It had been two weeks since Gryffindor beat Slytherin 140-0 minus Harry's points for catching the Snitch. The hype of the win had finally died down, as did the magnitude of the glares every single Gryffindor player received. Two weeks since Harry caught Perci and Fred on the balcony. He hated the idea of her sister alone with any boy, but it just had to be Ginny's brother. This was the few days of school before the holiday break, and Harry couldn't be more excited to go back to the Burrow. He was excited to spend Christmas with the Weasley's again. Harry was also slightly excited for the Christmas ball Slughorn was having tomorrow night, though he was having trouble finding a date. As of now, he was in the Library with an irritable Hermione. She and Ron wouldn't be caught in the same room, so Harry had to hang out with them separately. It was beginning to get ridiculous.
"He's at perfect liberty to kiss whoever he likes," Hermione huffed, walking toward Harry with a book in her hand. "I really couldn't care less." Harry could obviously see through that lie. "Was I under the impression that he and I would be attending Slughorn's Christmas party together? Yes." She paused and pushed a book back onto the shelf. "Now, given the circumstances, I've had to make other arrangements."
Harry had an idea. Maybe since he and Ginny couldn't go together and Ron and Hermione couldn't, then maybe he and Hermione could go together. "Have you?" He asked.
Hermione turned to him. "Yes, why?"
"Well, I was thinking since we couldn't go with people we really want to go with, we could go together. As friends." Harry explained leaning against a shelf.
Hermione grew red and ran a hand through her bushy hair. She groaned. "Why didn't I think of that?" Harry thought about answering, but figured the question was rhetorical and an answer would only piss the witch off more.
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Who're you going with?"
Hermione reddened even further and shuffled her feet. "It's, er, a surprise." Harry could only imagine who she would bring. It couldn't be worse than Viktor Kirk who she attended the Yule Ball with during the Triwizard Tournament two years ago. "Anyway, it's you we've got to worry about." Hermione leaned closer to him. "You can't just take anyone. See that girl over there?" She asked nodding her head to the curly haired girl sitting in the corner, staring at Harry. Harry nodded. "That's Romilda Vane. Apparently she's trying to smuggle you a love potion."
Harry rose a brow, a grin spreading across his face. "Really?" He asked, eyeing her. Hermione scowled and snapped her fingers in his face.
"Hey! She's just interested in you because she thinks you're the Chosen One."
Harry smirked wider. "But I am the Chosen One." Hermione's scowl deepened and she hit him over the head with her Potions essay. Harry blinked. "Okay, okay, sorry. Kidding. Er, I'll ask someone I like. Someone cool," Harry said uncertainly. He racked his brain for girls he liked that were also cool and came up blank. He and Hermione continued to research their Potions essay in the library until it became difficult to keep their eyes open. They agreed to meet up tomorrow to discuss dates for the party. Hermione said he needed to find one before lunch tomorrow. Harry told her even though he was the Chosen One and would be the one to kill Voldemort, he couldn't do the impossible and find a date that fast.
Harry looked around his double Potions class with Ravenclaw for potential dates. Harry glanced over at the Patil sister, but knew they would never go with him again after the Yule Ball in the Triwizard Tournament. Harry looked at the other Gryffindor and Ravenclaw girls but he didn't feel like he would be comfortable with any of them. Then his eyes found Luna Lovegood. She was odd, and nonstop talked about weird things, but she was nice and they were friends. Harry finished his potion and nervously walked up to Luna. Luna could see him before he was even close to her table, though.
"Hello, Harry," her curious, soft voice was distracted as she focused on her potion. She was having trouble gutting the spider the potion required.
"Hey, Luna. D'you need help?" Harry asked politely.
Luna shook her head, finally gutting it and pouring them into the cauldron. "No, thank you. I am sure you didn't come over here to talk about innards, Harry."
Harry's face turned slightly pink. He steeled himself. "Er, I was wondering if you'd like to go to Slughorn's Christmas party with me as friends."
Luna finally moved her odd gaze from the potion and to Harry. Her blue eyes twinkled with curiousness. She smiled softly. "Of course, Harry." Her eyes seemed excited but it didn't reach her voice.
Harry blinked, surprised. "Oh! Brilliant! I'll meet you at the Ravenclaw portrait?" Luna nodded and went back to finishing her potion. Harry nodded with an accomplished grin and went over to Hermione. She and Perci were talking animatedly while Hermione was still working on her potion. He leaned against her table. "Guess who's got a date for the party?" Hermione and Perci stopped talking and looked at him.
"Me?" Perci grinned. She turned to Hermione. "Hermione d'you have one?" Hermione smirked and shrugged her shoulders. "I dunno who?" She asked jokingly.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Me," he stated.
"Who're you going with?" Hermione asked. Perci awaited his answer. She would be pissed if he said Ginny.
"Luna," Harry replied and the Hermione looked behind him with a raised eyebrow. The Ravenclaw girl was sniffing a spoonful of her potion while humming. She stuck her tongue out to taste it, but thought better of it.
"Aw, I love Luna. She's hilarious." Perci grinned.
Hermione gave her an incredulous look. She thought the girl was crazy. Last year she accidentally called her Looney, the name a lot of Gryffindor boys had come up with. "Why didn't you ask Cho or something?"
"Yeah, what happened to her?" Perci glanced over at the dark haired girl talking with Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.
Harry reddened. "Things didn't really work out. She kinda freaked out on me after I took her to Hogsmeade last year," he explained. "And she always talked about Cedric, she probably–" Harry abruptly stopped after Hermione gave him a look to shut up. She glanced at Perci who was looking down at the table with a frown. Harry then remembered what Fred and George had told him his fourth year. Fred and George had caught Cedric with Cho in the Prefect's lavatory and told Perci. Perci never really forgot the incident, but she still thought about it whenever someone brought Cho up. Harry also thought about the rumors he heard his third year about Perci and Cedric being each other's first, doing it out in the meadow behind the Black Lake. Harry used to always think it was a weird place to have sex. The two paved way to numerous couples using that spot. Nowadays, Harry didn't want to think about his sister doing that. "Sorry," he muttered. Perci shrugged, as if to say she didn't care, but her friends could tell she did, at least a little.
"What about you, 'Mione? Who're you bringing?" Harry asked, changing the subject. Hermione turned a fair shade pink and went back to her potion, dropping a salamander eye into the cauldron.
"Er, it's a surprise," she murmured.
Perci frowned. "I thought you said–ow!" Hermione had stomped on her foot. "The hell was that for?" She demanded incredulously. Hermione gave her the same shut up look she gave Harry before.
"It's not that huge of a deal, Hermione." Harry said growing irritated every time she wouldn't tell him. "And it's the day of the party! We're gonna find out sooner or later. Just tell us now."
Hermione grit her teeth and glanced back at Ron who, with the help of Slughorn, was actually making his potion correctly. "It's, er, Cormac," she muttered. Harry felt like he had just been slapped across the face.
"Cormac?" He yelled. Everyone looked at him for a minute, and then went back to their Potions. "You're bringing McLaggen?" He whispered this time.
Hermione was now a bright red. Perci controlled her laughed with the back of her hand. "Yes, I am. I thought it was annoy Ron the most," she informed.
"You know what would piss him off? If you took me. Ron hates anyone who touches you and hates anyone who touches me that isn't his brother, so it'd work out." Perci explained. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well, if I have to revert to lesbianism to get a reaction out of Ron, I will."
Perci shrugged. "I mean, it's a win-win. You piss him off and you get to be with me." Perci got up from the table and patted Hermione on the back. "Have fun you two."
"Wait, you never said who you were taking!" Harry called.
Perci turned and grinned. "Oh, I'm taking my dear boyfriend Filtch."
In reality, Perci did not have a date and she would rather eat fifty dung beetles than go anywhere with Filtch. She would ask Fred, but was afraid he'd seen enough of her already. That's what she was discussing with Hermione, boy problems. Perci hadn't had regular, day to day boy problems for a while, since Cedric. To anyone who hadn't been paying attention to her life for the last two years would be confused to hear that Perci actually welcomed the boy problems. She'd rather have those problems over the ones she had usually. So far, Perci had had 3 Occlumency lessons with Snape. With each session, keeping him out of her mind was easier. She hadn't seen Bellatrix or Edgar Roy for three days. She couldn't tell if it were her mind being stronger or just Bellatrix backing off. She wasn't sure why the death eater would back off, but she was thankful for it.
Perci opened up the cupboard by her bed and looked for her dress. It was the same one she wore to the Christmas ball in the Triwizard Tournament two years ago. She was sure someone would have something to say about her wearing the same outfit and going to the party alone, but Perci didn't care. Just as she was pulling on the dress, McGonagall barged into the dormitory frantically. She had something large wrapped up in her arms. The professor looked around, her eyes finally landing on Perci who just stared at her with raised eyebrows.
"Oh! Perci, dear. I was just looking for you. Ms. Granger had told me you went back to the dorm after lunch. I have something for you, and if it does not fit, then I shall make a few alterations to it." Perci didn't say anything as McGonagall unwrapped the thing in her arms. She revealed a long dress. It was long and slightly sheer. White, lacey, flowers covered the chest and went down the length of the dress. It looked like it was once a wedding dress, but was made to look modern and less formal. McGonagall helped her slip it on.
"It's beautiful. Thank you, Professor."
Minerva waved her off. "It was my wedding dress. I had Madame Malkin make a couple alterations to it." The old witch looked at Perci affectionately, like a mother would. She felt a warmth go through her. "You've always been one of my favorite students I've had the pleasure of meeting throughout my teaching and attendance of Hogwarts. You're the bravest woman I know, Perciana, and I know you will live a long, happy life." Perci smiled and hugged the witch. She wasn't exactly sure how to act, her real mother was dead and Perci wasn't sure what to think of Sally anymore, but at that moment, Perci knew she was incredibly happy to be with McGongall.
Suddenly, Hermione came running into the dormitory. She saw the two women and composed herself. The witch walked up to the other two, straightening her robes and looking everywhere but Perci's eyes. "Perci, I know you had doubts whether to ask Fred or not," she started and Perci narrowed her eyes. "But, I invited him. I know you didn't want to be alone tonight and I knew he would've wanted to go with you."
As soon as she finished Fred stepped through the dormitory door awkwardly, shielding his eyes. "Is everyone decent? I don't fancy pissing off a bunch of witches much smarter and powerful than me. I would very much like to keep my penis, thank you." Fred put his hands down, his eyes shut tightly. Perci noticed the small wrinkle of his eye lids and the frown line between his eyes. Fred rambled cautiously, wringing his hands slowly. Perci rolled her eyes with a small grin, pulling heels on.
"No, we're all very naked at the same time, and you should leave immediately before we hex you." She said sarcastically. Sadly, Fred couldn't tell she was being sarcastic and backed up, falling all the way down the stairs. Perci's eyes widened and she darted past the two witches and down the stairs to see Fred laying on the ground, still with his eyes closed. Perci shook her head, the glimmer of a smile crossing her face.
"You, idiot, I was messing with you." She smacked him on the back of his head, earning a guttural sound of protest.
"No need to concuss me more, Perce. I think I've had enough," he muttered, rubbing his head and opening his eyes. He turned a deep red, and stared at her as if it were the first time we was ever seeing her. "Merlin's beard, you look–" he couldn't come up with words to fit her image. Perci was far from perfect. There were many women probably physically more beautiful than her, but Fred would always think she was the most beautiful woman in the world. "Fucking incredible."
Perci turned pink and coughed. "Er, thanks. I, er, did it myself?" She had trouble coming up with a response. She ran a hand through hair awkwardly. Perci looked down at Fred's robes and almost cackled. He was wearing too small pants and a huge dress coat with no robes over the whole outfit. It was a mix of purple and orange and green, but Perci loved it and thought he was insanely, attractively, weird. "You clean up nicely, Freddie." She kissed him on the cheek and pulled him to his feet.
"Thanks, I know–I did it myself." He seemed dazed for a minute, but regained his bearings. Fred glanced down at her, a smirk growing at his thin lips. He fake flipped his short hair.
"Don't get too bratty, Weasley. I know a few things about you that could put you in your place." Perci said, fixing his crooked bow tie. They walked back up the dormitory stairs to see Hermione already ready, pacing while McGongall tried to console her.
"Hermione, calm your tits. It's just one night. You can hang out with Fred and I," Perci offered, crossing her arms and leaning slightly into the Weasley boy.
Hermione stopped and glared at her. "And stand around while you two snog? Not my idea of fun," she shot them down and went back to pacing.
"And what? Getting all touchy-feely with McLaggen is?"
Hermione took a deep breath. "I'm just going to avoid him. Yes, that's a good plan," she told herself. Perci rolled her eyes. It was going to be an interesting night.
As Fred, Perci, Luna, Harry, a silent Hermione, and McLaggen got closer to Slughorn's office they could clearly hear laughter and loud, festive music. Perci was sure it wasn't going to be the muggle Christmas music she grew up listening to and loving. Usually Slughorn's office was smaller, but on this occasion it was huge, bigger than Dumbledore's office. The ceilings were tall and adjourned with glittering bulbs and other decorative items that Perci had never seen before. The room was red tinted, the light coming from a lamp that had real fairies flying about, giving off beautiful light as they went. Students weren't the only people there–Perci could see elderly men and women, about Slughorn's age, talking and drinking alcohol. House elves walked around carrying silver platters of amazing looking food, which Perci told Fred they would have to investigate later. Slughorn greeted the group and immediately pulled Harry and Luna away from them, bringing them to numerous people. Probably talking about the Boy Who Lived. Perci was glad she wasn't the famous one.
Perci pulled Fred toward the buffet of food stacked by the wall and grabbed a seat. "Okay, we are going to have to try everything. Just to make sure what they're putting out here hasn't gone back or expired."
Fred nodded along, staring at the food. "I reckon we'd be doing everyone a favor." The two grabbed all the food they could carry in their arms and brought it back to the table, immediately digging in. By the time they finished that round of food, slower music started to play. Fred got up from his comfortable chair slowly and stretched out his arm. "May I have this dance, dear Prissy?"
Perci acted as though she was thinking about it, really contemplating the pros and cons of the request. "I dunno. Do you want me to step on your feet again?" She asked, a dark brow raised.
"It would be an honor for the great Perci Potter to crush my immaculate, toned feet." Perci smirked, rolling her eyes she took his arm. They headed out to the dance floor. The two danced for a while, Perci laughing every time she stepped on his feet. And Fred trying to hold back grimaces and groans of pain, but loving every single moment of it. "Perci," he started, "you never told me where you were going for Christmas break. Last year we all happened to be at the Grimmauld Place, and you usually come over for at least half the break at the Burrow with us."
"I was hoping to go back to the Burrow, but I was waiting for an invitation." Perci paused, and looked down at her feet awkwardly. "I feel liked I've forced my presence on you guys."
Fred shook his head with a frown. "Don't be daft. You're always invited to stay with us. It's your home as much as ours." You're my home, Fred thought. Apparently he voiced his thoughts, seeing as Perci took on a serious look, staring up at him. Her eyes glimmered like an emerald.
Her brow furrowed. "You're my home too, Freddie." Fred turned red, but grinned like a mad man. Perci often overthought big things. She overthought whether or not she should attend Hogwarts when she was eleven. She overthought entering the Triwizard Tournament. She overthought her romantic relationship with every boy or girl she'd had. She also didn't think at all sometimes. Most of her actions (every single one she made at Camp Half-Blood) she didn't give a single thought to. So far, those are the ones that have worked out the best. Perci couldn't help overthinking things with Fred, though. "What is this?"
Fred gave her a confused look. "This is dancing, Perce. I can imagine you don't know what it is, because you are quite terrible at it."
Perci shook her head. "That's not what I meant, Fred. I mean, what are we?" Fred froze. The big 'What are we? Are we dating or what?' conversion. Fred wasn't sure what they were. He knew what he wanted, and was pretty sure he knew what Perci wanted. Why was this conversation so big or important?
He waited for a minute before answering. "I know I'm in love with you, Perci. I've told you. And I'm pretty sure I know how you feel about me," they went back to their table to take a break from dancing.
"You aren't completely sure?" It shocked Perci a little bit. She had always thought her feelings for Fred were obvious. Maybe she couldn't tell. Andrew always did call her oblivious. "I want to be with you in every humanly way possible." Perci steeled her nerves for what she wanted to say next. "Because I'm in love with you," she finished. It was scary, but the good kind of scary. It was the first time she fully said it out loud. Perci fingered the tablecloth, glancing up at him. Fred's smile grew even bigger, if that were possible. He felt giddy inside like he was eleven again, and had just gotten his Hogwarts letter. Without a second thought to who was watching, Fred pulled Perci's chair toward him and pulled her onto him, kissing her. Perci instinctively placed a hand on his face and wound the other up in his hair. If anyone was uncomfortable with their public display of affection, no one said anything to them (and the two couldn't care less).
Meanwhile, Harry had been talking to another author who wanted to write his life's story, to which Harry refused once again. Luna had been standing next to him the whole time, watching the Vampire, Sanguini, who had come with the author, Eldred Worple. She had thought the Vampire coming to the party would be the new minister, Rufus Scrimgeour, as her father told her. She was sadly disappointed to see the tall, pale, long black haired, and red eyed man that looked nothing like the minister.
Harry needed to somehow get out of the conversation he was in. He was about to ask Luna to dance, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw a bushy haired girl disappear into a set of curtains. "Er, excuse me, I've just seen a friend of mine..." with that he pulled Luna into the crowd of dancers, past the author and vampire, past Slughorn, past Fred snogging his sister (he'd have to revisit that later), past the Weird Sisters, and finally made it to the curtains he saw Hermione sweep into. "Hermione? Hermione!" He whispered, looking around to see if anyone was watching him. He didn't need anyone else thinking he was mad. Hermione peeked her head out of the curtains. "What're you doing?"
"I've just escaped." She sounded out of breath and was as red as a tomato. "I left Cormac under the mistletoe."
"That's what you get for bringing him," Harry said unapologetically. Harry looked to his side to see Luna wandering off to Professor Trelawney. He'd talk to her later.
"He makes Grawp look like a gentleman," Hermione muttered. Harry remembered back to last year when Hagrid showed him, Ron, and Hermione his giant brother, Grawp. He had promptly picked up Hermione and wouldn't let her go until she screamed at him. Harry wondered jokingly if Cormac had tried to pick her up like that. Hermione looked through the curtains, seeing Cormac make his way over to them. She quickly disappeared again without a word. Cormac pushed open the curtains, seeing Harry standing there alone and awkwardly.
"Seen Hermione anywhere?" He asked.
Harry shook his head. "No, sorry." Cormac shrugged and left to go look for her. Harry was about to leave the curtains when they swung apart, revealing a stone faced Severus Snape. He looked no different than he usually did. His greasy black hair was swept back from his face. He was, of course, dressed in all black, making his skin look even more blanche. His dark eyes were cold looking at him, his nose slightly crinkled from the flare of his nostrils as he looked at Harry. He looked as if he smelled something putrid.
"Potter," his voice was monotonous as usual, not displaying any emotion that could make Harry believe that Snape was an actual human being. Harry nodded and went to follow a long gone McLaggen just as Snape stopped him. "Not so fast," he said through his teeth.
Harry stopped, shutting his eyes and taking a deep breath. "Oh, sir. My date, she–"
"Can surely survive the lack of your presence another moment. Besides," he continued, "I only wish to convey a message." Harry frowned and turned to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
"A message?" Harry asked. The only people Harry could think would want to send him a message were Dumbledore or someone from the Order.
Snape sent him a light glare for not allowing him to finish. "From Professor Dumbledore. He asked that I give you his best and that he hopes you enjoy your holiday. You see, he's traveling and won't return until term resumes." Harry gave him a confused look. Why would Dumbledore leave when they're right on the verge of figuring Slughorn out?
"Traveling? Where?" Harry questioned. Snape merely stared at him silently, briefly, before leaving, taking Harry's gaze with him, to Slughorn once again, wildly gesturing with a full glass of wine. The wine slipped from his glass, shattering in the floor, drawing everyone's attention. In front of him, Filch was dragging along a complaining and cursing Malfoy by the collar.
"Professor Slughorn," he began, his lisp prominent, "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party." Malfoy scowled, tearing himself free of Filtch's grasp just as all the party go-ers were approaching the interaction. His eyes caught Perci and Harry's and he grew pale.
"All right, I wasn't invited. I was just trying to hate-crash, happy?" His tone was fierce as he straightened his slick black suit. Filtch was about to rebuttal, but Snape cut him off.
"I'll take it from here, Argus." His voice was different from what Harry had heard for 5 years. There was a panicked undertone. One wouldn't be able to catch it if they hadn't known Snape for all those years.
"Oh, Severus, it's all right. It's Christmas, for Heaven's sake! Don't be to hard on him. Let the boy stay..." Slughorn said. Snape slowly turned to face the Potion's Master. His eyes were dull as he looked at the older man. They caught Perci's, who was stand to the left of Slughorn. She held tightly onto Fred Weasley's arm as he stood behind her with a protective hand on her hip. Fred was glaring at Malfoy, but Perci wasn't. She was staring right at Snape with confusion in her eyes. It made Snape think back to the Unbreakble Vow he made before term started. Snape could only imagine the look she'd give him when he–. She looked just like her, lovely Lily...just like her mother. It crushed Snape.
"I am his Head of House, and I shall decide how hard, or otherwise, to be. Follow me, Draco." Malfoy followed Snape out of the room and to a free hallway. Perci saw Harry whisper something to Luna and followed them out, too. Perci shook her head, knowing Harry was up to no good, as usual. She'd take it up with him later.
"Alright, everyone. Carry on! Carry on!" Slughorn announced and the music started playing again, as did the loud chatter and merriment. Hours later–after more eating, dancing, kisses, and picture taking–Fred and Perci decided to turn in for the night. Neither of them were tired. Perci just wanted to get away from everything. To breathe for a moment. Fred took Perci up to the balcony of the Gryffindor common room. They didn't need to talk. Perci leaned against Fred's chest as she played with his hand. The two couldn't careless about how late it was or the cold wind whipping. Perci warmed both of them, her skin hot with a gold tint. Fred placed his chin on top of Perci's head.
The girl–the woman. Perci wasn't just that girl that took Fred and his brother under her wing in the twins' first year. She wasn't that girl who didn't take anything seriously and joked about everything anymore. She wasn't justice girl Fred had a crush on. She was a woman who had been through a terrifying hell. She was a woman who still had her secrets and Fred knew it. She was a woman and Fred had never loved anything more than her.
Perci had felt an odd sense of deja vu as she sat alone in her compartment on the Hogwarts Express, waiting for Hermione. Perci remembered the last time she had been in her and the twins' compartment. She hadn't gone in it since the twins left Hogwarts. Perci looked around at it. On the outside it looked like any other compartment in the Hogwarts express. The walls a deep mahogany and the seats varying in scarlet and emerald. Carved into the wooden wall just below the window were three names.
Perci J.
George W.
Fred W.
Perci frowned looking at the J after her name. She remembered carving their names in the wood in the twin's third year and Perci's fourth, back when Perci was still a demigod daughter of Poseidon and Sally Jackson's–back when she never knew her true parents. Perci wondered if she was still considered a demigod. Did Poseidon even know or care for her? Did Camp Half-Blood know their leader, ex-leader, wasn't an actual daughter of Poseidon? Her control over water had faded many months ago. Perci missed it. She missed her demigod friends even more. She had seen them over summer break, but if felt like years. So much has happened since then. Perci was excited to visit them during Holiday break.
Perci summoned a nail from Hermione's bag she left sitting in the seat in front of her. She traced the J with her finger before turning it into a P with the nail. Perci blew away at the wood dust, and smiled proudly at the P just as Hermione entered the compartment in a huff. She plopped down on the plush, red seat and crossed her arms with a scowl.
Perci raised a brow at her. "What's wrong with you?"
Hermione stared out the window with a clenched jaw, but turned back to Perci. "Lavender Brown," was all she said. Perci sighed and nodded understandingly. Lavender and Ron had been dating for about two weeks, ever since the night Gryffindor beat Slytherin. Ron and Lavender had been showboating their relationship all across the castle, not sparing Hermione a glance. It killed her. Hermione drew her attention away from the window and to the piece of parchment beside Perci. She quieted at it, trying to read the print.
"What's that?" She questioned, nodding at the paper. Perci grabbed it and handed it to the witch. Hermione frowned, her eyes widening slightly. "Hit wizard application?" She muttered. Hermione seemed to put it together after a moment and slammed the paper down on her lap. "You aren't applying to become a hit witch, are you?" Her voice was low, a hissing whisper as she leaned toward Perci. Perci merely shrugged her shoulders and looked out the window. "Perci, do you know how dangerous that is? It's arguably the most dangerous job you can have in the Ministry!" Perci didn't say anything. Hermione leaned back in her seat, huffing. "I thought you wanted to be a professional Quidditch player or–or a Potions professor?"
Perci scoffed. "I've changed Hermione. The world has changed." She took back the application. "D'you think the world needs another Quidditch player or a teacher? No." She didn't seem to be getting through to the 6th year. "I want–I need to make a difference. Playing some stupid sport won't help anything."
It was silent for a few minutes, Hermione thinking of a good rebuttal, or something to deter her from filling out that application. "Have you thought about the risks?" Perci nodded. "And what about Fred? What would he say?"
Perci rolled her eyes. "Fred'll get over it–it's not even his decision to make. Plus, it means extra protection and more ties in the Ministry that the Order doesn't already have," she explained.
Hermione rubbed her temples, shutting her eyes. This would not end well for Perci. She thought that after all the danger the girl had been in, she might want to stay as far away from it as she could. But that was not the case. Then a thought occurred to Hermione just as Harry and Ron walked into the compartment. "Do you get off on it–danger?"
Harry sputtered at that. He glanced over at Hermione who was glowering at an incredulous, red-faced Perci. Harry looked over at Ron who had the same look on his face. "I think we walked in at the wrong time," he muttered to his friend. Ron nodded with wide eyes.
"What? No! I don't get off on danger, Hermione," Perci replied through gritted teeth. Hermione and Perci didn't pay any attention to the two boys now in the compartment.
Hermione stood. She was furious about Perci's decision and let her anger get the best of her. "Then what do you get off on? Recklessness? Needlessly putting your life at risk?"
Perci had a bamboozled look on her face, her mouth hanging open in astonishment that that conservation was even happening. "I dunno anyone that gets turned on by any of that, Hermione, you're being ridiculous." Hermione gave her an exaggerated eye roll. Ron and Harry looked back and forth between the two. "You wanna know what I get off on then?!" She began standing up. Harry decided now was the time to intervene. He did not want to know what his sister "got off on".
He stepped in between the two girls. "Okay! No one wants to know that, Perci." Perci scowled at him, throwing a childish comeback at him with her arms crossed. "What is this even about?" He asked exasperatedly, crossing his arms and looking at Hermione.
Hermione opened her mouth, but stopped when she caught Perci's eyes. The girl was giving her a look to not say anything. Hermione didn't like lying, but thought it better for Perci to tell Harry herself, maybe later. Hermione scrambled her brain, trying to think of anything that would even begin to make sense. "Er, feminine...d-desires?" Perci gave her another incredulous look from behind Harry's back. Though, when Harry turned around to look at his sister, Perci furiously nodded along with Hermione. Harry gave them a disgusted look, but plopped down next to Hermione, so she didn't have to sit by Ron. Ron sat next to Perci, scooting away from her, muttering "feminine desires" while glancing at Hermione ever so often.
The four of them enjoyed the long and awkward train ride back to Kings Cross Station.
As soon as Perci pushed open the door to the Burrow she was pulled into a bone-crushing hug that only could've been from Molly Weasley. Molly let go of her and kissed her on both cheeks. "My dear!" She had squealed before moving onto Ginny, Ron, and then finally Harry. She preceded to ask where Hermione was, and then remembered that she was with her muggle family. At the sound of the word muggle, Arthur Weasley popped out of the kitchen with wide, twinkling eyes, "Muggle! Where?" Perci heard the loud sound of feet bounding down the steps, two pairs of them. Everyone looked up to see Fred and George almost falling down the stairs. George pushed past his cursing brother and practically jumped on Perci, ruffling her hair. Perci laughed and doing the same to him.
"I missed you, dear Prissy," George said as Fred came up behind him. "Though, admittedly not as much as Freddie," he whispered, giving her wink. Perci rolled her eyes, but stopped mid-roll when Fred finally came into her view. Perci pulled the tall boy by the waist into a brief, but tight hug. Everyone grew quiet, feeling as though they were intruding on Fred and Perci.
Molly clapped her hands and grabbed George by the arm. "Alrighty, I just pulled a batch of butterscotch tarts out of the oven..." her voice faded as everyone but Fred and Perci went into the kitchen. As soon as everyone was out of sight Fred pushed Perci by her hips against the picture ridden wall and kissed her as if he hadn't seen her for ages. In reality, they had only been apart for a day. Perci kissed him back roughly, pulling him against her by his shirt. After a minute, they pulled away breathing heavily. Fred leaned his forehead against Perci's.
"Missed me?" Perci laughed. Fred rolled his eyes and pulled her in for a hug, leaning his head against hers.
Fred grinned. "Whenever we're apart, yes." Fred pulled away. He kissed her forehead before the two walked into the kitchen. George jumped right in front of them with an excited look on his face. He had a purple briefcase in hand with three orange Ws on the front. "Perci, we made so many new products for you to try!"
Perci gave him a look. "George, I told you before. I'm not testing anymore products for you. Not after what happened the last time." Perci shivered just thinking about the boils Madam Pomfrey had to scrape off of every inch of her body. It was incredibly painful. Never again, she vowed.
George gave her a puppy dog face. "But it's Christmas," he whined.
Perci rolled her eyes and looked back and forth between the twins. She sighed. It couldn't be as bad as the last batch. "Fine, show me the products." Fred and George practically dragged her up to their old room. Perci spent the rest of the day testing their new products. The twins spent the rest of the night trying to reverse the effects.
Perci readjusted the stainless steel pot on her hip, and wiped the raindrops from her eyes. She kneeled down and tugged at the carrot, pulling it from the ground. Perci wiped away at the dirt and worms before putting it in her pot. It was beginning to get a little heavy; she had been collecting vegetables for an hour along with Fred. Harry and Ron scoured the land behind the Burrow disposing of pesky gnomes. George was inside the Burrow, helping Molly clean the first batch of vegetables Perci had gathered. Perci sat her pot down, and put her hands on her hips. She looked around, grinning at Ron and Harry over in the far field. A gnome was clutching onto Harry's ears. Harry was trying to run away from Ron, who had his wand out and pointed at Harry.
Perci heard a loud, girlish yelp. Perci looked up, her eyes searching for the origin of the very not-manly sound. She found Fred holding his ankle with his wand out, pointing it at a giggling, evil gnome. "Stupefy!" He held. A harsh, red light left his wand, and hit the gnome directly in the face. Fred relaxed with a sigh. Perci picked up her pot and made her way to Fred. He sat down on the damp ground, rolling up his blue jeans to look at his ankle. It was only bleeding a little bit, but Perci felt a tug at her heart seeing him grimace. Fred looked up, hearing the soft sound of her feet, squishing against the mud and wet grass.
She set the pot down and knelt over his ankle. Perci concentrated, thinking of every single terrible thing that's ever happened to her or the people she loved. Her face contorted, silver tears falling from her eyes. Fred frowned in confusion. "Perce, what–what're you doing?" His voice was laced in concern. He noticed the silver tears, and was even more confused. Why was she crying? His wound was merely a 'boo-boo', as muggles call it. He reached out for her, as the first tear fell from her cheek, leaving behind a shining silver trail. Fred watched in awe as it dropped onto the center of his tiny wound. A few more tears followed. The silver began to spread across his wound, seeping into it. In seconds the wound was completely healed. It was as if the gnome hadn't bit him. Fred looked up from his ankle to to Perci. She looked as surprised as he did.
"I didn't know you could do that," Fred muttered, his mouth agape.
Perci looked up at him, shaking away her shock. "Me neither. Just got a feeling."
"Isn't that one of a Phoenix's power? Healing tears? Can't they heal anything with them?" Fred berated her with questions.
Perci ran a hand through her hair. "Almost anything. Harry told me about how Fawkes healed his basilisk wound in the Chamber of Secrets. I didn't think that would work..." she trailed off, slightly overwhelmed with her newfound ability. No one had told her about it–not Snape, not Sirius, not Chiron. Did they just not know? Were they keeping things from her? She would have to talk to Snape about it soon. Perci got up, wiping away the silver residue from her cheek. She needed to go somewhere to think. She needed to clear her mind. Fred hopped up, and grabbed her by the hand just as she turned to leave.
"What's wrong?"
Perci turned back to him. "Nothing. I dunno. I'm just...overwhelmed." Perci was used to have power, power only over water. And just before she found out about her true heritage, she was working on controlling the earth. This kind of power was different. It drained the hell out of her. Just crying a few tears tired her out. Flying tired her out. And her control over fire tired her out. But at the same time, she felt stronger. The whole fire part was odd to Perci, though. She spent most of her life controlling water, and now to control the exact opposite–it made Perci feel different, sometimes not herself. She wished she could tell Fred her demigod past, but she was terrified that he would treat her differently.
"I get it. This is something new that you have to deal with," he said in a soft tone. Perci smiled at his attempt. She kissed him on the cheek, picked up her pot, and headed back to the Burrow.
On Christmas morning, Perci was awoken by a jumping Fred and George on her small, creaking bed. They yelled for her to get up, to go downstairs with them to unwrap presents. George tugged at her arm while Fred nonstop poked her cheek.
"Gimme 5 more minutes..." Perci groaned groggily.
"Prissy, your 5 minutes always turns into an hour," George complained. He turned to his brother. Fred sighed, but nodded. The twins conjured up a large bucket of water. "On 3, this time, Fred."
"1...2...3!" The next thing Perci knew she was soaked. Perci launched herself at them in a rage. She pushed both of them to the ground tickling them. Fred and George hated tickling. When she was finally out of breath, Perci got up, pealing off her wet shirt and shorts. George elbowed his brother to stop staring. "Let's go wake the others up." George pulled his brother out of them room. He poked his head back in. "If you aren't down in 5 minutes we will set Ginny on you." Perci's eyes widened, just thinking about a few Christmas' ago when she didn't get up on time, and Ginny literally pulled her down the Burrow stairs. The witch nodded and hurriedly began changing.
Perci pulled on her Weasley sweater, grinning at the gold PP on the front. She sifted through her drawers, looking for her favorite pajama pants. They were Fred's. It was his Christmas present to her many years ago. Almost every night at Hogwarts, Perci would sneak up to the boy dormitory and steal his pajama pants, saying hers weren't cozy enough. It had been one of her favorite gifts she'd ever received. Perci went over to her bed. She pulled out a small bag that magically held everyone's gifts. Perci grinned as she headed down the steps. All of the teenagers were up. Ron and Harry were playing wizards chess on the coffee table. Ginny was inspecting all the wrapped gifts. Fred was whispering to a very tired looking Arthur and Molly. George had come up behind Perci and snatched her bag up. "More presents, Ginny!" He called. Perci rolled her eyes and continued down the steps. George dumped the contents out on the floor under the large tree. Fred moved toward her, but Harry cut him off, throwing an arm around his sister.
"Good morning, Perce. How'd you sleep? Alone, I hope," he said all in one breath. He handed her a warm cup of coffee.
"It was fine. And yes, I slept alone," she replied exasperatedly.
Harry nodded along as they came to a stop and sat on the ground by Ron. "Good, good. Have any dreams?" He asked quietly. "About Roy or Bellatrix?" Perci stiffened, gritting her teeth at those two names.
"No. Snape's Occlumency lessons have helped a lot. I haven't seen them for weeks."
Harry frowned. "Do you think that's a good or bad sign?" Perci gave him a confused look. "What if they're just waiting to strike at you when you're least expecting it?"
Perci shrugged. "I dunno," was all she said. Harry could tell she wanted the topic to be done with, but would revisit it later when they were alone.
Molly walked over to stand in front of the tree. She clapped her hands. "Alright, let's begin!" She was almost as excited as Ginny. Molly blindly picked up a very long gift and tossed it at Ron who barely caught it, earning a 'keeper' remark from Harry. Ron told him to shut it and tore apart the paper. His eyes widened, seeing a bright orange crest painted onto the dark brown wood of the Chudley Cannons broomstick. He turned a bright pink, tracing Galvin Gudgeon's, the Seeker of the Chudley Cannons, signature. Molly let out a surprised gasp. "Who's it from, Ronald?" Ron blinked and turned over the gift tag. His face broke out into a grin.
"Bloody hell, Perci! How'd you afford this?"
Perci shrugged with a smile as Ron gave her a crushing hug. Perci patted him on the back. She got up and carefully grabbed her gift to Harry. It was in a large, sloppily wrapped box. She handed it to her brother and sat down. Harry opened his gift, pulling out a small vial of what looked like swirling black smoke. He then pulled out what looked like a decorative plate. He frowned, but then realized what was in the vial. "Your memories?" He gave her a confused look. Harry assumed she had already put them back where they belonged, in her head.
Perci nodded at the Pensieve. "I thought you might want to watch them together," she said in a soft voice. Harry smiled at her and nodded. She delayed having the one thing she had wanted for a whole year, just so they could share it.
"I'd love that." Molly handed Ginny her gift. She waited in anticipation to see if her daughter liked her gift. Ginny gave her mom a hug, clutching the Holyhead Harpies knitted sweater to her chest. Next, Molly unwrapped her present from Perci, which turned out to be a full set of new colors and patterns of yarn. Fred and George exchanged different products of Weasley Wizard Wheezes. Harry had gotten Arthur a box of different kinds of muggle tools and knick-knacks. Arthur hurried off to his shed to investigate them. Everyone received a pair of multicolored socks from Molly with their initials sewed into them. The rest of the morning went on with gift giving, laughter, and hugs, until Fred came up behind Perci.
Perci stopped her argument about how the Quidditch team Puddlemere United was a much better all-around team than the Holyhead Harpies. Fred was glad he interrupted when he did because it looked as if Ginny was about to tie her new sweater around Perci's neck and strangle her. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" He whispered. Perci turned, her eyes turning from stormy to bright as she looked up at him. She nodded and got up, allowing Fred to lead her into the hall. He pulled out a small, emerald box. Perci's eyes widened, taking a step back. She felt as though she was going to vomit. They had just started dating days ago. Perci didn't think Fred was dumb enough to propose to her.
"Fred–" she began, but Fred held up a hand.
"Just hear me out," he said. Fred palmed the box nervously. Perci shut her eyes, but nodded. "This isn't an engagement ring." Perci sighed in relief. "But it is a ring. A ring I hope you'll accept," he muttered the last bit under his breath. He opened the box. In it lay a gold band. The emerald in it seemed to move with the light. It shone in Fred's chocolate colored eyes. Engraved on the gold band was a beautiful script Perci had never seen. "Always. As in, you'll always come back to me. You remember saying that? We were at Grimmauld place on the balcony that branched out from the attic. The sun was setting." Fred smiled before continuing. "The way the sun shone on your face, I thought you weren't even real. You were leaving to go God-knows-where. It was after Sirius died. You said, 'I'll be back. I'll always come back to you. Always.'" Perci nodded, remembering. That was the day they first kissed. It wasn't the best kiss she had ever had, but it was the most meaningful. "You eventually did. It took a while, but you've come back to me. And this–this ring is a reminder that I will always come back to you, I promise." Fred knelt down and took her hand. "For the rest of your life, there won't be a day where you'll question if you're coming home to me. Or a day where you wonder if I'll be there for you. I always will." Perci noticed the forming of tears at the corners of his eyes. Those eyes. God, they melted her to her very core. Fred cleared his throat. "So, accept this promise ring, and I promise I'll always come back to you."
All Perci could do was stare down at him, her mouth agape and eyes wide. She kind of felt numb, except for the warmness in her chest fluttering about. She could also feel a tug at the corners of her mouth. Her chest ached for him. Her mind ached for him. Perci felt her head nod up and down slowly. Fred's face broke out into a large smile, his eyes and nose crinkling. He shakily pushed the ring onto her right ring finger and picked her up, giving her the ump-teenth bone-crushing hug she received that week. "I love you," he whispered into her neck.
"I love you," she said unto his hair.
Harry was sitting next to his sister, who held a bowl of cauldron cakes, and was eating them one after another. She was listening to Ron, who sat on her right.
"'Tell me you love me' she says. 'Tell me how lucky you are to have me'. 'Tell me I'm pretty' she says." Ron was complaining about his current girlfriend, Lavender Brown. Perci had a disgusted look on her face. Lavender Brown irritated her to no end. She remembered all the rumors the girl had spread about her. Hermione and Ginny had to hold her back from punching the girl in the face when she said one snide comment about her.
"Pretty fucking annoying," Perci sneered. Arthur and Remus gave her pointed looks at the language. Harry had to stifle his laughter. Remus and Tonks had arrived an hour ago with a boundless amount of sweets. Perci had hugged them both and then stolen the cauldron cakes.
"Language, Perciana," Molly called from the kitchen.
Perci's eyes widened. "She had super-hearing, I swear," she murmured to Ron. Ron nodded furiously, thinking back to all the times his mother caught him cursing.
"Mr. Weasley," Harry began, grabbing the man's attention. "Do you remember what we talked about at Kings Cross before school?" Harry was referring to his concerns about Draco Malfoy being a death eater. He told him what he heard between Snape and Draco the night of Slughorn's party.
"I checked, Harry. I went and searched the Malfoy's house. There was nothing there that shouldn't have been there." Perci stopped eating at the sound of Malfoy Manor. She shivered.
Harry sighed. "Yeah, I know. I saw in the Daily Porphet that you looked, but this is something different...Well, something more." He preceded to tell him what he heard between Snape and Draco the night of Slughorn's party.
"Draco's plotting something, I know
it, something to do with Voldemort. He's been given a task or a mission - and Snape was offering to help," Harry tried explaining.
"Voldemort has chosen Draco Malfoy
for a mission?" Lupin wasn't convinced.
Harry shook his head. "I know it sounds mad–"
Lupin rubbed his eyes. "Has it occurred to you, Harry, that Snape was simply pretending to offer Draco help so that he could find out what he's up to?" It made sense, but Harry didn't believe that.
"That's not what it sounded like," Harry retorted.
Perci grew irritated with Harry. "And you're completely sure that Snape is in cahoots with Draco, who is a death eater. That makes Snape an avid servant of Lord Voldemort. Bellatrix is too." Harry nodded, but Perci continued. "Then why would Snape help me shut Bellatrix out, and in turn, shut Voldemort out. Why would he have helped me for the past year and a half? Why is that Harry?"
Harry shrugged. "Maybe he has a crush on you, Perce."
Perci rolled her eyes. "This is serious, Harry."
"I know. I'm being serious. He made an unbreakable vow with Draco. You weren't there, you didn't hear. You were too busy snogging Fred to pay attention to what was going on around you," Harry said bitterly.
Perci glared at him. She wasn't going to let him accuse Snape any longer. She sure as hell wasn't going to let him bring Fred into this. "I wouldn't be here without Snape. So, I trust him. You should, too."
"Perci is right, Harry. Dumbledore trusts Snape. Therefore, I do," Remus interjected.
Tonks put a calming hand on Lupin's shoulder. "Perhaps Harry's right, Remus. To make an Unbreakable Vow, after all–"
"It comes down to whether or not
you trust Dumbledore's judgement. He trusts Snape," Lupin interrupted.
Harry ran a hand through his hair. "Dumbledore makes mistakes. He said so himself–"
"You're blinded by hatred!"
"No, I'm not," Harry began to reason.
Lupin got up. "You are! People are disappearing, Harry. Daily. We can only put our trust in a handful of people. If we start fighting amongst ourselves, we're doomed," his tone was sharp and barking. Harry wanted to argue with him, but a furtive look from Tonks stopped him. 'Leave it,' she pleaded with her eyes. Fred tentatively came over to the couch. Arthur glanced between Perci and his son, before motioning for Ron and Harry to follow him. Harry and Ron gave the two a look before heading to the shed with Arthur.
Fred plopped down next to Perci with a large grin on his face. He took the bowl of cauldron cakes from her grasp and shoved two in his mouth. Perci palmed the vial in her pocket.
"I got you something," she said. Fred put the bowl on the coffee table and scooted closer to her. Remus and Tonks took that as their que to head to the kitchen. Perci pulled the vial out and handed it to Fred. It was small and filled to the top with a silver liquid, Perci's tears, Fred noticed. He felt a tug at his heart thinking about Perci staying up and crying just to fill the vial to the brim. He moved onto the feather held to the lid with a rubber band. It was glimmering and beautiful. The bottom of the feather was a bright gold. It faded into various oranges and at the top was a deep scarlet. It was one of her feathers. She must've had it plucked while she was in her animagus form. "It's my tears, and a feather. I thought that if you ever needed healing that a spell couldn't fix, those might," Perci explained, nodding at the vial. "And the feather. It's just decoration I guess. I–" Fred set the vial down gently and kissed Perci hard, pulling her onto his lap.
"I love it," he was slightly breathless. He would probably need the tears one day. Hopefully, not too soon.
It was late when Remus and Tonks announced that they needed to leave. Perci, George, and Fred were joking on the couch. Harry and Ron were looking out the window into the field. Molly and Arthur followed Remus and Tonks outside and stopped in the doorway.
"Are you sure you can't stay any longer?" Molly asked, look at Tonks. Arthur was staring at Remus who was staring off at the reeds in front of the house. His nostrils flared subtly.
Tonks gave her a squeeze on the shoulder. "No, we should go." She looked at Remus and then back at Molly. "The first night of the cycle's always the worst," she nodded at the moon. Arthur glanced down at Lupin's white knuckles.
"Remus?" He asked cautiously.
In the other room, Perci was cackling loudly at a joke George had made about Fred. Fred was sitting in the middle of the with his arms crossed, a small smile gracing his face. He shook his head and elbowed George in the ribs. George retaliated, and soon they were rolling on the floor. Perci laughed loudly as they tried to pin each other down. Suddenly, she felt a cold hand on her neck. Her stomach dropped and the scars all over her body burned. She felt something wet run across her neck. Perci turned around quickly. Her heart stopped beating.
Bellatrix Lestrange stood behind the couch. She looked the same as Perci last saw her. Her dark hair was a complete mess atop her head. Her crazy eyes were lined in black makeup, her lips the color of blood. Of course she wore only black. It stood out against her blanche skin. A long scar ran across her face from her jaw to the base of her hairline. Bellatrix smiled sweetly at her, her eyes dark with blood lust and other kinds of lust.
"Hello, darling." With that her body turned into thick, black smoke and burst through the roof of the Burrow. Perci stood there shocked. Was that real? Was it just in her head?
Fred and George hurriedly got up from the floor. She felt Fred grab her arm, but immediately drew it back, cursing about her burning arm. "Perci? What was that? Was that–" his voice faded.
Outside, flames moved from the reeds to encircle the Burrow. Perci could hear Fred calling her name to get her to stop. She wasn't listening, though. All she could hear were the screams in her head and the cackling. Her eyes were on fire as she made her way out of the house. She stood in front of the doorway, looking for Bellatrix. She heard Molly, Arthur, Tonks, and Remus yell for her. She even felt a large hand grasp her shoulder, but he pulled it back from the heat. Harry came up beside her, his eyes racking the marsh. His eye caught a flash of pale skin. Harry sprinted toward the fire fast. That seemed to snap Perci out of it. She realized that he could burn to death if he tried jumping the flame.
"Harry, no!" But just as Harry was about to become a crisp, the fire opened itself up for him as he jumped into the reeds. Perci took out her wand and didn't hesitate to run after him, the fire needlessly parting for her and Remus and Tonks who sprinted after the two. Perci pushed through the marsh and reeds running as fast as she could.
"I killed Sirius Black!" Bellatrix chanted over and over again. She knew that wound Perci and Harry up. Perci past Harry in less than a few seconds. She should thrown him back, put him out of danger, but she was now too focused on the death eater.
"Bellatrix!" Perci screeched, her voice not recognizable. She heard a cackle in response. Perci ignored the pain in her side as she kept running. Finally, she came to a stop at a clearing in the reeds. Bellatrix wasn't in sight. Perci pulled out her wand. She felt Harry, Remus, and Tonks come up behind her, all with their wands out.
Perci stiffened suddenly. She could smell Bellatrix and one of her companions. A werewolf. Her nose scrunched up at the smell of wet dog. "Show yourself!" She screeched again.
Without any notice, a red light emerged from the reeds heading straight for Perci. She quickly did a blocking charm, shielding herself and the others. "No! She's mine," Perci heard. A black smoke pushed up from the ground and into the sky. She could sense it was Bellatrix. She wasn't going to let her get away again. Ignoring the cries for her to stop, Perci pushed off the ground in a orange flame. It followed Bellatrix through the sky.
Perci swiped her talons at Bellatrix as they moved through the stars. Bellatrix dodged and sent a curse her way. Perci didn't have her wand out in time. It hit her straight in the chest. With a scream, she plummeted to the ground leaving a stream of fire in her wake. She landed right next to Harry, who was dueling another death eater. Perci paid no mind to him.
Bellatrix landed easily in front of her with a sick grin. The death eater licked her rotting teeth as she looked the girl up and down. Perci pulled her wand out. "Stupefy!" She yelled. Bellatrix blocked it with ease. The death eater sent her own curse, which Perci blocked. They threw curse after curse at each other until Perci had had enough. She summoned every ounce of anger and fear she ever had for the witch and focused. "AVAD–" she was cut off when her wand flew from her hand. Perci's head shot to the right. Harry. He had a dark look on his face as he pointed his wand at Perci. He had disarmed her before she could finish Bellatrix off.
Bellatrix, the werewolf, and the other death eater took this time to turn to smoke and fly off into the sky. Perci continued to glare heavily at Harry, her teeth grit and talons digging into her hand. Rage like she had never felt consumed her; she was distracted for a moment when the Burrow was set on fire. Her eyes widened, rage rushing out of her system as she thought of Fred who could've been inside the Burrow. Her heart dropped.
Perci quickly transformed into her animagus and set off towards the Burrow. She landed roughly on the ground in her human form and ran toward the Weasley's. They stared up at their house in shock as it burned.
"Fred!" Her voice was hoarse, but Fred could hear it. He turned from his house and locked eyes with Perci. She sprinted toward him, pulling him towards her roughly. He buried his head in the crook of her neck as she tangled her bloody hands in his hair. "Are you alright?" Arthur and Molly had begun to put the fire out with a simple spell.
He nodded and pulled away from her. She looked rough. He shirt was burned, showing her charred chest. There was blood all over her arms and hands. Her eyes looked wild. "Are you?" He didn't get his answer though. Perci heard the footfalls behind her and turned blindly. Her eyes caught Harry, and she felt that rage again. Anger sizzled in her chest and throat. Harry looked up at the Burrow and then back at her. He turned pale.
Perci launched herself at her brother, grabbing him by the shirt. She pushed him harshly up against the burnt Burrow. She heard everyone calling her name again, telling her to stop. Perci didn't care, though. She didn't even care that it was Harry who took her revenge away from her. She just cared that she didn't get to kill the one thing that had ruined her.
"Who do you think you are?" She screamed at him. Harry flinched back. Her voice was morphed with anger. Her eyes were on fire. Harry could feel her talons dig into his chest. She screamed at him again.
"You were going to kill her, Perci! I couldn't let you do that!" He yelled back.
Perci slammed him against the wall of the Burrow again. She was blind with anger. Harry wasn't even sure if she knew who he was. "Who do you think you are to have taken that away from me?! I could've ended it!" Remus got in between the two and pushed Perci back roughly. Perci lunged for him, but didn't get far. Fred had wrapped his arms around her waist. He was whispering in her ear, trying to calm her. Perci wasn't having it. She pushed him away from her.
"I wasn't going to let you kill again! I wasn't going to let you become a monster!" Harry yelled. He regretted that as soon as he said it. Monster. That seemed to sober her up. Perci took a step back. Her hand went to her stomach, feeling her 'monster' scar. Fred grabbed Perci's hand gently. It wasn't hot anymore. Perci didn't notice it.
She glanced at Harry, her voice deadly calm and warning. "You'll regret this," was all she said before she disapparated, along with Fred who was still holding her hand.
The next thing Fred knew, he was laying in dirt. He grasped it in his hand. It was cold. Fred sat up and looked around. The first thing he noticed was the giant sign that looked like an entrance to something. He couldn't read the words, though. It looked like a big jumble of letters and symbols, nothing Fred had ever seen. Tall torches were staked into the ground beside the sign, giving the night light. Fred couldn't see anything past the sign, it was all black. He jumped up and took out his wand. Fred looked around for Perci, panicked, but found her standing over in the corner of the entrance. Fred frowned. She was talking to someone–a man. He could make out curly blonde hair and tan skin. They were talking adamantly. Perci gestured over in Fred's direction and the clasped her hands, almost pleadingly. The man scowled over at him, but nodded. Perci hugged him before making her way over to Fred.
"Where are we?" Fred asked immediately.
Perci sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry. I never intended for you to find out like this." She was looking at the ground. Fred gave her a confused look.
"Perci, what's going on?" He demanded. She glanced up at him, and then turned her body to face the entrance.
"Fred, welcome to Camp Half Blood."