Chapter 2 A Long Day, Longer
"Mr. Fudge, to what do I owe this great honor?" Percy asked very professionally. Cornelius simply raised an eyebrow at him, then stood up and walked over to where Percy was standing.
"You're late Mr. Weasley, may I ask why?" He asked very directly. Percy knew better than to try and lie so he simply told the truth.
"I overslept a little and then, after I had arrived, I got off on the wrong floor. It was a foolish thing for me to do and I can promise that it won't happen again." Percy looked directly in front of himself and avoided eye contact with Fudge.
"Hmmm, I see. You're a valued employee Mr. Weasley, and I do hope you're not taking that for granted," Fudge began, "You must know how proud all of us at the Ministry are with your many accomplishments and your wise decision to not follow in your fathers' footsteps. You have two older brothers and two younger twin brothers, do you not? Bill, Charlie, Fred and George, I believe their names are?" Fudge looked at Percy for confirmation, Percy nodded his head.
"I also have a younger sister, Ginny, who will be starting her 5th year at Hogwarts and my other brother Ronald who will be starting his 6th." Percy stated; Fudge just nodded his head.
"Yes, Ronald, he's a good friend of Harry Potters I hear." Fudge said. "Yes, the boy who lived. He's been quite a nuisance to the Ministry as you well know. He may have been right about You-Know-Who, but he's still questionable. Someone with that kind of magical power at such a young age is dangerous. Not just to himself but to other people. You-Know-Who was also powerful at that age as well and you can see how he abused his powers. I fear that Harry Potter is headed down that path as well. We must keep a close eye on this Potter boy and you must warn your brother to be careful in his presence."
"Yes, although I have sent him many warnings against it, my brother is not to be persuaded." Percy shifted uncomfortably; Fudge just glanced around the room, taking everything in.
"Perhaps he would listen if you were closer to him," Fudge suggested.
"Sir?" Percy questioned.
"I have an assignment for you Mr. Weasley, and that is to return to Hogwarts as a substitute for Professor McGonagall. She has decided to take a holiday and will not return until the start of the New Year. I would like to have you fill in for her because not only do I believe you are most capable of doing a satisfactory job but I also know that if anything seems, well," Fudge raised his eye brows, "suspicious, you'd let me know right away." By now Percy's' lungs were screaming in pain. He'd been so caught up in what Fudge was saying that he had forgotten to breathe. Percy slowly exhaled and tried to think of an excuse to not go back to Hogwarts.
"Minister, I'm not sure if that is the best idea." Percy started.
"You don't agree with my judgment?" Cornelius asked.
"No, no, it's not that at all," Percy recovered quickly, "What I meant was that, my time might be better spent serving someone like yourself or someone at the ministry and not some crackpot headmaster." Percy said, confidence never wavering.
"Are you two discussing me?" A voice was heard from the door way. Percy bit his tongue and Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, walked over the threshold.
"As a matter of fact we were, Albus," Fudge said with false brightness and courtesy. "I was just offering young Percy Weasley the opportunity to fill in for dear old Minerva, as she is planning an upcoming holiday." The headmaster nodded and looked Percy up and down but never revealed anything other than amusement.
"Yes, I believe Percy will do just nicely. He is a very dedicated, intelligent young man," Dumbledore said, "he will do nicely." Albus nodded his head as he spoke. Percy noticed he looked much more haggard than usual. "Yes, well, I came here to see if you had chosen a replacement and it seems that you have. I must be returning now." With that, the old headmaster walked towards the door and turned before he exited, "I shall be seeing you soon Percy. Have a good day Cornelius." Dumbledore's crooked old mouth curved into a smile as he left. Cornelius turned on his heel to face Percy.
"Old miserly fool," Fudge muttered to himself than continued aloud to Percy, "Well, hopefully you will be able to keep up appearances with that fool, not that it will be hard. He's a trusting old man; you should have no problem getting close to him. Well, I must be going; I've got a meeting with some of the members of the board. We must figure out what to do about You-Know-Who. Have a nice day Mr. Weasley," Cornelius called over his shoulder has he headed towards the door. As soon as he reached the door he turned around to Percy, "You won't be late again, will you Mr. Weasley?"
"Never again, Minister," Percy responded automatically, "I can promise you that." Cornelius nodded his head.
"You'll be expected at Hogwarts one week before the start of term to set lesson plans and such," Cornelius said rather dully, "You are a very ambitious young man. It's a very admirable quality of yours, and it will take you far if you keep on track Percy," Fudge said with a nasty grin, "Yes, keep on track." With that, Cornelius turned and left Percy's office.
Percy walked over to his chair, sat down and let out a lung full of air. He began to breathe normally as he shuffled through his In-box paper work. Percy set to work, concentrating so fully that he did not even stop to have lunch. Sending memos, signing documents, sorting through useless by laws and rewriting quick notes taken during various trials. The trial he was working on now was of Horace Wittgenstein, who was sentenced to six months in Azkaban for transfiguring several muggles into bowling pins and then continued on to play a full set with them. Percy sighed as he finished rewriting in his neat and tidy scrawl. He didn't necessarily think that muggles were equal to wizards but he did believe that they were human, and to treat another human as though he were garbage for something he couldn't prevent was nonsense. Muggles couldn't help it if they weren't magical; it just wasn't in their blood. Percy lost himself in thought and hadn't realized that a women was staring at him from the door way.
Cough, Cough.
Percy looked up. Penelope Clearwater. Her long black hair trailed down her back, her green eyes sparkled as they usually did, and a playful smile danced on her full lips.
Percy looked disgusted.
"Pene-ahem, I mean, Ms. Clearwater, what can I do for you?" Percy said, looking up at her gentle figure in the black dress. She just smiled and walked over to the desk.
"Well, it's almost seven o'clock and I realized that you hadn't taken a break all day. Aren't you hungry?" She asked, keeping her voice low and seductive. Penelope started working at the Ministry six month after Percy and had just managed a few weeks ago to move up to his department, working in the office across from his.
"I've had a lot to do." Percy answered, keeping it short and curt. Penelope tried not to show the hurt his words inflicted on her.
"You know, you work very hard Mr. Weasley, perhaps you should take a short break and come out to dinner with me." As Penelope talked she studied his face for some kind of reaction to her words. She got none
"I'm sorry Ms. Clearwater, but I don't think that I have time for a break just now. I've really got to get this done." Percy said looking down at his work and ignored her pained look.
"You haven't eaten all day-" She started but Percy snapped back.
"Is there a relevant point to this conversation, Ms Clearwater?" Percy spat, Penelope looked stunned. "I didn't think so. Please leave my office and come back when you have something important to say to me."
"This is important. I love you," Penelope whispered slowly. Percy bit his tongue.
"Is that all?" Percy said, still not looking up at her, but knowing there were tears in her eyes.
"Dammit Percy, I'm worried about you. Look at yourself. All you ever do is work, you never leave the house except to come here and now you're blocking yourself off from everyone who loves you. Your brothers, your sister, your mother, your father-". Percy stood up, his chair flying backwards and falling over.
"Do NOT talk to me about my father. That is a matter you know nothing about MISS Clearwater. If you do not mind, I've got better things to do then to spend my time bickering with you. There is the door; I trust you can let yourself out. Good day to you." Percy yelled. He then picked up his chair and began working again. Penelope choked out a sob.
"Look at yourself, Percy." He did not look up," look at yourself!" She said a little louder, then reached forward and pushed all of the papers and utensils from his desk to his floor. "Look at me Percy, just look at me." She cried. Percy jumped up again and grabbed her forearms and pulled her towards the door. Instead of throwing open the door he slammed it shut and pressed Penelope up against it.
"What do you want from me?" Percy said in a dangerously low voice. Penelope's sobs quieted and then she took a deep breath.
"I want to know what I did to make you stop loving me." She whispered, tears falling from her eyes. Percy heart was beating fast, his cheeks flushed as he tried to keep down his feelings. Penelope, noticing his softness, brought her hands up to his cheeks and kissed him gently. Percy just stood there, watching the fragile creature as she ventured to kiss him. She kissed him again, pressing her lips against his, trying to awake some sleeping passion that Percy might still have for her. Percy did not move. He did not touch her, he just watched.
Penelope pulled away and stared deep into Percy's eyes. They used to share kisses often and he had never once pushed her away. He wasn't pushing her away this time either, but he was making it clear that he did not share emotion she was putting into the kiss. She back away and pressed herself against the door, wishing she could fall through the door and go back to her office where she could face her humiliation alone. Percy didn't love her. He truly didn't love her, just like he had said. She didn't want to believe it, but now she had no choice. Penelope closed her eyes and a tear ran down her cheek. Percy reached up and brushed it away. She looked up at him in surprise. A gentle gesture? What did it mean? Percy looked terrified, as though he'd given something away and so he did the only logical thing he could think of.
He kissed her.
"Mr. Fudge, to what do I owe this great honor?" Percy asked very professionally. Cornelius simply raised an eyebrow at him, then stood up and walked over to where Percy was standing.
"You're late Mr. Weasley, may I ask why?" He asked very directly. Percy knew better than to try and lie so he simply told the truth.
"I overslept a little and then, after I had arrived, I got off on the wrong floor. It was a foolish thing for me to do and I can promise that it won't happen again." Percy looked directly in front of himself and avoided eye contact with Fudge.
"Hmmm, I see. You're a valued employee Mr. Weasley, and I do hope you're not taking that for granted," Fudge began, "You must know how proud all of us at the Ministry are with your many accomplishments and your wise decision to not follow in your fathers' footsteps. You have two older brothers and two younger twin brothers, do you not? Bill, Charlie, Fred and George, I believe their names are?" Fudge looked at Percy for confirmation, Percy nodded his head.
"I also have a younger sister, Ginny, who will be starting her 5th year at Hogwarts and my other brother Ronald who will be starting his 6th." Percy stated; Fudge just nodded his head.
"Yes, Ronald, he's a good friend of Harry Potters I hear." Fudge said. "Yes, the boy who lived. He's been quite a nuisance to the Ministry as you well know. He may have been right about You-Know-Who, but he's still questionable. Someone with that kind of magical power at such a young age is dangerous. Not just to himself but to other people. You-Know-Who was also powerful at that age as well and you can see how he abused his powers. I fear that Harry Potter is headed down that path as well. We must keep a close eye on this Potter boy and you must warn your brother to be careful in his presence."
"Yes, although I have sent him many warnings against it, my brother is not to be persuaded." Percy shifted uncomfortably; Fudge just glanced around the room, taking everything in.
"Perhaps he would listen if you were closer to him," Fudge suggested.
"Sir?" Percy questioned.
"I have an assignment for you Mr. Weasley, and that is to return to Hogwarts as a substitute for Professor McGonagall. She has decided to take a holiday and will not return until the start of the New Year. I would like to have you fill in for her because not only do I believe you are most capable of doing a satisfactory job but I also know that if anything seems, well," Fudge raised his eye brows, "suspicious, you'd let me know right away." By now Percy's' lungs were screaming in pain. He'd been so caught up in what Fudge was saying that he had forgotten to breathe. Percy slowly exhaled and tried to think of an excuse to not go back to Hogwarts.
"Minister, I'm not sure if that is the best idea." Percy started.
"You don't agree with my judgment?" Cornelius asked.
"No, no, it's not that at all," Percy recovered quickly, "What I meant was that, my time might be better spent serving someone like yourself or someone at the ministry and not some crackpot headmaster." Percy said, confidence never wavering.
"Are you two discussing me?" A voice was heard from the door way. Percy bit his tongue and Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, walked over the threshold.
"As a matter of fact we were, Albus," Fudge said with false brightness and courtesy. "I was just offering young Percy Weasley the opportunity to fill in for dear old Minerva, as she is planning an upcoming holiday." The headmaster nodded and looked Percy up and down but never revealed anything other than amusement.
"Yes, I believe Percy will do just nicely. He is a very dedicated, intelligent young man," Dumbledore said, "he will do nicely." Albus nodded his head as he spoke. Percy noticed he looked much more haggard than usual. "Yes, well, I came here to see if you had chosen a replacement and it seems that you have. I must be returning now." With that, the old headmaster walked towards the door and turned before he exited, "I shall be seeing you soon Percy. Have a good day Cornelius." Dumbledore's crooked old mouth curved into a smile as he left. Cornelius turned on his heel to face Percy.
"Old miserly fool," Fudge muttered to himself than continued aloud to Percy, "Well, hopefully you will be able to keep up appearances with that fool, not that it will be hard. He's a trusting old man; you should have no problem getting close to him. Well, I must be going; I've got a meeting with some of the members of the board. We must figure out what to do about You-Know-Who. Have a nice day Mr. Weasley," Cornelius called over his shoulder has he headed towards the door. As soon as he reached the door he turned around to Percy, "You won't be late again, will you Mr. Weasley?"
"Never again, Minister," Percy responded automatically, "I can promise you that." Cornelius nodded his head.
"You'll be expected at Hogwarts one week before the start of term to set lesson plans and such," Cornelius said rather dully, "You are a very ambitious young man. It's a very admirable quality of yours, and it will take you far if you keep on track Percy," Fudge said with a nasty grin, "Yes, keep on track." With that, Cornelius turned and left Percy's office.
Percy walked over to his chair, sat down and let out a lung full of air. He began to breathe normally as he shuffled through his In-box paper work. Percy set to work, concentrating so fully that he did not even stop to have lunch. Sending memos, signing documents, sorting through useless by laws and rewriting quick notes taken during various trials. The trial he was working on now was of Horace Wittgenstein, who was sentenced to six months in Azkaban for transfiguring several muggles into bowling pins and then continued on to play a full set with them. Percy sighed as he finished rewriting in his neat and tidy scrawl. He didn't necessarily think that muggles were equal to wizards but he did believe that they were human, and to treat another human as though he were garbage for something he couldn't prevent was nonsense. Muggles couldn't help it if they weren't magical; it just wasn't in their blood. Percy lost himself in thought and hadn't realized that a women was staring at him from the door way.
Cough, Cough.
Percy looked up. Penelope Clearwater. Her long black hair trailed down her back, her green eyes sparkled as they usually did, and a playful smile danced on her full lips.
Percy looked disgusted.
"Pene-ahem, I mean, Ms. Clearwater, what can I do for you?" Percy said, looking up at her gentle figure in the black dress. She just smiled and walked over to the desk.
"Well, it's almost seven o'clock and I realized that you hadn't taken a break all day. Aren't you hungry?" She asked, keeping her voice low and seductive. Penelope started working at the Ministry six month after Percy and had just managed a few weeks ago to move up to his department, working in the office across from his.
"I've had a lot to do." Percy answered, keeping it short and curt. Penelope tried not to show the hurt his words inflicted on her.
"You know, you work very hard Mr. Weasley, perhaps you should take a short break and come out to dinner with me." As Penelope talked she studied his face for some kind of reaction to her words. She got none
"I'm sorry Ms. Clearwater, but I don't think that I have time for a break just now. I've really got to get this done." Percy said looking down at his work and ignored her pained look.
"You haven't eaten all day-" She started but Percy snapped back.
"Is there a relevant point to this conversation, Ms Clearwater?" Percy spat, Penelope looked stunned. "I didn't think so. Please leave my office and come back when you have something important to say to me."
"This is important. I love you," Penelope whispered slowly. Percy bit his tongue.
"Is that all?" Percy said, still not looking up at her, but knowing there were tears in her eyes.
"Dammit Percy, I'm worried about you. Look at yourself. All you ever do is work, you never leave the house except to come here and now you're blocking yourself off from everyone who loves you. Your brothers, your sister, your mother, your father-". Percy stood up, his chair flying backwards and falling over.
"Do NOT talk to me about my father. That is a matter you know nothing about MISS Clearwater. If you do not mind, I've got better things to do then to spend my time bickering with you. There is the door; I trust you can let yourself out. Good day to you." Percy yelled. He then picked up his chair and began working again. Penelope choked out a sob.
"Look at yourself, Percy." He did not look up," look at yourself!" She said a little louder, then reached forward and pushed all of the papers and utensils from his desk to his floor. "Look at me Percy, just look at me." She cried. Percy jumped up again and grabbed her forearms and pulled her towards the door. Instead of throwing open the door he slammed it shut and pressed Penelope up against it.
"What do you want from me?" Percy said in a dangerously low voice. Penelope's sobs quieted and then she took a deep breath.
"I want to know what I did to make you stop loving me." She whispered, tears falling from her eyes. Percy heart was beating fast, his cheeks flushed as he tried to keep down his feelings. Penelope, noticing his softness, brought her hands up to his cheeks and kissed him gently. Percy just stood there, watching the fragile creature as she ventured to kiss him. She kissed him again, pressing her lips against his, trying to awake some sleeping passion that Percy might still have for her. Percy did not move. He did not touch her, he just watched.
Penelope pulled away and stared deep into Percy's eyes. They used to share kisses often and he had never once pushed her away. He wasn't pushing her away this time either, but he was making it clear that he did not share emotion she was putting into the kiss. She back away and pressed herself against the door, wishing she could fall through the door and go back to her office where she could face her humiliation alone. Percy didn't love her. He truly didn't love her, just like he had said. She didn't want to believe it, but now she had no choice. Penelope closed her eyes and a tear ran down her cheek. Percy reached up and brushed it away. She looked up at him in surprise. A gentle gesture? What did it mean? Percy looked terrified, as though he'd given something away and so he did the only logical thing he could think of.
He kissed her.