Title: An Honest Mistake
Character/Pairing: Lucy Weasley, Harry Potter
Forum/Challenge: HPFC Friends Challenge
Prompt: TO After 'I Do' (8.1) - Write about one of the next-gen children
Forum/Challenge: TGS Back to School (Mahoutokoro, House Mizu)
Prompt: Traveling to the shops - Write about a character misusing the Floo system (10)
Opt Prompt: (character) Lucy Weasley (5)
World: Next-gen
Word Count: 747
"Come on, Molly!" hissed Lucy Weasley from the doorway. "If you're going to make me go to this stupid party, then don't lolligag. Mum and Dad could be home any minute!"
"Nah," said Molly as she leisurely strolled to her sister. She worked her wand between the fingers in her right hand with a practiced ease, and Lucy narrowed her eyes. "All the adults will be at the Burrow tonight. If Mum has two glasses of elf wine they might even crash there. Lord knows she can't handle her alcohol."
Lucy huffed. "You may not care about getting caught, but I do! I can't believe I let you talk me into this anyway!"
Molly got within arms reach of her sister and ruffled the younger girl's straight red hair good-naturedly. "Chill out, small fry. Big sister will take the fall if we get caught." She paused. "But we won't."
Lucy sighed dramatically as she turned to follow Molly to the Floo. The older Weasley girl grinned mischievously at her sister. The flames of the fireplaces grew when Molly threw in the powder.
"Grimmauld Place!"
Lucy watched her sister disappear through the fireplace. She thought again about backing out—James was about 50/50 getting caught with his parties promised to be big enough to draw the attention of his many aunts and uncles—but she already got enough flack as it was. Not as much as Albus and his Slytherin boyfriend, but not far off.
She didn't fit in to her family, not really. Even Teddy—who was family in all but blood—seemed more Weasley than Lucy did. She wasn't popular like James and Dominique; she wasn't smart like Rose and Louis; she wasn't athletic like Roxanne and Lily. Her aunts and uncles called her Percy Two and laughed when she pursed her lips in frustration, much like her father had done years before. Even her parents joked about how much like her father she was.
Uncle Harry was the only one who didn't make fun of her. He never joked about her love for the rules or the fact that she found minutiae interesting or that she was proud of her ability to navigate red tape.
It was these thoughts that distracted her when she threw the Floo powder into the fireplace.
"Uncle Harr—OH SHIT!" she cried, as she was swept into the Floo system.
"Ron, you have to get yourself under control," Harry admonished.
Ron Weasley, one third of the Golden Trio, was currently giggling into his hand. "I know Harry. I know. Give me just a second." And then the Senior Auror fell into a fit of giggles. "I just can't believe it. Little Lucy cause all this trouble?"
Harry sighed. "What I can't believe is that I'm here while Ginny is shutting down a party at Grimmauld. She's going to murder James, and then I'll have to arrest my wife."
Ron clapped his best friend on the back. "No worries, mate. You've got two more kids after him, and I'm sure Hermione will give her a pardon."
Harry looked at his friend, exasperated. "I don't think having the Prewett temper is a viable defense for murder."
"Well, look at the bright side," said Ron, adjusting his robes. "You'll escape Azkaban. All you have to do is deal with Percy Two over there!" He took a few deep breaths and put on a serious face. "OK, I'm ready."
Harry shook his head. "No you're not. Go check on the Obliviation team. I'll talk with Lucy."
Harry made his way to the end of the hallway, where an Auror was standing next to Lucy. She was sitting, head in her hands, shoulders sagging. She looked up at Harry, tears and embarrassment in her eyes, and wiped her face with the sleeve of her jumper.
"Are you going to arrest me now, Uncle Harry?"
He smiled gently at the young witch. "No, Lucy. It sounds like this was the case of an honest mistake—an accident. You weren't Muggle-baiting."
"But I broke the rules."
Harry chuckled. "Yes, you did. But you didn't break the law. I imagine your parents will have their own punishment to met out—you can be sure James is getting an earful from your Aunt Ginny right now—but that doesn't mean I'm going to arrest you. I do have one question though."
She looked up, her eyes wide. "OK."
"How did you end up at Harrods?"