"McGonagall's out to get me," Oliver complained when he and Percy came out of Transfiguration class. "Swear she is. No other reason why she constantly calls on me when I don't even raise my hand."

Percy snorted, which earned him a punch to his shoulder. It was well worth it. "She calls on you because you haven't turned in your homework on time in two weeks. Newsflash: quidditch isn't a good excuse."

"It's not an excuse," Oliver corrected, a bit miffed at Percy's lack of appreciation towards his pride and joy. And one true love, the red-head thought, dryly. "She should understand where I'm coming from, I know she places bets with Snape on who'll win each game. Get your priorities in line she says," Oliver scoffed as if the notion was utterly ridiculous. "And now that exam-"

"Which everyone has known about for a week," Percy cut in, "or, rather, mostly everyone."

Oliver scowled, but it was only half heartedly so. "Unbelievable, my best mate isn't even defending me."

"When you deserve it, I will."

Oliver playfully shoved him. Percy shoved back, smug when the keeper tumbled slightly to his right. "Oi, no fair!"

"Oh, it was plenty fair," Percy grinned.

"Says you."

"Yes, and?"

Oliver was about to retort when a young, high pitched voice caught their attention instead. The voice was begging, fear lacing through it at what the other person was threatening to do. Percy's mum ears, as Oliver called them, perked up. Ginny, he realized with a start. His head snapping up, he saw his younger sister a few feet away backed into a corner with a girl that was taller than her keeping her trapped.

"You want some backup?" Oliver asked quietly.

"No," Percy said sharply, but his friend didn't take office, knowing that it was directed at the other girl and not him. "I've got it."

"If you're sure," Oliver said, looking thoughtfully over at the two girls. "Just don't get detention, alright? I need your notes for the exam and can't find where you hid them."

That did get a small smile out of Percy and he rolled his eyes good naturedly. "Idiot," he said but it was without any bite to it.

"I'll be over there," Oliver pointed to a spot that would be out of the way, though still nearby. "Remember, don't go maiming any little girls. Can't be too good for a ministry resume."

Percy waited until Oliver was gone, then he marched over there. His chest was puffed up, eyes set with a certain amount of fury at seeing the girl tormenting his sister. As he grew closer, he heard what was being said between them.

And he didn't like it one bit.

"You're a dark witch, aren't you?' The girl taunted. She wore pristine, custom looking Slytherin robes. If Percy had to guess, he thought she was one of his sister's classmates, but couldn't be for sure. "I'm surprised they didn't expel you. You did try to murder those mudbloods."

"I didn't," Ginny was vigorously shaking her head. Her eyes were misty with tears as they usually came to be at the reminder of the incident that the family rarely referred to. "I swear I didn't! It...it wasn't my fault!"

"Really?" the girl feigned oversaturated sympathy. Percy knew it was wrong, but he wanted to curse her. Her eyes hardened and a smirk came onto her lips that was almost too devious for her childlike looking face. "I don't believe you."

"But...but-"

" I think you did want them dead," the girl said. "Not that I'd be complaining, of course. I'm just surprised it came from a Weasley of all people. What must your parents think? Are mummy and daddy disappointed that their only daughter's gone dark?"

"I haven't!" Ginny burst out. "I'm not dark! I'm not, I'm not!"

"So you say," the girl drawled and Percy's hands were clenched into fists. Whatever happens, you cannot maim the girl. She's still a student. Curses for that. "Haven't you noticed that no one believes you?"

Ginny's lip quivered.

And that was when Percy decided it was best to spring into action. He stalked over in the middle of them, easily towering over the two girls. His glare settled on the girl, whose facial expression-for a slight second-faltered, but she recovered quick enough. "I believe her," he said, steely. "And I believe for that matter, that you had better watch what you say to fellow students."

The girl folded her arms across her chest. She wasn't going to make it easy. She straightened herself up, looking up at Percy with defiance in her eyes. "What are you going to do about it?" She said, challengingly. "Take away points? Give me detention?"

This girl straight up didn't care one bit that she'd mocked his sister to near tears! In fact, Percy would go as far as to say she was relishing in it. This wasn't the first instance of bullying toward Ginny that had to be curbed because of the incident. At least a handful of students were lashing out for the terror that they'd felt during the course of last year or they were enjoying being spiteful for no reason.

Mum and Dad had cautiously warned all five of them that they may deal with this sort of thing upon the first of September coming closer. Percy vowed-both as a verbal promise to his family and an inward one to himself-that he was going to be more attentive this year. If anyone thought they could bother Ginny like that and think they would get away with it, they were badly mistaken.

He faced the girl-who was still giving him a nonchalant attitude, as if she thought the whole thing was no big deal. With all of the calmness he could muster and merlin was that a great challenge, he opened his mouth to speak. "Let me tell you something right now," he hissed and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ginny's eyes widened, "you bother my sister again and I'll personally see to it that Slytherin loses every single point you've managed to earn."

"I'll tell Professor Snape," she threatened. "He won't allow this."

"Tell him," he said, simply. "Better yet, I will. I'll tell him and I will make sure Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall so either way, you will be punished."

Her own glare was weakening. Ginny might not have noticed but Percy did. The girl was young enough that her self image was still highly important as well as what her fellow classmates would think of her. She most certainly wouldn't want to be the cause of her own house losing its chance at winning the House Cup.

"You wouldn't dare," she said, sourly. There was uncertainty to her, for she in fact did not know if he would or not.

He would.

"Watch me," he lowered his volume.

It was probably a bit out of line on some level for a Head-Boy to act this way. He was to remain calm, objective and never threaten a student. But all that rationality flew out the window the second he saw it was who he needed to defend.

She looked furious but he didn't know at whom-him or herself. "You can't! You're Head-Boy, you're supposed to be fair!"

"And you," He said with a firm emphasis, "are supposed to treat your fellow classmates in a civilized manner. If you cannot do so then I believe other arrangements for your education needs to be made."

She said nothing. She was biting the insides of her cheeks and keeping her eyes on the floor.

"Now leave," he ordered.

She turned on her heel, huffing out a puff of air to rival that of a cat's.

"One more thing."

She halted her steps.

"Fifty points from Slytherin for bullying a fellow student and another fifty for that derogatory word to describe your classmates."

She whirled back around. 'You can't-"

"Do you want another fifty?" He raised his eyebrows, inwardly satisfied when she slumped. "That's what I thought. You may go now and believe me, Professor Dumbledore will be hearing about this by this evening!"

She stomped off, muttering rapidly under her breath.

Percy's anger began to fizzle out. He looked at Ginny, his face softening. She was wiping away any evidence there might of been of her nearly crying with the sleeve of her uniform. "Are you alright?" he asked her quietly.

"I'm fine," came the predictable response. Being the youngest, Ginny didn't like coming off as weak or helpless in comparison to her older brothers. She wanted them to think of her as one of them, able to keep up and handle everything. Bill, Charlie and Percy were a little more aware of this and did what they could to help her feel that way, but also letting her know that it wouldn't always be like that. "She's just a prat, is all."

"Is she in your classes?"

Ginny drew imaginary circles with her foot on the marble floor. "Some. We have Potions together and Herbology."

"I see," Percy inhaled. "And when did all this start?"

It couldn't have been too long ago. Term only just started last month.

"On the train," Ginny mumbled.

"On the-Ginny," Percy frowned but he didn't scold her, he didn't lecture her. He looked saddened, upset with himself for not noticing sooner. He'd already just broken the promise he'd made. "Come here." He gently pulled her into a hug. She was stiff at first, not that he blamed her. It'd been ages since they properly hugged but then she relaxed into it, even hugged him back.

"I know I should've told somebody," her voice was muffled by Percy's uniform. "But I didn't want to make it worse. She's awful and she made fun of me last year, too."

"She did?" Percy closed his eyes, unhappy that he'd missed that as well.

"She says we're poor and Mum and Dad should've given us all up."

Percy squeezed her. "Don't you listen to a word from that girl. She's mad and just jealous."

Ginny was quiet for a couple minutes. "I Percy?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think the Hat made a mistake with putting me in Gryffindor?"

Percy stepped back, looking down at his sister's face. "Why do you say that?"

"I didn't do anything about her," she looked ashamed. "No one else would've just taken it."

The clock tower chimed, signaling the beginning of the next class hour. Ginny had a free period, he knew that because she mentioned it once already. Percy did not. He was supposed to be in Charms right now. It didn't matter. He would get her through this and deal with whatever consequences came his way later.

She must have expected him to leave, surprise clouding her face when he began to speak again. "The hat doesn't make mistakes, Ginny. You belong in Gryffindor just like every other Weasley before you. Don't let anyone tell you differently. As for your reaction, you mustn't be so hard on yourself. Whether you want to admit it or not, last year was a fairly traumatic experience. You're not all healed yet."

"Thanks, Percy," she muttered, smiling up at him.

He hugged her again. "You know I'd do anything for you."

Oliver chose that moment to appear. Instead of going to class, he was still waiting, Percy thought fondly. "You know you didn't have to wait. We'll both be late now."

"Course I did. You're my best mate...and I didn't do the homework so I thought Flitwick might not notice if we both go."

Ginny giggled.

Percy rolled his eyes. "Why am I not surprised?"

Oliver grinned. "Gotta hand it to you, Perce. You really laid in on her."

"I hardly-"

"I think she's scared of him now," Ginny piped up, excitedly.

"That is ridiculous-"

"Did you see the look on her face?" Oliver cackled. "Priceless."

"Oliver," Percy admonished, failing to hide his smile. "She's a little girl. You shouldn't be talking like that."

"Right. And you're telling me that didn't feel good?"

"What it felt like is irrelevant."

Oliver nudged Ginny. "That means it did."

She laughed.

Percy feigned a heavy sigh. "I am the only adult in this group."

Oliver slapped him on the back. "Come on, Mr. Adult, before McGonagall or Snape finds us. Can't risk anything interfering with quidditch."

"Like homework?" Percy clarified and laughed when Oliver made a face. Giving one last shoulder squeeze to Ginny, he said he would see her later.

"Bye, Percy!" She chirped, beaming. She went off in the opposite direction. Percy watched her until she went out of sight.

"She's a good kid," Oliver remarked.

Percy looked proud and agreed.

"You know what else I think?"

"What's that?"

"I think if we're really quick, we can get a lap in before going to Flitwick's. Hootch doesn't have class right now and-"

Percy walked off while Oliver was still rambling, leaving his friend in the middle of the corridor.

"I didn't hear a no!"