Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Y.U.P.
To the unobservant outsider looking in, Hogwarts appeared unchanged. The hallways were freezing cold. People were sniffling over their cauldrons. Talk of school quidditch matches and the latest gossip made up most of the conversations. But to any insiders, a change was apparent. It started with the train ride back. Flint was witnessed clapping Diggory on the shoulder and inquiring about the rest of his break. Suggesting to all who weren't in the know that Flint and Diggory had seen each other outside of school.
Come the first day of classes and students were whispering about the oddball trio that was Diggory, Flint, and Percy eating lunch at Hufflepuff table and discussing homeownership of all things.
The change was not just felt by the students. Teachers were shocked and flabbergasted. Well… just those who weren't included in Lord Flint's new 'inner circle'. Ron described Snape as looking like he was having an out-of-body experience when Bulstrode stood up for Neville in their potions class.
Of course, none of this was a fluke. After New Year, UP meetings continued until the start of term. Actually, no. That's not correct. They were still going on, but the kids were no longer accompanying their parents to said meetings.
What were they discussing exactly at these meetings? I can't say. Because they were adults only. For anyone under the age of seventeen, these meetings were generally spent in the parlor of whoever was hosting and playing exploding snap. But Lockhart and Pettigrew had to be topics, right? I mean, spotting Lockhart in public was a catalyst for all this. However, my parents, Percy, and Adrian were being annoyingly tight-lipped about everything relating to UP's agenda. "Nothing is finalized", Adrian claimed. "Focus on your OWLS", Mum would say whenever I asked. And Percy, whenever we mentioned UP to him would just stammer and walk away.
But we weren't completely in the dark. Our passionate and irritating leader sent us all off to school with a mission. Make friends; establish a presence. It was a mission Percy and Flint really took to heart.
"First order of business", Flint clapped his hands as he stood in front of Flitwick's podium in the charms classroom. "We need a name for our new club".
Heads looked left and right as they tried to gauge each other. It was a motley collection of characters ranging from seventh years to second years of all houses. Mostly consisting of those who attended the Puceys' party. But a few others had been invited to the club; Luna, Lee, Hermione, and Montague. No need to guess who brought who.
Sitting between Fred and George, I was only half-listening. Vector had assigned monstrous problems to be solved by the next class and I was painfully working my way through them. Behind us sat Flitwick doing something similar. Having been convinced into the role of club advisor, he was both grading papers and supervising us hooligans.
After no one immediately offered up any ideas, Percy took charge by clearing his throat. Standing at Flint's side, he suggested, "What about 'Hogwarts United as One Club'?".
Silence… It was kind of a mouthful. Honestly, it sounded more like a mission statement than a new club name, and – Crap! I used the incorrect formula. Percy fidgeted uncomfortably as I scratched out my work. I'll have to copy down my answers on a different sheet of parchment to make them readable before turning it in.
To spare Percy from awkwardly waiting for feedback, Fred raised his hand. "I'd like to make a motion that Percy isn't allowed to name things".
Without looking up, I raised my hand along with George. "We second that motion", we said together.
Behind us, a small squeak escaped Flitwick. At least someone thinks we're funny. But Percy making the first step had the desired effect. The floodgates opened and names started being called out. "Hogwarts United Houses", proposed Diggory. As the only Hufflepuff in the room, he kind of stood out. But Diggory didn't seem bothered. Instead, he made himself comfortable sitting next to Luna (the only Ravenclaw in the room) and the other second-year girls.
In contemplation, I set my quill down. Hogwarts United Houses spelled out HUH. I suppose it was a good sentiment about what the hell was going on.
Percy turned to write the suggestion on the blackboard. No one commented that he didn't write his suggestion on the board.
Hestia raised her hand next and actually waited for Flint to call on her. "We like 'Hogwarts United Party'", she said primly.
But… that's just going from HUH to HUP. That can't be better.
Hermione barely waited for Percy to finish writing before blurting out, "The United Houses".
Ron and Harry must have filled her in about what this was all about (I may have to get them to explain it to me) because she didn't seem suspicious about why we were collaborating with more than just the pre-approved Slytherins. Though, she was sitting protectively sandwiched between Harry and Ron while eyeing Flint and Montague warily. Interestingly enough, Adrian sat close to them; acting as some sort of buffer between them, and Montague and Zabini.
Percy wrote the name down. It then occurred to me that The United Houses sounded a lot like The United Nations. Cute.
George didn't wait for Percy to finish writing before adding, "What about RLLAFC?"
Percy started to write down the letters, but sixteen years' worth of experience from living with us had him pausing. With a piece of chalk pressed against the blackboard, Percy glanced at us over his shoulder. "What does it stand for?" He sounded like he didn't want to know.
It may have been George's idea, but Fred responded with a broad grin. "Ron looks like a freckled carrot".
Percy sighed while Ron let out an indignant squawk from the other side of the room. "Technically, that can describe all of us", I pointed out to my fellow triplets as Hermione patted Ron on the arm and Harry struggled to keep a straight face. He wasn't the only one. Zabini was biting his lip pretty hard.
Fred and George shrugged. "Yeah", George agreed. "But Ron has the best reactions". ... Fair and true.
"Any other suggestions?" Flint asked, sounding a little bored.
"Ooh!" Lee's hand shot into the air. He was so loud that poor Neville jumped. "The RLLAFCAGLI. Ron looks like a freckled carrot and Granger likes it".
"Jordan, Weasleys", Flitwick warned softly as the four of us snorted in humor. He sat behind us on purpose, didn't he? Hermione yanked her hand away from Ron's arm like she'd been burned. And Ron was so red he was starting to resemble a tomato more than a carrot.
It was only made worse by Luna dreamily stating, "Oh, that's lovely". Only Merlin knows what she was referring to.
In an impressive and scarily accurate impression of Mum, Percy fully turned away from the blackboard. "Are there any more serious suggestions?" His tone was low and he was frowning reproachfully. But only in our direction. Percy was going to be so bored next year when he didn't have us to police… Hogwarts should be afraid.
A slightly tremoring hand slowly rose. Though it never went above its owner's head. Percy used his normal voice. "Longbottom". He sounded almost approachable.
"Um… I… Um-" Neville stammered. Flint started tapping his foot impatiently. But an elbow from Percy had him stilling without much complaint. "Um… Holly, um…" I perked up at my name. Dear Merlin, don't bring me into this! "Holly already named the real United Party UP. So, I think we should be YUP". Neville forced out his idea; talking a little too fast and refusing to look at anyone.
Nodding, Percy turned back to the board. "And what does YUP stand for?" He asked, chalk at the ready.
However, Neville reached his word quota for the day (maybe for the week). So, Bulstrode ended up explaining it for him. And wasn't that a friendship no one predicted. "Youth of the United Party", Bulstrode answered Percy.
"Okay", Percy said once he finished writing. "Now it's time to vote".
Fred, George, and Lee couldn't stop laughing. Groaning, I pushed my half-eaten plate of lamb chops, peas, and mashed potatoes out of the way so I could thump my head against the tabletop. I get it, guys. I really do. What happened after we voted on a club name was funny at my expense. But going on and on about it was overkill. Their throats had to be sore and their diaphragms had to be aching by now. Raising my head so my chin was resting on the tabletop, I tried to ignore the sympathetic glances Angelina and Alicia were sending my way as they ate with Katie. They didn't know what was going on (something that would most likely change in the coming weeks), but they understood what dealing with my fellow triplets and Lee was like.
"Can we just eat dinner like normal people?" I tried; pleading to the three boys for a reprieve.
Mock saluting me, George straightened his spine. "Whatever you say, vice president Holly".
Letting out another groan, this one louder than was advisable when in the great hall, I buried my head again. A hand started rubbing my back. I didn't need to look to know it was Fred. "There, there vice president Holly. You only have to be the vice president of YUP for one term". Fred was truly amazing; managing not only to mock my misery but also offer hope at the same time.
Slowly, I picked up my head. "That is true", I said in a quiet voice, looking at Fred. He smiled in support as George pushed my plate to be in front of me once again. Exhaling through an open mouth, I picked up my fork and nodded to myself. Fred is right. It's just one term. Then, assuming YUP didn't die during its first term, we'd have elections before we left for summer. We had to. Since Percy was appointed president and he'd be graduating. It also helped that we didn't vote this time. With YUP being new and all, the goal was just to get it up and running. Because the club was set up as Percy's and Flint's brainchild, the position automatically fell to one of them. Of course, Flint didn't actually want the job, so the honor fell to Percy. An honor that pleased my older brother. President of a school club; not as impressive as head boy, but still something to put on a resume.
When asked about who Percy wanted as a vice president, everyone looked expectantly at Flint. Flint, who adamantly refused on the spot. "I'll be too busy with quidditch", he claimed. But Percy had cleared his throat and admitted he did have a person in mind. Me! Prefect Percy bloody nominated me! And no one objected. Stupid gits. But Fred was right. It was just one term. Just to help Percy get YUP up and running.
Lee allowed me to take a few bites of food before he ripped away the comforting hope Fred had given me. "It's just one term... until we re-elect you".
My eyes widened in horror as a clump of potato became lodged in the back of my throat. As I choked on my dinner, George smacked me on the back until I could swallow. Eyes watering, I spun in my seat in Lee's direction. "Don't you bloody dare", I demanded between coughs; voice hoarse.
Fred refilled my goblet of pumpkin juice as Lee grinned at me. "Or better yet", he said as I took a sip; clearing my pipes. At least, he waited until after I swallowed this time. Even if it was only because he didn't want a mouthful of pumpkin juice sprayed at him. "Maybe you'll get elected president". My hands shook and George quickly took my goblet from me. "President Holly has a better ring to it than vice president Holly".
I made sure I had Lee's full attention before speaking. "If you ever suggest that to anyone, even if you only mean it as a joke, I will murder you in your sleep", I threatened. My voice didn't quake. I didn't break eye contact. I even made Lee flinch. That was how serious I was. Though even with flinching, nothing could prevent the accomplished snicker Lee let out a few seconds later. This one has a death wish, I swear. No sense of self-preservation.
George smiled and shook his head at the song and dance Lee and I was putting on. "If you didn't want the job, you should've just told Percy no".
My shoulders slumped. "I wanted to. It's just…."
"We owe Percy a favor. The reason for said favor that you still haven't fully explained to us", Fred finished for me. I nodded defeatedly with my face turned towards my food. The favor wasn't the only reason I agreed. To get permission to form YUP, it had been presented to McGonagall as a club intending to end hostility between the houses. Was she suspicious that this idea came from Percy Weasley and Marcus Flint? Two seventh-years in their last term who were polar opposites? I imagine it did. But with Flitwick already on board and agreeing to be our advisor, she could hardly refuse them. However; in truth, YUP was a part of UP. Something McGonagall currently knew nothing about, assumingly. And UP's vision included creating a social climate where Percy could live freely (as Flint Sr. had put it). Percy and Marcus were working hard at making that vision a reality by going along with YUP. Flint was even being nice to Neville (sort of) to achieve it. And I… I wanted that for Percy. Even if I do think he's selling himself short. It also didn't hurt that somehow UP was supposed to replace the order of the Phoenix and be better than Dumbledore at defeating You-know-Who. Though most of YUP didn't know that.
Sighing, I shook my head to free myself from a few reoccurring thoughts. "Yeah, we owed Percy a favor", I agreed with Fred. "But also because Percy started wearing his kicked puppy look".
George snorted around a mouthful of food. The kicked puppy look wasn't something Percy used often. It was normally reserved for the rare moments he wanted something from Bill or Charlie. But us triplets could still recognize it when we saw it. Today, we learned the expression wasn't only effective on older siblings… I really should have just said no.
"We'll need to appoint a treasurer and a secretary", Percy said; looking over his notes with one of his thumbs pressed against his chin and bottom lip. That was Percy's thinking pose. "I believe we can accomplish that at the next meeting".
"Okay", I said to signal Percy when I finished writing down his idea. Sitting in Flitwick's empty classroom, which was quickly becoming the YUP officer's unofficial afterschool hangout, we were working hard on next week's meeting agenda. Percy and I have been in this classroom most days this week bouncing ideas off each about how to run things and things the club could do. Sometimes Flint helped. Other times, Adrian was here. Flitwick was usually in the room as well. Always ready to share his experiences. But this time, it was just me and Perce. "I think we should consider adding other officer positions. Like house representatives or something. That way every house will have at least one member in office".
Percy hummed and rocked a little in his seat. "It's a good idea", he spoke slowly. "We're both Gryffindors and if the others from different houses started to feel like they're visiting the lion's den, we'll lose them". Which would go the opposite way of Lord Flint's goals for us. "But we should wait until we have more members". Percy concluded. He looked up at me before explaining. The setting sun shining through the window made his hair look redder than usual. "I don't think it'll be hard for Gryffindor and Slytherin to name a house representative. But right now, the only Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws we have are Diggory and Lovegood. "It wouldn't be fair to just name them house representatives".
Nodding in agreement, I made little doodles on the corner of my parchment. Mostly stars and stick figures. Percy would make me re-write it so our meeting agenda would look official. But sometimes keeping my hands busy helped me think. "We could propose the idea of house representatives at the next meeting. The bulletins announcing the new club should be posted in the common rooms before then. And we know Sprout and Flitwick will encourage their students to come. So maybe we'll have more people. Then people can decide if they want to take part, talk themselves up to their housemates, and we can vote the week after next".
I felt like I was rambling, but Percy acted like everything I said made perfect sense. "Yes, let's do that". Percy made the final decision and I added it to our drafted agenda. "But I still want to appoint a treasurer and a secretary at the next meeting".
Shrugging, I returned to my poorly drawn cartoon of a niffler. "Maybe we can plant some bugs in people's ears before the next meeting". This term, we didn't need to be too democratic because we were just trying to get things going. Hence how I ended up with the title of vice president. "Diggory's good and reliable. And he'd probably agree. Maybe he could be treasurer". Percy nodded along with his arms folded across his chest. "Flint and Adrian are the best choices for secretary because they're older, not in Gryffindor, and can probably handle the job". Honestly, I thought Hermione would make a great secretary. She loved taking notes. But there was already one too many Gryffindors in office. Maybe after Percy graduated and I could step down.
"Not going to nominate Fred, George, or Jordan?" Percy asked.
Again, they were Gryffindors. Appointing them wouldn't help us build solidarity with the other houses. The members of YUP needed to see their officers from all houses working together. And the rest of the school needed to see YUP intermingling. But the thinly veiled smile on Percy's lips cued me in that he was trying his hand at humor. Nice to see him broadening his horizons. "Not unless you want to read meeting minutes about the activities of a freckled carrot named Ron".
Percy made a hmph sound to express his amusement. But he didn't carry the bit. Letting it die down in favor of getting back to business. Just another example of how different he is from Fred and George. No wonder they have a hard time getting along. "Unfortunately, Marcus doesn't want a position within YUP".
"Shocker", I muttered. Not that Percy had any difficulty hearing me.
He sent a stern look but didn't comment in favor of keeping us on task. "Marcus will be an active member but, since his father will be leading the United Party, he doesn't want his involvement with our club to be seen as overreaching".
I blinked twice. "Well, that's…responsible of him". It also sounded suspiciously like a half-truth. Though, I had the sense not to say that. Especially when Percy seemed to preen at any kind words I could throw Flint's way.
"Pucey is an option", Percy continued. "The reports he submits for his prefect duties are always immaculate. I'm sure he'd make a wonderful secretary. Do you think he'd do it?"
Leaning back in my chair, I copied Percy's position and folded my arms across my chest. "Adrian will do it if no one else steps up", I reasoned. Mostly because I would make him and Adrian knew he was still on very thin ice for keeping me in the dark. "But between prefect duties, quidditch, and preparing for OWLS-" and Horcrux hunting, and whatever else Adrian's planning but refusing to tell me about- "I don't think Adrian will want to do it".
"Yes", Percy agreed; bobbing his head sagely. "The OWLS are important and being a prefect does require commitment". I liked how he completely ignored Adrian's quidditch obligations. "Well, it doesn't have to be a student from the upper years. It might be good for a third year or a second year to be in office. Keep the younger years involved and besides, all they would have to do is take down minutes and read them back".
That is true, I thought mulling the idea around. By now the sun had lowered enough that there were more shadows in the classroom than light. We'd have to light some candles if we continued for much longer. "Ginny has good handwriting".
Percy's lips twitched. "She does. But three Weasleys in office might be just as bad as having too many Gryffindors in office". Hmm… a fair point. "What about Lovegood? I don't know anything about her other than she's Ginny's friend".
Tilting my head back and forth from left to right, I wrinkled my nose. "Uh. Luna kind of daydreams a lot. I think she'd struggle to take detailed notes. Besides, I think we really need a Slytherin in office. They are the house everyone is most estranged with. The only reason we had so many at the first meeting was because of Lord Flint, Marcus, Ginny, and Adrian".
"Hmm", Percy vocalized as he weighed my words. "I'll ask Marcus who he thinks would be a good choice and go from there". Sounds like a plan to me. "Read through what we have so far", Percy requested.
Unfolding my arms, I picked up the drafted agenda with one hand. "First, we'll welcome everyone and review the minutes from the first meeting". Even though we don't have minutes from the first meeting. But Percy didn't seem bothered by that fact and I wasn't going to point it out to him. "Next, we'll go over our agenda for this meeting; finding a treasurer and a secretary, announcing the house representative positions, and restating the request of spreading the word to find new members".
"That's good", Percy announced; rubbing his hands together in satisfaction. "I think that's more than enough for our second meeting".
As much as I wanted to call it quits for the day, I couldn't agree. "No, we need something else. Something… fun".
"Fun?" Percy asked with a raised eyebrow. It was probably something he never considered.
"Yeah. Like a game. An icebreaker". Percy's slightly lost look caused me to further elaborate. "Just talking isn't enough. Tensions between the houses are older than all of us. To change this in UP's favor we need to physically do something. Something that'll make our members talk to different houses and build friendships". Percy's confusion cleared up and replaced with an expression that had his mouth hanging slightly open and both of his eyebrows were arched skyward. "And we're still in school. Most of us are still children. Playing a game makes the most sense".
Percy was staring at me. Wiggling in my seat and staring back at him did nothing to make him stop. I blinked. He didn't. Right before I could ask him if he was okay, Percy blurted out, "Holly, I'm very proud of you".
"Uh…" Blindsided. I don't know how else to describe this feeling. I don't know how to react. Percy isn't usually the sort to make these types of statements. I didn't expect it from him. I didn't expect it from… Honestly, the only people who tell me stuff like this were Mum and Dad. And given all the stress I caused last year and have continued to cause this year, it wasn't something I've heard in a while.
Taking the drafted agenda and my quill from my limp hands, Percy added something to the bottom of the parchment. He kindly didn't mention my doodling. "I'd never think playing a game could be so beneficial, but you're right. We do have a lot of younger members who would probably enjoy that".
"Uh…" My brain was still stuck in the rebooting process, making me unable to fully respond.
After making sure the ink was fully dry, Percy folded the parchment and stashed it in his robe pocket. "I'll rewrite this for the meeting. My handwriting is a little easier to read than yours". He started collecting his things. "Ready to go to dinner? I think they're serving roast chicken tonight". Glancing up, he noticed I hadn't moved out of my shocked state. "Hurry up. We don't want to be late".
My fingers twitched to respond and slowly, I packed away my ink and reclaimed my quill from my big brother. Either Percy was an evil mastermind or he didn't realize how hearing those words would make me work very hard for him. That git.