Misfits Managed {Discontinued}

2

It wasn't unusual for a ruckus to occur in the Weasley household, however no ruckus like the one that was about to happen had ever happened before. And it wasn't the fun kind of ruckus (like when Fred and George set off their fireworks without any warning, or when Ron had a fit because a spider had crawled on him, or when Mrs. Weasley chased Bill down with a pair of hair scissors). No, this was an uncomfortable kind of ruckus.

It was a week after term ended and thirteen-year-old Ginny Weasley was helping her mother set the table for supper. Arthur Weasley was reading the Daily Prophet with a concerned frown behind his spectacles, Fred and George, now "of age" were making the dinner forks dance around the kitchen, and Ron was trying to rescue his owl Pigwidgeon from where he'd got stuck in Mrs. Weasley's knitting.

The door opened and in came Percy.

"Hello mother, father, siblings," said Percy pompously.

Ginny paused in the middle of folding the napkins to squint at her third oldest  brother. Percy was always pompous, but there was something about him tonight that made him seem especially  pleased with himself.

"What's up with you?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, Perc, what is up with you?" asked Fred, letting his forks clatter to the floor. "You seem almost . . . Happy!"

George let out a gasp of surprise. "Happy? It can't be!"

Percy ignored the twins and addressed Ginny. "I have important news that I will share at dinner."

Mr. Weasley looked up from his news paper. He squinted at his third eldest son. "Well then let's eat. I want to know what's happened, Percy."

"Wait!" called Ron from the living room. "Pig is still stuck! Idiot owl!"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "You're probably scaring him Ron. Poor little thing. Let me help."

After Ginny had helped Ron extract Pigwidgeon from the mess of yarn, the seven Weasley's settled down to eat dinner.

After eating for a few moments, Percy clinked on his water glass and stood. "I think you will all be glad to know, that I've been promoted." Percy puffed up his chest.

"Aww, Percy!" cried Fred, "I'm so proud! My little boys growing up!"

George wiped away imaginary tears. Ginny and Ron sniggered.

Percy looked expectantly at his parents.
"That's wonderful, dear," said Molly, but her eyes looked worried.

Ginny watched her father. Finally he spoke. "Is that so? Too what position might I ask?"

"Junior Assistant to the Minister," said Percy, practically exploding with pride.

Arthur went quiet. Everyone at the table glanced around at each other.

"Junior Assistant to the Minister?" said Fred in surprise. "The Minister for Magic?"

"But why?" asked George. He was frowning at Percy. "You got in all that trouble because Crouch went missing. I mean you had to face an inquiry and everything! And you're only a year out of Hogwarts after all."

The twins had suddenly put away their foolery and were looking at Percy quite seriously. Percy bristled.

"And after the inquiry it became clear that I had nothing to do with Mr. Crouch's disappearance. I have proved myself time and time again to be a responsible and hard worker. The Minister has his reasons. You agree with me, don't you father?" said Percy.