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I have learnt something new today. About the brain. Apparently the brain is not developed enough in a baby to handle processes and memories like an adult. Something I would have thought obvious if I ever spent any time before thinking of the brain functions of babies and small children. Which I didn't.
It has suddenly become quite clear however. Because suddenly out of nowhere, I could remember. My life. My death. The last couple years buried in the subconscious, the brain not able to fully handle my memories and thought processes. And I was sitting in the goddamn Burrow, staring at my mother. Molly Weasley and I was fucking Percy Weasley. It was all a little disorienting to be honest.
"Fuck!" I said with absolute feeling. This is not the life I want. The world I want to be in, not with what is coming. What is my luck even?
The absolute glee on the twin hellions sitting across from me at the dinner table clues me in on the fact I said that out loud. Taking in their age I must be around 8, that's about as far as my thoughts go before my ear is snatched hard, and I'm yanked off my seat. My mother yelling at me.
"Percival Ignatius Weasley! Where have you learned to use language like that!" She snapped at me, twisting my ear slightly.
"Sorry mother, It slipped out, it won't happen again." I say, chagrined. My cheeks are burning as both Bill and Charlie are hiding grins, and the twins are outright cackling at me. From the memories of my life so far, this is definitely an outlier in my behavior. At least Ron and Ginny are too young to tease me.
Molly harrumps, but lets me ear go, with a quick, "It better not." She warns, going back to putting the finishing touches on dinner. I was the well behaved child, so I was apparently given some slack. No way the others would be let off with a single comment. The looks on their faces confirm to me that they're all a little shocked and upset there wasn't more of a show.
It was a real effort to keep my face placid and go through the usual family ritual of the Weasley home. Loud and rambunctious was not really suited to my tastes, nor the original Percy's I suspect. It's not really a wonder he was so quick to walk away. I've only gone through one dinner and I suffered through two pranks from the twins, and some backhanded comments from Charlie on my pedantic and studious ways. Bill didn't dump further on me, but he didn't stop the others either. And while Molly chastised the twins, it really did nothing to stop them, and Arthur's not so hidden chuckles burned as well.
This wasn't even my family, even if I remembered eight years living with them, my previous adult life took precedence, my memories and experiences coming to the fore and enhancing what had already been a personality not too dissimilar from original Percy. An organized ambitious boy. Or man as I was. And I couldn't quite understand how the family dynamic was allowed to be like this without correction. Percy must have been miserable half the time, Hogwarts probably the reason he even made it to an adult before jettisoning his family.
The lack of respect smarted. I knew as an eight year old, I would not generally see respect. But from my own family to see such casual disregard for my feelings… And I knew this was a regular occurrence. It was not quite heartbreaking, as I knew them as fictional characters for more years then I knew them as my only family. Annoying, frustrating, those were perhaps better words.
I politely excused myself from the table, and thanked whatever deity punished me with this life, that at least my studious nature had ensured Bill and Charlie shared a room, and left me one to myself. Strange to feel happy that no one in the family wants to share perhaps. Yet, I was mentally an adult. And the idea of sharing a space with people that constantly prod me for a reaction is not my idea of fun.
I didn't sleep much that night. Thinking about the future. Not so much on the Voldemort and Harry issue. That would sort itself no matter what I did. So I'd best stay away from that mess as much as I could being a Weasley.
No, I was thinking of mine. I have no interest in becoming a ministry bureaucrat. Why would I, when there was magic! Frankly, I'd rather spend my time researching and learning then working a menial 9 to 5. Even a Hogwarts professor job with access to the library 24/7 would be acceptable. Above all, the Weasleys were not my kind of people. I was not a people person, I was withdrawn, sarcastic with dark humor, had a penchant for puzzles and mysteries and a thirst for books that limited personal interaction for most of my life.
I could be polite, which I suppose wouldn't be much of a change from the Percy they knew. That would keep my home life somewhat settled, while I worked to make a better life for myself. I had previously been poor, poorer than the Weasley's who after all had magic to compensate for much. I had worked hard, studied harder, to pull myself out of that poverty. I was not going to spend another life like that. Not when there was magic. I'd find a way.
I finally laid down in bed, sudden jarring tiredness taking control. My last thoughts of the night probably would have been ruminating on how well I could argue against the sorting hat in a few years. Talk him down into Ravenclaw, instead of the Slytherin I feared I'd be.
Now that would really make home life interesting. That would have been my last thoughts…
Except then I sat up as I realized something, scratch that sleep thing. First thing is give Scabbers to Ron. ASAP.
For whatever reason he isn't in my room at the moment. Whenever he appears, I'll be the nice older brother bestowing my 'pet' on Ron. Sorry bud, better you than me I think, not even wanting to contemplate spending the next few years with an adult wizard in my room.
I'm not selfless enough to try and save Sirius either. I'm eight. And can't do magic. Trying to catch Pettigrew right now will probably just lead to him finding Voldemort earlier.
So Ron gets a new sleeping buddy.
This new life is starting out great already.
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One of the advantages of the large family I lived with, was the ability to disappear. With Arthur at work, Bill and Charlie creating a ruckus, the twins and their antics, and the two young ones in Ron and Ginny. My mother and indeed the rest of the family wouldn't even notice that I spent a majority of my time in my room.
There wasn't a family library to peruse, so I concentrated on different avenues for now. To start with, meditation, to recognize my magic and interact with it, even though I did not try to utilize it quite yet.
There was a reason Hogwarts started at 11. Our magical cores settling down enough to be properly utilized. It could be dangerous before then. I imagine I'd begin practicing trying to use wandless levioso or something similar by 10. It should be safe enough. But I left it alone for now other then recognizing my magic and getting used to it, getting a feel for it. Meditation was also good for trying to build up Occlumency. I had a rudimentary idea of how to go about it. And I did feel much more focused and my memory felt much sharper after a few weeks of emptying my mind, sorting through my memories of the day, and trying to imagine slotting them all away in a library.
Time would tell if it would work, if Occlumency would progress this way. If perhaps a mind palace was possible like so much fanon construed. I did not, nor would I have, an Occlumency text anytime soon. So it would have to do. I certainly couldn't ask my parents. Occlumency was classed as mind magic. I could only imagine the fit Molly Weasley would have if she knew her eight year old son was practicing it.
Summer eventually ended, me keeping a polite distance to my family, them not even noticing. With Bill and Charlie heading off to Hogwarts to my hidden relief. Then it was time for me and the twins to head off to the four hour long lessons every weekday morning, held by an elderly witch for all the magical children around the Ottery St Catchpole area. These lessons explained how purebloods arrived at Hogwarts with literacy and math skills. They were pretty basic. And I was literally bored out of my mind. It didn't help that one witch was teaching kids as disparate as four to ten.
Apparently my boredom showed. I was pulled to the side only three days in by the elderly witch, Mrs Grafton. Probably would have happened sooner if the younger kids weren't such brats, needing extra attention.
"Percival, dear. I've noticed you aren't really participating. How far ahead of the rest of the class have you gotten?" Mrs Grafton asked shrewdly, peering down at me from under her plumaged witches hat, beady dark eyes assessing me.
I shrug, "I'm probably ready for Hogwarts when it comes to the basics." Figuring that was a bit too self assured, I blinked innocently, "I mean I think so, Mrs. Grafton." At least blushing on cue was ridiculously easy as a Weasley.
Considering what literacy, math, history and geography was considered basic to the wizarding world. I was probably decades ahead of my peers. I couldn't exactly say that, or explain how I suddenly knew all those subjects however.
"Well, why don't I give you some parchment work, if you solve it all, I think we can find something better for you to do with your time." She said consideringly.
I was soon sitting at a desk, basic math and logic questions in front of me, simple reading comprehension questions, a small essay on a simple subject, all things any normal child would be able to do as a matter of course. Yet for purebloods this was apparently of Hogwarts age equivalent. No wonder the professors there always complained about the quality of homework.
Mrs Grafton immediately looked it over as soon as I finished. "I'll have to talk to Molly, it would be a waste to keep you in this class " She muttered after a few minutes.
When class ended only ten minutes later, I received some queer looks from the twins as Mrs Grafton followed us home. They were soon snickering to themselves, whispering heads together. No doubt imagining I had gotten into some sort of trouble. I couldn't imagine why they would think that, since I was not them in any manner. Then again the twins like the rest of the family, always only saw what they wanted to see. They were remarkably stubborn that way.
"Amelia? Is everything alright?" Mother said sharply as she walked out from the kitchen door, apron spotted with flour, eyes sharply on us children. Well… Two of them. "What did they do?" She snapped, eyes fixated on the twins.
Mrs Grafton cleared her throat, "Actually, I'm here about Percival."
Mother seems lost for words. "Well," She blusters for a moment. "I can't imagine Percy did something to disrupt class!?" She gives me a once over like she's looking for any strange mutations or extra arms.
"No, not at all. Percival has always been a joy to teach. It just seems he's finished the basic pre-Hogwarts program." Mrs Grafton assures mother with pursed lips. Mrs Grafton had never much approved of my mother's parenting. But then again she taught Bill and Charlie. And now the twins. I was pretty sure I was the outlier as the quiet and polite one.
Mother splutters a bit. "Already? But he still has two years to go!" She wrings her hands, no doubt worried about what they can figure out for me, what with the no money situation. To be honest so am I. The classes were boring, but at least it was more than sitting in my room meditating.
"Well, I thought I had a nifty solution to that. My granddaughter runs the library in Catchpole. She could use a smart young man to assist her, and in return for a few hours of paid help, he could study whatever he'd like with the assistance of my granddaughter." Mrs Grafton explains smartly, nodding along as she speaks, seeming to like her own idea the more she speaks it. She stares mother down expectantly.
Mother hesitates, looking at me reluctantly, still wringing her hands, "Oh, but it's so far… " She begins to shoot it down.
"Nonsense, it's a quick floo trip, and even if the floor system goes down he's literally a hop and a skip away." Mrs Grafton waves away the protest.
"Percy, is so young!" Mother cries out, stepping over and grabbing me, shoving me against her, like I'm leaving suddenly. I take the hug and fervently hope she isn't going to win this argument.
"Nonsense, Percival is a smart young man, it would do him good to earn some extra money, and he'd be able to keep studying and preparing for Hogwarts with my granddaughter watching over him." Mrs Grafton isn't giving up, her beady eyes peering at my mother, intent and stern. "He can't be sitting in my class bored out of his mind, Molly." She chastises.
"I guess. If Percy feels he can handle it, I suppose it isn't too far." Mother says haltingly, grabbing my shoulders and looking down at me.
"I think it would help me prepare for Hogwarts." I say, smiling slightly. Knowing my mother is a sucker for seeing her more reserved child smile. And like that she melts.
"Oh, alright then. I'll go with you tomorrow just to make sure everything is alright." Mother says fondly. She turns to Mrs Grafton, "Would you like to come in for some tea, Amelia?" She asks kindly.
Mrs Grafton shakes her head, "I have an owl to send my granddaughter, and I have to get ready for tomorrow's lesson." Her beady eyes on the twins who have managed to disappear into the background by being quiet for once. "I have a feeling those two will be more trying now." She said dryly. Before turning around and walking away without another word.
Mother shakes her head with pursed lips, then forgets all about me as she goes to lecture the twins. To ensure they give the poor woman no trouble at her lessons. I roll my eyes and go to my room, why she even tries to stop them when she won't punish them enough to actually deter them I don't know.
At least my future wasn't as bleak for the near future. Surely I wouldn't be paid much, but pocket change was still something. And I'd be able to look through an actual library. Study actual magic. If only history books and theory. But still. Magic!
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Fiona Fawcett was the definition of an extrovert, she was bubbly, friendly and instantly
gained mother's approval upon dropping me off for my first day. They were chatting like old friends five minutes in, despite the fact Fiona couldn't be more then twenty. At least it made my mother feel safe in leaving me to my new job, and opened up hours of freedom to study.
Fiona had curly blonde hair, with an open and expressive face with big green eyes. Despite only being five feet barely, she had a presence about her that invited people in. I had no idea how she became a librarian of all things, she certainly seemed like a social butterfly. The library constantly had visitors who never seemed to pick up any books. A majority of the male persuasion. It made me feel like I was brought here to spend four hours stacking books so she'd have flirting time alone.
In the end I couldn't really care less. I rarely had enough books to put away to work for four hours. And either way Fiona paid me five galleons a week ( a ridiculous amount). Well it was a ministry run local library, so technically they paid me. But Fiona was literally the only other employee and so was the one handing me the money. It gave me hours to read, Fiona sometimes helping me study when she had nothing else to do. Her chipper attitude was somewhat annoying to deal with, but the effect was mitigated by her being an absolute font of knowledge. She had been a Ravenclaw, and loved books - and she helped me navigate to exactly what I needed. Now if only I could survive the constant flirting. She even did it to me, and I'm eight years old. I don't know what she expects for a reaction. My deadpan silence apparently just makes her see me as a challenge.
I'd be forced to floo home around five pm or face my mother's wrath. But Fiona had no problems with me bringing as many books as I liked home, she knew I wouldn't damage them, not like a regular eight year old might. In fact she encouraged me quite a lot and found me books I didn't even know I might need. Giving me advice on what basics everyone pureblood should know starting out. The things the Weasleys wouldn't know anymore.
I had a definite plan you see. Hogwarts has the biggest library in the world. Yet I'd never get through it all. I wanted more time there. And the plan I cracked was as simple as it was mad. Subjects like History of Magic and Astronomy were purely theory. I would spend the next couple years studying anyway. I would concentrate on covering the entire curriculum of those two subjects. And muggle studies as well because why not, it would be easy. And then take the OWLs and NEWTs before Hogwarts.
It would set me apart slightly, so I wouldn't be seen as just another Weasley. And it would open up more free time, less classes to do, less assignments to do. More time in the library studying whatever I want. It would also have the added benefit of giving me a good reputation with the professors.
The only other change to my life I instituted was a small work out routine. I had been fairly fit in my previous life, and I knew that it could become an easier habit to keep when started young and fairly in shape. Nothing much. Just some running in the early mornings, some flexibility stretches and some pushups and sit ups. Nothing to a crazy amount. A fitter body might help with stamina later for possible magic duels. I wasn't sure. But it was worth keeping fit either way. It wasn't too much of a hardship or took too much of my time. Even if I'd probably never go to the lengths of my previous life, nor join a gym or any of that kind of thing.
And so with my studying, and working out, playing nice with the family. Almost three years passed by.
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Eleven years old
Beginning of summer
"Are you nervous?" Fiona asked me teasingly, ruffling my hair slightly.
"No, not for the tests anyway." I mutter, giving her a long suffering look as she messes my hair up some more. The stress would come when my family finds out about it. There's a reason Fiona is the one taking me to the ministry. I really doubt my mother would allow me to sit the tests at all.
Fiona puffs her cheeks out in that chipmunk way she has a habit of doing. I roll my eyes, "What?"
"You are way too cool for your age, Perce. You're supposed to be nervous and stuttering." She complains, flicking me on the nose.
"I've already paid for the testing fees, I've studied the material, I know I have it all down. There is no reason to be stressed about the tests." I say calmly.
I had kept all the galleons I had earned, not even buying a single piece of candy, keeping it all hidden for these fees and to get my own wand and supplies for Hogwarts, instead of hand me downs.
A better son would have helped the family with his hidden stash. I simply wasn't that good of a person however. My family probably thought I got knuts or a sickle or two for my work. Underestimating how stupid ministry budgets can be sometimes. Fiona paying me five galleons a week due to the library being overfunded and needing to spend funds to not lose funds.
She even gave me a 20 galleon Christmas bonus every year. She had even offered to pay for the tests when she found out what I was aiming for. I turned that down however. There's only so much you can owe one person. And I already owed Fiona a lot.
"I wish I could have been this calm when I sat my OWLs." Fiona muses with a quirky smile.
"When are you ever calm?" I point out dryly. Even now standing in the hallway outside the testing hall, home schooled kids hanging around waiting to sit their tests, she was bouncing on her feet, moving her head like she alone was hearing a beat of music.
She was also drawing a lot of looks due to said bouncing, several homeschool kids were of the 15-17 age range, and Fiona was the definition of a blonde bombshell, albeit in a small package.
Fiona sticks her tongue out at me, "Careful little red, or I might not come pick you up to bring you back!" She chirps with a teasing laugh.
"You're enjoying this way too much to stay away." I say with a sigh, shaking my head.
She smirks, wide eyed, looking around the hallway. Catching the stares of all the hormonal boys. And some of the girls. "Whatever could you mean?" She giggles, fluttering her eyelashes.
I roll my eyes, leaning back against the wall. It had become incredibly obvious over the last few years that Fiona was an incorrigible flirt. Yet that is all she did. Tease and play and flirt with guys and girls. Enjoying flustering people. It made me kind of glad I would be at Hogwarts for my puberty. I'm sure she'd get me in the summer though. Something to look forward to, I think dryly. Watching students trying to work up the courage to approach my somewhat teacher/friend or whatever we were.
Before they can get up the nerve the door opens. An ancient looking witch peering out at the gathering. "Well come on then. I don't have all day." She calls out croakily.
Finally, I think, turning to enter my first exam, the OWL for History of Magic. A hand on my shoulder stops me and I'm twirled around. Seeing Fiona's gleeful face as she gives me a loud wet kiss on the cheek, "Good luck on the test!"
People glare at me as she happily skips away, a definite exaggerated sway to her hips, and I sigh, entering to take my seat. I do not look forward to puberty, it takes away the intelligence of already logic addled wizards. I'm eleven, she's obviously an adult. Why are they glaring at me like it's something there? Fucking wizards!
My OWL for History of Magic is followed by my OWL for Muggle studies and my OWL for Divination. Yes, I decided to take divination as well, as it turns out it's actually mostly based on theory I could study up on, and then even in NEWTS, It wasn't wand magic, but tarot cards, scrying in a bowl of water, cubomancy and such passive magics which I could easily practice under Fiona's supervision. She had taken the NEWT for the class. So I had decided why not, another easy class removed from the board.
By the time I finish all three I am exhausted. And I already have my Astronomy OWL to look forward to. Plus NEWTS in all four subjects. Fiona looks sympathetic as she picks me up, and slips me a pepper up potion at the library before I floo home, to not worry my parents.
At least the ministry has an actual room with a night sky for the purpose of Astronomy tests, I wouldn't want to imagine trying to sneak to the ministry in the middle of the night without my mother finding out.
The next two days go fine as I work through the tests, feeling very confident I've passed and almost 100 percent confident it was with straight O's. Fiona is there to cheer me on before I start, and to bring me back and keep me awake for when I'm done.
I'll have to remember to do something nice for her one day. I don't know how I would have done all this without her help with studying and her help ferrying me back and forth from the ministry, as well as being my alibi for where I've been. Or just for being my support during all those lonely days of studying. I would have probably gone a bit mad without her there to ruffle my hair, bring me hot chocolate and just talk at me for hours on end.
The day after I finish the exams I try everything I can to convince Fiona to let me do my shopping alone. But she outright refuses.
"If you're going to insist not involving your mother, which by the way is really really dumb and will backfire on you!" She starts cheerfully, her cheeks all puffed out like usual. "Then I'll insist that a responsible adult comes with you!"
"Have you found one yet?" I ask, rubbing my forehead, it's not the worst to have a chaperone for my shopping. It's not like I was planning on anything illegal…Mostly because I wouldn't be able to afford it.
"Rude!" She puffs out, but she's grinning, "I'll have you know that I'm crazy responsible." She lies straight to my face.
She is after all the adult that befriended an eight year old, and snuck him into the magical government at eleven to take tests meant for 15 and 17 year olds behind his parents back.
I give her an unimpressed half lidded stare. I actually know her after all.
"Do you want to shop or not?" She twirls her wand in her hand, eyes twinkling.
"...Sure." I say warily. She was up to something.
"Then let's goooo!" She shouts excitedly. Raising her arm up in the air. She jumps in place for a moment, giving me a dirty look. "Percy! Show some excitement!" She yells at me.
We're in a library, woman! I think, but give a half hearted, "Yay!" Anyway, to avoid being hexed.
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She gives me a dirty look, still standing in pose. "Do better then that, or I'll tell on you to your mother!" She threatens, chipmunk cheeks back again as she puffs out.
Sighing I stand in the same pose, arm raised into the air, grumbling out, "Yay, Diagon alley here we come…"
She sniffs, "Acceptable… I guess."
"You are impossible." I say, but unbidden my lips twitch upwards a bit.
She grins widely at me, eyes sparkling, "Aww, the baby grumpy knows how to smile, now my day is complete!" She teases me gently.
"Please can we just go." I say the tips of my ears red.
"Mmkay, don't like puke on me." She warns all of a sudden, before grabbing my arm and suddenly I feel like I'm being stretched impossibly thin, being squeezed through a straw, and suddenly spurted out on the other side. It was not pleasant.
"There's got to be better ways to travel then that!" I heave, falling on my knees. The feeling of side-along apparition absolutely sucked.
Fiona tosses her hair dramatically, "Not the worst ride I've had." She grins down at me, feet already bouncing on the pavement.
"I'm eleven." I say dryly, once I finish heaving.
Her grin, if anything widens, "Yet you understood what I was saying," She tuts at me mock disapprovingly, "How many of your older brothers playwizard magazines have you stolen, hmm?"
"That's really a thing?" I ask, shooting her a disbelieving look. What witch would take her clothes off for money when she had magic.
She pouts, "I'm really disappointed in you, Perce. No naughty mags at all?"
"What conversation are we even having right now?" I get up on my feet, walking away from the apparition point. Just thankful no one else had arrived for that particular conversation.
Fiona comes up beside me, an innocent look on her face, "I'm just seeing to your education."
"Right." I say dryly.
She flutters her eyelashes, "Have you had… The talk yet?"
I side eye her, "I will scream stranger danger." I warn her.
"You're no fun anymore, where is the blushing beet I used to know?" She grumbles playfully, puffing her cheeks out.
"He met you."
She pinches my cheek, "You used to be cute!"
"Can we not?" I say long sufferingly.
"Alright, I'll play nice. It's a shopping day after all." She says with a quick giggle.
Honestly between us I have trouble with deciphering who's eleven and who's twenty four. I think exasperated as we continue down Diagon alley. Even though I've visited multiple times in my life, the sheer magicness of the shopping district still blew me away. The books and movies had not done it justice. You could find almost anything on these cobblestone streets. And it looked cheesy as it was to say it, magical.
"Wand first." I say, feeling myself grow excited. This is what I've always wanted. Coming to fruition. I'll be a wizard.
"The wizard focused on his wand, how surprising." Fiona giggles, but she's already leading me towards Ollivanders.
Part of me feels guilty for depriving my family of the experience. If not for the fact there was a good chance I wouldn't even get my own wand until third year or later. I'd rather suffer their disappointment and have my own wand. It's made obviously clear that nothing matches a wand that actually belongs to the wizard or witch.
Ollivander creeps out of the backroom the minute we enter the store, a little jingle announcing our arrival. A shiver of excitement runs through me. This is it. Where it becomes real.
"Miss Fawcett, not here to blow up my store again are you?" Ollivander can barely be heard as he stays in the shadows of the store. Drama queen I think amusedly.
"I'm almost positive I'm not blowing anything up!" Fiona says cheerfully. Only I can see her cross her fingers behind her back.
"Black walnut wood, 9 inches, springy and with the hair of a particularly playful unicorn. Excellent for charm work, has it served you well?" Ollivander works his creepy routine on Fiona.
"9 inches has always served me long and hard." Fiona answers with a smirk. I groan out loud, she gives me a quick wink.
"Ah, and we have a young mister Weasley in for his wand." Ollivander says slowly, creeping forward, his big almost bulbous eyes staring at me.
"Please don't give her more opportunities to talk about wand sizes." I ask quickly, and accurately it seems, when Fiona immediately pouts. It's not like I don't already know my parents' wands anyway.
"Hmm, let's see, I have a feeling about you, young man." Ollivander says mysteriously before disappearing amongst the shelves.
"Try this, Ebony, ten and a half inches, with a phoenix feather core." Ollivander hands me a wand, surprising me as I've not gone through the measurement or wand hand questions Harry Potter had. Were they not necessary then? I give it a swish only to immediately have it taken away by Ollivander.
"Hmm, not quite right, woods correct, length and core, hmm." He mutters absently and wanders off again.
"Ebony huh? Good for transfiguration and kind of combat oriented, not what I would have guessed for you." Fiona says, eyes roaming over me with a thoughtful look.
"And what did you imagine for me?" I say slightly irritated. Although my interest is peeked, good for transfiguration and combat eh, that does sound like my wheelhouse.
She just giggles at me, putting her wand behind her ear and bouncing on her feet, refusing to answer me as we wait for Ollivander.
He soon returns, looking satisfied. "I think I have a match, Mr Weasley. Ebony, nine inches, rigid, core of a particularly stubborn Hungarian Horntail. Come on, give it a swirl." Ollivander says with anticipation.
I grab the wand and immediately feel it, it's like a rush running from my core up my arm, jubilation over a connection. The wand shoots out a multicolored spurt of liquid. Turning everything it touches rainbow colored.
I immediately close my eyes, "Don't you dare ruin it. Don't say it." I demand, as Ollivander mutters a quick evanesco.
Muffled giggles can be heard in the shop as I sigh, knowing it's coming.
"I'm sorry, Percy, I can't!" She giggles. "I'm too shocked at the reaction your wand had to finally feeling your hands all over it!"
"Is that it?" I say dryly, still keeping my eyes closed, so I don't have to see her red chipmunk face as she giggles away.
"Wait, wait!? I have something for this?" She says snapping her fingers as she can't think of it.
"I'd like to pay now, please." I say quickly. Handing off the required galleons and stepping out of the store, a pouting Fiona behind me.
"I can't believe I missed so many zingers, I froze!" She moans, playfully ruffling my hair. "Great wand tho, Perce! Same length as mine too!"
"Yes, your favorite, I know." I answer dryly. I can't help but hold my wand and just feel it. I can't put it away right now. I can understand why the wand is usually bought last now. It feels like I've gotten an extra limb and I just can't let go of it.
"You can play with it when you get home." Fiona says with a soft smile on her face. Teasing apparently over for now. Probably fond memories of when she was in the same position. She snaps her fingers suddenly, "Damn, I forgot to blow up something in there!"
"I don't have too much else to buy." I admit. "Just a nice quality set of clothes." I didn't want to arrive looking completely out of the poor bin. I completely ignored her tendency for explosions. Not wanting to encourage her to finish the shopping with a bang so to speak. I really didn't want to end the day in Auror custody.
I planned to raid the room of requirement when I got to Hogwarts to hopefully find a good expanded trunk and a wand holster and other extras, to save my limited funds since I have no way to make more for the next few years. It's why I was not bothering to shop for much today, and what allowed me to pool my money together for some good quality robes.
"Nuh-uh, first we're getting you an owl. My treat." Fiona chirps, linking her arm with mine, made easy by the fact that already at eleven I had almost matched her height.
"You don't have to buy me anything, you've already done so much!' I protest, but it's half hearted at best. One, I know she'll buy one whether I agree or not. And two I can't say I am opposed to having an owl. It's part of the whole wizarding experience.
"It's what friends are for." She says firmly. Before giving me a silly little grin, "That and to make fun of you until you puke!"
"I'd hate to see what you'd do to your enemies." I say wryly, shaking my head, I could see Madam Malkin's up ahead. But Fiona led me past, heading for the magical menagerie.
"I date them." Fiona answers my question after a long pause, her face shuttering slightly, before she shakes her head and puts on a grin again. "So what kind of owl will you get?"
I eye her worriedly, having not seen her with a negative expression in the whole time I've known her. Yet I decide not to push, as I have my secrets, so does she. She's enabled me to come as far as I've had. Or I would have had to wait until Hogwarts. "Something that will survive the twins." I finally answered. And sadly that is the most required component.
"So likes biting fingers off, gotcha, Perce!" She chirps, miming taking big chomps out of things.
My lips twitch, "Maybe not quite that violent." But I was tempted. Oh, was I tempted.
She leads me into the store, my eyes on a swivel as I take in the animals, the noise is not too bad, which I attribute to silencing charms on the cages of the loudest animals, because every animal in the store seems determined to hop or fly or slither around. The normal chaos of any magical establishment.
"What about this one?" Fiona says, walking up to a great beast of an owl. It was almost as big as Ron for Merlin's sake!
"No. Just no." I say firmly, walking past it.
She's enchanted by the small tiny owls next, no doubt the same breed who'd eventually be Ron's apology owl. I'd rather have an owl able to carry a package. I stop by a Tawny owl with sharp bright eyes. "You're a clever one aren't you?" I ask quietly. The owl studying me.
"This one, I think." I say out loud. Fiona coming up behind me having abandoned the tiny scope owls.
"Trust you to be boring and choose the most common owl." She says with a sigh, shaking her head.
"I only need one for sending letters and packages, I hardly need a fighting owl." I point out, rolling my eyes at her pouty look.
"A ninja owl would have been cool." She mutters as she heads off to pay for my new owl. I decided to spend a little of my hard earned money on a perch and some owl pellets. It's not too expensive, I'll still have plenty for my clothes. I forgo a cage, my owl can fly to Hogwarts and back, I don't need to transport it in a cage.
It's only when I'm standing outside the store, my perch shrunken down by Fiona that I realize what I have done. I turn to her eyes wide, as I see my not yet named owl take to the sky, no doubt to already find the burrow, owl magic not something I had studied yet to understand how they so easily do that. "When that owl shows up they'll realize I've been hiding things." I groan.
Fiona chuckles, patting my cheek. "I think they would have noticed the wand anyway, Perce. Or the fact that an eleven year old sat several exams, no doubt your father already knows by now."
"I'm not ready for this!" I complain, but without heat. I knew this day was coming. I was mature enough to realize what would happen by going behind their backs. I still decided to do it.
"So let's continue shopping and postpone your…" Fiona took a deep breath and then let out a rumbling, "DOOM!" Looking very pleased with herself.
People were now staring at us, great. I ruefully shake my head. "You're impossible to take anywhere."
"Ooor, on the other hand it's impossibly boooring to go anywhere without me." Fiona said happily. Leading me again, and huh, Twillfigs and Tattings. I suppose that makes more sense then Madame Malkin's for a more quality outfit or two.
The next hour is a whirlwind of chatty women, as Fiona and the saleswitch talk about different fabrics and spells and colors. I sensibly just stand there and wait. Clothing styles are definitely one of the areas I could say I had no knowledge in. In the end I walked out 200 galleons poorer. But I had two school robes of actual pureblood quality, with self cleaning charms, mending charms and able to grow with me for several years. I can't even begin to describe the difference I felt wearing it. The robe was so soft and warm and of such quality.
"You look good in those, Perce." Fiona said quietly as we walked out of the shop. She knew I was apprehensive of how my parents would take it. Not only the exams. But the owl and the new robes and a wand.
"As much as I want to drag it out. It might be time you take me to the library, so I can floo home." I say heavily. She squeezes my arm supportively. Then I go through the horrible feeling of apparition again.
Fiona gives me a quick hug and a whisper of good luck, looking sad, eyes glistening. Then I step up to the floo, use the floo powder and call out loudly, "The Burrow."
When I arrive, I find both my mother and father sitting at the kitchen table waiting for me.
This will go well.
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"Percy…" My father seems lost for words, staring at me with a pinched expression, looking weary.
My mother on the other hand is already red in the face, and by some miracle, holds back on screaming at me by father's hand on her wrist on the table.
"Father, mother." I say quietly, brushing the soot of my shoulders. "I'm home."
"Why?" Father asks me, "Why did you feel you couldn't tell us, Percy?" He looks pained. My mother twitches, but father pats her wrist and again she settles down.
I hesitate, before I slowly sit down across from them, "Because you would have said no." I lay it out as simple as it is. No excuses, no manipulation.
Father sighs, shaking his head, he looks overworked and tired, "Percy, you can't just decide you won't like an answer and then go around us for it. We're your parents." And we know what's best for you, is the unsaid but still heard undertone.
"I sat the tests at the ministry and I know I passed. So I was capable and you would have denied me that." I point out calmly, although with some bite to the tone. My back straight as I sit in the kitchen chair, refusing to back down.
"Yes. We would have." Father confirms, taking off his glasses with a sigh, rubbing at his eyes. Before looking at me with sad eyes. "We do know what's best for our children, Percy."
"Obviously not, if you would have denied me this, when I was obviously fully capable of achieving it." I reply, still managing to stay calm, although I can feel the redness creeping up my neck, it was frustrating me that their argument boiled down to we know best.
"Don't you dare talk to us like that!" Mother finally explodes, "It's that harlot Fawcett that's made you turn against your own parents! Running off to the ministry! With no idea what you're doing!" She spits out, incensed.
"Now, let's ca-" Father tries to de-escalate things, but I see red.
I plant my hands on the table, leaning forward, snarling at my mother, "Don't you dare blame Fiona for my choices! And name calling another adult because you don't like what I chose to do? That's mature! I knew what I was doing the entire time, and I succeeded!"
My father looks shocked, glasses askew as my mother and I both lean over the table red faced, eyes sparking with anger.
"When I found out from Arthur what you had done, I asked a few friends about your Fiona!" Mother yelled, "She was engaged to be married when she was found with four boys, she's nothing but a loose woman, a harlot and you won't be seeing her again!" She's breathing heavily, face fully red. My father is trying to pull her down in her seat again. Unsuccessfully.
How dare she!? How dare she slander Fiona! I think, enraged. I don't believe for a second the story she's concocted. Fiona might be a flirt, but the story did not match with her personality or behavior at all. So someone was spreading a nasty rumor and my mother jumped on the chance to discredit someone she was mad at. Fuck that.
"Fiona is nothing like that. And if you can't believe your own son on that. Then we're wasting time talking here because you've already lost my respect for attacking her." I spit out. Seeing my mother rear back in shock.
My father's eyes harden, "Speaking of respect, Percy. That is not how you talk to your mother." He chided. He turns to mother, his expression softening, "Molly, he's right, that was not correct of you either, to attack Miss Fawcett like that."
"You can't stop me from talking to my friend!" I say my voice hard, as I sink back into my chair. Already feeling drained.
"We've already sent an owl, letting Miss Fawcett know that as your parents we have ended your job at the library." Father says shortly. Seeing my furious look he shakes his head, "I don't agree with the rumors about Miss Fawcett, but she still went around our back with a child, our child. You should not have been taken to the ministry." Father's words are final. My mother snorted angrily next to him, but nodded her head sharply.
"She helped me, she was a good friend when I had no one else, she supported my goals, and you say that it is wrong?" My hands are shaking on the table, I always believed I would be in trouble eventually for this. Yet, somehow I had never expected they would lay the blame at Fiona's feet. I realized now why Fiona had been extra cheerful and up to antics lately. She had known what their reaction would be. She has basically been saying goodbye. My hands clenched into fists.
"Had no one else!? You have your family!" Mother snaps, being cut off from any further rant by my father grabbing her shoulder and giving her a hard look.
I start laughing, my shoulders shaking as I cover my face with a hand, my parents staring at me, one enraged, one with sadness.
"I have my family?" I laugh, I shake my head slowly, removing my hand, staring at them with wide angry eyes. "I'm terrorized by the twins, and nothing is done about it. Bill and Charlie either spend their time making fun of me, or refusing to help me when the twins are." I let out a sharp bark of a laugh, my lips twisting into a sneer, "Father you laugh along with them, and mother you might tell them off, but you never stop them, never really make them stop it, and if I spend my day in my room no one even notices I am alive, no one asks, where's Percy? Is he okay?"
Father looks pained again, his eyes are wet as he stares at me like he's never seen me before. Mother on the other hand is shaking her head angrily. Not taking in my words at all.
"You're exaggerating small childhood pranks to make excuses for your behavior, I won't have it! You are grounded to your room for the rest of summer! And no contact with that Fawcett lady! None!" She shrieks, my father slumps his shoulders next to her but this time doesn't counteract her.
I feel cold and so hot at the same time. Like my emotions can't decide whether I'm searingly angry, or just ice numb. I had expected punishment, I was fine with being grounded. But I hadn't expected these ridiculous accusations against Fiona. Or how my parents would just brush aside anything I had to say. "Fine. May I be excused." I bite out, I give them an unpleasant smile, "I'll start my isolation punishment now."
"No. We still have to talk about the ministry." Father says quietly. Not even looking at me. Mother huffs, but crosses her arms and stares at me angrily.
"What about it?" I ask coldly.
"You've done something no other student has. Gotten OWLs and NEWTs before Hogwarts." Father says slowly, "It has drawn attention. Even the minister himself stopped me to ask about it." Father smiled wearily, or tried to, it looked weak and tired more than anything. "The Daily Prophet will pick the story up, especially if your scores are good."
"They are." I interrupt to say, staring him down cooly. Bottling my rage. There was no point in trying to explain or discuss things with these people.
Father sighs, as mother seems saddened, her anger slowly bleeding out of her. I cock my head, what is the issue here?
"You'll be watched now, son. The ministry will be watching, the press will be watching. The pureblood families will be watching to see if one of the sacred twenty eight is coming back into the fold." My father says flatly. He eyes my new clothes with regret in his eyes. "And they'll see what they want to see."
"It was my choice." I grind out between gritted teeth.
"Oh, Percy." Mother has her head in her hands, "You're too young to realize." She sobs.
"How can we protect you from the world, when you put yourself as a target for everyone." Father says helplessly, pleading with me to understand. "You won't just be another Hogwarts student, this could put you in danger!"
"It was my choice, and I don't regret it, even if it puts me into danger." I refuse to back down. I knew all this already when I chose this path. It was part of why I chose to do it.
"You're a child, Percy." Father chides, shaking his head, "You don't realize the ramifications, the dangerous people that might find you interesting."
"I realize that if you had your way I would be locked away in this house, with no friends, and no escape." I say with a mirthless smile. "Being a child is an excuse for you to put me down, to limit me. I've shown I can handle it. Where's your belief in me?"
"Percy, this is too much for a child to handle." Mother says, wringing her hands, anger having bled away completely, her eyes teary as she looks at me. Father nods slowly, agreeing with her.
I stand up stiffly, "Then we are at an impasse, you believe me to be incapable, I do not. I won't stop excelling so I suppose you'll have to ground me indefinitely." I say coldly.
"Percy, that's not what we are saying. Don't twist our words." Father rebukes me with some heat.
I smile sardonically, "Of course, father. It's fine if I excel… As long as no one knows about it."
"Percy, what's happened to you?" Mother asks sadly, as father deflates at the table, looking lost.
"I'm just a different kind of person then Bill or Charlie." I chuckle, without any emotion to it. "I should have figured I wouldn't be accepted as I am. I never have been, not really." I eye my parents, both of them staring at me like they've never seen me before, both with tears in their eyes. "I have confirmed at least I did the right thing." I twist the knife, "If I had been honest, you would have held me back and forced me into being just good enough." I walk out of the kitchen. They don't stop me.
I fumed silently in my room, I had not seen my new owl, I wondered if they would keep it from me to prevent me from sending letters to Fiona. Either way I would contact her from Hogwarts. They couldn't stop me. Part of me knew I wasn't completely fair to them. They had fostered excellence in their children after all. Normal excellence, prefects, head boys, quidditch captain. Achievements for sure, but ones done by many students over and over again. Apparently me making the paper or attracting ministry interest was the same as joining the death eaters, that I did not agree with, nor see a point in even listening to them anymore once their opinion was made clear.
These are still the same people that treated original Percy with disdain for daring to be different. Who's first reaction to a promotion was to doubt his abilities, talk down to him and accuse him of being a traitor to the family. No one was that quick to jump on a family member if they had belief in them.
Same thing now, I had this coming, whether now or when I excel at Hogwarts beyond a normal eleven year old. They don't trust me because I'm not Weasley enough. If Charlie was in the paper they wouldn't bat an eye. Because they could trust that he would follow their worldview even if he became famous or involved with the pureblood families. No, this is only because it's me, the odd one. The one who's reserved, not as loud, as friendly and open. They see that I'm intelligent enough to pass OWLs and NEWTs, but still put me down as not able, not capable. Because I'm not like them, so they can't trust I'll be a good little Gryffindor.
Well they're right. I won't be.
I take my wand out of my pocket, rolling it in my hand. And they hadn't checked if I had bought a wand as well as new clothes. So this grounding, was more of a thankful relief away from the family.
"Wingardium Leviosa." I whisper, feeling the magic in me, flowing through the wand, feeling the difference the wand movements make. My eyes light up for a moment as my pillow raises into the air. I was doing magic.
I put my wand down, holding my hand out, I had been practicing for almost a year now and hadn't gotten it, but now, having felt the magic flow through my wand. I think I could.
I concentrate, pointing my hand at another pillow. My focus sharpens, my mind razor sharp as I shout the spell out in my head. And the pillow lifts up.
That night as I meditate and continue building on my Occlumency, I can't stop smiling. One wandless spell isn't much, but it's something. Next I would make sure to learn Accio. It would give me an advantage for years at Hogwarts. Because I never doubted for a second that I would go through seven years without being attacked.
Except for the no contact with Fiona part, I regret getting so mad at my parents. This punishment will give me extra study time and time to practice my wand magic. No twins, no older brothers condescending to me. No younger siblings following in their older ones footsteps to make fun of me. Peace. I needed to be grounded more often.
And I had a wand now, the twins better watch out…
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It soon became clear that they had indeed kept my owl from me. I hadn't even been allowed to name it, the owl kept with Errol while I was kept in my room except for meal times.
I had trudged down on my sixth day of punishment for dinner, to find Bill tying a letter to my owl's leg, calling it Parrot of all things. I had stood there in silent disbelief as my family all acted like this was nothing out of the ordinary. Like of course what's mine is also Bill's. If they had asked to borrow my owl for a letter I wouldn't have minded. They had named it and were using it as a communal family owl without a word to me. No explanation. No question, nothing.
I walked back upstairs, icy cold rage spreading through me, I entered my room. Went into my stash of galleons that I had left. Picked them up and marched downstairs. In my absence, my father had arrived from work and was just sitting down asking for my whereabouts.
"I'm here, father." I say coldly. Stepping up to the table. I toss the galleons on the table before he can reply.
"What is this?" He asks, I can see the tip of his ears reddening, my siblings watching with gaping mouths.
"The money you will make sure to give to Fiona Fawcett." I snap at him, seeing my mother open her mouth, I glare at her so vividly she pauses, shocked.
"Percy, what's wrong?" My father asks, concerned. Seems someone in the room can see how absolutely furious I am.
"That money is to repay her for the gift she bought me, that has apparently been denied to me." I hiss out, incensed at the audacity. My only link to my friend, the only way I could possibly contact her currently. And my family denied it to me.
"Percy, it's still your owl." My father says slowly, like he can't understand.
I stare at him uncomprehendingly, "Mine?" I snap sharply, "I haven't seen it since I got home, six days ago! It's been named! Without any input from me, it's being used, without anyone asking me? And it's mine!?"
Father winces as Bill has gone pale, looking guilty, I ignore both, gesturing to the money. "Since I am not allowed contact, you will ensure Fiona gets her money back. I don't care what you do with the owl now. It certainly isn't mine." I sneer, my mother looks close to another meltdown and my siblings are all staring at me in shock, I swallow any other snide comments, with some difficulty, "I will eat in my room from now on. Good night." And I walk out of the kitchen.
That night, one by one, different family members tried knocking on my door to check on me. Bill coming by the most. I pretended to be asleep. I did not want to hear any more justifications for why my opinion or thoughts were not valued in this family. I was so angry I was glad I hid my wand in my room or I might have hexed my own family.
My one link to Fiona. The only person to treat me like my own person. And I wasn't allowed even that. Whether it was just carelessness over maliciousness didn't matter. It still showed that I was an afterthought. Why bother asking Percy. Just use it. It's just Percy. Who cares?
I was mentally an adult. I shouldn't be having such difficulty. Why did I care? They weren't really my family. Yet … it hurt. The casual disregard for what I felt or thought. No one at that table had for even a second thought that it mattered that they named my owl. That using it without ever asking me was an issue. Even after the blow out I had with my parents a few days ago where we drew our lines on what we felt about respect. I was still not offered even that bare amount. Not even the minimum of asking me if it was okay.
I can't wait to get to Hogwarts. Fuck them all. I'm staying there for all the holidays.
I'd rather the Hogwarts library then this cluster fuck of a family.
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Finally it had arrived. Even having to come down and open it in front of the rest of the family didn't ruin the elation.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr Weasley,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
I picked up the second page.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander
1001 Ways to Defend Yourself by Dorothea Fawcett.
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK
Mostly the same as I remembered it. The defense against the dark arts book was new. Obviously I wouldn't have Quirrell as my professor. I wonder, it's a Fawcett that authored the book, maybe my professor is a Fawcett?
"I suppose it's that time of the year again." Mother says wistfully. There's a tension still to her voice, but she attempts to keep it light.
"I probably don't even need to go." I say slowly, thinking it over. I'd rather not have another family argument in the middle of Diagon Alley.
"Of course you have to go!" Charlie says looking shocked, "It's Diagon Alley!"
Father peers at me over the morning paper. "Percy, you'll need supplies for Hogwarts." He says kindly. Only the slightest pinch at the eyes betrays any tenseness.
I shake my head, "Not really." When they look to argue I just give them a tired look, "All my books except defense are the same books as I'm going to get from Charlie when he was a firstie. I already have robes, my supplies like cauldrons and such are going to be handed down because Charlie got a new set last year, so we aren't buying those. Perhaps some fresh stock to some potion supplies at most."
"It's tradition, Percy." Bill says trying to sound kind, but to me it just comes out slightly condescending. "Everyone goes to Diagon Alley when they get their letter."
"We can pick up your potions supplies and DADA book for you, but you'll need a wand and for that you'll have to come with us." Mother says with finality in her voice.
Guess it's time to let the kneazle out of the bag on that one, "I already got my wand."
There's absolute silence in the kitchen, the only noise is the sound of father putting his paper down, staring at me with a complicated expression on his face. "Percy, surely you didn't?" He asks, sounding utterly defeated.
"I was there anyway, didn't see a point in waiting. That aside I had been told at the start of the summer I wasn't getting a new wand!" I explain, sneering as I came to the last point. "You can hardly blame me for buying my own if I wasn't going to get one, can you?"
My parents looked crestfallen, I might have just ruined an attempt from them to patch things up, buying me a wand. So they'd complain about me buying things, but wanted to bribe me into being back to 'normal', how typical.
"Please Percy!" Seven year old Ginny grabbed my hand and looked up at me with big soulful puppy dog eyes, and I folded.
"I suppose even if I don't particularly need anything, it would be nice to go as a family." I said reluctantly. Feeling my heart lighten a little as both Ginny and Ron light up. My parents losing some of the tension in their shoulders.
I had been a big brother in my previous life. And as much as it still annoyed and frustrated me when Ron and Ginny would jump on the make fun of Percy bandwagon. I also didn't blame them for going with what the rest of the family was doing. They could tell that although the twins would get punished, father and mother found their antics amusing. Why wouldn't they join in. I still had a soft spot for them both. And Ginny was definitely clever enough to see and use that to get me to fold when she wanted something.
"I'm going with Percy!" Ginny immediately declares, a stubborn look on her face as she latches onto me.
"If that is okay with your brother." Mother says with a soft expression, sending me a tentative glance.
"I'll watch over the little hellion." I say, ruffling her hair, chuckling at the pouty look she sends me. Her hands immediately going to fix the mess I made of it.
"That's settled then." Father says smartly, looking at his watch, "Weasley's be ready in an hour for a family trip to Diagon Alley." I blink in surprise, he must have taken the day off just to come with us today.
I try to go to my room, but I have a Ginny sized growth attached to me. I look down at her, "What do you want, squirt?"
She bites her lip, "Can I spend time with you until we go? I haven't seen you in forever!" She whines slightly. I don't know who taught her to make her eyes go wide and big like that but I immediately allowed her to come with me to my room. I felt slightly guilty, I had been so angry at my parents and some of the nonsense my siblings got up to, that I had neglected my younger siblings.
As soon as we're in my room she jumps up on my bed excited shining eyes turning my way, "Can you do any magic yet?" She blurts out excitedly.
"You just want me for my magic, huh?" I say playfully, picking my wand up from the desk drawer it was hidden in.
"I'd love you even if you didn't have magic." She says, suddenly serious. Her tiny face looking at me with a stubborn fierce look.
I clear my throat, my ears reddening. "Ah, well, I'll always love you too, Ginny." I say with a small honest smile.
At least this I still have.