Chapter Six-Musing and A Mother's Scheme

Ten minutes later, they headed up the staircase, taking a left to Percy's room. After walking inside, Percy quickly administered the charms since he knew they'd most likely eavesdrop. Percy took a seat on his bed as Marcus grabbed the desk chair.

"Why did Ron call you 'scarecrow'?"

Percy frowned, crossing his arms. "Isn't it obvious?"

Marcus shook his head.

"Come on, you really don't see why?"

"Truly I don't see how. I mean, yes, you are a tad thin but you're not made of straw, wearing rags or brainless. You're animate and possess the ability of complex thought so I really don't understand why he called you that. You look like a rather normal bloke to me.''

Marcus was unaware of how his words affected Percy at this very moment. The redhead appeared astonished, having heard the term used in a derogatory manner describing his appearance. 'I do have to give Marcus credit for his honesty...'

Marcus continued "Does Ron always call you 'scarecrow'?"

"Actually, Ginny is the one who oh-so-nicely bestowed that nickname. I also hear 'beanpole', 'string bean', 'ginger stick', 'Skeleton', 'scrawny', the classic 'prat', ..uh...I'm sure there's more but I don't stick around them or their friends to find out...well..Ginny's friends, anyway. Ron's best mate and girlfriend-Harry and Hermione, they're far more pleasant than the former."

Marcus's eyes narrowed and he found himself feeling rather ticked...why, after just meeting the redhead twenty-four hours before? Only he knows.

"Why do you let them talk to you that way? I thought your Mum would have scolded them for that."

Percy sighed with a pained expression "Because it'll only make the situation worse and I try not to engage lest I get bitched at."

"What do you mean?"

"I-It's nothing...can we please talk about something else?"

Seeing as Percy wanted to change the subject, Marcus agreed. Hopefully he'd get the entire story out of him one day, when he's ready.

As time dragged on, Percy and Marcus exchanged a myriad of words, their laughter echoing throughout the bedroom. The redhead was finally loosening up around his new friend. Yes, he could actually say that now. He learned that Flint was actually quite levelheaded, courteous and if Percy wanted to elaborate-sweet. He wasn't as mean as the media portrayed...with him being the heir of a ruthless line and brutal quidditch player and all.

Marcus could see that Percy was not another obnoxious fan and was generally interested in what he had to say..of course his friends did as well..but this was someone outside the elite circle. He searched his gut for any malevolent or 'hidden agenda' vibe regarding Percy but found there to be none. This was someone he could open himself up to.

Once Percy excused himself to his personal bathroom, Flint couldn't help but ponder 'Maybe..just maybe...but..is he?'

"Back again...so, who is this Luna you were telling me about?"

"Oh, her name is Luna Lovegood. She's one of my best friends and one of the few women who doesn't bother me. A bit eccentric, but I think it's because she's a Seer or at least we speculate she is. Luna has made cryptic predictions as long as I've known her and has never been wrong. Like a few years ago, she said that we'd get a clumsy crup to look after the castle and three days later...a new auror by the name Nymphadora Tonks was stationed. She's a metamorphagus too, by the way, and quite comical due to her various accidents and can shift her appearance at will. We were rolling at her pig-snout impressions of Crabbe and Goyle when they would feast at one of our functions. It's was accurate, to say the least."

"Crabbe...Goyle..I've heard of them. Their dads are some of the lords on the other side of Dragonheart. Tonks, my brothers and Dad know her. She's nice from what I've been told."

"Yeah and before I got sidetracked, Luna is practically my baby sister. It's amazing, she's one of the few who could stand being around us when we're discussing rather uh...explicit things; those of my friends, their boyfriends and all the sexual exploits they have with them. Other than that, she hangs with us mostly...but the only females she does stick with are Tonks, Hannah, Susan, a Frenchwoman named Fleur, and interestingly...Bellatrix Lestrange." "Bellatrix...she's Draco Malfoy's, uh...unique aunt."

"Yeah..she can be a little rowdy, but she's kept me entertained and helped fend off fangirls on more than one occasion so my arse practically has her name written all over it...her words, not mine."

Percy laughed "It's great that you're taken care of. I don't think I could have handled that all on my own. Hm?" he gazed past Marcus towards the sunset.

Marcus did the same "Oh yeah...it's late. I need to go. You wanna hang out again over the weekend? I'm still free."

Percy had nothing else planned and all his chores were taken care of, so he nodded. "Of course. You can meet me here and we can go out on the town or something."

Marcus gave a toothy grin "Great, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for time off. If I have to, I'll make more."

"Sure thing, I'll uh...walk you to the door." Canceling the charms, Percy led Marcus out of his bedroom and down the stairs. They passed the dining room where everyone was getting settled into their meal, dropping their forks as the duo trekked by.

Percy smirked to himself, hearing the silverware clatter. Before Marcus opened the front door, he said "Night, Percy. See you tomorrow.'' ''You too, Marcus. See you.'' the large teen vacated the premises, apparating home. As he watched him disappear, he felt his heart flutter gently as if they were butterfly's wings. Deep down, Percy also felt a little saddened to see him go.

Shaking it off, he headed to the dining room. Taking a seat in between Bill and Charlie, the bespectacled Weasley began preparing his plate, ignoring the silence and stares.

"So Perce, heard you're pretty tight with the prince. How did you swing that?" Fred queried with a cheeky grin.

"We're not 'tight' as you put it. We only met Monday and had lunch earlier."

"We also heard you went upstairs with him. Did our ickle prattish big brother get lucky?" George snickered as he nudged Fred.

"Goodness, Percy. You sure move quickly."

Ginny nearly choked on her meal. "Oh for Merlin's sake! We're eating here! I don't want to think about that image...not that it'll ever happen for him, anyway." she snidely remarked.

Percy chose to ignore that as his eldest brothers exchanged a 'look' behind him.

Arthur gazed at his third-born in interest "It's good to see you've made a friend. It's too bad I didn't get to say 'Hello'..oh well, maybe another day." he smiled as he dove into his shepherd's pie.

Once dinner ended, Percy decided to stay and clear the dishes. Levitating them to the kitchen sink, he saw Bill and Charlie waiting on him.

"May I ask what you two want?" Charming the dishes to wash, Bill whispered "Why don't we take this to your room?"

Percy scrunched his face in confusion as his burlier brothers hauled him upstairs. Locking and silencing the doors, they faced their baby brother.

Bill grinned "Spill it, bro."

Charlie laughed "Don't leave anything out."

The curly-top sighed in exasperation and relayed his tale. Afterwards, Charlie commented "Wow, leave it to you to snag the prince, on the first day too...I'm impressed."

"Come off it, Charlie. We're just friends. That's all."

Bill retorted, leaning back into the chair "That may be, Percy, but I saw how your eyes lit up when you said his name."

"My eyes always do that."

"Yeah, though I cannot say the same for your slightly rosy cheeks."

He pressed his palms over his face, cursing the fact even a small blush was beyond noticeable on his pale, freckled face.

"Aww...somebody fancies Marcus." Charlie teased, jokingly.

"N-No, I don't. I can't like someone I just met about a week before. It doesn't work that way."

"Most of the time, yes. But as I'm sure you even know, the matters of the heart are fickle things in themselves. And it always seems to know firsthand before it reaches the mind."

'Damn, Charlie can be quite philosophical when he wants to be...'

"Noticing you're silenced over Charlie's wise moment, we'll leave you to ponder. Night, Percy." Bill smirked as he dragged Charlie out.

Percy remained unmoving, thinking 'Could he be right? Might I actually have the beginning of a crush on Marcus? All we are is only friends..'

'~Some friends have fallen in love over time...~' his inner voiced relayed smoothly.

'That's true. Well, it's not smart to jump ahead. I'll just take this a day at a time...yeah...I can do that.'

Meanwhile, in the parlor, Molly was quietly sipping her after-dinner tea..musing over the earlier day.

'I never thought I'd say this, but Percy surely did something right for once in befriending Marcus...as inconceiveable the thought is. The notion of Marcus coming around will prove fruitful once he gets to know Ginny with each and every visitation. I'll make sure he does. Having my precious angel on his arm will bring the envy of every girl in the kingdom to the surface. They'll be ridden with such jealousy and disappointment and our popularity soars. The Weasleys will gain a notable place in society and since the Flints will need an eventual heir, Ginny would be the perfect choice. She's so deserving. Even if Marcus is a gigantic brute with misaligned teeth...he's still the prince after all.'

And so it begins... stay tuned, everyone! :)