RP: Surprise Party

[pb_athena]

Characters: Athena McGonagall, Charlie Weasley, George Weasley, Madam Rosmerta, others who were invited; Please add tag as you post.
Location: The 3 B's.
Date: 12 December 1999
Status/Warning: Open
Summary: Charlie's surprise party.
Completion: Closed

Comments

[pb_ron]

Ron rose from behind the bar, and brushed his knees off, grinning and looking about. Percy was there and Ron put down his hand to help pull him up, "Hey you! How are things?" he asked, turning to watch other people mugging and hugging Charlie. Ron decided he'd wait a minute or two until less people were about him, so he focused on Percy, "How's Cho? I haven't seen you in too long. You know, its all work, work, work for this auror in training. And when I'm not, I'm in the shop."

He looked about, catching sight of Hermione now, and turned to focus more on Percy, "What did you get Charlie? I got him a book, about cooking. I think he'll be really surprised. Mum's been teaching me to cook, did I tell you?" he said, in a conversational tone.

[pb_percy]

Percy took Ron's hand and rose, smiling a little shakily, "Things are alright," he replied, unable to repress a grin at Ron's typical rapid-fire question delivery. Some things never did change. "Cho's fine, on an errand right now, but she'll be by later..."

When Ron mentioned his Auror training, Percy winced and bit the bullet.

"Look, Ron about your training, is there a chance I could talk to you later, alone?" Noticing that there were still plenty of people around, Percy said a little louder. "Cho was thinking of playing something for Charlie as a gift. It isn't much, but it'll be unique, that's for sure."

[pb_ron]

Ron nodded, "I'm glad that things are working out, with you two and all. Cho seems great," he said as he pat Percy on the back, wondering briefly why Percy looked so serious for a moment, "Okay..? I can talk with you later. What's up?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in his puzzlement. He turned his focus to his older brother, and nodded at his mention of Cho's gift to Charlie, "You seem worried."

And as he watched Percy, Ron thought he did seem upset or worried or something. There was something about the way his face set and he tried to be casual as he asked Ron to talk. Percy never was that indirect; at least, not that Ron could recall.

[pb_percy]

"It's nothing I want to talk about now, when things die down a little we'll find a corner to talk in, need to talk to Athena too.." Percy reached up to squeeze Ron's shoulder and motioned for them to go greet Charlie.

[pb_ron]

Ron nodded and followed him over to Charlie, looking about for a moment madly for his gift, only to see it on a shelf under the bar. Ron reached for the present and followed Percy over.

[pb_charlie]

"Oi! Perce, Ron!" Charlie sidled in between them and grasped a shoulder each. "Thanks for coming." He looked about, "Is Cho here? What about that new girl of yours, Ron?"

"Rosie's promised ham and bean, plus other good things to eat." A picture of the Weasley boys all spic and span standing in from of a large house caught his eye. George had some amazing decorations. "You two remember the day that was taken? Great Aunt Muriel nearly killed Uncle Billius for letting the pigs loose and they got in her garden about ten minutes before the other guests arrived and we were all sent in to round them up."

[pb_ron]

Ron moved forward to give his older brother a big hug, "Happy Birthday, Charlie! Here, a present!" and he handed the wrapped gift to Charlie.

"I'm not sure where Megan is," Ron said sheepishly, "I think she had other plans," and he didn't mean to sound slightly down. It had been weeks since he'd seen Megan last, and he sorely missed her.

Ron turned to look at their group photo, and his nose crinkled up as he tried not to laugh, "I loved that guy. Those pigs were brilliant," and he sighed slightly, "Good times for all of us then."

[pb_percy]

Percy laughed a little, the memory clear as day. It had been a mad scramble that had resulted in more than a few pairs of muddied boots tracking around, infuriating Molly to no end. He clapped Charlie on the shoulder warmly.

"Cho is in the process of getting your gift mended, I'm afraid, but she'll be around later."

The more times he said that the harder it was to disguise his worry. She had been gone quite a while by now. "But Happy Birthday anyway I suppose." He grinned, craning his neck a little around Charlie to look at Athena. "Say," Percy dropped his voice, "any chance I can get you, Athena and Ron alone a little later..there's a bit of an urgent matter I need to clear up."

[pb_charlie]

"Thanks, Ron. Should I open it now or save it for later?"

Charlie chuckled, "That sounds like my sort of pressie, Percy." Charlie had Dad's interest in fixing things, in fact he'd learned a lot of what he knew watching Arthur Weasley expand the Burrow and fix things that broke.

"If it's urgent, we could grab her now. Madam Rosmerta went to get me some food, but I don't mind puttin' that on hold," he said.

[pb_ron]

Ron nodded, wondering how Charlie would like the cookbook he'd selected. It seemed almost fool proof. But he wasn't sure if Charlie would appreciate it, and take it as maybe a hint that he needed to become more domestic, "You can open it now. I hope you like it," he said.

"I'm game as well, Percy," Ron added, curious now. Percy wanted to talk to him, and Charlie and Athena? Ron wondered what was up? Was Percy getting married? That would be the next logical step for the two, but based on Percy's look, Ron hoped that wasn't the case. Maybe Cho's pregnant? he wondered, ready to follow his brothers where ever they led him.

[pb_percy]

As much as Percy didn't want to ruin the evening for all of them with his news, he knew the three of them well enough that they could all put on a brave face if need be. He nodded to Charlie.

"Yeah, yeah, that'll do." The fact of the matter was some things couldn't wait. Waiting meant more chances for Hopkirk to do something that would put them at a serious disadvantage. And above all, Ron needed to know to be careful. "Thanks, Charlie, I don't mean to put a damper on your evening."

[pb_charlie]

"No worries, Percy. Why don't you go scare up McG while I open Ron's present?" he suggested.

Charlie removed the wrapping from what he reckoned was a book of some sort. When he had it open, he had to smother the laugh that wanted to bubble up. A cookery book. No one in their right mind would trust Charlie to boil water, let alone attempt to cook anything. Even their mum had given up on teaching him, and Charlie had actually tried hard to learn. Still, it was a nice gesture. "Thanks, Ron. I appreciate it. Athena and I will have to try out some of these recipes." Charlie was a champ at dicing, slicing, peeling, and washing up. It was only anything having to do with heat and flame that made him a menace.

[pb_athena]

"I heard my name." Athena said, coming up behind Charlie. She'd been on her way to sneak out and check on Katie, but she'd wanted to give Charlie a proper goodbye, just in case it was more than her running late. "And you mean I'll try the recipes," she teased, kissing his cheek.

"I was about to go do that thing we discussed." She told him, whispering in his ear.

[pb_charlie]

"Percy has something important he wants to share with you, Ron and me. Do we need to round up the other Weasleys too?" he asked Percy. "Oi! I can help, just keep me away from the stove," he chuckled. "Besides, there's a section here on cold stuff. If none of them require heat in the prep, I'm good to go here. I do a mean salad."

He kissed her cheek, "Give Perce a minute first, love."

[pb_athena]

Athena bit her lip to keep from being too inappropriate, in case Molly was around. "Well, you make a good cream as well." She told him, holding back a laugh.

"All right. Is he being weird again?" She asked, wondering if he was just being neurotic about something or if he really wanted to tell them something; she worried about him sometimes.

[pb_percy]

Percy joined Athena and Charlie with Ron in tow and cast a silencing charm around the four of them. Before any of then could say something about the spell, he dove right in.

"First of all, I'm apparently clairvoyant. I don't need the deck now, I'm getting visions. I saw...well, felt was more like it but I did see some things...I saw Fenrir Greyback escape and I also..."

It hit him that in order for his entreaty to Ron to be careful to make sense, he'd have to tell him who the killer was, which would mean bringing another person into the fold.

Or maybe...

"I also also saw...the killer, the person who's responsible for Kingsley and Marcello's death. Athena before I say another word, you have to understand I'm only doing this to protect Ron, because he deserves to know how much danger he could be in..."

He locked pleading eyes with Athena, expecting her to lash out, furious that he'd absolutely ruined Charlie's birthday. But it couldn't wait, not with things as they were.