A/N: Back to my original upload routine at last. Everything is out of the way now. Expect regular updates. Many thanks to my recurring readers, hello and welcome if you are new here! Consider favouriting or following this story if you like it, or leave a review detailing your opinion (both positive and negative). This chapter, we take a peek inside some of our characters' minds to see what's going on in there. Next chapter, Lola forgets a crucially important detail which ends in a catastrophe.

Percy loved responsibility, and everyone who had met him at least once in their lifetime already knew this.

He walked across the grand Hogwarts grounds, deep in thought, as he looked for a good place to do some private studying. Sure, he wasn't the first boy in his family to be successful at school. His older brothers had also thrived at school, one as an athlete and the other as an academic. Percy did feel sometimes like he was third down the line of succession – like a Prince who had come to terms with the fact that he would probably never be King.

But Percy had something which distinguished him from his older brothers – he was responsible. His love for duty was even above his love for home, his love for family. This made him believe he was destined for excellence – a career more esteemed than anyone else in the family. He was willing to sacrifice a lot for his journey to greatness – even himself.

His CV already looked better than any of his peers'. He was an outstanding student, a responsible Prefect and his father worked for the Ministry; Percy was even promised a paid placement this summer there as somebody's assistant. He didn't care who, he would be there to build a network of acquaintances which would come in handy later.

He wanted to be the Minister one day.

As he came to a stop, Percy didn't recognise the girl sitting alone underneath the huge oak tree at first. Her eyes were puffy and red like she had just stopped crying, and she was blowing her nose into a napkin. She looked around to see if anyone was watching her, just in time for Percy to pretend like he was looking the opposite direction. The girl then picked up her extremely old and battered book off the ground and returned to her read.

Lola was actually unaware that she was holding the book upside down. She had no idea what the page, or the whole book, was on about. The only reason why she had it in her hands was to make it clear that she didn't want to be disturbed.

So naturally, Percy decided to disturb her.

"That's one of my favourite books," he lied as he approached Lola. This was going to be amusing.

Lola snapped out of her reverie. "What?" she said as her existence gained focus.

Percy suppressed a chuckle. "I said I love the book you're reading. What's been your favourite bit so far?"

Lola had randomly selected the book form the library and so had no clue what the book was about; but she did know the title. "Contemporary Beauty Spells for Fashionable Witches is one of your favourite books?" Lola asked with an arched brow.

"Yes," Percy replied with a straight face.

For the first time since what felt like forever, Lola burst out laughing. Percy joined her.

"You know what would help you read it better?" he asked ironically as he sat down next to Lola. "…if you were holding it the right way."

Lola moaned as she gave up on trying to appear wholesome and shoved the book back into her schoolbag. "I know, I'm a mess."

"Got given your first homework, then," Percy mocked her.

"Something like that," Lola mumbled.

The silence between them was awkward. Though he meant well, Lola could feel Percy's patronising, condescending aura, and found it intensely ironic that she was actually older than Percy.

"I can help you if you want?" Percy offered. He was sure he could speak to Professor McGonagall and have it put down in his CV as voluntary experience.

"No, thank you. That wouldn't be fair on my classmates."

What a foolish principle, thought Percy as he shook his head. And there he was, thinking that this girl also had potential for excellence. How wrong he had been.

A few meters away, Hermione watched, fuming, the friendly exchange between her kryptonite Lola and one of the Gryffindor Prefects. 'Jealous' wouldn't begin to explain the feeling in the depths of her stomach.

A few meters away from Hermione was Ron, who also had his eyes on Lola and Percy, but his jealousy originated from a completely different aspect. He had taken quite a fancy to Lola, who, in his opinion had beautiful blue eyes and two very kissable cheeks. Looking at her made Ron feel warm inside, but now she was sitting down with Percy and he felt warm as ever, but this time from rage.

Why was it that his brothers always got the best of everything?

Harry had to shake Ron violently to make him snap out of his hypnosis.

"What's up?" Harry asked. "You're not listening to me."

Ron sighed heavily. "Nothing. Just wondering what we're going to do."

"We try again tonight," Harry said with determination. "We can't let Malfoy make fun of us again. I will tell him during dinner."

Malfoy had challenged them to a duel the previous evening, but Harry and Ron had ran into some unexpected trouble – for some reason, four of their classmates had decided to sleep in the Common Room, making it virtually impossible for Ron and Harry to sneak out of the Gryffindor Tower. Embarrassed, they had sheepishly went down to breakfast the following morning and had tried really hard not to turn crimson red as Malfoy performed the chicken dance for them from across the Slytherin table.

They had no idea what they were doing, they had even forgotten why they had agreed to participate in this duel, but Malfoy was very good at manipulation and they didn't even question their decision once.

A few meters away from them, Lavender, who was chilling by the lake with Parvati, kept looking back and forth between Lola and Ron. She knew it instantly – there was something going on between these two. Jealousy erupted violently within her. Ron was a funny boy, he was the class clown and Lavender liked that. He was popular too – best friend to Harry Potter. The likes of Parvati always sought after the likes of Harry – the good-looking golden boy who always broke everyone's heart in the end.

But Lavender wasn't basic like that. She wanted someone charming, someone fun, someone who hadn't had it easy in life, someone who was good at blending into the background, someone everyone underestimated but she could see their greatness – someone like Ron.

But now Ron was eyeing Lola and all her dreams were crushed. As if she needed another reason to hate her.

Not too far away from Lavender was Penelope Clearwater, with her own group of friends, whose jealousy was so intense that it actually gave her enough courage to get up and start walking.

Unaware of everything going on around them, Lola and Percy continued to chat about advanced Transfiguration spells.

When they heard Penelope's shrilly voice call "Sorry!", both Lola and Percy looked up at the same time.

Percy went bright red. "Hi there," he breathed, not knowing what else to say.

Penelope's cheeks were also heating up. "Hello," she said shyly. Even though she had the perfect excuse to approach him, Penelope still felt cripplingly nervous. "I was just wondering if you took any notes for Potions that might be useful for our next assignment? I'm finding it really difficult to keep up this year..."

"Oh, dear," Percy said sympathetically. "That's unfortunate. I don't have any notes but I do have an essay plan made if that'll be useful. I don't have it on me right now though. Do you want me to owl it to you when I get back to the Tower?"

Penelope lit up like a 100 volt Christmas tree. The prospect of getting mail from Percy Weasley – hell, the possibility of becoming pen-pals with Percy Weasley – made her palms sweat with adrenaline. "Yes!" she said enthusiastically – too enthusiastically – so she cleared her throat and tried to bring her voice down a little. "Yes, thank you. That would be great."

"See you, then," said Percy.

Penelope waved goodbye and walked back to her posse.

Lola fixed her suggestive gaze on Percy, her left eyebrow lifted.

"What?!" Percy exclaimed, feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable under Lola's gaze.

"I like your girlfriend," Lola chuckled. "She seems really nice. Should probably find a better excuse next time though."

If possible, Percy turned an even darker shade of crimson. "Penelope is not my girlfriend –"

"Oh but you want her to be, right?" asked Lola with a huge grin on her face. "I saw the way you look at her. Come oooon… you can be honest with me. Won't tell anyone, promise!"

"No!" Percy protested, feeling genuinely distressed.

One thing Percy Weasley would never do was open up to people. Especially to someone he barely knew. He strongly believed that such things made a person weak and vulnerable. He didn't need any advice or support from anybody – especially not from an eleven-year-old. He was better off on his own and despised people who insinuated he needed them.

Very annoyed, "Mind your own business," Percy said as he got up from underneath the oak tree and began walking back towards the Castle.

Lola, her mouth gaping wide open from momentary shock, shouted "I'm sorry!" once she gained her composure. "I didn't mean to upset you!" she called as she watched Percy's retreating back, but it was too late; by that point, he was already out of earshot.

Great, thought Lola gingerly. At this rate, I will have no one left but Prince by the end of the week.

A/N: Thanks for the read you absolute legend. Consider favouriting/following/reviewing this story if you enjoyed. Until next time...