Praise Song (open)

[Percy Weasley]

- - THERE'S NOTHING LIKE FINDING GOLD WITHIN ROCKS HARD AND COLD - -
- - - - - I'm so surprised to find more, I'm always surprised to find more.- - - - -

Percy thrummed nervously on the wooden face of his desk. He had been filling out paperwork and addressing letters all morning. His supervisor had come out earlier to gather his morning's work, but didn't give him another assignment. When he queried as to what he was supposed to do next, the response was a mere, "I'll come out later with news."

It was now nearing one o'clock in the afternoon and still no one had the courtesy to tell Percy what he was to do next. Usually, he was loaded with tasks; research, forms, flooing various figures of authority--but now he was plunged into a great purposeless abyss. Percy twitched with worry. Perhaps he had been so rudely ignored because he was on the verge of losing his job.

You're being silly, his mind unhelpfully provided, you've done a good job here. They said so themselves.

Percy organized his quills so that they were compartmentalized into four neat groups of even numbers. Then moved those groups into descending order based on the length of the quill. He then reorganized his drawer so that items that he most frequently used were nearer to the front of the drawer. Then he color-coded each of those items so that they corresponded to the color progression of the rainbow.

Satisfied that his desk was in near-immaculate order, Percy allowed himself a minute of respite to calculate the ratio of men to women who worked in his department. He had just settled on a rough 3:1 scale when his supervisor reappeared, toting a packet of paper.

Percy looked over his horn-rimmed glasses skeptically. "What is this?"

"You have graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, am I correct?" She didn't pause for his answer. "Well, we have a matter of importance there that you will see to."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "What international issues could arise from Hogwarts?"

"What I am about to tell you has not been released to the student body. You are, of course, to keep silent about this issue." This time she did pause for his nod of consent. "The Triwizard Tournament is being held at Hogwarts this year. We would be much obliged if you were to be sure that international relations are upheld during the tournament.

Percy swallowed hard, excitement bubbling through him. He slid the packet of information closer so that he could read the fine text. The urge to count the amount of words per sentence was overridden by his excitement.

A real assignment! Percy spent a moment drifting away from the office and into the life he'd always dreamed of: a position of political importance, familial respect, a dignified title...

"...will be traveling frequently. I'll let you peruse my informational guide. You will start with the beginning of the school year. Any questions?

Despite Percy's overwhelming excitement, he bit down his enthusiasm for a more respectful tone. "What is my main method of transport?"

His supervisor bit her lip contemplatively. "I should think floo would be most convenient, though it might be a good idea for you to travel with the students on the train..."

Percy froze. He had thought last year would be the final time he would have to face boarding the Hogwarts Express and endure the isolation that it entailed. He knew he wasn't as popular as any of his siblings, especially in the Hogwarts' atmosphere. He tried to pry his lips apart to be clear that he could not take the train, but she had already talked herself away from his desk. As she left, she pardoned him for the day so that he could prepare.

Percy stumbled from the Ministry in a half-euphoric, half-panicked mindset. The people before him walked in slow motion whereas the sounds of London pressed rapidly past him. In the few instances where Percy had fallen into a panic-attack, he felt like this moment. Suspended between two foreign emotions and on the brink of doing something loud and outlandish.

He rubbed his eyes. Well, I suppose I'd best start packing then... He just hoped that he wouldn't meet someone from school on his way back to The Burrow.

my heart like a kickdrum
MY LOVE LIKE A VOICE
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FOR Open. WORDS 872 PERCY WEARS THIS. TEMPLATE BY SPECIAL K !.