joined them. "So tell us Percy Dear, how are you?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Yes Weatherby, tell us how you are." Fred said with a cocky smirk. "Have they actually learned your name yet? Or have you had it legally changed so you could sever all ties with your Blood-Traitor family?"
"I'm quite well." He said formally ignoring his brother's snips. "We've been very busy of late with the administration changing hands, this nasty business of You Know Who's return, and Amelia Bones' murder. Everyone was quite shocked at the Ministry."
"And just think, if you Ministry lot would have listened to Harry and Dumbledore after The Tri-Wizard Tournament and not had your heads up you're a-"
"GEORGE!" Mrs. Weasley scolded her son.
Percy's ears turned pink, "There was no proof other than a boy in shock's ravings."
"Not just any 'boy'. Do you honestly think Harry, of all people, would have lied about something like that? Especially considering You Know Who killed his family!" Hermione snapped. "I agree with George on this one you ministry lot do have your heads up your asses!"
"Hear Hear." Fred raised his glass to Hermione who was blushing with both embarrassment for losing her temper and anger.
"It's easy for you have your self-riotous opinions when you have no idea how the world works." Percy said his ears turning pink.
"And neither do you. You have them spoon fed to you from someone else instead of finding out for yourself what's the truth and what isn't." Arthur Weasley said quietly.
"Funny Father isn't that exactly what Dumbledore does to you lot? Getting orders from Dumbledore whose spoon fed them from Harry Potter, whose sanity is questionable at best. The fact that he hasn't been charged for the assault on the Under-Secretary to the Minister is beyond me. Dolores Umbridge is a very sweet woman-"
Nobody was exactly sure what happened next. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione all jumped to their feet along with George, Fred, Arthur, Bill, and Lupin all drew their wands as Percy drew his. Somehow in all the commotion the bowl of mashed parsnips was launched in the air and managed to splatter in Percy's face. The only people still seated, was a wide eyed Fleur and Molly.
This was the scene that Harry had walked in on and to be honest if it wasn't for the murderous looks on everyone's faces and the tears in Mrs. Weasley's the whole thing would have been quite comical.
