Title: You Needed Me - 5 July 1995
By: PepperjackCandy
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: You recognize it? It's J.K. Rowling's.
A/N: Thanks to Krissy, Velondra, Myr, Niana, Just Silver (hey, you could always work P/O into your "&" series ;-), Rubicon, Jennylovesnick, excuetee, Strega Brava, Artema, Cokqui, Min, Kcarke and Jennifer for your reviews (and, again, I hope I haven't missed anyone).
===========
The next morning, Harry awoke feeling good for the first time he could remember. Percy, his hair still wet from a shower, was bustling around the kitchen. Harry realized that Percy was wearing his work robes.
"You going in to work?"
Percy startled a little. "Yeah. Just for a while. I thought about owling Mr. Fudge again to take the day off, but . . . I just can't do it. I've got to go in and, you know, make sure everything's still there, or something."
"That's all right." Harry stood and walked into the kitchen area. "Just point me in the direction of breakfast and lunch and let me know if you have any books around here to read, and I'll be fine."
"Books? Books I have." Percy walked to the desk in the living area and picked up a set of keys. "My first purchase," he said proudly. He put the key in a lock on the desk and turned it, then opened a drawer, which was now full of books. "Every key on this ring will lead to another set of books."
He handed the keys to Harry, who took it numbly, reminded of the trunk where Barty Crouch had held Mad-Eye Moody prisoner.
"You all right, Harry?" Percy looked concerned.
Harry nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine." He lied. He felt vaguely nauseated.
"You're not all right." Percy informed him, guiding him to the couch and gently putting Harry's head between his knees until the color returned to his face.
After a few minutes, Harry felt better. "I was fine." He insisted.
Percy nodded, obviously not believing him. "Right. And I'm a Slytherin."
"All right. It's just . . . . Barty Crouch had a trunk that operated like that. It's where he held Mad-Eye Moody prisoner."
Percy flinched. "Oh, God." Now it was his turn to blanch.
Harry smiled at him wanly. "It's all right, Percy. You couldn't have known that it would have that effect. And a desk like that is a very sensible purchase for a place this small."
"You're just saying that to make me feel better." Percy looked like he wasn't sure if he should smile or not.
"No, I'm not. I mean it. But is it working?"
"A little." Percy admitted grudgingly.
"Now go to work. I'll face the desk bravely while you're gone."
Percy couldn't help laughing.
"Oh, and Perce."
"Yeah?"
"Could you please pick up a deck of playing cards for me while you're out?"
"Sure. You know, you *can* leave the flat. You're not my prisoner."
"I know. I just don't think I'm up to it. Facing Diagon Alley by myself."
"Well, they'll have to be wizarding cards. I may still have plenty of Muggle money, but wouldn't even know where to start looking for Muggle cards."
"Yeah. Wizarding cards'll be fine."
Percy left for work, then, and Harry congratulated himself on step one of reclaiming Percy's lost childhood.
After Percy left, Harry got a bowl of cereal from the kitchen and then cautiously approached the desk. He inserted one of the keys and opened the book drawer, then after he'd examined the contents, put in the next key and opened it again. He repeated this until he'd looked through all of the books that Percy had in the desk, and found that eventually he lost the negative association he had with Barty Crouch in his anticipation over whether he'd *ever* find an interesting book in Percy's collection.
The books that Percy had were very interesting, if you were into wizarding history -- apparently Professor Binns had somehow kindled some kind of interest in history in Percy -- or biographies of famous wizards. But Harry would have given his eye-teeth for a novel.
Finally, he picked up a book on the life of Raymond Luxury-Yacht, and took it over to the couch and, eating the cereal from the bowl, dry, began to read.
Percy returned several hours later, to find Harry sitting in exactly the same position. The only thing that had changed was that Harry was about halfway done with his book.
"Good afternoon, Harry." Percy said as he walked in. "Did you find something to read?"
Harry nodded and showed Percy the book.
"That's one of my favorites." Percy smiled. "Have you gotten to the Goblin Wars yet?"
"No."
"That's the best part. If you've liked it so far, you'll love that part."
Harry had to admit to himself that the book was rather interesting. In a non-fictiony kind of way. "Pity you don't have any novels, though."
Percy shrugged as he began puttering around in the kitchen preparing lunch. "Never really had much interest in them. Oh!" He reached into his pocket and pulled something out that he threw to Harry. His aim was pretty good, and Harry caught it easily.
Harry looked down at it. It was the playing cards he'd asked for. "Thanks, Perce."
"You're welcome." Percy smiled.
Percy served their lunch and as Harry carried their dishes back into the kitchen, he asked, "Are you going back to work?"
"I wouldn't be a very good host if I worked all the time. So no. I'm taking the rest of the day off."
"Good." Harry grinned at his friend and came back to the living area, sitting on the floor and taking up the deck of cards. "Come and sit down here with me."
"Has Trelawney got you thinking you can tell fortunes now?" Percy lowered himself to the floor.
"No. I wanted to play a game of Exploding Snap."
Disappointment clouded Percy's features. "You want to go to the Burrow, don't you?"
"Percy . . ."
"It's all right. I mean, why be here all alone, or with me, when you could be in a houseful of people who want to play games and things. I'd want to get away from me, too."
Harry dropped the deck of cards and leaned over, grabbing Percy's shoulders and looking him square in the eye. "Percy. I want to be here. With you. I . . . think we've become friends, haven't we?"
"I guess." Percy admitted sulkily.
"So. Are we gonna play or not?"
Percy gave in and they sat on the floor for several hours, playing Exploding Snap. It had been years since Percy had played, so Harry had to teach him the rules all over again, but it was worth it. In the final analysis, Percy won as many games as he lost. Harry was unsure if that meant that he was a good teacher or Percy was a good student.
When Percy was about to suggest a change of activity, Harry said, "Let me guess, you want to kick my butt in chess now, too."
Percy shook his head. "No. I hate to admit it, but I'm a terrible chess player. Ron got all of the chess genes in the family."
"Really? I thought it was a family trait."
"Well, Bill's pretty good, too. And Charlie, now that I think of it. Ginny's not bad either. And Fred and . . . blast! All right, I'm the 'black sheep' there, too. I can't play chess to save my life."
Harry's face broke out in a wicked grin. "What if we could do something about that?"
"Let me guess. You've found a charm that will make someone an expert tactician, the only drawback being that one ends up being possessed by Alexander the Great or Napoleon Bonaparte, or something like that."
Harry's eyes widened in faux admiration. "Hey! That's a good idea, now that you mention it."
When Percy's jaw dropped in shock, Harry said, "Kidding! My thoughts were more along the lines of getting a chess strategy book at Flourish & Blott's and then, for as long as I'm welcome here, you and I can brush up on our chess games."
"And then when you go back to Hogwarts and beat Ron soundly, what'll you tell him?"
Harry was startled by the bitterness in Percy's tone. "Well, I'll tell him that I practiced over the summer." He paused, then added cautiously, "with you. Unless you don't want me to tell him that I was here." He added hastily.
"But I thought you didn't want anyone to know where you are?"
"Well, no. I want to hide out *now,* but I do have to go back to Hogwarts sooner or later, and when I do, it won't bother me if people know where I hid out. Unless you want me to keep it to myself. I can do aloof and mysterious if you want."
Harry looked so wistfully hopeful that Percy had to laugh. "It doesn't bother me a bit if you want to tell Ron that I put you up for the summer."
It took Harry a moment to respond. "'For the summer'?" He quoted back. "I can stay here all summer?"
Percy nodded, shrugging. "You don't have to worry about crowding me. I'm used to sharing space with four younger siblings. And I'm hardly ever here anyhow."
Impulsively, Harry threw himself into Percy's arms. "Thank you!" He said, hugging Percy tightly.
It took a moment, but soon Percy was returning Harry's hug. "You're welcome."
They released each other and Percy smiled a little lopsidedly at Harry. "So, what say we go to Flourish & Blott's, then pick up some dinner while we're out?"
Harry smiled gently at him. "Sounds good to me."
Together they exited the Diagon Alley side of the building and walked to Flourish & Blott's, where they were immediately set upon by a salesclerk. "May I help you?" He looked hopefully at Percy, who was clearly the elder of the two.
"Do you have any books on chess?" Percy asked.
"Right this way." The salesclerk walked them to the correct area, where there were more than fifty books on chess.
Harry and Percy gaped at the selection. "Can you recommend any specific books?" Percy asked.
"What level are you at? Beginner? Intermediate?"
Harry and Percy looked at each other. "Intermediate, I guess." Percy answered. "We know the basics already, but are looking to brush up on strategy and things."
"Ah." The salesclerk nodded sagely. "Then I have just the book for you. It's one of our best sellers, and I've never heard anything but good reports back about it." He reached forward and pulled one book from the shelf, handing it to Percy. Chess Strategy by Lee, the title read. Neither the author's Christian name nor his surname was Lee.
"Who's Lee?" Percy asked.
The clerk shrugged. "Some local hero from the area where the wizard who wrote this lives. A Muggle, I think. But don't let that stop you from buying it." He added hastily.
Percy smiled. "It won't. You happen to have sold it to two very Muggle-friendly wizards." He winked at Harry, who remembered their Mugglefest of the day before and smiled back.
"Will that be all?"
"My friend here," Percy indicated Harry, "would like to look at your novels."
"And," Harry interrupted, "do you have the list yet for Hogwarts fifth years yet?"
"Why yes, I believe we do."
Soon, Harry and Percy left Flourish & Blott's, a large box of books levitating between them.
"I can't believe you bought your school books already." Percy said. "We have to bribe Fred, George, Ron and Ginny to come and get their books."
"I figured that I could get a start on my studies." Harry grinned. "Give Hermione a run for her money this year."
After they stopped at one of Percy's favorite restaurants for dinner, they returned to Percy's apartment, where they spent the rest of the evening reading in companionable silence.
By: PepperjackCandy
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: You recognize it? It's J.K. Rowling's.
A/N: Thanks to Krissy, Velondra, Myr, Niana, Just Silver (hey, you could always work P/O into your "&" series ;-), Rubicon, Jennylovesnick, excuetee, Strega Brava, Artema, Cokqui, Min, Kcarke and Jennifer for your reviews (and, again, I hope I haven't missed anyone).
===========
The next morning, Harry awoke feeling good for the first time he could remember. Percy, his hair still wet from a shower, was bustling around the kitchen. Harry realized that Percy was wearing his work robes.
"You going in to work?"
Percy startled a little. "Yeah. Just for a while. I thought about owling Mr. Fudge again to take the day off, but . . . I just can't do it. I've got to go in and, you know, make sure everything's still there, or something."
"That's all right." Harry stood and walked into the kitchen area. "Just point me in the direction of breakfast and lunch and let me know if you have any books around here to read, and I'll be fine."
"Books? Books I have." Percy walked to the desk in the living area and picked up a set of keys. "My first purchase," he said proudly. He put the key in a lock on the desk and turned it, then opened a drawer, which was now full of books. "Every key on this ring will lead to another set of books."
He handed the keys to Harry, who took it numbly, reminded of the trunk where Barty Crouch had held Mad-Eye Moody prisoner.
"You all right, Harry?" Percy looked concerned.
Harry nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine." He lied. He felt vaguely nauseated.
"You're not all right." Percy informed him, guiding him to the couch and gently putting Harry's head between his knees until the color returned to his face.
After a few minutes, Harry felt better. "I was fine." He insisted.
Percy nodded, obviously not believing him. "Right. And I'm a Slytherin."
"All right. It's just . . . . Barty Crouch had a trunk that operated like that. It's where he held Mad-Eye Moody prisoner."
Percy flinched. "Oh, God." Now it was his turn to blanch.
Harry smiled at him wanly. "It's all right, Percy. You couldn't have known that it would have that effect. And a desk like that is a very sensible purchase for a place this small."
"You're just saying that to make me feel better." Percy looked like he wasn't sure if he should smile or not.
"No, I'm not. I mean it. But is it working?"
"A little." Percy admitted grudgingly.
"Now go to work. I'll face the desk bravely while you're gone."
Percy couldn't help laughing.
"Oh, and Perce."
"Yeah?"
"Could you please pick up a deck of playing cards for me while you're out?"
"Sure. You know, you *can* leave the flat. You're not my prisoner."
"I know. I just don't think I'm up to it. Facing Diagon Alley by myself."
"Well, they'll have to be wizarding cards. I may still have plenty of Muggle money, but wouldn't even know where to start looking for Muggle cards."
"Yeah. Wizarding cards'll be fine."
Percy left for work, then, and Harry congratulated himself on step one of reclaiming Percy's lost childhood.
After Percy left, Harry got a bowl of cereal from the kitchen and then cautiously approached the desk. He inserted one of the keys and opened the book drawer, then after he'd examined the contents, put in the next key and opened it again. He repeated this until he'd looked through all of the books that Percy had in the desk, and found that eventually he lost the negative association he had with Barty Crouch in his anticipation over whether he'd *ever* find an interesting book in Percy's collection.
The books that Percy had were very interesting, if you were into wizarding history -- apparently Professor Binns had somehow kindled some kind of interest in history in Percy -- or biographies of famous wizards. But Harry would have given his eye-teeth for a novel.
Finally, he picked up a book on the life of Raymond Luxury-Yacht, and took it over to the couch and, eating the cereal from the bowl, dry, began to read.
Percy returned several hours later, to find Harry sitting in exactly the same position. The only thing that had changed was that Harry was about halfway done with his book.
"Good afternoon, Harry." Percy said as he walked in. "Did you find something to read?"
Harry nodded and showed Percy the book.
"That's one of my favorites." Percy smiled. "Have you gotten to the Goblin Wars yet?"
"No."
"That's the best part. If you've liked it so far, you'll love that part."
Harry had to admit to himself that the book was rather interesting. In a non-fictiony kind of way. "Pity you don't have any novels, though."
Percy shrugged as he began puttering around in the kitchen preparing lunch. "Never really had much interest in them. Oh!" He reached into his pocket and pulled something out that he threw to Harry. His aim was pretty good, and Harry caught it easily.
Harry looked down at it. It was the playing cards he'd asked for. "Thanks, Perce."
"You're welcome." Percy smiled.
Percy served their lunch and as Harry carried their dishes back into the kitchen, he asked, "Are you going back to work?"
"I wouldn't be a very good host if I worked all the time. So no. I'm taking the rest of the day off."
"Good." Harry grinned at his friend and came back to the living area, sitting on the floor and taking up the deck of cards. "Come and sit down here with me."
"Has Trelawney got you thinking you can tell fortunes now?" Percy lowered himself to the floor.
"No. I wanted to play a game of Exploding Snap."
Disappointment clouded Percy's features. "You want to go to the Burrow, don't you?"
"Percy . . ."
"It's all right. I mean, why be here all alone, or with me, when you could be in a houseful of people who want to play games and things. I'd want to get away from me, too."
Harry dropped the deck of cards and leaned over, grabbing Percy's shoulders and looking him square in the eye. "Percy. I want to be here. With you. I . . . think we've become friends, haven't we?"
"I guess." Percy admitted sulkily.
"So. Are we gonna play or not?"
Percy gave in and they sat on the floor for several hours, playing Exploding Snap. It had been years since Percy had played, so Harry had to teach him the rules all over again, but it was worth it. In the final analysis, Percy won as many games as he lost. Harry was unsure if that meant that he was a good teacher or Percy was a good student.
When Percy was about to suggest a change of activity, Harry said, "Let me guess, you want to kick my butt in chess now, too."
Percy shook his head. "No. I hate to admit it, but I'm a terrible chess player. Ron got all of the chess genes in the family."
"Really? I thought it was a family trait."
"Well, Bill's pretty good, too. And Charlie, now that I think of it. Ginny's not bad either. And Fred and . . . blast! All right, I'm the 'black sheep' there, too. I can't play chess to save my life."
Harry's face broke out in a wicked grin. "What if we could do something about that?"
"Let me guess. You've found a charm that will make someone an expert tactician, the only drawback being that one ends up being possessed by Alexander the Great or Napoleon Bonaparte, or something like that."
Harry's eyes widened in faux admiration. "Hey! That's a good idea, now that you mention it."
When Percy's jaw dropped in shock, Harry said, "Kidding! My thoughts were more along the lines of getting a chess strategy book at Flourish & Blott's and then, for as long as I'm welcome here, you and I can brush up on our chess games."
"And then when you go back to Hogwarts and beat Ron soundly, what'll you tell him?"
Harry was startled by the bitterness in Percy's tone. "Well, I'll tell him that I practiced over the summer." He paused, then added cautiously, "with you. Unless you don't want me to tell him that I was here." He added hastily.
"But I thought you didn't want anyone to know where you are?"
"Well, no. I want to hide out *now,* but I do have to go back to Hogwarts sooner or later, and when I do, it won't bother me if people know where I hid out. Unless you want me to keep it to myself. I can do aloof and mysterious if you want."
Harry looked so wistfully hopeful that Percy had to laugh. "It doesn't bother me a bit if you want to tell Ron that I put you up for the summer."
It took Harry a moment to respond. "'For the summer'?" He quoted back. "I can stay here all summer?"
Percy nodded, shrugging. "You don't have to worry about crowding me. I'm used to sharing space with four younger siblings. And I'm hardly ever here anyhow."
Impulsively, Harry threw himself into Percy's arms. "Thank you!" He said, hugging Percy tightly.
It took a moment, but soon Percy was returning Harry's hug. "You're welcome."
They released each other and Percy smiled a little lopsidedly at Harry. "So, what say we go to Flourish & Blott's, then pick up some dinner while we're out?"
Harry smiled gently at him. "Sounds good to me."
Together they exited the Diagon Alley side of the building and walked to Flourish & Blott's, where they were immediately set upon by a salesclerk. "May I help you?" He looked hopefully at Percy, who was clearly the elder of the two.
"Do you have any books on chess?" Percy asked.
"Right this way." The salesclerk walked them to the correct area, where there were more than fifty books on chess.
Harry and Percy gaped at the selection. "Can you recommend any specific books?" Percy asked.
"What level are you at? Beginner? Intermediate?"
Harry and Percy looked at each other. "Intermediate, I guess." Percy answered. "We know the basics already, but are looking to brush up on strategy and things."
"Ah." The salesclerk nodded sagely. "Then I have just the book for you. It's one of our best sellers, and I've never heard anything but good reports back about it." He reached forward and pulled one book from the shelf, handing it to Percy. Chess Strategy by Lee, the title read. Neither the author's Christian name nor his surname was Lee.
"Who's Lee?" Percy asked.
The clerk shrugged. "Some local hero from the area where the wizard who wrote this lives. A Muggle, I think. But don't let that stop you from buying it." He added hastily.
Percy smiled. "It won't. You happen to have sold it to two very Muggle-friendly wizards." He winked at Harry, who remembered their Mugglefest of the day before and smiled back.
"Will that be all?"
"My friend here," Percy indicated Harry, "would like to look at your novels."
"And," Harry interrupted, "do you have the list yet for Hogwarts fifth years yet?"
"Why yes, I believe we do."
Soon, Harry and Percy left Flourish & Blott's, a large box of books levitating between them.
"I can't believe you bought your school books already." Percy said. "We have to bribe Fred, George, Ron and Ginny to come and get their books."
"I figured that I could get a start on my studies." Harry grinned. "Give Hermione a run for her money this year."
After they stopped at one of Percy's favorite restaurants for dinner, they returned to Percy's apartment, where they spent the rest of the evening reading in companionable silence.
