Autumn 1991

Percy Weasley

Moonlight spilled through the tall narrow windows and pooled on scarlet-gold rugs where Percy's feet fell at a restless pace. The common room fires smouldered away beside him into dying embers, the quiet crackle the only sound in the otherwise silent tower.

Percy should have been sleeping, it was not his night for patrol, but his mind was restless and despite how hard he tried he could not stop thinking of Ron. He could not believe that the twins had been so callous as to confront their youngest brother with something as childish as house rivalry. It had only been a single day since Ron had left the infirmary and the twins were already snatching at him like a pair of vultures. And worse, he couldn't stop thinking that it was his fault.

He had spoken to the twins many times, but it always amounted to nothing. He failed to change their minds and those conversations quickly became petty arguments. It left Percy wondering if somehow he had only made things worse. After all, a few weeks ago he had made a promise to himself that he would keep the twins in line. He had decided to remind them that they were being watched and that their pranks would not be tolerated. Except, Percy's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, he hadn't done that at all. He had watched them for a while, but slowly his attention was drawn elsewhere. It left him soaked with guilt about their boldness, and he wondered if they would have continued to avoid Ron if they were distracted elsewhere. Percy could have punished them for every mild thing they did, and, he reasoned, he probably should have. But now? He frowned and sighed lightly, if he did anything they would trace it back to him.

The entire situation left a sour taste in his mouth. Percy could hardly believe that his family had devolved into the kind of people who would blame Ron, a good kid, for being sorted somewhere else. And now, he was worried about the troll too. He was worried that his parents would overreact, and that they would lash out at Ron in some way that Percy could hardly predict. He never would have guessed his mother would have sent Ron a letter for his sorting, and he suspected whatever she did next would be just as brash. He told Ron not to worry, even if he suspected there was something brewing. His last letter home had gone unanswered but he hoped it managed to lighten whatever came next.

Percy spent another hour pacing back and forth, the fire growing dim and his mind scattered with loose thoughts and worries. Somewhere along the way he had come to a conclusion which he hoped would help. That was, if Ron would take his advice. Simply put, Percy decided that his brother needed to get ahead of the story. It was the kind of thing the Ministry did when there was a scandal and Percy hoped it worked just as well on his parents. He would suggest that Ron write them a letter and explain his side of the entire troll situation before Dumbledore or the twins could do it for him.

Of course, Percy knew Dumbledore meant well, he was one of the best wizards alive, but even the headmaster wasn't omnipotent. Only Ron could properly share his own thoughts. And, Percy swallowed thickly, only Ron would be able to talk himself out of whatever trouble the troll situation brought. The twins would tell the worst bits and embellish as they saw fit. All of it tucked under their corrupted guise of pushing Ron into being a better person. So it was best if Ron was first.

Percy wished he was patrolling somewhere in the castle. It would have helped keep his mind away from things and even if it hadn't, at least he would have Penelope to talk to. He found himself looking for her advice more and more often, savouring the way she grinned at him when he said something she found particularly interesting. It was enough to make him wish to be a Ravenclaw, just so he wouldn't have to pace alone. He would talk to her in the morning of course, before he even brought his plan to Ron. But morning seemed far too far away.

"Percy?" A voice called out through the shadows that draped over the staircase to the boy's dormitories.

Percy did his best to look unbothered. "It's late, Harry," he said simply, "shouldn't you be sleeping?"

Harry Potter appeared from the arch of the stairs and made his way into the faint glow of the embers. It was hard for Percy to imagine that he was the same boy who, as Ron described, had climbed on top of a Troll's back.

"I can't sleep," Harry shrugged. "Nightmares."

Percy gave him a sympathetic look. He didn't dare to ask, but he had wondered if Harry had seen the troll's death. He imagined it wouldn't have been a pretty sight, certainly not something that Percy wanted to see. It probably would have given him nightmares, and Percy was a great deal older than Harry. At least, he thought, Ron had been given a small supply of sleeping vials.

"Me neither," Percy admitted. "I'm too worried about my brothers."

Harry sat on one of the leather sofas, his pyjamas draped over his hands and feet due to their length. Percy stopped his pacing, his legs had grown tired from the two hours he had already spent doing so, and sat on the other end of the same sofa.

"The twins should leave Ron alone," Harry said, matter-of-factly.

"It's not that simple." Percy wished it was. But they had proven they couldn't let it go.

"It should be," Harry insisted. "Ron hasn't done anything wrong."

"It's not really about what he did or didn't do," Percy said, "it's about what the twins think he did. And, well, they think he's lost his mind. They don't want to see what's in front of them. I think, partially, they want the justification of being right. If they admit they weren't, they'll have a lot of apologising to do. And I don't know if it's too late."

Harry frowned. "They have no idea how lucky they are. I would have given anything for a brother growing up. Or even just… a family, you know? I had the Dursleys, but… it's not the same."

"Right," Percy agreed awkwardly. It suddenly dawned on him that he was complaining about family trouble to an orphan. He hoped Harry didn't mind.

"It must be nice to have a twin— someone who's always got your back no matter what," Harry said softly. "Though… I suppose you don't need to be a twin for that. You're looking out for Ron, after all."

"It is nice," Percy said carefully. "But it's also hard. Especially since Ron is in another house, I can't keep my eye on him, and, well, I don't have anyone looking out for me. I'm sure Ron would help if I needed something, but our older brother Charlie isn't here anymore. It helps to have friends, especially when you're a prefect like I am."

Harry nodded. "It's been nice to have friends, I never had any before Hogwarts."

"None?" Percy's eyes widened. He had heard in passing about Harry's muggle family but they seem to be even worse than he could have friends? Merlin, that is awful.

"Well I think I had a friend once, maybe. But, my cousin Dudley would hit anyone who really spoke to me. So I never made friends in school."

"Does he hit people often?"

Harry shrugged. "Mostly just me."

"That's awful," Percy said softly. A small strange feeling swelled in his chest, and he had to stop himself from imagining George punching Ron. If it ever came to that, he almost shuddered, things would never go back to the way they were.

"It's not too awful, I try to avoid Dudley. Other than that it's mostly okay unless I burn breakfast. If I burn breakfast then sometimes Uncle Vernon locks me into my room. I hate those days when I don't get food. At least here at Hogwarts, we can eat as much as we like."

Percy raised his eyebrows at Harry. Not getting to eat? He could hardly believe what Harry had just told him. It seemed to him that Harry's muggles were the worst kind, the kind that was often used as an example by blood purists. It sent a nervous swell into his thoughts. The-boy-who lived was being mistreated by muggles and as far as Percy could tell nobody cared. It was a miracle already that Harry seemed so well adjusted, after all, Percy could easily imagine a world where Harry decided to be just as foul as a Malfoy. It sickened him, and Percy decided he would have to do something.

"If you want," Percy ventured, "you could stay with us during the summer. I mean, I have to ask our Mum, but I don't think she would mind."

"I don't think Aunt Petunia would like that very much," Harry said with a defeated tone. "She doesn't like when I'm sick, it means she has to cook breakfast all by herself and well, I'm going to be away for a long time. The only reason I was allowed to come to Hogwarts, is because Hagrid rescued me and well Uncle Vernon said he would like some time where he didn't have to see my face."

Percy soured, that sounded just as bad as anything the twins had ever said to Ron. Worse, Harry's guardians were supposed to be protecting him, not trying to prevent him from becoming a wizard. Didn't they understand what that meant? An obscurus was very dangerous, it could kill a wizard or even become a manifestation of darkness. It would have been a terrible fate for any wizard and not just the boy-who-lived. Percy bit his lip tenderly, Harry was right, he should have wanted a brother. He needed someone to look out for him.

"Listen," Percy said slowly, "we are friends aren't we?"

Harry nodded.

"And I'm a prefect too. I'm Ron's big brother, but I'm supposed to look out for everyone in Gryffindor too. That means Harry if you need anything you can ask me. And, well, I think maybe we should do something about your family."

"My family?" Harry asked quizzically.

Percy took a deep breath. "I'll talk to the Headmaster, or maybe, if I can manage, I can talk to someone at the ministry. There has to be someone that can let you stay somewhere else for summer. So you don't have to cook, and so that your cousin won't hit you. I mean, that's what you want isn't it?"

Harry smiled up at him. "That would be brilliant, especially if I got to stay here at Hogwarts."

"The wizarding world owes you a great deal, for… what happened. It's a shame that you've been living with such horrible muggles all this time. Don't get me wrong Harry, I like muggles, but yours just seem… particularly bad. Not even the worst pure bloods treat their children that badly."

"Oh."

"I'll find something," Percy added quickly. "Even if the Headmaster can't help, I'll find some way to make things at least a little better."

"It's alright if you can't," Harry said, "after all I'm very used to it."

Used to being abused?Percy shook his head gently. That would just not do. That was against everything the wizarding world still stood for and it was against everything the ministry stood for. After all, Harry's parents had died in a war about the same thing. Except, instead of purebloods abusing their power, it was Harry's muggle family. Percy couldn't imagine that The Potters would have wanted that for their only son.

"I'll look out for him," Harry added. "I know you're probably doing a better job, but Ron is my friend too. And Hermione's and Neville's. The twins can't stop us from being his friend."

Percy smiled slightly, his mind still mostly elsewhere. "No, they can't."