The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 33: Negotiations

"Percy!  Do you know anything about this?"

Percy looked at the Galleon in his mother's hand.  "About that specific Galleon?  I'm sorry, I've never seen that one before."

She rolled her eyes.  "Honestly, I'd expect that flippant comment from your brothers but not you."

Percy allowed himself a small smirk.  "Perhaps you should explain more then, Mother."

She sighed.  "I was emptying the laundry basket and this fell out.  I know it's not my Galleon so I'm trying to figure out who it belongs to."

He frowned.  "You've taught us to be a lot more careful with money than to leave it lying about like that.  Or leave it in a pocket."

"Precisely.  If I do find out who it belongs to, I'll have to teach them again."  She looked annoyed.  "We don't have the kind of money to leave it about."

"Perhaps Father found it lying in the hall at work or something?"

"You know your Father, Percy.  If he did find it he would have taken it to Security."  She shook her head.  "Perhaps he did happen upon it and forgot to take it back.  I'll ask him when he comes home tonight."

Percy shrugged and left the kitchen.  Molly was right though.  His father had turned in dropped Knuts that he found.  The man would never entertain keeping a Galleon he happened to find.  However, him finding it and forgetting to drop it off made the most sense.  No one in the family would leave a Galleon about.

"Psst, Percy!"

He stopped at the landing and looked at Ginny, an eyebrow raised.  "Yes, Ginny?"

"Can I talk to you?"

"More than right now?"

She glared at him.  "In private."

He sighed again.  "Very well."  He followed her into her room and waited patiently for her to close the door.  He shook his head as he looked about.  All her new school supplies were scattered about as well as her other things she was planning on taking.  "I see you're making good time on packing."

"I didn't ask you to be my interior decorator," she said primly.

He smirked again.  "Good because that is not my specialty.  How can I help you then?"  He sighed a little impatiently at her hesitation.  "Today, Ginny, if you would be so kind."

She stuck her tongue out at him before sobering.  "I think I know who that Galleon belongs to."

"Oh?"

"I think it's Harry's."

Percy frowned.  "Harry doesn't seem to be the type to forget about money in his pockets."

"No, I mean, I know it's Harry's.  I saw him earlier, putting something in the basket."

Percy's eyebrows rose.  "Did you really?"

She nodded.  "I was walking down the stairs and saw him looking around.  He didn't see me and I saw him slip something in before he walked away.  I didn't think anything of it.  I assumed it was a prank Fred and George asked him to do.  Then I heard mum yelling about finding the Galleon."

"That's strange," Percy said thoughtfully.  "I wonder why he did that."

"Everyone has strange habits but even that seems really weird."  Ginny hesitated again.  "Do you think Harry did that on purpose?  He was...giving it to Mum?"

"Of course he wouldn't," Percy said.

Of course he would, he thought.

"Do...do you think Harry thinks he owes us something?  For letting him stay here?"