This is JK's Kingdom. Me? Court Jester at best LOL!

Chapter Notes: FINALLY! This chapter was HARD fought. I had a major computer incident trying to upgrade this computer so I could use Word 2007 on it. In short I had a complete wipe and rebuild which took a Loooooong while. I saved all my doc files at least including what I have of BBS so far so don't despair. I also had a bunch of RL issues, plus genuine laziness hit. In short this chapter was difficult, but I hope it was worth it. It is a bit wordy in spots but I couldn't find another way of telling what I wanted to tell for those who find that difficult...I am sorry. One more mega chapter after this one so see ya then!

When we last left our story...

Percy sat there for what might have been years, or a few seconds, he couldn't say a word. Finally he was able to choke out, "We miss you Freds, you know that, right?"

Fred nodded, "Yeah of course, I am irreplaceable after all." He cracked that Fred smile, the one nobody else in the family seemed to have. Not even George. Percy had to smile back.

Fred stood, and Percy stood with him. "I have to be going now. I have things I have been putting off while trying to get you lot straight. I think my work is done. You are going to live...right? I don't want to see you again too soon. I don't need someone quoting rules at me all eternity.

"Besides," he said elbowing Percy in the ribs lightly, "I think that pretty little healer has taken a liking to you, at least as long as you're still unconscious, you might have a chance before you wake up."

Percy nodded with a sad smile.

They embraced.

"Bye, Perce."

Percy hugged him even harder, "Bye, Fred."

Now, in Percy's hospital room early evening...


AfterMagic

Chapter7

One Last Prank

Molly's P.O.V.

Molly Weasley was upset with herself.

She was sitting in the private room so graciously provided to them by the St. Mungos staff, holding her husband's hand with her right and gently brushing her son Percy's thinning hair with her left, looking around to all her family that was safe, and realizing how she had been so focused on what she had no longer, she had forgotten what she was still blessed with.

She made a silent vow that was never going to happen again. Yet another blessing was that she didn't have to lose another son to find that out. It was a near thing from what she was told by all of the various stories being imparted.

Morganna…it was hard to imagine! If Percy had succeeded, what would have happened to this world?

She looked down at Percy, and once again her heart melted. He looked so tired. She had been so oblivious to his desperation, but here it was etched in his face.

Her eyes roamed the room, trying to see what else she had missed. Bill and Fleur sat together. He was bouncing a little red-haired toddler on knee as Fleur sang to him in French, she was going to have that daughter real soon it appeared, and Molly hadn't even thrown her a decent Baby Shower! Teddy's hair was blue when he arrived, but he took one look around the room and soon his hair was Weasley red. As Molly watched, the child's gaze found Harry nearby, and his little pudgy arms reached for his Godfather. Harry took him, and held him expertly as the little fellow settled down and was soon napping, thumb jammed in his mouth. Ginny brushed his downy hair, which had gone back to its natural brown as he slept. Ginny smiled contentedly and held Harry's hand as they sat quietly. Hermione was looking through her notes and scribbling on a piece of parchment documenting what she had found in the Archive records, in case they were called to give a defense for their actions. Ron had bemoaned it and they had a nice little argument before he fell asleep against her shoulder. Hermione was so engrossed in what she was doing she missed a line of drool that was pooling on her shoulder. Charlie and George were talking quietly in a corner, Molly could only hear a snippet of the conversation, but it seemed what was being discussed was the disposal of Dragon claws. George was trying to talk Charlie into something, he had that mischievous glint, but Charlie wasn't going for it. The fact that she felt like she might need to keep an eye on George, was a welcome feeling indeed.

As if he could read her mind Arthur's hand gave hers a comforting squeeze. She looked up. He was studying her face like he was trying to memorize every line. She felt a little blush reach her cheeks, after all these years he could still do that to her. Arthur's jaw sat a little to the side as he gave her that special crooked little grin that captured her from the first night she met him as they were sorted into Gryffindor at Hogwarts. She didn't know why he picked her, there were prettier girls, and girls more slender, but he only seemed to have eyes for her, it made her heart soar, and all this time later it still fluttered when he did that. The secret only she knew, was that Fred was the only child of hers to have that smile.

George had his own smile, but that was how she told them apart. Fred had Arthur's smile. One of the things she did in her grief was to shut Arthur out because she feared being reminded of Fred. She now knew that was ridiculous. She put into her eyes how sorry she was for what he must have been going through alone. His eyes crinkled at the corners and he gave her an understanding nod gently kissing her forehead. Not one word was exchanged, but they were both understood.

Fred would have been so upset with her. He was never one to mope or wallow in pity. He hadn't taken his brother losing his ear very well but he had never made his brother pay for his sadness. She had not followed his example.

I'm sorry Freddy, my baby, Mummy is so sorry.

"Excuse me? Weasley family?" a careful but cheerful voice broke into the silence from the door.

They all turned. It was that determined little Healer that had stood up to Molly, and made her go and wait with the others. Molly quite liked her.

She came into the room, closing the door for privacy. This was what they had been waiting for. Healer Rom Velasque had been cautiously optimistic before he flooed out earlier, but he had told them that St. Mungos needed to run some more tests, just in case.

This young lady was obviously here to deliver the results.

With no preamble or build up the little Healer launched into it. "We believe, with some appropriate therapy, that Mister Weasley will fully recover with very few ill effects," she informed with a smile.

They all sighed in relief and hugged one another. Molly, who was being hugged by Ginny, noticed the Healer did not leave, but was waiting patiently, with a little consternation.

"There's more?" Molly encouraged kindly.

She nodded. "This is going to sound strange, and maybe bit inappropriate, but I have to ask. Does anyone here know who Fred is?"

They all started, and exchanged a look. She waited patiently. "We do as a matter of fact, might I ask where you heard that name?" Arthur said calmly, but Molly heard the excitement. She realized that she had ganderbumps herself, running up her arm.

The young lady nodded to herself as if settling a personal debate, before continuing. "We were having a difficult time during the Healing. Mister Weasley was not responding to treatment. Then suddenly, he seemed to get better, just before that occurred, I was sitting with him holding his hand, part of the treatment I assure you, but he started talking to himself." She paused as if debating taking a plunge, before continuing. "Well at first he sounded a bit cross, and then he said, Goodbye Fred. After that his condition rapidly improved."

George beamed. "It had to be Fred; no one could wind Percy up better! I never told you guys how I found Percy, but it was a dream I had just before Angel woke me up, Fred was in it and he told me where."

Ron nodded, "I had a dream myself, napping in the archives, just got a bit woozy and sat for a minute. Next thing I knew I was waking up knowing where Merlin's diary was! You know…this day, everything, it's all been kind of, well..." he looked at Hermione for the word. She gave his hand a squeeze. "I think he's saying it was all a bit orchestrated now wasn't it." Ron chuckled, "That's the word!"

The Healer looked uncomfortable. Molly sympathized, it did sound as if they were being batty. She smiled at the young lady. "I'm sorry; Fred was George's twin brother who died in the Battle of Hogwarts. Thank you so much for telling that to us. I'm sorry I missed your name? The young lady smiled and nodded obviously feeling better. "I'm Assistant Healer Audrey Barton. Please call me if you need anything." She left, gently closing the door behind her.

They all jumped when George began to laugh uncontrollably. Charlie eyed him for a moment then joined in…soon the entire room was full of merriment as they all let back into their life the joy that had been banished by grief.

"Sorry…it…just occurred to me…that Morganna waited all that time to find a victim…and she ran afoul of Fred Weasley…all this was one big colossal prank…on her!" George managed to say between gasps.

Charlie was wiping his eyes with the back of a large callused hand. "I guess you call it his last prank, and it was a doozy!" he managed to say as he was catching his breath.

Ginny spoke. "It occurs to me that this is how Fred would've wanted to be remembered; he would have probably been upset at all the gloominess."

"Upset? He would've kicked our arse!" Ron blurted. Hermione gasped and gaped at him scandalized.

Hoping to move the discussion to matters less borderline hysterical, Hermione shot Ron one last scathing glance and remarked. "I do wonder why we saw Shacklebolt's name on that Archive admission request. Fred couldn't have done that could he?

"I wouldn't put it past him, but alas, this time it was me," said the rumbling but smooth bass voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt from just the other side of the door.

He opened it and stuck his head in sheepishly, "I hope I'm not intruding."

Arthur answered him by crossing the room and hugging the larger man warmly. Kingsley returned the embrace then came on into the room. He was still the Kingsley they all knew inside, but he was wearing tailored robes and a less obvious earring as a concession to his interim Minister of Magic position. He was an interim in name only because his administration had been one of precision and determination a direct contrast to previous Ministers that had recently held that post. As soon as official elections were held, very few doubted the post would become official. He came in and sat in a chair companionably. Chatting with them and listening to the account of the day that had just passed with polite interest.

Molly saw that Hermione was staring at him pointedly, finally clearing her throat to get his attention. "You said it was you that gave us permission to enter the archives?"

Kingsley nodded. "I was the one that asked Gerry to keep an eye on Percy's movements, actually."

Arthur tensed; Molly felt it in his arm. "You were investigating my son, and never told me," he remarked, there was a thread of anger in his voice.

Kingsley wasn't intimidated. He gave Arthur the full weight of his gaze. "I was not investigating your son. I was worried about him. In case you have not noticed, he looked like he was having a nervous breakdown. Even so, even I had no idea how far it had gone."

Arthur sighed, dejectedly. "You're right, Kingsley, we were too wrapped up mourning Fred to notice what was happening, I'm sorry." Kingsley waved him off like he shouldn't have bothered. "It was the least I could do for the bravest man I have ever known."

Bill spoke up. "You're talking about Dad?"

Kingsley chuckled. "Arthur and Molly are two of the most extraordinary persons I have ever met, but I was speaking of Percy."

They all gaped at him. He waited patiently in silence. Molly sensed that there were things he wanted to tell them, but for some reason couldn't.

"You mind telling us why you think that?" Charlie finally inquired.

Kingsley sighed, "I would like to. At the moment, however, I have an Unbreakable Vow between me and Percy that will not permit it." He smiled slyly. "However that vow covers the family only. If you so happen to be in the room as I tell someone who is not family, well that's not covered."

Arthur chuckled. "Kingsley, you old dog!"

Hermione grinned. "Kingsley. Why do you consider Percy the bravest man you have ever known," she asked sweetly.

Kingsley nodded. "I am so glad you asked."

He steepled his long fingers in front of him as he thought of the best way to begin.

"You all know that I was the one that let you know that the Ministry had fallen in time for you to make your escape, have you ever wondered how I knew this so quickly."

Harry nodded. "Yeah you did get that message to us rather fast."

Shacklebolt nodded gravely, "Percy was the one who warned me on your behalf."

The family all glanced at the unconscious man on the bed.

Shacklebolt continued, "Percy will be the first to deny that he was being brave. He knew he was wrong about Harry. He realized it months before, but he didn't come home, not because he felt in the right, but because he didn't want you to forgive him, even though he knew you would."

Molly spoke up. "He was right."

Shacklebolt agreed. "He was there that night. He knew it was Bill's wedding day, and he wasn't going to be there for it. It bothered him so much that he was trying to distract himself with work. He brought a report to Rufus Scrimgeour's office and heard him being tortured. He heard Voldemort's voice demanding to know Harry Potter's whereabouts. Scrimgeour had made Percy promise that if he was ever being tortured that Percy would make sure he didn't break."

Hermione gasped and covered her mouth. Shock clear in her eyes. "Scrimgeour wanted Percy to kill him?"

Shacklebolt's eyes were intense. "Rufus was from the old guard. He was a paranoid old bird, tough as nails and battle tested. He was retired from the Aurors active roster after he received a curse to the heart. He had instructed Percy that one stunner would do the deed. Percy debated it, while he heard the screams. Then he made a choice. He knew I would know the location of the wedding, so he sent his Owl Patronus to me with the message that the ministry had fallen, that I should tell his family to move immediately."

Shacklebolt paused and as he stared at his hands. Then he looked up at Arthur and Molly. "Then Percival Ignatius Weasley walked right into that office, and demanded to know who was in charge." He waited until the shock had a chance to dissipate before he continued. "Voldemort was very amused, which is why Percy is alive today. He asked Percy, what if I am Mister Weasley? Percy handed him the report, and stated, "Will that be all sir?" Voldemort laughed, Percy told me later it sounded like a hiss of a snake, it was one that he heard in his nightmares for months later, and asked Percy where Harry Potter was."

Shacklebolt paused. "I feel I need to explain this to you. Percy wasn't trying to keep his job, he was trying to save Scrimgeour hours of torture, with a bit of information that Voldemort would have discovered anyway in due course. On top of that Scrimgeour knew things, as Minister of Magic that would have given Voldemort even more power than he already possessed. So he told Voldemort about Bill's wedding, and that he had not talked to the family in months, wasn't sure where it was. Knowing that I would be warning you to leave the Burrow, it was a bit of a gamble, but it earned Voldemort's trust and bought you time, while Voldy was barking orders to the Death Eaters, Percy used a non-verbal and stunned Scrimgeour in the heart, an act, while necessary, haunts him till this day. He later fed me names of Muggleborns that were being targeted, and together we formed the Muggleborn Underground, saving dozens of families. He worked with suspicious Death Eaters and puppets of Voldemort every day, and used red tape and bureaucratic nonsense to gum up the works. He couldn't tell you, or be seen talking to you Arthur, it would have endangered you both. I was the one that told him about the Battle of Hogwarts. He came running with no hesitation."

Molly was the first to speak, "My poor baby, why didn't he want you to tell us, Kingsley?"

Kingsley sighed, "His reasons are his own. I told you all of that, to inform you of this. Percy's career is over unless we can come up with a reasonable explanation as to why he took that book. That would be an even bigger tragedy to me, because I need this kind of man at my side."

Molly suddenly knew they needed to turn to. "If you need a story to get someone off the hook, there is no one better at alibis than my son George."

George looked up in surprise. "You know I can't come up with anything on my own Mum, I need Fred for that."

Molly was gentle. "Fred has moved on. He was the schemer, but he always left the talking up to you. You know that."

George chuckled. "You knew?"

Arthur answered with a chuckle, "We sometimes let you boys off, just because the story was so good. We always knew." He squeezed Molly's hand, she nodded at George encouragingly.

"It this helps George," Hermione began, "Harry's hunch about some of these spells looking familiar was correct. Tom Riddle and Hans Samuelsson were both on the list having looked at Morganna's Spell Book in years past. Hans Samuelsson was a known alias for…"

"Gellert Grindelwald!" Shacklebolt finished excitedly.

George was deep in thought. Then he got a familiar grin on his face that Molly knew by heart. She always knew when she saw that grin that what he was going to tell her was made up, but this time she was rooting for him.

"The Ministry Law states that a Horcrux once revealed, is to be destroyed immediately, yeah?"

Shacklebolt nodded encouragingly. "Go on."

George smile slyly, "So if my meticulous, fussy brother were to see those names in the archive records, having checked out the same book, and were to have looked at said book, only to realize that it was a Horcrux, he would have to do something about it, yeah?"

Kingsley smiled. "He would indeed."

George continued. "I am assuming that this book is considered a valued artifact so, it wouldn't be allowed to be destroyed by typical means. So, maybe my brother realized how dangerous this book was, that it was too dangerous to be used by future Dark Lords, so he took it from the archives, and risked his own life to destroy it, almost dying in the attempt. That would cover all of the rings, yeah?"

Shacklebolt shook his head in amazement. "How did you ever get caught, George, that is indeed the most perfect little cover story I have ever heard."

Hermione sniggered, "With my notes, and St. Mungos' records about his near death brush with Dark Magic, he would go from being a thief to being a hero!"

Shacklebolt smiled. "Percy always was a hero, nobody knew about it though. This time I'll push for an Order of Merlin so it becomes official.

He stood and shook hands with Arthur, and left after waving to everyone else.

Molly made a decision.

She cleared her throat, a sound that made all of the Weasley children and Harry immediately give her their attention. She pointed to Hermione and Ginny. "You two need to go home and get Ginny packed to return to Hogwarts." She pointed to Ron and Harry. "You two need to get cleaned up and take those young ladies for a night out." She pointed to Charlie. "You need a haircut, and to settle in for a little while, we have not seen you enough lately. You need to be here for Percy, if the Head Keeper has a problem with that let me know, I'll talk to him." Her finger moved to George, "That nice girl has been running your shop for months while you wallowed in fire-whiskey go and thank her properly, or you will hear it from me." They all left on their errands. Harry handed a sleeping Teddy to Bill on his way out. Molly smiled and offered to take the little toddler. He settled in to her arms like he was meant to be there. She gentled him expertly, and gave Fleur and Bill her warmest smile. "Bill, please go get Maman Apolline, and bring her here. We need to plan a Baby Shower before our grandchild gets here." He smiled gave his wife's hand a squeeze, and walked out purposefully. Fleur smiled at Molly gratefully.

Molly cooed and sang a quiet lullaby to Teddy. Arthur leaned close. "I know what you're doing?" Molly gave him a tolerant smile. "You do? What of it?" Arthur's eyes twinkled and he gave her that lopsided Fred-like grin. "So I'd like to help. Give me something to do." Molly beamed at him. "Well why you don't take your daughter-in-law to find something to eat. I'm sure she's hungry since she's eating for two. If, along the way, you were to bump into that sweet Assistant Healer Audrey, turn on that Arthur Weasley charm and see if she'll have herself assigned to Percy's care as a favor, since we like her so much."

His eyes twinkled and he rested a finger on the side of his nose and gave her a wink. "Fleur, would you like to help me find a snack, I'm bit famished."

Fleur tried not to look eager but failed miserably. "Oui, je suis affame'. I mean yes, I'd like that."

Arthur helped support her as they left.

Molly held Teddy, as she looked affectionately down at her son. She remembered that when this man was the size of the little boy in her arms, he always wanted to fix things, and put them back right, even then.

She reached down and touched the side of his wan, tired face. "Rest, my little boy, I am so proud of you. You can rest now, it's all fixed."

Character Notes: This entire story came from one stray thought. At the reconciliation of Percy to his family in DH, I had some unanswered questions. First, he said he just heard, how did he just hear? Who told him? Secondly, that change of heart was so abrupt, and unlike Percy. I mean this is a guy that was calculating, far seeing when it came to every other part of his life and you want to sell me a bill of goods that he had a SUDDEN epiphany? Percy was still inside the Ministry this whole time, what was he doing that close to Voldemort and his minions? Why did he have freedom of movement when Arthur was under constant scrutiny. It all didn't add up. Suddenly I realized, Percy is a Weasley, he grew up in the same house as the rest of them with the same set of values and virtues, he is a Gryffindor even if he manages to hide it a lot, what would that mean when he was faced with these circumstances. The story came out from there. Then that story was placed in the greater framework of the bigger story. JK said that Kingsley allowed Percy to achieve a very high status in his administration, and I was like why? So I came up with Kingsley's aspect of this story. I hope it all makes sense and is readable! Enjoy!