"Hey!"
Ron was the first to lose his patience.
"Sirius is Professor Holmes's butler! And he's Harry's godfather!"
"I'm merely stating a fact, Ron."
Percy's tone was cold and brooked no argument.
"Besides, I look forward to seeing you at the Ministry of Magic, not at the Griffin's Nest in Diagon Alley."
"Seeing us at the Ministry of Magic?"
Fred made an exaggerated show of digging in his ear.
"What for? To polish your shoes or sort out all that mind-numbingly boring parchment?"
"That's out of line, Percy."
George picked up where he left off.
"Our business was personally approved by the Head of the Auror Office. It's perfectly legal and compliant."
The Weasley siblings all looked at their eldest brother, Bill, hoping he would say something fair.
Bill knew that Percy's mission had begun.
Drawing a clear line between them.
Because out of the entire Weasley family, he alone was best suited to that job, which required absolute "loyalty" to the Ministry of Magic.
Bill gave Percy a long look, then slowly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of weariness and resolve that no one could understand.
"Percy, everyone should be free to make their own choices."
"Just as you've chosen to go your separate way from us."
Those words struck every Weasley child's heart like a bolt of silent lightning.
A year ago, after Percy joined the Ministry of Magic, his relationship with the family had soured, but it had only amounted to arguments.
Later, he had been "posted away" for a year, and the relationship had grown even more distant.
But they had never imagined they would hear the words "go your separate way" from the eldest brother they respected most.
It was practically a declaration of estrangement.
"Go his separate way?"
Ron's face flushed bright red.