Who: Percy and Open What: A birthday drink Where: The Hog's Head When: August 22nd, late evening Rating: Low Status: Incomplete The Hog's Head was far from the most reputable establishment. It was filthy, smelled of goats, and was host to clientele from the wizard world's seedy underbelly. It was the last place any who knew Percy Weasley would expect to find him.
Which was perhaps why he'd found his way here in the first place, so many years ago. This was where he had 'celebrated' birthdays (both his own, and his family's), Christmases and Easters. This was also where he had saught salvation nearly every day of Pius Thickness' reign over the Ministry.
In other words, he was definitely a regular. The other patrons had stopped being suspicious of him years ago, and now treated him as a piece of the furniture - something barely worth their notice.
As Aberforth came by to deliver Percy's regular drink, he paused and offered an open box. Percy's eyes grew wide with pleasure, spotting the cigars that Aberforth kept hidden for special occasions. They had partaken together a couple of times, and Percy found the act of smoking them to be quite relaxing.
He took one of the cigars with relish. "What's the occasion, Ab?"
"Let's call it a birthday gift," the man replied with a nod. "Since you're the only regular who's also a regular at paying his tab." With that, the box was snapped shut, and Aberforth moved on to another customer.
Taking out his wand, Percy cut and lit the cigar before finally bringing it to his lips. He sucked in the fragrant smoke, rolling it around his mouth before exhaling. He'd done the Weasley birthday yesterday at the Burrow, just him and his parents. As for his siblings, a part of him didn't want to bother them with a reminder, as if it would be rubbing their faces in the very fact that Percy was still alive.
All in all, he seemed to finally get what he'd always wanted - a nice, quiet birthday.