Raging guilt had been nagging at Percy ever since he'd visited his sister. If his parents had known he had been so close to the house without stopping by, he'd have hell to pay.

It was still light outside when Percy stepped out of the florist, who was beginning to know him by name. He was making quite a few visits lately, wasn't he? He knew his parents should be just about finishing supper.

He knocked loudly on the kitchen door before popping his head in.

"Mother? Dad? It's Percy."

Wiping her hands on the apron around her waist, Molly popped her head in from the bathroom. "Percy?" When her eyes landed on her third oldest, her face broke into a grin. "I wasn't expecting you!" She went to wrap her arms around his shoulders, but stopped herself, laughing softly. "Sorry. I was cleaning the bathroom. I haven't been able to do so lately."

"That's perfectly all right, Mother," Percy said, pulling his mother to him. He'd been missing his mum's hugs; no one hugged like Molly Weasley. She smelled vaguely of cleaning products and biscuits. "I'm sorry for not owling ahead."

"You know you're welcome home anytime. I think I'd be offended if you owled before coming by. I like surprises in the shape of my children," she said with a smile, gesturing to the kitchen table. "Did you need something?"

Percy held out the bunch of wildflowers he'd brought for Molly and shook his head.

"No, I wanted to stop by and say hello. I saw Gin not too long ago, and thought I should put in the time to see my mother as well. How are you? I've not seen you since Bill's."

"Oh," Molly said, taking the flowers from his hands. "These are beautiful, love." She moved to the cabinet, pulling out a vase before filling it with flower. "Wasn't that a lovely dinner? I need to owl Fleur and tell her how much I enjoyed having the night off for cooking, but still being able to see everyone."

"You're welcome." No, it hadn't been a lovely dinner, but he wasn't telling his mum as much. "Between the lot of us, you'd never have to cook again if you make the rounds every week. I wouldn't mind having you and dad over for dinner, as long as you don't mind cats and a cramped city flat."

"Oh, I don't mind cats. You remember when Hermione had Crookshanks over, I never had a problem. And your flat is supposed to be small, you're the only one there. Just how many cats do you have?" She loved her son, but she also knew him. She'd never taken him for the type that enjoyed picking cat fur from his suits.

"Just Boris. He found me in Sofia, and decided to come along to London. Nice fellow, if not a bit persnickety," Percy said, pulling out a chair for his mother. "Why don't you sit and I make us a spot of tea? Is Dad puttering about in the shed?"

"You spoil me." Molly grinned as she slid into the seat he'd pulled out for her. "Are you sure you remember where everything is? I don't think you've ever made a cup of tea at home in your life."

Percy chuckled as he summoned makings for the tea. "That's because you were afraid what Fred and George would have done to it." He pulled out a plate and placed biscuits from the tin on them, and moved the plate and tea to the table when the lot was done.

He made his mother's tea the way she took it, just a touch of milk, and sat with his own cup with a twist of lemon.

"Yes," Molly said, a small wistful smile on her face. She'd let George do anything to her tea if she could see him again, push his too-long hair off his forehead. "I suppose that's true." She looked down at her cup, turning it a bit, savoring the warmth it was giving to her cramping hands. "I always loved making you kids tea."

Percy sipped his tea, looking at his mother. She looked tired. The Molly he remembered was full of energy; it galled him to think his parents were getting older.

"I'm sorry I've not been around as much as I should have been, Mother. I've no real good excuse, at any rate. How's the school?"

Molly grinned, remembering the hugs the children had given her every morning and evening since her incident. "It's going well. Very well. They're just starting to learn about the government. The Ministry, the departments. They're all very excited. I'll be broaching the subject of the archives soon," she said, looking up at her son with humor-filled eyes.

He grinned as he pushed his glasses up his nose. "Oh, really? I'd be more than happy to come in, or arrange for a field trip." He mentally shuddered at the mess the children would probably make, but it would be fun to have someone interested. "The Archives hold a very important function in the Ministry, mostly because most of them can't find their arses with both hands. You may want to leave that bit out, however."

"Yes. I'm sure my group of six and seven-year-olds would be fascinated by yellowing paper. It's hard to keep them interested in a book about a duck."

"We have shelves, too, Mother. And I think the dust bunnies are planning a revolt. I found literature in the cooking section. The littles could spin them about like garden gnomes."

Molly blinked. "I don't think I understand anything that you just said. You allow dust bunnies in your archives? You really have changed."

"Allow really isn't the word, Mum, it's more, battle. You'd think someone was putting them there apurpose," Percy replied dryly, sipping his tea. The warmth of the kitchen, the smells of the house soothed the restless irritation he'd been feeling. He needed to stop by home more often.

"Perhaps it's your father. Your brothers learned how to be mischievous from his side of the family, after all."

Percy laughed, sending a teasing glare at his mother. "Oh, no. I heard stories about my uncles, and you mum. Don't think dad didn't tell us how you cornered him when you were sixth years. It's mostly you. Gin's the worse of us, she just hides it best."

Molly laughed before taking a sip of her tea. "Your father likes to embellish stories. I did not corner him. We were in the common room, and there were plenty of people about. Though, I think he'd planned that strategically so I wouldn't yell at him." She grinned, remember the look on Arthur's face. "He planned wrong."

"Sure, Mother. I believe you. More tea?"

"Please," she said, pushing her cup towards her son. "How are you, Percy?" Molly looked at him with warm eyes. "You look tired, love."

"It's been a long day of conquering roving hoards of dust bunnies," Percy replied, shrugging off his mother's question. She looked more tired than he knew he did. "I'm all right, I suppose. Nothing newsy or exciting except my visit with Ginny." He wasn't going to mention Reese to his mother, and he hoped she wouldn't bring up Penny or Jack. He was still trying to figure things out there, and was worried about what his mother would say.

Nodding, Molly took a long sip of her tea. She hadn't seen her daughter in a while, though if she were being honest, it'd be because she'd been avoiding her youngest child. "I think you've earned a bit of quietness, Percy, though I'd love it if you visited more often." She looked up at him with a warm smile.

He smiled in return, finishing his tea. "As a member of this family? You must be joking, Mother."

{Summary: Percy pays a visit to Molly.}