Chapter 8: Differences

"This is all my fault." Harry said somberly, plumping down onto one of the many chairs that lined the walls of the Intensive Care Waiting Room.

"Harry, you couldn't have known it was a trap." Arthur told him. He took a seat next to the teen and put his hand on his shoulder.

"I should have realized- And now Percy's-" Harry sighed, putting his face in his hands. "This is all my fault."

"No one thinks that." Arthur said reassuringly.

"Percy does." Harry told him.

Arthur sighed. It was true his son wasn't being as forgiving and understanding as they had hoped he would be. In fact, ever since he woke up he had been downright angry and short-tempered with everyone. But that may have something to do with him not having slept for two days. And it also didn't help in the slightest that any treatment they gave him did little more than make him so ill it was nearly impossible for him to eat anything without seeing it again moments later.

"You stay here; I'll try to talk to him." Arthur said, rising from his seat. He looked at the door to Percy's room with dread. He had absolutely no idea what he was going to say or possibly could say to his son that would convince him to change his miserable attitude. He and Percy were never very close, and they had only grown further apart after the horrible fight they had last year. And after everything that's happened and everything that is happening, even after knowing that they don't have much time left together, Percy still was hardly speaking to him. If he was still this mad at him, how on earth was he going to convince him to forgive Harry? But as his father, Arthur knew he at least needed to try.

Before he knew it he was knocking on Percy's door. Not receiving a reply, he peeked inside to see if his son had finally fallen asleep. But Percy was wide awake, staring into the empty air with a pensive look on his face.

"Can I come in?" he asked, remembering that ever since he was a boy, Percy always liked it when people asked permission before coming into his room.

Percy spared his father a glance, but said nothing. Arthur took this as an 'okay'. He subtly closed the door behind him.

"How are you feeling?" Arthur asked, hoping his son didn't think it was a stupid question. Percy merely shrugged, still saying nothing.

Arthur sighed. This wasn't going as well has he hoped, but not as badly as he expected. At least he wasn't yelling at him. . . yet.

"If you don't want me to be here then just tell me. I'll leave."

Percy said nothing, so Arthur moved closer to his son's bedside. He really wanted this to go well. He wanted Percy to stop being so angry. But most of all he wanted his son back.

"I can't possibly imagine what you're going through," Arthur said, being as careful as he could about what he said. "But what I do know is that this moping around, feeling sorry for yourself, just isn't you."

"You don't know the first thing about me," Percy said coolly. He looked into his eyes. "Father."

He hated the fact Percy called him 'Father'. What happen to the days when he used to be 'Dad'? He wished more than anything in the world that he could go back to those days. The days when his son would come rushing out to greet him when he came home and tell him all about his day, or what the trouble the twins got into. The quality time spent in garage, with him teaching a curious Percy how to charm Muggle objects. They seem so long ago . . . now his son was a stranger to him. But he still loved him all the same. He just hoped Percy new that.

"I would like to," Arthur said quietly, hoping with all his heart that he could still fix things between them.

Percy suppressed a scoff. "It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

Arthur's heart dropped at his son's word. But he loved his son too much to give up on him now.

"What are you really here for?" Percy said accusingly.

For a moment Arthur was speechless. "What?" he finally managed to say.

"Who sent you?" Percy demanded.

"No one sent me, Percy," Arthur said, trying not to sound hurt.

Percy stared at him long and hard. "Why are you here, Father?"

"I wanted to talk to you," Arthur said. "Son, why are you so angry?"

"You don't know?" Percy scoffed. He looked away and muttered, "Typical."

Arthur did his best to brush off the insult. If he wanted his son back, he couldn't lose his temper. He only hoped Percy could do the same.

"Help me understand." Arthur pleaded in a last ditch effort to reach out to his son. "Please."

His son sighed and turned to him. The dark bags under his eyes stood out brightly against his pale skin. "You still think Dumbledore's the greatest wizard in the world, don't you?" he said resentfully.

So they were back to this again. The same subject that drove them apart all those months ago- that led to their estrangement. But this time it'll be different Arthur vowed to himself. This time he wasn't going to lose his temper. He wasn't going to yell no matter what. He was going to get his son back even if it cost him every ounce of pride he had. But in the state Percy was in, trying to converse with him was like walking on thin ice. One wrong move and everything would break apart.

"I do," he said honestly, "unless you can convince me otherwise."

"I tried to do that before, but you wouldn't listen." he said stubbornly. "Remember? And that didn't end well, did it?"

"Well, I'm listening now." Arthur told him gently. "And I promise I won't yell."

Percy studied him silently for a moment.

"Okay" his son said finally. "Let's talk."

Arthur carefully took seat next his son. "You use to respect Dumbledore. What changed that?"

"When I respected Dumbledore I was a child; oblivious and naïve. I was too engrossed with my studies to notice how very corrupt, and dangerously insane my headmaster was." Percy paused for a moment. He probably expected him to scoff or interrupt him, but Arthur held his tongue and waited patiently for him to continue.

"Ever since Harry Potter came to Hogwarts Dumbledore has repeatedly failed at keeping his students safe. Do you recall the events that took place during Ron's first year at Hogwarts? The Troll in the bathroom, the Philosopher's Stone, how Harry Potter and his friends 'saved the day'." Percy said with a hint of sarcasm. Arthur nodded.

"Well, just so we're clear let's have a quick review, shall we?"

"Okay."

Percy took a deep breath. "The story about the Philosopher's Stone goes something like this. Dumbledore knew that a powerful dark wizard was after the Philosopher's Stone so he took it out of its resting place a Gringotts and hid it somewhere in the depths of Hogwarts to keep it safe. Harry Potter comes to Hogwarts and he and his friends somehow find out where the stone is. Soon after that they discover that someone is going to attempt to steal the stone, so they boldly set out after the would-be-thief to try to stop him. Ron is victorious against McGonagall's giant chess set, Hermione solves Snape's riddle, but in the end only Harry remains to stop the thief. The thief turns out to be none other than Professor Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. But he is not alone because hiding under his turban is You-Know-Who. They do battle and Harry saves the stone, once again defeating He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The end."

Percy looked at him. "Does that sound about right to you?"

"Yes."

"Does any part of that story any part at all seem the least bit immoral to you? Maybe something Dumbledore did?"

Arthur thought for a moment. He was testing him; testing to see if he was capable of figuring this out for himself. But no matter how hard Arthur tried, he couldn't see was point his son was hinting as. Hoping to Merlin that his son would be patient with him, Arthur shook his head.

Percy didn't look surprised. "Let me put it this way. Do you think what he did- taking something an incredibly dark and powerful wizard was after and hiding it in a school full of children was clever?"

Arthur looked at his son and his son stared back at him intently. Slowly he began to comprehend what his son was saying. So this is why he didn't trust Dumbledore. Percy had skipped past the brilliance of Dumbledore's plan and went straight to morality of it. But... was he wrong?

Percy sat up. "Do you see? Do you understand why I don't trust his judgment? He doesn't care who he puts in harm's way with his 'clever plans', either that or he doesn't realize the extent of the danger he puts them in. And what about the parents of the children that go there? What if Harry Potter died? What if Ron died? Do you think you would still think his plan was clever then?"

The look Percy was giving him was intense and tired at the same time. It was like he had been fighting for months and was waiting to see it he had at last struck the final blow.

"Perce, what you've got to understand is that, Dumbledore is the only man You-Know-Who ever feared. And for good reasons, reasons that I can't explain to you because I don't quite understand them myself, but have a lot to do with faith, love, and friendship."

Percy gaped at him like he had been slapped in the face. He closed his mouth, his face flushed in anger, and his hands clenched the sheets.

"Get out." Percy said severely.

"Percy, please-"

"GO!" Percy threw his pillow in his face. He was trembling and breathing heavily, as if he was going to be sick.

Arthur instinctively moved to go to his son's aid, but Percy gave him a look so dangerous that he quickly backed away. He left his son's room, his heart breaking with every step he took.