Chapter 15: The one with Percy and the Princess
Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.
Chapter 14
I dusted off the soot and smiled at the kitchen. And then my smile faded realising it was being aimed at nothing but an empty table and chairs. I called out, "Mrs Weasley?"
The witch that just radiated motherhood walked into the kitchen; a pair of knitting needles suspended in the air behind her. "Hello Ky. I just received Minerva's note. She said you would be coming." Trust Minnie to spoil the surprise. "Everybody is back at the orchard, hold on a second and I'll get Percy to give you a walk over there." I walked around the kitchen inspecting all the gadgets. I saw a wand with a rubber mouse at the end of it. There must be a story there somewhere.
"Mother, has I have told you a million times, even if I'm not at work, it doesn't mean I'm not doing anything. Treat my room as you would an office, do you see…"He cut off when he saw me. Mrs Weasley left the room, shaking her head. He was skinny and tall, with black horn-rimmed glasses. He obviously had the famous Weasley hair, but the face was all wrong. Too much pompous, too few laugh lines. "Kyrianna Thornton!" I flinched at my name. "What a pleasure it is indeed." He came forward and shook my hand. "Percival Weasley. I work under Barty Crouch at the Ministry, Department of International Magical Cooperation " I laughed inwardly and shook my head; this one is going to be a right laugh he was.
"I don't know how you people treat royalty here, but we most definitely do not shake their hands back home."
He gulped, "Royalty?"
"Why of course yes, are you hard of hearing? Am I not the child of Prince Thornton? Am I not the grandchild of The Albus Dumbledore? Or is it that you don't think of my grandfather as a hero, that you do not respect his authority as the saviour of the Wizarding world, that you would treat his only granddaughter with such disrespect. Barty Crouch, you said? I think grandfather has spoken of him; he would be attending the dinner on Friday I believe; I'd be sure to let him know what I think of his employees." I said all this, channelling my inner Nessie, if I even had one. Percy's face went from shock, disbelief, and now stopped at flustered. It seemed no matter how absurd it sounded; it wasn't worth the risk of pissing of his boss.
"I am so, so very sorry your…highness. I meant no disrespect, none at all." He bowed down so low I thought his nose was about to hit the floor.
"I'll survive. I hope the house of Weasley doesn't treat all its guests so. Now take me to your brethren. And get an umbrella, the English Summer is quite damaging for my skin."
"Of course, of course."
It took my all not to burst out laughing. Percy opened the door for me, and then bowed me out. Then he conjured up an umbrella and held it just so that he can block me from the sun. When we reached a puddle, he took off his jersey and put it on the floor for me to step over! We reached the orchard where I saw a picnic blanket with a bunch of people around it. I recognised everybody, save two. They stood up looking at us. Mi started walking toward me, but Percy stepped in front of me,
"Presenting her royal Highness, Princess Kyrianna Thornton." He bowed again at me; this was getting too good. "Miss Thornton, may I have the pleasure of introducing you to my family. William, Charles, George, Fred, Ronald, and Ginevra. These are Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, Ronald's friends." He bowed again and while his head was bent, I winked at the lot of them, they all seemed in varying degrees of stifled laughter.
Except the sister… she was frowning.
"Thank you, Percival. I am ever so parched…."I didn't have to finish the sentence as he hopped to the picnic blanket and poured me a glass of lemonade, "Offer the others as well Percival." His eyes widened but he seemed to remember the fact that I knew his boss and scurried back. Fred and George changed their requests three times. I caught Mi's eye, and she gave me a look that said, 'Isn't it enough now.' I shook my head at her. Ronald cleared his throat,
"Princess, you will be attending Hogwarts this fall?"
"Yes Ronald, why ever do you inquire?"
"Oh, I was just wandering if you have learnt our School song. Your grandfather instructs the singing every year. I would hate for you to go to school unprepared."
"Oh Ronald, how absolutely thoughtful. I see your family is not without charm, quite a contrast to my first impression." I glanced at Percy pointedly, and then turned back to Ron. "I would ever so hate to attend school not knowing the song, I'm already so behind and fear being left out as is. I would be awfully indebted to you if you could teach it to me."
"I'm sorry Princess, the words just escape me at the moment." He turned and looked at his brothers, but he had to look no further.
"Princess it will be a great honour to teach you the song. Even though it's been a year since I have left Hogwarts, my memory is sharp, and I do remember the song. Just name the time and place, and I will be at your service."
"Why Percival, what a generous offer. You may proceed." I sat down on the picnic blanket, with my legs tucked to the side, very princess like.
"Now? Here?"
"When and where better Percival. Unless you object…"
"No, no of course not. It is, Hogwarts Hogwarts Hoggy warty Hog…"
"Louder Perce."
"I believe George is right, and with more spunk."
"You know what I think this is missing," and the tall handsome boy with the fang earring said whilst joining me on the blanket, he pointed his wand at Percy, and the next second he was wearing a top hat and had a stick. "A bit of a dance to compliment the song. We wouldn't want the Princess to think the Weasleys don't put on a good show."
"Why thank you for that William. I believe I would very much like that Percival."
"Of course, Princess."
His face was as red as a tomato, he began to attempt to tap dance, and by attempt, I mean dismally fail. His gawky body was doing the weirdest most angular awkward movements. We managed to hold it though, not dare looking at each other. But when he moved his knees in and out at the 'Or young with scabby knees', the dam of laughter simultaneously burst forth.
I was laughing so hard that I was struggling for breath and Ron all but lost any sign of keeping his composure and was lying face down on the grass, banging his hands on the floor. Percy's face went from confused, to realisation, to absolute anger. He turned around and started to storm off.
"Percy wait, wait." I said running after him. "I'm so sorry I just couldn't resist; you must think I'm vile."
"Vile and cruel and and…"He was so angry he couldn't finish. I gave him a hug; he seemed shocked at the sudden act of contact. I pulled away, "I'm sorry Percy. But you really shouldn't take yourself so seriously! You set yourself up for stuff like that. I mean the way you let yourself get all worked up just because you thought I was going to tell your boss that you didn't greet me properly. I mean a greeting? You think you're so inconsequential that you will get sacked for greeting someone improperly. And how on Earth did you buy that Princess thing?"
He seemed to cool down a bit. I guess it must come as being a brother, and a pompous one at that, to Fred and George. He probably had worse pulled on him. "I take myself seriously, because life isn't a joke. You don't live off laughter and games. And people have been sacked for less." He flushed a little, "And they said that they didn't have a proper family lineage drawn up, connecting the dots between you and Dumbledore. When you declared that you were royalty, I assumed that you actually were. Forgive me for believing what people say to be the truth, and not childish jokes."
I laughed at him. "Ok, Ok. I see I'm fighting a losing battle here. Just remember that even though you can't live off laughter and games, doesn't mean you should stop living for them." I walked back to the others. As I did, I saw Harry give me a funny look, a look I just couldn't place. We only broke eye contact when Ron's face was in front of mine,
"That was bloody fantastic. You are a genius!"
"It was your brilliant idea about the song though. That was the icing on the cake."
"Yeah Ron, didn't know you had it in you." Fred said, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.
"Yeah, little brother, who thought all that you needed was a little push." George said, hanging off his other side. Ron was blushing all kinds of red. Mi stood,
"So how did it go…?" She was cut off by the red-haired girl, who stood and approached me,
"Well, I think it was cruel and unnecessary. Yes, it's all well and funny when the twins mock Percy, but they're family. We're family. We're allowed to do it. Who do you think you are? Just walking in here and making a fool of Percy. Just because you're the Headmaster's granddaughter, does not mean you can waltz around mocking my family." Her face was red and in my own. Her brown eyes blazing. I had a feeling that this girl didn't like me before, guess this was proof. Before I could say anything, Bill cut in.
"Ginny, calm down. It was just a joke. The twins have done far worse than that and knowing Percy he has already forgotten about it and is knee deep in cauldron bottom reports. And we all joined in. She even apologised to Pe…"
I stopped him, "It's fine Bill. Thanks, but Ginny has a right to feel that way. Not everyone understands the dynamics of a joke, but I'll be sure to remember that the next time I perform one in her presence."
"There is a difference between mockery and jokes."
"I'm happy that you are aware of that Ginny. Ten points. Now you'll get another ten if you define the difference, because I'm sure you'll find once you do that one implies to do something that causes amusement or laughter whilst the other is to scornfully, maliciously, and contemptuously ridicule. If I recall quite correctly you were laughing just like the rest of us, and I'm sure Percy isn't sitting up in his bedroom right now, crying from the scorn." I knew what I did was a bit over the top, but I wouldn't have done it if I thought Percy wouldn't have handled it. Maybe the little girl was experiencing her first period. Aww, the poor baby. What? She started it. Fine I'll play nice.
Everyone was staring at us. It seems Ginny did not have a rebuttal for the fact that she was indeed laughing as well. She was about to turn and walk away but then I stopped her,
"Look Ginny, I honestly didn't mean any disrespect or harm. I just thought it will be a spot of fun, and I don't apologise for a good laugh, but I do apologise if you took it the wrong way. Acquaintances?"
I stuck my hand out for her to shake, as the others laughed at what I said at the end. And as she shook my hand, I knew it to be true. It was in her eyes; Ginny and I would be just that. Acquaintances. Nothing more.
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