The Houses Competition

Gryffindor

Defence Against the Dark Arts

Drabble

Prompt: 2. [Character] Percy Weasley

Word count: 827

Betaed by: Tiggs, Amanda and Vee. Thank you so much!

Percy didn't know why he'd tried to talk with his family. They didn't understand what he was saying. If they remained with Dumbledore, they would all be ruined. He hadn't joined the Ministry to be stuck in a lower position just like his father. He'd joined so he could rise through the ranks. They knew that, and yet they insisted on dragging him down, too.

Well, no more. Once and for all, he'd put them in their place. Either by his side or against him, they'd made their choice. Dumbledore seemed more important to them than their own family. It still hurt, but he'd also made his choice.

Percy walked through their front yard. He had to get outside the wards before he Apparated away. He'd hoped for a different outcome, but his hope was in vain. They had let him go. He didn't dare look back and see if they were watching, or if they simply went on with their lives. He put one foot in front of the other, making himself move.

"Percy! Percy, wait!"

He turned around, surprised at hearing his sister's voice. Ginny had come out after him? Oddly, she'd been the only one who hadn't told him what an awful person he was and how many mistakes he'd make. Percy supposed it would have been too much to ask to have just one person on his side. But of course, she couldn't have spoken up for him, could she? Not when it came to Harry Potter.

"Ginny? What do you want?"

"What do I want? What do I want, Percy? I want you to explain to me when winning ground at the Ministry became more important than your family?"

"I…"

"Turn around and face me!" she demanded.

Despite his wish to leave, Percy found that he couldn't Apparate and leave her alone in the yard—not when she'd been the only one to come out after him. Maybe he could make her understand...

"Not everyone joins, like Dad, to be a no one. Gaining a position has always been my goal. You knew that already," he said, watching her eyes narrow.

"Of course we did. But since when did a job become more important than family? Since when was what Fudge said so important? Merlin, Percy, I knew you were ambitious, but I never realised you were this power hungry."

Her words cut deep, and Percy could feel tears clouding his eyes. However, he couldn't allow himself to let her words reach him. He was right, period. He was on the right side, and she had to let him go. They had to let him go.

"You think this will make me come back? Ginny, you're all going down, and I'm not going down with you. I have a million things that are more important than babysitting you. Let it go."

She blanched at his words, but he couldn't make himself regret them.

"You should go back inside."

"You're my big brother, Percy."

At this, Percy had to turn his head away. He was indeed. Ginny had always been his favourite; she was the one who understood him the most. He'd told her about his relationship with Penelope, he'd told her first about his problems; she was just… there.

And he was there for her. When his parents had brought her home, he'd been so happy that he finally had a baby sister. He'd been her favourite brother once they'd both grown up, not Bill or Charlie or the twins or Ron. Him.

"I'm not your only brother," he said, choking up.

"You're not," she said.

Her voice cracked, and Percy couldn't help but turn and watch her; her eyes were filled with tears.

"I am what I am, Ginny. And I'm telling you to let it go."

"Surely, you can see that they're wrong!"

And perhaps Percy did see it, but he would never admit it aloud.

"I work for the Minister for Magic. He told me that this is the best course of action."

"If I worked for him, I'd quit."

"Then quit talking with me, Ginny. I'm his representative."

She narrowed her eyes and wiped her face.

"Very well, I'll leave you alone. Do as the Minister says, Percy; don't question him. But let me ask you this: do you have friends by your side? Are they really your friends? Or are they with you for the win? Are they worth more than your family? Than me? I'm your sister and I'm telling you that what they're doing is wrong. Dumbledore and Harry are speaking the truth. One day you'll see it, but it'll be too late."

She ran back into the Burrow, leaving Percy alone in the yard. For a moment, he was tempted to follow her, but his feet remained unmoving.

He wiped his eyes and Apparated to the Ministry, not noticing how Ginny had appeared by the door, tears streaming down her cheeks.

He'd made his choice.