A/N: I own nothing.
Chapter 1: Dynamic Entry
"It gets worse every day." 15 year old Perenna Parker muttered to herself as she changed out of her baggy dark blue hoodie, which had been stained with milk that some jock had thrown at her as she had left school.
Instead of making a fuss over it, Perenna had told Harry that she'd head home to change her shirt before heading over to his house to study. He had looked like he wanted to make a big deal out of it, but had relented and she took off home.
She had briefly greeted her aunt and uncle before she had headed upstairs and at the current moment she threw on a clean grays shirt and her ponytail bounced slightly as she headed back down stairs with her pack over her shoulder. "I'm going to Harry's to study, be back later!" she called before walking out the door.
Perenna and Harry rarely studied at his house and usually opted to study at hers, but she didn't want to bother him with the sudden change. Besides, in the afternoon of tomorrow their Science class was taking field trip to his dad's company, but they had an English test in first period.
She had taken the bus and when she arrived, Perenna found Harry waiting outside the building. "You didn't have to wait out here all this time."
"How else we you gonna be able to get inside then if I wasn't out here?" Harry retorted.
Perenna rolled her eyes. "I believe a simple knock probably would've worked." She returned as they entered the doorway and went into the house. Perenna welcomed the warm interior to the chilly November air outside.
Harry merely smirked as he steered her toward the stairs. "Yeah, but we gotta be quiet. My dad's here and he hates getting disturbed when he's in his study."
"Your dad's home?" Perenna asked in surprise.
"I know; I'm shocked too." Harry retorted dryly.
Perenna snickered as they went up the staircase and quietly went into her friend's room. She took her books out of her pack and well into their twenty minutes of studying, she felt like pulling her hair out. "A nerd I may be, a Shakespearean I am not." She griped. "I can barely follow all these old English words."
"Ah, so you are a normal teenager after all." Harry quipped.
Perenna snorted as she turned the page. "Least I have an English genius like you to help me."
"I'll admit I never thought I'd be helping you pass at something, Miss Straight A Student." Harry retorted. "Seriously, how do you do it?"
Perenna smirked as she flipped her ponytail. "Must be my studious nature." She replied huffily before her smirk turned into a smile. "What did I ever do to have a best friend like you?"
Harry smiled back at her. "I should be asking you that." He returned before raising a brow. "'Best friend,' huh? So I rank higher than Mister Varsity Football Captain?"
Perenna rolled her eyes. "You need to come up with shorter nicknames. Those two are a mouthful." She remarked. "But serious, you and Eddie are both my best buds. He just happens to have known me longer. That being said, you're both practically my brothers." She said smiling.
Perenna then put her book down. "Anyway, all these words are making my head spin, what's a study session without snacks, right?" she asked raising a brow.
"You read my mind, sis." Harry replied smirking as they both headed down stairs.
"You know," Perenna began as she made her sandwich and finished it off by adding cucumbers, "I don't think I've ever met your dad before."
"Trust me, you do and you'll never wanna see me again." Harry retorted and looked at her sandwich topping. "Cucumbers, really?"
"Hey, don't knock it 'til you've tried it." Perenna returned with a smirk.
"While we're on the subject, I've told my dad about you," Harry started off, and Perenna didn't notice he didn't mention their other friend, "but I'm pretty sure he just thinks you're an imaginary friend that I made up." He finished lamely.
"Ha!" Perenna shouted, then gasped as she covered her mouth. It got very quiet, but there was no sound from upstairs. "I-I think we should head back up now." she stuttered uneasily.
"R-right." Harry agreed quickly.
They both grabbed their snacks and both quickly and quietly hurried back upstairs, softly closing the door behind them.
"Think he heard?" Perenna asked softly.
"I'd be surprised if he didn't hear you." Harry replied grimly.
They were silent for a tense moment and still heard no indication that Harry's dad had heard her outburst.
"Still, if he did, would he really do anything?" Perenna questioned uncertainly.
"Yes, he'd probably tell you to leave." Harry retorted flatly. "We just have to be quiet for the rest of the session." He advised.
"Right." Perenna agreed nodding her head. "So, did you tell your dad what you plan on going to college for?"
Harry snorted, as if the idea of telling his father was laughable. "Tell him what, that I want to go to college for the arts? Yeah, I plan on telling him right away." He said sarcastically.
"Would he really disapprove that much?" Perenna questioned perplexed.
"Perry, you're aunt and uncle are good, supporting people that would be with you whatever field you go in." Harry said in a matter-of-factly tone. "My dad…isn't."
"Oh." Perenna mumbled, then she reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a slight squeeze. "Well, you know I support you, right bro?"
"Of course I know."
"Aw crap, how did two hours pass by without either of us noticing?" Perenna grumbled as she checked the clock in her friend's room. She began to put her books back in her pack and she headed for the door. "See ya at school tomorrow, Harry."
"Wait, I can't let you walk; we'll take the car." Harry said following her out.
Perenna raised a brow. "I thought you only had a learner's permit?"
"Come on, it's only a short trip, besides, it's so cold out. Don't want you to freeze." Harry replied.
Perenna looked thoughtful. "Well, if you're sure…"
"Absolutely."
Perenna relented after that and they both made their way down to the garage. They both got into the car and the drive to her house was done in small talk. "You think you made the basketball team again?"
"I'm their star player; they can't get rid of me." Harry said smirking. "What about you, did you try out for anything?"
Perenna snorted. "Yeah right, I ain't got one athletic bone in my body. I may be lanky, but I have no upper body strength."
"It does explain how I've always been able to pick you up so easily." Harry said elbowing her side.
Perenna laughed shaking her head. "Please, I'm tiny; being able to pick me up isn't much of an accomplishment." She added smirking.
"Yeah, I keep thinking Eddie's gonna crush you whenever he hugs you." Harry retorted.
Perenna rolled her eyes. "If you weren't driving this car, I'd hit you." She said darkly. "But since I'm not fond of crashing, you're spared, this time." She added smirking as her friend snorted in amusement.
Their conversation and light-hearted jabs at each other ended when Harry pulled the car up next to a driveway to a quaint two story house. "Well, see you tomorrow, Perry."
"Yeah." Perenna suddenly reached out and mussed her friend's reddish-brown hair up. "Lay off the product, Harry. You're hair looks better a little messy." She said smiling as she pulled her hand back.
"Right, hair neat leaving and messy getting back, that won't raise any questions at all." Harry said rolling his eyes.
Perenna chuckled as she got out of the car. "See ya." She said closing the door behind her and walking up to the house. She watched the car drive away before unlocking the door with her key and going inside, shutting the door behind her. A whiff of food hit her nose and she smiled. "I'm home!"