The Secrets of The Sighted (Golden Trio Era) {3}

Unexpected Visitors

"Arthur!" Mrs Weasley called suddenly as she rose from her chair, her hand was pressed over her heart and she was staring out of the kitchen window. "Arthur- it's Percy!" Mr Weasley head whipped around "What?" He asked as everybody looked quickly at the window, Ginny stood up for a better look. There, sure enough, was Percy Weasley, striding across the snowy yard, his horn-rimmed glasses glinting in the sunlight. He was not, however, alone. "Arthur, he's- he's with the Minister!" And sure enough, Rufus Scrimgeour was following along in Percy's wake, limping slightly, his mane of graying hair and his black cloak flecked with snow.

Before any of, them could say anything, before Mr. and Mrs. Weasley could do more than exchange stunned looks, the back door opened and there stood Percy. There was a moment's painful silence. Then Percy said rather stiffly, "Merry Christmas, Mother." Mikayla rose from her seat defensively, last she saw Percy he sent her over the bannister. "Oh, Percy!" Mrs. Weasley beamed and she threw herself into his arms. Rufus Scrimgeour paused in the doorway, leaning on his walking stick and smiling as he observed this affecting scene.

"You must forgive this intrusion," The Minster smiled at Mrs. Weasley when she looked around at him, beaming and wiping her eyes. "Percy and I were in the vicinity- working, you know- and he couldn't resist dropping in and seeing you all." Mikayla shook her head in disbelief, it was clearly a lie as Percy showed no sign of wanting to greet any of the rest of the family. He stood, poker- straight and awkward-looking, and stared over everybody else's heads. "Oh really? Is that why he returned his Christmas gift?" Mikayla queried, she hated when people were being fake and it was clear the Minister and Percy had a different agenda. Mr. Weasley, Fred, and George were all observing Percy with stony-faces, while Percy's head snapped in Mikayla's direction.

Percy sent the blonde a disgusted glare, she stood straighter not backing down from him, which caught Molly and the Minister's attention. "Please, come in, sit down, Minister!" fluttered Mrs. Weasley, trying to distract him from the tension between Mikayla and Percy as she straightens her hat. "Have a little purkey, or some tooding... I mean-" Scrimgeour smiled over at Mrs Weasley, saying that he didn't want to intrude and he wouldn't be here if it weren't for Percy's desire to link up with his family. "Bullshit." Mikayla mumbled under her breath, as Molly reaches for Percy to kiss his cheek tearfully

"...We've only looked in for five minutes, so I'll have a stroll around the yard while you catch up with Percy. No, no, I assure you I don't want to butt in! Well, if anybody cared to show me your charming garden... Ah, that young man's finished, why doesn't he take a stroll with me?" The atmosphere around the table changed perceptibly. Everybody looked from Scrimgeour to Harry. Nobody seemed to find Scrimgeour's pretence that he did not know Harry's name convincing, or find it natural that he should be chosen to accompany the Minister around the garden when Ginny, Fleur, and George also had clean plates.

"Over my dead body." Mikayla quickly moved to shield Harry from the Minister, "you already had a tour, last time you were here to get information out of me and convince me to sign my life away." The minister tensed knowing that no one was tricked by his stories other than Mrs Weasley, and she only went along with it out of desperation, knowing it'll be her only chance to have a civil talk with Percy. "No, it's alright. Mikayla and I would be delighted to give you a tour." Harry got on his feet, he was not fooled, by Scrimgeour's talk that they had just been in the area, that Percy wanted to look up his family, this must be the real reason that they had come, so that Scrimgeour could speak to Harry alone.

"It's fine," he said quietly, as he passed Lupin, who had half risen from his chair. "Fine," he added, as Mr. Weasley opened his mouth to speak. "Wonderful!" said Scrimgeour, standing back to let Harry and Mikayla pass through the door ahead of him. "We'll just take a turn around the garden, and Percy and I'll be off. Carry on, everyone!" Harry walked across the yard toward the Weasleys' overgrown, snow-covered garden, Scrimgeour limping slightly at his side and Mikayla walking behind them watching Scrimgeour's every move. Scrimgeour been Head of the Auror office; he looked tough and battle-scarred, very different from portly Fudge in his bowler hat.