Where we see how the Weasleys deal with Voldemort's return and its ramifications.

RON XVIII

"Checkmate!"

Ron watched with satisfaction Hermione muffling a groan. Ron knew she did it, although he barely heard it. Hermione didn't like to see that someone was better than she was at something, even if it was Wizard's Chess.

"Another game?" he suggested.

"No, thank you, Ron. I know you enjoy beating me, but it's no this time," she said on her usual sufficient tone, although she had a smile at the corner of her lips. She stood up. "We should do our homework."

This time, Ron was the one to groan. "Can't you think about something else, for once?"

"We'll have to do them one day or another, Ronald. So why not do them right away?"

"You're incredible! You-Know-Who is back, and all you can think about is homework? Don't you think there are more important things to worry about right now than giving Snape an essay of fifty pages when we go back to school?"

"Ron, that's exactly why I think we should do our homework right now. You heard your parents as much as I did. We're not going to stay here very long. Who knows where they're going to bring us, and if we'll have the time to do our homework when we follow them."

Ron sighed in desperation. He didn't want to think about homework right now. He just wanted to distract his mind enough to try to not think about the fact that the most evil and dangerous man of all time was back, and with a full new body on top of that. Hermione might think that homework might occupy their minds, but Ron knew that his mind wouldn't want to focus on the troll wars, and it would wander to You-Know-Who automatically.

"Well, anyway, I'm going to do them," Hermione said on an impatient tone, standing up in the process. "I had a letter from Susan yesterday, and she's almost already done with her homework herself."

Now Ron understood better. Hermione couldn't suffer the idea that someone finished her homework before her.

"What is she saying?" Ginny asked out of nowhere.

They were in the living room of the Burrow. Ron's mother was outside taking care of the chickens. Ron and Hermione had come to the living room to play chess, and Ginny had come to watch them play. It was raining outside. Fred and George were in their own bedroom, and right as Ron thought about it, an explosion was heard above. His father and Percy were at work.

"Nothing special," Hermione answered quickly.

Ginny put her hands on her hips. This troubled Ron as it reminded him of their mother. "You know what I'm talking about," Ginny told Hermione on a sufficient tone.

Hermione shook her head. "She didn't write about him, really. Not this time. This was a personal letter, Ginny. She told me about how she felt right now."

Hermione had adopted a stance that meant she wouldn't say anymore. Ginny seemed to capitulated. "So we don't know how Harry is doing," Ron's little sister concluded.

"We know he's not doing well," Ron said. "Two weeks ago, he was standing in front of You-Know-Who after he killed Diggory right next to him. How do you think he's feeling? It doesn't take a genius to figure out."

A troubled silence settled after his words as everyone looked down.

"We just want to know that he's fine," Hermione said.

"Well, we know he is," Ron retorted. "As fine as he will ever be. He sent us two letters, to each of us, since we left Hogwarts. Let's give him some space. Anyway, it's not as if he was barricaded inside like we are."

Ron had to admit that he felt a little jealous of Harry. His best friend wrote to tell them how things were going on his side. His mother was working a lot, much like Ron's father, but he also mentioned the times he went outside. In the meantime, Ron and his whole family were confined inside the Burrow. Their mother only allowed them outside to de-gnome the garden, and even then, she kept a close eye on them. In the meantime, Harry was free of his movements and to go outside whenever he wanted.

"I don't think Mrs Evans should let Harry wander outside without supervision," Hermione said.

"Leave it, Hermione," Ron retorted. "Dad said that Dumbledore took precautions, and that Harry was safe. If Dumbledore says it…"

Ron felt a little frustrated after Dumbledore. He felt it was unfair that Dumbledore would allow Harry to be free of movement, but Ron, his brothers, his sister and Hermione had to remain stuck inside. He missed going out and playing Quidditch with Fred and George. And worse, they were ordered to not tell Harry anything about the place where they were or what they were doing. Ron didn't understand why he should hide to his best friend that they were all at the Burrow. Of course, he knew they wouldn't stay here for long. They surprised a conversation between their parents a few days ago. They were discussing moving to a safe place, to be part of the Order of the Phoenix, the organization that Dumbledore led against Voldemort.

Ron had no idea when they would move out of the house. He didn't look forward to it. He would miss his bedroom and the surroundings. At the same time, he had to admit that he didn't feel safe. The old family clock indicated that all the Weasley were in mortal peril. His mother took that very seriously. She was trying to put on a courageous face, but Ron saw her repeatedly throwing glances at the clock. Ron himself couldn't avoid looking at it every morning he came down from his bedroom for breakfast.

Right as he thought about that, Bill's name on the clock moved, indicating he was traveling. An instant later, it indicated he was home.

"Bill is back from work," Ron announced.

"Already?" Ginny asked, looking at her watch. "Oh. It's already so late?"

They were at the end of the afternoon. Ron supposed that their father and Percy had to work longer again. About a minute later, the door of the house opened, and Bill walked inside, followed by their mother.

"Hi, everyone," he said. He then moved his wand along his body to drain the water of the rain outside that hit him. Now that Ron realized it, it wasn't really the day for him to complain about the impossibility to go outside, considering the weather forbade him to in all circumstances.

"You must be famished, Bill," their mother said. "Come, I'll prepare you something. I should have begun to prepare dinner sooner."

Recently, their mother did not behave ordinarily. It wasn't like her to forget about preparing dinner.

"Thank you, Mom, but I would rather wait for Dad and Percy," Bill said. "No need to rush things. Take your time to prepare." He came into the living room. "Hi everyone. What's new at the Burrow?"

"The same old thing," Ron said in an almost bored voice. For once, he wished he had a job. He would have something to do of his days, and he would make some money.

"Did Hermione manage to get you to make your homework?" he asked, his eyes shining.

"Oh no! Not you too!"

Everyone burst into laughs.

"Something happened at Gringotts that might interest you. We have a new employee," Bill announced once his laughter receded.

"What's the goblin's name?" Ginny asked. She often found goblin's names funny.

"It's not a goblin. You see, this new employee, she's very human. Well, three quarters of it. The rest is…"

Ron, Hermione and Ginny looked at Bill incredulously, while he seemed to wait for them to know who the new employee was.

"Oh, come on. You spent the entire last year with her around. And from what I understood, she was hard to miss. Especially for young men."

He looked at Ron intently. And then, it dawned on him. "Wait. You're not serious," he said.

"Of course, I am. Fleur Delacour is working at Gringotts. She said she wanted to use the opportunity to improve her English."

Bill was smiling widely. Ron was stunned. Hermione and Ginny, on their sides, didn't look very enthusiastic at the announcement. Neither of them ever liked Fleur.

"So she really did come back to Great Britain," Hermione said, her voice carrying the same lack of enthusiasm than her face.

"Come on, Hermione, she's not so bad," Ron said.

"You're the one talking. You hid from her at every occasion after she refused to accompany you to the ball."

Ron felt heat coming to his face.

"That was very amusing," Ginny said, and Bill seemed to fight against laughing as well. "Too bad you missed it, Bill."

"That wasn't my fault," Ron argued.

Bill laughed this time. "It's alright, Ron. That was bound to happen. You can't have all the girls you ask out accepting." Couldn't they change subject? "And anyway, from what I was told, you started dating a girl not long after. What was her name? Hannah?"

Ron felt himself redden even more. That was not a subject he wanted to discuss either.

"They didn't stay together for long," Hermione commented, casting a severe look at Ron.

"Their breakup was quite a show," Ginny added.

Ron had enough. "Has Viktor Krum come to work at Gringotts as well?" he asked, exasperated.

Bill looked confused. "Krum? At Gringotts? What would the goblins do with a Quidditch player?"

"Oh, what a shame," Ron said on an exaggeratedly regretful tone. Hermione didn't seem to like his comment. She had it coming.

"Okay. I think we heard enough about everyone love stories," Ginny said. "Is there something that happened today, Bill?"

Bill seemed to have realized the downward slope of the current conversation, for he engaged on that terrain. "Well, something else happened. Not at Gringotts, though. It was at the Ministry. But we hear about lots of things taking place at the Ministry recently. The goblins may value their independence, but they keep their ears opened for everything that might happen in the Ministry, since it could influence their business. Barty Crouch resigned today, and let's say that he left in… spectacular fashion."

"What happened?" Ron asked, curious all of a sudden.

"He confessed in front of all the major outlets and half the Ministry that his son was still alive, and that You-Know-Who was back."

What followed was half an hour of discussion on the matter, Bill providing as many details as he could while they all conjectured and hypothesized on the implications of this turn of events. Their mother finally broke the conversation, ordering them to stop talking about all this and to help her prepare dinner. They weren't alone, as Fred and George were forced to help them as well. She never liked hearing them talk about You-Know-Who. Ron didn't understand why. What was the point of trying to hide the fact that he was back? While they helped their mother, Ron managed to approach Bill and to whisper as they positioned the utensils.

"Where are we moving? Don't imitate a fool. We heard Mom and Dad discuss about leaving. When is it going to happen?"

Bill reluctantly answered. "I don't know myself, Ron. Soon, I think. Mom and Dad should tell us when it will happen."

"You two, stop speaking low as if you had a secret," their mother berated them. "Come, the carrots need to be cut."

And they went back to their chores. When their father arrived, they were about done.

"Hi, Weasleys," he declared of his tired voice.

"Hi, Dad," his children said in chorus.

"Hi, Mr Weasley," Hermione said.

"Arthur," their mother said, helping him remove his cloak. "Come and sit. You've had a long day."

"Yes. And tumultuous. Hi, Bill. Has Percy arrived?" Ron's father asked his elder brother.

"Not yet," Bill replied. "He didn't come back with you?"

"No." Their father seemed bothered and anxious as he sat down, rubbing his forehead. "I guess some people had many questions to ask him. I hope he's not in too much trouble."

"Why would Percy be in trouble at the Ministry?" Ron asked.

"Maybe he stole everyone's ability to laugh in his department," Fred suggested.

"There is no reason to joke about it, Fred," their father warned. The table was now set, and everyone was taking place as Ron's mother served the meal. "He was one of Barty's assistants, and being such a close associate to Barty was not a very good thing today."

"Why? What happened?" Bill asked.

"Barty finally resigned today. We saw it coming miles away, of course. But he left in quite a way. He proclaimed in front of the whole Ministry and all the major medias that You-Know-Who had returned."

"He really did that?" Ginny asked, as if they needed a confirmation following what Bill told them.

"Yes, he did. And not only that. He recognized that his son was still alive, that he helped You-Know-Who to return. He even acknowledged that he helped his son escape Azkaban. No one saw it coming. Lily was next to me when he announced it, and she was just as surprised as I was."

"Has Dumbledore made his speech at the International Confederation of Wizards?" Bill then asked, looking just as interested as everyone was for more details.

"Yes, he has," their father confirmed. "And between that and Barty's declaration to the press, well… It was quite the chaos this afternoon." Their father sighed. "If that doesn't convince people that he's back, then I don't know what will."

"Surely they're going to know now," Ron said. "I mean, if Dumbledore announced You-Know-Who's return, and if Crouch did it as well… People will know that it is true now."

"Don't get your hopes too high, Ron," Bill warned. "With the coverage made by the Daily Prophet, I doubt that Fudge said his last word."

"It may turn even uglier now," their father commented, looking discouraged. "At least, I think that people were seriously wondering this afternoon. I just don't know if they will have enough courage to face Fudge. Barty is probably not the last employee Fudge will fire if he suspects someone of believing Dumbledore."

"Cornelius Fudge was never a good judge of character," their mother declared as she finished serving Hermione and took place at the table as well. "Arthur, by the way, you remember? For tonight…"

Ron's father seemed to realize something at this moment. "Oh, yes. We have…" He looked at the door. "We will wait for Percy to arrive, and then… Your mother and I will have something to tell you all. Something very important. So don't go to bed early tonight."

Ron was intrigued, and so was everyone else, but they got no answer from their parents. When dinner was over, Percy was still not back. Their mother began to worry, but their father reassured her. They scattered, but most of them went to the living room, waiting anxiously for what their parents wanted to announce. It was about half an hour when finally the clock indicated that Percy was moving. An instant later, it indicated that he was back home. A few more seconds and the door was opening. Their mother rushed on him.

"Percy, my dear. What held you so long at work? You must be exhausted."

"I'm fine, Mother. Thank you," he replied.

Perhaps it was Ron's imagination, but he thought he perceived excitement in Percy's voice. This was odd. Ron expected that Percy would be more contrite following the resignation of his boss. Percy was always talking about him as if he was a god walking on water.

"Where is Father?" Percy then asked.

"In the living room, with your brothers and your sister. I'm sorry, it was getting too late and we dined without you. I saved a portion for you," their mother told him.

"It's fine, Mother. I'll eat a little later."

They heard footsteps as Percy came into the living room. If his brother's voice had surprised Ron, the expression on his face left him utterly puzzled. Percy was smiling widely, like he seldom did, and his eyes were shining with something Ron never witnessed in his very serious brother. He looked at all of them.

"Percy, did you have any trouble…?" their father began, but he was interrupted immediately.

"Father, Mother, dear brothers and sisters, I have great news for you," he said in a very solemn voice, reminding Ron of a fellow student of the same year in Hufflepuff, Ernie Macmillan. "I was promoted."

The surprise was complete in the living.

"You're kidding!" Fred and George declared.

"How is that possible?" Ginny asked.

"What in Merlin's beard happened?" their father asked.

No one looked happy for Percy, rather surprised, but he didn't seem to notice it. He looked at their father. "I've been given a position in the Minister's Office. Junior Assistant to the Minister."

He smiled even more widely, but this time, if the rest of the family had been surprised when he first announced them his promotion, now that he told them what his new position actually was, a silence of death fell upon the living of the Burrow. No one said a word, and everyone looked at him, stunned.

How was that possible? How could Percy receive such a promotion at such a time? He had only been working at the Ministry for a year, and not in a very high position, although he had become one of Barty Crouch's assistants. But Crouch was fired from the Ministry exactly because he argued with Fudge over Voldemort's return. Why would Fudge hire one of Crouch's employees in his own office after that?

Percy seemed to expect congratulations from them all. For a moment, his wide smile seemed uncertain, but he looked at their father and renewed his smile. "You realize, Father? I'm an assistant to Cornelius Fudge himself!"

If Percy expected everyone to be impressed at these words, he was sorely disappointed. Ron wasn't impressed. His father wasn't impressed. No one in the family was impressed. Even Hermione, who was the one to get along best with Percy, didn't look impressed. Only their mother tried to say a words.

"Well, this is… good news, Percy."

Her words sounded awkward, and Percy didn't have much time to relish over them, for their father reacted right away.

"Percy, this is not a promotion. Don't you see?"

Percy's smile somewhat receded. Now he looked confused. "What… What do you mean?" Ron's brother stammered.

"Come on, Percy. You know that Fudge has been running around the Ministry and telling anyone to not have any contact with Dumbledore, or else they would be sacked. Look at what happened to Barty today. You were there by his side."

Percy looked speechless for a time, but then he seemed to regain his composure. "Mr Crouch retired after many years spent working tirelessly for the Ministry. He deserved some rest…"

"Barty didn't retire, Percy. He was sacked!" Ron seldom heard his father talk on such a dry tone. "Fudge sacked him because Barty dared to tell him You-Know-Who was back and that he had to do something about it. Everyone knows it in the Ministry. You know it yourself. Fudge didn't give you a promotion because of your competence or your performance or your intelligence. He gave you a position in his office to have you in his pocket and so you may spy for him on us and on Dumbledore!"

Ron never saw Percy so stunned in his whole life. He was there, unmoving, his face showing an empty expression. This was definitely not the reaction he expected from Dad and the rest of the family. He looked at each and every one of them, as if he hoped to find any support, but he didn't find any, not even in Bill, who had been Head Boy like him back in Hogwarts, and not even in their mother, who had a sorry expression on her face. Everyone supported their father's claims with a silent expression.

Then Percy looked back at their father. After a few moments, he frowned. "Are you saying… that I don't deserve this promotion?" he asked incredulously.

It was their father's turn to frown. "This is not a question of deserving it or not, Percy. I'm telling you that Fudge is using you. He doesn't care about the work you made under Crouch, or the scores you had at Hogwarts, or anything you've accomplished. He only wants you to spy for him."

Percy's features hardened at this moment. "How do you know that? How can you be sure that I wasn't simply chosen because I deserve it?"

"Because Fudge doesn't care about your competence or your talents, Percy. The only people he wants around him are sycophants who approve everything he is doing without question."

"That's how you see me? A sycophant?" Percy almost roared, outraged.

"This is not what your father meant, Percy," their mother said, looking afraid all of a sudden.

"Although it is true," George whispered low enough for only Ron and Fred to hear him.

"Well, that's not the impression he gives," Percy retorted, causing their mother to back down.

Ron didn't like the direction this conversation was taking. The volume of voices had increased steadily as they spoke.

"You're not a sycophant, Percy," their father said in a rather soothing tone, "but I know you. You are ambitious."

"Is that a bad thing?" Percy asked on an accusing tone.

"It can be if it is used against you. Fudge is trying to manipulate you by giving you what you want."

Percy stared at their father with something akin to… To Ron's surpriser, it looked like hatred. "You have no way to prove it. I made my marks in the Ministry. I proved myself. I deserve this promotion. I worked to get it. It's not because you never got a promotion that you get the right to be jealous of me."

Ron couldn't believe what Percy just said. It was now their father who stared at him in disbelief. "You think I'm jealous of you? You really believe that, Percy?"

For a moment, Ron's brother didn't reply. Everyone was staring at his father and Percy. "No. It's true, Father. You cannot be jealous of me. How can someone who never had any ambition in his life be jealous about that?"

That was another thing Ron couldn't believe Percy just said. "What do you mean, that Dad never had any ambition?" Bill asked all of a sudden.

Percy looked at his elder brother. "Come on, Bill. Don't tell you have never suffered from this. From our family's reputation." He stared back at his father. "You don't know what people are saying behind your back, Father. They say you are an idiot. You and your fascination for Muggles are the laughingstock of the entire Ministry."

"Percy!" their mother squeaked.

"It's no wonder that the Minister never gave you any promotion," he continued on an angry voice, ignoring their mother's plea. "You never wanted one. While you were toying with your Muggle stuff in your corner, everyone was moving forward, advancing. You were playing with your toys while others worked to get advancement and a better life."

"I work just as hard as you and everyone else at the Ministry, son," their father, sounding angry as well now. "Perhaps you haven't seen it while you were at Hogwarts or working yourself, but I've been working long hours. It's not because I never looked for being promoted that I never worked hard for what I believe."

"Well, that's your problem, Father! You've been working your entire life on things you found amusing. You never tried to climb the ladders. You never tried to better our situation. Our family has been poor our entire life because of you!"

Their mother was close to tears, and everyone was looking at Percy with anger now.

"We may not be rich, Percy, but you never lacked anything. Your mother and I did everything to get you everything you needed," their father declared firmly.

"Everything we needed?" Percy asked in a mocking tone. "We all had to use second-hand material whenever we went to school. And that's not limited to money. Everyone takes our family for fools. I had to defend Ginny over her whole first year because everyone mocked her about her robes." Ginny looked deeply offended by the remark. "Everyone is laughing behind our backs because of you."

"Hey, that's not true," George said all of a sudden, joining the conversation.

"People were laughing behind your back because you took yourself too seriously, Percy," Fred added. "And because your personal ego gave you the impression that you had every right."

"No!" Percy declared, looking at his brothers and sister. "They were laughing at me because of you. Because I was your brother. You two, with all the pranks you make on everyone who has a semblance of authority," he said to the twins. He then turned to Ron. "And you, because of your obsession with breaking rules. And Ginny, because she was foolish enough to open the Chamber of Secrets two years ago."

"It wasn't my fault. I was being controlled!" Ginny shot.

"Well, you should never have opened that diary." He turned to their parents. "And you should never have allowed her to open it. You never tried to raise us. You never cared about us."

"That's not true!" their father snapped. "You were always our first priority. We gave you all the love we had. Everything your mother and I ever did was for you all, our children."

Percy scoffed. "Then you should have thought about your reputation, Father. I had to struggle with it ever since I arrived in the Ministry, even before. I was the son of Arthur Weasley, the idiot who collect Muggle gadgets. I worked hard to get past this, and I earned what I got. The Minister did more today for me than you did for my entire life."

"Fudge is not doing anything for you. He's using you!"

"Even if this is true, so what? Why can't I benefit from it? You should be happy for me!"

"Why should we be happy that the idiot who is currently our Minister gave you a promotion to spy on us? Look at me and tell me that Fudge said nothing implying that he expected you to give him information on us and Dumbledore?"

Percy didn't say a word for a moment. They had their confirmation. Fudge wanted him to spy on them. "So what?" Percy finally asked. "What if he asked me? Perhaps this is what you deserve."

"Deserve?"

"Yes, Father. By following Dumbledore. By following an old fool who pretends that You-Know-Who is back."

"You-Know-Who is back, Percy."

"Do you have any proof of that?" he shot back immediately.

Ron couldn't bear it anymore. "What do you mean, proof? Harry saw him return two weeks ago."

Percy looked back at Ron. He had a… dismissive gaze. "Well, if Harry's word is the only proof we have… I'm afraid your friend's word is not enough. Especially not with what the Daily Prophet revealed about him."

Ron was agape. Percy actually believed the stupidities of Rita Skeeter and her fellow journalists in the newspapers?

"I defend you from questioning Harry's word?" their father warned Percy.

"Why? Because he's the Boy Who Lived? Because he's got a scar on his forehead? That doesn't give him any right, Father. He managed to get into the Triwizard Tournament last year, even though the rules clearly forbade him from doing so. And then, he got another student killed by his actions."

"Cedric Diggory was murdered by You-Know-Who."

"Yeah, that's a pretty interesting story. Much like the pseudo explanation that a Death Eater allegedly made his way into the school and tricked the Goblet of Fire into sending Harry in the Tournament. I wouldn't be surprised that Harry got the boy killed in his desire to win and that he invented the whole story to clear himself."

"Are you listening to yourself, Percy? You're actually suggesting that Harry murdered that poor boy!"

"Well, he may not have wanted to, but…"

"Harry came back from this maze traumatized and heavily injured, Percy. His mother told me that he's been blaming himself for what happened to Cedric."

"Well, you see. Even he considers that he's responsible."

"Because he suggested to Cedric that they take the Triwizard Cup together, and that's how Cedric Diggory ended up in front of You-Know-Who and got murdered."

"Yes, that's a fantastic story. It would make a very good book."

"This is no story, Percy. This is the truth!"

"Not according to the Ministry and the rest of the magical world."

"You would be surprised by the number of people who believe him. And Dumbledore believes him as well."

"Dumbledore is an old fool! He's just trying to create problems in the hope that he can become Minister of Magic himself." Percy was sounding more and more like an idiot.

"Dumbledore has no interest in the office of Minister. He refused it countless times. He even helped Fudge when he arrived in office. Whoever thinks that Dumbledore wants to replace Fudge as Minister is an idiot."

On that, everyone in this living room agreed with the words of Ron's father. Everyone except Percy.

"Well, here we have it," with a note of finality. "My father finally admits his true feelings towards me. He thinks I'm an idiot because unlike him, I'm spending my evenings and weekends working instead of turning Muggle cars into flying brooms."

"Your father never said you were an idiot," their mother said, crying.

"He is an idiot, Molly, if he believes everything the Ministry has been feeding to the Daily Prophet."

Despite their mother's cries, everyone else in the living room seemed to agree with their father. Hostility had built up against Percy among the Weasleys. He may look proud standing in front of his father, but all his brothers and sister were against him, and they currently viewed him as the dumbest individual on the planet.

"Well, I believe everything was said," Percy declared.

On that, he headed towards the stairs without a single gaze behind him. Their father was red with anger. Their mother was crying.

"Percy!" she wailed, running after him.

"What's gotten into his mind?" Fred said, disbelieved.

"Percy was always weird and stupid, but that…" George added, just as disbelieved.

"I can't believe that he trusts everything the Daily Prophet is saying," Bill declared. "Especially about Dumbledore. It was Dumbledore who made him a Prefect and Head Boy in his last year."

"Well, now he has someone else's boots to kiss," Ron remarked.

"Do you think he actually believes that Harry killed Cedric Diggory?" Ginny asked, sounding at the same time disgusted, horrified, disbelieveing, and hating Percy, feelings that mirrored Ron's own.

"I don't think he actually believes it," Hermione said.

"Well, that's not the impression he gave," Ron shouted back. "You heard what he said."

"Yes, I did, but… I'm sure he doesn't believe everything he said."

"Trust us, Hermione," George began.

"He believed every word he just said," Fred completed.

"But…" Hermione tried.

"Oh, shut up, Hermione!" Ron said. "Stop trying to defend him."

"I'm not trying to defend him," she protested.

"You sound as convincing as Fudge when he denies that You-Know-Who is back. Percy is an idiot. You heard him!"

"Yes, I heard him, but I don't think…"

"Children!" Their father had raised the voice, snapping. "Please, excuse me, but I would need some silence right now!"

They all went silent. It was very rare for their father to snap at them, or to have a fight with any of them. Ron could tell he was holding himself back from screaming at them. He was obviously out of himself.

For a long time, all they could hear were the supplications and cries of their mother up above, as furniture seemed to move. They got the confirmation of what they suspected the moment Percy came down, levitating his bags and trunks. He ignored all of them, including their father boiling out of rage and their mother who begged him to stay. Ron only had contempt for him as he watched his brother heading to the door. When he reached the doorway, he stopped, and slowly turned toward them. For a fleeting moment, Ron got the impression he was uncertain to leave, but then his face hardened once again.

"Dumbledore is going to have a lot of trouble," he said. "If you want to stand with him, that is your choice. But I will not fall with you. I know where my loyalty is, and it is with the Ministry. If you want to be traitors…"

"Traitors!" their father roared. "Says the boy who always criticized Fudge for how he dealt with Pettigrew and claimed that Dumbledore would make a far better Minister than him?"

Ron remembered. During his third year, Percy was very critical of the Ministry and the way they tried to stop Pettigrew. He even declared a few times that Dumbledore should be Minister of Magic back then. But Percy ignored their father's words.

"If you want to be traitors, I'll make everyone know that I am no member of this family. And I will not protect you when you fall with Dumbledore."

"And you believe that your position as Fudge's assistant will protect you when You-Know-Who seizes power? Or when the people realize that your boss is a liar, a fool, and an incompetent."

"You are the fool and the incompetent, father. And the traitor as well. And so all of you are if you choose to follow them."

Percy pointed their parents. Whoever may still hold anything for Percy at this moment was completely against him now.

"Leave this house and never come back!" their father declared, causing their mother to wail.

"That's the best idea you've had in decades, father."

And on that, Percy stormed out.

"PERCY!"

Their mother ran at him. But not long after she ran through the doorway, they heard the particular sound indicating that Percy Apparated. He was gone. Right now, all Ron could think about was that it was good riddance.

"What an idiot!" Fred said.

Ron was about to support him verbally, but their father stopped any attempt from anyone to say more.

"This wasn't how I wanted to announce it to you, but we're leaving. We're leaving the Burrow."

Despite the shock of the news, no one reacted. Their father was fuming and barely controlling himself.

"We're leaving tomorrow for a secret location. Somewhere safe. Don't tell anybody. No one must know where we're heading. I suggest you go to your rooms and pack your bags. We will be leaving early tomorrow morning."

They all went to their rooms. Ron was fuming, just like his father. He was fuming against Percy as he filled his trunk and bags. All the insults and imprecations he knew went through his mind as he thought of his dumb, imbecile, crazy, stupid, idiot, dumb brother. When he was done piling his stuff into his bags, he went to see Hermione and Ginny in his sister's bedroom. He heard them talk before he reached the floor where they were.

"I know that Percy never chose the best priorities, but that… Really!" His sister was almost shouting. "I never thought he could be so stupid!"

"I don't think he is stupid, Ginny," Hermione said, more calmly, but with a clear edge in her voice. "I think he's… blinded."

"Blinded?"

"Yes. Blinded by his ambition. He was just offered a big promotion, the kind of work and position he always dreamed of, and he just can't give up on that."

"Well, that still makes him an idiot," Ron said as he opened the door and came inside.

"People knock at the door before they walk in, Ronald, you know," Hermione pointed out. Their trunks were opened and only half-filled. Ginny didn't seem to mind though.

"Ron is right. You heard what he said about me? That it was my fault that the Chamber of Secrets was opened?"

"He shouldn't have said that," Hermione acknowledged. "And he was wrong," she added quickly. "It wasn't your fault, Ginny. This is Lucius Malfoy's fault."

"Yes, a big friend of his new boss," Ron commented dryly.

"And what he said about Harry? Really? That it was Harry's fault that Cedric Diggory died?" Ginny added, outraged.

"Anyone who has a hint of common sense knows it's impossible," Ron supported.

"I don't think he really believes that," Hermione said. "He just… I discussed with Percy lately. He seemed… hesitant as to what to think. He kept saying that it was impossible that You-Know-Who had returned. Not in the sense that he didn't believe it, but in the sense that it meant too much. At the same time, he told me several times when I asked him questions about it that he didn't think Harry would lie about such a thing."

"Well, he changed his mind quite a lot," Ginny commented dryly.

"I think he just snapped because he was afraid to lose the opportunity of his life, as he sees it."

"Well, I would rather live in a cave than work for Fudge right now," Ron said.

"Yeah," Ginny agreed. "Percy is really dumb to put his career first with what is going on right now."

"I agree," Hermione declared. "Everything he said tonight… It's unforgivable."

On that, the three of them agreed.

"In some way, it may be better that he left," Ginny then said. "I mean, this way, he will not be able to tell Fudge anything that Mom, Dad or Bill or Charlie or anyone in the family might do for Dumbledore."

"Yeah, good riddance," Ron commented. "And now that he severed all ties with us, Fudge will not have many reasons to keep him in his office. I hope he will dismiss him soon enough."

"I would like to be sure of that, Ron, but if Fudge only keeps sycophants by his side, well… the question is, can Percy be sycophant enough for Fudge?"

Ron had no doubt about the accurate answer to Ginny's question.

As you can see, the Weasleys are not spared from the consequences of the war.

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Next chapter: Harry