You Promised It Would Be Forever - Edit

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 42 ~ Dinner With the Weasleys

When Ginny and Percival arrived a short distance away from the Burrow, the witch was appalled to see every member of her family in the doorway, waving at them frantically, smiles on every face. Percival was delighted as the witch grimaced.

"Seems like a very friendly bunch," he said as Fred and George broke away from the group and strode up to meet them.

Percival looked at the house, trying to hide his amazement. It was at least four stories tall and built so wildly only magic could have held it up. Closer examination showed some rooms had been added on. The yard was more of a rather unkempt garden area. Gnarled trees lined the walls and there were plenty of weeds and overgrown grass. There was a large pond, and Percival could see a lot of potato-like gnomes running from clump to clump. There was also a large shed and what looked like a stone outhouse.

Fred and George walked up to the approaching couple, smiling broadly.

"Hey Ginny. Brought home some new meat, eh? An unattached male in the Weasley household. Mum's going to be on point, old boy," Fred said, looking Percival over and extending his hand with a smile. "Gred Weasley here."

Percival shook his hand and didn't get a chance to speak before the other twin stuck out his hand as well.

"Forge Weasley," he said, grinning wickedly as he too shook Percival's hand. His brown eyes swept over the wizard. "Nice robes," George commented. "Will probably be covered in gravy by the time dinner's done. You would've done better to wear something like this."

George pointed to his own worn robes. 

"These are Weasley dinner robes…well seasoned from years of battling at the supper table," he said. "Been hit with everything from coffee to mashed potatoes."

Ginny rolled her eyes at her brothers and said evenly, "They are Fred and George, Percival, not Gred and Forge. Honestly."

The twins smirked.

"I am Percival Hornswallow," Percival said, smiling at the mischievous pair. He liked them already.

At his name, the twins sobered and looked at Ginny.

"You couldn't find a Frank or Ivan, Ginny? Mum's going to blow a cork the minute you introduce him," Fred said.

"Yeah," George agreed, "We're going to need waders when the dam bursts."

"Mum will be all right," Ginny said, frowning at her brothers. "Percival knows she might cry."

Fred and George scowled at the wizard a moment as if he had purposely taken their brother's name to bring grief to their mum. Then both sighed.

"A bloke can't help his name," Fred said.

"Nope, not a bit. Though I've always wondered about parents who would name their sons 'Percival,'" George said, peering at Ginny's guest with a "I'm so sorry" look.

Ginny groaned. Her brothers had no couth or tact at all. She looked over at Percival, who was smiling at her brothers. He didn't seem to be insulted.

Fred and George kept up an annoying commentary as they entered the yard. Molly Weasley wiped her hands a little self-consciously on her clean apron, while Arthur Weasley smiled, though he had on his "What are you doing with my daughter?" face. His brown eyes swept over the wizard. Tall, handsome, well-dressed, nice boots. His bearing suggested nobility. But Ginny with nobility? That was highly unlikely. Arthur knew his daughter considered the rich…well…beneath her. "All frauds and phonies," she said.

The couple approached, flanked by Fred and George who were giving Percival the once over as well. They smelled money.

Charlie, Ron and Bill Weasley, standing behind their parents studied the wizard with interest.

Ron was frowning. He was very protective of Ginny, and this wizard looked very smooth. But he didn't see any obvious signs of intimacy between them. There was no handholding and Percival wasn't standing too close to his sister. Still he was good-looking and obviously well off. And that meant trouble as far as Ron was concerned.

"I've seen that bloke before, Charlie," Bill said.

Bill worked for Gringotts as a spellbreaker. He had indeed seen Percival before, on several occasions…but just in passing.

"Yeah, he looks familiar," said Charlie.

Percival had been at a dragon auction once. He made a couple of half-hearted bids on a Horntail, but didn't purchase the animal. But the bids had been high enough to attract Charlie's notice as he stood near the pens watching the bidding.

All Molly saw was a tall, well-dressed handsome wizard of marriageable age. She tried to imagine what her grandchildren would look like as she greeted him.

"Hello. My name is Molly Weasley. I'm Ginny's mother. Welcome to the Burrow," she said.

Percival bowed and took Molly's hand and planted a gallant kiss on it, making the witch titter.

"Mrs. Weasley," he said, "A true pleasure to meet you, Madame."

All the male Weasleys looked at one another. That settled it. This wizard was definitely nobility. Percival offered his hand to Arthur.

"Mr. Weasley, I presume," the wizard said as Arthur gripped his hand firmly. "An honor to meet you, sir."

"A pleasure to meet you too, Mr…?"

"Mr. Hornswallow. Mr. Percival Hornswallow," Ginny interjected.

At Percival's name all the Weasleys with the exception of Fred, George and Ginny, stiffened, then looked at Molly, who stared up at him.

"Percival?" she asked the wizard. He nodded.

Yes, Mrs. Weasley," he responded gently.

Molly's eyes began to glisten.

"I have a son named Percival. He…he isn't here," she said, a catch in her voice.

Percival took her hand in his, and covered it.

"Yes…I know. And I am very, very sorry to remind you of that," he said sincerely.

Molly sniffed as Percival continued to hold her hand, trying to comfort her. The Weasley men looked on in approval as the approaching flood of tears receded.

"Well then, won't you please come in, Mr. Hornswallow?" she said, leading him through the doorway.

"Would it be too painful for you to call me Percival, Mrs. Weasley?" he asked her as the men parted, letting them pass through.

She looked up at him.

"No. No, I can do that, Percival," she said, giving him a small sad smile.

"Good," Percival said as everyone streamed in after them.

They entered the rather small cramped kitchen. There was a scrubbed wooden table and chairs in the middle of it, as well as a fireplace. Cookbooks were stacked on the mantelpiece and a clock with one hand stood against the wall. An old radio was softly playing music, Tuned to the WWN. The kitchen used to be the center of activities, but Fred and George had a dining room added on and they could all eat comfortably there.

Molly escorted Percival to the dining room. The table was already laden with an assortment of home-cooked food. The wizard's mouth watered as he looked at the ample spread.

"It all looks and smells delicious, Mrs. Weasley," Percival commented. He meant it too. He never got to eat good home cooked meals like this.

Molly beamed. Nothing put her in a better mood than someone new complimenting her cooking. Molly Weasley was the consummate homemaker. She took great pride in her abilities.

"Thank you, Percival," she said, "Ginny is also an excellent cook."

Ginny rolled her eyes again. Her mother was already starting in on sharing information that she thought would make her daughter more appealing as a wife.

"Mum…" Ginny fairly whined as she took a seat at the table. Percival sat down next to her as everyone grabbed a seat, Arthur taking his place at the head of the table, Molly sitting at the other end.

"All right…before we start our meal, Mr. Hornswallow…" Arthur began.

"Percival," Percival said, "Please, I would like for all of you to call me by my given name."

They all nodded. Not stuffy this one. Ron's eyes were still a bit narrowed as he looked from Ginny to Percival.

"All right, Percival. Before our meal I'd like to introduce you to my family. This is Bill, Ron, Fred and George," he said going down one side of the table, and Molly, as you know," he said then pointing to Charlie, "And Charlie."

Next to Charlie was the empty chair that Percy would have occupied. 

"That is where our Percy would be, if he were here," Arthur said soberly.

Molly's eyes began to glisten again as Percival nodded.

"Obviously he is here in your hearts," the wizard commented, looking directly at Molly, "so he is never really far from you."

Molly blinked back her tears and gave Percival a smile.

"No, no he's not Percival," she said softly.

Almost all the Weasley men were impressed. This wizard was quite smooth. Mum hadn't cried yet.

Arthur cleared his throat. "All join hands please," he said.

All around the table, the family joined hands, Percival among them, reaching over the empty chair to take Charlie's rough work-worn hand. Ginny held his other.

"Now please bow your heads for a moment of silence, in thanks for the meal before us, and to give a thought for our loved ones who cannot be with us in body, but are with us in spirit and in love," the wizard said soberly.

Everyone sat quietly for several moments, Percival included. He had never felt such a pure connection between people. His heart went out to the family as they thought of their incarcerated son and brother.

Finally Arthur Weasley said, "Dig in!"

Percival was taken by surprise as dishes clinked and hands reached and bedlam ensued as everyone sought to fill their plates at once.

Fred looked over at the stunned wizard.

"If you want to eat, Percival old boy, get in here," he grinned as he plopped a large amount of mashed potatoes on his plate, then poured gravy over it.

Percival looked at Ginny who was quickly piling her plate. She passed him a bowl of rolls, then a plate of chicken wings.

"Hurry up before Ron gets them," she urged the wizard. Percival looked over at Ron who had a huge amount of food on his plate and was still going at it. The wizard hesitated, then started battling for dishes too, catching hold of a bowl of sweet peas at the same time as George and wresting it away from him with a grin.

"Now you've got it," George said encouragingly as he grabbed for the corn.

Finally the battle was over, and everyone had food, more or less. Percival had been too slow for the pumpkin pie, but Ginny slid half of hers on to his plate. He in turn shared some of his macaroni and cheese with her. Ron had struck before she could get her hands on it.

"How is Shannon doing, Ron?" Molly asked her son. Shannon was Ron's three-year-old daughter. His wife Darlene was home with the child, who was sick with a bad cold and fever. Darlene did not like to use magic on the toddler unless it was absolutely necessary and was taking care of her in the muggle way. She insisted Ron go to Sunday dinner though. Darlene knew how important it was to Molly that her family be together.

"She's getting better, Mum. Personally, I thought she could come, but you know Darlene. If Shannon even sniffles, it's off to bed with her. And I thought you were over-protective," Ron answered around a mouthful of peas.

"Darlene is a good mother," Molly said to Ron. "When it comes to children, better safe than sorry."

Arthur nodded as he bit into a chicken wing.

Percival was enjoying his meal immensely as well as the company. Smacking, grunts of appreciation and finger licking went on all around him as the family tucked in, completely unabashed as they ate and talked.

Arthur looked at Percival.

"So, Percival, what do you do for a living?" he asked the wizard. It was grilling time. Everyone around the table looked at Percival with interest, although they continued eating.

Percival sucked two fingers appreciatively as he finished a chicken wing, took a sip of pumpkin juice, then answered the wizard.

"I am a businessman, Mr. Weasley," he answered. The twins perked up.

"What kind of business, Percival?" Fred asked him.

Ginny was looking nervous.

"I have…varied interests, Fred…George?" he answered.

"George," Fred lied.

"That's Fred," Ginny hissed as both twins grinned.

Ron narrowed his eyes at Percival.

"You're a Lord aren't you?" he asked accusingly.

Ginny's eyes widened as Percival looked at Ron coolly.

"I am titled, yes," he replied shortly, eating some mashed potatoes.

Molly went pale. They had nobility in their house. Self-consciously she patted her hair and shot Ginny an angry glance for not telling her. She would have dressed better and made everyone else do the same.

"Percival," she asked him in an almost frightened voice, "What exactly is your full titled name?"

Percival looked at Ginny, who dropped her head. The dragon was out of the lair now.

"Lord Percival Hornswallow the 2nd," he replied, eating a forkful of peas and dropping a couple.

Eyes widened around the table. They all knew about him. One of the richest, most eligible bachelors in the wizarding world.

"Hot damn! Jackpot!" George exclaimed.

"George!" Ginny yelled at him, horrified as Percival smirked.

"What? You landed a winner," he said, smiling broadly at Percival. "I'm just sharing the joy."

Fred was actually rubbing his hands together, as he wondered how much he could get Percival to invest in the joke shop.

"You stop that," Ginny said agitatedly, "Percival and I are not involved. We are just friends."

Percival looked at Ginny in that instant, and it was clear to everyone at the table that the wizard would like to be much more than friends with the witch.

Fred and George both groaned.

"Oh no, not the 'redheaded little angel' bit again. I swear, Ginny, you run off more rich wizards that way," Fred griped, stabbing a roll with his fork in frustration.

"Yeah, you've got aspiring family members to think about," George said, frowning at his sister.

Ginny turned bright red at these statements.

"Fred and George Weasley…if you think I am going to hop in every rich wizard's bed I meet just so he'll invest in your stupid joke shop, you've got another thought coming! I can't believe you two! I knew I shouldn't have brought Percival here!" she said, pushing her chair out savagely and leaving the table, rushing through the front door and out into the garden.

Fred and George looked at each other.

"What's wrong with her?" they both said in unison.

Percival stared at them in stunned disbelief. He had never met two more outspoken wizards in all his life. What they said was extremely selfish and thoughtless…but still. They were honest chaps, that's for sure…if a bit dense when it came to others' feelings.

Molly growled at them.

"You embarrassed her, that's what's wrong," she snapped. Then she looked at Percival apologetically. "I'm so sorry, my Lord," she said softly, "my sons are idiots."

Both Fred and George scowled at their mother until she turned her eyes back on them. They seemed to shrink to child-size though there was no actual physical change.

"We are going to talk about manners later," she said to them in that tone mothers use when about to do some real earsplitting.

"Yes mum," both wizards said, and returned to eating their food with a lot less gusto. They weren't looking forward to Molly's 'discussion'

Percival dabbed his mouth with his napkin and rose.

"I'll go get Ginny," he said, "If you will excuse me."

The family watched him stride out the door.

"Did you see the look he gave her when she said they were only friends, Dad?" Bill said to his father in a low voice.

Arthur nodded and looked thoughtful.

"He likes her," Molly whispered, "And he's a Lord. A pureblood too."

"He must like her a lot to come have dinner with us," Charlie observed, "Most Lords would never do this. They'd think it was beneath them."

Ron scowled.

"Well I don't like him. He's trying to buy his way into her bed," the wizard said snarkily.

"That would never work with Ginny, Ron. You know how she blows off rich wizards. Poor Percival probably hasn't spent more than a galleon on her, and knowing Ginny, she probably paid him back," Fred said, shaking his head. "Man, I wish I was a witch. I'd be loaded."

Charlie looked at Ron.

"Ron, get over it. Ginny isn't even a virgin," Charlie said, then he realized he had spoken in front of his parents. He didn't even look at them, but concentrated on his peas.

Arthur and Molly scowled at their son as Bill, Fred and George did their best not to bust out in laughter. Ron looked absolutely scandalized.

"I think what Charlie is trying to say Ron," Arthur said diplomatically, "Is that Ginny is old enough to decide who she wants to be involved with, and you have no right to try to interfere."

"But she's my sister," Ron said weakly.

"And our daughter," Arthur said, looking over at his wife, "This is the first wizard she has ever brought home to meet us. Their 'friendship' might be on its way to becoming more, and Ginny, sensible as she is, probably wanted Percival to get a look at us so he would know what he was getting into."

Molly frowned at Fred and George.

"You two might have ruined it all with your greediness," she hissed at them.

Bill looked thoughtful.

"I don't think so, mum. He looked more delighted than anything when the twins said what they did. I don't think the Lord gets to hear the bones of it very often. He might be more comfortable with that, then people hiding what they feel. At least he knows where he stands with these two morons," the spellbreaker said, grinning at Fred and George.

"Hey!" they both exclaimed angrily at him. "Our business will make him loads of money."

"Be that as it may," Arthur said, "You still shouldn't try to get your sister to sleep with every wealthy wizard she comes in contact with just so they'll invest with you. There's a name for wizards that use women like that."

"Yeah," George said grinning, "Rich."

Arthur just shook his head as the twins high-fived each other.

"Well, I want you two on your best behavior for the rest of the evening," he said to Fred and George, scowling slightly. They blanched and nodded.

Arthur Weasley did not give direct orders very often, but when he did, he meant it. They might be grown wizards, but Arthur was still their father, and the head of the clan.

Percival managed to convince Ginny to come back inside. He really was not offended by Fred and George or even Ron. They were just honest in what they said, if not tactful, and Percival had just about had it up to here with tact. He preferred the straight shot. He learned from Ginny that her brothers owned Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Actually, Percival had been hearing quite a bit about their company and the profits they were garnering. However uncouth Fred and George were, the two obviously knew what they were doing.

Ginny and Percival returned to the table and finished their dinner. The wizard truly enjoyed the company of the family. They were warm and open and argumentive and delightful. He couldn't remember a freer, better meal in all his days.

At the end of the evening, Percival thanked Molly for the best dinner he ever had, and Arthur for accepting him into his household for the evening. He then shook the hands of all her brothers, including Ron who still looked at him suspiciously. 

He insisted on apparating back alone, so Ginny could stay and help her mother clean up, and probably talk. Ginny gave him a peck on the cheek, and Fred and George groaned again. Why oh why couldn't they have a looser sister?

Smiling and waving at the family, who all stood in the door to see him off, Percival disapparated.

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Percival lay awake in bed all night thinking about the Weasley family. That would be the kind of closeness he would like to have with his own children. Obviously they had been brought up to be free thinkers, and weren't cowed by their poverty. It seemed to have given them strength in other areas. A truly nice family all in all. He could easily deal with them.

If Ginny had thought to run him off, she had failed miserably. Instead, she had shown him what it was like to have a large, close knit family up close. And he liked it. Very much.

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The next morning, Lord Percival Hornswallow the 2nd arrived at the Ministry, immaculately dressed. He was a major contributor to the campaigns of several board members. He asked to speak to the twelve-member counsel, who immediately convened for a special session with the wizard.

Chairman Figglesworth grinned at the wizard when he strode into the boardroom.

"Ah, Lord Hornswallow, a very rare pleasure to see you. Now what is this matter you wish to speak to the Ministry Board about? As you know, many of us are in your debt in a manner of speaking and you have never asked anything of us as long as you have been contributing. If there is anything we can do for you that is within the realm of law and reason, we will be happy to assist you," Figglesworth said graciously.

Percival pulled off his black leather gloves and walked up to the podium.

"Yes, gentlemen. I do have a request to make of you. Most likely your response will have an effect on whether I will continue to contribute to your campaigns in the future," Percival said evenly.

The Board members murmured among themselves a bit worriedly. Most of them wouldn't have gotten re-elected without Percival's support. In effect, Percival was blackmailing them.

"What do you wish to discuss?" Figglesworth asked, frowning slightly. An election was coming up.

Percival looked at him.

"The release of one Percy Weasley from Azkaban," the wizard replied, his green eyes narrowing.

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A/N: Wow! Please review.