The great scarlet steam engine stood on the tracks of platform nine and three quarters, waiting patiently for its passengers to board. Fathers were lugging their children's heavy trunks onto the train whilst mothers caught up with their old school friends. Students were greeting their mates and chatting animatedly about their summer holidays while moaning about the upcoming school year.
As the clock on the station wall wound closer to eleven, more and more children were saying goodbye to their parents before boarding the train.
One family, in particular, arrived rather late, as per usual, leaving only ten precious minutes spare before the train was due to leave. There were nine of them accompanied by their luggage. All of them had bright red hair, except for the one skinny teenage boy, who had jet black hair and brilliant green eyes, and the bushy-haired girl. Two of them carried pet owls, another had a rat in his top pocket, and the bushy-haired girl held a pet carrier which had an equally bushy ginger cat inside.
The eldest of the red-haired children was tall and thin, much like his father, with horn-rimmed spectacles framing his eyes. His name was Percy Weasley. As he spotted his girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, Percy quickly kissed his mother goodbye and bid his father farewell before walking over to the curly-haired blonde girl. He walked with his chest slightly pushed out to ensure that she saw the badge. Upon reaching Penelope he gave her a swift hug and peck on the cheek.
"Hello," said Percy, his blue eyes sparkling behind his glasses.
"Hello," said Penelope. As Penelope spotted the gleaming Head Boy badged pinned to Percy's chest, she pointed at it excitedly. "You got the badge! Congratulations!"
"Thank you, darling," he said. He could feel himself blush slightly. "Did you?"
When Penelope nodded, Percy congratulated her before kissing her gently in celebration. Percy then gestured for them to board the train and then the two of them made their way down the platform. As they walked, Penelope offered to carry Hermes as Percy was pulling his trunk. It transpired that Penelope had already loaded her own so her hands were free.
They finally arrived at the prefect's carriage and Percy began to lift his trunk into the luggage rack overhead. It was extremely heavy and he quickly began to struggle. Just as the trunk was about to crush him, a strong hand from the corridor beyond helped to steady it. Looking to his left, Percy was greeted by the soft brown eyes of the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, Oliver Wood. With a slight nod towards his classmate, Percy gave one last push and the two of them managed to get his trunk in its place. He then took the cage housing his own from Penelope and then perched Hermes on top. Percy was a little embarrassed and annoyed about being saved by Oliver, especially in front of Penelope, but his manners won out as he turned to face him.
"Thank you, Wood," said Percy rather stiffly.
He held his hand out to Oliver along with his gesture of thanks. Oliver looked at the extended hand for a moment and grinned. Then, he took it in his own and began shaking Percy's hand enthusiastically.
"No problem, Weasley," said Oliver, still grinning. "Good summer?"
"Very good, thank you. And yours?"
For some reason, all Percy could think about was how warm Oliver's hand felt in his own. He released it as quickly as possible.
"Aye, it was fantastic," said Oliver. "I got a lot of training done and I've been working on some new strategies for the team. I really think we can win this year. Did you do much?"
"Oh, I just did a spot of studying," said Percy. He gave a short laugh. "I wanted to get a head start for the coming year, naturally. N.E.W.T.s are extremely important, you know."
"Aye," said Wood, a small smirk on his face. "That sounds a lot like you." Suddenly noticing Penelope, Oliver gave her a huge smile. "Well hello there, Penelope! Did you have a good summer?"
"It was wonderful thank you, Oliver," said Penelope, smiling coldly back at him.
Percy knew that he and Penelope were on the same wave-length when it came to Oliver Wood and the other juveniles that plagued their school and could tell that she wanted this conversation to be over as soon as possible.
"Alright then, I best be going. See you," said Oliver.
He threw one last warm smile at them, clearly not noticing a thing, before walking off. Percy chuckled to himself.
Well, brains are not his strong suit.
After Oliver had walked away, Percy closed the compartment door and took the seat next to Penelope. She smiled at him before taking his hand in her own. At that moment, two of their fellow prefects joined them. While the newcomers loaded up their own luggage, Penelope turned to Percy.
"He hasn't changed at all," said Penelope quietly. "He's still as brutish as ever."
"I know," Percy replied with a smirk. "I often wonder whether his intellect is similar to that of a Troll."
Penelope giggled at that and Percy grinned in return. As their fellow prefects sat down, the train finally began to slowly move forwards as it rolled out of the station. Not long after they had turned the corner and were out of sight of King's Cross, they took that as their queue. Percy and Penelope went into the compartment opposite in order to greet the new Prefects from the fifth year. They gave them a lengthy lecture regarding their duties and responsibilities before sending them off on their first assignments.
When they had all dispersed, the two of them walked back to their own compartment and made themselves comfortable in the luxurious, poufy seats. For a while, Percy talked animatedly with his fellow prefects, later eating a sizeable lunch. During most of the discussion, Percy spoke in regards to their upcoming N.E.W.T. examinations with his fellow prefect, Robert Hilliard of Ravenclaw.
At four, it was Percy's turn to patrol the corridors and so when it was time, he and Robert said goodbye to the few prefects left in their carriage and began to stroll down the train. A few carriages down, Robert had to stop and reprimand a few second years. Percy carried on without him, giving out stern stares as he went.
Upon reaching a compartment filled with seventh years, including Oliver Wood, Percy threw out his chest and began to strut. As he marched past, Oliver caught Percy's eye and winked at him with a huge grin that lit up his entire face. Strangely, Percy felt his heart flutter beneath his chest and the heat rise in his cheeks. He felt himself turn red and began blinking stupidly when he realised that the wink was for him. Percy hurried on out of sight and leant exhaustedly against the wall of the corridor, breathing heavily.
"Percy," Robert called, hurrying to catch up. "Sorry it took so long. I got a bit waylaid with that lot - you know how second years can be." Robert began to laugh but stopped immediately upon seeing the expression on Percy's face. "Is everything alright, old chap?"
"Of course," said Percy, a little shakily. Plastering a smile on his face he gestured to Robert. "Shall we continue?"
Robert didn't look completely convinced but strolled past him all the same. The atmosphere between them had returned to normal by the time they re-entered the prefect's carriage. When Percy walked in, Penelope claimed his attention immediately as she asked for his input in the prefect's most recent debate. Glad of the distraction, Percy threw himself into the conversation with more force than he usually would, all but forgetting the day's second encounter with Oliver Wood.
As they neared the castle, those who had not already changed to their school robes did so. Percy noticed that they all pinned their badges to their chests with great precision. When the train came to a stop, the group alighted to the platform and grabbed a horseless carriage together. They had to reprimand a few unruly younger students as they went but that didn't dampen their mood.
Once again, Percy began to walk with his chest thrown out as he got out of the carriage. He felt that showing off the badge created an air of authority about him. Hand in hand, Percy and Penelope entered the Great Hall together, only releasing one another when they had to depart to their individual house tables. Percy kissed Penelope on the cheek as they separated and she gave him a quick smile in return.
When Percy took his seat, he greeted a few of his fellow seventh years and gave a nod to the prefects in the lower years who sat a little further down. Soon he became engrossed in the flow of the conversation, not noticing the person who came and sat down opposite him until another voice called attention to him.
"Hi, Oliver," said Angelina Johnson, smiling at her friend and teammate. Alicia Spinnet who was standing beside her was also smiling at him. "Have a nice summer?"
Percy stared incredulously across the table at his classmate for a moment before turning back to his conversation. He was irrationally annoyed by the fact that the man had decided to sit in that particular seat and tried to ignore him. However, to his further annoyance, Percy found that he could not entirely block Oliver out.
"It was great, thanks, yours?" said Oliver.
"Yeah, we got a lot of practising done."
"Good." He laughed before getting serious. "I've devised some new Quidditch strategies for us. We'll be training harder than ever this year."
"Don't you ever stop and just have fun, Oliver?" said Alicia as Angelina rolled her eyes.
"Who needs fun when there's Quidditch to think about?" said Oliver with a hint of horror in his voice. The girls merely laughed at him.
"See you later, Oliver," said Alicia.
"And try not to think about Quidditch for at least an hour tonight. If you can."
Angelina winked at Oliver as they departed. The two girls walked down the long table and sat either side of their friend and third chaser, Katie Bell, along with some other fifth and sixth years. The seventh years quickly inducted Oliver into their conversation while Percy tried his hardest not to look at him.
Possibly the most obnoxious person I have ever had the bad fortune to meet,Percy thought spitefully. If only he wasn't so good at Quidditch. Then I would wish him into another house. Though, I'm sure he'd continue with that patronising smile he always gives everybody anyway. Why everybody buys it I have no idea. At least Penelope doesn't.
Upon thinking her name, Percy looked over his shoulder at the Ravenclaw table and smiled at Penelope who was talking with some of her friends. She smiled back and rolled her eyes as she saw who was sitting opposite him. Percy grinned and gave a shrug before turning back to the conversation.
"Oliver," Harley Berkshire called up the table. "Do you think you can win the cup this year?"
"Oh definitely," said Oliver, grinning at him. "This is our year!"
The other Gryffindors laughed and jeered in response as Percy suppressed a grin. They were quickly quietened as the doors to the Great Hall swung open once again.
Through the doors walked Rubeus Hagrid, swiftly followed by a long line of tiny first years. As they reached the top of the hall, Hagrid set the stool he was carrying onto the floor and placed the weathered hat on top of it. The school listened in earnest as the hat sang its song and then watched as each of the first years tried the hat individually as they were sorted into their houses.
Soon it was time for food and Percy filled his plate. As he ate, Percy surveyed his fellow Gryffindors in order to watch out for any bad behaviour. From time to time, Percy contributed to the conversation but he was too preoccupied in trying to prove that he was the best choice as the new Head Boy. He kept trying to get the headmasters attention but found it impossible. At one point, Percy vaguely noticed his brothers friends, Harry and Hermione, enter the hall along with Professor McGonagall sometime around pudding but he was waiting earnestly for the headmaster's speech to care too much.
Finally, pudding was over and Percy sat a little higher in his seat. While the headmaster spoke, Percy paid complete attention to him, swelling with pride as he mentioned him as the new Head Boy. He also mentioned the two new members of staff. The new Defence teacher looked extremely shabby, his robes were frayed and he had several scars on his face. However, even he was a better choice than the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher that was announced. Apparently, the headmaster had gone completely mad over the summer and had given the appointment to Hagrid, the groundskeeper.
Too soon, the speech was over. As one entity, the entire school scraped back their benches and moved towards the entrance hall. Percy gave a stern look to the new fifth year prefects in order to remind them to herd the first years. Then he followed the crowd of students through to the entrance hall, looking for Penelope. He spotted her at the bottom of the marble staircase where she was waiting for him and they began to walk up the stairs together, holding hands.
"Well, that new Professor seems a bit… how to put it delicately?"
She smirked.
"Now now, Penelope," said Percy, amused. "Appearances can be deceiving."
Penelope laughed nastily at that.
"Perhaps, you're right. But you have to admit that having that giant oaf, Hagrid, as a professor is a bit of a joke. You cannot insist that appearances are deceiving there."
"Perhaps not, though you have to admit that he will be good with the animals. Regardless, I don't take that class so it doesn't affect me in the slightest."
She laughed again. When they reached the top of the staircase, Penelope stopped and turned to face him as the other students milled around them.
"See you at breakfast," said Penelope.
She smiled and gave him a kiss goodnight before walking up the opposite staircase. Percy blushed and had a dreamy grin plastered on his face all the way to Gryffindor tower. Upon reaching the portrait of the Fat Lady, he found a few younger students standing outside, clearly waiting for someone with the password. He pushed passed them all and loudly called out.
"Fortuna Major."
After the portrait swung forwards, he climbed through the hole and emerged into the common room. Stopping only to tell off a few unruly third years, Percy strode across the room and went up the boy's staircase. He entered his dormitory to find all of his dorm mates already there and doing a spot of unpacking before bed. He smiled a hello at them all and walked over to his own four-poster bed.
Immediately, Percy hung up his uniforms and placed his books on the shelf beside his bed. Deciding he'd unpack the rest the next day, he pulled on his blue pin-striped pyjamas and got into his warm bed. The other boys laughed and joked a little before getting into their own beds, though Percy didn't mind as he understood their need to talk.
At one point, Percy made the mistake of looking over at Oliver who was only wearing pyjama bottoms as per usual. Oliver shot him a suggestive smile which made Percy feel slightly flustered. Percy didn't like that at all and found Oliver extremely annoying. With a scowl on his face, Percy pulled the hangings around his bed shut and turned over on his side, willing himself to fall asleep.
Stupid, obnoxious, brute.