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Ron’s day at Hogwarts had started off like any other. Classes, studying, and avoiding the usual confrontations with Draco Malfoy. But that all changed when Draco cornered him in a deserted corridor, his expression smug and eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

"Well, well, Weasley," Draco drawled, leaning casually against the wall, "I heard some interesting news about your dear brother, Percy."

Ron, who had been trying to avoid any interaction with Draco, felt his stomach churn at the mention of Percy. He had already been worried about his older brother, and hearing Draco bring him up was never a good sign.

"What are you on about, Malfoy?" Ron snapped, his voice tight with tension.

Draco smirked, clearly enjoying the discomfort he was causing.

"Did you know that your brother has been fighting in some rather… extreme matches? Barbed wire, broken glass, fire—things that would make most wizards run for their lives. And yet, Percy seems to be thriving in it. Who would’ve thought that a lowly Weasley could be capable of such things?"

Ron's face turned pale as Draco’s words sank in. He had heard rumors about Percy’s involvement in some kind of wrestling or fighting league, but he had never imagined it could be this brutal.

The thought of Percy, his straight-laced, rule-abiding brother, engaging in such violent, dangerous fights made his head spin. How much damage had Percy taken in those matches? How much could he endure before something terrible happened?

"And to think," Draco continued with a sneer, "all of this was made possible by my father. Truly a miracle worker, don’t you think?"

That was the final straw. Ron’s hands balled into fists, and without thinking, he lunged at Draco, rage clouding his judgment. But before he could reach the smug Slytherin, a strong hand grabbed his arm and yanked him back.

"Enough, Mr. Weasley," Severus Snape’s cold voice cut through the tension, his grip on Ron unyielding. Snape's dark eyes bore into Ron’s, his expression a mix of irritation and authority. "I won’t have you brawling in the corridors like common hooligans."

Ron struggled against Snape's hold, his anger still simmering just below the surface. "He—he's lying! He’s just trying to mess with me!"

Snape tightened his grip, forcing Ron to meet his gaze. "Regardless of what Mr. Malfoy may or may not have said, violence is not the answer. Now, control yourself, or I will be forced to take more severe action."

Draco watched the exchange with a satisfied smirk, clearly enjoying the chaos he had caused. Snape shot him a warning look, and with a final sneer, Draco turned and walked away, leaving Ron seething with frustration and fear.

Once Draco was out of sight, Snape released Ron, his expression softening just slightly. "Do not let your emotions get the better of you, Mr. Weasley," he said quietly. "Focus on what is important."

Ron nodded, still fuming, but understanding that he had let Draco get to him. He needed to stay calm, to think clearly if he was going to help Percy.

As soon as Snape walked away, Ron headed straight for the Gryffindor common room, his mind racing. He found Ginny sitting by the fireplace, looking up from her homework when she saw the look on her brother’s face.

"Ron, what’s wrong?" Ginny asked, concern lacing her voice.

Ron sat down beside her, running a hand through his hair as he tried to find the right words. "I just ran into Malfoy… he told me about Percy. Ginny, he’s been in these brutal fights. Barbed wire, broken glass… stuff that could really hurt him, or worse. Malfoy’s dad is behind it, and I think Percy’s in way over his head."

Ginny’s face went pale as she absorbed what Ron was saying. "You mean… Percy’s really doing that? But why? How could he let himself get involved in something so dangerous?"

"I don’t know," Ron admitted, his voice thick with worry. "But we need to find him. We need to stop him before something bad happens. I’m afraid he could die, Ginny. And after everything, I don’t want to lose him."

Ginny nodded, her fear matching Ron’s. "But how do we find him? We don’t even know where he is or how to get in touch with him."

"We’ll figure it out," Ron said with determination. "We have to. Percy’s our brother, and we need to help him, even if he doesn’t want us to."

The two of them sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. They knew the road ahead would be difficult, but they couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Percy might have pushed them all away, but they were still family, and they would do whatever it took to bring him back safely.

Dear Mum and Dad,

I don’t know how to say this, but I’m really worried about Percy. I’ve heard things—bad things—about what he’s been doing. You remember how we haven’t seen him in so long? Well, Draco Malfoy, of all people, told me about these fights Percy’s been in. They’re not just regular fights, Mum, Dad—they’re barbaric. Barbed wire, broken glass, fire… it’s like something out of a nightmare.

I can’t stop thinking about it, about how much damage Percy must be taking. How is he still standing after all that? I’m scared, really scared, that something terrible might happen to him. I know we haven’t seen eye to eye with Percy, but he’s still our brother, and I can’t bear the thought of losing him.

Please, can we do something? We need to find him before it’s too late.

Love, Ron.

Arthur and Molly read Ron's letter with growing concern, their hearts heavy with the knowledge that their estrangement from Percy might have led him down this dark path. It was clear that Ron was terrified that his brother might be on a path of self-destruction, and he was pleading for help.

Unable to take it anymore, Arthur decided that he had to take action. He couldn’t sit idly by, knowing that his son was out there, potentially putting his life on the line in some twisted version of sport.

Arthur couldn’t stand it any longer. He knew he had to find out where Percy was and what had happened to him. He had to try to mend the broken relationship between them before it was too late.

With renewed determination, Arthur made his way to Lucius Malfoy's office at the Ministry. He knew that Lucius had somehow become involved in Percy’s life, and if anyone knew where his son was, it would be him. Arthur was nervous, but his resolve was unshakable. He was prepared for a confrontation.

When Arthur arrived at the Ministry, he wasted no time in heading straight for Lucius’s office. The tension in the air was palpable as he pushed the door open without knocking, barging in with a look of determination that startled the normally composed Lucius.

"Where is he, Lucius?" Arthur demanded, his voice low but filled with barely restrained anger. "Where is my son?"

Lucius raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair with a smirk that made Arthur’s blood boil. "Arthur, how… unexpected. I wasn’t aware you were still interested in Percy’s whereabouts. From what I’ve heard, the two of you haven’t spoken in years."

Arthur’s fists clenched at his sides as he tried to keep his temper in check. "I’m not here to discuss our past, Lucius. I’m here to find out where Percy is. If you know anything, you need to tell me. He’s my son."

Lucius let out a cold laugh, the sound cutting through the room like a blade. "If Percy wanted you to know where he was, Arthur, you would know. Clearly, he doesn’t. And given your history, can you really blame him?"

Arthur's anger flared at the insinuation, but before he could respond, Lucius continued, his tone turning crueler. "Let’s not forget how you and your family treated him, Arthur. You dismissed him when he came to you with news he was proud of. You shunned him, cast him aside because he didn’t conform to your expectations. And now you come here, demanding to know where he is? The audacity is almost amusing."

Arthur’s face flushed with a mix of shame and anger. He knew there was truth to Lucius’s words, but that didn’t change the fact that he was trying to make amends now.

"I know I made mistakes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about him. I’m his father, and I deserve to know where he is!"

Lucius’s eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction as he leaned forward, ready to twist the knife even further.

"Oh, Arthur. There’s so much you don’t know about your son. For instance, did you know that Percy is about to become a father himself? Yes, he’s going to have a daughter soon. And yet, here you are, completely out of the loop. How tragic."

Arthur froze, the words hitting him like a sledgehammer. His breath caught in his throat as he struggled to process what Lucius had just said. Percy… was going to be a father? The revelation left him reeling, a mixture of shock, disbelief, and heartache swirling within him. How could he not have known? How could things have gotten so far without him being aware?

Before Arthur could respond, the door to Lucius’s office swung open, and two Ministry security officers stepped in. Lucius waved his hand dismissively, signaling them to escort Arthur out.

"Mr. Weasley," one of the officers said firmly, "you need to leave."

Arthur tried to shake off the shock and respond, but the officers were already guiding him out of the office, their grips firm on his arms. He barely registered what was happening, his mind still spinning with the news that Percy was going to be a father.

As he was led out of the building, Arthur felt a deep sense of despair settling over him. He had come to find Percy, to try to mend the broken relationship between them, but instead, he had been blindsided by the realization of just how much he had missed. The rift between them seemed wider than ever, and the possibility of closing it felt like a distant dream.

Once outside, Arthur stood on the Ministry steps, staring blankly ahead. He had lost so much time, and now it seemed he had lost Percy entirely. He didn’t know where to turn, what to do next. All he knew was that he couldn’t give up. No matter what it took, he had to find Percy. He had to find a way to make things right, to be there for his son and his soon-to-be grandchild.

But for now, all Arthur could do was stand there, overwhelmed by the weight of the situation, the image of Lucius’s smug face and those cutting words echoing in his mind.