He followed in his father's footsteps, but his gait was somewhat erratic.
~Nicolas Bentley

Percy Weasley stood outside the door of his daughter’s bedroom, one hand resting on the doorknob, hardly believing that it had all come to this point.

It was like life was playing some cruel joke on him. He had gone from being a highly respected official in the Ministry to official laughingstock, and from Minister of Magic candidate to living off his parent’s charity. He suspected that Fred would have found it all very funny, but not even George had been laughing at him these past few months. In fact, George had even…

Percy sighed and turned his back to the door. There wasn’t much point in reliving what happened; he had managed to do things he swore that he never do. And yet, at the end of it all, he could say that he would do it all over again if he had to.

It was odd that at this moment of finality, Percy wasn’t even sure how he was supposed to be feeling. Which was why knew he couldn’t bring himself to open the door and face that empty bed.

That realization and with it the promise of a sleepless night brought Percy down the steps and into the Burrow’s living room. Settling into a large overstuffed armchair, Percy debated how he was going to spend the first night of the rest of his life. He considered picking up the Daily Prophet on the stand next to him, but he already knew what the headlines would say; he had been living in them for far too long.

Left with nothing else to do, Percy studied the wall of photographs that his mother had hung around the fireplace. The always-large Weasley family had grown even larger with every marriage and birth, but Mum kept photo evidence of it all. Percy’s eyes glanced over to where he knew his family’s photo would be.

She had changed it. Percy was twirling a laughing Molly in the air while Lucy was grinning with her arms wrapped around his waist. He hadn’t even known the picture existed. As Percy walked over to look at it closer, another picture caught his eye; it was an old Weasley family photo from the summer after he graduated Hogwarts. Looking at himself, Percy saw his pride at his new job at the Ministry, the twins’ laughter, Ron’s excitement for the Quidditch World Cup, and Mum’s enjoyment at the having the whole family together. It was the last picture that they had taken as a family…and that was his fault. He had left the family mostly out of anger at his father, and hadn’t returned until the night Fred died. And he had lost with his betrayal the opportunity for any more complete Weasley family photos.

Staring at that picture on the wall, with everyone’s smiling faces, was when Percy finally understood the sacrifices his father had made. The same sacrifices that Percy had walked away from his family because of… The same sacrifices that Percy had now made for his own daughters…

Sometime, in the past few months, without ever realizing it, Percy Weasley had become his father.

That revelation broke him, and finally he allowed long held back tears to flow.

Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted.

~ Paul Pearshall

Walking briskly down the Ministry’s corridors, Percy Weasley clutched rolls of parchment to his chest as he headed towards his office. He had only arrived at the Ministry moments ago, but his mind was already running through the things he hoped to get accomplished toady.

“Weasley!”

Percy closed his eyes, wishing that the speaker of the voice would go away. The last thing he needed at the moment was more work, but when he opened his eyes Percy saw Abednego Martin, Junior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, moving rapidly towards him. “Yes, Martin?”

Abednego smiled mischievously before replying, “The Minister wants to see you in his office right away.”

Percy groaned; he had been hoping to make some final revisions to the parchments in his hands before things had gotten too busy this morning. Unfortunately, the best laid plans never did work out as well as he hoped that they would. “Did Kingsley say what he wanted?”

“Not even a hint.”

Abednego was still smiling, and he had a look on his face that told Percy that he had a good idea of what was going on, but was deciding not to tell. That was alright, Percy would just have to enact his own form of revenge.

Placing the rolls of parchment in Abednego’s arms Percy said, “I need you to read these over this morning and prepare drafts for the Minister to sign.”

The smile quickly faded from Abednego’s face as he read the title on one of the parchments, “The Establishment of Standardized Seals on Judicial Documents. It sounds absolutely fascinating.”

“Extremely, we’ve found that the different elders on Wizengamot prefer to use their own variations of the official seal and it’s opening the door for possible counterfeits,” Percy stated seriously. “So it’s important that you finish it this morning. Now go.”

Percy shook his head as he watched Abednego hurry towards their office. Abednego Martin had replaced him as Junior Undersecretary when Percy had been offered the Senior Undersecretary position twelve years ago. The younger man was as laid back as Percy was serious, but Kingsley had often commented on how well they worked together. Percy’s younger self would have scoffed at working with a man like Martin, but he enjoyed the hours the two of them spent doing the various jobs their stations required of them.

As he walked into the Minister’s office, Percy found the elder statesman in a rare moment of contemplation. Kingsley Shacklebolt was standing by the window, and was looking out it with his arms clasped behind his back.

Percy cleared his throat. “Minister, you requested to see me.”

Kingsley turned and smiled, his eyes twinkling with a kind light, “So I did. Percy, I need you to set up a press conference for one this afternoon.”

Pulling a scrap of parchment out from his robes, Percy started taking notes. “Anything you would like me to inform the media of beforehand?”

Kingsley didn’t seem to be listening; instead he was staring out the window again. And when he finally spoke it wasn’t with an answer to Percy’s question. He whispered, “I’ve been at this a long time.”

“Sorry?” Percy asked confused.

“This job, it weighs down on a person.”

Percy felt a gut-wrenching blow hit his stomach as he realised the direction Kingsley was heading. “Not that long,” Percy reasoned. “Faris Spavin was Minister for thirty-eight years before he retired.”

Laughing, Kingsley replied, “I’m not that crazy. I will be announcing my retirement this afternoon.”

He said it. Abednego knew this was coming, and in hindsight Percy should have seen the signs, but even now he didn’t want to admit that Kingsley was leaving.

At loss for anything else to say Percy asked, “Effective immediately?”

“Goodness, no. I will be finishing out the year. I need to give the Wizengamot time to elect my successor.” Kingsley turned back to Percy. “You’ve never been around for a normal change of the Minister, have you?”

“No, sir.”

“Things happen a bit slower when the Minister’s not run out of office.”

“I would suspect so.”

“To answer your question about the media, no. Let’s keep them guessing for a little longer.”

Walking over to his desk, Kingsley picked out a folder full of scraps of parchment. “Now, the other reason I called you is that I received word this morning from the Austrian Ministry that they managed to apprehend William Datting.”

Percy whistled. Datting was a notorious smuggler who responsible for the importation of eighty percent of the illegal magical substances in Britain, and, it was rumored, throughout rest of Europe.

Kingsley continued, “Datting will be replaced by some other smuggler soon enough, but if we can convince the Austrians to share intelligence with us, we might be able to make a move on the whole network and hopefully set back smuggling in Britain by a couple of years.

“What would you like me to do, sir?” Percy asked.

“I need you to coordinate with the Auror Department and the Department of International Magical Cooperation as to the best way to handle this situation.”

“Anything else?”

“That should be enough for you to handle at the moment.”

Percy turned to leave. “I’ll get on it right away.”

“Weasley,” Kingsley called out.

Percy looked back at the older man.

“Good luck.”

Percy nodded in acknowledgement at this odd gesture as he left the Minister’s office and returned to his own.

“So, the old man’s finally retiring?”

“Martin!” Percy exclaimed. He had not expected to have been accosted the moment he stepped into Ministry Administration office.

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Yes,” Percy sighed. “He’s announcing it at one.”

Abednego whooped. “May I be the first to call you Minister Weasley?”

Percy’s jaw dropped. “Don’t joke about that!”

Abednego twirled a quill in his hand with a huge grin on his face. “The Prophet is going to say it.”

“And I’m not going to count my dragon eggs before they are hatched. Besides, if Potter wants the job, it’s his.”

“The key word there would be ‘wants’.”

“True, but you’re going to have to learn to be discreet for the next couple of months.”

“Will do boss. I’ll brush up on my ‘no comment’ face.”

The look on Abednego’s face was so serious that Percy had to laugh. “What am I going to do with you?”

“What you always do, put me to work. I got those drafts done that you wanted.”

Percy studied Abednego’s work. “Good job. Send those to Kingsley’s office and then find a conference room that will be empty this afternoon. I need to see Harry Potter, Jairus Elden, and Terry Boot.”

“Aurors, International Magical Cooperation, International Law Enforcement,” Abednego said ticking the departments off on his fingers. “Sounds important, are you going to give me a hint?”

“Not this time. Excuse me, Abednego. I need to get to work”

When Percy finally reached the solitude of own office, the reality of the past hour finally hit him.

Kingsley’s retiring and he’s setting me up to be his replacement.

It seemed impossible, but yet it was happening.

Being Minister of Magic had been a dream he had carried since he was a little kid, but Percy had never imagined that it would be a dream that he would actually achieve. Part of him wanted to shout for joy; another was screaming that there was no way that he would be elected as Kingsley’s replacement.

But I’m not the only one who’s thinking it; Abednego thought of it too.

Percy knew that he was wasting precious time, but he couldn’t help but think of it; a Weasley as Minister of Magic. It would be the ultimate redemption for the name that had once been looked down upon with contempt by the Ministry.

Percy Weasley, Minister of Magic.

Yes, he could still dream.

However, Percy wasn’t dreaming hours later when faced a pack of press, all clamoring to find out why the Minister had called a press conference.

One particularly impatient reporter shouted out, “Can you tell us what the Minister will be addressing?”

“You’ll find out when the Minister arrives,” Percy replied.

Another reporter pushed her way to the front. “Pansy Parkinson, Daily Prophet. Does this have anything to do with the rumours that Kingsley is retiring?”

Percy didn’t even want to know how the rumours had started so he just said, “I have no comment.”

Parkinson persisted while fluttering her eyelashes at him, “Surely, you know something.”

“You’ll find out everything you want to know when the Minister arrives.”

The side door opened, saving Percy from having to dodge any more questions. Kingsley strode into the room and approached the podium, allowing Percy to fall back to his side. The room grew silent except for the rustling of parchment as all waited in anticipation for what Kingsley would say.

Kingsley’s kind eyes swept the crowd, lingering on a few familiar friendly faces. When he spoke, it was in that calm soothing voice that made everyone instantly listen and respect him.

“Twenty years ago the Wizarding World was embroiled in a war that we weren’t sure that we could win. Twenty years ago the Ministry was no longer an institution that upheld justice and served the least of her citizens, but one that encouraged greed and corruption. Twenty years ago the Wizarding World was on the verge of collapsing into darkness.

“But fall we did not.

“Despair we did not.

“Many brave witches and wizards gave their lives so that we do not live in darkness today, but in light. We owe them an unspeakable debt. And I say that not just to those to have perished, but also to those who carry on the fight, to those that I have had the privilege of fighting with to make our world a better place these last twenty years.

“We have achieved so much, we have come so far, but I am confident that our best days lie ahead of us. I look forward to seeing what the future generations will achieve. I look forward to seeing what the next Minister of Magic will be able to achieve.”

Kingsley paused allowing the meaning of his words to sink in before continuing, “It’s never easy; coming to a decision such as this one, but the time has come for me to move on. I wish to announce that I will be retiring at the end of this year.

“I encourage everyone to look at this change for the opportunity that it is; an opportunity to show that we have learned the lessons of the past and that we are prepared to work for a better future.

“Thank you for listening and good day.”

The silence in the room was such that one would have been able to hear a Flobberworm sneeze. Nobody breathed until the Minister moved towards the door, and then the room exploded in a rush of motion and noise as reporters shouted questions over each other and cameras flashed.

“Minister Shacklebolt!” someone yelled as Kingsley exited the room.

Stepping up to the podium, Percy waited for the hysteria to die down. His hands shook as he pulled out a piece of parchment that he had written a speech on. This was it; if he was to have a chance at being named the next Minister he needed to look and sound like a strong leader in this moment of uncertainty.

One reporter noticed that Percy was still there and called out, “Weasley, what’s your reaction to what you just heard?”

Calming his nerves, Percy began, “Kingsley Shacklebolt has been than more a great Minister, he has been a great friend, and a great man. He took control of a government that looked hopeless and not only made it work again, he made it better. The debt the Wizarding World owes Kingsley Shacklebolt is not one that can ever be repaid. As we move forward together in finding a Minister to lead us forward into a new era, I urge all of Wizarding kind to hold fast to the ideas that Shackleblot has stood for.

“Personally, it is always sad to see a friend move on, but I want to wish Minister Shacklebolt the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.”

At the end of his speech, Percy saw quills moving ferociously across parchment. Percy nodded at one reporter who raised her hand. “How will the Ministry function without Shacklebolt at its head?” she asked.

Percy swallowed nervously, trying to think fast. “I am confident in the legacy that Minister Shacklebolt is leaving us with and in the ability of the reformed Ministry of Magic to continue to be a friend and not a hindrance to Wizarding kind in the days ahead.”

“What would you say to your own chances of being the next Minister of Magic?” piped a reporter from the back.

Percy tried not to grimace. He hadn’t been expecting that question quite so fast. “I have no comment to that affect.”

“What about Potter? Do you think he’ll accept the position?”

“No comment.” They were dreaming if they thought Potter would accept the top job.

Parkinson joined the fray. “Would you accept the Minister position if it was offered?”

“I have no comments concerning mere speculation.” All the denials were getting a little annoying, but the first role of politics was to never sound eager about gaining more power.

“You’re being deliberately unhelpful,” pouted Parkinson.

“No comment.”

It’s time to end this.

“Thank you ladies and gentlemen for coming here today,” Percy stated. “I assure you that you will be informed of new developments as they come. Thank you and good day.”

“Weasley!”

Percy ignored the shouts as he hurried from the room. He only had a little time to gather his notes and his thoughts before meeting with his colleagues. When Percy made it into the conference room Jarius Elden and Terry Boot were already sitting at the table, listening to the reactions over Kingsley’s retirement on the Wireless.

Terry Boot had been promoted to Head of International Law Enforcement only a couple of years ago, but he had impressed everyone with his tireless work ethic and determination. Percy thought Boot had been one of Kingsley’s better appointments even as he found Boot’s ability to pick up foreign languages very quickly a little unnerving.

Jairus Elden, on the other hand, was different. Elden was Percy’s elder by quite a few years and very reserved; Percy could never figure out what the man was thinking. He had become the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation after rising quickly through the ranks of Magical Diplomats. As Audrey’s boss he had gained her respect and therefore Percy’s, even though he had only worked closely with the man only a couple of times before.

Boot looked up as Percy came in. “Nice speech,” he said.

“Thanks.”

Elden reached over and turned the Wireless off. “Kingsley’s certainly given them something to talk about.”

Percy was about to reply when Harry Potter stormed into the room looking clearly flustered. Seeing his brother-in-law, Harry walked over shaking his head. “You could have given me some warning.”

Having a fairly good idea about what Harry was alluding to, Percy couldn’t help but smile. “I didn’t get any warning either.”

“You knew before you walked into that room.”

“Only by a couple of hours.”

Collapsing into a chair Harry asked, “How many times am I going to have to tell them no?”

Them was clearly the pack of press waiting outside the open conference room door. Percy got up, walked over to the door, and announced, “This is a restricted corridor; please contact the proper officials if you have any questions.”

Parkinson brandished her quill. “Weasley…”

Percy rolled his eyes and shut the door in her face. Returning to the table, Percy stated, “I suspect that you’ll be saying ‘no’ and I’ll be saying ‘no comment’ more times than we count before this whole affair is over.”

“You can say that again,” Harry said.

Elden cleared his throat, effectively ending the side conversion. “If we are done critiquing the habits of the media, can we find out why the four of us are here on the day that the Minister has announced his retirement?”

Percy’s ears burned in embarrassment, but he pushed it aside and pulled out a photograph. “Have any of you ever heard of Datting?”

Boot snorted. “Heard of him! He’s number one on my catch and detain list.”

“Well, he was apprehended this morning, in Austria.”

The look on Boot’s face was one of relief and excitement, but Elden’s brow was furrowed in thought. “And you need my department to convince the Austrians to share intelligence,” Elden stated.

“Correct,” Percy answered. “Now gentlemen if you will take a look at these documents you will find that….”

Percy continued relating all the information he had learned. The four wizards brainstormed ways to take advantage of the situation until nothing else could be accomplished. It was later than Percy wanted it to be when he finally managed to leave the office.

Appearing on a hill overlooking his house, Percy took a moment to enjoy the solitude. This was one of his favorite moments in the day, the time he spent in peace and quiet walking down the path to his house.

As he neared the front door, Percy spotted his daughters, Molly and Lucy, playing in the yard. Pausing to watch, Percy’s heart jumped to his throat as he saw Lucy trip and fall to the ground. Percy started walking over when saw Molly leaning over her sister, but when girlish screams pierced the air he started running. The world seemed to stop as Molly jumped back as a patch of grass near the girls burst into flames.

“Aguamenti!” Percy cried as he waved his wand. The jet of water hit the fire, dousing the flames. Percy breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Lucy’s head poke above the grass.

Molly stood beside her sister, her face pale. “Sorry, Dad,” she squeaked.

“What was is it?” Percy asked his eldest daughter.

“A snake. I was afraid it that it would bite her.”

Percy reached out a hand to help his youngest daughter stand up. “You know, Lucy, that when you start Hogwarts you aren’t going to able to do magic at home until you are of age,” Percy rebuked kindly.

“It wasn’t me,” Lucy whined. “It was Molly.”

Confused, Percy looked at his eldest daughter. “You did this?”

Molly’s face turned as red as her hair as she nodded.

“I’ve never done magic,” Lucy stated proudly.

“What?” gasped Percy; it didn’t seem possible. Lucy had done magic, several times, hadn’t she? “What about last summer at the Burrow when your hair turned purple?”

“That was Lily.”

“Or when you fell from the tree and the pillow appeared?”

“That was Fred.”

Percy wanted to cry out in exasperation, but every instance of uncontrolled magic he could think of, Lucy had been surrounded by her many cousins. “You have too many cousins, did you know that?”

Lucy looked confused. “But I like my cousins.”

“I didn’t mean that,” Percy explained quickly. Bending down he placed his hands on his daughter’s shoulders. “Lucy, I need you to tell me the truth. Have you ever done magic?”

Lucy’s face lit up with a smile as she said, “I’m a good girl, Daddy. I’ll never do magic except when I’m allowed to.”

Lucy seemed so confident in her answer that it worried him. All Wizarding children had instances of uncontrolled magic; it couldn’t be possible that Lucy hadn’t… that Lucy was a…

No, he wouldn’t think of that. Lucy was just afraid of getting into trouble.

“Dad?” Molly asked worriedly. “Is something wrong?”

“No, sweetheart,” said Percy smiling.

“Molly! Lucy! Dinner!” called a voice from inside the house.

Percy reached out and squeezed Molly’s hand. “Let’s not keep your mother waiting.”

As Percy and his daughters entered the house Audrey Weasley looked up from the stew she was stirring and saw her husband. “You’re late.”

“It’s been a busy day,” Percy sighed as shrugged off his coat

“Girls, set the table,” Audrey ordered.

Keeping an eye on her daughters, Audrey said over her shoulder. “I heard the news. Am I going to be married to the next Minister of Magic?”

Percy wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist. “It’s far more likely that I’m going to be married to the most famous Spanish diplomat that the magical world has ever seen.”

“Don’t play with me Percy.”

Percy gave her a peck on the check before answering. “Kingsley gave me a major interdepartmental project today.”

Audrey looked thoughtful. “So he’s endorsing you.”

“We both know that he can’t do that.”

“Giving you that project is practically the same thing.”

“I know.”

Audrey turned around in Percy’s arms, her blue eyes twinkling in delight. “Percy, that’s wonderful!”

Agreeing, Percy answered her with a kiss.

“Mum, the table’s ready,” Molly announced from the dining room.

Percy sighed as they separated. Intimate moments were far and in between with two young girls in the house.

When dinner was finished, Percy sat with his wife at the smaller kitchen table sipping a cup of tea. The liquid had a calming effect, but when he heard Lucy’s laughter from the other room his mind went back to the incident a few hours ago.

“Audrey, did you know that Lucy’s never done magic?”

Audrey’s eyes widened in shock. “Don’t be ridiculous, Percy. Have you forgotten about the pillow and the tree?”

“Lucy says Fred did that.”

“She turned her hair purple, remember?”

“I do, but she says that was Lily.”

Aubrey contemplated this for a moment before opening her mouth to probably name another incident, but seemed to think the better of it. Tapping her fingers on the table, she studied her husband. “Percy, why are you thinking this?”

Percy quickly explained what he saw when he came home and Audrey was laughing when he finished. “Percy, Lucy is a very good girl who is just like her father in that she doesn’t like to break any rules. She’s just afraid to admit it to you. I wouldn’t worry.”

That was his wife, the calm rational Ravenclaw.

Walking over to Percy, Audrey started massaging his shoulder. “I have good news! My papers arrived today.”

“Umm, hmm,” Percy mumbled as he felt his wife work her way through the clinks in his back. It was good news; Audrey’s papers for Spain. Audrey had taken a desk job at the Ministry when their kids had been born, but with Lucy going off to Hogwarts in the fall, Audrey was going to be able to return to her true passion, international politics.

Audrey’s hands stopped as she wrapped her arms around him. “Percy, stop worrying. Everything will be alright.”

And as his wife held him in her arms, he believed her.

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.

~Arthur Golden

“Girls, hurry up or you won’t get breakfast!”

Percy flinched as Audrey’s voice filled the house. Silence greeted her command and Percy started counting the seconds until he would hear Audrey stomping up the stairs to drag the girls out of bed. Finally, he heard Lucy calling back, “But Muuummm, Grandma Weasley will feed us.”

“Your father is already making eggs. Get dressed and get down here!”

Percy shook his head as he tipped the eggs from the skillet onto a plate. Mornings in the Weasley household were either crazy or calm depending on whether or not Audrey had to go into the office for the day. On days when she stayed at home, Percy was usually out of the house before the girls were out of bed. However, when Audrey had to go into the office they had to get the girls up, dressed, and fed before sending them off to their grandparents while both Audrey and Percy got ready for work.

Today was one of those crazy mornings.

It made sense considering crazy was the only the state Percy lived in since the Minister had announced his retirement over a week ago. With every day that passed it seemed like Kingsley was giving him more and more responsibilities. But even with the extra work he now had, Percy was having the time of his life; he lived for all the intricate workings of government life.

Footsteps broke Percy out of his thoughts as Molly entered the kitchen. At least she looked ready to leave, dressed in Muggle clothes with her long hair pulled back into single braid. When she caught her father looking, she gave him an annoyed teenage look that he was sure meant something about her having to get up this early.

While Molly was eating Lucy arrived yawning. “Why’s Mum so grouchy in the mornings?” she asked.

Handing Lucy a plate Percy replied, “Maybe if you got out of bed the first time she called she wouldn’t be.”

Turning back to the stove to clean up the dishes, Percy spotted a tawny owl sitting on the windowsill. Opening the window he grabbed a letter bearing the Hogwarts seal. “Molly, you have mail,” he said as he handed the thick envelope over.

With a quick murmured spell the dishes started washing themselves, and Percy checked to make sure his girls were eating. Molly was finished, but Lucy was looking at him expectantly; her food was sitting untouched on her plate.

No…

His eyes darted back to the window, but the owl was gone and the windowsill was empty.

There was only letter. There should have been two.

“Dad, can you sign my Hogsmeade form?”

Molly’s question barely registered in his brain, it seemed as if it came from another world.

This wasn’t possible. What had he done to deserve this?

Molly frowned at her father who was standing frozen against the sink. Looking at her sister, Percy saw understanding flicker across her face “Where’s Lucy’s letter?” Molly asked.

Percy was silent. He just stared at the window where the owl had come in.

“Dad, where’s Lucy’s letter?”

Silence filled the kitchen until short gasps and sobs came and Percy saw tears running down Lucy’s face. Percy looked at his daughter; he was her father, he should say something, anything. But Percy’s voice was stuck in his throat, his thoughts unable to make sense of what was happening.

Audrey swept into the kitchen ready to send the kids off, but when she froze when she saw the scene before her; Lucy crying, looking at the letter in Molly’s hands, Molly was clutching her letter while looking at her father her eyes demanding an answer, and Percy standing frozen looking at youngest daughter.

“What’s going on?” Audrey asked. “Have the Hogwarts letters arrived?”

Looking at his wife, Percy finally spoke, his voice cracking. “Letter. There was only one letter.”

“Impossible.” Audrey immediately replied.

Lucy was still crying. “I’m a…I’m a…”

“No,” Audrey insisted. “They just haven’t mailed the first-year letters yet.”

“You’re sure?” Lucy asked her eyes full of hope.

Percy turned unable to look his wife in the eye. Audrey was lying because none of them wanted to admit what was happening. But even as Percy admitted that to himself he couldn’t bring himself to speak the truth to his daughter.

What sort of father was he?

Percy barely heard Audrey reassure the girls and send them off through the Floo to the Burrow.

When Audrey reentered the kitchen she collapsed into a chair, her fingers tracing the parchment of Molly’s letter as if it could magically make another appear.

“Lucy said that she’s never done magic,” Percy said, breaking the silence.

“I know, Percy, but…”

“…I didn’t believe her either.”

“We don’t know for sure yet. Maybe…”

“Aubrey, I had six siblings, and we always got our letters on the same day.”

“I don’t believe it,” Audrey whispered.

“Believe it, Audrey,” Percy replied. “Our daughter is a…”

“Don’t say it, Percy!” yelled Audrey as she rose from the table.

What was going on? What was happening to his calm, rational wife? She had always been the one who had been strong. Now it was Percy’s turn to be strong, and all he wanted to do was scream at the world.

An answer, that’s what he needed. All problems have reasonable answers. He just needed to find this one.

The chiming of clock from the other room reminded Percy that he didn’t have time to figure out a solution. “We need to get to work,” he said. “We’re already late.”

Grabbing his briefcase, Percy joined his wife in Apparating to the Ministry. They walked in silence across the Atrium to the lift, which was empty.

Knowing that he should say something, but unable to think of the proper words they rode the elevator like two strangers instead of husband and wife. When the elevator stopped on the fifth floor, Percy grabbed Audrey’s arm as she stepped into the corridor. “I’ll see Harry today and I’ll ask if Lily got her letter and if she has…”

“If she has, let me know.” Audrey stated, pulling her arm from Percy’s grasp. “I will talk to Sprout and see what we can do.”

“Love you,” Percy whispered as the lift doors closed.

When the elevator stopped at the first floor, Percy stepped out and walked quickly into the Ministry Administration office.

“He arrives.” Abednego announced. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this late,” he said jokingly. When Percy didn’t answer, Abednego continued, “Potter wants to meet with you about the Datting case.”

“Give me ten minutes,” Percy snapped as he threw open his office door.

Wait, Lily…

“Abednego, get Potter over here right away.”

“But Boss, you said…”

“Send Potter in as soon as possible,” Percy ordered as slammed his office door shut.

Alone in the solitude of his own office, Percy collapsed into his chair burying his head in his hands. Not wanting to think, to feel, Percy remained like that until he heard a knock at the door.

Sitting up straight, Percy let a mask fall across his features. “Come in,” he called.

When Harry walked into the office Percy stated, “Martin said you wanted to see me.”

“I did,” Harry replied. “I have bad news. Word of Datting’s arrest has reached his associates and they are all staying low. I need the Minister’s permission to try a few things to bring …”

Harry paused in mid-sentence. “Percy is something wrong?”

“What makes you think that?” Percy retorted.

“You’re not taking notes.” Harry reasoned. Gesturing towards the office door, he added, “The rest of the staff appears to walking on dragonshells out there.”

Percy sighed, letting his mask fall away from his face. He had to say something eventually, he had to ask, and he needed to know. Meeting his brother-in-law’s eyes Percy asked, “Did Lily get a letter this morning?”

Surprise flickered across Harry’s face. “Yes,” he answered. “Is that what’s bugging you? It’s normal for girls Lucy’s age to be energetic and excited. Or are you worried about being lonely with the…”

Percy interrupted, “Lucy didn’t get a letter. She’s a Squib. Lucy’s a Squib.”

He couldn’t believe that he had actually managed to admit it, but the expression on Harry’s face surprised him even more. Having worked closely with Harry in reforming the Ministry, Percy had seen him under numerous high pressure situations, but he had never seen his brother-in-law as shocked as he did at that moment. Was that sympathy he saw in Harry’s green eyes?

“Rough,” Harry admitted. “Lily’s so excited, I couldn’t imagine if she haven’t gotten her letter.”

Suddenly, Percy didn’t want to deal with pity and sought to bring this meeting to a close, but deep inside he knew there was someone he wanted to talk to.

“Harry, if you run into Dad can you ask him to come see me?”

“Sure, and Percy, if you need anything let Ginny and me know.”

“Thanks, and leave the information you want Kingsley to see with Martin, he’ll make sure that he gets it.”

As Harry left his office, Percy grabbed an Interdepartmental memo. Picking up his quill, he wrote only four words, “Lily got her letter.”

There was nothing more he could say.

Releasing the memo, Percy watched it fly away, taking with it all hopes that his daughter would ever live a normal life.

It was inconceivable, but there was no doubt; his youngest daughter was a Squib.

What had he done to deserve a Squib daughter? Was this his punishment for walking out on his family all those years ago? Hadn’t Fred’s death been enough?

In a world defined by magic, how would Lucy ever be able to find a place in it?

For a moment Percy considered having Abednego set up a meeting with…

What was her name?

Flipping through a file cabinet he found it; Elizabeth Delani, Head of Squib Services. It was possible that she might have some suggestions for what he could do in this situation.

Wait…

That wouldn’t work. Meeting with Delani would announce to the Wizarding World that Lucy was a Squib. Percy wasn’t sure if he was ready for that to happen.

What would the press do when they found out he fathered a Squib?

He would be disgraced, that’s what. Percy held too high of a position within the Ministry for this to be ignored, and Percy doubted that he would be able to keep his cool if they started writing bad things about his daughter. It wasn’t Lucy’s fault that she was a Squib, but in this day being a Squib meant one was lower than dirt.

If this got out it would ruin both of them.

Hearing the door open, Percy looked up as his father entered the office. It didn’t matter how old a parent got, they still believed they had the right to enter their children’s rooms without knocking.

Arthur Weasley grabbed a chair and sat down next to Percy. “What did Harry tell you?” Percy asked.

“Just that you wanted to see me, but Percy, I spoke with your mother and she says the girls are upset and they won’t tell her why.”

“The Hogwarts letters were mailed this morning.”

“And?”

“Lucy didn’t get one.”

Percy had to hand it his father; he didn’t even blink when Percy told him. Perhaps it was because he was used to being the strong one that he took the news of Lucy being a Squib in stride. From the death of both his brothers-in-law, to raising seven children in poverty, to seeing two of his children disfigured and one dead, Arthur had handled more trials than were asked of most men and Percy respected him for that. Percy just wished he had his father’s courage, because all he wanted to was run as far from the truth as he could.

Placing his hand on Percy’s shoulder, Arthur squeezed it and said, “There’s no trick or spell that one can use at a time like this to make everything better, but there is one thing you can do.”

“What?” Percy hardly dared allowed himself to hope.

“Love her, accept her, and stand by her no matter what happens. You can’t protect her from everything that will happen, but you can love her for who she is.”

“Dad, I’m not as strong as you,” Percy protested. “I don’t think I can do it. All I want to do is pretend that this isn’t happening.”

“Stay strong, Percy.” Arthur commanded. “Lucy’s going to need you, and Molly and Audrey too. You’re my son; you have more strength within you than you think.”

Percy knew that his father’s words should make him feel better, but he couldn’t let them. He was too afraid of what was going to happen. Percy liked things that were ordered, that went by the rules, that happened the way they were supposed too; he was not ready to deal with the reality of his daughter being a Squib.

After his father left, Percy lost himself in his work trying desperately not to think of Lucy. He went through the rest of his day pretending like nothing was wrong. The time came and went for him to go home with Percy still buried behind piles of Ministry documents. Percy kept working until he could no longer reasonably say that he was working late. He had to go home and face his daughter.

For the first time in his life, Percy hated the silence as he walked into his house, he hated the silence that filled every room. He found his daughters in the living room; Molly was reading a book and Lucy… Lucy was sitting by the window, waiting…waiting for a letter that would never come.

Before the girls could see him, Percy walked into another room that had been converted into his and Audrey’s home office. Audrey was sitting at the desk reading a piece of parchment and looked up as he entered. “I spoke to Headmistress Sprout today, and Lucy will not be able to attend Hogwarts,” Audrey said grimly.

Percy nodded; Audrey’s words simply confirmed what they both already knew.

“I’ve been looking into some Muggle schools. I’ve found one where the Deputy Headmaster is a Squib and specializes in helping Squibs adjust to the Muggle world.” Aubrey paused, letting grief flicker across her face. “There’s nothing for Lucy in our world. It’s what’s best.”

It was what was best. If one school wouldn’t accept Lucy they would just have to send her to another one that would best prepare her for the life that she would have to lead. It was part of the reason Percy loved his wife, when she saw a problem she worked tirelessly until she found a solution.

“What else have you found out about this school?” Percy asked.

“I set up an appointment to visit tomorrow afternoon.”

“I’ll see if I can get off work.”

“Percy, you don’t have to come.”

“I want to.”

Audrey nodded and turned her attention back to the parchment in her hands.

“Have you told her yet?” Percy asked nervously. Part of him hoped that she had so he wouldn’t have to tell his daughter, part of hoped that she hadn’t so he could be there when it happened.

Audrey set the parchment down again. “I can’t,” she admitted. “I’m too scared to.”

“Audrey, I stayed at work hours longer than I had to today, because I didn’t want to come home and face the truth. As long I was working I could let myself forget.”

“We’re both cowards than.”

“No,” Percy reasoned, “we’re parents.”

“Stand by me Percy,” pleaded Audrey grabbing his hand and squeezing it tight. “I don’t think I can get through this without you.”

Is this Dad meant about being strong?

Percy placed his other hand on top of his and his wife’s as he promised, “I’ll be right there beside you.”

Audrey let go, wiping tears from her eyes. She stood up and gestured toward the door. “We should go.”

The grieving couple walked slowly into the living room where they sat down on the couch across from their daughters, both trying their hardest to look braver then they felt.

Lucy spoke before anyone else could say anything. “Is my letter coming?” she asked.

Percy and Audrey looked at each other, both of them daring the other to speak. “No, sweetheart,” Percy finally said.

Molly slammed her book shut. “Why not?”

“Because one has to be able to do magic to attend Hogwarts.” Audrey replied kindly.

That’s not fair,” Molly argued. “We don’t even use magic in half of my classes. Why can’t Lucy just attend those?”

“Because…” Percy began but faltered. Molly had a point, at least one that made sense on the surface.

“Because,” continued Audrey, “it’s better to send Lucy to a school where she can take all the classes.”

Lucy was crying. “Why do I have to go to a different school? What did I do wrong?”

Percy’s heart broke; and to think that earlier he had been thinking of how this was unfair to him. Here he was telling his daughter that she couldn’t go to the school she where her sister and all her cousins were, the school that she had been wanting to go to all of her life. All the practical arguments why she couldn’t attend Hogwarts fell short in the presence of his daughter’s tears.

Taking Lucy into his arms, he simply held her as he told her, “It’s not your fault. Things will look better in the morning.”

Lucy hugged him back; she was so trusting, so innocent. How Lucy could believe him when Percy didn’t even believe himself confounded him.

The truth was, Percy couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get much worse