THC, Year 11, Round 2
Slytherin
DADA: Stand-In
StandardQuote: "Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn't mean they're lost forever." –Professor X (X-Men Days of Future Past
Prompts:
(Emotion) Sadness
(Scenario) A bittersweet reunion
WC: 2423/3000
Betas: Charlotte, Bea, Aya
Warning: Fred's death
Percy Weasley stood on the doorstep of the Burrow, his heart heavy with regret and sorrow. It had been years since he had last set foot in this place, years since he had turned his back on his family in pursuit of his ambition and pride. But now, as he gazed upon the familiar sight of the ramshackle house, memories of happier times flooded his mind, mingling with the ache of loss and guilt.
The war had taken its toll on the Weasley family, tearing them apart in more ways than one. Percy had chosen to align himself with the Ministry, forsaking his family and their fight against Voldemort. Back then, he had believed he was doing the right thing, that his loyalty to his job and his ambition would bring him success and recognition. But in the end, all he had gained was a sense of emptiness and regret.
As he raised his hand to knock on the door, Percy hesitated, his heart clenching with uncertainty. Would they even welcome him back after all this time? Would they forgive him for the pain he had caused, for the rift he had created within their family? Would his mother hold him close, or would she turn her back on him?
An image of Fred's grin fading as a wall collapsed on him flashed through Percy's mind. No, his mum wouldn't—couldn't—turn him away now. Not after having already lost one son in the war. Could she?
Taking a deep breath, Percy pushed aside his doubts and rapped his knuckles against the weathered wood of the door. The sound echoed through the silent house, a stark reminder of the absence that now hung heavy in the air.
Ginny answered the door, her eyes red-rimmed from tears and exhaustion. When she saw Percy standing there, her expression softened, and she pulled him into a tight embrace without hesitating.
"Percy," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so glad you're here."
Tears pricked at Percy's eyes as he returned her embrace, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him like lead.
"I'm sorry, Ginny," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry for everything."
Ginny pulled back, her gaze searching his face. "We've all made mistakes, Percy. But that doesn't mean we can't make amends."
Percy nodded, his throat tight with emotion. He whispered, "I know… I just... I wish I had realised it sooner."
Together, they entered the Burrow, the warmth of the familiar surroundings offering a bittersweet comfort. Aunt Muriel sat in the corner, her gaze empty as she stared at the distant relatives who had come to offer their condolences. The air was heavy with grief and loss.
Percy's heart ached as he took in the faces of his family, each one bearing the weight of their own sorrow.
His mother was in the kitchen, her eyes red from crying as she prepared tea for the guests who had come to pay their respects. When she saw Percy, her expression softened, and she enveloped him in a hug that spoke of forgiveness and love.
"Oh, Percy," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I'm so glad you're here."
Once upon a time, he would have tried to wriggle away from her hold, embarrassed by her actions, but now that he knew how precious his family was to him, Percy closed his eyes and melted in her warm embrace. He buried his face in her shoulder, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Mum," he sobbed. That was all he could say, for he had never been good at expressing his emotions. "I'm so sorry."
His mother held him close, her arms a comforting embrace that seemed to banish the shadows of guilt and regret that had plagued him. At that moment, Percy knew that he had finally found his way home.
Percy threw himself into helping his family heal, offering support and comfort wherever it was needed. Fred's funeral broke his heart anew as his brother was laid to rest. But amidst the sadness and grief, there was also a sense of unity and strength, a bond that had been forged in the fires of adversity.
After years of estrangement, Percy's heart had softened, allowing him to embrace the love and support of his family once more. Slowly but surely, he began to rebuild the bridges that he had burned, reaching out to his siblings with an openness and humility that he had never shown before. He had always been the odd one out in the family; it was one of the reasons he had sided with the Ministry. But as he looked around at the faces of his family, he knew that he had finally found his place among them.
As he sat in the Burrow's living room, the weight of memories pressed heavily on his shoulders.
He could still see the younger versions of his siblings, their faces lit up with the innocent mischief of childhood.
He caught sight of his mum's favourite vase, and his lips twitched. His mind flashed back to a memory of the twins he had almost forgotten over time.
Percy stood in the middle of the Burrow's living room, his hands on his hips and his face a picture of exasperation.
"Ron! Ginny! Fred! George!" he shouted, trying to project the authority he was sure he deserved.
The four younger Weasleys stood in a line before him, looking more amused than contrite. Ginny, with her hair a mess of tangles, had dirt caked all over her face. Ron's robes were shredded from their latest adventure, and Fred and George, of course, had wide grins plastered on their faces, barely able to contain their laughter.
"What is the meaning of this?" Percy demanded, holding up a pair of trousers that had been charmed to dance on their own. "You know Mum will be furious when she sees this mess!"
"Relax, Perce," Fred said, waving a hand dismissively. "It's just a bit of fun."
"A bit of fun that has Mum's favourite vase now lying in pieces on the floor," Percy retorted, his voice rising. "And Ron, Ginny, you're just as guilty for going along with their antics!"
Ron shuffled his feet, looking down at them, while Ginny tried to hide a giggle behind her hand. George snickered and nudged Fred, who added, "Come on, Percy. You have to admit it was a good prank."
Percy's face reddened. "A good prank? Do you realise the trouble you'll be in if Mum and Dad find out?"
George leaned in closer to Fred and whispered just loud enough for Percy to hear, "Maybe we should prank Percy next. He could use a good laugh."
Fred nodded seriously, though his eyes twinkled with mischief. "Maybe we should. He always did need to lighten up."
Percy threw his hands up in frustration. "Enough! You all need to start behaving responsibly. One day you'll regret all this mischief."
Fred and George exchanged a look, their grins never faltering. "Maybe, Percy. But not today."
Fred and George had always been the worst, their pranks relentless and inventive. They had turned his hair pink, slipped dung bombs in his trousers, and bewitched his quills to write insults about him.
At the time, Percy had been furious, constantly reprimanding them, convinced that they were a nuisance. But now, in the aching silence left by Fred's absence, he would give anything to feel that irritation again, to hear their laughter echoing through the house, and to be the target of their jokes just one more time. The things that once annoyed him were now precious memories, reminders of the bond they had shared, and he longed for those carefree days with a pang that never seemed to fade.
Just then, Percy's gaze met Hermione's from across the room, and his heart fluttered in a way that he hadn't felt in years. She was talking to George, trying to make him smile and actually succeeding. Percy had always admired Hermione from afar, but now, seeing her in this new light, he was falling for her in a way he hadn't anticipated.
It had been years since he had seen her, yet her presence still held a magnetic pull on him. As he observed her, a newfound sense of connection and admiration stirred within him, intertwining with the bonds of family he had worked so hard to mend.
She was different now, more mature and resilient, yet still carrying that spark of intelligence and kindness that had made him admire her when she was at Hogwarts.
As the evening wore on and the laughter faded into quiet conversation, Percy found himself drawn to Hermione's side, eager to spend more time with her.
They were sitting at the dinner table, forks and knives clinking against the plates, when Charlie cleared his throat and began, "You know, I've got a great story about Fred when he was just a kid."
Everyone turned their attention to him, and George's eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Oh, do tell."
"Alright," Charlie said, settling back into his chair. "So, this was back when Fred was about seven years old. Mum had just bought a brand-new set of kitchen scales, the ones she'd been wanting for ages. They were shiny, brass, and perfect for all her potion ingredients."
George looked up in anticipation, his gaze nostalgic. His lips twitched and he nodded. "I remember this."
"Well," Charlie continued, "Fred decided those scales would make a perfect launching pad for one of his latest inventions: the Whizzing Wizzbangs. He had found a way to make some homemade fireworks and thought it would be brilliant to launch them from Mum's precious new scales."
Laughter started to bubble up around the room. Percy raised an eyebrow, knowing full well how this story would end.
"I remember coming into the kitchen," Charlie said, "and seeing Fred standing on a chair, setting up his Wizzbangs on the scales. He looked like a tiny professor, all serious and focused. He turned to me and whispered, 'Charlie, you've got to see this! It's going to be brilliant!'"
Ginny giggled. "What happened next?"
Charlie chuckled, shaking his head. "He lit the fuse, and for a moment, nothing happened. Fred gave me this triumphant look like he was the king of the world. Then, all of a sudden, the Whizzbangs exploded in a shower of sparks and smoke! The scales went flying off the table, and the kitchen was filled with colourful bursts of light."
"Merlin's beard," Ron said, laughing. "I bet Mum was furious!"
"Oh, I was," Molly agreed, smiling at them. "I came rushing in, and there was Fred, standing in the middle of the chaos, covered in soot and looking completely bewildered. He turned to me and said, 'Mum, look! They worked!' like he'd just won an award."
George laughed, tears in his eyes. "Classic Fred. Always seeing the bright side, even when he was in trouble."
Charlie nodded, his smile bittersweet. "Yeah, that was Fred. He always managed to find the fun in everything, even if it meant getting into a bit of mischief. And you know, I'd give anything to see one of his pranks again."
Percy hesitated momentarily, the memories rushing back, both happy and sad. Before the silence could oppress them, he straightened up and said, "Remember when Mum had just baked that massive chocolate cake for Dad's birthday?"
The room's atmosphere lightened with curiosity as everyone turned their attention to Percy.
"Now," Percy continued, "you all know how much Fred and George loved to play tricks, even back then. I was about ten, and Mum had asked me to keep an eye on the cake while she went to fetch some ingredients from the garden. Simple enough task, right?"
"Wrong," George called out, a grin playing on his face despite the tears in his eyes.
Percy harrumphed and continued, "I was standing there in the kitchen, trying to keep an eye on both the cake and the boys. The twins come in, all innocent-like, and Fred says, 'Percy, we need your help with something really important.'"
Ginny and Ron leaned in, eager to hear what came next.
"I should have known better," Percy admitted, smiling. "But I was young and still had a bit of faith in their good intentions. They led me out to the shed, saying there was a giant spider stuck in one of Dad's Muggle contraptions. I followed them out, and sure enough, there was a big spider—only it was a fake one, enchanted to move."
Ron shivered. "I hate spiders."
"Join the club," Percy said, laughing. "Anyway, while I was out there, Fred and George dashed back inside. By the time I figured out the spider was a fake and hurried back to the kitchen, the cake was... gone."
Everyone burst into laughter, knowing exactly where this story was heading.
"Mum came back just as I was standing there, completely horrified. She took one look at the empty cake stand and then at me, and I swear, her face was as red as her hair. But before she could say anything, we heard giggling from under the table."
Hermione smiled. "Let me guess, Fred and George?"
"Exactly," Percy confirmed. "They had hidden under the table with the entire cake and were stuffing their faces. When Mum saw them, she didn't know whether to laugh or scold them. Eventually, she did both."
Charlie chuckled. "Sounds like you, Mum."
Molly chuckled and hurried to the kitchen, but Percy had seen the tears streaming down her face. His smile faded slightly, his voice growing softer. "I was so angry at them back then. Always getting into trouble and making me look like the villain. But now, looking back... I'd give anything to have Fred prank me one more time. Just to see that mischievous grin on his face again."
The room fell silent, the weight of Percy's words settling over them. Fred's absence was a painful reminder of the past, but the stories they shared kept his spirit alive. For a moment, the bittersweet memories brought them all closer, reminding them of the love and laughter that Fred had brought into their lives.
For Percy Weasley, the journey back to his family had been a long and difficult one, filled with stumbles and setbacks. But through it all, he had learned a valuable lesson: that no matter how far he strayed from the path, he would always find his way back home.