The Time Percy Went Missing For A Week
I can imagine when I'm old, and Fred and George will be sitting my grandchildren on their knees and saying, "Do you know about the time your Grandfather Percy went missing for a week?" The kids would shake their heads, looking up at their twin granduncles in awe, and beg them to tell the story. I would roll my tired eyes and continue reading my newspaper, wondering whether the story would turn out wilder and more interesting than it really was as it usually did. The Time Percy Went Missing For A Week. Not 'How Percy and Penelope Got Together' or even 'How Harry Potter Destroyed the Philosopher's Stone'. The most important thing that happened during that week to the twins was that I was missing. I suppose I should be flattered that they even realised…
He gazed at her, his heart beating wild. Penelope Clearwater from Ravenclaw, a beauty, a wondrous apparition to behold for one such unworthiness as himself…
"WEASLEY!" Percy snapped out of his reverie and glanced up nervously at a furious Snape, who looked like he was about to break his wand in half, the way he held it so tightly. "Weasley," Snape repeated harshly, "what did I just say?"
"Uh…" Percy stammered. His friend Lucas Donovan beside him hissed without moving his lips, "Truth potions."
"Um, truth potions," Percy said quickly. He'd already studied this chapter of the textbook, so he knew all about it. "You were saying that Veritiserum was only one substance of the Verity Group, and that an overdose of it could lead to undesirous complications in the internal deliberations over decisions. Right sir?"
"Correct," Snape admitted grudgingly. "Five points from Griffindor for pausing before answering."
"Prick," muttered Lucas as Snape turned his back to the class to write on the blackboard. "Just looking for a way to take off points…"
But Percy wasn't listening. He'd gone back to staring at fellow prefect, Penelope Clearwater…
* * *
"Are you okay?" asked Lucas as they made their way back to their dorm after class. "You seemed a bit out of it today."
Percy shrugged, a motion that was so unlike him. "I've got a lot on my mind…" He spotted Penelope chatting to her friends and stopped. Lucas followed his gaze and saw what had distracted him.
"Oh, I see," he said, grinning. "You mean you've got a certain Ravenclaw on your mind, eh?" Percy blushed and walked on, ducking his head as he passed the group of Ravenclaw girls.
Lucas caught up to him. "Why don't you ask her out?" he said, dodging a large Slytherin who seemed to be in a hurry. "I heard that she broke up with Foster last month. And you're both prefects. And both your names start with P- Penelope and Percy." He clasped his hands together and gave an exaggerated sigh. "It was meant to be!"
"The only problem is that she doesn't even know I exist," Percy muttered, pushing past a gaggle of first years that were blocking the corridor. "Move on!" he shouted, and the students broke up.
"Of course she does- you're a prefect, and you know all the other prefects of the other houses. Wouldn't she?"
"Just because Percy actually studies the class roll, doesn't mean everyone else does!" Casey Lawrence of Hufflepuff said and laughed, hearing Lucas' last remark. He joined them as they walked to their Common Room. "Who are you talking about anyway?" he asked. Casey was well liked by all the houses, and was often invited to sit with the Griffindors and Ravenclaws at mealtimes.
"No one," Percy said quickly, trying to speed up.
"Liar. I heard you talking about a 'she'. The only 'she's you mix with are your sister and your mother." Casey smiled. "How is your mother anyway?" he asked good-naturedly. "She doesn't make me her famous jumpers for Christmas any more."
"That's because I told her what you do with them, you dirty little boy." Casey flushed fell behind the two Griffindors, trailing after them.
Lucas laughed. "What does he do with them?" he said to Percy.
"I'm not sure exactly," Percy replied, "but all I know is that it involves a whip, tight leather pants, and one of Hagrid's chickens." Both boys started chortling, while Casey grew redder and tried to pretend he couldn't hear them.
* * *
"Hey Percy!" Fred and George ambled over to him as he sat in the Common Room, reading a thick book his father had lent him from the Ministry. He was up to Chapter 5: Cornelius Fudge Becomes Minister of Magic.
George groaned when he saw it. "You've already done your OWL's and you're still reading," he exclaimed. "You and that Granger would get along nicely."
"Yes, I have spoken to Hermione," Percy said lightly, "and she seems a very studious girl. She's looks quite sensible, and you two should take a lesson from her on how to be organised and prepared in your studies."
"You sound like Mum," said Fred. "All you need is a dress."
"Forget the dress," George told Fred. "If you squint like this, and turn your head that way, you could almost mistake him for her."
'Oh shut up," Percy sniffed, and went back to reading his book.
Fred shrugged and grabbed George's arm, proceeding to drag him upstairs to their dorm.
Lee Jordon was catching up on homework in the library, and the other Third Year boys were doing their own thing, whether it be making out with the girls in the Astronomy tower, or discussing their punishments with Professor McGonagall, the twins didn't know. All they knew was that they had (practically) the whole night to experiment and modify their inventions by themselves.
George walked over to the huge cupboard that stood in the corner of the room, and tapped it with his wand, whispering the only words that would unlock the enchanted wardrobe. The cupboard was painted in a historic whitish-stucco colour and had been there seemingly since the end of time; so long in fact that nobody noticed its presence any more. The perfect hiding place.
The wooden door swung open to reveal piles of Every Flavour Jelly Bean packets, bottles of butterbeer, boxes of Zonko's products, stacks of Honeydukes chocolate and other such delicacies they had picked up from Hogsmeade, using the money they made from selling their most brilliant creations to Zonko's. These were their 'supplies'. The cupboard had been magically enlarged inside, much like their car boot at home, so that from the outside, it looked ordinarily big, but when the door was opened, it was so spacious it could have fit a whole bed in it.
George tossed Fred a packet of jellybeans, took one out for himself, and wandered over to his brother. The door automatically shut a minute later- it was a security measure they'd put in just in case they didn't have time to close the cupboard when they left the room.
"Hey, I was thinking," began Fred as George sat down next to him, making the bed move up and down, "if we added a Confundus charm to the sprinkles before we dunk it in the Exploding solution…"
* * *
The end of the school year was drawing near. Most people in Percy's year slacked off during class, but Percy still listened intently to the teachers, diligently taking notes that he could use for the year after. In Potions, the only class he shared with the Ravenclaws, he noticed that there was another who paid such rapt attention to their lesson too- Penelope Clearwater. This made Percy's admiration for her only increase more.
One day after Potions, when Snape had rushed out as soon as the bell had sounded, strangely clutching his upper arm, Percy decided to stay behind to talk to Penelope. Penelope looked at him strangely as he fumbled with his books and quill, slowing down his usual speedy packing up.
She told her friends she'd catch up with them, and stood by Percy's desk. Percy's heart pounded when he realised she was waiting for him. He shoved his things into his bag and straightened up, trying to display the 'composed prefect' façade like he'd been trained to.
"Hello Penelope." He winced as he heard his voice come out like a squeak.
She smiled. "Hello Percy," she said, unaware of the fact that the other's pulse had just picked up speed on the realisation that she recognised him.
"Um…I heard you got full marks on your report. Congratulations," he said stiffly.
"Thanks- I heard you did pretty well too." Their eyes drifted over everything except each other, feeling extremely self-conscious.
Finally, she asked, "Can I assume you wanted to tell me something?"
Percy swallowed. "Well," he said, trying to make his voice sound low and cool, "I was wondering…if whether...you'd like to…I don't know…maybe, like…" It wasn't working. He felt a ribbon of sweat form above his brow, and resisted the temptation to wipe it away. He inwardly sighed. "If you're not busy, maybe we can do something…you know, together?" Although he had told himself to keep looking directly into her eyes, he suddenly found his restless fingers very interesting.
"Percy…" Her voice sounded sincere and full of regret, and Percy immediately knew what she was going to say.
He held up a hand. "Don't worry Penelope, I understand," he said softly, looking up at her with a grim face. "Sorry for keeping you waiting here." He smiled ruefully, picked up his bag, and walked out of the dungeons.
Penelope breathed in deeply, and sat down with her elbows on the table, resting her chin in her hand. She wondered if her friends had perhaps been wrong. Perhaps playing 'hard to get' wouldn't work with Percy Weasley. After all, he was her first crush, the first one she had every truly liked. What did she know about love?
* * *
Author: Well that's it. Part 1 is OVER. Will Percy and Penelope finally be together? (well, dah!) Will Fred and George perfect their invention (actually, I'm never going to answer that question)? Will I receive flames for this? Better not.
Tune in next time for the exciting Part 2 of The Time Percy Went Missing For A Week, and meanwhile, keep those reviews coming in!
Oh yeah, I said there was slash in this, didn't I? Alright then, let me add the end of Part 1. You don't have to read it- it doesn't make any difference on the other parts of the story, really…:
* * *
Casey leant out the window of the Astronomy Tower, breathing in the cool air of the night. He saw a leaf fly past, carried by the slight breeze. He watched the leaf turn over and over again, soaring high then low. He looked till it disappeared into the darkness. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair, waiting.
Finally he could wait no longer. Picking up his cloak off a hook on the wall, he walked out of the room and down the spiralling steps, feeling himself warm up by the exertion. He made his way to the Griffindor Tower and paused outside the portrait. His friend hadn't told him the password. The Fat Lady in the picture was fast asleep, and he was afraid of waking her up and facing the consequences.
Ten minutes later he was still standing there, feeling stupid and foolish. He knew he should turn and go, but his feet wouldn't allow him to move away. He couldn't go…not before he had seen his friend.
The portrait door tentatively opened at that moment, and a fair-haired boy stepped out, looking slightly nervous. When he spotted Casey, he started, but his features soon relaxed at the familiar sight.
"Casey," the boy breathed, silently shutting the door, "I was just coming out to meet you."
"A bit late aren't you?"
The other looked guiltily back. "Sorry," he murmured, "my clock alarm wasn't working." He grinned cheekily. "I was too busy enjoying my dream about you and that whip and those chickens…!"
Casey laughed quietly and linked his arms around the boy's waist. He pulled him closer, smelling his scent of clean bed sheets and sweaty pyjamas, and that unmistakable Griffindor odour he always perceived when he entered their Common Room.
"Did you miss me?" whispered the Griffindor silkily in Casey's ear, making Casey shudder slightly from the hot tickling breath.
Casey dragged his long fingers up the boy's spine, resting them gently on his bare neck. He lay his other hand on the side of his hip, and leant closer so their heavy breaths mingled in the air. "I did," he whispered back, "but not any more." His tongue lashed out to taste the other's lips, which curled into a smile.
"Here?"
"Why not?" Casey purred, his hand coming up to stroke his boyfriend's face. "Who's going to see? Everyone's asleep." His brown eyes pierced greenish-yellow ones, and he closed his, leaning forward to capture the willing, partially opened lips with his own…
"Casey?!"
Casey's head snapped back and he swivelled around to see Penelope Clearwater staring at the couple with a horrified expression on her face. He cursed under his breath that everyone in the school just had to recognise him, and his friend chuckled quietly at hearing him mutter his thoughts.
"Oh…Penelope," Casey said faintly. "What are you doing here…now…at this time?" He disentangled himself from the arms that held him, and faced her, blushing like mad.
"I...er…that is…I..." She didn't seem to be able to get the image of the two boys out of her mind. Shaking her head, she tried to make out who the other student was in the darkness. All she knew was that he was male. Realising what she was trying to do, Casey told his beloved to go back to his dorm. The boy smiled, turned, and said, "Empedocles", loud enough for only Casey to hear, and stepped back into the Common Room. The portrait swung shut behind him.
Casey shuffled his feet and dared to look back up at Penelope, who seemed to have recovered herself. She had her arms wrapped around her body, hugging herself, and looked at Casey uncertainly.
"Should I ask?" she said quietly.
"No," answered Casey, and she smiled weakly.
"I won't tell," she said, after a moment's pause, "if you pass on a message for me."
"For who?" Casey's curiosity got the better of him. His anxiety on being caught began to ease away, and he was beginning to wonder just what had made the Ravenclaw prefect break the rules and roam around Hogwarts at night.
Penelope felt uncomfortable under his gaze. "Well," she said, looking down at her feet, "could you just tell Percy…"
* * *