SPOILERS FOR ONE FOR SORROW CHAPTER 49! BIG ONES! THE RED FLASHING SIGN OF SPOILERS!

August 22, 1997

Percy Weasley (what a silly name) was tall and red headed, I remembered this from that gala where I only saw the back of his head as he danced with my daughter, and from seeing him at Dumbledore's funeral, but I had a much better look at him now. Up close, he was as I had suspected. Gangly, straight backed, awkward looking and the embodiment of nearly every idea and encounter I endured with social climbing, glorified secretaries. He reminded me of Chad Wester (or was it Thad? I could never remember.) I had seen his face from a distance at Dumbledore's funeral when he was speaking with Audrey, I regretted not having an opportunity to put an end to the matter then, but Audrey had been quick to disappear them both into the crowd.

I wondered if Audrey was my smartest child or my dumbest. Really, it could go either way at this point.

Weasley glanced around the room, he was not fidgety the way Wester was. I kept Wester around for a couple of reasons, he could parrot back conversations I did not find interesting and always remembered what meetings were in which room. He kept record of the minute details that I could not always recall as things grew more pear shaped internationally and the werewolf crisis consumed more of my time.

I had been working on a backdoor deal to begin getting representation to wix from Native American tribes as a kind of independent position. We had signed a contract deal with them over a hundred years ago and the promise had never manifested into reality. It would be a start, a late start, but one I kept returning too because MACUSA had signed a deal hundreds of years ago and it needed to be honored out of obligation and duty.

Word was a bond, the way MACUSA scammed the tribes in loopholes about the timing of this promise had long left a bitter taste in my mouth. If the tribes wanted state representation and formalized voting powers they would have to run for office like everyone else, but ceremonial seats to speak from with regards to land care and conservation, or magical arts that would not harm the surrounding area and how to live with our diverse array of magical species would be a good start that shouldn't ruffle too many feathers.

Sallow could shove his opinions of the matter up his ass.

America was a country of change. My job was to make sure we did not move too quickly. A politically radical nation, conservative or liberal, made enemies, something I was sure the British Ministry would discover shortly. There had to be moderation, especially if wix continued to live lives of secrecy. Having a parent stay home was easier, teach the child basic math and reading, a task that fell to more patient parents, usually the mother. Though if there was an insistence to work, our society had our own elementary schools.

I tried to get Audrey to teach at one point. Aside from that time she dropped Annette on her head, she was good with kids.

Lucina was the one who dropped Alex.

I could say with confidence that I had never managed to drop any of my children. I held them a lot when they were small and had no inclination to grow up and become… teenagers.

Chad Wester was going to grow up to be a good little Virtus party member, he was good at following orders and toeing party lines, I got the impression from all of the research I had done over the last few months that Weasley was cut from a similar cloth. Both were ambitious boys who were coming up in the world on their own, they were hungry for mentorship, wanting the approval of older, established male figures because of their weak or unambitious fathers.

I knew how to work with that.

I smiled and motioned for Weasley to take a seat. "No need to stand on ceremony, would you like something to drink? Tea, coffee, a shot of whiskey maybe?"

Weasley blinked as I pulled a couple of small shot glasses out of my desk and summoned the whiskey from a nearby shelf.

"Thank you, but I need to return to the Ministry."

"Ah, yes," Stodgy and devoted. I could work with that. "See, there are two things I need before you depart. First, I need some explanation for this paperwork, your Ministry has changed hands quite a bit and I need to double check some things while I have a clearly capable young man at my disposal. Second, a man should not drink alone."

I filled the glasses and put one across from me in front of the spare chair I had set out before Weasley arrived. Something inviting with thick plush and a high back, something both inviting and important looking. It was all about appearances.

"I shouldn't drink on the clock."

"Right, good answer!" He likes rules, regulations, nice to have that confirmed. Moral. I don't think I need to worry about him taking charge of some department where MACUSA has to deal with him in twenty years. Let alone becoming Minister. This is not a born politician.

Really not good enough for my daughter in that regard.

I vanished the glasses and put the whiskey away before pulling out a couple of bags of earl grey from my desk and summoned the sugar from a nearby cabinet and warming a kettle on a nearby table with a heating charm. I had done a lot of research on Weasley. He had a favorite tea and preferred it with two spoonfuls of sugar. I did not like tea, both on principle and preference, but I would drink it to engage Weasley and make him comfortable.

It was working. Weasley sat down, looking both weary and a bit concerned.

I would have to fix that.

"It's admirable that someone so young is so trusted by the Minister of Magic. When I was your age I was getting beaten black and blue in Auror training."

"You were an Auror?"

There was trust and wonder in his eyes.

"Yes, a family tradition. My family is full of famous Aurors, America was and remains a dangerous country, but frankly I think I would have preferred a career path like yours. Safer, less hard on my back."

"How did you get into politics?"

"I had been a full Auror for about two years, my partner and I cornered a dark wizard who managed to stun me and knock me off a fourth floor balcony. The fall was bad. I made a jump to politics and only occasionally look back." I grinned, "We did catch the guy though. Ended my career on a high note."

I met Lucina that night. Probably part of the reason our relationship was so intense at the start.

The kettle whistled and I summoned the hot water to fill the mugs. Weasley efficiently made his tea. I did the same. I needed him to trust me in a short span of time for a few reasons.

Some reasons were political.

Another was very personal.

"How are things at the Ministry these days?"

There was a second of hesitation where his lips thinned from how tightly he pressed them together as if holding back words and accusations.

Not good.

"As well as expected."

He was not a good liar.

"Three Ministers in as many years, I could have a lot of expectations for how that would affect the structure of one's government."

"It has been… very educational with regards to leadership styles."

Ugh. He even sounds like Audrey.

"You said you wanted clarification on the documentation?" Brusque and official, he sounded like my father, too British, but close enough in spirit.

I passed him the papers. I didn't really need clarification, I really needed a check on the conversion rates and the immigration policies, but that could be handled by my finance, trade and immigration offices. Britain was spinning in a circle as it went down a drain and I did not trust any of our counterparts here anymore.

But reward always came with risk.

"I heard you all have uncovered some fascinating research on Seeds and their magic?"

Weasley froze for a moment, his eyes stopping at the center of the page before he began to move again.

"Yes," his voice was slow and contemplative as he continued to look through the paperwork. "The Unspeakables proclaimed their theory to the Minister and he acted upon what he was told."

Hm…

"I don't think my mother would appreciate being called a thief." I took a moment to take in Weasley's bug eyed expression. "Frankly, if she is one, she did far more good with it than anyone else could have managed."

Weasley's expression was impressively neutral.

Ophelia Turing Graves was a proud sort of woman. She was the chief medical officer of her own unit during the war against Grindelwald, and killed an agent who tried to break the rules of war by blowing up her field hospital. She took one life and saved a hundred more.

She would have been deeply amused that rich purists overseas believed her to have stolen magic as a child. Granted she had six brothers, I was sure she had not exaggerated stories about beating up half of them at one point. Mom was just hard like that.

"As a citizen, what do you think of all this?"

"I'm not sure what you mean, sir."

I shrugged, "Do you think this administration represents the views of its people by demonizing a respectable percentage of their population? There have been international incidents of anti-Seed sentiment before, but not on this scale or based on research that is so… well, flimsy."

"I am duty bound to support the Office of the Minister of Magic." His voice was measured, he was finding his rhythm in this political chess match the more time passed. Of course he was not going to touch that with a ten foot pole, Weasley was not an idiot.

"Of course you are. I would think far less of you if you were stupid enough to say anything different." I leaned back in my chair, steepling my fingers together in thought as I looked at Weasley again.

I did not know what on earth Audrey saw in him because I was not impressed.

"I've done a lot of research on you," I pulled out a folder where I had been carefully stowing away collected information on Weasley and other members of the Minister of Magic's inner circle. This was always good information to have, to find a weakness in an enemy government was predictable, unstable governments were full of holes, people to turn to foreign campaigns with promises of riches or power for a bit of information, but to find a weakness in a government that had instability under its strong facade was gold.

Weasley stopped going through the papers I had given him and was looking up at me with wide, confused eyes.

"Third of seven children," a newspaper photo from five years ago crossed my vision as I turned the page. "Your father worked in Muggle Artifacts for twenty five years and is unusually fond of them for some reason. There was an incident with a flying car a few years ago."

The boy's face was pale. I had hit a mark of some sort.

"Which is why I think you don't agree with this current administration."

Politics was a game for me. Some people liked chess or Quadpot claiming it relaxed them. I never understood those ideas. Election season was my version of a major sporting event long before I became an Auror and getting into that after my Auror career ended seemed a natural progression.

I liked people for the most part. I liked it when I got to drop research into their laps when they felt comfortable with me, building a crook's trust in the interview room before dropping the facts of the case was enticing and treating some of my political opponents in my early career in the same manner, people who wanted to believe I got where I was in life solely on my family name was priceless. Politics was never something a person should get comfortable in, the first rule I lived by was that everyone has a motive, everyone wants something and everyone can be exploited and broken under the right pressure.

Young ambitious boys wanted to impress their fathers, Weasley was clearly a rule abiding moralist. I did not believe him to be a purist, too much exposure to non-magical culture, a father who was outspoken about the rights of non-magical people, and being part of a family that were referred to as 'blood-traitors'. Weasley could talk the talk for safety, but these people would always regard him with suspicion to a point.

"Top student at Hogwarts, twelve O.W.L.s, ten N.E.W.T.s. You're clearly intelligent. Which is why I don't understand how you can tolerate what's happening in your country right now."

I stood up to pace the room, Weasley being too stunned to stand in respect and stayed in his seat. Perfect.

"You seem to be a decent sort of man," I picked my words carefully. "Morally upright, diligent, dedicated and very skilled at what you do. It's all very impressive. I heard about the run around you gave the previous MACUSA diplomat before Weathers, he had so many complaints about a teenage boy who was running his department on his boss' behalf. I like that kind of drive and audacity in a person."

Weasley looked back at the door quickly as if someone would burst in at any moment to arrest him for treason.

"The doors are spelled, Percy, we have complete privacy." I smiled wryly. "MACUSA Aurors are actually competent in that regard and in their profession of hunting the Dark Arts and their practitioners. I take a lot of pride in that."

Weasley seemed to relax after waving his wand to double check the wards, a gesture that would have insulted me under different circumstances.

"You can put those papers back, Percy. I actually wanted to meet you for a bit of a chat."

"What?"

"I hate to see talent wasted." I sighed heavily as part of the act. "Magical America is a country built on the backs of talented people fleeing oppression and bad governance the world over. We are truly a refuge of diverse experience and arcane arts from people from all different parts of the world. It's like little pieces of the world have come to America to build something greater. We also have a true representative democracy where our representatives must listen to our people or be removed from office in the next election, our senate ensures that laws are just and comply with our standards and the president and his vice president must be voted for by the people as a team. The people always know who will lead them in a crisis. I can't say that is something the Ministry of Magic can boast about."

Weasley shook his head.

C'mon boy, talk!

"It's not… I don't know precisely what is going on, but I don't believe any of it." He paused. "Scrimgeour was assassinated."

"Yes, I heard about that a few days ago."

It was why Weathers was so insistent that I did not need to come to Britain in any capacity, formal or informal. Once I arrived at the Embassy, Weathers told me everything and tried to shove a Portkey into my hands. If I was going to call out the Ministry of Magic for crimes against humanity, I needed more evidence. A few people going missing would not be enough to begin to call a war council or beg the International Confederation of Wizards for intervention. Our world was smaller, but that made it easier to see things and frame it properly for a response.

Weathers showing his ass at the Ministry just gave me grounds to not have to be seen at the Ministry and would make them come to me to keep this private and away from the cameras. My refusal to see Thicknesse spoke to my displeasure with what I understood about what was going on here, but my insistence on meeting with his aide would give me enough time to leave the country before openly denouncing the prosecution of Seeds that was happening in Britain.

Though, I was a bit disappointed that Weathers engaged in such behavior, if he had not I could have gone to the Ministry and just dragged Audrey out despite any of her protesting.

"How much money will it take?"

"I'm sorry?"

Weasley looked at me with a confused expression, one that I was sure graced his features often.

"How much money will it take for you to leave this mess behind?"

His mouth was moving, but most of what was coming out was gibberish to me. I raised my hand to stop him before he embarrassed himself any further.

"See, the Eagles have far more value than the Galleon right now." I pulled out a quill and did some math on some scrap paper to show Weasley. "An Eagle is worth about a Galleon and a half at this point. Wars tend to lower local currency values, but you're a smart boy, I'm sure you already knew that."

I pulled out a checkbook and set it down in front of me, inking my quill knowing exactly how much money would turn a young man to be whatever I needed him to be. Weasley had grown up poor with very little, competing with several siblings for whatever weasels fought over in their burrows. I was willing to pay him in increments, and eventually give him a small stock in a family company that made dragon hide gloves if he did what was bid. It would be enough and last long enough for Audrey to forget this excitement of a working class boy with nothing to offer her in the long term.

"Now, I have a condition."

Weasley nodded slowly, a weariness in his expression.

I slid him the check, watching his expression as the number was revealed. It should be more than enough.

Offer a poor boy money and my daughter comes home.

"It's all yours if you never see my daughter again."

"Your daughter?" Weasley said slowly, his eyes moving off the check. "I think you have me confused with someone else."

"No, I don't think I do."

I let the silence between us settle for a moment as the check lay untouched on the desk.

I guess money never worked on idealists.

"No money? Fine. I have connections." I started slowly, letting the words sink in as I kept my voice low. "I can find you a nice job anywhere you want to go in America and speed up your residency papers. A job with my administration in place where anyone looking for you would never find you."

Weasley seemed to be choking on his good fortune, or on a question about my state of mind.

Alaska. He was going to go to Alaska. Maybe something there would eat him. No hiding hair like that on the frozen tundra.

Offer a poor boy a chance to leave this crumbling country on the word of an important figure and he'll do whatever I ask of him to do in exchange for that freedom.

"The conditions are the same. You never speak to Audrey again. I don't care how you make that happen, it just has to happen."

Weasley peered up at me over the top rims of his glasses. A determined set to his jaw that I was not sure I liked.

"Why?"

Oh, I did not like that tone. It was stiff, an undercurrent of anger under it that was going to be a problem.

"Audrey will not be staying for anymore of this farce. It's dangerous for her, impedes my decision making and frankly, I don't think some boy who's not even old enough to buy a beer needs to use my daughter on an ambitious climb to power and prominence."

"Do you think I'm using your daughter?"

The masks were off now. Weasley was a hardhead who reminded me of Alex and Audrey, he seemed much less docile than I believed him to be.

"Why wouldn't you? You have nothing. No family of note, no money, no real sign of inheritance or valuable political connections. All things that my family has in abundance. What you have is this farce of a government that will probably kill you when you're no longer useful!" I allowed myself a moment to slow down to let my next sentence sink in. "Audrey has every opportunity to do well in life, but I think you can offer her far less than she can offer you and I want at least one of my children out of this mess!"

Weasley looked at me with a furrowed brow. "One of your children?"

I ignored this effort to be a smart ass. Weasley cut in before I could say as much.

"When was the last time you spoke with your daughter?" Weasley stood up quickly and arranged his papers with shaking hands as he looked down at me. "Audrey is more than capable of making her own decisions."

Weasley reached for the check, picking it up between two of his fingers with a neutral expression.

"I'll be sure to pass on your message."

He dropped the check back onto my desk as it smoldered and turned to blackened ash as he stormed out of the room.

Well, I never had someone outside of my own family do that to me before.

How intriguing.

Oo0Oo0

Author's Note: I like Jack, he's complicated, but also very simple. He's a very gray individual with his good points and his really, really bad points. His most liberal viewpoints in magical politics are his stance on parselmouths, and the representation of Native American wix, both of which are rather liberal ideas and something he has some personal involvement or relation too. In short, while Jack is a traditional conservative politician, he's also a bit of a political maverick and is an independent thinker that he shows more of as he takes control over the party. He got a lot of moderate voters to swing to him during the election because he's consistent. He's misread Percy quite badly here, Percy does not want something he has not earned, and he's very in love with Audrey at this point.

I like to think Percy eventually becomes Jack's favorite in-law, Percy does not feel the same.

All of the Graves children were dropped at some point. It's their way.