Written for Round 9 of QLFC as a reserve for Chaser 3. Each position will receive one name who will be the main character(s) of your story. Chaser 3: Percy. Opt prompts: [genre] angst, [restriction] write in first person, [plot point] hiding in a broom closet

Note: I've changed the age difference between Percy and the twins to one year instead of two. A minor change that doesn't impact the story.

Word count: 1429

Dear Diary

I'd always known when I was in the wrong. No, that had never been the issue. The problem was admitting that I knew I was wrong.

You see, when you're blessed (or cursed) with six siblings, especially when all of you share the same flaming red hair, it's easy for one to become indistinguishable from the rest. And I, Percy Weasley, couldn't just be another Weasley, could I? Especially not when you had two brilliant older brothers to compare yourself to.

That's how it all began, you see. By the time I was ready to start my first year at Hogwarts, Bill was already a Prefect and Charlie was well-known for his Quidditch prowess. So when I showed up, innocently wide-eyed and perfectly harmless, I got accosted by the weight of everyone's expectations.

'Did you say Percy Weasley?'

'Say, you look just like the Gryffindor Prefect! Are you both related?'

'You must take after your brothers. How can you not, when brilliance clearly runs in the family?'

Peers and superiors alike naturally fell into the habit of placing me against the tapestry of my brothers' achievements and seeing how I measured up. It didn't matter that I was barely out of leading strings and hadn't even experienced puberty yet. The weight of expectations settled nicely along the crook of my bony shoulders, and my destiny was written for me.

From that day on, I had to make a name for myself. I could hardly embarrass my brilliant older brothers, could I? Such disgrace was intolerable in the world I lived in.

But there was just one little (big) problem. I was neither Bill, the genius all-rounder with good looks, a mean hexing hand, and a knack for responsibility that made up for his very slightly less-than-perfect academic scores. Nor was I Charlie, with his roguish good looks, friendly disposition, and pure athletic talent. Which meant I had to find a niche of my own.

That wasn't easy, let me tell you, when my older brothers checked nearly every box there was to check. Suffice to say, my first year was spent with my head down, hiding away in broom closets to avoid the stares and judgements of others (and my own disappointment of myself). Books had always been my best friends, but then they were my only friends.

It would stay that way for a long time to come, but there was a turning point in my story.

I was hiding in a particularly cozy broom closet, finishing up my Transfiguration essay, when the door was wrenched open and Charlie poked his head in.

'I told you he'd be in one of them,' he said, and Bill's head popped into view over Charlie's shoulder.

The look of pity in my oldest brother's eyes made me flush with embarrassment. Sticking my nose in the air, as had become my way should anyone cross me, I said, 'I'm busy. Go away.'

'Percy,' Bill said slowly. 'You know you can go to the library to do your homework, right?'

'And have to put up with those insufferable half-wits badgering me every other minute? I think not.'

(As you can tell, I was quite full of myself from rather early on. I'm told it's a coping mechanism to mask my crippling fear of failure and myriad insecurities, but I think it's all a load of twaddle.)

Charlie laughed. At least he wasn't looking at me as though I was the most pitiful thing he'd seen. 'Well,' he said, 'you should just sneak into the Prefect's common room behind Bill, where nobody would bother you.'

'Absolutely not!' Bill said at the same time I asked, 'Prefects have their own common room?'

'Of course they do!' Charlie said, ignoring Bill. Then he leant forward and held out a hand. As he pulled me up, he whispered, 'Ignore Bill. Once I become Prefect next year, I'll sneak you in.'

'I can hear you, you know!' Bill admonished. 'And by then I'll be Head Boy and can take away your Prefect privileges.'

'You wouldn't!' Charlie mock gasped. 'You threaten to betray not one brother but two? I have half a mind to tell our Head of House this so you never become Head Boy!'

Bill rolled his eyes and walked away. 'As if McGonagall would listen to you.'

Charlie winked at me. 'Don't worry. With the twins starting next year, Bill will have his hands full and you won't have to hide in broom closets anymore.'

Come my second year, Charlie made good on his promise. While Bill ran around trying to contain Fred and George's shenanigans, I spent hours in a corner of the Prefect's study room. Suffice to say, I reaped the benefits of Charlie's generosity by earning perfect scores on my term exams. Mum was overjoyed, McGonagall even made an exception by giving me a special pass into the Prefect's study whenever I wanted so I could keep my grades up, and although miffed at Charlie going behind his back, Bill was nevertheless proud.

So began the legacy of Percy Weasley, or Perfect Weasley, as I liked to think of myself.

It was a lot of work, keeping my grades up as the number and complexity of subjects increased, but I persevered like nobody else could. So much so that Bill liked to joke Percy was short for Persevere. I preferred Perfect Weasley myself, though.

One thing I didn't have a hold on, however, was my mean demeanour, which escalated further with the twins' constant needling and teasing. It reached a point where I even received a warning that if I didn't tone it down, I may not make Prefect in my fifth year. Having a dream I'd had for my entire school life at risk of being snatched from under me was enough for me to grow a backbone against Fred and George's insults. Besides, I told myself, once I was Prefect I would have official power to punish those damn brats.

And so, my fourth year came and went, with me being on my best behaviour (and the twins being on their worst). With Bill having graduated, and Charlie graduating at the end of my fourth year, it fell on me to keep the twins in line. Not just that, Ron would be starting the year after, and the boy barely had enough backbone to keep himself erect, let alone withstand an onslaught from Fred and George.

With the purest of intentions, I entered my fifth year and was made Prefect (whew!). As it turned out, I didn't have one but two first-years to protect, what with Ron befriending none other than the Harry Potter (I had the purest of intentions, I tell you!). As though keeping an eye on the troublesome twosome wasn't enough, the twins continued to make my life miserable.

They'd managed to bewitch my Prefect badge to read Pinhead, and no matter what I did, the spell wouldn't reverse. I had to begrudgingly admit to their genius, which further infuriated me because what if they used their many talents for good! Nevertheless, my image of Perfect Prefect Percy took a hit my very first year on the job.

I was determined to turn things around the next year when Ginny joined. After all, what could lovely little Ginny do to cause me trouble when compared to the sheer menace of the twins and Ron and his friends?

We all know how badly my hopes and dreams came crashing down that year, so I shan't recapitulate. Thank goodness both Ginny and Harry made it out alive. Of course, it wasn't just their lives that were on the line—so was mine!

Ahem. What I mean by that is that my spot as Head Boy was on the line.

Fine, I admit it was wrong of me to conflate the two, especially when I needn't have worried after all (see, I can admit when I'm in the wrong! And it's not at all because there's no longer any danger of me not making Head Boy). Anyway, it's been a wild ride so far, and I'd like to pray that my final year at Hogwarts is as uneventful as can be, but who am I kidding? With younger siblings who are hell bent on driving me up the wall, it's a miracle I've come this far unscathed.

It'll be alright, though. Once I graduate my seventh year, I'll join the Ministry and quickly make my way up the ranks to become Minster myself! The legacy of Perfect Percy hasn't ended just yet!