Curate, connect, and discover
We all know Percy was incredibly ambitious and wanted to work his way through the leadership of the Ministry. I don’t think he would have just upped and quite his job at the Ministry, and I think he would have put all his energy into rebuilding the Ministry after the war. To helping Kingsley in any way he could and righting the wrongs that he and Fudge had helped put into place. And while the allure of power and prestige, to make something of himself, would still be there, grabbing his attention at various time, but I don’t think his heart would have been in it.
I think Percy’s drive to attain glory and prestige would be irrevocably damaged after the war. After he realized all the damage he had personally had contributed to by working in the system without questioning it. All the families he tore apart by assisting Umbridge. The immense amount of pain he caused his own family. He would funnel his ambition and rive into helping people and righting his wrongs, but he would prevent himself from attaining positions of power. A bit like dumbledore. After Fred had died, even though he’d forgiven him right before, Percy just couldn’t figure himself and the goals that had always driven him forwards broke.
He didn’t really plan to join George at WWW. It started a year after George reopened the shop (which took a while after the war, being filled with just too many memories for George). George asked Percy if he would help him with filing the shop’s taxes (yes wizards pay taxes). And while Percy huffed and rolled his eyes when George presented him with a mess of loose receipts and ledger rolls and notes hastily scrawled for orders, he of course helped him.
That’s how it first started. Percy was appalled at the state of the shop’s finances, not that George didn’t have a handle on it, just it was organized chaos and Percy does not do organized chaos. Percy is a strict rule follower and lives by color coded folders. So he spent four days organizing WWW’s finances and filing their taxes. After that he insisted on regular meetings with George to go over the finances. Because “I know you’re just going to ask me to do your taxes next year, this is at least saving me some time later by keeping everything neat now, George.”
So Percy continues to manage the shop’s finances on a regular basis and George is happy to let him. Over time George starts coming to Percy for more than just taxes help and financial advice but asks him his opinions on various business related ideas. Percy is the one George takes with him when he checks out buildings to expand into Hogsmeade, Percy is the one he asks for help organizing customer insight groups, he asks Percy to help him set up employee benefits, or even just his opinion on the new employee uniforms.
This continues for five or so years. George never asks Percy to come on full time but increasingly asks for Percys input and help while Percy gives his time more and more without George even asking. One day, George is surprised to find Percy at the shop during the middle of the day, asking him what he’s doing here. “Oh well this shipment of doxy eggs was coming in after it accidentally got shipped to Bulgaria and after all the trouble I went through to get it here I needed to make sure it was the correct order.”
“Perce, you didn’t have to do that. We have staff they would have figured it out. You didn’t have to leave the Ministry in the middle of the day,” said George.
A nearby employee shouted out “yeah you’re making us look bad and you don’t even work here!!”
“Maybe I should,” Percy mumbled more to himself than anyone else.
“What” George said, seeming rather stunned.
“I don’t know,” whispered Percy not quite making eye contact with George, “I just thought you would have asked by now. You know, asked me to come on full time. But I get it, it was always yours and Fred’s thing”
But George cuts him off from saying anything more with a hearty chuckle and a shake of his head. Percy just stares at him, at a loss for words, not quite sure why George is laughing at him. “Damnit Percy. If I had known.”
“Known what?” Percy asked perplexed.
“Known you had actually wanted to work here! I never offered because I didn’t want to get in the way of your grand plans to rule the universe.”
Percy looked at him, just observed his brother and took him all in. He looked slightly flabbergasted, but then a small, sad smile crept on his face. “No. I... no. My plans for power broke pretty quickly after... well... and the war... and... you know.”
He made eye contact with George and words were passed effortlessly between them, without anything needing to be said aloud. They embraced each other in a way they’d never truly done before; as brothers and as a support system for one another.
“So what do you say? Should we get you an apron now? Or do you need to resign from the ministry before I put you to work” George chuckled to Percy.
And the rest is history. Percy joining the shop allowed George to focus on the stuff he was passionate about: inventing the products and marketing (because he really does have the eye for that). Percy gave feedback and a few ideas of his own every now and again. But really he was there to keep the whole place running smoothly and organized (something he revelled in) and act as George’s sound board, his confidant, and his partner. Something he needed more than all the rest.
just imagine, you and George cuddling in the Hogwarts courtyard watching the sun while exchanging caresses and kisses, and Fred (obviously) joking about how affectionate you are and how much George is in love with you, sometimes Fred even imitates the way George talked about you before you started dating
(sorry for any typos, English is not my native language)
If you like this little idea, I can try to do something longer ;)