Weasleys Wizard Wheezes: The Ministry Disapproved Edition (The Liability Remix)

Weasleys Wizard Wheezes: The Ministry Disapproved Edition (The Liability Remix) by SullenSiren (Original by Xylodemon)

Summary: From the desk of Percival Ignatius Weasley, concerning the twins’ latest product line. Oneshot, 3,000.

Why You Should Care: Originally written in 2006 for the Omniocular Non-Fiction Challenge, and recently remixed for Remix Redux 2006. The original was absolute fun, and the new additions in the voice of Percy compliment the original content wonderfully. Catalogue comes complete with images, pricing, order form, and sparling text! Really fantastic multi-media comedic exercise that fits well in JKR’s universe.

Why You Might Not Care: The original was written before DH, and the remix — even though it was written post DH — has complied with that original, so suspend your canon complaints.

The Perfect Glasses

The Perfect Glasses by Emiime

Summary: Percy needs glasses. Luckily he’s found the perfect pair. Oneshot, 1,132 Words.

Why You Should Care: This piece is so adorable and sad. Percy is on his way to becoming the canon character we’re familiar with, yet here, he’s still a little boy who shouldn’t have to deal with being poor. I can see this happening, and it broke my heart a little to read it. On the surface, it seems like a simple story, but the image of what the Weasleys have to go through — all the time — just hurts.

Why You Might Not Care: Sympathetic Percy, or even the Weasleys in general, may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s alright. However, this is a short, bittersweet piece that is well worth the read.

I Miss You

I Miss You by Pantz

Summary: She was supposed to be his forever. Oneshot, 3,263 Words.

Why You Should Care: Totally anti-canon, written pre-HBP, but this fic is beautiful, sweet and bitter, and heartbreaking in a simple, practiced way. Percy is depicted with maturity and delicacy, and Penelope, who nearly falls into the trap of becoming a cliche, seems to gain a life of her own. Somehow the tragedy played out in this fic gets me every time.

Why You Might Not Care: …two Percy!fics in a row? Also, HBP and DH smashed the canon of this one.

Five Ways of Growing Up Between the Wars

Five Ways of Growing Up Between the Wars by Penknife

Summary: Five ways Tonks might have met Percy over the years. Oneshot, 2,653 Words.

Why You Should Care: Written from Tonks’ point of view, Penknife finds the foils and parallels between two characters that couldn’t be more different, yet still share a few underlying similarities. It’s interesting to see the random momentary connecting of two nearly-complete strangers. In addition, Penknife’s high calibre of writing makes this one just that much better– for all her slash-fic, it is Penknife’s gen-fic that affects me the most.

Why You Might Not Care: Um…? Nope, I’ve got nothing.

Chroma

Chroma by Emiime

Summary: It’s the brightness Percy can’t stand. Drabble, 623 Words.

Why You Should Care: What might Christmas during OotP have been like for Percy Weasley, having cut himself off from his family? This is a brief and beautifully written drabble that is laced with simply delightful imagery, metaphor, and theme. Wonderful use of colour to punctuate Percy’s experience.

Why You Might Not Care: It slips up, once or twice, into cliche. But only once or twice.

The Sleeper Awakes

The Sleeper Awakes by SnorkackCatcher

Summary: “It’s been coming on for a while,” said Percy, “but I had to find a way out and it’s not so easy at the Ministry, they’re imprisoning traitors all the time.” The journey of Percy Weasley. Oneshot, 10,429 Words.

Why You Should Care: Everyone has their breaking point: whether it’s the point at which we realize we’re wrong and turn back or the point we give up all pretense and make a grab at power is, in the end, up to the individual. There is a wonderfully sculpted set of contrasts in this fic in Percy Weasley and Doloris Umbridge. Where Umbridge throws herself heart and soul into the new Ministry line, Percy is more uncomfortable, and ultimate makes the same choice as the rest of his family. It’s delightful to see realization creep up on him slowly until a damn breaks and it all just makes sense, and then it’s just as lovely to see him fight the way Percy fights best– with a pen and a list of regulations. A very well written and carefully thought out telling of Percy’s missing story in Deathly Hallows.

Why You Might Not Care: It may seem a little slow in parts, but I think it was meant to be, if that makes any sense. For Percy to have come to this realization suddenly and without the long, slow plod down to the feet of the devil himself, it wouldn’t have had the weight and the realism it ultimately did. Be patient with it, and be as frustrated as Percy is — you’ll find it satisfying, at the end.

The Hidden Room

The Hidden Room by Dilly

Summary: Percy used to tell them stories about The Burrow. Oneshot, 1,495 Words.

Why You Should Care: Because it’s lovely, sweet, and themeful, that’s why. Aside from brilliant characterisations of Percy (who is making the not-quite-so-easy transition back into his family) and Ron (who is still fresh from fighting a war), there’s also an acknowledgement of The Burrow itself as a character. Through Percy, Dilly weaves a rich and colourful mythology for The Burrow and the Weasleys, breathing a whole new life into the concept of home and family. Between the personification of The Burrow, the subtleties in Percy’s character, the unsensationalised dealing with Fred’s death, and the overall high standard of writing, this is a completely unique oneshot you shouldn’t miss.

Why You Might Not Care: I just said you shouldn’t miss it. *points*

Stamped

Stamped by Altricial

Summary: Why Percy Weasley does the things he does. Oneshot, 2,507 Words.

Why You Should Care: Percy Weasley rather got the short straw in the novels – first he was arrogant, then a traitor and finally was granted what to me seemed like a rather grudging reprieve. This fic goes right back to the time of the Weasley childhoods and shows, very plainly and innocently, what went on behinds the scenes: what configured Percy like that, and you end up with this overwhelming rush of sympathy for him. Great novels have been made out of a child’s viewpoint and this fic is in the same vein – it’s naively, even childishly written and yet it tugs unexpectedly at the heartstrings of the reader. Sweetly written and cleverly constructed.

Why You Might Not Care: Be forewarned! This fic calls Ginny ‘Virginia’, a canon error that makes my blood boil, and sometimes it needs to delve even deeper than it does: although Percy is beautifully depicted, the author has a tendency to fall back to stereotype for the other Weasleys. Even so, Altricial clearly has an eye for characterisation and this sort of skill is a rarity. A real gem.