Underground Resistance | Percy Weasley

Chapter 28

Apparently, the news about her cancelled engagement is the most exciting news at the moment. At the Ministry, Acelina has to avoid the reports who apparently don't have anything better to do than busy themselves with the gossip roaming around the elite of the Wizarding community. Umbridge hadn't commented on the news but Lyra had shot her a thumbs-up when Acelina had picked up some files.

When Acelina returns to the safe house three days after the news in the Daily Prophet, she is wrapped up in a hug as soon as she sets step onto the premises.

"I believe congratulations are in order?"

Haela laughs as she lets go. Acelina rolls her eyes fondly at her best friend before showing her fingers. She wiggles her fingers to show the absence of the blood-red diamond engagement ring she had worn for almost three years.

Percy hugs her just as tightly as Haela had done and presses a kiss on her lips. Neither of them says anything but as Acelina looks into Percy's eyes, she can see the relief she had felt reflecting. She has decided not to tell the others about a possible future engagement. Only Edric and Draco know for now and Acelina hopes with all her heart that the war will be over before her father finds another suitable man for her to marry.

Percy wraps an arm around her waist and presses a kiss to her temple. Acelina squeezes the hand on her hip before letting herself be led to the house where Hollie is sitting outside, playing a Muggle card game with a heavily pregnant Mabel.

From the house, Acelina can see Oliver training with a few people in the field behind the house. She hadn't expected the man to be such a good teacher but most Muggle-Borns Oliver had taught seem to learn something from the man and Percy had told her the man had quite high grades in DADA back at Hogwarts. Besides that, he, apparently, had been a member of the Duelling club which surprised Haela since they both only knew Oliver as the fanatic Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

The three of them join Hollie and Mabel for their next game and Acelina asks Mabel about how she is feeling.

"I hope this little one is holding it out until all of this is over," the woman answers while absentmindedly rubbing her belly. Acelina grimaces, there is a small chance the war will be over before Mabel will give birth.

"Lie," Percy answers Haela who claims to have added three Kings to the pile of cards in the middle. Acelina nudges the red-haired man as he eyes her cards, having spotted the two Kings she is holding.

"It's 'bullshit', man," Haela complains as she flips the cards to reveal an Ace, a Queen, and a three of hearts, "Don't be posh, say 'bullshit'. Even Ace does it!"

Acelina snickers as Percy pointedly ignores the comment and places two cards on the – now non-existing – pile. Mabel doesn't take the bite and places two of her own on top of Percy's. The game continues like that for a while before Percy places down his last card. Mabel tries to save the game but Percy had been speaking the truth for the last few rounds so it doesn't do much.

Once the game is over, Mabel waddles back to the tent she shares with her husband and Acelina watches her go with a worried expression. Percy follows her gaze and entwines their fingers.

Everyone has been worried about the woman. Mabel is almost at the end of her last trimester and it's waiting for the moment she will go into childbirth. Lyra and Margred have been collecting the necessary equipment in case it happens before the due date. The only problem is that they have one Healer besides Mabel, a younger woman who barely even started her training properly. Acelina had been looking out for another Healer they might be able to take in but no such person had come by.

In the next two weeks, Acelina receives news that Lupin's wife has given birth which also comes with the news that St. Mungo's has been under strict Ministry supervision. Lupin's wife – the name hadn't rung a bell – had apparently gone to a Muggle hospital to avoid getting caught by Death Eaters since both herself and Lupin are part of the Order of the Phoenix and thus have a price on their heads. Acelina ponders over the option to bring Mabel to a Muggle hospital when the time is there but she doesn't know how the healthcare system of Muggles works and none of the others has an idea. Another problem is that none of their group has access to Muggle money. Acelina would have to go to Gringotts to exchange money which could raise questions when the wrong person spots her.