Underground Resistance | Percy Weasley

Chapter 5

It seems to be a lot harder to change the names of the convicted Muggle-Borns than Acelina originally expected. Umbridge has gotten herself a scribe that meets her many requirements and most of the transcripts are typed out by the other employees. Acelina had thought about volunteering as a scribe but seeing she has plenty to do on a normal day, she has decided against it. Her own work mostly consists of walking around the Ministry to complete tasks Umbridge set her, managing Umbridge's daily schedule, and making sure Umbridge doesn't forget anything important.

Everywhere Acelina goes within the Ministry, she notices the changes of Voldemort's take-over; the empty offices where Muggle-Born employees used to work, the fear in the eyes of the ones getting arrested in the Atrium as they come into work or try to speak to a co-worker.

Her current task is to retrieve a set of files Umbridge asked for from the Auror's Department and deliver it to the woman in the courtrooms. On her way to the courtroom, Acelina walks through several corridors of Level Ten, and as she rounds a corner, she smacks into someone for the second time in a month.

Luckily for Acelina, she manages to remain standing on her heels – an accomplishment on itself – but due to the fright, she drops the files she was holding. Parchment scatters through the air and ends up on the black tiles.

"We should stop meeting like this," a voice chuckles lightly.

Acelina doesn't look up and instead sinks to her knees to gather the files. She is about to grab her wand when the voice offers: "Allow me."

Within seconds, the pieces of parchment are gathered and returned to their folders. Acelina grabs the folders off the ground and finally takes a look at who she bumped into. A sigh of relief escapes her as her eyes meet Percy's.

"As I said, we should stop meeting like this," the man smiles, "Perhaps you could use a charm to keep the folders together. In case you drop them, you won't have to gather everything every time."

The tone of his voice is professional but laced with a hint of amusement. Acelina straightens her back and tightens her grip on the folders. His comment about her note-taking keeps ringing through her head at random times during the days and she still hasn't figured out if it was a compliment or point of critique.

"I shall think about it next time."

She realises how harsh her voice sounds when Percy's expression falls. He opens his mouth to say something but closes it again with no words coming out. Acelina sighs and relaxes her shoulders.

"I did not mean to sound like that. I apologize."

"I didn't mean to upset you. From experience, I know how annoying it can be when you drop heavy folders in the middle of a busy corridor."

Acelina smiles at Percy, "Thank you, really. I shall think about it next time I walk around with this many folders."

She wants to continue her journey to Umbridge's courtroom, already being late, but Percy stops her by grabbing her upper arm. Startled, Acelina yanks her arm back, out of Percy's light grip. The man immediately raises his hand in surrender, taking a step back. Acelina shakes the feeling the anxious feeling away.

"Ehm, I was wondering if I could make it up to you. Perhaps with dinner?"

Surprised by the question, Acelina blinks at him. A shy smile frames Percy's lips and Acelina notices how his glasses make his eyes brighter. He looks somewhat hopeful. In the back of her mind, a voice suggests she should accept his invitation. It has been ages since she went out for dinner with a man. Marcus never takes her out for dinner. Another voice reminds her of her standing date with her fiancé tonight. It reminds her of his reaction when she canceled the other night. Her wrist still hurts vaguely every time she waves her wand in a certain direction.

Holding up her left hand which has her blood-red diamond engagement ring, Acelina apologizes: "I am truly sorry. I am engaged and my fiancé will not like it if I went out for dinner with another man."

Percy's eyes widen as he stares at the ring around her finger. "Oh, I- I didn't mean to... I am so sorry. Who is the lucky man?"

His question makes Acelina snort. Lucky man, what a joke.

"Marcus Flint."

She doesn't mean to sound as sad as she does but the name escapes her before she has the time to think about it. Percy tilts his head slightly seems to think about the name for a moment. Acelina wonders if he remembers Marcus from Hogwarts.

"I really have to go. Ms Umbridge is expecting me. It was good seeing you again, Mr Weasley. Thank you for the tip."

With those words, Acelina turns around and walks out of the corridor as quickly as she can. Once she has delivered the folders to Umbridge, she heads back to her desk where more work is waiting for her.

As she reads through the notes she took during a meeting between her father and Umbridge the other day, Acelina can't help but think about Percy Weasley. His facial expression had a hint of guilt in it when she told him about her engagement and it bothers her. She and Percy hadn't known each other well during their shared time at Hogwarts, why would the man feel guilty?

Her thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door. Before Acelina has the chance to grab her wand to open the door, it opens and in steps Percy Weasley, holding a folder. He sends her a polite smile and after closing the door behind him, he makes his way further into the office.

"These are some of the fake family trees that have been submitted by Ministry employees. The Minister for Magic wants these cases to get priority to set an example to the rest of the Ministry."

Percy places the folder in front of Acelina and she charms them with a flick of her wand. Red letters writing PRIORITY appear over the front. The folder ends up on Umbridge's desk with another flick of her wand.

"I would like to apologize again for imposing. Had I known you are engaged, I would never have asked you out to dinner," a blush appears on Percy's cheeks, "Congratulations on your engagement to Mr Flint. I hope this doesn't change anything between us on a professional level."

Acelina smiles at him, assuring the man nothing has changed.

Visibly relieved, Percy nods his goodbye and heads back to the door. Before he exits, he turns around once more. With an unreadable facial expression, he says sincerely: "I would also like to express my condolences."

Shocked, Acelina stares at the door that has closed behind the man. Condolences? Why on earth would Percy offer her condolences?

Their brief conversations play through Acelina's mind as she tries to figure out if she might have slipped with her words. She hadn't spoken badly about Marcus in any way. Did Percy practise Legilimency and did he navigate her mind without her noticing? Acelina vows to keep her guard up when speaking to the man in the future.

Percy is long gone and Acelina has piles of work she has to complete today. If she hadn't or if Umbridge wasn't as stern as she is, Acelina might have walked to Percy's office to demand an explanation. But Umbridge is stern and her punishments are brutal.

After going through every word she has ever spoken to Percy Weasley, Acelina concludes there is no way the man knows what he apparently knows. And if Percy knows, how many other people know?

Perhaps he commented on Marcus' personality, Acelina tries to argue with herself as she gets ready for her date with Marcus. Gryffindors never liked Slytherins and vice versa. Percy went to Hogwarts at the same time as Acelina and Marcus. It must be left-over house rivalry.

Acelina forces herself to calm down. To think rationally and not jump to conclusions without evidence. Even if Percy suspects something, nobody will believe him if he would talk. Acelina has been playing her role as fiancée perfectly for the past two years. It would be his word against hers in the end. Nobody would believe a blood-traitor.

Still, Acelina can't help but worry. She tries to pay attention to Marcus as he talks about something uninteresting he recently discovered but Percy's words keep replaying in her head. She is going crazy. She has met the man three times. How can he have made such a big impression on her? Acelina vows to talk to the man. Nobody can find out about her true feelings about her engagement. She has spent too long making sure nobody would notice anything and she will not let one red-haired Weasley ruin her life.