Home.
Maggie's eyes wander over the snow-covered land around the porch she's on, a soft smile on her face as she pushes her bag farther up on her shoulder. The land drops off various meters away, into a beautifully frozen over lake, that has icy wind nipping around in twister shapes.
The scenery is absolutely beautiful.
"Perce, this is beautiful."
The door pops open in front of Percy, and Maggie feels a rush of warm air gust past her. Percy steps back and waves her into the home, making Maggie step into the home and waiting for him to shut the door behind him.
Maggie glances around the living-room, trying to take in the entire room as quickly as possible. It has a very homey feel to it, and Maggie's immediately falling in love with it. Directly parallel to the front door, about ten feet away, is a big chimney that had quite a bit of floo powder built up in the bottom of it. To their left and right are two comfy sitting areas, with couches that are covered in pillows and blankets. On the farthest left wall is a row of windows, and a big bookshelf that holds nic nacs and papers. There are pictures that look like they were drawn by children plastered on the walls, and Maggie believes stairs are right around the chimney.
"This is so nice, Perce." Maggie beams, leaning over and setting her bag on the floor.
"Don't feel obligated to say such things."
Maggie reels a hand back and slams it against the side of Percy's closest thigh, making him straighten his back and his eyes shoot to hers.
"Do you think you're in control here, Percy?" Maggie asks slowly, making him shake his head no softly. "So why would you say such a thing?"
"I...I'm afraid that you don't really like it."
"I do. I think it looks very homey. You know how Spinner's End looks. I really like this." Maggie hums, soothing his thigh with soft rubs of her hand. "Is no one home?"
"No. They all went to King's Cross to pick up Charlie." Percy mumbles, his eyes studying the floor.
"Hey." Maggie smiles, reaching a hand up to cup his cheek and force him to look at her. "I love you and I'm not mad. You've been high strung since the moment we woke up this morning, and you needed to be reprimanded for acting out. You're not normally like this, baby. What's wrong?"
"I don't want to be here." Percy says, his eyes finding hers, "I'm not welcome here and there's so much tension, Maggie! You don't get it. The twins...The twins somehow always used to come out on top, and no matter what they did, no one got mad at them. They don't take anything seriously, I don't get it! Ron bloody hates me. He can't even look at me because I'm such a priss. Ginny thinks I'm obnoxious and stuck up. She told me to stop babying her, and to leave her alone, because You're not mum and you don't need to think that you'll ever be welcomed to be like that with me. Charlie was always popular and cool, and How come We see Charlie more than you and he lives in Romania and you live here?! Bill thinks I have a stick up my ass, and he thinks I kiss up to the ministry too much, and that I let myself get used during the war. It's always why aren't you more like your brothers? Why don't you go outside or hang out with the family or eat dinner with us or smile or have fun or why aren't you good enough?!"
By the time he's finished, he's breathing heavily and tears are dripping down his cheeks. He seems to realize and he reaches up to frantically rub away the wet streaks.
"Baby." Maggie says softly, and Percy freezes. "You are good enough. And you don't need to change. I don't think you're obnoxious or stuck up, I don't think you're a priss, or have a stick up your ass, or a kiss up. I think you are full of ambition, and I think you're loving, and smart, and sweet, and so so proud of your family. I think you're beautiful and full of life, and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. Disregard everything they have ever said or thought about you, okay? This is new, and I will be here if anything goes sideways, okay?"
"Okay." Percy sighs, leaning forward and setting his forehead against hers. They just stand there for a few moments, before Maggie gently pulls away and ushers to move.
"Where's your room? You said we will need to clean it up so we can stay in it tonight. So how are we doing it?"
-
"Are we going to stop somewhere for dinner?" Bill asks, curling his fingers tighter in Fleur's. They are all, the lot of Redheads and their partners, walking slowly through King's Cross.
"I kinda just want to go home." Charlie laughs, curling his arms tighter around the squirming hoodie in his arms. He had brought home one of the babies of the Norwegian Ridgeback that was hatched recently on the dragon reservation in Romania, because he was imprinted on by the little guy and he wanted an excuse to get him out of the reserve.
"I can have dinner cooked up in a few minutes once we get home." Molly waves, before continuing her conversation with Harry about Ron's new mysterious rash.
"Fleur and I wanted to pay for dinner." Bill says, tilting his head at his mother.
"Your Mother believes that Percy will be home for dinner." Arthur says, his eyes following a women's skirt that has printed dragons on it.
"Oh! He'll be at home?" Charlie asks, an excited smile filling his face.
"Right. Like he'll actually show." Ron snickers, nudging Ginny. Ginny only looks a tiny bit offended that he had the audacity to touch her.
"We have to hope he will." Molly growls, making Ron straighten up and clear his throat. "We offered and now we have to hope he will accept."
"I think he'll come, Mum." Fred smiles, making Molly let out a deep breath. She nods after a few seconds, before a smile appears on her lips. Fred leaves out the part where he went to Percy's home and threatened to throttle him if he didn't come.
"Alright. Well, Quickly now." Molly says, as they reach the entrance to King’s Cross and start to make their way around the side of Kings Cross. They are all of age to apparate now, and it's quicker and easier to do so then drive.
They apparate the second they each reach the shadowy alley, and start to appear on the front snowy lawn of the burrow. They wait to group together again, before they all start to walk towards the burrow. Of course, Fred and George are throwing snow at their siblings. By the time they've reached the front door, it's a full fledged snowball fight.
"Boys! Settle down!" Hermione cries as Ron throws Harry over his shoulder. Molly shakes her head with a gentle smile, and pushes the door to the burrow open.
"Percy! You fucker, I'm about to fall!" A second later there is a loud thud from a few floors up, then a loud, infectious laughter fills the silence.
All of the family that stood in various paces away from the door to the burrow are frozen in shock. Percy's home, and it sounds like he brought someone.