Percy was sitting up in bed, reading the various get-well cards and owls sent him by family and friend. He couldn't very well say 'friends', he mused.

'Percy, You probably won't take me up on this, but if you ever need to talk, I'm here. Being best friend with Harry Potter means you have to at least be a good listener. [He rolled his eyes. "You get into at least as much trouble as he does."] I hope you get better soon in both mind and body. Your brother, Ron.'

'To our dearest brother Percival, We find it rather ironic that you always thought we were the nutcases but it really turns out you are. We thought about leaving you some free samples of our merchandise, but even we're not that cruel. [Indignant snort.] At the very least, we'll try to successfully send you a lavatory seat. They didn't let us for Harry, but this is a special case. We just want to help you lighten up a bit. Get well soon, we miss our Head Boy big brother already. Much love & many laughs, Fred & George.'

'Percy, I heard about what happened. Are you alright? You must be under a lot of stress (especially if I remember my own school days correctly!), but it's only healthy to express some of that. Oh, and the NEWTs really aren't worth stressing over. They're not difficult, they're just hideously long, kind of like academic endurance testing. Or writer's cramp endurance testing. [This elicited a small chuckle.] I told Mum to send you your favorite stuffed dragon of mine. Remember Sparkle? You always used to hide away in the corner cupboard and cuddle him. [Percy smiled at the memories and squeezed the blue-violet plush dragon that lay beside him.] I'm coming home for the winter hols this year, so be sure to come back to the Burrow, and all in one piece too. ["Oh, like you can talk," he muttered to himself in jest.] Well, the Norwegian Ridgeback's finally started teething. I just wish it wasn't on my arm... Hope to hear from you, Charlie.'

'Dear Percy, Sorry I couldn't come and see you personally, but there's been a big hullabaloo down here with the goblins on strike and all. We need every capable man. I just wanted to say that if you could use some help dealing with or figuring stuff out, just send me an owl and I'd be glad to help. I hope you don't get upset at me suggesting this, it's only meant to help, but if it's got anything to do with sex and the like, which I doubt you'd want to discuss with Mum or Dad (though they obviously know enough about it... did it at least seven times. Ha ha ha. Oh, bad image.) [Damn right it's a bad image, he thought ruefully.] Well, I want you to feel free to talk to me. I may not be able to answer all your questions, but sometimes it's nice just to be able to vent. Owl me if you need to. Love, Bill.'

Percy thought about perhaps taking Bill up on his offer, before realizing just how different he and Bill's sex issues potentially were. Still, he was if nothing else a "cool" person, and Percy was sure he wouldn't be looked at any differently because of his preferences. He made a mental note to owl his brother sometime. Then he moved on to the final letter.

'Perce, How are you? You really had me worried, you know. Even if you never talk to me again, please just promise me one thing. Tell me, give me your word that you'll stop your cutting. As one roommate and, I hope, friend to another, I don't know what to do when you do this. You had me very very scared, Percy Weasley. Ah, I hope you don't think I'm a weirdo or something for sending you an owl like this. I hope you can come back to the dorm soon, it's empty without you. Your friend, Oliver.'

Percy thought it strange that Oliver should send him such a letter. Of course they'd talked and gotten to know each other, but the other boy sounded so worried. He wasn't sure what to make of it. He'd never thought Oliver had really noticed him over his Quidditch magazines. Or was it, he realized, the other way around, with Percy never having noticed him over his textbooks? He decided to get to know his roommate better, as soon as he was allowed back to the dorm. It was getting late. He yawned and rolled over in the hospital bed, squeezing Sparkle and snuggling under the covers. He was going to need his rest. After all, he had an appointment with that psychiatrist from Hogsmeade the next morning.