The Domino Effect (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

CHAPTER 11: Percy and the Scholarship

When Percy Weasley was sorted into Slytherin in his first year, everything changed in his family. Charlie and the twins were a little wary but they still talk to him (or in the twin's case, just prank him even less), Ginny didn't really care and treated him the same, and Ron was a little bit hostile which surprised Percy the most and has only attributed it emulating his friends who are openly prejudiced against Slytherin. Bill treated him the same and surprisingly so is his dad. He was a little disappointed that he didn't get sorted in Gryffindor but he was happy with him regardless.

The one who changed the most is his mother. She was no longer very loving to him and a little cold. She doesn't neglect him, but she hasn't talked to him much anymore like she used to. He didn't understand but Bill told him not to worry but that it was just their parents being prejudiced against Slytherin. But Bill did speculate that this could be because their mother has a very bad experience with them.

Molly Weasley lost her brothers, Gideon and Fabian Prewett during the war. Both men died defending themselves and although they took down at least 10 death eaters with them (all of them come from the Slytherin house), they still bear a big impact on her heart. Her mother, Lucretia Black, was not the greatest mother in the world. The Prewetts may be a pureblood ancient and noble family but they come from a long line of Gryffindor graduates. Lucretia married the Prewett head at the time because it is a prestigious house but she was a mean mother who was strict on her children especially on Molly as she was the only girl and wanted her to marry into a better household as well.

She was against Molly's relationship with Arthur Weasley, she and Cedrella Weasley (Arthur's mother) was always on edge with each other, always getting into fights whenever they meet. Molly might find her mother-in-law an annoying woman but she was still better than her own mother. Lucretia after the loss of her sons went a little bonkers and has been harassing Molly the most to have her spend more time with her and her grandchildren. She has an interest in Bill because he was the eldest grandson and wanted him to take on the head of the Prewett line when he is of age but this got into a fight with Cedrella who pointed out that Bill should take on the Weasley seat as the eldest grandson, not the Prewett (even though Bill could have just taken both and Bill didn't understand why they have to fight over that especially since the Weasleys could not afford to maintain their seat and has Dumbledore proxy and even paid for their seat – it practically just means they have a seat but no power).

When Lucretia died, the Prewett fortune remained untouched since she cast out Molly from it which could have helped them afford a better life. Molly wasn't exactly unhappy about it and is content with their lifestyle but the inheritance and the seat are still available for a claim for any of the Weasley children more especially to Bill if he wanted to. That can be passed down to Charlie or Percy or any of them really but mostly with the boys as the Prewett is a patriarchal house (lineage goes to the boys than the girls). There is also the part where Percy, Fred, and George have a much stronger claim due to their middle names which were Prewett's family names (there is magic in a name).

So, this experience is one of the major reasons why Molly is very very unhappy with Percy's sorting as it reminded her of the Black side of the family who is known as muggle haters, have supported or sympathized with the dark lord and are among the members who have to lead to the death of her beloved brothers but was not openly hostile to Percy since Molly (in her way as Bill said to Percy) loved Percy because she is still her son.

Aside from his own family, Percy did not have it easy in the Slytherin house. Many of the Slytherins didn't like him and the culture of the place is significantly different from what he is used to. Most Slytherins are rich, come from prestigious upbringings, and value power above all else. Even in the beginning, even though Marcus tried to comfort him, Marcus couldn't just simply and openly be friendly to Percy because it might also be made them hostile to him. The first time he arrived in the Slytherin common room, the head of the house, Professor Snape has to haul him away from the other Slytherins to orient him about the house culture. He had to attend this lesson for a month which helped Percy blend in with the other Slytherins.