In A Time Of Uncertainty

Part Two, Chapter One

"In light of Lord - of You-Know-Who's return, the entire Ministry will have extended hours from now on," said Cornelius Fudge. In one hand his was his bowler hat, which he kept twisting compulsively. Percy stared at it until he couldn't any longer. "We will not disband any of the less crucial departments, for we fell that it is essential for the wizarding world to maintain our way of life. However, employees of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, Official Gobstones Club, Ludicrous Patents Office, and the Pest Advisory Bureau will reduce their hours, using the spare time to aide in the struggle against - against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Memos have been sent to all departments, stating more specifics." Fudge paused. His face was ashen and dark circles lay beneath his eyes. His tie was crumpled, something Percy knew the Minister would never have allowed under normal circumstances. "We have no time to spare. Due to the change in schedule, however, and the seriousness of the - the circumstances, we realize that you all may wish to contact your families. It is now half past seven o'clock; you are all expected to begin work in thirty minutes. This meeting is dismissed."

Percy watched unblinkingly as the rest of the hall filed out. Some were crying, some murmured in hushed tones, others walked briskly, with blank and stoic expressions on their faces. He closed his eyes until the heard the last door shut and the hall was silent.

He had no one to speak to, but the memories in his head refused to be silent.

"Percy, love, I really think that you ought to take a rest. Professor McGonagall assigned two feet and I'm sure she'll be very pleased that you wrote three and a half, but look at the sky! It's a gorgeous day outside, why don't you go out in the garden for a bit? Bill and Charlie haven't seen you in nine months, I'm sure they want to hear all about your first year at Hogwarts. Well, all right dear, but only five more minutes, and that's all."

"Perce, do you remember when we went swimming in the lake? It was right after the last O.W.L., remember? We had those sandwiches on the bank. That's all I want, just some time with you. I never see you anymore except in class, and I miss you. Well, I need things too, how can you say you love me and then not speak to me for three days? Come on, my roommates have all gone to Hogsmeade, we could have some time to - oh, never mind. That's what you always say."

"Percy, get out. No. Get out. Why? Well, let's just think, shall we? Maybe this is just me, but I can't understand how you can let someone bring you off one minute and then ignore him the next. No you won't, you've been saying that for a month, and you won't even touch me except when you want to. I'm not your goddamned whore. Well, then what do you want from me, I really want to know, Perce, what do you want from me? I saw you in Diagon Alley four days ago, I called out to you but you didn't turn around. It was loud, I told myself, he didn't hear you, but you did, didn't you? No, Percy, people are one of the most important things in life, but you'll never understand that, will you? I should have listened to Fred and George. Do you remember when you said you didn't deserve me? That's just about the only honest thing you've ever told me. Go fuck yourself. Apparently that's the only person you care about."

His mother's eyes: wide, hopeful, encouraging. Penelope's eyes: hurt, vulnerable, confused. Oliver's eyes: wounded, angry, burning.

The muffled laughter hadn't mattered, nor had the late hours or the fights or the responsibility, because Percy had always known that he was right. Some things had to be sacrificed if you wanted to succeed. The belief that everyone would see the merit of his ways in the end had sustained him.

And he had been wrong all along.

He'd ignored Penelope, treated Oliver like a sexual plaything, and told his parents he didn't want to be their son. Now the end was coming, and he was alone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A sobbing gasp startled him, causing his head to whip around. The door burst open and - had his memories materialized? - his mother ran in, her hair wildly tangled and her jumper on backwards. Without thinking, he rose from his seat and stepped into the aisle.

She ran straight at him and grasped him around the middle, her arms squeezing the air from his lungs. "I don't care what you say, you're coming with me!" she wailed. Her fingers dug into his back. "I could have been at the Department of Mysteries, I could have been the one who died - oh Percy, why did you do this to us?!" Being much shorter than her son, her head was buried in his chest.

"Mum," he whispered, and touched her hair with a trembling hand.