On Sunday morning, Percy found himself headed towards professor McGonagall's class to get extra practice on Transfiguration. He found that as the years progressed, it was getting ever difficult to change one thing into another. But being the over achiever that he is, he took it a sign that he needed to study religiously.
He walked in and found that professor McGonagall was with another student who he recognized as Hermione Granger. To his surprise, she was pointing her wand at a very small object, obviously attempting a transfiguration spell. He remembered having a conversation with her the first day about how she was interested in transfiguration.
"Not to worry, Ms. Granger. You'll get it soon enough. I can see a tiny bit of change around the edges. Yes, Mr. Weasley?" McGonagall said addressing him.
"Hello professor, I'm here…well, to do exactly what she's doing." Percy said awkwardly.
"Certainly my boy! Certainly!" she said excitedly. This was rather out of character for professor McGonagall, but he didn't question it. Not until it had been an hour and he took a break. Hermione and himself were in an unspoken competition to see who could transform their object first. Percy looked towards McGonagall's desk who was happily grading papers.
"Having a good day professor?" Percy asked.
"Wonderful day!" she responded. She was smiling.
"May we know why professor?" asked Hermione joining the conversation.
"Remember Potter's little incident with the broomstick, Ms. Granger?" asked McGonagall. Hermione nodded and asked, "Has he been get expelled?"
"What? Heavens no! In fact, I've made him Gryffindor's new seeker!" she beamed when she saw the student's shocked faces.
"Potter? But isn't Potter in…" started Percy but he trailed off.
"Yes, he's in his first year. Making him the youngest seeker in a century."
"So that's why you're in a such a good mood." Percy thought aloud.
"Yes, it means that Gryffindor has a great chance of winning this year. The skill that boy demonstrates. Oh! And Oliver Wood is captain, such a skilled boy he is. We'll definitely give Slytherin a run for their money." McGonagall said.
He went back to his foot stool and attempted to transform it into a puppy. Hermione, determined to achieve transfiguration before Percy, went back her match and attempted to change it into a needle.
Oliver Wood as captain of the Gryffindor team? He has a tough job in front him, Percy thought. Training a first year who barely knows how to fly a broom, and then a whole team. I like to see how this will turn out. What is Oliver Wood's position anyway? He's a…no can't be a seeker, that's Harry. Can't be a beater, Fred and George. A keeper? Yup, Oliver's a Keeper. He stops quaffles from…
Just then he realized that he was still trying to transform his foot stool, and it was changing! Only it didn't change into an adorable puppy.
"Well, it's no pup." McGonagall said from her desk.
Hemione picked up the quaffle that Percy had produced and handed it to Percy who just stared on in disbelief.
Almost instantly, the news of what he had done had spread throughout the whole school. And everywhere that he turned someone would make a quaffle joke. The people who insisted on reminding him were none other than Quidditch players themselves. He honestly couldn't see what the big deal was, it was only just a quaffle.
"Oi, Percy!" he heard the twin's voices in unison as he entered the Great Hall for breakfast. They were, as they always were, with most of the Quidditch team. Among them was Oliver Wood who was eating his breakfast seemingly unaware that Fred and George were calling him. He reluctantly headed towards them with hopes that they had something important to tell him.
"Yes?" he inquired.
"We heard about your sudden interest in Quidditch!" said Fred. All hope was now gone.
"We've never been more proud big brother!" added George and they both stood up and surrounded Percy from both sides with a hug. He tried to pull away from them but they overpowered him, even to the point where they forced him to sit down at the table with them.
"George and I believe you're finally worthy of our company." Fred said grinning.
Percy was in no joking mood. "You congratulate me when I make a mistake, a very trivial, unworthy of notice mistake, yet you don't say a single 'congratulations' when I become a prefect?" asked Percy rhetorically.
"Normally we wouldn't care, but McGonagall took it as a good sign and she's been making a rather big deal about it. She's been happy since then, you know. She awarded five points to Gryffindor because of what you did." said George as he took a bite of a blueberry muffin.
"What? She didn't award me five points!" Percy said alarmed.
"Did it after you left, mate. She told us this Monday." Oliver said dividing his attention between Percy and his food. Percy looked at him trying to think of what to say but nothing came to his mind. He was afraid he'd give the impression that he was staring so he looked away and caught a glimpse of Penelope Clearwater. Finally, Oliver spoke again.
"So, a quaffle?" he said smiling. This time his full attention was on Percy, who felt a little self-conscious with Oliver's eyes on him.
"It…er..was just a mistake." Percy said casually masking his embarrassment.
"Do you secretly burn with the passion of being a keeper?" asked Fred.
"And does that passion take control of your whole life until you can't take it any longer that you have to satisfy your desire by turning anything you can point your wand at into a quaffle?" asked George.
"Lucky for you my dear friend, the best keeper in Hogwarts is sitting right in front of you here to satisfy your burning desire." he said. Everyone laughed. Percy was shocked that Oliver had contributed because he hardly even talked to him. Nothing gave him the right to poke fun at him like if they were the best of friends. Granted, they weren't very insulting jokes, but still.
"Percy's got a burning desire? Why don't you put it out with water!" Angelina added obviously referring to Penelope Clearwater. The whole group was now laughing hysterically, except for Percy. He felt utterly scandalized. Nothing was secret apparently. He assumed that his brothers only suspected of his and Penelope's relationship and hadn't hesitated to inform the school. Had they read his mail?
"Clearwater and I are not in any type of relationship. It's not right to spread such vicious rumors around school you two. And if I hear of this again I'll write you up." Percy said furiously as he got up from the table and stormed toward the exit. He couldn't remember, but he thought he might have stolen a glance at Oliver when declared that he was single.