I know, I know. More on that later.

When he woke up, he was in a bed. A white one, and the table beside him was full of-

Oh, so he was in the hospital wing? Damn, not even getting transferred had made much difference to my thing for landing in the sickbay.

The door opened, and Harry and Ron rushed in.

Ron was the first to speak. "How're you? We just had dinner, you can get some if you hurry-"

"Wait," said Percy, sitting up on the bed and raising a hand. "Slow down a bit. First of all, how did I end up here?"

This time it was Harry who spoke. "You crashed into a tree because you weren't looking." His face appeared suspiciously tight, as if trying to hide something.

"Oh, I messed up? Good to know," but Ron didn't appear to be listening.

"Hey, you know what happened?," he burst out. Harry opened his mouth as he looked embarrassed, but Ron again beat him to it.

"Harry's been chosen as Seeker," Ron nearly shouted, plainly expecting Percy to be stunned by the news. And he wasn't wrong.

"What?" he sat up, fully awake now. "How did this happen?"

"McGonagall showed up right after you were knocked out, she had Hagrid take you to the hospital wing and she took Harry with her-" he turned to Harry expectantly.

Still looking embarrassed, Harry opened his mouth and started talking.

"Well, she-"

By the time he finished, Percy was stunned.

"So, let me get this straight, you became the Gryffindor Seeker in return for breaking a dozen rules?"

"Well, you could put it like that, but..."

"Well, what do I get then? I want a position on the team too?" he said with a grin.

"Well, McGonagall wants to see you too, so you can try asking her," Ron smirked.

"When?" Percy asked.

"Well, we actually came here to take you to her, so-"

"OK, let's go, then," he got up with a slight grimace.

"What, it doesn't still hurt, does it?" asked Harry, catching his look.

"Oh, no, I'm just a little... tired, that's all,"

"Oh. Well, come on, we haven't got much time."

"So, what am I to do with you?" Professor McGonagall said sternly.

"Um, give me a place in the team?" Percy said.

At his side, Harry gave a stifled gasp, while Ron gave an approving wink.

The professor, however, glared at him. She clearly didn't like the answer.

"Certainly not, Mr Jackson. We do not hand out places in the team like free cakes. And your friend Mr Weasley here tells me you were barely able to keep up with Potter in the air."

"What!?," Percy said with an air of mock betrayal. "I was as good as-"

"Enough, Jackson," said Professor McGonagall with an air of finality. "Go back to your dormitory, all three of you."

"All right, Professor," said the three in unison.

Once they were out of earshot, Harry wheeled round on Percy and asked, "Why did you say that!?"

"Say what?" said Percy even though he knew full well what he was talking about.

"You know what," Harry was impatient.

"Weeellllll," said Percy, drawing out the word, "It was worth a shot."

He gave a secret smile at their amazed looks.

"Hey," said Ron, as if suddenly remembering something. "We nearly forgot to tell you- we're having a duel with Malfoy tonight-midnight in the trophy room. You up for it?"

"Wait, what's this? What's a duel? Why wasn't I told about this-"

Ron interrupted, "You don't know what a duel is? Oh, I forgot, of course you wouldn't. Well- it's like this-" and he explained it.

"Well, of course I'm up for it, what do you take me for?"

"Hmmm, then since I'm already his second, you'll just tag along, you won't get to do much."

"Hey man, I want some of the action!"

"You won't get it. I'm Harry's second, and that's all that's there to it."

"I-" but Ron wasn't interested. "You want to come or not?"

"All right," said Percy, rasing his hands in surrender "I don't wanna miss out!"

"Come on, it's half past eleven, we gotta go," Ron's not-so-quiet whisper raised him up. Percy, of course, hadn't slept. How could you when you had something to look forward to?

"No need to be so loud," said Percy.

"I wasn't being loud!" Ron was indignant.

"You're being loud now," interjected Percy snarkily.

"You-" Ron glared at Percy.

"Well, hurry up, or Malfoy'll think you've chickened out."

"Yes-" and Ron went over to Harry's bed, sending a glare over his shoulder at Percy, who chuckled inwardly.

Out in the corridor, they were interrupted. And it was none other than Hermione.

"What?", oh it's you," said Ron in a tone that clearly said he didn't want her around.

"Well, what? Come to tell us off again?" he said.

"No, I've been locked out here! And the Fat Lady's not letting me enter! What will I do?"

Ron was not interested. "Not our problem. Come on, let's go," and beckoned to Harry and Percy.

"No, I-I can't stay here alone! I-I'm coming with you,"

"What?" exclaimed Ron. "No way! You'll only spoil it for the rest of us!"

Hermione opened her mouth, but was interrupted by a grunting snore.

"Wh- who was that," asked Harry nervously. Ron flashed his torch down and onto a huddled mass on the ground- which was-Neville.

Neville woke up with a start.

"Oh, you found me! Thanks! I've been out here for hours because I couldn't remember the password."

"It's 'pig snout,' but that won't help you, the Fat Lady gone off somewhere."

Ron looked at his watch, then glared at Neville and Hermione. "All right, you're coming with us, but if either of you do anything that makes us get caught, you'll answer to me."

Hermione tried to protest, but subsided at a warning sign from Harry.

"Come on, no time to waste," he said and they moved forward.

Moving along corridor which were-fortunately-empty except for suits of armour, which looked sinister in the moonlight. Mr Filch and Mrs Norris were thankfully missing and they made their way to the trophy room on the third floor without any major mishap, except for Neville getting stuck on a staircase.

"There's nobody here..." Harry whispered. The shields and trophies glittered strangely where the light caught them.

"Maybe he didn't have the guts," Ron whispered back.

"Maybe..." Harry looked unconvinced.

But then came a sound they had been dreading. Yes, the caretaker, Filch.

"My sweet, they're sure to be somewhere around," his voice sounded creepier than ever in the darkness. It seemed to be coming from the next room.

They all froze, then Harry whispered, "There's only one thing for it,"

"What?" asked Ron worriedly.

"RUN!" and they ran off in the opposite direction.

Of course, someone had to spoil it. Neville tripped, stumbled and crashed into Harry, sending both of them into an extra-large suit of armour. To their terrified ears, the awful noise was enough to wake up the whole castle.

This time, they ignored caution. Running pell-mell along the corridor, they hurtled along, not sparing a glance over their shoulder. With no idea of where they were going, they turned a corner and rushed through a tapestry and ended up near the Charms classroom. Which was nowhere near the Gryffindor common room.

"I-told-you-so," said Hermione, wheezing and clutching her chest.

So this is it, I hope this isn't total rubbish. I had things going on. I'll put up an edited version of this in the next two days maybe. Anyway thanks for sticking with me till now! Don't be afraid to PM me about anything, yeah, even how trash this fanfic is. Got it? Ok.

N.O.Y.E.S