Living

Author's notes: Here is Chapter 2. Hey, it's as much a surprise to me as it is to you. I apparently have too much free time in my accounting classes. So anyway. I actually know why I am writing this whole big thing, it is just so that I can do this one teeny little scene that I could full well do without an epic saga around it. But I feel this weird affiliation with Percy, so I figured he deserved all this. By the by, JK Rowling has not yet stumbled across this and decided that I, raukoiel, am a better writer than she, and should, therefore, own these characters. So I don't.

If I get one ray of sunlight to hold in my hand, maybe we can be happy again.
~Phantom Planet

****sun.****

Percy was two years old when Bill left for Hogwarts. Looking back, he supposed the clarity with which he remembered the day was odd, but then, it had been a highlight of his early childhood. It was a beautiful day, with the kind of cloudless sapphire sky that was so rare in their little corner of England. The leaves of the trees looked as though they'd been attacked by a particularly aesthete pyromaniac, and were proudly showing off their fiery colours. A gentle breeze was blowing, the birds were singing, and Lord Voldemort was in full power.

Percy, being just a young child, did not understand the full scope of He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's reign. Weeks of fragile politics had worked out one day, the day students left for Hogwarts, in which there would be a sort of truce. After all, Death Eaters had children too, and despite a great dislike of both the headmaster and his policies they knew their children would be safer away from the war raging outside the school. Percy was oblivious to all of this. What he did understand was that, for the first time he could remember, he was being allowed outside during the day.

The sky was different during the day. He had only ever seen it through the dingy windows of the safe-houses, the meek blue peering out from between the ever-present clouds. At night, which he'd been out in often enough, the darkness was menacing and fierce. The infinite expanse was bewildering to a mind which was accustomed to small, closed spaces. But now, with the sun hanging high above him, he felt free. He wished he could soar into it and never come back.

Bill was leaving. It was not a fact he'd quite grasped yet, school, all he knew was that his brother must have done something quite good. His mother had bought him an enormous chest with buckles on, and robes specially made for him, and even a great large owl whom Bill had promptly dubbed Errol. And best of all- something Percy himself wished for every night- he'd got a brand new wand. That was something special, he thought, something that belonged only to you, no one could share. He didn't know yet that the enormity of his mother's belly meant that he would soon be sharing a great deal more.

Bill picked him up in an enormous hug. "Bye, Perce." He was just beginning to show the first signs of nervousness, as he was leaving his home. Charlie scowled beside his mother, peeved that he was not only losing his best friend for several months, but also that the friend in question was going to Hogwarts and he would have to wait another year. Unlike Percy, he recognized the signs of impending siblings, and did not want to be around for it. Percy had been enough of a surprise to all of them.

The whistle sounded. Bill finally boarded the train, after waiting until the last possible second, and twisted around to wave as it began moving. Molly had tears standing in her eyes, but she was sure her eldest would be safe under the watch of Dumbledore. Percy realized, quite suddenly, that Bill was not going home with them. Hogwarts, he knew, was supposed to be a wonderful place, with other children the same age, and where magic was taught. He was sorry to see him go, but he was also happy for him. One day, his mother had told him, he would go too, and he would do spectacularly, and maybe even be Head Boy. Percy filed all of that away for the future, but swore that if it would make his mum happy, he'd do it.

You-Know-Who. Percy didn't, but he soon would. That day passed in eerie peace, but it would be the last for some time.

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Aaaaannnddd, that's that. Stay tuned, kids, I just might write some more. PS- In case you didn't notice, I like commas. Sorry.