kbinnz - Harry's New Home

That was it. Playing therapist to Gryffindors was not in Snape's job description, and a hefty smack to the teen's backside signaled the end of Snape's patience.

"Ow!" Percy yelped in shock. He spun to face Snape, both hands clutching his bum. Merlin, that HURT. It's been so long, I'd forgotten what it's like to get walloped. He noticed the professor's glare and abruptly realized that his outright defiance had been a very bad idea.

"Sit. Down." Snape pointed to the sofa.

Percy swallowed hard. "Yes, Uncle Sev. Erm тАУ m-may I please stand? I'd rather not sit just now."

Snape's reaction to Percy's use of the term "Uncle Sev" was happily aborted by Molly and Arthur emerging from the floo. "What is it, Severus? What's happened now?" Both were understandably wild-eyed, trying to imagine what new catastrophe might have occurred in the few hours since they were informed of the last one.

"Your son," Snape indicated Percy, who now stood redfaced in front of his couch, "is convinced that Pettigrew's ability to masquerade as a family pet is entirely his fault. He has convinced himself that you hold him responsible for the danger in which your family has been living."

Molly gasped. "Percy! No!"

"Is this really true, son?" Arthur asked gently. "Surely you know better."

Percy stared at the ground. "It was all my fault. I was the one who had a tantrum when you tried to say that a strange rat might not make a good familiar. I was so worried about being the only kid at Hogwarts who wouldn't have a familiar, I didn't give you a choice. I made you let me keep him."

"Oh, Percy!" Molly enfolded the distraught teen into her capacious embrace as if he were a much younger child. "You mustn't blame yourself! You didn't make us do anything. We decided to allow you to keep it."

"But I yelled and screamed and тАУ"

"Well, yes, love, that's what children do. Don't you remember when you wanted us to sell Ronnie to the circus so you wouldn't have to share a room with him anymore? You yelled and screamed and had a big tanty then too, but you didn't get your way." Molly patted his cheek gently. "Or the time that тАУ"

"Yes, okay!" Percy said quickly, cutting off further embarrassing recollections. "I remember."

Arthur grinned. "It's true you pitched a fit to try to keep the rat, son, but that isn't what convinced us. We just thought it would be a good idea for you to have a pet. You deserved a treat for helping with the younger children, and it seemed like a harmless reward. If we hadn't wanted to let you keep Scabbers, no amount of howling would have changed our minds. Surely you haven't forgotten how most tantrums ended?" he asked, smiling.

Percy rubbed his backside reminiscently. "Yes," he admitted.

"So you see, love, it wasn't up to you. It wasn't your decision or your fault," Molly pressed.

"Exactly," Snape drawled. "The fault lies squarely with Pettigrew. Although if you insist upon assigning blame, logic dictates you start with your parents. After all, well before either Ronald or Harry was at risk, you were."

Now all three were staring at him with varying degrees of surprise. "Me! But why would Pettigrew kill me?" Percy asked.

Snape rolled his eyes. To the Chronicle of Higher Wizarding Education, When faced with naivete that is obviously genetic in origin, and compounded by sorting into a House that apparently equates appearance with reality, is it ever acceptable to throw up one's hands and declare the student hopeless? Does professionalism require that one continue one's efforts to encourage the willfully blind to see, or is it permissible to cease efforts before developing an ulcer?

"You are the child of blood traitors who fought against the Dark Lord," Snape said, speaking slowly and distinctly. "Your maternal uncles were martyred in the war. Neither the Prewitt nor the Weasley family is beloved among Death Eaters. Had Pettigrew murdered you in your bed and then appealed to a known Death Eater, your death would likely have purchased the sanctuary he sought."

"Aaaaaack, Mum!" Percy squeaked in protest as Molly's arms reflexively tightened around him.

"Percy," Arthur spoke urgently to his son (once he had prevented further maternal smothering), "you must see that this is not your fault. You did what any child would do тАУ you adopted a friendly animal as a pet. The Death Eater tricked you, just as he tricked all of us, but you were the most innocent of all."

Percy sniffled. "Yes, but I was тАУ well тАУ cross with you for bringing Harry into our home. I thought we have enough kids and Harry was just going to put us in danger if You Know Who ever came back." Snape scowled. "But all that time, I was the one who brought the most danger to Burrow. I blamed Harry, but I was more at fault than he was!"

Arthur sighed. "Son, it's not fair to blame Harry for being a target any more than it's fair to hold you accountable for not recognizing Pettigrew for what he was. Both of you are children, caught up in events that are entirely beyond your control. There are things in this world that we can't control, Percy. Things that don't follow the rules."

Percy dragged out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes. "But that's not fair," he whined, sounding even younger than Ginny.

Snape ground his teeth together and thanked Merlin that Harry appeared to grasp the essential unfairness of life much better than the average Gryffindor.

"No, it's not fair," Arthur agreed. "But it is the way the world is. And that's why there are times when people of good conscience have to take a stand, even if it does put them at greater risk." His voice became more firm. "That is why your mother and I chose to welcome Harry into our family. You are not old enough to fully understand our reasoning, but I expect you to trust us to do what is right for the entire family. I don't want to hear any more of this talk about Harry not belonging with us. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Percy said, a bit shamefaced. "I'm sorry."

Arthur relented and ruffled his son's hair. "I know you are. Now тАУ have we made it clear that you're not to feel at all responsible for Pettigrew?"

Percy managed to extricate himself from Molly's embrace and stood, squaring his shoulders. "Yes, Dad. Thanks. Thanks, Mum."

"You're very welcome," Molly replied, brushing his hair back from his face and visibly restraining herself from hugging him again. "Do you want to floo back to the Burrow with us now, dear? It sounds like you've had a very stressful day. No one will mind if you leave Hogwarts a bit early." She looked to Snape for confirmation and he shrugged. He certainly wouldn't care.

Percy blushed. "Erm, well, I тАУ ah тАУ sort of promised to sit with Davidella at the Feast," he explained awkwardly.

Molly and Arthur exchanged an amused look. "Well, then, you surely don't want to keep her waiting," Arthur said, patting his son on the shoulder. "We'll see you at the station tomorrow."

The two adult Weasleys turned to the floo. "Thank you, Severus," Arthur smiled.

"You're welcome," Snape said, managing тАУ barely тАУ to keep his tone courteous. Unfortunately, his polite reply to Arthur allowed Molly to grab him, and he was caught in a crushing hug and noisy kiss before he could dodge behind a suitably bulky piece of furniture.

"You are such a good man, Severus Snape!" Molly announced, before following her husband into the floo.

Snape snarled as he fought his robes back into position, then turned a deadly glare on the young Gryffindor who was the cause of all this aggravation.

"Erm, ah, uhтАж" Percy trailed off in complete confusion.

"Have you disturbed my evening sufficiently, Mr Weasley, or is there another absurd confession you wish to make? Perhaps you are the one responsible for the Great Gringotts' Robbery of 1673?"