Memoirs Of An Imperfect Prefect 6/?
The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Oliver stared at Percy, who was sitting with his head in his hands. Percy squirmed under his gaze. The silence was deafening but Percy knew once Oliver regained his ability to speak, the questions he would ask would be worse. He dreaded telling Oliver all that had happened to him.
Not for the first time, he cursed himself for taking that job with Fudge. Why hadn’t he listened to his father? Percy shook his head. Because he knew his father had been wrong, that’s why. He hadn’t been given the position to spy on his family; he’d been given it to keep his mouth shut.
“You know why you’re here today Mr. Weasley?” the Minister asked.
“Yes Sir.” Percy said meekly, trying not to fidget in his chair.
“Senior Undersecretary Umbridge will be serving as a witness to these proceedings.
Percy nodded and looked down at his hands.
“Would you like some tea Mr. Weasley?” Umbridge asked, sliding a cup towards him.
Percy wasn’t really in the mood for tea but he didn’t want to be rude so he accepted the cup and took a tentative sip. He looked up at the woman, surprised that it was exactly the way he liked it. She just giggled and took a seat. Minister fudge took a seat next to her and spelled a quill and parchment to record all that was said.
“Please state your full name for the record.” The Minister began.
“Percival Ignatius Weasley.” He answered.
“And how old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
The questions went on in this vein for what seemed like forever, until long after his cup was empty. Then the minister asked a question that had Percy’s eyes widen in fear.
“Were you having a sexual relationship with Mr. Crouch?”
Percy opened his mouth to deny it but when he spoke, something entirely different came out.
“Yes.” He said, and then clapped a hand over his mouth.
Percy began to panic. What was going on? He hadn’t meant to say that. He never wanted anyone to know about the affair, especially not the Minister of Magic!
Fudge and Umbridge were staring at him intently and he averted his gaze. That’s when he caught sight of the empty cup. His eyes widened with understanding and he shot a surprised and frightened look at Umbridge.
“Y…you laced my tea, with Veritaserum?”
“I feel it makes these proceedings go much smoother.” She said with a sickeningly sweet smile.
“Now tell us about your relationship with Bartemius Crouch.” The Minister prompted.
Percy tried to fight it. He tried not to answer. But the potion was too strong and soon he found himself telling them everything.
Once he’d finished, silent tears slipped down his pale cheeks and he couldn’t meet their gaze. He’d never felt so humiliated in his life. Not even when Crouch had him pinned to his desk, using his body, had he felt so ashamed; so dirty.
“Are you going to fire me now?” he asked in a small voice, cringing when his voice broke at the end.
“Of course not my boy.” He answered, causing Percy to look up at him hopefully.
The Minister smiled and handed him a tissue to dry his eyes.
“I see no reason to terminate your employment here Mr. Weasley. Actually I’d like to discuss giving you a promotion. How would you like to be my new Junior Undersecretary?”
Percy just stared at the Minister in disbelief. He wasn’t getting fired? They wanted to promote him? It was too good to be true. A sinister thought crept into Percy’s mind that made his stomach drop and he looked away.
“J…just what would I have to do for this p...promotion?” Percy asked, fearing the worst.
“Nothing really. I just ask that what we discussed here today not be told to anyone else.”
Percy mentally let out a sigh of relief. For a moment he’d thought Fudge was going to try to use him the way Crouch had. The thought of having the Minister touch him like that made his stomach turn. He did admire the man but he certainly didn’t find him attractive and most definitely didn’t want to sleep with him.
He was so relieved that that wasn’t the case that it took a moment for Fudge’s words to sink in. Once they did he was a little taken aback. They were offering him a promotion because they didn’t want a scandal. He thought about his options, on the one hand, he could say no and get a menial job in another department and try to work his way up the ladder, hoping no one would ever find out about what he’d done. On the other hand, he could take the promotion, be closer to achieving his goal of becoming the youngest Minister of Magic ever and leave all this messy business behind him. It wasn’t as if he’d ever planned on telling anyone about his indiscretions anyway. And just think of how proud his family would be of him for gaining such a highly respected position.
His decision made, he looked up at the Minister and accepted the promotion, ignoring the little voice in the back of his head that was telling him this was a bad idea.
He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to clear the memories away. He didn’t want to think of that day or the evening that had followed. He’d said such horrible things to his father. Things he wasn’t entirely sure he could ever take back. He’d expected them to be proud but his father had accused him of being a fool and spying on them and he’d just snapped. Every mean, spiteful thing he’d ever thought about his father had come out and then his father had said something so hurtful that he’d felt as if he’d been physically hit.
“You could have moved up! You could have gotten a better job with better pay, but you stayed in that godforsaken broom cupboard you call an office so you can fiddle around with your little Muggle trinkets while your children dress in rags! You’re nothing but a joke. The Ministry laughing stock!”
“Well Percival, I’d rather be the Ministry’s joke than the Ministry’s whore like you!” Arthur shouted back.
Percy just stared at his father, a look of shocked disbelief on his face.
“W…what?” he stammered.
“You heard me. You trailed around after Crouch and now you’re going to do the same thing with Fudge. Tell me. Do you enjoy being their bitch?”
Percy didn’t know what to say. He felt physically ill at the thought that not only did his father not trust him, he thought he was no better than a prostitute. He couldn’t speak, he couldn’t even look at the man he called father. Percy just stared at him for a moment more then turned and hurried up to his bedroom. He grabbed his trunk and shoved everything he owned inside. Then he shrunk it, slipped it in his pocket and headed back downstairs and towards the front door.
“Just where do you think you’re going?” his father demanded.
“It’s dark out now, I’m heading to work, just like all the other whores.” he spat then left, slamming the door behind them.
He apparated straight to the Leaky Cauldron and procured a room. He went upstairs and into his room for the night. Once he’d closed the door behind him he’d leaned against it. Hot tears began to roll down his cheeks and his body began to shake. He slipped down onto the floor and hugged his knees to his chest and cried.
Suddenly Percy felt extremely claustrophobic. He needed to get out of the room. He needed to get away from Oliver and all the painful memories this conversation was bringing up. He stood and headed for the door, hoping Oliver was still too stunned by his revelation to try to stop him.
Of course he had no such luck and as soon as he tried to leave, Oliver came to his senses and grabbed him before he could get out.
“Oh no you don’t. You can’t drop a bombshell like that on me and then expect to just walk away without an explanation.” Oliver hissed.
“What is there to explain? I was raped. Plain and simple. What more do you need to know?” Percy spat, trying to get away.
“Percy, you know what I mean.” Oliver growled, tightening his grip on Percy’s arm.
“What Oliver, you need details? You want to know every horrible, depraved thing they did to me huh? Fine! “Percy shouted. If Oliver wanted the truth then he’d damn well give it to him.
“Percy I…..”
“No, you wanted to know! Well here you go, I watched them murder Minister Scrimgeour and I thought they were going to kill me next but one of them remarked what a shame it would be. What a shame to waste such a pretty young thing. Then they tied me down and stripped me and they took turns raping me. I screamed and begged for them to stop and they just laughed at me. I spent hours tied to that desk while they took turns with me. I can’t even remember how many there were. By the end I wanted to die. I was begging them to just kill me. “Percy said, tears streaming down his face.
Oliver pulled Percy close and held him. Sobs wracked Percy’s slight frame and Oliver tightened his embrace. He couldn’t imagine being put through something so horrible and his heart broke for his friend. He wanted nothing more right now than to find those bastards and make them pay for what they’d done. He silently vowed to find them and make sure they were punished, slowly and horribly for hurting Percy. One way or another, they would pay.
Not for the first time, he cursed himself for taking that job with Fudge. Why hadn’t he listened to his father? Percy shook his head. Because he knew his father had been wrong, that’s why. He hadn’t been given the position to spy on his family; he’d been given it to keep his mouth shut.
“You know why you’re here today Mr. Weasley?” the Minister asked.
“Yes Sir.” Percy said meekly, trying not to fidget in his chair.
“Senior Undersecretary Umbridge will be serving as a witness to these proceedings.
Percy nodded and looked down at his hands.
“Would you like some tea Mr. Weasley?” Umbridge asked, sliding a cup towards him.
Percy wasn’t really in the mood for tea but he didn’t want to be rude so he accepted the cup and took a tentative sip. He looked up at the woman, surprised that it was exactly the way he liked it. She just giggled and took a seat. Minister fudge took a seat next to her and spelled a quill and parchment to record all that was said.
“Please state your full name for the record.” The Minister began.
“Percival Ignatius Weasley.” He answered.
“And how old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
The questions went on in this vein for what seemed like forever, until long after his cup was empty. Then the minister asked a question that had Percy’s eyes widen in fear.
“Were you having a sexual relationship with Mr. Crouch?”
Percy opened his mouth to deny it but when he spoke, something entirely different came out.
“Yes.” He said, and then clapped a hand over his mouth.
Percy began to panic. What was going on? He hadn’t meant to say that. He never wanted anyone to know about the affair, especially not the Minister of Magic!
Fudge and Umbridge were staring at him intently and he averted his gaze. That’s when he caught sight of the empty cup. His eyes widened with understanding and he shot a surprised and frightened look at Umbridge.
“Y…you laced my tea, with Veritaserum?”
“I feel it makes these proceedings go much smoother.” She said with a sickeningly sweet smile.
“Now tell us about your relationship with Bartemius Crouch.” The Minister prompted.
Percy tried to fight it. He tried not to answer. But the potion was too strong and soon he found himself telling them everything.
Once he’d finished, silent tears slipped down his pale cheeks and he couldn’t meet their gaze. He’d never felt so humiliated in his life. Not even when Crouch had him pinned to his desk, using his body, had he felt so ashamed; so dirty.
“Are you going to fire me now?” he asked in a small voice, cringing when his voice broke at the end.
“Of course not my boy.” He answered, causing Percy to look up at him hopefully.
The Minister smiled and handed him a tissue to dry his eyes.
“I see no reason to terminate your employment here Mr. Weasley. Actually I’d like to discuss giving you a promotion. How would you like to be my new Junior Undersecretary?”
Percy just stared at the Minister in disbelief. He wasn’t getting fired? They wanted to promote him? It was too good to be true. A sinister thought crept into Percy’s mind that made his stomach drop and he looked away.
“J…just what would I have to do for this p...promotion?” Percy asked, fearing the worst.
“Nothing really. I just ask that what we discussed here today not be told to anyone else.”
Percy mentally let out a sigh of relief. For a moment he’d thought Fudge was going to try to use him the way Crouch had. The thought of having the Minister touch him like that made his stomach turn. He did admire the man but he certainly didn’t find him attractive and most definitely didn’t want to sleep with him.
He was so relieved that that wasn’t the case that it took a moment for Fudge’s words to sink in. Once they did he was a little taken aback. They were offering him a promotion because they didn’t want a scandal. He thought about his options, on the one hand, he could say no and get a menial job in another department and try to work his way up the ladder, hoping no one would ever find out about what he’d done. On the other hand, he could take the promotion, be closer to achieving his goal of becoming the youngest Minister of Magic ever and leave all this messy business behind him. It wasn’t as if he’d ever planned on telling anyone about his indiscretions anyway. And just think of how proud his family would be of him for gaining such a highly respected position.
His decision made, he looked up at the Minister and accepted the promotion, ignoring the little voice in the back of his head that was telling him this was a bad idea.
He closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to clear the memories away. He didn’t want to think of that day or the evening that had followed. He’d said such horrible things to his father. Things he wasn’t entirely sure he could ever take back. He’d expected them to be proud but his father had accused him of being a fool and spying on them and he’d just snapped. Every mean, spiteful thing he’d ever thought about his father had come out and then his father had said something so hurtful that he’d felt as if he’d been physically hit.
“You could have moved up! You could have gotten a better job with better pay, but you stayed in that godforsaken broom cupboard you call an office so you can fiddle around with your little Muggle trinkets while your children dress in rags! You’re nothing but a joke. The Ministry laughing stock!”
“Well Percival, I’d rather be the Ministry’s joke than the Ministry’s whore like you!” Arthur shouted back.
Percy just stared at his father, a look of shocked disbelief on his face.
“W…what?” he stammered.
“You heard me. You trailed around after Crouch and now you’re going to do the same thing with Fudge. Tell me. Do you enjoy being their bitch?”
Percy didn’t know what to say. He felt physically ill at the thought that not only did his father not trust him, he thought he was no better than a prostitute. He couldn’t speak, he couldn’t even look at the man he called father. Percy just stared at him for a moment more then turned and hurried up to his bedroom. He grabbed his trunk and shoved everything he owned inside. Then he shrunk it, slipped it in his pocket and headed back downstairs and towards the front door.
“Just where do you think you’re going?” his father demanded.
“It’s dark out now, I’m heading to work, just like all the other whores.” he spat then left, slamming the door behind them.
He apparated straight to the Leaky Cauldron and procured a room. He went upstairs and into his room for the night. Once he’d closed the door behind him he’d leaned against it. Hot tears began to roll down his cheeks and his body began to shake. He slipped down onto the floor and hugged his knees to his chest and cried.
Suddenly Percy felt extremely claustrophobic. He needed to get out of the room. He needed to get away from Oliver and all the painful memories this conversation was bringing up. He stood and headed for the door, hoping Oliver was still too stunned by his revelation to try to stop him.
Of course he had no such luck and as soon as he tried to leave, Oliver came to his senses and grabbed him before he could get out.
“Oh no you don’t. You can’t drop a bombshell like that on me and then expect to just walk away without an explanation.” Oliver hissed.
“What is there to explain? I was raped. Plain and simple. What more do you need to know?” Percy spat, trying to get away.
“Percy, you know what I mean.” Oliver growled, tightening his grip on Percy’s arm.
“What Oliver, you need details? You want to know every horrible, depraved thing they did to me huh? Fine! “Percy shouted. If Oliver wanted the truth then he’d damn well give it to him.
“Percy I…..”
“No, you wanted to know! Well here you go, I watched them murder Minister Scrimgeour and I thought they were going to kill me next but one of them remarked what a shame it would be. What a shame to waste such a pretty young thing. Then they tied me down and stripped me and they took turns raping me. I screamed and begged for them to stop and they just laughed at me. I spent hours tied to that desk while they took turns with me. I can’t even remember how many there were. By the end I wanted to die. I was begging them to just kill me. “Percy said, tears streaming down his face.
Oliver pulled Percy close and held him. Sobs wracked Percy’s slight frame and Oliver tightened his embrace. He couldn’t imagine being put through something so horrible and his heart broke for his friend. He wanted nothing more right now than to find those bastards and make them pay for what they’d done. He silently vowed to find them and make sure they were punished, slowly and horribly for hurting Percy. One way or another, they would pay.