Firstly I'd like to offer a huge apology. I'm so sorry I have not been able to update. There has been an error for the past couple of weeks on here concerning anything to do with Harry Potter that has not allowed me to post a chapter. It has upset me greatly and I have emailed support, with no response. Thanks guys. Really. Jerks.

Secondly, I'd like to offer just a huge, gigantic thanks to my savious gngrlvr1. Really and truly. I finally messaged her asking if she had a clue what was going on AND SHE HELPED ME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAAAAAAANK YOU.

Thirdly, does anybody know how to fix an error when you're starting a new story? It's beyond bloody weird. It's the whole Harry Potter category, yet every other category is working fine. But it's a huge chunk of this website's fanbase, I don't understand how there hasn't been some sort of mass email or announcement. Please help me if you know.

Thank yooooooou, as usual, Gngrlvr1. Ah, don't you love that clock? The moment I read about it in the book I fell in love with it. HAHAHA Remus/Sirius! Dude, I'm totally going to be looking at those. Yeah...I'm disturbing as well. :S Oh my gosh, I'm so in love with Remus at the moment...Ahh..

Haha, thank you Imperial Dragon.

gngrlvr1, as usual, thank you. Hahaha. I love your reviews. OHH, I love your watch idea. I NEED TO READ YOUR STORIES. AHHHH.

College Chick Wants New Chap - I have been *dying* to respond to you. Forgive me for the wait. I've been upset too, about not posting fast enough. What a crappy cliff-hanger, huh? Thank you so much for your kind words. Really. And I'm soooooooo sorry for the wait.

Ah, I need to say it again, thanks gngrlvr1 for the help.

Not a very long chapter, but damnit, you all deserve *something*.

Thank you!

Please read and review. :)

Chapter Thirty Six.

When Percy awoke he was in agonising pain, but not quite lucid enough to be aware of his surroundings. Excruciating pain from his shoulder enveloped him and for one moment he thought he was back at the battle. He turned his head, and fumbled for his wand with his hand, calling out feebly, "Fred…Fred…" and then he let out a wail of pain – he felt like his shoulder was on fire. He turned to look at his shoulder, and could see a trail of crimson which was his blood, seeping everywhere.

"Mate…Mate, we're just calling the ambulance," was all he could make out as sound and colour had become a jumble. He felt himself slipping away, and he grasped onto consciousness as much as he could.

"Fred – the explosion hit Fred, oh Merlin, Fred," and then he fell into blackness.

The next thing he remembered he was lying on a stretcher, and bound tightly, and he moaned as they carted him into a van, with sirens blaring, "Can you tell me your name, Sir?" a kindly face came into view, "My name is Daniel, you've been shot but you'll be okay. I'm a paramedic. It's Mr. McCartney, is it? We've just found your wallet."

Percy moaned confused, "What…? I'm Percy…" and he watched as it seemed dozens of hands worked around him, connecting him to cords he couldn't understand. Fear burned in his stomach and he said, "You've got to help Fred."

"Mate, calm down, you'll be fine," the paramedic's kindly face turned to concern as the patient seemed to move about in fear, "We found a number with the name Michelle in your wallet. Is she family? Does she know your family? Can we call her?"

Percy slipped away again…

When he awoke he was floating down a hall. Well, strapped on a stretcher being pushed down a corridor, really. A middle-aged man with a mask over his mouth looked down, "Mr. McCartney, we have to take you into surgery now to remove the bullet in your shoulder. Mr. McCartney, are –"

And he passed out.

It was many hours later that he awoke in a hospital bed, blurry eyed and for some reason giggling. All the pain had gone away, and instead was replaced by a buzzing calmness. A nurse was at the end of his bed, writing on a clipboard and she smiled as she met his gaze, "Awake, Sir? Quite the hero you are, we have to keep out the press. They're calling you the Professor already."

"What?" Percy asked groggily.

She placed the clipboard back at the end of his bed and her smile broadened, "Apparently when you saved the day you yelled out something in Latin. Well, that's what the others are saying anyway. How are you feeling, dear?"

"Mmmm…"

"If you need any more Morphine, just press that button there by your hand. Don't worry, it's regulated, you can't overdose," she giggled a bit at that, "The Doctor will come see you when he can. Are you ready to see visitors? Course we won't let the journalists in, but there's two young women waiting to see you out there."

He closed his eyes and said something that must have sounded like assent as she shuffled off. The next moment he opened his eyes and a young woman with an ankle length trench coat of bright purple stared at him from the end of the bed, her face pale.

"Percy Ignatius…"

He felt himself giggling again, "So, pretty colour girl...Too bad... Belong to..You're the wolf'sssssss..Aaahoo!"

She looked at him confused, but then shrugged slightly, "Right."

Percy furrowed his brow, and with complete concentration said, "No…No, no…No…"

"…No?" she asked uncertainly.

"No, no, that's Tonks. Tonks is the wolf's," he then pulled a face.

She moved over and sat beside him, "Well, the nurse said you were on lots of Morphine."

Percy just grinned stupidly, "Sorry, Michelle…Michelle... Ma belle... These are words that hmm hmm... 'gether well..."

Michelle could not help but smile, "Brilliant. You've listened to that awful song."

"Not awful…Pretty…Pretty song, pretty like you."

Michelle bowed her head with a smile, "You're really out of it, Percy."

"Am I?" he asked, but then said thoughtfully, "Quicksilver would love you…You'd be the type of girl he'd…" with his good arm he pointed at her, "Glad he doesn't know you…"

"Quicksilver?"

"Charlie of course…Quidditch Captain…Fights dragons," he explained seriously.

"Ah," she replied soberly, "I'd like to meet this dragon slayer sometime."

"No, no," Percy shook his head, "Doesn't slay them. Have to understand or he'll get upset. He tames them, heals them of wounds, researches them…Never slays…Not unless it's necessary."

"Alright, I understand," she giggled.

She fiddled with a crease in the bed sheets for just a moment before her hand strayed and touched his hand gently, "You gave me such an awful fright," she murmured, "I got a call and they said you'd been shot. Percy, is there anybody I can call for you? That Mr. Hagrid that raised you?"

He closed his eyes for a moment, then said slowly, "No. Nobody."

"Percy, there's a girl –"

"Nobody," he said quite emphatically, and she nodded, brushing his hair softly with her fingers. In less than a few seconds he had succumbed to sleep again.

Michelle watched him breathing slowly, and from her pocket she placed her candy pink cassette player beside him, for him to use when he finally woke. She then touched his soft red curls again, her heart twinging as she saw the bulky bandages on his upper arm and shoulder. There was something about this young man that made her want to protect him, and lulled into security by his sleeping, she bent down, her lips gently brushing his forehead. Soft freckles lined his face and she had a pang of fondness for him, and kissed him again gently. She'd take him home and she'd mend him. Somebody had to.

When she raised herself she realised she was being watched. She turned to the end of the bed, as the young woman who had waited silently outside too, stood there watching him. She had dark gold hair, cropped into a cute little pixie cut with a fedora pulled over her hair at a sharp angle.

"Hello…?" Michelle asked, uncertain at the complete quiet, "Do you know Percy?" she suddenly moved forward to the girl, "Can you tell me about him?"

The girl's gaze moved to Michelle and she eyed her up and down before her lips tightened in such a way Michelle could not tell her reaction. But then she sniffed, and moved over to the bedside where she placed some sort of crest on the table.

"You know him?" Michelle pressed the girl, "Are you a friend?"

The young woman shrugged slightly at the question and reached out to touch Percy's shoulder.

"No – no, don't do that," Michelle blocked the girl's hand with her own, but her efforts were shoved away as the girl pushed her hand away, annoyed.

Her hand gently touched the bandage and she muttered something under her breath. Some sort of incantation? Michelle did not know what and she suddenly wanted to call out for the nurse. But the contact only lasted a few seconds before the girl stepped back. Percy moaned, but not a pained sound, and in fact his sleep seemed calmer.

"So he's alright then?" the girl asked suddenly.

"Well, they've just operated on him – who are you?" Michelle asked.

The girl laughed, "You're actually dying to ask me, who is Percy, aren't you?"

Michelle shifted on her feet uncertainly, but she took Percy's hand protectively in hers and said nothing.

The girl turned away with an indifferent shrug after she was witness to this affection, but said with so much bitterness, Michelle swallowed, "Just do yourself a favour and stay the hell away from him. You know that story, about Midas turning everything to gold with his touch? Well, his hand turns everything to ash and death. Oh, with no malicious intent, mind. And that makes it all the worse. Ignorant, heartless prick. Everybody's better off without him."

She then walked towards the door and Michelle followed, "Wait – wait –" but when she got to the doorway, the girl with the fedora had completely vanished, but there was a bad taste in Michelle's mouth which she swallowed down nervously.