Entry tags:

116, penny, percy, percy/penny, percy_ficathon

Make Our Garden Grow
Title: Make Our Garden Grow
Characters: Percy/Penelope
Rating: PG-13
Warning(s): Dark at times, with bits of nastiness by Death Eaters.
Length: 3,758
Summary: To make a garden grow together is a work of love. To reconstruct a life is even more so.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction set in the Harry Potter universe – all recognisable characters and settings are the property of J. K. Rowling and her associates. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is made from this work. Please observe your local laws with regards to the age-limit and content of this work. The title, Make Our Garden Grow, is from Leonard Bernstein's Candide.
Author's Notes: The timing is a bit off – this should be at most late May/early June, but the story starts right after Percy finished school, as he's starting to work for Barty Crouch Sr., which is supposedly July timeframe. So I guess this is slightly AU. And, of course, this ignores the Epilogue and/or Audrey's existence.

My beta Minnow makes my garden grow.

Written for the percy_ficathon, here

Summer 1994

Percy Apparated in front of a cottage in the Cotswolds; he was so nervous that he almost wiped his palms on his suit. It was a Muggle suit, and he hoped he was dressed appropriately. The salesman at the tailor's shop on Jermyn Street had sworn it was very good quality. Percy could see that; the cut was perfect. But the man had guessed Percy wasn’t used to formal clothes ("Just out of school, are you?") and, for some reason that Percy couldn't fathom, had steered him towards a rack of pinstripe suits. He didn’t ask Percy whether the suit was for a special occasion – he obviously assumed it was for work. Showing Percy the fine workmanship, the salesman said, "Perfect for your profession, sir. I sell a lot of those to accountants like yourself."

Percy, of course, wasn't an accountant, but he couldn't really tell the man that he was working for the Ministry of Magic, so he nodded his thanks and went into the fitting room to try the suit on.

It fitted him well and, if Percy had wanted a job as an accountant in the Muggle world, he would certainly have looked the part. But he needed robes for his job. This suit was for a very special occasion and he wasn't sure if an accountant outfit would be acceptable.

"Everything all right, sir?"

Percy walked out of the fitting room. The suit looked as if it had been made for him. "It fits, but... I need it for a special occasion."

"And what's that, sir?"

"I'm going to meet my girlfriend's parents," he answered.

The salesman smiled. "Then this is the suit for you. You look very smart, and I'm sure the young lady's father will appreciate that you have a good job, too."

He did have a good job, and Penny's parents knew that he worked for the Ministry, so, after all, the suit would probably do. He paid for it with the money he'd exchanged at Gringotts before coming to Muggle London, and was pleased that he dealt with the strange currency rather well, just like a local.

And now, he was almost wiping his sweaty palms on the fine fabric! He cast a spell to dry them, then decided to have a quick look round to calm his nerves before he knocked on the door. Penny had told him that her father loved gardening and it showed. The garden was well-planned and obviously well-cared for, and Percy was particularly struck by a bush with little pink flowers hanging from the stems, almost like the clothes his mother put on the line to dry. He bent down a little and saw that the flowers were shaped like little hearts.

"These are Bleeding Hearts," he heard Penny say behind him. "My father planted them for me when I was born. They’re May flowers, and they blossom every year. They’re almost over now. Actually, they’ve lasted for quite a while longer than they’re supposed to. I think that’s because of my father's famous green thumb. He wanted to make sure I’d still see them when I came home from school."

"If your father wasn't a Muggle, I'd say it was magic, then," Percy said, kissing her shyly.

"It's the magic in his heart," Penny retorted, taking his hand and leading him to the cottage.

The place was impeccably clean and orderly. It was nothing like The Burrow, with its piles of books and clothes scattered all over. Percy approved of that sort of tidiness and he found himself extremely at ease with Mr and Mrs Clearwater. They were gracious hosts and, although it was obvious that Mr Clearwater was a very protective father, he also seemed resigned to the fact that his daughter was grown up and ready to live her own life. The conversation at dinner centered on the young couple's respective jobs. Penny was just about to start work as a Healer-in-Training at St. Mungo's, and Percy had only been at the Ministry for a couple of weeks, but there was no doubt that they were excited about the future.

Percy left the cottage with the assurance that he had found the girl he wanted to marry and the family he wanted to marry into. All he needed now was to be more secure in his job, and he would return to the cottage with a ring in his pocket.

***

The disappearance of his boss put a serious dampener on Percy's determination to get ahead as fast as possible, but instead of being sacked as he’d feared, he was promoted to Junior Assistant to Minister Fudge. The appointment was, however, misconstrued by his family, who accused the Minister of wanting to use him as a spy. As if Percy would ever do that! He just wanted his family to realize that the Minister was right, and Dumbledore was completely out of line to insist that You-Know-Who was back. Percy couldn't believe that his family would put more credence in a young boy who was probably deranged than in the Minister himself. He made a decision to stick to what he knew was right and, although it hurt him, he broke up with his family.

He didn't need them, anyway. He now had a very secure, important job, and he could propose to Penny, get married, have children and go on to become a Minister in due course. He started by inviting Penny to a special dinner.

She was looking lovely, as usual, but she seemed anxious. Percy at first thought this was because she sensed what the "special" part of the dinner would be, but, when they started eating, she asked him point-blank what the Ministry was doing about You-Know-Who.

"I don't understand what you're talking about, Penny," he answered, frowning. "He's dead. Gone."

"He's back, Percy," she said.

"Not you, too! This is utter nonsense, Penny."

"But Harry told us-"

"You can't possibly believe what comes out of Harry's mouth, can you?"

"Why not? He seems sincere, Percy. I...I've talked to Hermione, and she assured me it was the truth. You-Know-Who is back, and he killed Cedric."

"Cedric was not killed by You-Know-Who." Percy pursed his lips. This was not the conversation he wanted to have on that special night.

"Who killed him, then? He's dead, isn't he? Nobody can deny it."

"The Ministry is conducting investigations about it. I'm not saying there's foul play involved, but..."

"You can't possibly be insinuating that Harry killed Cedric! Or Viktor Krum. Their wands came out clear."

"All I'm saying is that it was a tragic accident."

"Accident? How could it be an accident? Who AKs someone by accident?"

"People have died in past Triwizard Tournaments." Percy really wanted to end the conversation.

"I don't know, Percy. I believe Harry and Dumbledore. And I think you should, too."

"Me?" Percy was about to pull the box out of his pocket, but her words had shocked him. He left the box where it was and picked up his fork again. "I don't believe such tosh."

"But your family does. Isn't that right?"

"They’re all fools."

"Percy! You can't say that about them."

"But they are, Penny. And I think you're sounding rather foolish, too, insisting that You-Know-Who has achieved what no other wizard has, and come back from the dead."

"He wasn’t really dead. He'd just disappeared." She shuddered. "Harry's account of what happened in the graveyard was horrible. Poor boy."

"Poor boy? He's an idiot who suffers from hallucinations. Please, Penny, be sensible."

"I'm sorry, Percy, but I’m worried. I am Muggle-born, after all. If Harry's right, then I'll be in danger."

"Penelope, this conversation is going nowhere. I thought you were more intelligent than that. He’s delusional, that's all." He put his hand in his pocket again. He'd set her straight and now it was time for the proposal. She would soon admit that the Ministry was right and she was in no danger at all.

But she stood up abruptly, knocking her chair down with a clatter. Several heads turned in their direction. Apparently calm, but obviously trying hard not to vent her fury, she told him, "And I would never have thought you’d put those idiots at the Ministry before the people who love you. Good-bye, Percy. Have a great life."

And with those words, she was gone. He sat there, fingering the box in his pocket, until the waiter came with their main courses. Percy apologized, saying that the lady had been suddenly indisposed, paid for the meal and left the restaurant.

On the way home he decided that it was better this way. He and Penny were obviously not meant to be, and he'd better move on. Penny could find someone as gullible as she was.

***

Summer 1998

Arthur and Percy were given a week off work to attend to Fred's funeral and afterwards, Percy went back to a much-changed Ministry. Gone were the statues showing the supremacy of wizard over Muggle; the atrium now held a revolving globe encircled with statues of wizards, Muggles, magical and non-magical beasts, their arms - or paws - linked, all of them equals.

Percy nodded hesitantly at the wizards and witches he passed on his way to his old office. Most of them nodded back, some pretended they hadn't seen him and a few actually smiled, offered their condolences and welcomed him back. He was grateful for that show of acceptance – he was even grateful to the people who simply nodded at him. And the ones who ignored him, well, he would have to give them time to get to know the new Percy.

When he arrived at his office, he saw a young witch sitting at his desk. He opened his mouth to ask what she was doing there, but then he remembered that he wasn’t the Junior Assistant to the Minister any more. That job had ended with Thicknesse, and Minister Shacklebolt had probably appointed someone else to the position.

The girl finished writing on her parchment and glanced up at him. "Yes?" she asked, pushing her glasses up her nose. "May I help you?"

"Well, I...I used to work here. I'm just back from bereavement leave and I don't know where to go."

"I can help you with that. Minister Shacklebolt has been working hard to allocate personnel. What's your name?"

"Weasley."

She tapped her quill on a long roll of parchment. "Arthur or Percy?"

"Percy."

She tapped a little more. "Here you are. You're in the Department of International Magical Cooperation."

Percy stifled a groan. Back to where he’d started. Great. All the way down from assistant to the Minister to lowly junior, and he had no idea who he’d be working for. But he didn’t have a choice, so he forced a smile and asked, "Whom will I be assisting?"

She blinked a few times. "What do you mean, sir?"

"Who's the head of the department?"

She blinked again. "Well, you are, sir." She looked back at the parchment. "It says here that Minister Shacklebolt wants to talk to you before you start your duties."

Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Not bad. Not bad at all.

***

Percy's work-load was enormous, and he had to put in absurdly long hours. Many days he simply forgot to eat and would arrive home late at night feeling faint. And one day he actually collapsed in his office. His assistant rushed him to St. Mungo's, where he was given a Strengthening Potion and told to stay overnight. In vain he claimed he couldn't stay, that he was feeling better and had a lot of work to do; the Healer was adamant and told him he'd better comply, or he would have to stay two full days.

He sulked for a while, but then, having nothing better to do, he fell asleep. Percy never slept during the day, so when he woke up several hours later he had to admit that his body had needed the rest. He started to get off the bed, but a sensor system buzzed loudly and, within seconds, another Healer appeared in his room.

It was a woman this time. She walked briskly to the foot of his bed, and unclipped his notes. "Please keep still, Mr..." She unrolled the parchment. "Weasley?" She looked at him. "Percy! Is that you?"

The voice was very familiar, but, without his glasses and in the dim light, he couldn't identify her. "Yes, I'm Percy Weasley. Do you know me?"

She stepped up to him, and he gasped in surprise. She looked much older than her age, her face was gaunt and the eyes, once so playful, were sunken, giving her a haunted look. But under it all, he could certainly discern her face. "Penny?"

***

Percy was released in the morning, but Penny advised him to take the day off, unless he fancied spending another night at St. Mungo's.

"You were exhausted," she said, "and very lucky that you collapsed in your office and your assistant brought you in at once. You must make sure you eat at least three square meals a day."

"What time do you get off?" he asked her on an impulse.

"In another hour."

"Why don't I wait for you, and we can have breakfast together. This way you'll make sure I'll eat a proper meal," he said with mock innocence.

"I suppose I can count that as one of my Healer duties," she answered. But her happy smile showed that she was very pleased with the invitation.

***

They found a little table in the Leaky Cauldron, and Percy suddenly felt his courage vanish. After all, their last meal together had been a fiasco. He knew he had to apologize – she'd been right, after all, and he'd been the foolish one – but he didn't know how to start. Finally, when he'd just about memorized the menu, he forced himself to look at her, and said, "Listen, Penny, I'm really sorry for what I said to you last time we met. You were right and I-"

She stopped him. "Don't worry about it, Percy. It was a very confusing time. No apologies necessary."

He let out a small sigh of relief. Then, just to make conversation, he asked her, "And how are your parents? How's your father's garden?"

"My parents are dead," she said.

"WHAT? How come? I mean, how did they die?"

Avoiding his eyes, she said. "They were killed by Death Eaters."

"Death Eaters? But Penny, why? They were Muggles, they had nothing to do with it."

"They were guilty of having a daughter who was a witch. That was enough."

"Tell me, what happened."

"You don't want to know, Percy." Her voice was sad and tired, as if she'd told the same story many times over.

"I do. I feel horrible. Did they...did they do something to you?"

She gazed at a point in the distance, as if building up courage to speak. “It was a Sunday, my day off, and I was spending it with my parents. Suddenly, two masked men appeared in our garden. I knew what they were, but I’d never got involved with anything to do with the war. I thought that maybe they were sick and asked if I could help them. The taller one laughed and said he'd rather die than have a Mudblood touch him. He raised his wand and-" She choked and stopped to gather her breath. "When he raised his wand, my dad rushed to shield me from whatever they were going to do with me.

"I didn't even have time to warn him to get out of the way. He was killed right in front of my eyes. Then, my mother came in and..." She stopped again. Percy could see that her hands were closed, her nails digging into her palms.

"They actually played with her before they killed her. They bound me up, and made me watch while they tortured her, laughing all the time. Then, afterwards, they took me to the Ministry, to the Muggle-born Registration Commission. It was awful. There were Dementors patrolling, to make sure none of us could get away. I’ve never felt so cold and sad in all my life. I kept flashing back to my parents being murdered. I just wished I’d wake up and find it was only a bad dream.

"Finally I was called in to that horrible Umbridge woman. She asked me if I was a pureblood. I knew what would happen if I denied it – I had heard some rumors about non-purebloods disappearing. But I lifted my head high and told her that no, I was Muggle-born, the daughter of wonderful parents who had just been murdered by the Death Eaters. She said that they were filth who should have been exterminated years ago, and I was a sham. I couldn't have magical powers if I wasn’t born of magical parents.

"I knew I was doomed anyway, and I really didn't have any more reason to live now they were gone, so I told her that at least we didn't look like toads. And that she should have used her so-called magic to try a few Glamour Charms. They might help, even in a dire case like hers.

"She didn’t hold back on the Cruciatus after that, but just when I was hoping they’d finish me off then and there, they sent me to Azkaban.

"I spent almost a year there, and every day I relived my parents' deaths. I saw my father's face as he tried to protect me and I heard my mother's cries of pain. Every day, for almost a year.

"I was released after the war was over, and when I was free, in possession of my wand again, I seriously considered putting an end to it all. I felt as if I’d aged about a hundred years while I was in prison. But St. Mungo's needed me, so here I am. Still."

***

Neither of them managed any breakfast after that, and when Percy dropped her off at home he said, “You’re not a very good Healer, are you, Penny? You’re supposed to make sure I’m eating properly.”

He meant it as a joke, but Penny didn’t laugh. She just smiled sadly and agreed to meet him for dinner.

***

Slowly they resumed their relationship, but it was hard work. Penny had obviously been seriously damaged by her experiences during the war, but Percy didn’t realize how much until they started sleeping together. She didn’t like to take Sleeping Potions in case she got too dependant on them, so her sleep was fitful, and she often woke up screaming after a nightmare. On those nights, Percy hugged her tenderly until she was calm and could sleep again.

He felt terribly guilty for what she had endured. He should have gone after her that evening he’d planned to propose; he should have married her, and then nothing would have happened to her. Granted, many Muggle-borns who'd married purebloods had been sent to Azkaban too, but Penny most probably would have been safe. His family would have kept her protected inside their wards. Even her parents might have gone unscathed.

He wanted to make it up to her, but he didn't know what do besides nurture her when she needed him.

***

His mother was ecstatic that Percy was going out with Penelope again, and she invited both of them for Christmas. Penny declined graciously, saying she had an old aunt in Surrey with whom she would spend the holidays. Percy knew the truth: Penny was embarrassed about being so sad on a joyful occasion. He tried to persuade to stay anyway, but she was adamant that she wanted to be on her own.

She finally accepted an invitation to lunch on Easter Sunday. Percy took her proudly to The Burrow, and his family did all they could to make her feel at home. He was glad they did, because he had made up his mind to propose to her. This time, he would actually do it. He just had to find the right moment.

His mother had set a large table in the garden.. It was a warm day in mid-April, and a few flowers were starting to bloom. As the family was enjoying the excellent food, Percy noticed that Penny was a little too quiet. She was looking longingly at the messy garden, where the flowers grew wild and in profusion, and her eyes filled with tears. He knew she was thinking about her father, and he squeezed her hand.

"The Bleeding Hearts would just be coming out now," she said.

He nodded. There was no garden left where the cottage had been. Penny had told him that the Death Eaters had destroyed every growing thing in sight, obliterating all the plants and flowers before reducing the cottage to a pile of rubble.

He remembered her happy face when she walked around her father's garden with him. Percy would have done anything to see that joy in her again.

And he had an inkling about how he could do it.

***

On the morning of her birthday, Percy told Penny that he was taking her on a surprise trip. She tried to find out where, but all he told her was that she should dress casually, because there could be a chance they’d get dirty.

He Apparated with her to a small cottage. The front garden was a bit untidy, but nothing that an amateur gardener or two couldn't clear. In the very center, standing out because of its cultivated appearance, was a small bush, where a cascade of pink, heart-shaped flowers was just beginning to bloom.

"What's this place, Percy?" she asked.

"Our new house. Happy birthday, darling." He took her by the hand and they stood by the Bleeding Hearts. "It's still a young bush, but it'll grow stronger every year, with you." Then he knelt and took a box out of his pocket. He opened it and showed her the ring. "Penny, I love you. I always have, but I was a fool before the war. I don't want to make any more mistakes, but I need you with me to help me. Will you marry me, and make our garden grow?"

With the happiest smile he'd seen on her face since they’d met again, Penny replied, "Yes, Percy, I will marry you. And our garden will be beautiful."

As Percy kissed her, he knew things would be all right. He and Penny would work in the garden together, rebuilding her life at the same time. And he would do everything in his power to make sure that she was never sad again.