Hello! Goodbye... just kidding. On with the story.
Percy is a little OOC, but I did that because we don't get to see Percy that much and therefore, never get to see the good sides of him, such as his protective big brother aspect (and we all know it's there because of how protective he is of Ginny in CoS).
Disclaimer: I own nada. I'm sorry.
Percy was always very ambitious, but after an incident, he'll learn that striving for success is not his goal, but he must strive to be of value. Bullying, a homosexual character and a bisexual character, somewhat OOC Percy
Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. -Albert Einstein
He was just innocently reading his book when it happened. The incident that changed it all.
Sitting on a bench that hugged the corridor wall, he was scanning the typed lines in his Muggle novel called Pride and Prejudice (kind of ironic really) by Jane Austen.
"Look, it's the little abomination," a voice drawled from around the corner. "Snap a picture, Freak."
"Leave me alone," a quivering voice that was somehow fearful and bold piped up.
Percy stood, storing his book in his bag, before following the voices.
They led him to the corner where two burly Slytherins were glowering down at Colin Creevey, that little kid with the camera. Percy remembered he'd been petrified the previous year and that he was fairly good friends with his sister Ginny.
"Gay little bastard child," one Slytherin, who Percy recognized as Blake Gram, sneered.
"Why don't you give us some nude photos, faggot? Heaven knows you send them to Potter enough," the other Snake, Cygnus Andrews, chuckled, cruelly.
Colin's face twisted in disgust. "You're disgusting. Now, get out of my way. I just want to get to class."
"You're not going anywhere, fairy," Blake said, shoving Colin into the wall. "Why don't you just bloody kill yourself? The world would be better off without freaks like you."
Now, Percy doesn't get angry- full fledged, screaming like a banshee, and swinging your fists rage, I mean- but that pissed him off. Being bisexual (yes, he was bi, which seemed to surprise a lot of people when he told them), he was extremely sensitive about insults based on sexuality. And when the insults are directed at a second year, who probably isn't even interested in boyfriends or girlfriends yet, that just adds fuel to the fire.
"Oi!" He shouted, stomping around the corner. "Leave him alone!"
The Snakes turned to face him, identical sneers in place.
"Well, if it isn't the Head Boy, Percy Weasley? Shouldn't you be off snogging Clearwater or getting fucked by Wood?" Blake asked, his eyes wide and falsely innocent.
Percy rolled his eyes. "New flash, Gram, but you've been saying that since second year, which was utterly disgusting by the way. And why should my love life be any concern of your's?"
Gram smirked. "I notice you're not denying it."
"No, I'm not denying it, but I'm not agreeing, am I? Therefore, your argument goes nowhere if I refuse to argue. Now, you heard me. Leave. Colin. Alone."
"Or what?" Andrews taunted.
"Well, I could introduce your face to my fist, but that's rather violent for me, but I could always hex you. Who's going to believe you when you tell them that Percy Weasley- Head Boy, notorious goody two shoes, perfect student and rule abider- hexed you?"
"He's gotta point, Blake," Andrews whispered to his companion.
"Oh, please, Weasley is full of empty threats!" Gram shouted.
"Am I?" Percy said, taking out his wand and twirling it between his fingers. "Let's find out, shall we?"
3...2...1
"What is going on here?" Professor McGonagall demanded as she stormed over to them; Percy quickly stowed his wand in his pocket before her eyes could even land on him.
"Weasley was threatening to hex us!" Andrews tattled, stabbing a thumb at the redhead.
"I did nothing of the sort," Percy replied, calmly while still acting offended. "You were bullying another student, refusing to leave him alone. I knew if I kept you talking Professor McGonagall would come on her way to the teachers lounge for her break."
Blake stared at him. "You're clever, Weasel; I'll give you that."
"Gram, Andrews, I want you two in my office now," she ordered. "Creevey, Weasley, I'll speak with you in my classroom in order to get both sides of the story."
"Yes, ma'am," they chorused, following her.
Colin and Percy sat in the classroom while she spoke with the bullies in her office.
"Thanks," Colin told him.
"No need to thank me. I have four younger siblings, six if your count my honorary siblings, Harry and Hermione, so protecting people is kind of in my nature."
"Still, thanks."
Percy smiled. "You're welcome."
The door opened and Professor McGonagall came to sit at her desk in front of them.
"Now, I got some outlandish stories from those two. I hope your's are more believable. Mr. Creevey, you go first."
"Well, I was walking to class, early because I needed to ask my teacher about the homework. Therefore, the corridors were fairly empty, allowing Gram and Andrews to corner me.
"They started saying stuff about... me. Calling me awful names. And when I tried to leave, they shoved me back, and that's when Percy showed up. He kept them talking until you showed up."
"Mr. Weasley?" She asked, turning to the redhead.
"Well, I was reading. The corridor was one of the quietest in the school, even quieter than the classrooms, so I decided to read there until class started. I heard talking around the corner, and when I saw they were insulting Colin, I tried to stop it. I knew if I kept them talking, you would eventually come across us."
"What did you say to them?"
Percy hesitated before deciding that honesty is the best policy. "Well, I started by just telling them to leave him alone. Gram tried to bait me, but I refused to argue with him. At once point, I did threaten to hex them, but I never would've really done it unless they struck first."
The professor nodded. "I believe you. Colin, how long has this been going on?"
"Since the beginning of the year," Colin replied, uncomfortably.
"Why didn't you report it?"
"Well, I was scared, I guess. They found out some stuff about me, stuff my brother, who I tell everything to, doesn't even know. They threatened to spread that around school."
"Colin, I once knew a student that had a huge secret that his enemy somehow found out. The bully hung it over his head for months, turning him against his friends, hurting him verbally and physically and socially. The student tried to kill himself, saved only by his best friend.
"That is one of the many reasons why bullying is not tolerated at this school, in any way, shape, or form. There is no warning with bullying, no slap on the hand and back to class. But the teachers can't be there all the time, and when students don't report it, it gets out of hand. Just remember that."
Colin nodded.
"And Mr. Weasley. I'll admit, for years, I wondered why you were a Gryffindor and not a Ravenclaw. Now, I know. Thank you."
Percy smiled. "No need to thank me."
"Now, you two are going to be late for lunch. I will notify your previous teacher of the occurrence, and I assure you that Gram and Andrews will be punished."
That day, Percy sat with his siblings at the lunch table for the first time ever. They talked like they did when they were younger, so laid back without pathetic rivalries or awful and hurtful jokes.
Percy couldn't tell you why, but deep down, he knew. I guess doing a good deed helps you just as much as it helps the other person, if not more so.
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