Underground Resistance | Percy Weasley

Chapter 1

It didn't matter what her function within the Ministry was, they all required her to wake up at an ungodly hour. Acelina is still half-asleep as she takes place in front of her dressing table. Reesey, one of the many house-elves running around Yaxley Manor, immediately starts braiding Acelina's pale-blond hair into a neat bun. As the house-elf works her magic, Acelina tries not to make any sudden moves and suppresses her fourth yawn of the morning.

After securing the last strand of hair, Reesey steps away and with a snap of her little fingers, a cup of coffee appears in front of Acelina. The woman can't help but smile as she takes the cup and takes three large sips of the hot liquid.

"This is why you are my favourite, Reesey," Acelina mutters as she admires the work of art on top of her head. Reesey has always been her favourite in more ways than one. The most important reason was that the house-elf didn't snitch on her as easily as some of the other house-elves when she was up to something her parents disapproved of.

It takes the whole cup of coffee before Acelina feels even the smallest bit of ready to go downstairs and face her parents at the breakfast table. As she finishes her coffee, Reesey has disappeared into Acelina's walk-in closet to get today's outfit ready. The dress is a deep blue colour and falls just below her knees. After putting a pair of matching heels on, Acelina heads for the door.

Before she has the chance to reach for the doorknob, the voice of the house-elf pipes up: "Ms Yaxley is forgetting her ring."

A sigh escapes Acelina and she turns around. Reesey is standing near the dressing table, holding out the engagement ring. Ever since Marcus has slipped the ring on her finger at their engagement party, Acelina had tried her hardest to avoid wearing it. It was a relief the ring hadn't been enchanted to be stuck around her finger, something that wouldn't have surprised her. Acelina hates the way the ring attracts attention. The large blood-red diamond ring is a Flint heirloom and is rumoured to be payment from some Dark magic terrorist in exchange for the support of the Flint family. Acelina also suspects it has a tracking charm as Marcus always seems to know where she is when she wears the ring. Thus, her avoidance of wearing it.

Even though her father wants nothing more than for Acelina to marry Marcus Flint, Acelina has managed to postpone the wedding for as long as possible. Beside the argument that she wants a career before marriage and children, Acelina knows her sister, Cecilia, will murder her in cold blood if Acelina would get married before her. Cecilia has been engaged to her Hogwarts-sweetheart, Adrian Pucey, for over three years and demands she be the first to tie the knot. It's Acelina's luck that between Adrian being busy with his career and other things going on in the world, the two haven't found the time to get married.

With the ring around her finger, Acelina thanks Reesey one more time before making her way downstairs. Breakfast is served in the smaller one of the two dining halls and when she enters, her parents are already sitting at the table.

"Good morning."

Her mother smiles warmly at her as Acelina takes her usual seat. Her father doesn't look up from reading the Daily Prophet. Acelina has long stopped reading the newspaper as it is only publishing Voldemort's propaganda these days. To keep tabs on the truth, she reads the Quibbler she gets from a colleague who smuggles the paper into the Ministry to distribute.

A house-elf comes rushing towards her to pour her a cup of tea and Acelina reaches for the toast.

"Are you enjoying your new position within the Ministry, honey?"

Her mother's voice is soft as she is cutting her own toast into tiny pieces. Acelina forces herself to smile and lies through her teeth as she says: "It surely is different from what I did at the Improper Use of Magic Office. However, Ms Umbridge is a splendid Head of the Commission and I have already learned a lot from her."