Entry tags:

!status: complete, ^date: november 06 2003, character: percy weasley, npc: kingsley shacklebolt

Who: Percy Weasley & Kingsley Shacklebolt (NPC)
What: Catching up with a drink at the end of a workday
Where: Minister's Office
When: November 6 - 5:50 PM

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Percy had been trying to focus on work all day, yet his nightmare continued to overshadow his every thought. He had only just broken out of his reverie to hear Minister Shacklebolt call him into his office, and he felt a shiver go down his spine, wondering what he might have neglected due to his distraction.

He entered the office and was filled with a mixture of relief and dread as he saw Kingsley finish pouring the second of two glasses of firewhiskey. "Have a seat, Percy," the man offered as he slid one of the glasses over to the far side of his desk.

Percy cautiously did as instructed and took the glass. This was far from the first time he'd been called into the Minister's office for a drink. The two had come to be rather friendly after working together for nearly 5 years. This meant, however, that Kingsley was likely worried about him, and he didn't know whether or not he would be able to speak the truth about it.

Oh, who was he kidding? When had Percy ever been capable of saying No to the Minister for Magic?

"What's up?" Shacklebolt said simply, with a look that tore through Percy's shields and demanded a response.

Percy looked down into his drink, swishing it around a moment before taking a large gulp. "Nightmares," he said simply.

Kingsley's eyes turned sympathetic. "Fred?"

Percy could have lied and said yes, for that had been the content of his nightmares for the last five years. "No," he replied instead, then finished off the rest of his glass in one shot. Kingsley's lips twisted in concern, yet he still held the bottle out to refill Percy's glass. "I'm sorry, Sir. I know it should not affect my work as it has."

"Fuck your work. I know you well enough to know the important work's taken care of. If anything's affected, it's you being a month ahead on everything else."

Percy couldn't help but smile the slightest bit at that. He took pride in his work, and he always enjoyed hearing that it had been noted and acknowledged.

"This isn't something I need to talk to Molly about, is it?"

Percy's face quickly turned shocked and betrayed. "Sir!"

Kingsley chuckled. "Had you going there for a moment. But seriously, if you need some time off-"

"No," Percy interrupted. "No, I... just need to keep working. It does help, honestly."

The Minister nodded. "All right. Just take care of yourself, or else Arthur will be in here tearing me a new one for working you to death." They shared a smile, and Kingsley's demeanour changed as if the worst had passed. "All right, now how was the meeting with Siwan Preston?"

Percy began explaining the results of the meeting with the representative from the Welsh Committee on Dragon Research, and for a while, all nightmares were forgotten as he fell into the familiar role of Senior Undersecretary.