AN: I do not own Harry Potter. It would be an interesting surprise if I did.

AU: I delayed Percy's entrance into the Ministry as a plot device. No Percy Bashing! Yay! For all of us who see ourselves in Hermione and Percy - I wonder if Percy is an autistic character. He's very much needing to follow the rules that others have placed, whether at Hogwarts or the Ministry, and is determined at enforcing them. Also, he hates conflicting authorities. I see him going against his family when his family no longer follows what the Ministry is doing because that is what he has followed all his life growing up and he's following his mother's expectations. He still loves his family, but it hurts him, and as he reaches out to Ron once, I see that as his way of trying to get some sense of family back. However, the way he's going about it, because of the guidelines he is sticking to, and his social awkwardness, puts people off. It also explains the way that he is able to put his family first in the Battle of Hogwarts at the end - his family is now closer to the set of guidelines that he uses instead of the Death Eater based Ministry at the time that he can finally make a clear distinction. I see him as having a really hard time once Voldemort takes over the Ministry because that would be confusing and with the amount of effort and denial I have to use when things change for the worse and I can see where things were wrong all along, I can see him clinging to the rules as he tries to figure things out and finding a safe way to deal with that apparent betrayal. That's the thing, autistitics like me can be abused by people in authority positions because of our loyalty to rules because it is how we think, and I have had the dubious honour of having that happen to me. I see him also as an extrovert - he's comfortable speaking with a lot of people, like some of my family members. I write this here not that I want the pity, but so that hopefully others can figure out what's happening without having to be shown the betrayal in black and white ink like I did. I thankfully had a manager who was willing to work with me a bit around the issue, though she didn't understand what all was going on, and helped get me out of the situation.

Speaking of the chapter, you will notice that this chapter is fairly late. I was surprised as this fanfic, rough draft, was only three thousand words. However, it was basically telling the plot with three conversations. It's fairly straightforward, but hardly any interest in characters, which most find fairly boring to read. Heads up, this chapter may be dry, as it covers basics of what fan theory I am basing Harry's end placement of the story, as alluded to in the summary. Not like A Potter And A Dementor, which was half written like the ADHD person I pretend to not be, and then have to decipher and sort my own writing and ideas, which is why it is taking so long. I get frustrated with my own brain.

Chapter 20 - Discussions Of Historical Theory

Despite the fast pace that started the first days back at the Burrow this summer, Harry was a little bit bored. He had sent and received letters from the Diggory's, just letting them know where he was and how he was doing. He had finished his homework. He had even done his back to school shopping, and even with the cleaning of all the books that Sirius and Hermione and Remus had brought with them, and the adults had brought from the old place as it was undergoing it's needed decontamination of everything toxic, he was bored. Even stuffing really old books with the necessary gear the adults thought was necessary, the gloves the most familiar, got repetitive after a while. It was cleaning, again, and he was fairly good at thinking about other things when cleaning. He had a few days before going onto the train, and even the few gardening chores and chickens left lots of time for him to sit an think.

He had noticed an interesting phenomenon when it came to following Ministry lines. Some seeming hardcore folk that lived in the ministry followed rigidly what the guidelines were, as in Percy Weasley. However, others gave voice approval, and then did the opposite anyway, like Arthur Weasley and the Diggorys, and most likely the Malfoys. Molly Weasley seemed to shift in between the two, so he could see how Percy and Fred and George could come from the same family.

Because of that boredom, he asked a question. It might have not been the politest thing to ask, but as he hadn't gotten into trouble much from asking Ron questions, so he asked it anyway. The Golden Trio and Ginny were hanging out in Ron's room, where the two boys were sleeping.

"When did the Weasleys and the Malfoys start fighting, anyway?"

"Well..."

The propped open door to the room (because since there were four people in a closed space, it could get really stuffy) swung open to reveal an excited Percy Weasley. It was not an expression Harry was used to seeing on him, and made him feel discomfited.

"Can I please answer this question? Please?"

Ron, looking as uncomfortable as Harry, nodded. "Sure, I know you get more excited about research than anyone else, and you probably know a lot more than I do. Go ahead, Perce."

Percy, trying to look dignified, which was ruined by the way he was constantly tapping his fingers in a way that betrayed his excitement, sat down on the mattress beside his brother.

"Well, it started when the Normans conquered England. House Weasley was the ruling family in the area at the time. However, the new Norman King William the Conqueror redistributed lands and lordships to his liegemen that had followed him from France, which included a few wizards. The Malfoys were the family that was given command over the area that was once ours. This provided some antagonism between the two, but it was mostly settled down by the time the Dark Army committed treason as a whole once the Ministry decided to take its tools away. The fight died down a bit, but the Weasleys and the Malfoys started sending raids against each other via Ministry around that time. While the two heads of family might have been really petty about their history at the time, sending raids against each other has heightened the animosity against each other since then, probably because their kids were affected, and then being told that it was because of the other family, it made it stronger. It didn't help matters that the Malfoys were able to hide their illegal affairs better than the Weasleys because of the property's hideaways that they were better able to put up with their better resources. Of course, each Lord Malfoy since then has tried to shunt whoever of the Weasleys that joins the Ministry into positions that don't put them in any better social standing. Of course, since each Weasley that has joined the Ministry since then knows that, they blame the Malfoys. It's been a repeating cycle since."

There was a bit of quiet in the room as Weasleys once again brooded and guests tried to wrap their heads around what Percy had just spilled.

Harry hummed before saying, "I thought you wanted to go into the Ministry, though. At least that's what I've come to understand."

Percy sighed before pulling his younger siblings into a hug.

"I do."

"But doesn't that mean that you'll have to claim not to get along with us to get anywhere like you've been studying for?" questioned Ron.

Harry watched as stoic Percy, teaspoon-of-empathy Ron, and tough Ginny's eyes started tearing as Percy nodded as he hugged them.

"I know I'm not the sibling you guys are closest to, and I hope the twins are able to keep doing as they have and be able to fill my shoes and protect you guys. I hope this works. At the same time, I love you guys, and we're all going to hurt if this works. However, at the same time, I want Weasley to once again be a powerful name as it once was, as it is out of country like my brothers have done. The twin's plan will reach the common people, other people like us, but that won't touch the Lords and Ladies in the Wizengamot. I hope to be able to reach out a year after I start?"

Harry nodded. He understood hiding to find his way around. After all, wasn't that what he did in first year, and every year since then as he was trying to get ahead of the threat of the year at school?

"Harry?" questioned a betrayed sounding Hermione, his other friends looking the same across from him. Percy, however, was looking at him expectantly.

"It's what we do, isn't it? Like with finding out answers in second year, right guys? Just a different application, a lot longer, and Percy is going to have to have keep sakes from us to remember us by, like I have of my parents, otherwise I wouldn't have remembered them after all the years at the Dursleys. He's going to have to act like Crabbe or Goyle, only a lot longer than an hour. We may have to cut communication for the ruse to work for the first year, especially if he has visitors randomly, but we have to provide him something so he doesn't become the mask. Got it? Ron, it's like moving the queen or bishop in the background so she can hit with the most effective move that you keep hitting me with, but because I am focusing on not ending the game with losing because of the others you're playing, I'm not focusing on the queen because its moves have not seemed important or disconnected with what was going on in front of me."

Percy nodded his head. "I never thought that you would understand what I am doing, as I thought you were as Gryffindor as my youngest brother, but I can see I was wrong. I thought that you just charged head first into danger, but if you're having to sneak around for information to avoid trouble or solve it because the adults are ignoring what can kill people like the last three years, then there is no way it is your fault. It's Dumbledore's and the other adults in charge's fault for being too complacent or being too busy and not asking for help."

"Dumbledore's fault?" gasped an incredulous Harry.

"Tell me, Harry, was there often times that you wondered how Dumbledore was blind to the problems that was visible to you and the rest of the school, if not Gryffindor? Why he left when it was prime time for a theft, or why he didn't close the school when people were being turned into statues? He waited a long time before he took down Grindelwald, after the former Dark Lord took down some of Dumbledore's best protege's, so it's not a new problem. Why he lets history class die? Why he doesn't rein Snape in when the man is hardest on Dumbledore's oldest house? Have you ever let yourself ask those questions?"

"I'm not allowed to ask questions."

Harry's reply was quiet, near whispered, sobbing, as Percy's words hit places where he was already sore and had been trying to hide the damage his doubts had been making to his first seeming caring figure he could look up to since the man had looked at him kindly in the Great Hall since the first time he had seen the Headmaster.

While the rest of the room looked dumbfounded at Harry's reply, Ron looked understanding. He had gone with the twins to rescue Harry at the beginning of second year and had a glimpse of what Harry had escaped this summer, and had lived with for most of his life.

"Oy, mate, I hope you recognized I'm not a Dursley, neither is Hogwarts. Those rules from that house prison don't apply anymore."

Percy looked at his little brother, mouthing "house prison?"

Ron looked back and answered aloud, "Despite what the adults believe, I know that that room wasn't set up for your protection. They didn't see you when we got you out, nor did they have to play tug of war with you with that fat muggle of an uncle of yours. Mom hadn't seen you before, so I understand her not seeing a difference between how you were at the end of first and when we got you. The twins don't believe that either. The bars are still in Dad's shop."

Percy just shook his head in disbelief. "That's awful. I know Mom can be so naive and believe authorities sometimes, but then I get reminded."

Ron just shook his head at his brother, who had done that in the past.

Percy just narrowed his eyebrows at his brother before sighing and saying, "Yeah, I'm one as well."

Hermione, looking for a way to break the tension, piped up, "So we have to make things for Percy to remember us with?"

The rest of the afternoon was a lot more light hearted, especially once things were explained to the twins.

Yin and Yang.

Dark and Light.

Army and Law enforcement.

For years, the magical world of Great Britain had fallen along these lines, and no side had tried to erase each other, but at one point that had changed. The Light side had decided that the army that had defended it's shores for generations was unnecessary. True, being a dark wizard when Grindelwald was around could see you being looked at like you were trying to take over like the former ally of Dumbledore's had, but then the light side started taking their ideals and taking them further. Not to say that many of the personal beliefs of some of the lords of the time had some nasty habits and beliefs, but those beliefs weren't limited to only dark wizards. Many traditionally light wizarding families held the same beliefs, but went about them in a more socially acceptable manner in public, though they could be as ruthless behind closed doors, even if they carefully avoided "dark" magic. Cleaning spells could harm as much as some torture spells if you put enough oomph behind it. A household cutting charm for tough fabric could cut through skin and muscle, even if they were able to be healed in such a way that they didn't scar.

In Lucius Malfoy's very determined mind, dark magic was more honest. Cuts with it left scars that left no doubt whatsoever what happened. The three unforgivables that the Ministry recognized were so because one had to be emotionally and determinedly honest to use them as they were meant to on a human being. That is why they were unforgivable: you needed a clear will and desire for that to happen on your victim for it to work.

Looking back at his family's recent history, and ally's history, Lord Voldemort had been trying singlehandedly to prove to the British Wizarding Public that their army couldn't be shoved aside. It was a military based protest. It was smart, how Voldemort, even while the man wasn't the best morally or mentally, waited a generation after Grindlewald to become active once again. To see if some intervention was going to be necessary was smarter than just jumping in. However, the Light wasn't letting the public balance out, though maybe there were a few things changed that needed to be.

Lucius winced. He hated thinking that the side he was opposing at the moment was right in some way, but at times like now, he could see it. His father hadn't been a saint, no matter what he pretended, and neither had Lord Black been, thinking of the whole mess with Nagini and Clarence, the wizarding boy Lord Black had abandoned in the colonies, and left him with a traumatized mother, which had resulted in the boy becoming an Obscurial and dying at the man's feet. Not fun things to think about.

Voldemort's revolution was no longer going to work as the man intended. Perhaps it was easier to see with being witness to him being reimbodied and then defeated again to admit that.

However, Potter's power was immense. With the little he knew of the prophecy, he was destined to become Lord Voldemort's equal, and that was why he was able to keep defeating him. He might have to defeat the man seven times, the most magical number, for it to stick, but if what he remembered was correct, and he might double check his memory with Severus, it didn't demand that Harry would be Light. In fact, equal usually meant the same as, like with x=4, where x is 4. If that was correct, then he had work to do if the inner workings of the Dark Army wasn't thrown in total disarray with the new leadership. In fact, was the prophesized new leadership aware that he was to become the new leadership?

Okay, what to do? He was a general; he knew how to strategize, and it was going to be his doing to see that things ran smoothly besides the stumbling in the unknown that Potter was known for doing. He was going to have to get his son involved, and that was going to take some doing with the very intense rivalry the two boys were having at the moment. He often wished his son was not as prone to boasting and malicious verbal poking of others as he was. Now, once again, he was resigned to trying to rein his son in again, but what he told his son be kept quiet? He knew his son as a preteen could hardly hold a secret unless he could get something for it, and he knew that while better now, it was still sometimes wise not to let his son in on things. However, with this, he might have to, but he'd have to tell his boy not to tell others, or there was a good possibility of him sticking his foot in his mouth while blurting it. He needed it be more believable to approach Potter.

Would a different approach work better? He had heard that the Weasley that had recently graduated was trying to get into a good Ministry position. He'd seen the guy applying to work as an assistant with Fudge; maybe he should help the guy get the position even though it was higher than most of the Malfoy Lords had previously because of visible Fudge was. Talk to Weasley, start to soften the ridge that had formed years ago between the families, and maybe Weasley could talk to Potter? If he could tell the guy it was fine to still be in contact with his family; he had no doubts that the Weasleys known involvement with Dumbledore and the Light side might have Weasley separating from his family even temporarily for Fudge to give him the position.

He went to his room, where his wife was reading in one of the soft chairs by the window.

"My wife, I have noticed something I missed about the prophecy about Potter and the Dark Lord..."

"Oh?" she questioned as she glanced up from her book, marking her spot temporarily.

"So, I think I know where our Lord has been going wrong, and I think that we should have Potter replace our Lord as our Lord. It says that Potter is marked as his equal after all..."

"And because of that, you're starting to wonder if we've been looking at the prophecy wrong. Okay, if you're right, tell me what you would do about it, and I'll try to poke holes like normal."

"Thank you, Narcissa. Now..."

The rest of the evening was them doing exactly that before they got tired of politics for the evening.