Percy remembered.
Somewhere, etched in the back of his mind, he could recall that day. It was a wonderful day, essentially perfect. His parents had taken them out for a bit of fun. Bill wasn't yet of age for Hogwarts and the twins were only two years old. They were just a family of seven and had more means to travel. It wasn't far, his mum had packed them a basket full of food for lunch, with sticky toffee pudding for dessert.
There was a field. A grassy field, the brightest green he'd ever seen. It was springtime, so there were plenty of fresh, lovely flowers that had sprouted up from the ground. They were tall, magically induced, and at the time, were around his height. The sun had been warm on his cheeks, a faint flush came over them. It made his freckles more pronounced, standing out against the general paleness of his skin.
He ran up and down through the rows, laughing gaily.
"Mummy, daddy!" He hollered as he ran through the field, his arms open like a bird. Like an owl, he'd later said. "Look at me!"
He remembered.
He remembered feeling so happy. Genuine happiness radiating through him. While Charlie took to animals, Percy adored nature and its everlasting beauty. If he couldn't run out in the trickling rain, he would be by the window, watching it fall down from the sky. More than once, he begged Bill and Charlie to help put together a big pile of leaves so he could jump in it. He liked to hike, too. There was something peaceful about it, even if at his young age he hadn't known what that word meant yet. He also liked seeing the deer along the way. Once, his dad let him come with him, Bill and Charlie on a long trail. His mum had been doubtful he could handle it. Charlie said he was too much of a baby to go with them and said he'd get tired before they were even halfway done. But he hadn't. He persisted and got through the whole thing and proved Charlie wrong.
They didn't stay at the grassy field as long as Percy would've liked. Bill had gotten bored. Charlie hadn't been allowed to bring his play dragon figures and had whined about wanting them. Plus, on top of that, the twins became fussy. So, they all packed up and his dad had to gently coax Percy away.
"Come along, Percy," his dad stood beside him. 'It's time to go."
"Do we have to?" Percy murmured. "I wanna stay."
"I know you do," his dad squeezed his shoulder, making his son look up at him. "You mustn't worry, we'll come back."
"You promise?" Percy said as solemnly as he could, holding up his pinky finger.
His dad locked his pinky around Percy's. "I promise."
He'd promised, but it ended up being forgotten.
But not by him.
Because Percy remembered.
He didn't know what to do.
Percy was the Weasley known for being prepared, having a plan in place. But as of right now, he didn't feel prepared nor did he have a plan. His entire foundation was shattered, shaken to its core. It left him feeling utterly vulnerable and exposed. How was one supposed to feel after failing to do...that?
How should he begin to pick up and rebuild the pieces when everything was so numb?
He didn't want to. He wanted to go back out there, sneak out of the dormitory again and finish what he tried to start. Make it better by redeeming himself. He mourned for the lost opportunity, for the chance he finally had at freeing himself. At freeing his family and those who dreaded having to be within his presence. It was taken away in a flash, in a snap. Faster than he could blink.
As he and Wood climbed up the staircase to Gryffindor Tower, Percy felt like he was in a daze. As if there was water clogging up his ears, blocking out the noises of the world. He was weighed down by some invisible weight that was chained to him, feet being nearly unwilling to cooperate as he walked. The air itself was stuffy, suffocating. Was there not enough air or was it him?
The numbness crept up like a crouched lion, if he wanted some ironic imagery. The world seemed so bleak, so gray. He was so lost, a disturbed soul that merely shuffled through, while everyone else went on living. That no one took notice of, no one did more than glance at him. If that.
Everyone thought the next person would do it.
Percy sat in his four-poster bed; the curtains were drawn in and a wandless silencing charm thrown up. His knees were pulled up to his chest, arms wrapped tightly around himself. His eyes became strikingly red and puffy again; big, fat tears spilled down his cheeks. He cried harder than he had in a long time. There had been an awakening, a rapid stirring of emotions he hadn't known himself capable of feeling and then...then it all just became too much. He was drowning, unable to get back up to the top. His hands were waving around wildly, trying to find something to grasp, someone to grasp but he couldn't because there was nothing. There was no one to help him.
If not for the silencing charm, Wood would have heard.
He did not go to sleep that night, nor did he move an inch. He was paralyzed by fear, a fear that gripped him so tight as if he was placed in a chokehold, he didn't know how he'd held it together until sunrise. He stayed that way as the moon drifted into the west, as the sun rose high in the sky that morning and the sunshine burst into the room.
Percy's face was in a dead expression. His eyes were unfocused, the tears dried on his cheeks and a headache began to appear. He sniffled, burying half of his face into the back of his knees.
He was so tired.
Oh, you're pathetic
Woe is you
Poor Little Perfect Prefect Percy is sad
Can't take it, can you?
Good
Just add this to a list of your failures
You had one job
Just one measly thing to do
And you couldn't do it
Your family would be embarrassed if they knew
They're already an embarrassment to the wizarding world
You just want to ruin them a little more
Don't you?
It was a Saturday, so the castle didn't spring to life right away. Students slept in after staying up far later than they would have if it was still the weekday, lounging around in bed and delaying on going down to the hall for breakfast. Gryffindor Tower was no different; there wasn't any notable noise coming from anywhere. It was quiet. Not a word. Not a peep.
The time was somewhere from a bit after eight to nearing nine. Still, he hadn't moved. Hadn't gotten up to partake in the rigid routine he set up for himself. It was unlike him not to; Saturdays were for him to spend the morning in the library to either study or read. It was a better option if he wanted some peace and quiet than if he were to attempt that during the week. For most people, they tended not to flock toward the library on the weekends unless it was absolutely necessary.
Plus your siblings won't be there
That's for sure
Isn't that why you go there?
Because you can't bear to be around them?
Percy couldn't bear to be around anyone right now. The thought of being amongst people made his skin crawl. He couldn't do it. He wouldn't do it. He'd hide out in his dorm all day for the remainder of the weekend, forgoing any food or water. He'd even take it a step further, continuing his defiance on Monday morning and skip all of his classes. It didn't matter how he had assignments due and how Professor Snape would surely give him a zero for that day's potion regardless if he had an excuse or not. He didn't care anymore. He could flunk, it didn't matter.
Do you hear yourself?
You'll ruin everything you've ever worked for
You won't make it to the Ministry like this
You'll be a nothing
A nobody
But I suppose it's for the best
You aren't good enough to be a Ministry worker
Perhaps he wasn't after all.
Percy wrung his hands, his breath was shaky, his back ached tremendously after not moving for several hours. His emotions were swept up again, like a tidal wave going inland and crashing. One thought kept him on edge, sending a swirling sensation in his stomach, which worsened the nausea he was dealing with from the undereating he'd been doing.
Wood knew.
He bloody knew.
He knew that he'd tried to do...that.
His dorm mate had seen Percy at his lowest, his breaking point and witnessed his ugly tears. Yet, and this was the part that baffled him, Wood hadn't gone away. He didn't back away and get out of there. Why? He'd sat there with him in the deafening silence. Why? Why didn't he just leave Percy be? More importantly, why didn't he...why did he...
Why did he save your life?
Saved his life. Percy pondered on that peculiar notion for hours now. It just didn't make sense. No such thing occurred. It certainly didn't feel like his life had been saved. Should it? Should he be eternally grateful and extend his overwhelming gratitude to Wood? He wasn't feeling very grateful at all.
He was upset.
He was peeved.
He was angry.
It was a feeling that was like a fire, ignited with a tiny spark that now exploded. It was none of his business! He should have left. He shouldn't have come up there and messed with what wasn't his to mess with!
That didn't even begin to cover it.
Saved his life, Percy scoffed weakly. That was simply ridiculous. That would imply that his life had been in impending danger and it hadn't. It hadn't because it had been in control, perfect control by him. Nothing was going to happen until he chose to do something about it.
Until now.
Until Wood stepped in and made the choice for him.
He was burning with bitterness, amidst all of the other emotions that came with it. He was just so mad. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair. He should have just jumped. He should have pushed harder against Wood. He should have done this and that. If he'd done those things, he might have been successful.
It wasn't even like Wood genuinely cared!
They'd never had a real conversation, much less made the effort to get to know each other. Wood lived his own life and did as he pleased, while Percy did his own thing.
That's because you're not worth being friends with
He knows what a freak you are
He'd sooner give up quidditch than talk to you
Because you aren't good enough
He wants someone better than you
It worked well for the past six years, living together not really together. Why did it have to suddenly change last night, of all times?
The real question was, which had nipped at Percy as well, what was going to happen now?
What would happen now? It was frustrating, nerve wracking that his dorm mate was unpredictable in that regard. Was he going to pull Professor McGonagall aside and inform her of last night's events? Percy knew the fate of those that tried to kill themselves. They were shipped off to St. Mungos where they could be heavily monitored, treated like they were terribly fragile. The healers talked to them in soft voices, as if they were conversing with children. They were treated like they were delicate, mad.
He wasn't mad. He wasn't. He was perfectly sane.
He had to be.
He had to be.
They couldn't drag him there. He wouldn't let them. He must have rights! Surely, he must. Alas, though, he wouldn't if he admitted for what he'd done. Tried to do. The healers would place him under mandatory lockdown for twenty-four hours, assign him a mind-healer to pick at his brain so they could closely evaluate him, to determine whether he was a risk to himself or anyone else around him. He'd have virtually no privacy, no access to what they deemed to be potentially life threatening or sharp. They would treat him like a child. His hands clenched into fists until they started to ache. He wasn't a child. He refused to have them act like he was.
Not to mention, it would ruin any chance he had of graduating this school with his class he'd started Hogwarts with. Why do you care? You don't even care if you'd flunk. You said so. He wouldn't be permitted to do any school work, the work that he could do without being in the classroom. The healers would want him to be distraction free, to focus on what they had in store for him.
For him to heal.
Imagine, he was forced to complete the rest of his education the following year. A year after his year classmates finished. Percy would be more of a disappointment to his parents than now. No other Weasley (or Prewett) was required to take eight years of Hogwarts.
What would people say?
What would his siblings say?
What would Fred and George say?
Wood couldn't tell anyone. He just couldn't. It'd be detrimental for Percy. But would Wood care? He breathed in and out slowly, trying to keep himself from freaking out further than he had already. It was preferred that Wood could care enough not to bring it up to Professor McGonagall, or anyone else, for that matter. Surely his dorm mate possessed some form of tact and if he didn't, he could find some. They needn't talk about it, really. Whatever happened, whatever he saw, they could just move on from it and put it behind them. He was in no mood to discuss it, let alone with Wood. What else was there to say? Much as he despised thinking of it the way it technically was-that his life had been saved-that was all there was to it, nothing more. He would rather not rehash it unnecessarily.
Moving forward meant that Percy was going to be much more careful. He had to be, for his own sake.
Percy pulled the curtains to his bed apart, letting out a hiss and squinting his eyes at the amount of light that smacked him in the face. Had it always been that way, so bright and cheery while he had a perpetual gray cloud above his head?
It was just like any other morning. Wood wasn't there. Just like usual, he'd woken up at the crack of dawn, presumably down at the quidditch field with the rest of the team after he forced them to do so. Percy didn't hear the door shut a few hours prior, which was odd. Nonetheless, it suited him just fine. He was greatly relieved that he wasn't going to have to face him for the moment.
You know what people would say to that, right?
They'd call you a coward
They'd say you didn't deserve to be a Gryffindor
They'd say you should be a Hufflepuff instead
They'd be right
You aren't brave
You don't have endless amounts of courage
You're just a scared child
The sorting hat made a grave mistake sorting you
He ran a hand through He ran a hand through his tousled hair or tried to, all that tossing and turning made his curls worse. A complete disarray, made into a dreadful state than they had been lately. He winced when his hand got caught in a tangled clump. With the way things had been the past few days, he hadn't kept up on his hair maintenance and this was the result. And he couldn't put the blame on anyone but him.
Has anyone noticed? He wondered.
They probably have
Why do you think you get weird looks in the corridor?
Was that where they were from?
Don't you know what your Mum would say?
She would remind you that you're seventeen and that she believe that you can't do something so simple as comb your hair
She'd think you were lazy
And you are, aren't you?
It doesn't take much to comb and yet you can't even do that
He was shaken out of his revere when he heard the sharp flushing sound coming from the lavatory ringing through the air. It spooked him; his stomach dropped and his head snapped up. He didn't expect to see the door opening, to reveal Wood coming out of it. Based on the towel that was draped over his shoulder and the damp hair that clung to his forehead, he'd been showering. The faint smell of mint was in the air, far pleasant than Wood's usual odor he had after a harsh practice.
Percy sprung up, as if his bed just hexed him. Wood stopped, too. Right in the middle of the room the second his eyes met with Percy's. It was eerily reminiscent of last night; they didn't know what to say. Wood was looking fairly awkward, but he did attempt a smile.
Sort of.
It looked painful.
Percy's mouth opened several times, working faster than his brain could. What did one say to someone who did...that?
Wood broke the silence. "Morning," he said, going for a friendly tone as he took the bundle that appeared to be the pajamas he'd worn last night-Percy couldn't recall Wood even going to change- stuffing them back into his trunk.
Percy didn't know how to feel about his greeting. In the nearly seven years they'd lived together, they didn't make a habit of doing that. It was almost always silent on both of their parts. What was going on?
Don't you get it?
He saved your life
He feels obligated to talk to you now
He just wants to make himself feel better
Say something!
"Er," Percy blinked stupidly, his hands rubbing at his thighs, "morning...I suppose."
You suppose?
"Lovely morning, isn't it?" If Wood thought he was being rude by his response, he didn't show it. The unexpected slam of his trunk sent Percy flinching. A ghost of a frown came onto his dorm mate's lips.
"I...suppose?"
Articulate, aren't you.
"Did you sleep well?" Wood asked, carefully. Percy detested that, how his dorm mate was regarding him like he needed to walk on eggshells around him. As if he was going to combust at any moment.
You just might
"Yes," Percy swiftly lied. Wood looked vaguely skeptical. Ask him now. Try to be polite. That's what you're supposed to do. Think you're capable of it? "And you? Er, did you sleep well?"
"Hmm? Oh, course," Wood nodded a little too much. Almost like his head wasn't attached to his neck, or wouldn't be if he kept going like that. "Right. I got loads of sleep. Couldn't be more refreshed, actually."
Percy furrowed his eyebrows, looking bewildered. "Alright," he shifted. "That's brilliant."
That's all you can say?
I don't know what there is to say
He's acting strange
He just had to save your bloody bum. Of course he's acting strange!
A thought occurred to him and he levelled Wood with a strange look. During the season, Wood and the Gryffindor team practically lived outside during the weekend. Yet, he'd been showering instead? It didn't make much sense.
Why isn't he out there?
Why's he here?
"What?" Wood sensed something was amiss. It might have been the way he was being looked at.
Percy quickly turned away. He shook his head. "Noth...nothing. It's nothing."
"You're sure?" Wood arched an eyebrow, though he didn't see it.
"Yes!" Percy said, plastering on a smile as he faced him again. "Of course."
"Right," Wood said, quietly. "Okay, then." Then, he raised his voice to address Percy again. "You can just tell me, you know."
Fine.
He would.
"Why are you here?" It was rude. It was wrong. It was...he didn't care. He wanted to know.
"Here?"
"Here," Percy gestured around them, "In this dorm. Now. Shouldn't you be practicing?"
"Oh." Wood said his next words as nonchalantly as he could, pretending to shuffle through his school bag for something. "Oh, I gave everyone a break today."
Percy gawked at him.
Wood never takes a break
It's because of you, obviously
It can't be...he doesn't even like me! We're not friends
"A break?" he echoed in disbelief.
He must be joking.
Wood didn't take breaks. Voluntary ones, at least. It just didn't happen.
"Yes," Wood responded like it was no big deal. "Been workin' hard lately. Thought they could sleep in for today."
That doesn't make any sense
Fred's complained that Wood doesn't care about needing sleep
I told you, it's because of you
"Oh," Percy said, quietly.
Wood glanced at him, which felt more like last night where Percy had the distinct feeling he was seeing much more, much deeper than he was comfortable with. His dorm mate turned back to what he was doing. "If you want," he began, "I can wait for you and we can go down there together."
For what?
What's he talking about?
Oh, Merlin
He's going to tell
He's going to tell Professor McGonagall
No, no, no, he can't!
"For what?" Percy blurted out, panicked.
Wood looked taken aback by how rapid his mood had shifted. "For breakfast," he said, slowly. Hesitantly. "I, er, thought you'd be hungry. We could sit together, if you'd like."
Why?
Why would you want to do that?
Why do you want to be with me?
"Why?" Percy voiced his thoughts and he hated how small he sounded. "I...I mean I'm sure you'd rather sit with someone else. Fred and George might be awake..."
"Actually," Wood cut in, rubbing his forearm, "I'd rather sit with you, Weasel-Percy." The use of his first name made Percy gawk at him again. "It's been a while since we've sat together."
"We've...we've never sat together."
"Right," Wood muttered. Then, he clapped his hands together. "Well, we should start!"
"Why?" Percy repeated.
"Why not?" Wood countered. "You don't want to?"
"Well, it's...it's just that..."
"It's just what?"
Couldn't Wood shut his mouth for one moment and let him speak?
"Is this because of...last night?" Percy didn't want to explicitly mention it. When I attempted to die? It felt... too strange to say it out loud, even think about it. "If it is, you don't have to." He said it quickly, lowering his gaze to the floor.
He didn't want pity.
And that was what Wood was trying to do. Well, he needn't. There wasn't a need for them to be friends or anything after all that.
"I don't want pity," Percy mumbled.
"I'm not pitying you," Wood frowned. "I just...I thought you'd want to sit together. You're always alone."
See, he notices
Everyone does
They're probably laughing at you
They think you're a loser, too
Because you are one
Aren't you?
"I'm fine, thank you," Percy managed to say. "I appreciate the kind gesture, Wood, but I assure you I am fine. And for the record, I would also appreciate it if you kept last night's...events private."
"That's not really something to keep to yourself."
"Well, that isn't your decision to make, is it?" Percy was feeling bold today and he dared to spare a glance in Wood's direction. His dorm mate was looking conflicted, like he was intent on arguing with Percy over it.
"I suppose not," Wood relented. He went back to the original subject. "So, are you hungry? They're still serving breakfast so we've got time."
There is no 'we'
"You can go," Percy said, plainly.
That wasn't the answer his dorm mate wanted. "What about you?"
What about me?
"I'm not going," Percy ducked his head. "I'm not hungry."
"You're lying," Wood said, accusingly. "I saw how much you ate last night-" Why is he watching me? "You've got to be famished."
"I'm not."
"Weasl-Percy."
"I'm not going down there," Percy whirled back around, hating how glassy his eyes became. Wood simply stared. "I can't. I won't."
"You can't just skip," Wood tried to reason with him.
Watch me
"I'm not going down there," Percy said, breathing harder, voice coming out as a whisper. "You were there last night, weren't you? They all laughed at me. They won't forget today, not that easily. They'll...they'll say things."
"So?" Wood said, cluelessly. He just didn't get it. "Why does that matter? Just ignore them."
Says you
You can
You aren't constantly being bothered
Everyone loves you
Because you aren't me
"You don't get it," Percy said, his throat feeling tight and that familiar lump returning. "You just don't."
"What don't I understand?" Wood asked, mixed with some desperation. "Tell me so I do."
"I can't...I can't just tell you," Percy said, his socked feet suddenly becoming intriguing. "You won't get it."
"Why?"
So many questions. He felt drained already. He wanted to get back in the bed, to stay there for the rest of the day until nightfall. He was tired of it; of being asked the questions, of the headache that had come on in the past few minutes, of Wood acting like he cared.
He didn't.
This was probably a giant stroke for his ego. What a good person Wood was, taking on Hogwarts' charity case. A possible social risk to lower himself but Wood would recover. Because he was so likeable and happy and everything that Percy was not.
"Just leave me alone," Percy said, feeling utterly defeated.
Wood's confidence instantly spiraled downward. He must have expected something more positive, not for Percy to push him away like that. "Did I say something wrong?"
"I don't want to talk."
"Can you at least just-"
"Leave me alone!"
Percy blocked him out. He got back into his bed, pulled the blanket up to his shoulders, rolling over to face the other side of the room. Just leave me alone. He squeezed his eyes shut, burying his face into the pillow, in hopes of forcing himself to drift off to sleep.
Someone was standing over him.
He felt their body heat. It must be Wood. It had to be him. Percy had heard the door shut this time when he, assumingly, left to go to breakfast. Alone. He gave up on trying to persuade Percy into going once he stopped talking. Now he was back. Intending on trying again with him. He almost groaned. Why couldn't Wood understand that by him trying not to interact, that meant he didn't want to be bothered at all? He was as thick headed as the twins could be.
"Weasl-Percy," he corrected himself, whispering. How difficult was it to remember his first name? "You awake?"
I wish I wasn't
Not that you seem to care
Just leave me alone
I'd like to lay here without being interrupted
Pout, don't you mean?
I'm not pouting. I'm thinking
So you think
When he didn't get a response, Wood shook his shoulder, repeating his question. Knowing he wasn't about to be left alone anytime soon, Percy blew out a puff of air from his lips and turned over. "What?" he didn't look at Wood.
Wordlessly, something was shoved abruptly into his face. Out of habit, Percy flinched. His vision focused after he reached for his glasses and put them on, blinking in confusion at the-
Muffin.
A double chocolate muffin with large chocolate chips baked into it. It was starting to melt, the chips were looking disfigured. He looked up at his dorm for an explanation, not comprehending the gist of things.
"Figured you'd be hungry," Wood said, offhandedly. "Got you some pumpkin juice, too."
What?
His brain was still not registering it and he asked the first question that came to mind. "You brought me pumpkin juice? How?"
A smile graced Wood's features. He chuckled, flicking his wand and taking out a goblet from the inside of his hoodie. "Disillusioned charm. Didn't want the professors having a tizzy. Hope you're alright with that, s'nice and cold."
He wasn't lying. The coldness of the goblet bit at Percy's hands, but was soothing to his dry throat. Wood gave him another smile, setting the muffin down on Percy's bed, retreating back to his own. "You, erm, didn't have to do that," Percy muttered, now that his voice was so croaky.
"Course I did," Wood shrugged like it was normal.
Why?
"Didn't want you starving. It's a while till lunch."
Why do you care?
"Because," Wood said, simply and the redhead realized he said that out loud.
"Because-?" Percy trailed off.
"I do."
Percy didn't want to play games. "That isn't a real answer."
"Why not?" Wood dug into the pocket of his hoodie, pulling out a muffin for himself to eat. He took a rather large bite, his left cheek puffing out. "Thought I'd bring food up for us since you didn't want to go down." A few crumbs fell out of his mouth.
Percy wrinkled his nose.
But why?
I don't understand
Would he want to eat with me so bad?
"How's the muffin?" Wood asked.
He hadn't taken a bite. It was still sitting where it had been placed. Was that intended to be a cue for Percy to eat, something akin to a mum urging her children to eat the dinner that was prepared for them? He mumbled, taking a messy bite-nibble, that inner voice corrected.
"You like chocolate, don't you?"
Percy shrugged with one shoulder.
"I think everyone does," Wood continued, filling the silence with his voice-Percy wished he wouldn't. "'Cept for my cousin. He's an odd one, that's for sure. Won't touch it. Course, I don't mind. That leaves more for me when we all get together."
His gaze flickered over to Percy, waiting all of approximately five seconds, then gingerly dove into the next phase of his plan that the redhead would later refer to it. A trap, that was what it really was. Wood wanted to lull him into a false sense of security so he could pounce unexpectedly.
His dorm mate cleared his throat, procrastinating by chugging the rest of his beverage. He set the goblet on the nightstand with a thud. "Erm, look, I-" he ran a hand through his hair and some of the strands that were still damp, stuck up at odd ends. Percy stiffened out of instinct. "W should probably talk about, you know, last night."
Percy's stomach dropped.
Don't you see!
He just wanted to catch you off guard
Now he's got you where he wants you
But you didn't it
Yet you're supposed to be the smart one
"What about last night?" Percy said somehow without his voice cracking.
He didn't want to talk about it. Didn't want to bring it up and have Wood dissect it to put together the pieces of why it almost happened, as if he was so thick that he couldn't see what was right in front of him.
Maybe he was.
He received a look from Wood and was unable to determine its purpose; it was too soft to convey any annoyance, but also pointed enough to let him know that his dorm mate was serious. Either way, he shrunk, his knees going up to his chest. The food he was brought laid forgotten nearby-it wasn't like he was going to finish. His appetite was gone.
"Suppose it's probably hard to talk about," Wood muttered, as if he had a fraction of an idea of how it truly was, "but you can't keep it to yourself." What do you know? "You just...you can't," he finished, lamely, gesturing at nothing into the air.
You don't know what you're talking about
Percy toyed with the corner of his blanket. He kept shaking his head, uttering a breathy laugh that lacked humor. The smile was forced, he was trying too hard. You can't do anything, can you? "There's nothing to talk about."
"You're mad," Wood was looking at him like he was, that he couldn't comprehend why Percy didn't see this matter as anything but urgent.
He's right
You are
"You have to tell someone. Anyone."
He didn't look exceptionally brave sitting there in his two-day old clothes, disarrayed state and curled up in a way that made his lanky appearance smaller. You aren't brave. Brave people don't do what you tried. They would tackle their problems head-on. Not take the easy way out. But he conjured up enough to inform his dorm mate of his opinion over this. "I don't have to tell anyone anything."
"Percy," Wood said, softly with that unmistakable pity. "You know that's not true."
He says that like he knows you
As if he hadn't plainly ignored you for almost seven straight years
Now he's trying to play hero
So he gets to have everyone see what a great person he is
While you know the truth
He doesn't care
You're a fool if you think so
"Leave me alone," Percy repeated his earlier words. He was tired. He was done. "Just-please. I don't want to talk about it." He didn't know what else to say, how else to convince Wood to drop it once and for all. "Please."
He rolled over again, clenching the blanket around his body. He didn't see Wood's body slump, looking mightily conflicted.