Even if Percy wasn't thankful for the oldest Weasley siblings showing up, Marianna mentally thanked Merlin for them. As they had been doing a very good job distracting Percy and taking his focus off of her.
She told herself it was silly to cry over Percy. After that day she pulled herself together and acted as if nothing had happened.
"A Christmas party?" Molly questioned.
"Yeah mum, Cmon, you love having people around!" Charlie exclaimed cheerfully.
"Just admit you're lonely Char, I know you are only doing this to get over Sylvia!" Bill noted as he took Charlie's toast from his hand.
"Who's Syyylvia?" Ginny taunted.
Charlie anxiously laughed as he tried to avoid his mother's eyes.
"Oh, Uhm, my ex girlfriend..."
"EX GIRLFRIEND?!?" Molly's voice boomed throughout the house.
The Weasley children ducked in cover, fearing their protective mother's wrath.
"Now hold on mum, I would have told you, but we broke up before I had the chance!" Charlie exclaimed while he put his hands up in defense.
"You should have told me right away!" Molly huffed before pulling Charlie into a bone crushing squeeze.
"I hope that girl didn't break my poor boy's heart, what a terrible woman she must have been."
Ginny and Ron giggled while the twins made fake crying faces at Charlie.
"Help me." Charlie mouthed silently.
Marianna thought about how Molly would feel about her if she dated Percy.
Molly was an extremely protective woman, the twins had told her how she reacted when she found out about Penelope Clearwater. Let's just say she wasn't fond of the girl. This made Marianna nervous as she thought Penelope to be quite lovely.
Over the school break, Marianna had grown very fond of Molly. She might have her own mum but she didn't come close to how caring, warm, and loving Molly had been to her. Even over such a short period of time. Maybe her and Percy not working out was for the better.
"Besides, how could someone be sad with beautiful Marianna Fudge around?"
Mariana felt Charlie throw his arm over her shoulders.
"Leave her be Charlie, you know how shy Marie is." Ginny stated protectively.
"She's not shy, she's just nervous around extremely handsome men. Isn't that right whittle Marie?" Charlie continued, he bopped her nose with his finger playfully.
Percy and Oliver walked into the living room. Percy felt a wave of jealousy wash over him when he saw his brother's hands on Marianna.
"Can't you stop flirting with her Charlie." Percy stated angrily.
"So protective Percy, what a temper on you." Charlie chuckled while pulling away from Marianna and walking towards his younger brother.
"You told us you two aren't dating, how was I supposed to know you fancied her?" He continued as he walked out of the room.
All eyes were on Percy now, except for Marianna whom was hiding her blushed face. He attempted to ignore everyone when he sat beside Oliver on the couch.
Arthur and Molly had left to attend the yearly Ministry Christmas party, Marianna was thankful she wasn't forced to go this year but she made sure Molly and Arthur knew not to bring up the fact that she had been staying with them this holiday. Her father believed her to be somewhere her grandfather would call more respectable. It wasn't that they hated the Weasleys, they just weren't prestigious enough.
"Soooo....." Harry said to break the silence.
"So, let's play a drinking game." Fred chimes in.
"Not you Ginny." George added.
"Why not?!" The youngest Weasley complained.
The twins tussled her hair while she angrily glared at them, crossing her arms.
"Because you are too young." Ron noted.
"Technically, we all are." Hermione noted.
"Goody two shoes." Ron whispered to Harry while rolling his eyes.
"Fine, I'm in." Hermione declared.
Everyone else agreed and now all eyes were on Oliver, Percy, and Marianna.
"I'm definitely in, should be fun." Oliver smiled, he bumped shoulders with Marianna.
The Ravenclaw witch nervously played with the hem of her turtle neck sweater.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt." She agreed quietly.
The twins cheered and ran up the steps loudly to collect the fire whiskey they had hidden away. Charlie had disappeared somewhere while Bill was with Molly and Arthur. It was just the youngest siblings left to play.
"Here's your juice baby Ginerva." Ron joked as he handed his sister a glass of fruit punch.
Ginny punched Ron in the arm, he attempted to act like it didn't hurt but it honestly had almost brought tears to his eyes. She was very strong.
"What are we playing?" Oliver asked as he poured out some Firewhiskey for himself and Marianna.
"How about never have I ever? It was a game I used to play in primary school, without the alcohol of course." Hermione noted.
Everyone nodded and agreed.
"Are you playing Perce?" Oliver questioned.
The twins laughed out loud.
"Yeah, Pompous Percy play a drinking game." Fred chuckled.
Marianna couldn't help giggle slightly at the thought. Percy noticed this, anger welled up inside his stomach. He leaned forward angrily, pouring himself a glass of firewhiskey. Marianna finally looked at him for the first time all day, wondering what had just gotten into him.
The twins were right, Percy wasn't known to break rules. He often told Marianna that party games were just an excuse for horny teenagers to make mistakes. So she was fairly surprised to see him join in.
"So? Are we starting?" Percy questioned in a annoyed tone.
Everyone looked at him with a shocked expression, but Hermione shook herself from her thoughts to explain the rules. Fred started out strong after she finished.
"Never have I ever fancied someone in this room." Fred said as he eyes everyone in the room, in hopes of getting exciting info.
Hermione, Ginny, Ron, George, Percy, Marianna, and Oliver all took sips of their drinks.
"Hmmmmm." Fred noted.
Percy was curious when Oliver took a sip, there wasn't many people in the room and he seemed truthful when telling him he had no feelings for Marianna. Then again Marianna took a sip as well.
"Never have I ever kissed someone." Ginny said proudly.
Oliver, The Twins, Ron, Percy, and Hermione took sips.
"Really Hermione? Who?!" Ron asked rather shocked.
Hermione blushed a bright red.
"I don't remember his name." She admitted.
Ginny almost spilled her drink while laughing at Ron's expression. She was actually impressed with the curly haired Gryffindor girl.
Percy didn't notice the commotion in front of him, he couldn't stop thinking about how Marianna hadn't kissed anyone yet. How could that be so? She was so beautiful and well liked in school. He couldn't stop himself from looking at her lips again. He was so close to being her first kiss at the book store, though at the time he had no idea.