A few days after we arrived home from Hogwarts, Mum dropped a bombshell at dinner.
"From Saturday until the end of the holidays, we will be staying elsewhere" she said
We all stared at her, confused.
"Umm... why?" I eventually asked.
"Well, as you all know, You Know Who is back. Dumbledore has decided to re form an old secret society that he created last time. It's a group of people who fought directly against the Death Eaters. It's known as the Order of the Phoenix. We're going to be staying at the headquarters"
"Why do we need to stay there, we've got a perfectly good enough house already!" said Fred
"Yeah mum, what's wrong with this place!" added George
"Several things actually, which you two wouldn't know about seeing as you barely do any housework, but that isn't the point. The main reason is because your father and I have joined the Order. We weren't part of it last time because we were having to take care of you as babies and Bill, Charlie and Percy as toddlers, but we are now. Therefore, we need to be at the HQ to partake in meetings and receive instructions from Dumbledore"
"Can't you two just floo there and back for meetings then?" said Ron
"No" said Dad "the order will have meetings most evenings, so we may as well stay there. Plus, it will be easier to get to Kings Cross from there than here once school restarts. Also, the place is protected by the Fidelius Charm, so we will have to arrive via other means"
"So that means you can't tell us where exactly it is" I said
"No, but it is in London. That we can say"
At that moment, Percy entered the room, looking very pleased with himself.
"Good evening family" he said "I'm proud to say that I've been promoted! I'm now Junior Assistant to the Minister!"
If Percy had expected us all to congratulate him on that, he was sorely mistaken! What the fuck was he playing at, working directly for Fudge?!
"Well?" he asked as we stayed silent. "Isn't anyone going to congratulate me?"
"Umm... no?" said Ron "why would we when you've chosen to accept a position with Fudge?"
Percy looked affronted
"What's wrong with that?" he asked
"That's surely not a serious question right?" I said. Percy couldn't be this thick... could he?
"It is" said Percy, looking confused "Cornelius Fudge is an excellent man. I'm honoured to be working directly for him now. It's a fantastic achievement"
"Come on Perce, you know we are all for making jokes, but you're an intelligent guy, you have 12 OWL's. You don't need to insult yourself by acting stupid" said Fred
"I am not making any jokes, thank you very much!" he replied, and his face was now reddening. "Why have you all suddenly turned against the Minister?"
"Ohh, I dunno, let's think" I said in a mocking tone, "maybe because he's denying the return of Lord Voldemort?!"
Everyone else winced at the sound of the name. Percy had to think for a few moments, then he seemed to come to a realisation. He gave a short and very fake sounding laugh.
"Oh I am sorry family, surely I must have misunderstood you. It sounded for a moment there like you were saying you believe Dumbledore and Potter's cock and bull story!" he said
"Percy!" said Mum angrily "come on now, stop playing this game. It isn't funny!"
"I am not playing any game, Mother!" Percy roared back, equally as angrily, "it seems to me like you all are! You are all showing me massive disrespect at this moment. I get promoted to a brilliant new position, I come home to share the glory with you all, but instead I get nothing but bitterness and insults towards my new boss!"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This was not the Percy we all knew and loved!
"Albus Dumbledore is doing nothing but stirring up trouble. It's clear he wants to bring the Ministry down, and let me tell you, I will not be part of such a campaign. I am disgusted to hear that you all seem to be backing a crazy old fool like him, and a poor fame hungry scarhead who does nothing but tell tall tales!"
"OI!" everyone roared, and Ron and I were now on our feet, the insult to Harry was taking it way too far!
"Percy!" said Mum in extreme distress "What's gotten into you! Think about what you're saying, why on earth would Dumbledore and Harry be doing anything like this! They're telling the truth!"
"Yes!" said Dad "can you not see what he's doing? He only wants you to spy on us, because we support Dumbledore! There is no reason other than that! I'm sorry to say it son, but you did not do a very good job with Mr Crouch! You failed to see that he was being controlled by You Know Who, despite the fact you were closer to him than almost anyone else. There's a reason you had to go through that enquiry! Fudge is using you! Open your eyes and see it please!"
"I think you need to open your eyes, Father!" shouted Percy "I have had to struggle against your reputation ever since I started work. You have never had any ambition! You could easily be so much more than you are, but instead you spend your time taking apart batteries! It's nonsense! It's obvious to me why we have always been so poor. You just want to spend all your time obsessing over muggles rather than doing something useful that would get us a decent amount of cash!"
"HOW DARE YOU!" yelled Mum, "YOU TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT NOW, OR ELSE!"
"I am no longer afraid of you, Mother!" Percy said "I am no longer going to be controlled by anyone in this room! I am not some kind of string puppet!"
"Could have fooled us!" yelled George "because it seems like that's exactly what you're desperate to be for Fudge!"
"Shut up, all of you, I've had enough. Dumbledore is heading for big trouble, and Father, you will be heading the same way if you keep following him! I know where my loyalties lie! If none of you can agree, then I cannot call myself part of this family anymore! I will not stand with traitors to the Ministry!" Percy barked.
He went upstairs. We were all too shocked to move. He returned with 2 packed bags, and slammed the front door behind him. We heard the crack of his disapperition. There were a few more moments of silence, before Mum rested her head on Dad's shoulder, and began to cry.