Chapter 17: Truths, Rumours and sickness

It was Christmas yet again at Hogwarts. And yet again, Penelope went home for the holidays, leaving Percy here with me. Ron, Fred, George, Harry, Crystal, She-Cat, Stephanie and Hermione were all staying as well, so I wouldn't get bored. Especially since I got sick a week before Christmas

I woke up with a sore throat and stuffy nose. I was perfectly fine yesterday, enjoying the snow and having fun but now I was sick. Crystal told me to stay in bed and would check on me later. Everyone else was down in the common room while I slept, too tired to get out of my warm bed to ask Percy and Crystal to come up and besides I didn't want to take away Percy's time from his little brothers. After some time of wallowing, I got out of bed to use the restroom, I got out of bed, I pulled on a green jumper, a robe and a pair of slippers and trudged wearily downstairs. Slightly out of breath once I hit the landing, I saw the twins whispering conspiratorially in the corner, Crystal and Percy reading a book on the couch. Harry, Ron and Hermione were no where to be seen. None of them had moved, making me feel invisible. I stood by the staircase, debating on weather or not I should go back to bed. Unfortunately, my nose alerted them of my presence.

"Hih-hih-HIITSHOO! HATSHOOO! HIIITSHOOO!" I sneezed into my elbow

"Harley, what are you doing out of bed?" Percy asked coming over to me, Crystal and the twins looked at me

"I got thirsty" I said thickly, trying to clear my throat

"You should of said something, you didn't need to get up, you should be resting" Crystal said coming over and rubbing my back

"Itd's just a cold, I'b fide,"I told them, feeling dizzy.

"Come on, Harls, you shouldn't be up" Percy suggested, pushing me to an armchair by the fire.

"We'll get you some soup and tea. You'll feel better in no time." One of the twins had said, I was too tired to tell the difference.

Before I could protest, Fred and George had disappeared out the portrait hole. Sighing, I let Percy guide me towards the chair and sat down, I shivered slightly even by the roaring fire, and Crystal noticed it.

"Percy sit with Harley for a second. I'm going to get her blanket and pillow. Make sure she doesn't leave," Crystal requested the red head.

Crystal smirked knowingly at me and dashed upstairs. A silence fell on us but Crystal's feet thumped down the stairs as he made his reappearance. Without a word, my best friend settled the pillow behind my back and draped my thick duvet over my lap

"Thaks, Cryssie" I croaked.

"Are you comfortable?" Percy asked me after fixing the blanket around me

"Yes I am, Thak you" I gave both of them a small smile

At that moment, the twins entered, quietly for once. Fred brought the soup and put it on a table next to my elbow, and George gave me a cup of tea.

"I made sure the house elves put honey and lemon in it," he commented

I took a sip and sent a grateful look towards the twins, They smiled and sat down near me

"Thak you" I said to them appreciating the kindness

A few hours later, I was finally feeling sleepy from the warmth of tea and my best friends company. My head lolled on my shoulder, ready to nod off.

A hand being placed on my forehead kept me awake though

"Harley, you're running a fever. Do you want to go see Madam Pomfrey." Percy said to me, I just shook my head and coughed into my elbow.

"How're you feeling, Roxie?" George asked concernedly.

I groaned and coughed miserably into my elbow again

Percy winced, "That bad, huh?"

"When did you feel sick?" Fred asked, as worried as his twin.

"Yestderday evendig, I was playing in the snow" I croaked. "HEHSHOO! HIITSHOOO! HUUHTTSHOO!"

"Well it probably wasn't worth it then huh" Crystal said to me

"Probably dot" I coughed lightly and yawned

"You sound tired," Percy said standing back up "Let's get you to bed so you can sleep. If you aren't better when you wake up, though, we're taking you to Madam Pomfrey, no buts about it"

I weakly nodded, too sick to protest anymore. I let the twins gather my things while Percy helped me three boys tucked me into bed, making sure I was comfortable and well stocked tissues and liquids. Nodding off, I barely noticed that the twins sat on Amelia's bed and Percy went to fetch a cool cloth for my fever. When Percy settled the cold softness on my throbbing temples, I dazedly said " You guys didn't have to take care of me, I could have taken care of myself"

"You're our friend, Harls. We weren't just gonna leave you" Crystal said

"Get some rest, we'll check on you later" Percy said before they left. After that I finally fell asleep. It took 4 days of bed rest before I was finally better. I got out of bed and put on a baby blue jumper and a pair of jeans, making my way down to the common room, jumping down the last step and raised my arms in the air

"Thank Merlin I can breathe again!"

Everyone just laughed as I jumped on the couch. After I got better, I spent a couple of days in the common room, reading the articles about supposed Sirius Black sightings in the wizard world and taking notes on possible connections between the sightings and the apparent "attacks" on Gryffindor tower

I also chewed on the Percy and Penelope rumour. What were the odds of Percy dumping Penelope actually happening. One in a thousand? Million? Not likely that was going to happen. Penelope wouldn't allow it to happen if she could help it.

I decided I wasn't going to focus it on the Percy rumour, or Sirius Black. I spent up until Christmas Eve writing songs.

Christmas Eve, however, as I was retuning my guitar I got in fifth year from Percy, I saw Percy for the first time since I got better, since I spent nights and some days in Nightshade's.

"Oh, so the Weasley lives." I said, smirking as Percy plopped next to me, a radio being set on the table.

"Shut it." Percy said, turning to me and sneering at me mockingly.

"Oh, come on, that was a good one!" I teased, giving Percy a light slap. "Lighten up, Perce, it's not like Penelope's here."

Percy gave a dry laugh "Yeah, Penelope's a million laughs." he said coldly, as if his girlfriend's name was something horrid on his tongue.

I gave Percy a curious look. If Percy was talking about Penelope like that…does that mean that the rumour was true? "Hey, Perce, can I ask you something about something I heard."

Percy smirked at me and nodded "Sure, knock yourself out."

I took a deep breath and started "Well, Crystal told me that there's a rumour going around that you are…planning on dumping Penelope?"

Percy…nodded. "Yeah. I'm done with her. Besides, I already have someone else in mind."

I looked at him in my little way that said "Who?"

Percy shook his head "I'm not saying who." he said, flicking his wand at the radio, which sprang to life, playing He Could Be the One.

I rolled my eyes "A little girly, isn't it, Percy?" I asked, cocking my head to one side.

"Yes…your point?" Percy asked, picking me up by the upper arm and spinning me around.

I blanched "Percy, I can't dance!" I protested.

Percy rolled his eyes and gave me another spin "Oh, come on, anyone can dance."

"Not me…I'm too clumsy." I said, looking down at my trainers.

"Oh, come off it!" Percy teased "Spin around."

I raised my eyebrows, but did as I was told. When I looked up to Percy, he was nodding.

"See, you can dance." Percy said, smirking.

I gave him a cold glare. "Really, since when is spinning around like an idiot considered dancing?"

Percy just shot me a glare back and flicked his wand again "You make it really hard to have fun." he said, making a slower song play.

I bit my lip lightly. "Um…I still can't dance." I said quietly.

"This is good practice." Percy explained, taking hold of my wrist and wrapping arm and all around his back. "All you need to do is follow."

I hesitated slightly before grabbing Percy's outstretched hand. I listened to the song for a quick second…it was something familiar, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it until I heard the chorus.

I remember we were sitting there, by the water, you put your arm around me, for the first time. You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter. You are the best thing that's ever been mine.

"Mine by Taylor Swift?" I asked, awestruck.

Percy just nodded and spun me around. "I kind of poked through your MP3 player and found it."

I blinked as I realized something "How did you get the radio to work? I thought Hogwarts made Muggle stuff go weird."

Percy laughed "If you have a father like mine, you learn at a pretty young age to find loopholes in everything."

I laughed as I was spun around again. "When you were raised in a hellhole house like I was, you learn to keep your trap shut."

Percy rolled his eyes "Seen and not heard."

I nodded in agreement "Just a little slave girl with no emotions."

Percy sighed and spun me around one last time and pulled me tight into him.

I bit my lip, uncertain of what was going on.

"Do you really want to know who I'm ditching Penelope for?" Percy whispered against my ear.

I nodded, incapable of saying anything else.

"Well, she's-" Just as Percy was about to finish, Crystal barged through the door, looking as livid as ever. Dragging Harry by his arm

I was ripped from Percy and pushed into a chair with Harry, Ron and Hermione facing me. Crystal joined them and stood behind Harry. Percy had retreated to his dorm.

"Do you have anything to say to your sister?" she asked, leering down at a silent Harry.

Harry bit his lip and said nothing.

"Tell her what you just told me!" Crystal shouted, belting Harry around the head.

"OK, OK!" Harry shouted, rubbing at where Crystal smacked him. "Sirius Black is in the castle looking for you and me!"

I gaped. "He's looking for us!" I squeaked.

Everyone nodded. "And Harry didn't tell us that Black was after you until now!" Hermione added, glaring at Harry.

"She's my sister!" Harry said defensively "I didn't want her to freak out."

"Well, you told us he was after you and we freaked out." Ron pointed out.

I glared at Harry and shot up.

"You're in trouble!" Ron whispered to Harry.

"No!" I shouted "All of you are. How could you know that Harry was being hunted down by a murderer and not even bother to think that I could be in trouble too! Did anyone ever think 'Oh, maybe Harley's being hunted down by an astringed murderer. I should go tell her!'"

"Harley…" Crystal started. "maybe Sirius is innocent and won't come after you and Harry to kill you."

"Ha!" I said, giving a dry laugh "The next thing you're gonna tell me is that Percy's ditching Penelope for Crystal."

Everyone shook their heads "Yeah…like Crystal will ever be with me." Crystal said, retching "The very thought of it makes me puke."

Ron, Harry and Hermione nodded in agreement as started for the door once again.

"Yeah. I'm going to go find Stephanie and She-Cat." I said walking out "See you guys later."

At that moment, She-Cat in her cat form walked into the Tower, wearing a black and yellow collar that had the letter "C" on it. Stephanie and Fireball followed her, Sheila ditching her book bag by the fireplace before taking She-Cat's collar.

"I like the collar." Crystal and I said together.

"Thanks. It's a way that you can get instant humour." She-Cat said, transforming back into herself. "Stephanie came up with the idea for a collar that's blank on one side." She-Cat explained, turning the 'C' on the collar pendant around so it was blank. "So I could wear it when I'm human. But the 'C' side," She-Cat flipped it back to the 'I' "can be switched around so that it can be an 'H' for Harley, so I can get in the Gryffindor dorms, so everyone thinks I'm your cat." She-Cat turned the pendant to a side, so it looked like my first initial. "And the 'C' is so I can do the same thing with Crystal."

My eyes lit up "Genius." I complemented, slapping both Stephanie and She-Cat a high five.

"We know." Stephanie and She-Cat said together "Anyone for a nice little snowball fight?"

Ivy, Harry, Ron, Hermione and I all raised our hands as I grabbed my cloak from my dorm. "I'm gonna see if Percy wants to come too." I said, starting for the boys dorm, only to be grabbed by Harry.

"No gits." Harry announced, slipping my mittens onto me. "Come on, let's go have a little fun."

I smiled a little and followed my friends out to the grounds, when we were split into two teams. Me, Crystal, Stephanie and She-Cat against Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny (she came down with us to even out our numbers.)

We went back into the castle soaking wet and freezing, and my group went in victorious, finishing off the fight with a ceasefire and surrender from Harry's team after a pretty bad snowball bombing.

I wanted a nice shower, so I spent thirty five minutes in the shower

A small box was waiting on the table for me. It was red, wrapped in a nice gold ribbon with a note underneath.

Harls,

Found this in Hogsmeade and thought you'd like it. Merry Christmas.

Percy.

P.S. Damian's not what you think he is.

I smiled as I opened the box. I gasped when I saw what was inside.

Two earrings were resting neatly in the silver padded box. A Lion was on each hook you put in your ear and held a ruby in their mouths.

I squealed and put them on. Good thing I have my ears pierced. I thought as I set them in.

Then I looked back at the note and had one question:

What did Percy mean when he said that Damian isn't what I think he was?

A/N: I think this is the longest Chapter so far. Hope you are enjoying the story so far. As always, reviews are loved.