Chapter Text
Riding through the streets of London held no novelty for Percy. He remembered the days in the back of his father’s car when he looked at the muggle city passing by and was filled with a sense of fascination with their bizarre otherness. While Percy still felt the muggle world was other and found many of their ways bizarre it was no longer something he experienced from behind glass. He regularly had to interact with muggles on their territory for work and as someone living in the city. As such he had learned what he needed to in order to blend in. Due to regular exposure the muggle side of things no longer felt like some fantastical world.
As his cab pulled up outside 12 Grimmauld Place Percy had four sickles at the ready to pay, exactly the same as every morning’s journey between his flat and the office.
“Keep the change,” he told the driver.
The man smiled at him, “Thank you sir.”
Some years ago Harriet had announced a need for the Magicals to be able to travel in muggle territory without drawing attention to themselves. The Knight Bus was all well and good but with the muggles having cameras everywhere these days a bus and passengers appearing and disappearing was a danger to secrecy. The owners of the Knight Bus kicked up a fuse insisting they were not a risk. They had charms to stop people noticing the buss’ comings and going. But it turned out that while those charms worked just fine on people seeing the bus for themselves, they did nothing to protect against muggles watching over security footage. When a ‘Rita Skeeter Investigates’ article revealed to the public just how often the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes had to deploy the Obliviators due to the Knight Bus the owners had to stand down, letting the change come.
The policy currently stood that the Knight Bus could only operate in exclusively magical areas or in true emergency situations. Calling the Knight Bus outside of a proper emergency was an offense which would see them delivering you straight to the Aurors for a reprimand and a hefty fine. When this was first enacted the Knight bus did struggled for a time but the expansion of magically exclusive areas in recent years allowed the business to recover and thrive once again.
For the same reasons they’d worried about the Knight Bus people had been pushing for wizards and witches to have more spaces of their own where they could live in peace without worrying about exposure, raising their children without fear of their accidental magic or having to teach them that them to hide who they were. The Ministry was working with its citizens on the matter, organizing to buy up property from the muggles without drawing attention from the other side. Harriet, John, and others with the funds and necessary established identities in the muggle world were doing the bulk of the heavy lifting in this buying process.
Some of the properties they kept for themselves but most were parceled out to be sold on the magical market. Very little of this work was happening in urban areas as the main focus was on scoping up rural properties. They didn’t need the land to live on. Their numbers weren’t so great and having expanded wizard spaces and construction techniques allowed them to live comfortably in a small foot print. Secrecy and preservation were the main motivators.
The magicals were uncomfortable with just how much open land was being developed with every day that passed, with the number of species going extinct, and the pollution that was saturating their world at hirer and hire rates. Harriet had founded an organization with a focus on preserving at risk species and environments where they would naturally reside. These properties were a large part of that work, giving them a place to see wildlife thrive in spaces where muggles and contaminates were kept out. In the first year alone they brought many species both magical and not back out of endangered numbers. The results had been so encouraging they’d expanded their efforts overseas.
That wasn’t to say they weren’t developing some of the land they’d acquired. Already two new villages exclusively for magicals had been made with a third already underway. These villages had been built entirely bellow ground. The space above was saved with recreation and agriculture in mind. Along with residences many businesses had established themselves on this land. Most new, but a few well established.
Saint Mungo’s had moved themselves out of the city as well after concerns were raised about the attention a city like London drew from terrorists, a possibility that was high on everyone’s mind with how drastically reports of muggle conflicts effecting magicals had increased in the last decade.
The Ministry, Harriet, Rita, and other prominent figures did not have to work hard to make people understand that the muggle world was growing more dangerous then ever for them. News was coming out from the muggle outlets of new things to fear with every passing month. Terrorist bombings. New weapons with terrifying capabilities. Spy equipment that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. The Hulk who destroyed a city with his bare hands. The Iron Man who flew without a plane and fired deadly projectiles from his hands. All were born entirely from science and muggle means that had proven they could be replicated.
In their fear many were calling for complete isolation from the muggles but Harriet and those who stood with her urged that wasn’t the answer. She vehemently insisted that they needed to be careful and strive to maintain secrecy but that did not mean pulling back entirely from the muggles. She would never word it this way but Percy thought of it as keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. If they pulled back entirely they wouldn’t know what the muggles were capable of and wouldn’t know what they needed to protect themselves from.
Often the solutions to finding balance between secrecy and keeping the muggle world accessible were simple. Like the cabs. If the Knight bus could not travel in muggle territories the answer was not to avoid travel there all together. If they needed to go somewhere on the muggle side they could call for a cab, a cab that was completely legal on the muggle side of things but with magical protections and one of their own as a driver. If you didn’t have a muggle phone there were a variety of ways to call the cab. Percy himself used the floo to book a cab for his morning commute and then his ride home. Unlike with the Knight bus one had to endure some time to travel as the cab followed muggle limitations to stay under the radar. While some complained about the slowness most acknowledged it was worth it to maintain secrecy.
While Percy had grown comfortable in the routine of his commute he didn’t know how much longer it would last. Harriet had been considering for some time leaving London. The city had too many eyes through both its people and cameras. If someone thought to look they would probably find the activity around 12 Grimmauld Place suspicious. It was a risk. The same risk that was driving more and more magicals out of the city.
Percy expected the time where Harriet would bite the bullet to move was only a few months away. He didn’t think she would completely give up 12 Grimmauld Place. Harriet already had to give up her first home in Hogwarts and to give up her second entirely would be too much, but she was forever practical and self sacrificing. She had been the calm but urgent voice telling the Wizarding world that the time for change was now, before it was too late. Percy knew that Harriet would endure any measure of personal pain to do what was right.
With his cab pulling away Percy climbed the familiar steps of 12 Grimmauld Place which he believed would soon be retired to the status of a safe house or used only for occasional business and family gatherings. He wouldn’t feel the loss as much as Harriet but there would be a mourning process when the time came. He spent many years working there. More so than the burrow or Hogwarts it was here that he had developed into a man who was contented enough in himself to find happiness in his life.
Pulling out his copy of the key Percy unlocked the door opening the building to visitors for the day. Walking inside he moved out of the London air and into the small but comfortable space of the vestibule. Closing the door behind him he worked on shedding his coat and hat while waiting for the buildings protections to register his presence, check him over as a possible threat, and then alert those inside that he was there. He’d just finished folding his jacket over his arm when the door swung open allowing Percy through to the main house.
“Good morning Mister Kibble,” Percy greeted Kibble, the house elf who was standing on the other side holding the door opened for him. “Thank you for your care with breakfast this morning. It was wonderful as always.”
“Thank you and good morning Mister Weasley,” the young house elf returned, his words slightly rushed with his eagerness to finish with pleasantries and report, “Mistress Harriet is on a call. It’s her ninth of the morning. She’s been up for hours yet she’s not called for breakfast, sir.”
Percy sighed. Normally Harriet wasn’t one who needed minding to see she look after herself but with all the recent stress she had been overlooking certain things, like meals, much to the displeasure of her elves.
“I’ll see she eats,” Percy swore to the elf with gravity.
Accepting his world on the matter Kibble gave a nod before popping back to his duties.
Previously Kibble had been the house elf for the Crabbe family but after Voldemort’s fall he along with most of the family’s other assets had been stripped from them. Harriet and Hermione had both been unhappy with how the house elves were treated during these seizure. Hermione was most outraged that the elves were being treated as property, taken away as a monetary punishment rather than being freed from ‘slavery’ and abuse while Harriet had been more concerned for the possible trauma of being forcibly removed from their families.
When it was announced the Ministry would be auctioning off the house elves to new owners to raise funds for Death Eater victims Harriet used her fame and voice to try to put a stop to it. While she got people talking about if they should raise some standards for House Elf care it didn’t come in time before the auction. Getting special permission from Dumbledore Harriet left Hogwarts that day to attend. She placed winning bids on every last one of the elves that day. Very few of the those present were willing to try outbidding her or raising the price to be spiteful about it. Those who did found she was extremely willing to give up a fortune to a good cause for each and every house elf.
After the auction Harriet gave an interview with Rita on the reporters new talk show airing on Lee’s then only recently launched radio station. In that interview Harriet shared her history with Dobby and other house elves to allow the public to understand why protecting house elves as beings had come to matter so much to her. She then pointed out that as someone with being inheritance herself she was deeply disturbed by the demeaning miscategorization of house elves and other races as creatures rather than beings.
When Rita asked her what exactly she would do with so many house elves Harriet explained that she hoped to play match maker and that is exactly what she did. With John and Sirius and Percy’s help the House Elves who wanted it had been found placements with compatible families who would respect and appreciate the work they would do. Contracts were signed with the intent of protecting the house elves, providing protections including that the elves did not need to receive clothes to leave service if they so wished and that any joinings, breeding, and offspring that resulted from such things were in the house elves control, not their families to arrange and demand so that little baby house elves could be born to serve or be sold on.
Kibble was one of the few who had been part of that auction who asked to stay behind and continue working for Harriet rather than being found a new home in which to work.
Eventually the practices Harriet set with these elves became the standard the Ministry implemented into law to protect House Elves along with starting a sub-department to specifically oversee their welfare but it had taken years. Even with Harriet’s influence many of the developments she worked for required much dedication and time to see change actually happening but with each achievement further changes seemed to more readily come until they finally reached a point where the ball was rolling and growing momentum without Harriet and her supporters having to push it through a maze of challenges, up a hill.
The magical world was finally entering a time of true progress and innovation and when Percy looked at why he found all positive change lead back to Harriet in one way or another. What small part he played as her personal assistant gave him immense pride. Not once did he regret leaving the Ministry behind to take up this work.
Percy had been plagued with guilt after that night when the Dark Lord and his people attempted and some would argue succeeded in taking the Ministry. Others tried to console him that because he was under the Imperius curse he was absolved of any blame for the events of that night. At the time Percy couldn’t believe them. His feelings weren’t helped by Rita Skeeter’s efforts having painted him as a hero. The more people praised him and built him up the more like a fraud Percy felt. That his family also had accepted his apologies was both a comfort and a torment as he did not feel he deserved it and so it worsened his guilt.
Trying to assuage his burdened conscience Percy threw himself into working under Madam Bones in handling the fallout from the Dark Lord’s attack. When she was elected to replaced Fudge, Madam Bones named Percy one of her Undersecretaries. The position brought him no pride and the work that followed brought him only a minimal sense of achievement. Having to return to the Ministry every day kept Percy’s wounds open and his sleep full of nightmares.
Along with his work for the Ministry he dedicated himself to trying to find a way to make up for his failings in falling under the Imperius and doubting Harriet. She assured him there wasn’t a need for it but relented when Percy made it clear that it was something he needed to do. He begged her to tell him what she might need that he could help with. She could only come up with one answer. Sirius. Her godfather. Her innocent godfather who was in the process of having his name cleared. She asked Percy to keep an eye on his case to make certain nothing underhanded was being done. He eagerly fell on the task.
As much as Percy didn’t care for Rita at the time he worked to coordinate with her and anyone else he needed to in order to ensure that Sirius’ case played out to the best outcome. He arranged meetings, ensured paperwork ended up where it needed to go, served as a liaison on Sirius’ behalf, kept a watchful ear for rumors of ill news, and even leaked information from within the Ministry as well as giving Rita the interview she’d been pushing for in order to show his public support for Sirius to help seal public opinion in their favor.
By Summer Sirius’ name was cleared of his previous charges and pardoned for his status as an unregistered animagus and for escaping Azkaban. In compensation for his ordeal he was rewarded a stipend which he didn’t need but it meant something to him to take. The day of the official ceremony was the first time Sirius was seen by the public since the truth of his guilt was made known. It was also one of the few public appearances Harriet made in the months after the Dark Lord’s defeat.
The world was eager for news and pictures of her and as such they eagerly bought up papers talking about Sirius’ innocence. There presented to them was a picture of Harriet and Sirius standing side by side. He looked leagues different from the mad man they had all seen on the wanted posters. Seeing Harriet smiling at him, both with tears in their eyes helped to silence any doubts being spoken about the leniency Sirius was shown.
Harriet thanked Percy wholeheartedly for the part he had played in bringing that day about and while he was happy she was happy, it didn’t feel like enough to nullify the debt she was owed.
Even years later he still felt indebted to her.
So after Sirius was cleared Percy still went looking for ways he could help Harriet. Unfortunately there weren’t many to be found. She was safe. She was doing well at school. She had only one more summer to spend with her relatives and seemed contented with that. Dumbledore and her reputation were giving Harriet connections Percy could not touch. It felt like anything he could give her wasn’t needed.
It was during a meeting between John and Madam Bones that he finally found inspiration. They were discussing Harriet, her future, and the rumors circulating that she would become an Auror after graduating. Shaking his head John declared, “It will never happen. Harriet has zero aspirations to work for the Ministry or anywhere else. She intends to invest and live off the interest to leave herself free to pursue her passions.”
If that was what Harriet wanted, then Percy was determined to see that it worked out for her.
While living off interest sounded like a wonderful thing Percy didn’t trust the stability of it. Harriet had her inheritance, her reputation, and several people who would help support her if needed but things could always go tragically wrong. As Percy had no way of supplementing Harriet’s finances himself he looked for other means of giving her a larger cushion to fall back on. He quietly sent feelers out for investment opportunities while looking for ways that Harriet could make some fast money. With business effected in all sectors by the recent fall of the Death Eaters there were many opportunities to step in and take advantage. Percy wrote to Harriet about them all, even the less than scrupulous. Most she turned down, some she informed others of so they might act, but a few of the most choice she acted on herself. Where Percy could he helped her to follow through on matters while she was stuck at Hogwarts.
It was the following summer while researching some of their outdated laws for Minister Bones that Percy came across something interesting.
Back in the days when it was legal to settle disputes with duels which regularly ended in death there had been a rash of heirs and family heads dying to leave confusion and further fighting about the line of succession and what would be done with their estate. In response -and in all likelihood by the manipulation of someone or someones out for their own gain- a law had been created called The Rights of the Victorious. This law allowed the winner of such a duel to claim the estate of their opponent if they had no child to leave it to. In the case of an heir to the Family Head if no other child took their place before the death of the Head then what would have been their inheritance went to the victor. The measure was sighted to be meant to stop Heads and Heirs from rashly entering duels and it had worked. It was one thing to risk your life. It was another to risk all there was to your name going to your enemy should you loose. A wizard’s pride could not tolerate it.
Not long after The Rights of the Victorious were enacted a new law passed making it illegal to pursue such duels past first blood. In only a few short decades the practice of dueling with the intent to do injury was banned all together.
The Rights of the Victorious had not been enacted in over a century but it was still recognized by the Ministry. Though it hadn’t been an officially sanctioned duel what had transpired between Harriet and Voldemort was in the jurisdiction to enact the Right of the Victorious. On the magical side there wasn’t much for Harriet to get. Voldemort may have claimed to be the heir of Slytherin but he had not worked to legally take up the position of family Head through the Ministry nor had he gone after official Headship of House Gaunt. There was however another family inheritance Voldemort had claim to as heir. The Riddles may not have been magical but they were an affluent family.
With Harriet’s permission Percy filed the paperwork in her name the day she came of age just after submitting for her to take up legal Headship of her branch of House Potter and as Head her declaration to adopt one John Potter under her branch. Later when people were gossiping about this Percy learned that the adopting of adults was not done in the muggle word. While not done often in the magical world it was far from unheard of. Most often it was done as a last resort when no viable heirs were available. Almost always the one adopted was closely related to those they were being taken in by. That John was such a distant relation caused some grumblings but that was just because people were happy to gossip.
Given the reported closeness of the cousins people had wondered if their might be wedding vows in their future. Some were disappointed to discover their wouldn’t be, mostly those who believed that such a pairing would best serve to allow Harriet to pass her magical prowess on to her children. Some were thrilled that with John out of the running it left the possibility other. Many were imagining a relative or themselves marrying Harriet and taking on the Potter name, her fortune, and prestige.
For years Harriet was plagued with suitors hoping for some sign of encouragement. Had she found someone perhaps the numbers would have died off sooner but Harriet had yet to meet anyone that made her feel they were worth the drama and distraction dating would bring. This didn’t stop people from trying though. Memorably at the New Year’s party Dumbledore threw with Slughorn after Voldemort’s defeat one young man of twenty-five who had spent the night shamelessly flirting and being rebutted by Harriet who was then sixteen had decided to try stealing a kiss from her when the bells tolled midnight. Sirius however had intervened to save the day. Turning into Padfoot he tackled the boy to the floor. Giving him a taste of karma he bathed the side of the young man’s face in doggy kisses which were just as unwanted as the kiss he intended to subject Harriet to.
Jokingly the social columns referred to Sirius, John, and Percy as Harriet’s three musketeers. They were perceived as her designated protectors as she was rarely seen out in public without at least one of them at her side. They all readily took up position as her guard, representation, support, defender, or whatever else she needed on the day at that the hour. They weren’t the only ones willing to support her in this way but they were the ones the public were most aware of.
Heading from the foyer into the assistants’ office Percy went to get started on what Harriet needed for him that day.
On his way to the closet he took a look into her office. He could see that she was still on her call with a mirror propped in front of her, talking away but the privacy protections were in place stopping him from hearing what was being said. Spotting him her gaze temporarily moved up from the mirror to catch his own and she smiled at him in acknowledgment. He gave her a quick nod in return before her eyes and attention were back on the mirror. Whatever was being said stole her smile putting a frown on her face.
Stowing away his muggle hat and coat Percy slipped into his outer robes for the day which he kept there in the office. With his wardrobe taken care of he turned his attention to checking the planner for the day, looking for any adjustments that might have been made since the evening before and then the messages next to it. Along with the expected conformations there was a note in Harriet’s hand alerting him to a failed attempt during the night to break into one of their campuses. Most concerning the perpetrator had escape and Harriet was unable to divine their identity.
Ron was on the scene leading the investigation and working with the Aurors to figure out what they could. He expected to be finished in time for the morning meeting but it couldn’t be guaranteed. The note didn’t need to say it but Percy knew Rita was going to need their official word on the matter and as Rita’s favorite among the assistants it would fall to him to reach out. If he didn’t it would take only three hours at most before she invited herself to just show up at the house.
Percy frowned as he penned the letter along with an official quote Rita would be allowed to print.
These days there weren’t many who would be willing to try to go after anything connected to Harriet. Even fewer were capable of escaping their security. Of that limited number those who would be able to block Harriet’s sight cut the number down even further pointing a clear arrow at the likely culprit. Without proof Harriet wouldn’t want them making assumptions. She was forever preaching against limiting your perception. As her advice was usually sound Percy did his best not to let himself place the blame just yet but it was rather hard not to.
Moving that to the back of his mind Percy folded, sealed, and addressed his letter to Rita before placing it in the out going box on his desk. With that matter settled for the moment he turned his attention to the more expected business of the morning.
Percy was only just finished settling matters at his desk and getting ready to get some food in Harriet when a soft chime alerted him that someone had arrived in the floo room. Not many had access to their floo, something designed to deter people from dropping by on a whim. If people had a matter important enough to see Harriet without an appointment they were generally willing to go through the trouble of traveling the slower path through muggle London. Being able to step through the floo made Harriet too accessible, giving people ideas about just what kinds of problems they should come to her for help with.
The chime signaling rather than the alarm said that whoever had come was welcomed and clean of anything harmful. Still, following protocol Percy took a look through the peephole to be sure of who he was letting through before opening the door.
“Good Morning Mister Dobby,” Percy welcomed with a smile, stepping back to beckoned the house elf through.
When Harriet left Hogwarts she had asked Dobby if he would be willing to come work for her and John. Ever loyal Dobby had agreed.
After all the times Hedwig and other owls carrying her mail had been attacked or intercepted Harriet didn’t want to put them and her privacy in danger by continuing to rely on owls. She hired Dobby to serve as a courier delivering for them. He was paid the same wage Harriet would have paid a human employee. An exorbitant amount to Dobby’s view but Harriet insisted. Along with his wage he received an official and very smart set of uniforms and bags for when he was on the job. It was a uniform that in time came to be shared by several others when there was simply too much work for Dobby to see to it alone.
“Morning Mister Percy, sir. How is the morning going,” Dobby asked as he made his way into the house where he pulled deliveries out of his bag and sent them floating off to the various desks.
“No good news I’m afraid,” Percy answered honestly. Walking over to his desk he plucked up his letter for Rita had held it out to the house elf. “Only more work.”
Dobby’s ears dropped unhappily, not at the idea of work for him but at the idea of more work for them all as a whole and Harriet particularly. Leaning to the side he looked through the door to Harriet sitting at her desk and Percy did the same. She was still deep in conversation with someone via mirror and looking tired before the day had truly started. Dobby turned to Percy looking concerned. Percy smiled at him sadly.
The chime for the front door rang out through the house.
“Excuse me Dobby,” Percy said. At Dobby’s nod he went to get the door.
A look through the peephole showed Denise was reading the paper as she waited. As Percy opened the door she held up the morning edition of the Prophet for him to see. With a beaming smile she greeted him, “Morning Percy. Did you know you made the front page?”
Blanching Percy held his hand out for the paper which she handed over readily. With her hands free Denise worked to shed her jacket while heading for the closet to see it stored away. With half an ear Percy listened to Dobby and Denise exchange their morning greetings. The rest of his attention was on the front page article in front of him.
Under the headline ‘Puddlemere United Win After A Grueling Game’ was a giant picture of the team’s celebration with a clear focus on a grinning Oliver in his Keepers Uniform placing a loving kiss on Percy’s lips. The photo was captioned ‘Keeper of Puddlemere United Oliver Wood sharing a kiss with husband Percy Weasley.’ Despite how they were featured in the picture the article thankfully focused on the game which they credited to Oliver’s impressive defense of the hoops against a skilled offensive in what had been truly dreadful weather.
Ten years previously Percy wouldn’t have been able to handle it if anyone saw him kiss a man in public let alone printed a picture of it but after much personal growth it was no longer devastating, only embarrassing. He didn’t know if it was something left over from his time in denial or just his nature but Percy was not enthusiastic for PDA though his preferences didn’t mean he resented Oliver for the occasional lapse where he was too exuberant to think about their surroundings.
Percy’s journey to acceptance was in a large part due to Denise and her journey to be recognized for who she truly was.
She'd come to give Percy support, working as Harriet’s second assistant when she was fresh out of Hogwarts and just starting to transition. She’d already started using transfiguration to change her body to match her gender. Not recognizing her at all Percy had greeted Denise as a stranger. Gently she corrected him, explaining who she was. At first Percy had mistakenly thought there had been an accident, that they had suffered from a magical mishap that left them in a female body. He had been quick to assure he was sympathetic about the situation and wouldn’t treat ‘Dennis’ any differently. With the utmost of patience and prepared for rejection Denise explained to Percy that no, she was not a boy trapped in a woman’s body. In fact it was the other way around as despite what her body might have presented as she’d always been a girl seen by the world as a boy. She finished by asking that he referred to her as Denise and not Dennis in the future. Then very professionally, got to work.
Before that day the idea of a person being transgender was a foreign concept to Percy. Unfortunately for Denise Percy’s ignorance was common place in the wizarding world and being one of Harriet’s personal assistants came with a good deal of publicity. People knew who they were and with that came a lot of talk about Denise. It fell to her to educate a lot of people or continue dealing with their ignorance. She took it in stride as was her way, becoming an advocate for Transgender and LGBTQ+ education and representation in the Wizarding world.
Through Denise and his own research Percy learned about gender identities and sexual orientations with Harriet’s support and being educated alongside him.
Coming to terms with his own sexuality and coming out of the closet took some years but it had come. In the early days Percy was only out with Harriet and Denise. He dated and went about as a gay man in the safety of the muggle world where no one knew him. But the more comfortable he became with himself the more the confines of secrecy chaffed at him. He wanted to come out to his family and others but the fear of rejection kept him silent until one Christmas came.
After the Dark Lord’s defeat a tradition had developed around the holidays. Christmas Eve all the Weasleys were expected if able to arrive at the burrow to spend the holiday there. That time was reserved just for the family until Harriet, John, and Sirius came in the morning with Sirius’ kids joining in once they came into the picture. On this particular Christmas morning they arrived with word that Tonks was expecting her and Lupin’s second child. Molly lit up at the news before her attention turned on her own children and the lack of grandchildren coming from them.
As her only married child her first target was Bill.
Exasperated he explained, “We’ve already talked about this mum.” He looked to his wife for support but a clearly amused Fleur stayed out by sipping at her tea. Giving up on her help he continued, “Victoire is enough trouble on her own. We’re happy to keep her as our only just a little while longer. Then maybe we’ll have another.”
“Or two,” Fluer added between sips earning a playfully scornful look from Bill behind his mother’s back.
For a moment Molly looked wistful at the promise of two more grandchildren. It didn’t last long however before her attention turned expectantly on the rest of her very much unattached children.
Percy felt his gut sink as it always did when the topic of his love life approached.
“Don’t look at us like that,” Fred complained from where he was perched on the counter.
From beside him George spoke up. “Yeah, at least wait until breakfast is done to go in on us woman.”
“Well how am I to look when only one of my children’s managed to settle themselves,” Molly questioned.
“It’s not like we’re old maids or something,” Ginny defended. “We’ve all got plenty of time to ‘settle.’”
Molly opened her mouth to say something but Arthur took her hand for a squeeze while slyly giving an apologetic smile to their children who all looked unhappy with the topic at hand and then of course their two uncomfortable quests. “She’s right dear. Things are changing. Plenty of the kids these days are holding off getting married and starting families of their own.”
It was true. After Voldemort’s defeat there had been a record number of births but the overwhelming majority of these came from the older generations while the number of births and marriages in the younger generations took a decidedly marked decline. Most people contributed this to the fact that large numbers of people eager to do their part to bring about change were devoting themselves to work after Voldemort’s fall. There were a record number of new businesses being started by young people, many of them just out of Hogwarts or only out for a couple of years. The twins hadn’t even waited that long. Much to Molly’s distress they’d dropped out of Hogwarts before their last year to open their joke shop with Lee following after them, dropping out to open his own radio station which expanded into a small media empire in the years since.
“And even if we did end up staying single would that be so bad,” Charlie threw in gaining the attention of the table. With the attention of his family on him he defiantly locked eyes with his mother. “Not everyone wants a family. Not everyone wants a partner.”
“Well when you’re young,” Molly started to say but Charlie cut her off.
“No. It’s not about freedom or being young. Plenty of people don’t- I don’t want anyone. I just don’t see people that way. I never have. I love my family, I love my friends, and I love my work. That’s enough for me. Maybe one day I’ll want kids. Maybe one day I’ll find a person who’s an exception,” Charlie admitted but Percy could see in his face that he thought there was a greater chance of the moon being made of cheese. “But I wouldn’t plan on that happening.”
There was silence around the table as people processed what he’d said or waited to see how those processing would react. From where they sat both Sirius and John were looking incredibly awkward at having instigated this conversation and now being trapped at the table for this family matter.
Seeming to be simply curious Ginny asked, “Are you just not interested in dating, or are you not interested in anybody at all?”
“Not anyone.”
Taking a deep breath Percy forced himself to speak, “There’s a term, a-sexual. It sounds like maybe its something you might relate with?”
The eyes of the table turned on him in surprise. Forcing himself to show a little more confidence Percy explained, “Denise is working with some people to make a book about attraction explaining its like a graph with romantic and physical attraction and how they are separate and scale. Some people don’t experience either. Some only one. Some like the same sex or not, some people like both, and some don’t care.
“Hah,” Ginny said. “And what’s that called?”
“What’s what called,” Percy asked his nerves frying his brain a bit.
“Someone who doesn’t care. What’s that called?”
“Um… well, bisexual for people who like their own gender and other genders,” Percy explained. Ginny nodded in her understanding to that and down the table Sirius saluted his mug a little though no one seemed to notice.
Percy went on, scared he’d get what he was saying wrong. The nerves were as bad as answering for his N.E.W.Ts. “And pansexual for those who experience attraction regardless of gender?”
“Oh,” Ginny said. Finishing her tea she got up to take her dirty cup to the sink. “I like the sound of that. Sounds more right for me than bi anyway.”
That took the room by surprise but for the twins who took in all their faces with mischievous delight.
“You’re gay,” Ron exclaimed. “You like girls?”
“Not gay Ronald, and yeah obviously I like girls. I also like guys and lots of people,” Ginny said casually, like it was nothing, just fact and as a fact there was no reason that anyone shouldn’t accept it with anything less than ease. Percy had never been so in awe of his sister.
“You’re all acting like this is some big news,” Ginny said setting her hands on her hips. “I wrote you all during my summer abroad about my girlfriend. Remember? Madison? Did you just think she was a one off or something?”
Realization spread to all the Weasleys.
“I thought she was a girl who was a friend dear,” Molly said softly.
Ron was nodding in agreement. “Like you and Luna or Hermione or Harriet.”
The twins rolled their eyes.
“Oh come on Ron.”
“You can’t be that oblivious.”
“Ginny’s had a crush on Harriet almost as long as you have.”
The twins revealed, watching in delight as Ron and Ginny both blushed scarlet.
“Shut up,” Ginny scolded them. “I’m much better than Ron. I got over that years ago and you know it.”
They shared a look and nodded shrewdly agreeing, “True enough.”
Meanwhile Molly sat herself down in Arthur’s lap with husband and wife looking thrown.
“I…” Molly managed to get out sounding very uncertain of her words. “Well, that’s… I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Madison dear?”
“Yes,” Author agreed. “I’m sorry we didn’t know.”
Ginny and Percy both looked at their parents with naked love at their show of acceptance for her. Going over Ginny hugged them both at once placing kisses on each of their heads. “It’s alright. We just weren’t right for each other.”
As she pulled away they smiled at her.
“And while you’re both being accepting I’m just putting this out there. I’m not planning on having kids or settling down until I retire from Quidditch and that is hopefully a long way off.”
Molly gaped. “But Ginny.”
“No buts,” Ginny countered leaving no room for argument. “I want to focus on my career and I can’t play while pregnant. It’s not safe for me or a baby.”
“If you’re with a girl couldn’t they be the one to carry it,” Fred pointed out ruining Ginny’s excuse and throwing her under the bus to deal with future pestering from Molly about babies and marriage. She sent him a glare while behind her back Molly got that hopefully look back in her eyes. The look she got whenever the subject of grandbabies came up.
“Speaking of,” George said. “We should throw in that we aren’t planning for kids anytime soon either.”
Fred nodded, “I’m afraid you raised too many passionate children who are happy to focus on their work.”
“So you won’t be getting any tots from us.”
“At least not for a few decades.”
The twins declared. They lessened the blow by each kissing their mother’s cheek.
Looking disappointed Molly turned beseeching eyes on Percy.
Bracing himself he explained. “I want kids but not until I find the right man… and there’s been no sight from him yet.”
He could see his siblings reacting to the news out of the corner of his eye but he kept his sights locked on his parents.
“Well, you let us know when you think you’ve found him,” his father said sounding dazed but not upset.
“…The Jefferson boy,” Molly said consideringly.
Percy looked at her confused. “What mom?”
“The Jefferson’s son,” she said gaining enthusiasm. “He’s a lovely young man. Works in the Ministry. On his way to a promotion. Word was that his interests are in boys as well. Maybe I could write his mother and-”
Ginny broke out in snickers while Percy buried his face in his hands. “Mom,” he complained.
“What,” she asked.
Having finished her floo call Harriet entered the room. Standing besides Sirius and John who were looking thoroughly amused she took in the energy of the room in confusion. “What did I miss?”
“Oh we were just talking about marriage and babies,” Fred said directing a wicked grin at Ron.
With a mirroring grin at their youngest brother George picked up. “Oh, yes and we were just getting to Ron’s turn.”
Bushing scarlet Ron glared at them before shrugging and staring down intently at his drink. “Just have to find the right girl,” he grumbled.
Unfortunately that was far from the truth. What Ron needed was to let go of his fascination with the wrong girl. He’d been hung up on Harriet for so long that he’d ruined his chances with all his past girlfriends. He and Hermione could have really made a go of it if he had laid his crush on Harriet to rest before perusing his feelings for his other friend. Fortunately they’d made it out of the failed attempt with their friendship still in tact.
For Percy love had taken awhile to find. Coming out as gay to his family made coming out as gay to the wizarding world easier but being able to openly date didn’t mean he had all that much time to invest in it. His work kept him busy. Even when he found someone he was interested in they weren’t always very understanding of that or his commitment to his job. He had one boyfriend throw out during a fight that maybe Harriet was the one he was really in love with since everything he did seemed to revolve around her.
But then came Oliver.
Once they started dating Percy found himself making room for Oliver in a way he hadn’t done in any of his previous relationships. He didn’t just like spending time with Oliver. He needed him. Going a day without at least speaking made that day a little lesser. Oliver made Percy feel loved and contented and full of life and this is just what Percy told him when after a year of dating he proposed. Feeling the same for Percy Oliver had accepted with a smile and a kiss before answering properly that yes, he would marrying him, putting Percy’s nerves to rest.
Their life together was good. Happier and more gratifying than anything Percy ever expected for himself. The only thing that could make it better was to make it fuller. They both went into the marriage wanting children but with The Convergence looming on the horizon they decided to put it off. Not only did the preparations require much of Percy’s attention and extra hours at work but with so much unknown about what the event might actually bring they preferred to approach it without a little life to worry about. Besides there was already a planned mandatory evacuation to happen to get all minors and other ‘vulnerable’ peoples out of the country for The Convergence. If they had a child of their own Oliver would have to leave with them while Percy stayed for the duration of the event. Without a child they could stay together through whatever happened, and that is what they wanted.
They were only in their thirties. Children could wait. Besides, Fleur and Bill had given the family three beautiful children to dote on until then and Oliver was still hoping to make it to the Quidditch World Cup before he retired. With the way the season was going, it looked like they might actually do it this time.
Smiling Percy put down the paper to focus on his work but made a mental note to ask Rita for a print of the picture from the front page.