Penelope Louisa Clearwater, Fourth Year Ravenclaw, sighs in relief as she exits the library, her arms full of books.

"If I don't improve, I'll only get an A in Transfigurations and Potions. However, if I go half as insane with studying as some of those kids, I'm bound to get Os in everything except History of Magic!" Penelope grumps to herself as she rounds a corner on her way to Flitwick's, hopefully, deserted, classroom.

"Oomph!" Penelope's books fly into the air, joined by another scad of books.

"Watch it!" the boy she'd run into snaps. The boy, a Gryffindor Prefect, was clearly more upset that his books were scattered in disarray on the floor than upset that he'd bumped into someone.

"Well sorr-ee, Mr. Prefect. Corners have a knack of obstructing my vision, even with my glasses," Penelope retorts sharply, straightening her silver oval frames and starts sorting through the books.

Percy Ignatius Weasley stares at the sharp-tongued, blue-eyed brunette that had managed to take the wind from his indignant sails with one statement-of-the-obvious. "Erm… I'm sorry… I'm just a little stressed," he says and kneels to help Penelope sort through the books.

"O.W.L.s?" Penelope asks, handing him a thick, very aged tome.

"What gave it away?" he asks ruefully, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he takes the book.

"The shiny Prefect badge; over-achieving, new Prefect or both; and the books on everything from Ancient Runes to Intermediate Transfigurations." Penelope answers wile restacking her comparatively small pile of books, gaining another smile and a small laugh from Percy.

"Thanks for the laugh… Erm… What's your name?" Percy asks, sounding rather sheepish.

"Penelope Clearwater, Fourth Year," Penelope replies as she picks up her books and stands. "By the way," she adds, "the library is rather crowded. I couldn't get up to get a book without losing my seat." With that, she steps around him and resumes her trek to the Charms room.

"Wait!" Percy calls, piling his books haphazardly and picking them up to chase after Penelope.

"Yes?" Penelope asks, turning around to face a rather pink Percy, his horn-rimmed glasses slightly askew.

"Where are you going to study if not in the library?" he asks, his pink turning slowly redder to almost match his red Gryffindor badge.

"Well… I'm going to check Professor Flitwick's room for possible studiers. If there are, then I suspect I'll wind up in a disused classroom. Why?" Penelope returns, watching him suspiciously.

"Well… I was wondering if… Maybe I could… Possibly… study with you?" Percy stutters then rambles, his blush hitting his hairline.

"What was that? You were talking too fast," Penelope asks, trying not to smile because, despite her asking, she had understood him.

"May I study with you… please?" he asks hopefully. Penelope grins mentally, having sized up the red-haired Prefect and deemed it harmless to spend study time alone in a room with him.

"On two conditions then," she says, shifting her books slightly.

"Yes?" he prompts anxiously.

"I need to know your name, silly," Penelope responds, laughing slightly.

"Oh! Erm… I'm Percy, Percy Weasley," he answers, slightly taken aback.

"Well then Percy, I think we'd better get going," she says and starts walking… again.

"Wait a minute! What about the other condition?" Percy asks, jogging a few paces to catch up.

"Oh! Right! Call me Penny. Only my parents call me Penelope," she answers blithely.

Authoress's Note & Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any trademarks thereof… Percy and Penelope are both included in that statement. The only thing I own is the scenario of their first meeting. Kudos to DaveO who betaed this for me! Thanks for reading and please review! Tah now!

~Empress Tessandrilene (Queen Tessandry [Queenie Tessa]) Wendracon de Sanyochisei~