Erised Revisited

8. Home

The Weasley household was eerily quiet as Harry stood in the great room waiting for Mrs. Weasley and her shopping party to return. Ron had flown off to meet them at the edge of the protective barrier surrounding the area. Ginny sat quietly on the sofa flanked by Hermione and Luna. Harry occasionally sent a look to Neville standing near the sofa and commiserated silently in the helplessness of the situation.

The front door burst open and three burly Wizards came through, wands at the ready. Harry almost drew his own thinking this might be another attack but then he spied Ron behind them and realized it was the first part of Mrs. Weasley's group. Ginny broke from the sofa and rushed to Ron, who nodded to her reassuringly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and started to cry in relief. Next through the door came Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mr. Weasley had his arms protectively wrapped around his wife. Mrs. Weasley seemed to be unharmed, but was crying hysterically. Next was Bill with his long red hair in disarray and his expression that of someone ready to kill, or who already had. Finally, came three more guards, one of whose body was smoldering with an ugly, purplish smoke.

The Weasleys congealed into a redheaded mass at the center of the room. Unlike Christmas when Mr. Weasley had been attacked, Harry felt like an outsider now. Then, he had been involved from his link with the snake that had attacked Mr. Weasley and had helped Harry get aid in time to save Mr. Weasley's life. Now, as much as Harry wanted to run forward and hug Mrs. Weasley, and ensure she was alright, he did not feel comfortable enough to do so. He turned to the sofa to see that Neville had taken Ginny's spot there. Neville looked up at him guiltily and started to offer up the seat to Harry but Harry waved him back down.

Harry turned back to look longingly at the throng of people he now considered his family. As the initial eruption of sounds of the room filling died down, Harry was finally able to hear a few words from Mrs. Weasley between her sobs, things like 'that poor man', 'brave soul', 'guilt', and the like. A chill ran down Harry's spine and he could feel the goose bumps rising under his hair. Someone's dead.

The nausea started to grow in Harry's stomach as he tried to guess who it might be. First, he thought of the twins, but Mrs. Weasley would never refer to one of her own sons as 'that poor man'? More likely it would be 'my baby' were it one of them. Someone from the Order? Hagrid? Shacklebolt? Moody? Snape? How would he feel if Snape had been killed? How would he then feel about Snape if he had died protecting Mrs. Weasley? But then no, if it had been one of them, she would most likely have called him by name. Must have been just a guard... Oh, that's bloody nice, Potter. A man gives his life for the closest thing you'll ever have for a mother and he's 'just a guard.' That's just bloody brilliant, you prat!

He felt someone's eyes on him and looked over to see Ginny looking at him, wiping away tears. She smiled weakly. He returned it and then looked away not wanting to intrude. The heaviness of the air was surreal, especially when he dared to think about what he had almost done moments before in the garden. He chastised himself again for having such inappropriate thoughts and started to look around the room.

In one of the new overstuffed armchairs, he saw the guard who had entered the home smoldering. He was still smoking slightly. Now that he was closer and Harry gave him some real attention, he looked very familiar. It was Aaron Fortiner, the Auror from the infamous Draco Incident. However, Fortiner's cheerful, easy manner was gone now, and he was staring blankly into the unlit fireplace of the great room.

Harry took an uncertain step towards the older man and then stopped briefly. Fortiner really didn't look like he wanted company at the moment. Harry told himself that he would just say hello for the sake of being polite and then leave the man be. He started forward again more sure of himself.

"Mr. Fortiner? Hello. It's good to see you again."

The Auror looked up from the fireplace slowly. Harry could see that his eyebrows were gone and the front of his hair was singed.

"And you, Mr. Potter. I trust your hand is well? Or have you hit more Malfoys recently?" he asked without the slightest hint of humor.

"No, sir, I haven't."

"Mm, pity," responded Fortiner earnestly and then looked back to the fireplace.

Harry took that as the end of the conversation and started to leave. The Auror was obviously troubled, but Harry did not know him well enough to try to do anything about it.

"Molly Weasley. She's a good woman?" Fortiner's voice startled Harry but caused him to turn back.

Harry nodded slowly. "Yes, the very best. She's practically my mother."

"Of course, having worked with Arthur now, I would not have expected otherwise. I rather liked what little I saw of young Ronald as well. Yes, a good family all around, I think."

"They are. Can I get you anything? Some water perhaps? You realize you are still smoking?"

"Am I? No, I'll be alright. Just need to rest for a bit."

"NO, DAMN IT ALL! MY FAMILY NEEDS ME HERE!" Mr. Weasley's voice carried across the room. Harry's head whipped around to see a well-robed Wizard speaking calmly to him.

"BRAUMHEAD CAN BLOODY HANDLE IT! IT'S HIS BLOODY DIVISION!" Harry had never seen Mr. Weasley so angry. Again, the well-robed Wizard replied calmly and too quietly for Harry to hear. Mrs. Weasley then said something softly to calm her husband and his shoulders slumped slightly in defeat. He then gestured with frustration for the Wizard to lead the way and the two exited the room.

Fortiner spoke and brought Harry's attention back around. "Hmph. Never heard him raise his voice before. Can't blame him really. Duty can be a hard thing." His eyes were riveted to Mrs. Weasley. "More so even for the ones left behind."

Harry hesitated before speaking. "Still though, the Ministry might have let him have some time with his family."

"And in doing so makes the other side even more successful with this attack by disrupting his ability to run the department, which was surely the intent."

"I see your point but if we --" Harry stopped as he felt someone come up beside him. It was Mrs. Weasley. Her red, watering eyes were not looking at Harry though.

"Mr. Fortiner, I am told that Gerald Fuchs was a good friend of yours?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Please accept my deepest sympathy. I would never ask anyone to trade their life for mine. I am much honored by his sacrifice."

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley -"

"Molly."

"Molly, then. What little I know of your family, I know now Fuchs died as he would have wanted, with honor, protecting an honorable family. If I think about it that way, it helps."

"Did he...Did he have a family?"

"Just his father, a Muggle. I will go see him later today. He lives alone in Kent."

Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She then closed it and shook her head sadly as she turned away unable to utter another word. One by one the Weasley children that were present came up to Fortiner and offered their condolences. Ginny was the last and gave Harry a quick look of need that made Harry's breath catch in his throat before she moved away.

Fortiner nodded and said quietly, "Fuchs did right then. They are good people. I only wish I had been close enough to intervene, instead of him."

"I am sorry, Mr. Fortiner. I should have known when I didn't see Fuchs with you. It was obvious you were very good friends. I'm sorry."

"We were best friends, Mr. Potter, like you and Ron, since first year at Hogwarts."

"I can't imagine loosing Ron."

"And I can't imagine loosing Fuchs, but it's happened, so I shall have to manage. We were both sorted into Hufflepuff. I'm sure you know people of that house are known to be hardworking and loyal. Hard to loose someone from your life who is loyal, as they are so very hard to come by. He was a godsend. I come from a long line of Slytherins you see. Can you imagine what they thought when I was sorted into Hufflepuff? Disowned for the most part. And my own housemates wanted nothing to do with me either as most of them knew who my family was. The Muggle-borns were quickly educated by those from Wizarding families that I was not to be trusted. But, as I think I told you, Fuchs' dah was a Sergeant-Major in the Royal Marines. Apparently that sort doesn't give a damn about where you come from, just where you are going, and what you can make of yourself with what you have inside you. His dah taught him the same, and so Fuchs befriended me when no one else would even speak to me. We've been inseparable for over twenty years." Fortiner added softly, "- until now."

'Just a guard'...never think something like that again Potter!

The Auror smiled up at Harry. "But it was true what I told Mrs. - er, Molly. Fuchs would have much preferred dying this way than in his sleep. When Lestrange attacked us from where she was hiding, he was the only one who was in position to do anything about it. And so he did, he dived in front of the curse and burst into flames. Gone in an instant, nothing left."

"She attacked from the shadows then? I suppose I shouldn't have expected her to fight fair."

The Auror caught and held Harry's gaze. "Listen and listen well, Mr. Potter. There is no such thing as a fair fight. One side will always be stronger or quicker or smarter or more cunning or luckier or have some other telling advantage over the other. If a fight were completely fair then the result would always be a draw. I read of the encounter you had with You-Know-Who after his rebirth. He made you duel with him when he could have killed you outright. By some people's reckoning this might have been seen as making it a 'fair fight.' Nonsense. The most powerful dark wizard of our time forcing a fourteen year old boy into a duel? Fair my ruddy arse. If someone is trying to hurt you or someone you care about or someone in your charge then you have to decide how far you are willing to go to defend that person and take that action immediately. It's not a matter of fair. It's a matter of what you can live with afterwards if you survive. Honor demands that you never start a fight but you damn well finish it if you are at all able."

"So if you find yourself facing Lestrange or some other Death Eater, you'll give them the first move?"

"Of course not; they made their first move and intentions clear when they joined with You-Know-Who. I shall have no problem striking at her back if she dares to show it to me."

I am sorry, Mr. Fortiner, but you'll have to stand in line after Remus and me. Harry stood silently thinking about the Auror's words as the older Wizard went back to staring at the fire. The silence was not uncomfortable, neither was it easy. It was, however, broken when the kitchen door burst open and Mr. Weasley entered.

He was not alone, but the other was not the well dressed man who had led him away. Mr. Weasley's companion was a heavily bearded, dark haired Wizard in shabby robes. The new man seemed familiar, but Harry could not place him. Whoever it was, it was obvious that he was extremely uncomfortable.

The two men walked slowly but deliberately to where Mrs. Weasley sat in her rocking chair flanked by Ron and Ginny with Bill behind her. As she looked up from the floor and caught sight of the approaching duo her face contorted in confusion as if to say, 'now is not the time for guests.' But then her eyes widened in shock, and she leapt from the chair with a speed and agility that belied her age. She wrapped the new man in a hug that probably would have suffocated Hagrid. The man hugged her back just as intensely and started to cry with what seemed to be a mixture of anguish and relief.

"Percy," whispered Harry in awe to no one in particular. He might have laughed at the sight of the formerly prim and proper Percy appearing as he now did but it was just too touching to see how enthusiastically Molly Weasley had snatched him back into the family. Harry had seen how much she had been hurt by the returned sweater last Christmas.

Harry had not gone unheard. Fortiner spoke, "Percy? Oh, one of Arthur's sons? Isn't he the one who took up with Fudge?"

"Yes, that's him."

He nodded slowly with an appreciative expression towards mother and son. "A very fine family indeed."

The hug lasted quite a while longer and Harry began to wonder how either of them could breathe. When it finally abated Mrs. Weasley did not let go. She walked with Percy over to Bill, Ginny, and Ron with her arms still wrapped around Percy, perhaps afraid to let go, perhaps to impart some encouragement, probably both. She reluctantly stepped away when Percy was two paces away from his brothers and sister. Bill reached over to Percy's long hair and said something with a wry smile. He gave Percy a quick hug that included a couple back pats and then stepped away.

Then Ginny moved slowly to him. She reached up and gave a quick and most likely painful tug on Percy's beard. Her blank expression broke into a gorgeous, genuine smile and then she hugged him almost as vigorously as her mother had. Percy had shut his eyes tightly, perhaps attempting to block more tears.

When Percy and Ginny finally parted, Percy turned to Ron. They stared at each other for several moments before Percy started speaking. Ron held up a hand, silencing him, and then pointed in Harry's direction and said something. Percy nodded his head slowly and turned to walk towards Harry.

When Percy reached Harry he stopped and another staring session began. Perhaps it was the beard and dark hair, but Percy looked years older. Harry very much wanted to pity him, but there was a part of him that would not allow it. How could one be part of such a wonderful family and yet turn their back on them? Whatever Percy had been through was of his own choosing. His harshness towards Harry over the past year did not serve to warm his heart to Percy either.

Percy took in a sharp breath and began to speak, "Ron says that he doesn't want to talk to me until I have spoken with you. That is, until you accept my apology for my words and actions against you. I have no excuse. I can only hope that over time you can forgive me and come to trust me. Mother has welcomed me back as a part of this family. You are a part of this family. I don't dare to hope that we might someday be as brothers, but, perhaps we may someday, at least be friends?"

Harry did not want to forgive him. He really didn't. The Letter had hurt. At the time, he had tried to play it off with humor, but that was only to mollify Ron and cover his own feelings. It had hurt when Percy had been with Fudge in Dumbledore's office when the DA had been revealed. It had hurt when Percy had helped the court case against him. It had hurt to see Mrs. Weasley crying over the returned sweater. No, he did not want to forgive this person, but he knew he must if only to give Ron his brother back.

Harry forced a smile. "Will a handshake be enough? I'm not a big hugger."

Harry held out a hand and Percy took it as he spoke, "It will."

Harry nodded to Ron, who nodded back solemnly. "Go talk to Ron."

"Yes, right. Thanks, Harry."

As Percy turned away Harry could now see the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. They were beaming at him with a pride that made a lump form in Harry's throat. He had to stop looking towards them to keep the lump from continuing to grow and choking him. However, things only got worse when he locked eyes with Ginny. The look she was giving him not only stopped his breath, but seemed to be affecting his knees as well. He felt an eminent collapse approaching. He moved his eyes quickly to see Percy talking to Ron.

Percy finished talking to, or more correctly, at Ron. Ron stood stock still with his arms folded judgmentally for several seconds. He then took a single menacing step towards Percy who stood his ground. Ron suddenly sprang forward and wrapped Percy into yet another Weasley hug. The rest of the Weasley converged in a group around them. Harry risked a look to Ginny and found her already looking back. She obviously wanted him to join the group, but before he could rush forward to do so, there was a commotion outside the room that caused him to come up short and wait for something to happen.

Fred and George burst into the room, completely winded. When they saw that their mother was unharmed, they allowed themselves to bend over in unison with their hands on their knees gasping for air. After they had gotten their wind back they straightened and began to speak to the others. After only a few words had been spoken, Ron nodded in Percy's direction but didn't say anything. Fred and George looked at the 'stranger' curiously. A slow identical realization spread across their faces. They turned to look at each other in wonder. George broke first and started laughing through his hand. Fred managed to stay straight a little longer, but when he broke, he fell to the floor holding his stomach in near pain. They laughed themselves to purple faces and tears. Every time they seemed done, they would look at Percy again and start over. The fifth bout of hysteria was dying as they crawled on their hands and knees over to Percy. They actually began to climb him from either side as if too weak from the laughter to support their own weight. When they reached Percy's shoulders, they both hugged him simultaneously only to break into renewed laughter as they stepped away and were able to see the shagginess that was Percy. Percy obviously wanted to act uncomfortable but could only smile and fight back his own laughter.

"Well done, Mr. Potter."

Harry turned to Fortiner, "What was well done?"

"Offering your hand when you didn't want to. You are an honorable person yourself."

"How did you know that I didn't want to?"

"Reading people and intentions is a required skill for an Auror. You won't be very good, or even survive, if you can't. I don't pretend to know what occurred between you and Percy, but I have seen that temper of yours first hand. I could see the struggle inside you. It speaks well that you were able to put it aside and make that gesture."

"I don't really know about any of that. I mostly did it for Ron."

"His sister seemed to appreciate it as well."

Harry swallowed, "Did she? I didn't really notice."

Fortiner snorted a laugh but was interrupted before continuing. Fred and George had appeared to offer their thanks and condolences to the Auror as the others had done.

Harry caught Fred's eyes and said, "You surprised me."

"Well, I should bloody hope so. It's what we live for! Er, surprised you with what?"

"Forgiving Percy so quickly. They way you two have been going on about him over the past few months, I figured you would take your time and make him suffer."

"Well, he won't live down that getup he's wearing any time soon. It looks like someone stuck Hagrid's head atop a scarecrow, so I don't doubt we will make him suffer, but no more than anyone else under this roof."

George broke in, "Harry, if anyone recognizes the value and need for easy forgiveness, it's me and Fred. How many thousands of pranks have we pulled on people? How many thousands or even millions more will we pull? We have to hope that some of those people will eventually forgive us. You have to be willing to give it to get it... Stuff it, Fred. I am trying to be serious here. It's hard enough without you sniggering at me. Bugger! Stuff it already!"

Mr. Weasley broke into the scene with Percy in tow. "Alright boys, calm down. Can you give Percy and me a moment with Mr. Fortiner?"

The twins left quickly. Harry turned to leave as well, but Mr. Weasley grabbed his arm. "You should probably stay and witness this Harry. Alright?"

Harry nodded.

Mr. Weasley turned to Mr. Fortiner and squared his shoulders formally. "Aaron, first I must tell you what a debt we feel towards Gerald and in turn yourself for his sacrifice. I find it hard to believe he is gone and if there is anything I can do to help with the arrangements or if you would like for me to accompany you to visit his father I will be more than willing to do so."

"Thank you, sir."

"You should probably take some time to collect yourself, as much as you need in fact, full salary."

"No, thank you, sir. Unless you are ordering me to, I prefer to get on her trail as soon as possible. That would be my one request, sir; to be moved from Security to Pursuit."

"Done."

"Thank you, sir."

"May I present my son Percy? He has just returned to us and would like to speak to you. Percy?"

"Mr. Fortiner, I owe Mr. Fuchs and you too much to ever repay. It is just unfathomable that I might have lost Mother never having reconciled."

"It was our job, Mr. Weasley, but I am glad that Fuchs did not die in vain. You have a wonderful family. Try to hold on to it."

Mr. Weasley gave a questioning look at Percy, who nodded his answer in silence.

Mr. Weasley spoke to both Harry and Fortiner, "You may be interested to learn how Percy came to return to us. He was actually apprehended attempting to apprentice to the Auror program using false documents."

Fortiner looked surprised. "A serious charge. How did you think you could get away with it? All documents are checked both clerically and magically."

"My younger brothers, the twins, you don't live with them and not pick up some tricks, whether just observing or actually trying to catch them. Living with Fred and George tends to make you think you can achieve anything provided you are clever enough about it. My first foray into the Ministry with Fudge proved that was mostly true even as wrong headed as it turned out to be. I wanted a second chance to do right, but did not want to use my family's new position to do it. I've been working on the Peter Percival identity for a while now. It almost worked. It was just a coincidence that the clerk working my papers happened to graduate from Beauxbons in the same year I claimed to."

Harry interrupted, "Peter?"

Percy shrugged as he met Harry's eyes. "It seemed ... appropriate."

Harry could not argue that point, but for some reason that very point seemed to convince Harry that Percy was sincerely sorry for everything. He decided to truly forgive Percy at that moment.

Mr. Weasley addressed Fortiner directly again, "Aaron, we are already in your debt, but I want to ask a favor of you. You made a request some months ago for an apprentice. I would like for you to consider Percy for that position. I have managed to circumvent any formal charges being brought against him for the false documents because I believe his heart is just, and he is earnest in his desire to do right. Perhaps you can stop by my office in a week or so, and we can discuss your taking him on?"

Fortiner stood painfully and extended his hand to Percy. "If you are half the man your father is, I will be fortunate."

"There was a time I would have claimed differently, but I know now I have a lot to live up to in this family. I will do my best for you, sir."

"Please refrain from calling me sir. At least for the time being. I'll explain the next time we meet, but right now I have to go to Kent."

"Yes, Mr. Fortiner." Percy nodded formally and then turned away.

Mr. Wealey spoke, "Thank you, Aaron. Do you want me to come with you?"

"Fuchs' dah is a proud man. He will most likely want few people there to see his...reaction."

"I understand. I shall call on him later then, to offer my condolences."

"Thank you, Arthur." He turned to extend his hand to Harry. "I'm glad we got to talk again, Mr. Potter. I hope it will be a happier time when we meet next. I still owe you a few firewhiskeys."

Harry smiled at the firewhiskey reference. "Good luck, Mr. Fortiner. Take care of yourself and look after Percy."

"He is my apprentice now. It's my duty to keep him safe."