My Lovely Family

"Dad! Da-ad!"

Percy fell out of his chair, glasses halfway hanging off his face. He looked around his Daily Prophet at his wife Penelope. She looked out the top of her glasses and "hmphed."

"Oh, I guess this means that I'm going to go check on our lovely quartet." Percy smiled at Penelope.

"Daddy!" This sounded like a cry for help.

The scream was so loud it scared Penelope.

Percy sighed. He managed to wrestle his way out of the fallen chair and stand on his own two feet. He calmly fixed his glasses and put down his Daily Prophet and tried to ignore Penelope's smirk.

It's most likely Parrish Moira, Percy thought to himself. He climbed the steps wondering what problem her older sister and brothers had caused now.

Being the Assistant Minister of Magic wasn't as bad as Percy thought it would be. True, he was hoping to be Minister by the time he was nineteen. It was okay; his dad was the Minister. After Arthur retired, the title would be turned over to him.

Sadly after he retired, if he ever did, Draco Malfoy would get the job.

Life was truly ironic to him.

He never even thought about a family and how important it would be to settle down.

Penelope had told him if he didn't show the least bit interest in her, she would leave him. So he proposed.

Life was truly ironic.

"I thought you children would be ready to go the second time I came up here." Percy stood in the hallway with his hands on his hips.

"You children?" His oldest daughter Patience Grace seemed to be in an uncomfortable position with his youngest son Peter Andrew.

"It's as if you don't want to own us."

Percy shook his head while rolling his eyes," Pat let go of your brother. You know chokeholds are forbidden in this house."

Patience quickly let go of Peter.

Percy turned his back on them and added quietly, " We only choke people in this house."

"Dad!" Percy heard Peter yell annoyed as Patience gave off an evil laugh.

He shook his head laughing. Peter had probably done something worthy of the choking. Besides, Patience wouldn't kill him.

"Da-ad!" Parrish screamed again.

Percy stepped in her room, slightly irritated.

"What? What? What? What is it Parrish Moira?"

Parrish looked sheepishly from Percy to her robes.

"Mum told me that this morning I should bother you no matter what happens. So if this grosses you out, tell me when to stop talking."

"Stop talking now." Percy held up his hand afraid of what he was going to hear.

"I'm going to get your mother right now."

"Okay," Parrish smiled.

Percy walked out sighing. He wondered sometimes if his life would be different. In any case, he wouldn't have it any other way.

Look at my beautiful children, Percy thought to himself.

He passed by Patience and Peter in some row about disappearing ink or something.

He pointed at them and they quickly let go of each other. He got this trick from Penelope. Of course, it did take more screams and complaints to make it as effective as Penelope's did, but it worked.

Percy shook his head and called for Penelope at the top of the stairs.

"Penny dear! Can you come upstairs?"

He could hear Penelope grumble and made her way upstairs.

"Good morning father," Percy's eldest son Percival Arthur Jr. walked by him.

" Morning son," Percy smiled at him.

Percy Jr. was the spitting image of Percy. He had his build and was as passionate about school as Percy was when he was young. Percy had once caught him playing the "Assistant to Minister of Magic" game when he was only six years old. Percy Jr. was in his fourth year and he wanted desperately to be a Prefect. Percy would have it no other way. Percy Jr. was known to his brothers and sisters as the "Biggest Bore of Hogwarts". Percy Jr. would constantly get into arguments with his older sister Patience about her lack of exceptionally good grades.

Patience would just ignore him or eventually lose her temper and beat him to a pulp.

Patience was anything but patient. She had a horrible temper and had received a number of Howlers from her father and mother. Percy swore that since Patience looked exactly like her mother, she would have all her ways. But she possessed a personality all her own. She was in her sixth year and had given almost every teacher at Hogwarts hell on the way. She was the only known student to be able to have a row with Professor Snape and live to tell. Aside from her Uncle Harry. Patience didn't play Quidditch and she wasn't a prefect. Her goal was to graduate from Hogwarts and work at the Daily Prophet.

She had started a newspaper for Hogwarts and was widely known for that. Everyone read it, and loved it.

Aside from her temper, there was some creativity there.

Penelope came up the stairs giving Percy a disgruntled look.

"Is she in her room?" Penelope asked, already knowing whom it was.

Percy nodded his head.

Penelope looked over at Patience and Peter and asked very sternly," Are you packed and ready for Hogwarts?"

They both nodded their heads.

"Okay then, why are you in the hallway arguing?"

Patience opened her mouth to say something, but Penelope cut her off.

"I don't want to hear it. Patience Grace I want you to stop arguing with your brother. You're much older and I'm disappointed. Go change."

Patience sighed," mum, what's wrong with what I have on?"

Patience pretended to model off her ripped half dirty jeans and faded black tank top.

Percy snorted and Penelope crossed her arms.

Patience stomped her foot and stormed into her room.

"Our dear, graceful Patience," they both said together. They had a special phrase for each of their children when they were completely out of character.

Patience was always out of character though.

Penelope kissed Percy and went to Parrish's room.

"All right, my dear, what is..."

Penelope gasped. She knew what had happened and a smile spread across her face.

"Parrish, I'm happy for you! Do you know what this means?"

Parrish nodded her head," It means I'm a woman. Mum, why are you so excited?"

Penelope picked Parrish up by her hand and dragged her to the bathroom.

The door slammed in Percy's face and he said quietly to himself," Peculiar. My sweet Penny."

Percy watched Peter trip over his robes on his way to his room. He looked around to see if anyone noticed and pulled his robes up properly.

Percy sighed. Peter reminded him so much of Ron it was ridiculous. Peter had his uncle's temper and his self-consciousness. It's true, Ron constantly doubted himself. Everyone knew that though. Peter was in his third year and admired his cousins on the Quidditch team gratefully. He was just waiting patiently when Fred Jr. or Broch would graduate from Hogwarts, giving him open space to take over the Quidditch team.

Parrish squealed with laughter at something her mother said in the bathroom.

Percy knocked on the door and asked sternly," Penny, what's going on in there?"

"Go away, daddy!" Parrish snapped.

Percy's eyes widened with shock.

It wasn't like Parrish to say that to Percy. She would usually be in his face complaining about something that her brothers and sister had done.

Percy headed back to his Daily Prophet downstairs and Percival Jr. had blocked him.

"Father," he said very cross and haughty, " I was wondering if you ever had problems in Potions class. I mean, I've always been having a hard time with dear Professor Snape but it seems that he never gives me a break. I try to be as nice as possible."

Percy sighed," Why do you care what he thinks of you? I tell you the same thing every year..."

Percival Jr. joined in with Percy's monotone.

"... Never try to win your way through life with a fake smile."

Percy pat Percival Jr. on his shoulder," I know you mean well..."

"I just want a little power," Percival Jr. blurted out.

Percy figured that was enough of talking to Percival Jr.

"Son, let me give you something that was very dear to me in my school days."

Percival Jr. nodded his head and followed his father to his study.

"Here we are..." Percy pulled the book that was supporting the desk and handed it to Percival Jr.

Percival Jr. almost died of a heart attack on instant.

"Father, this is incredible! Prefects Who Gained Power!" Percival Jr. beamed at his father and was instantly engrossed in the book.

As he walked out of the room, his younger brother Peter said something like," Quit pretending," but Percival Jr. had found his new love.

Percy sighed, that was another issue. Percy had never heard Percival Jr. talking about a girlfriend. Even he, dated someone at Hogwarts, and he was obsessed with school.

"Oh well," Percy said to himself.

"Oh well what?" Patience asked, standing in the doorway in her Hogwarts uniform.

Percy smiled. She was the prettiest girl at Hogwarts, he thought to himself.

"How's the newspaper?"

Patience shrugged," Dunno, haven't started school yet." She laughed at her own lame joke and Percy rolled his eyes.

"Okay." Patience nodded her head. "I'll keep coming with the monthly issues. You get yours free, remember? On account of family discounts and you're the Minister of Magic."

Percy never admitted it (now anyway), but he jumped for joy mentally every time someone addressed him as the Minister of Magic or mentioned him being it.

Even if Draco Malfoy was to take his place afterwards.

"Well," Percy slapped his desk, " as I tell you every time."

Patience joined in with her dad.

"Live your life to the fullest, but make sure you don't explode...I know, I know. You tell me this every year. You were probably telling me that in mum's tummy."

Percy nodded his head," We knew you were a fireball, when you gave your mum heartburn."

Patience laughed," I'm going to pick on PJ, lemme' know when it's time for Hogwarts." Patience yelled her brother's name at the top of her lungs and he answered with an annoyed," What is it now, Patience!"

Percy was leaving out of his study and Penelope was finally leaving out of the bathroom.

"What was going on in there?" Percy looked Penelope up and down.

Penelope pushed Percy into his study and closed the door.

"I'm looking this," Percy said in his corniest attempt to be sexy voice.

Penelope rolled her eyes.

"Percy don't be a prat. Now, Parrish has had her... period and well, she's a little uncomfortable."

Percy turned an unattractive gray color and Penelope sighed.

"It was bound to happen some time soon. Now, I want you to not bring it up, okay? Please don't make her feel more awkward than she already does."

Percy had strangely become quiet.

There was a surprise for him every year.

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

(A/N: I know this was an abrupt skip, but Percy never talked anymore after Penelope told him of Parrish and her period. How many girls want to go their dads yelling, "I'm on the rag!" ...Exactly...)

After many jeers by Patience, and strange looks from her dad, Parrish eventually blurted that having your period was normal.

That caused Patience to hold her tongue, since she thought she was dying when she got hers and Percy thought he was going to die right alongside with her.

Penelope nodded her head in agreement, and Percy was still that nasty gray color.

At the Platform, Percy had to part with his kids there. He had just been called to the Ministry.

"It's a wonder, they hadn't called me yet. Colin Creevey probably causing a fuss no doubt."

He turned to his four children and said in his sternest voice ever.

"None of you are to get detention, caught sneaking around the school after hours, and even thinking about the Forbidden Forest. I tell you all this every year, and you all manage to get there somehow. Listen to me this time, will you?"

They all nodded their heads.

He hugged them all one by one.

"No fighting," he said to Patience.

"Have some fun," he said to Percival Jr.

"Don't slouch," he said to Peter.

"You can tell me anything about everything," he said to Parrish.

Then he added on," Period."

Parrish's mouth dropped and Percy put his hand to his forehead," My dear I'm so sorry. You know what I mean."

Parrish shook her head," Dad!"

"Sorry," Percy started to walk off.

"Hate to be so hasty!" was the last thing he said.

Penelope turned to her kids and looked at all their grim faces.

"Oh go on, we'll see you at Christmas. Besides, your father and I need a break from you children! Now, go on through the platform."

Patience rolled her eyes, Percival Jr. agreed, causing Peter to look at the side of his head as he wanted to hit it, and Parrish hesitated to say something.

The three kids went through the Platform and Penelope pulled Parrish back," Out with it."

Parrish sighed," What if people notice..." she looked down.

Penelope laughed," They'll notice that you're blossoming, yes. Trust me, that's a good thing. Maybe even the cute Ravenclaw boy will notice you, too."

With that, Parrish lit up and was through the platform in an instant.

Penelope sighed.

She was definitely going to have to talk to Percy about Parrish's new step into womanhood.

Penelope sighed and followed her mini-Quidditch team through the platform.