I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Extended Family
Chapter 140 – A Day in Magical Cooperation
Takes place before Chapter 88.
He woke just before the alarm did, a habit at this point. He blinked slowly, his mind clearing, and then waking fully when the alarm started to chirp. A yawn broke out of his lips and he rose and stopped the alarm in one combined motion, reaching for his glasses. The yawn continued as he walked slowly to the bathroom, blinking slightly more rapidly.
Percy looked at himself as he cleaned his teeth and did his usual morning routine. He looked as he usually did, thin features but not overly so. Red hair cut short and neat, barely needing the comb. A hint of dark circles under his eyes bespoke of long hours and hard work but he did not mind them that much. A part of the job.
He dressed in neat robes of black and grey over a plain white shirt and a plain black tie. Breakfast was the usual: toast and a single egg fried hard and a cup of juice, and he was gone after cleaning the kitchen with a wave of his wand. 30 steps took him out the door and down the steps and onto the street. As per usual, the street was still fairly light since it was still early. He lived in an area where many of the residents there worked for the Ministry or on Diagon and while there were some Muggles around, the magicals were the majority as well as ones used to living near Muggles.
The area had their own permanent apparition point and he took it, reappearing at one established at the Ministry. 50 steps took him to the security point and he waited for the security guard to check him through.
"Mornin' Mr. Weasley," the guard said pleasantly, waving a metal rod with a flat panel on top over Percy's wand.
"Good Morning, Mr. Wash," Percy replied pleasantly.
"You can call me Eric," the guard said, amused.
"One day I am sure I will," Percy said with a small smile.
"I'm lookin' forward to it," Eric said. "You're good. Have a good day."
"You too." Percy took his wand and walked off with purpose, already running through the day's tasks in his mind. Also as per usual, he was the first to the Department of Magical Cooperation, opening the door and turning the lights on. He entered his office and looked over everything with a practiced and careful if slightly hurried eye. Seeing everything as he left it the day before, he nodded and began the work for the day.
-0-
Percy stifled a groan, seeing a name glow on the schedule he had pinned to a tablet on his desk. He recognized the name and had either forgotten who he was meeting with, or purposely blocked out the name if truth be told. Steeling himself, he opened the small communication Floo and tried to look as professional as possible. "Hello, Mr Bashir," he said as politely as possible.
"Weatherby," Ali Bashir said shortly. He was an older man with small unfriendly eyes and a sour disposition."
"Weasley," Percy corrected for the 7th time. "What can I do for you?"
"I want to talk to the Department head, not the deputy."
"I understand that, but Madam Abbott is not in today, and as deputy, I have her authority for meetings." He smiled blandly at Bashir's look of displeasure. "Now, what can I do for you?"
"I have a complaint, with someone else in your Ministry," Bashir said with an ugly look. "It is impacting relations with my government and it needs to be rectified."
"I was unaware of any problems with relations between Britain and Morocco," Percy said with feigned concern. "Perhaps you can elaborate?"
"Well, maybe not direct problems," Bashir corrected, "but they can."
"That does sound…serious."
"It is. This embargo you have on flying carpets is unreasonable!"
"As you have been informed before," Percy said wearily, "carpets have a high-risk factor in being seen here by Muggles and there have been numerous occasions of breaches in the Statute due to them. Therefore, they remain a banned object for flying transportation."
"That is outrageous! They have a long and storied history of being used by Magicals in North Africa and the Arabian area!"
"Which we understand, but they do not here in the United Kingdom," Percy said in a tone of someone used to repeating themselves. "You are welcome to petition the Wizengamot and make your case, again, but until the law changes, then there is nothing we cannot do."
"Clearly the old prejudices remain and there is a distinct lack of respect for other cultures," Bashir said scathingly. "Imagine, years and years of magical tradition stopped because of small minds and useless departments!"
Percy felt a cinder of anger building deep within. "And pray tell, what useless department and small mind are you speaking of?"
"Where to start?" Bashir laughed scathingly. "Very well, let us start with that absolutely useless person in charge of the even more useless department! Something about misusing non-magical things?"
The cinder flared. "Arthur Weasley is a fine Department Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Department," Percy said coldly. Bashir flinched at his tone, his eyes widening at the change in Percy. "It is an important department because it protects both Magicals and Muggles and furthers a harmony between our societies. Many deem it silly and unnecessary until they have to do without it."
Bashir opened his mouth to speak but Percy spoke louder, cutting him off. "And while we are completely respectful in regards to the cultures of others, that does not mean we do so at expense of our rules and our own cultural norms. For example!" The cinder became an inferno in his chest. "Here, one does not accept any insults to one's father!"
He smiled in grim amusement at Bashir's paling complexion. "Or is that different in your culture? Sir?"
"No-not really," Bashir stammered. "I had no idea-"
"I do not hold your ignorance to my familial ties against you, but I certainly hold your flagrant disrespect against you! Be lucky that you in fact do not work for your Ministry of Magic or there just might be a problem with relations! This meeting is finished and as you have been told before, any appeals you make must go through proper channels and any further rudeness will not be tolerated. Good day, Sir." Percy waved his hand and the Floo was cut off, the fires in the hearth immediately disappearing.
Percy sat back in a foul mood and when he looked up, the mood soured further. "Do you have a comment, Mr. Leeds?"
Timothy Leeds, intern, gulped but pushed on. "I don't think that was appropriate."
"You do not?" Percy asked sarcastically. "Pray tell, what part was inappropriate?"
Leeds flushed. "You shouldn't have lost your temper just because he insulted Weasley-"
"That is Department Head Weasley to you, Intern Leeds," Percy said coldly and Leeds flinched, eyes wide. "And I have not lost my temper. Very few have seen me truly lose my temper, though I must congratulate you, you have come closer than others. Seeing how you deem me inappropriate, you are done for the day and perhaps done for your time here as the intern of this department."
"I'm sorry!" Leeds gasped. "I only thought-"
"False. You did not think at all. You presumed you could dictate my behavior despite being an intern. You are dismissed, Mr. Leeds. I will see if another department can make some use of you." Percy stared until Leeds finally fled. With a groan, he rubbed his eyes and then went back to work with a vengeance.
-0-
"Yes?" Percy said, trying to keep his annoyance out of his tone. He had not stopped working since his disastrous meeting and his actual loss of temper with the intern. He looked up when a familiar voice cut through his foul mood.
"I was hoping the Under Secretary of International Magical Cooperation would be free for a lunch meeting," Arthur said. His voice was pleasant and professional and his eyes were warm. "If you do not have one already, of course."
"I…do not," Percy said, looking at his schedule. He dithered for a moment. "I suppose I can, if it is necessary."
"I think it is," Arthur said with a small smile. "There are a few matters to discuss."
"I see." Percy finished writing and rose and grabbed his cloak. "I need to tell my secretary-"
"She knows," Arthur said warmly. "In fact, she is the one that suggested it. Come come, let us make haste since you are rather busy today."
Percy followed Arthur out. "To the cafeteria?"
"The Cauldron I think would be better," Arthur said genially. "It's fish pie day."
"That sounds nice," Percy smiled a little. He and Arthur walked in companionable silence to the elevators and took them to the lobby. A quick Floo trip took them out of the hub at Diagon and in moments, they arrived at the Cauldron.
"Hey Dad," Ron said from behind the counter. "Hey Percy." He waved his wand. "Table's ready for you."
"You have a private table?" Percy asked as they sat down. Ron had vanished a covering and moved a small cord blocking the booth. "How often do you eat here and does mother know?"
Arthur chuckled. "It's a family and friends table, closest to Ron and Hannah's. Also your mother eats here on her weekly Diagon trips. But to answer your question, yes, I eat here."
"That was not my question," Percy said with a bemused expression.
"What'll you have?" Ron asked, walking over. "Oh duh, it's fish pie day."
"Yes please," Arthur smiled.
"I will have the same," Percy said.
"Sounds good." After hugging his father and punching his brother lightly on the arm, Ron went back to the counter and put the order in before returning to serve the lunch crowd, making a visiting couple laugh with a joke.
"So, I hear you had a meeting with Bashir," Arthur said.
"Unfortunately," Percy said, gritting his teeth. "He is very unpleasant."
"He sure is," Arthur agreed. "Had more than a few meetings with him myself. He's a big businessman and rather important in his area. Or at least I think so given how big his ego is."
"He believes himself above the law," Percy growled. He subsided some, deflating a little. "I became rather short with him, which was unprofessional."
"One can't be professional all the time," Arthur chuckled. "We're human and once in a while, we let our emotions get the better of us. You've always had a good handle on yours for the most part." He sipped a glass of water. "When it doesn't involve George and Fred of course."
"Or Charlie the one time," Percy sighed.
"Or Charlie the one time," Arthur nodded and started laughing. "Gosh I was proud of you that day."
"You were not," Percy protested, fighting a smile.
"I sure was! I told Charlie time and again to leave you alone but he thought he could push you around with no consequence. I warned him but he didn't believe me." Arthur continued to laugh.
"Why did Mother punish us so severely then?"
"I never said she was proud of you. Which she was, a little. She was punishing you both for fighting with family and if you remember, Charlie got the stronger punishment."
"I suppose," Percy conceded. He frowned. "How did you hear of the meeting?"
"Your secretary," Arthur smiled. "She sent me a message asking for help, she had never seen you so upset before."
"Great, I bothered my coworkers with my failures," Percy groaned.
"No, she was genuinely concerned. She likes you and admires you." Arthur smiled broadly. "I also got several messages from a Mister Leeds begging for my aid."
"What did he say?!" Percy asked, appalled.
"Well first he begged for my forgiveness and I was really confused because I've never met the boy," Arthur smiled. "Then when he finally explained himself, he begged me to ask you to reconsider firing him and reassigning him. He is terrified of the punishment because International Magical Co-op is a very important department and he needs to perform well there for his future career."
"If that is his concern, then perhaps he should be sent to a different department," Percy seethed.
"The boy," Arhtur emphasized the word, "is also rather terrified of you. He does respect you and is worried about that as well." He blinked at Percy. "Now you've never taken such slights against me or the family that personally before." He raised his hands at Percy's glare. "Not to say that you never blindly accepted them either. Another reason I'm proud of you. But I am a bit curious, you usually are a lot more reserved."
Percy rubbed his eyes. "I think it is because I see a bit of myself in Mr. Leeds. It has not escaped my notice how ambitious he is."
"Ambition isn't the worst thing to have," Arthur said lightly.
"But one shouldn't sacrifice others in the name of it," Percy retorted. He flushed. "There was a time I wanted to prove myself, to prove people wrong about what they said about our family, about you. I still want to do that to a degree."
He sighed dismally. "Then I learned just how happy you are at your job and position; about the genuine passion you have for it. And I realized who am I to judge about another person's happiness? Why should one sacrifice happiness for gain?" He looked sad. "When there are many who are lacking in everything?"
Arthur patted Percy's hand. "And that makes you a wonderful person. You see things and you try to understand them. Not only that, you try to grow with them in mind. I'm not here to lambaste you as a a fellow worker for the Ministry. I'm not here to lecture you about what you did as your father. I'm here to share a meal with you and tell you that I am proud of you."
Percy flushed but felt better. "Thank you, Father."
"I did bring up the incident though because we are technically here under the pretense of a work meeting," Arthur added prosaically.
"Indeed," Percy chuckled. "Should I allow Mr. Leeds to remain?"
"That is up to you." Arthur grinned slyly. "Or, technically, dismissals are the responsibility of the Department Director. You could just let Director Abbott make the final decision after adding some notes."
"Are you telling me to foist off responsibility?" Percy asked, shocked and delighted.
"Never, I am only advising you to follow protocol," Arthur smiled. "Plus, Director Abbott will tear Leeds a new one. She hates having her time wasted and she knows that if you gave her the duty, it was something that she would need to address and she would be even more upset because it got that far. She trusts you, you know."
"I do," Percy said. "Thank you, Father."
Ron returned with a tray covered in food. He put a plate with a giant slice of fish pie down before each person and put a bowl of fresh salad in the middle as well as a bowl of chips. "There you two go," he said, making a flourishing gesture with his hand.
"Thank you," Arthur smiled.
"Care to join us? If you are able to?" Percy asked.
"Sure, crowd is thinning out. Let me go grab a plate and be right back," Ron said with a smile.
-0-
Percy sent the last of the files away, the last few memos folding themselves into paper airplanes and zooming out of his office. It had been a busy but smooth afternoon. Meetings were arranged and a trip to Paris in the works. He rubbed his neck, working out a knot with a groan.
He perked up when a strange sound could be heard, slightly muffled. He opened his drawer and took out a mirror that was making a sound like something feathery was hitting something wooden. When he focused on it, his image disappeared and was replaced by a very close up image of Dahlia's face. "Hi Uncle Percy!" she shouted.
"Hello Dahlia!" Percy said back, smiling sincerely. "And how are you doing today?"
"I'm well! Have you eaten dinner yet?"
"I have not. I just finished with work and was about to go home."
"You should come for dinner! We're having your favorite, roast chicken and potatoes!"
"That does sound wonderful! What do your parents say?"
The image swam and Harry appeared in the mirror. He winced when the mirror bounced off his face. "Oof! I'm okay Dally, you're fine," he chuckled. "She asked to call you and we knew she wanted to invite you over. When she heard that was for dinner, she asked if you could come."
"If it would not be an imposition," Percy said eagerly.
"Come on over," Harry said warmly. "There's plenty. You might need to read Dally a story though later. She likes it when you read to her."
"I would love to," Percy said. "I will be over shortly. I will stop by to get a bottle of something for us and something sweet for Dahlia." He waved goodbye to Dahlia and left the Ministry with a spring in his step, eager for company. Not too much later, he stepped out of the Floo at the Potter home and was immediately jumped on. "Goodness," he laughed, catching Dahlia. "Let me clean up first, you do not need to get sooty."
"I don't care," she said, hugging him.
"How was work?" Harry asked, hugging him too.
"Laborious," Percy sighed, smiling when Dahlia giggled at his tone and expression. "But lunch was nice. Had it with Father and Ron at the Cauldron."
"Lunch is the second-best part of the day," Katie smiled.
"With leaving work the best part," Percy grinned.
Dinner meandered with Percy cutting up Dahlia's potatoes and chicken for her. They talked and laughed as they ate and after Dahlia got ready for bed, Percy read to her, smiling when she managed to stay awake for a goodbye hug before falling asleep completely.
"She loves it when you read to her," Katie smiled when Percy rejoined them in the sitting room. "You and Hermione are her favorites."
"I am glad she enjoys it." Percy laughed. "Hailey prefers more active things, as one would expect."
"George and Angelina's daughter?" Harry gasped with faux-shock. "You don't say."
"Certainly a surprise," Percy said dryly. After a glass of wine and some more conversation, he left the Potter home with a full stomach and a warm heart. He cleaned the hearth after leaving it and did his usual nighttime routine, a bit later since he had dinner and visited the Potters. Yet, when laid down to bed, he had a smile that did not fade, even after falling asleep.
-0-0-0-
odonnellzoo99 - Hedwig is an owl of many many talents. Dora with a bright red glowing nose pulling the sleigh was one of my favorite bits of the whole chapter. It felt just right and was so cute and funny. I don't know if I can narrow down the favorite characters either. Hope your Christmas was merry and happy!
Ghostwriter - It just feels like the perfect thing for them to do.
alix33 - I first read about the maple candy in the Little House in the Big Woods book and have always wanted to try it.
WhatHaveIDiscovered - I actually looked at my post schedule and saw it would come out at the perfect time and it felt just right.
poka - The snow candy always looked so fun and tasty. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
TheSphynx - Aww shucks, you are far too kind. Thank you. Hope you had a Happy Christmas!