Wizarding World one-shots

Reconciliation (Perctoria)

TW: Blood

In recent times, Percy Weasley had almost gotten used to the screams of muggleborns that filled the Ministry of Magic on a regular basis. Aside from the occasional flinch, he showed no reaction to them. It didn't help the already bleak atmosphere that came with the Dementors, but it did enforce his belief that his family had been right.

Not that he would ever say that to their faces.

But there was one scream in particular he heard on a Saturday evening that made his blood freeze.

He knew that voice. Even though it had been years since they last had a real conversation, he would recognize her voice anywhere.

The papers he was holding fell out of his hands, fluttering to the ground. They scattered around his feet as he began to run, as if they were caught in a gust of wind. He ignored the stares he was getting from his coworkers.

She was hurt.

"Victoria!" Percy shouted.

Before he could even fully process what he was doing, he was at the door to Dolores Umbridge's office and thrusting it open.

On the ground, her body shaking and convulsing uncontrollably, was Victoria Macmillan. His Victoria.

Her usually neat and tidy golden hair, the same blonde waves he would run his fingers through, was out of its bun and tangled around her head. Her warm brown eyes, the same color as a mug of hot chocolate, were wide open in terror.

Standing behind her desk was the pink troll herself, Dolores Jane Umbridge. The sick and twisted smile that was on her face faded when Percy burst in unannounced. Surprised, she stopped casting what he could only assume to be the Cruciatus Curse on her.

"Mr. Weasley!" she shrieked. The initial shock of his appearance quickly faded, and her expression shifted to one of anger. "Leave and shut that door this instant!"

Percy drew his wand, his mouth set into a grim line.

"What is the meaning of this?" asked Percy, his voice dangerously low.

Umbridge gave a short laugh. "She's a blood traitor, Weasley. She was the spy for the Order of the Phoenix."

Percy felt his heart race. Victoria, a spy? That didn't make any sense...

Only, it did make sense if he thought about it. She had become more closed off in the two years since their breakup. He always assumed it was because she missed him, and maybe it was that as well.

Victoria always hated deceiving others when they were together.

It wasn't until Umbridge drew her wand again that he was brought out of his stunned stupor.

"So, even if she is the spy, this is your way of dealing with her?" Percy snapped. "By torturing her?"

"I'm making an example out of her!" The sick, twisted grin was back on her face. "Crucio!"

It seemed as if time froze when her screams filled the pink office once more, each one cutting through him like a knife. He couldn't take it.

He wouldn't.

Percy couldn't stand there and watch the woman he loved more than anything, be tortured.

"ENOUGH!" Percy shouted. He pointed his wand at Umbridge's chest, his blue eyes blazing with a fury he hadn't experienced in a long time. "Release her now!"

"I don't think you have a say in this Weasley," Umbridge snapped. "You're already in enough trouble as is —"

Percy stepped closer, his tall frame towering over her short one.

"And just what will you do to me if I don't?"

She paused, eyeing him curiously. Then, she smiled sweetly. "What makes you think I won't torture you too, Weasley?"

"Try it."

"NO!" Victoria screamed.

She threw her hand out, grabbing Umbridge's leg, and yanking her backwards. As the shorter woman fell, she grabbed onto anything she could reach to catch herself. Her hand grasped onto a necklace around Victoria's neck and yanked backwards.

In Umbridge's short, stubby hands was a thin, silver chain. It shone brightly as if it had just been cleaned.

But it wasn't the necklace that caught his eye.

Dangling on the end of it was a simple golden ring the color of the wheat fields Percy saw growing next to the Burrow. A promise ring.

The same exact promise ring he had given Victoria when they were seventh years.

After all this time, she still kept it.

His eyes met hers, and all the anger he had felt rushed out of him.

"Come on," said Percy. "We need to get you out of here."

He grasped onto her arms and pulled her up, trying to ignore the warmth that flooded into his chest as soon as their skin touched. Now was not the time for reconciliation.

As soon as she was on her feet, Victoria drew away from him. The trembling of her body didn't go unnoticed. Was it an aftershock from the curse or was it because he had touched her?

"We need to run," Victoria said, her voice soft. "Get out of here —"

"Diffindo!"

The feeling of her in his arms made him completely forget about the troll in the room.

Victoria staggered, still moving forward. For a moment, Percy thought Umbridge had missed.

Then her wand fell out of her hand.

And she screamed.

Four jagged, red lines appeared on her back, seeping through her dress. With each passing second, they became darker and more pronounced.

He watched as she collapsed, falling first on her knees, then on her chest.

And his vision was filled with the same red as her bloodied back. Percy turned to Umbridge, the hand holding his wand trembling with anger.

"You..." he managed to get the one word out, his voice quiet.

Then, it was as if a dam had burst.

"YOU MONSTER!" Percy shouted.

Umbridge took a step back, her eyes wide.

"S-She's a blood traitor, Weasley! You have to understand —"

"A single drop of her blood is worth more than your entire body!"

"How— how dare you!" Umbridge pointed her wand at him, a few of the strands from her short brown hair falling in front of her face. "Cru–"

"Stupefy!"

He didn't relax when her body slumped to the ground, unconscious. He didn't relax when he saw Victoria's chest rise and fall with every labored breath she took. He didn't relax when the promise ring he had given her five years ago was back in his hands.

Percy stepped over to Victoria, trying not to look at the raw slab that was her back. Carefully, as if she was made of glass, he picked her up and held her like a bride.

"You're going to be okay Vic," he whispered. "You.. you're going to be okay."

Slowly and shakily, Victoria raised her hand, placing it on his cheek. She opened her mouth, as if she was going to speak, before her eyelids fluttered shut and she slipped into senselessness.

Leaving Percy alone with the feeling of her blood trickling down his arm.