InsaneJournal

He had made up his mind that he was really going to follow through with what his brothers had asked of him.  Getting Penny's reply had been devastating; more than devastating, it had been crushing.  Percy knew that he'd been very fixed on his direction in life. But to learn that Penny had actually loved him, and that in his vain haste towards some perceived notion of power, he had caste her aside without fully understanding it, well, it was the last straw.  He had received a gift from his mother but no real message.  He was barely speaking with his older siblings.  Things were obviously strained between he and Ron and Ginny.  But somehow, it all had been bearable with his goal in sight. Now, that was clearly being fogged and obscured by a dark cloud, a dark cloud in the shape of a withering green snake.

The Death Eaters were spreading, life an infectious disease that no potion could cure.  Percy could barely stand to attend the meetings he was required to be at, as each and every case, regardless of proof or debate, sentenced innocent people to Azkaban.  Percy did what he could, eloquently and then more bluntly, to dissuade the others and their decisions.  But his words fell on deaf ears; he knew it would not be long before he was fired from the committee, and possibly his job as well.  He still managed to perform his normal functions with ease, completing paperwork, shuffling files about.  That was all standard as the government offices continued to run, meetings were held, people were hired and fired.  The Muggle stuff, well that was another story.

Percy sat through each hearing, his frustration mounting with every word spoken.  The people, Muggleborn, were accused of atrocities crimes, and there wasn't any evidence that could prove it.  And yet, Umbridge would hammer her gavel, and they would be sentenced. There was no due process. There was no defense that seemed able to change the rest of the committees' minds.  And Percy had just about had his fill.  If his brothers had changed their mind about bugging him, he was ready to quit the committee and the Ministry for good. It all seemed so utterly futile.

He felt completely defeated as he moved into the cheerful space, and for a moment, Percy let himself forget his worry as he admired, with great pride, his brothers' creations.  He only hoped that one or both of them were here.