Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor anything affiliated with its characters, plot, etc.

This is written for a "Random Phrases Challenge" put down by KristyT23.

Sunken

He sat on his sunken in couch in a melancholy daze. It had been a long day at work, with Fudge resigning and the election of a new Minister of Magic. Percy felt as if he had worked his fingers to the bone, having taken over thirty feet of notes for all the meetings and conferences. Not to mention his gluteus maximus, and minimus, hurt from sitting on the stone benches of the courtroom all day.

Sadly, coming back to his flat was in no way relieving. Having not eaten since breakfast, he riffled through his food closet to find that the only food he had was a can of pineapple juice and a block of expired cheese. These were both far from appetizing.

So he sat, lonely and tired, hoping that his tattered robe would envelope him until he disappeared all together. When had this happened? When had he turned from being a point of authority, from having a bright future, to being a dispensable wreck? The Ministry didn't need him: all he did was take notes and shake his head in agreement. They could find a monkey who could do as much. Yes, that was what he was: a monkey. He didn't even get to be a great primate, like a gorilla, no, he was too weak. Yet, he still went in everyday, putting on a confident air, as if what he was doing was actually important.

At work he was hardly acknowledged. No one ever asked him how he was when he arrived or wished him a good evening when he left. An automatic 'thank you' when he turned over his notes was the most anyone talked to him anymore.

He would have preferred being despised to this. Even a Dung Bomb strategically placed at his desk was preferable. He hated to admit it, but he missed his family. He had messed up and put his ambitions first, which resulted in nothing but misery. The worst was that even now that he could admit his mistake; his pride would not allow him to take the blow of asking for forgiveness. No, he couldn't, especially knowing that if things had turned out differently, if he wasn't so miserable, he probably wouldn't have even considered associating with his family at this point in time.

Sighing, he accioed some of his notes that he needed to rewrite. He stared at them, so long that the words blurred into polka dots across the parchment. So long he sank into despair that he became only vaguely aware of his surroundings. He was ceasing to exist in the world…

Tap

Percy started, so surprised by the noise. It sounded like it had come from his front door. Could it be? Percy wondered. He grabbed the door knob hopefully and yanked open the door, but all there was was emptiness.