It was the second day of their thought up at the last minute ruse.
Professor McGonagall had been outraged when Professor Snape said that he was simply too busy with his classes and orders from Madam Pomfrey to brew supplies for the hospital wing to put together a different kind of potion for Percy. That might have indeed been true on some level, but he also knew that the man certainly wasn't going out of his way to make something special for a Gryffindor.
Good thing, too
You'd be wasting his time
But you don't care about that
Do you?
Have you any idea what this lie of yours is going to inconvenience some people?
The professors will have to ensure you get your work
The elves have to come up here, out of their usual routine, for you
The quidditch team isn't practicing and might even lose the first game
All
Because
Of
You
How does that make you feel?
Percy accepted Professor McGonagall's apology when she came to inform him of that latest development. It meant that he would have to get through the remainder of the week on his own-which was fine, as there was nothing to truly get through. True to her word, the elves brought them both food and Wood a pepper up potion that he discarded down the loo once he was sure he was in the clear.
Not much happened after that. On and off there were attempts made by Wood for small talk, but those were unsuccessful. Still, his dorm mate was clueless and saw Percy's resistance as a sign to keep going. It was a blatant reminder of the twins. They, too, didn't comprehend what no or stop meant and would keep right on going until someone snapped. Wood was going to head in that same direction soon enough if he didn't rein himself in; Percy didn't want to converse with him anymore than he needed to but by Merlin, if he didn't stop talking he just might snap.
It wasn't hard to tell that being inside for the second day in a row was starting to get to Wood. He was used to being outside to train at all hours flying and directing the plays, not stuck in a dorm room with limited space with no way to go anywhere else without their trick becoming known. Unfortunately for Percy, this meant he was having to witness his dorm mate's fidgety actions. He'd let out a groan of longing when he stared out the window like some lost soul and had evidently seen the first years in flying class. That got old after about five. If that wasn't enough, he paced. Repeatedly paced around the room. Talking to himself on top of it. He must have been aiming to annoy Percy.
He must have.
Perhaps it was all apart of some diabolical plan he'd put together; if he irritated Percy enough, sooner or later he wouldn't be able to take it anymore. He would admit to his deed of lying to get out of class and return to his normal routine that Wood had tried to get him to do on Monday. Yes, that was surely it.
You're paranoid
I'm not
Oh, but you are. Why else would you come up with these ridiculous assumptions? Don't you see how stupid you're acting?
It's not stupid! He clearly wants something. He's trying to play nice and I won't fall for it!
Don't see why he'd try to be nice to you anyway. It isn't like you deserve it after you've acted. You don't deserve kindness. Other people do. Other people that aren't you
In addition to the food, the elves had also brought his and Wood's homework from their various professors. They were under no technical obligation to do it at the moment-Professor McGonagall said he could do it if he felt well enough to do so, but they wouldn't be penalized for not doing it. Percy's stomach clenched painfully upon seeing the stack of parchment papers steadily grow bigger the more work he was brought. That was on top of what he had procrastinated on doing last week. It was too much and did nothing but make him panic.
He couldn't handle it, the work load. The due dates. The expectations.
Percy touched none of it. Only warily eyed the pile each time more work was added to it. He couldn't, wouldn't do it. It hurt too much to even look at it, but he couldn't pry his eyes off of it. It was like a disaster that was awaiting to make itself known. He was left on edge as a result, uneasily anticipating on it. Envisioning how it would all go down when he couldn't keep up his deceitful deed and had no other choice but to return to his classes, having to explain to his professors why his assignments weren't finished like they should have been.
The thought made his head hurt.
"Listen," Wood said later that night when the tower had quieted down and the time bordered on midnight. Neither of them were asleep yet. His dorm mate was doing something-of which nature he didn't know, only that Wood wasn't bothering him-to occupy himself and Percy was on his bed like he had been. It was the first words he'd spoken in a few hours and it made Percy glance up in his direction, his teeth sinking into his lower lip. "I...I know you don't want to talk about, well, you know. But, well, can you least listen to me for a moment? Don't have to talk, just listen, alright?"
No just leave me alone
Why can't you just stop talking?
Don't you understand I want nothing to do with you?
Can't you comprehend I don't want to do anything?
Percy didn't respond, nor did he look Wood in the eye. His dorm mate seemingly didn't know how to proceed after that, by the way he was pausing to gather his thoughts and scrunching up his face, making unflattering expressions.
"Look, I know we don't really know each other that well," Wood said, carefully. Again, there was a pause. He didn't spew out whatever he may be thinking. "And I don't really know why you tried to do it or why you thought no one would care."
The room felt like it getting smaller. Percy gripped his sheets.
"You're wrong, you know," Wood's voice was gentle. Sickeningly soft. Percy despised it. "About no one caring. I care. Your family would care if they knew."
Stop speaking on matters you know nothing of!
You don't know me. You know nothing about me
Don't give me that codswallop!
All of Percy's thoughts and feelings went unsaid.
"I know we haven't really talked or done much of anything together-" The answer to that would be nothing. We've never done anything together. "But I'd like to change that!" He seemed to gain some new energy, nodding enthusiastically to his proposition.
Wha-
Change it how?
What is he talking about?
At Percy's baffled expression, he cheerfully elaborated. "Let's become friends, yeah? We can eat together, be partners in class and oh! Maybe I'll even get you to to like quidditch! I've some magazines you can read, familiarize yourself with the game and all."
Why does everyone assume I don't like quidditch?
You did tell him you didn't
Yes, but even before that. People think I don't because I don't play
I've got favorite teams. I keep up with scores. I'm just not good enough to play
You would never be good enough
He blanched at the idea of being in front of the whole school, embarrassing himself to where he would be jeered at laughed at. Just like last week. Flashes of that night came back to him. He felt ill. As for Wood, he took Percy's silence on the matter and the way he'd considerably paled as resistance.
"Don't be like that," Wood grinned, good-naturedly. "M'sure if you do a little reading on it you'll love it."
I already know how the game works
I'm not stupid
Why can't people stop assuming?
Why do people also assume I'm obsessed with reading?
I have other interests
Like what?
Erm, well, plenty of things
Right
"No thanks," Percy muttered, folding his arms across his chest. "I'll pass."
"Oh, come on, Perce!" Percy scowled at the blasted nickname. At one time, when he and his siblings had been young and...closer-his heart gave a painful tug-, they'd called him that. Once they were able to speak properly and stopped referring to him as Per-ee. All it did was remind him of that simpler time. He didn't want to be reminded. "Just give it a try. How's it possible you're the only one that doesn't like it?"
I'm not
But you don't know enough about me to know that
No one does
They just assume
Because I'm not interesting enough
It was true, wasn't it? Wood was clearly playing some game. Thinking it would be humorous to see how far along he could string Percy, making him believe for just one second that he actually wanted to get to know him. After spending nearly seven years of avoiding him and acting like he didn't exist. Right. He wasn't daft. Wasn't gullible. Wasn't just going to take this lightly. It didn't make sense.
What a surprise
Is he trying to trick you or be helpful?
You don't even know
You're the one assuming now
Ironic, hmm?
Actually, just goes to show how much of a hypocrite you are
Which isn't much of a surprise at all
"I can lend you Quidditch Through The Ages if you'd like," Wood apparently hadn't given up on the subject, starting to look around for the aforementioned book. It would have been a bloody miracle if he found it, with the mess his dorm mate had going on his side of the room.
"No," Percy said, flatly. Wood stopped searching and frowned. "I don't want it."
"But why?" Wood asked, insistently. As if it was his business what Percy liked and supposedly disliked. "I'm sure you'll like it. It's thrilling! How can you not like it?"
I never said I didn't!
Technically, you did...
Oh for merlin's sake!
"Leave me alone," Percy glared at him.
"Oh, don't be like that," Wood said again. "I just think you should broaden your horizons, is all." Percy stiffened when his dorm mate came into closer proximity picking up one of his books that he hadn't touched in ages and waved it around. "I know you like your books but you should find other things as well."
"I know you like your books."
"I know."
"I know you."
Percy was shaking. "Get away from me."
"What? What did I-"
"Get away!"
Wood jumped back at the noise. Still, he decided that being stubborn and ignoring Percy's wishes was the way to go. "Not until you tell me what's wrong."
I don't have to tell you a bloody thing!
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because I don't have to!" Percy didn't like how Wood wasn't backing down.
"I know that!" Wood said just as passionately back. His voice was raised, somebody most likely heard him. They had to. "I know you don't, but I wished you did."
"Why?" Percy demanded. Why do you think it's any of your business?
"Because," Wood said, deliberately not answering the question.
"That isn't an answer!"
This was the most argumentative Percy had been in a long while. But he wasn't just going to stand there-lay there-and allow Wood to question him like that with no preamble.
"You're so secretive." That wasn't what Wood was going to say. Percy just knew it by studying his face. Merely what he settled for after some internal deliberation. "Why? Why be like that? Do you keep secrets from Penny, too?"
At the mention of his ex girlfriend, Percy squeezed his eyes shut.
"You...you want to break it off?" Percy vocalized his disbelief.
So many emotions were swirling inside of him at once. The tea he'd been drinking now sat uneasily on his stomach and he felt he could've vomited. He stared at Penny, who was sitting across from him, her hands fiddling with the strap of her beaded bag. She was uncomfortable, by the looks of things.
Their correspondence since the end of last term had dwindled drastically in comparison to the start of their relationship and previous holidays. It was really less of a productive conversation, genuine excitement and longing, and rather repeatedly exchanging pleasantries. Asking each other how they were, if they had been picked yet for Prefect again. Things like that.
It worried him a bit. It wasn't difficult to notice the change in Penny's responses, how the tone of her words no longer seemed to be as happy and bright. He didn't like it one bit, but he tried to convince himself it was all for nothing. She must be busy, he reasoned. She must have a lot of extra homework to do; he recalled her mentioning that her parents expected to continue some sort of muggle education as well as in addition to her magical one so she took classes in the summer-and complained to Percy about it was really too much at times.
"I'm sorry," Penny said, quietly. She glanced up at him and darted her eyes back down.
It was a weekday in muggle London. Despite the flow of children who were also free for the summer, the café was vacant. A couple workers were in the back kitchen, a whistling kettle being the only noise amid the thickening silence. Percy found that no words were adequate at a time like this.
"I don't understand," he said, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.
A flush came over Penny's pretty features. She was having trouble getting her words out, every so often the faint tap of her nails drew him in and he would momentarily forget about what they were discussing. "It's..." she hesitated, "it's not working out. I'm sorry."
"Not working out?" he repeated, faintly. 'I don't understand."
"We're both quite busy, Percy," Penny said after she took a deep breath. Then she hurriedly added to assure him. "It's nothing against you, of course. I won't fault for that. It's just...I suppose I've gotten the impression you haven't been interested lately."
Percy's mind was reeling. What was that supposed to mean?
Penny glanced down at her folded hands as she spoke again. "It makes sense." Her voice cracked and she daintily dabbed at her eyes. Percy didn't reach for her hand or comfort her in any way. He was frozen by her accusation. "You've always been very driven. I've admired that about you, you know. I know you will eventually get that ministry job you want, I just thought we would do it side-by-side," she gave him a weak smile, her eyes shiny from her tears.
"We can," he said, breathily, nodding vigorously as her smile turned sad. "We can. Who says we can't?"
"We're different, Percy. It's not a bad thing. We're just not meant to be together."
"Why-Penny, darling, I love you," Percy said with desperation.
"I know," she bit her lip.
She didn't say it back. She didn't tell him she loved him as well. Why hadn't she done it?
"You say you love me, but I don't think I'm who you really want."
"That's rubbish," Percy protested. "How can you think that? I'd do anything for you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
She was the only person who seemed to value him.
"We both know that's not true," she said to him. He was going to speak up but she held up her hand. "You're not in the right frame of mind right now. Neither of us are. We both have our priorities." She met his eyes, sighing regretfully. "It's just too bad we aren't each other's priority."
She got up to leave shortly after, casting a glance in his direction when she made it to the door. Percy unknowingly stayed in the café for nearly four hours, staring dead-eyed ahead as customers came in and out, whispering among themselves at the state he was in. No one was brave enough to approach him and for that, he was thankful. His mum had an absolute fit when he arrived back home late. She wagged a spoon at him, lecturing him on how he had other things to do besides be with his girlfriend, adding on that they better not have done what she thinks they might have done.
As his mum had scolded Percy, his mind couldn't focus. Ex girlfriend, he would inwardly correct. I no longer have a girlfriend.
"-you really shouldn't," Wood was advising him. Percy was yanked back to the present, where he was sitting in his dorm room and not the café in London with a whistling kettle. "She won't take too kindly to that. Keeping secrets."
Percy didn't like Wood speaking so freely of Penny as if he knew her. He didn't and he had no right to talk that way. He didn't know what Penny would want, what she would like or dislike, what would make her angry or upset.
Percy did.
Percy knew all of that and more. Everything there was to know about Penny Clearwater, he knew. The big things, the smaller, trivial things. From the way she viewed life to the specific way she liked to drink her tea. People like that, they got married and stayed together for the rest of their lives. They were supposed to do that! That should've happened to them. They would have taken on the world together instead of being torn apart prematurely.
"Shut up," Percy's jaw was clenched.
"I'm serious," Wood must not have noticed how tense he was. "I'd venture to say I know a bit about girls and in my honest opinion-"
"Shut up!" Percy hissed. "You know nothing about Penny and I. I'll not have you talk about our relationship as if you had any clue about it."
Don't you mean your lack of relationship? He was tauntingly reminded.
You're not together anymore
She doesn't want you
Penny doesn't like you anymore
She probably found someone else
Someone that's better
Better than you
Wood held his hands up in surrender. "Alright. I'm sorry. Didn't mean to upset you."
Why are you so angry?
He's just trying to be friendly
Yet you can't manage the same
Percy glared only half heartedly at him. He didn't want to be angry all the time or on edge. He was tired of feeling that way with no change happening. He was just completely done with the situation.
With life.
With everything.
A couple of pounds on the door to their dorm startled both boys. Their heads swiveled over there, staring. The knocks-pounds-were constant and soon two voices that made Percy' skin crawl began to call for Wood. "Oi, Oliver!" One of the twins hollered. "Open up!"
"We want to talk to you!"
Wood saw Percy's panicked expression. "Are you alright?" he was curious. "What's the matter with you? Still upset with them for what happened on Friday?"
"Don't open the door," Percy said, weakly.
"What?" Wood was confused.
"Please," Percy pleaded. He kept his voice at a whisper volume, looking at the door before turning his gaze back onto his dorm mate. "Just don't."
"But why?" Wood was whispering, too.
Percy's nerves were rocked, causing his patience to thin. "Just don't! Please."
"Don't make us blast the door open!" Fred called from the other side.
"We'll do it," George added, determinedly. "And don't pretend you aren't there. McGonagall told us you were."
Wood looked torn. "They probably just want to talk about quidditch," he said, as if to placate Percy.
Percy shook his head frantically.
"Look, go hide in the bathroom until they're gone," Wood suggested. "I won't let them find you, alright?"
He wasn't going to win this one. His dorm mate had the upper hand. He could just invite the twins in anyway even if Percy begged and bribed him. Resigned to his fate, the redhead fled to the temporary safe spot, shutting the door and listening with dread in his stomach, as his brothers' voices got louder.
"Fred, George," Wood acknowledged.
"Wood," they chorused.
"You weren't at practice."
"Angie thought you died."
"She was just a wee bit too gleeful about it, too."
"We swear there's something sadistic inside her."
"Well, I'm not dead," Wood said. "Just sick."
They both snorted.
"Right," Fred said, dryly.
"Did you skip out to plan Gryffindor's plays?" George asked him. "Or fly. McGonagall seems to think so."
Percy's breath hitched, fearful of what Wood would say.
"Why does everyone think that?" Wood huffed. "I haven't flown for four days now."
"Because you're obsessed," Fred said matter-of-factly.
"Well, like it or not, we wouldn't win without it," Wood said, stubbornly. Then the figurative dam broke and he could no longer act as though not practicing quidditch was fine by him. "Did you lot at least train today or yesterday? Sunday? I know I gave you Saturday off but that's no excuse not to train at all!"
Fred and George sighed.
"You really think we'd go this long without practicing?"
"Of course not, Olliekins."
"Good," Wood said, firmly. Then, out of curiosity, he asked them, "Who's captain?"
"Angie," George answered. "She took over pretty quick."
"I don't mind. It's nice to have practice without that bloody whistle," Fred said, lightly.
"And a chance to stare at Angelina," George said, teasingly. He let out an oof, indicating that Fred must have hit him fairly hard.
"Mock all you want," Fred said, dismissively. "You won't be laughing when I get a girlfriend before you do."
Wood snapped his fingers to redivert their attention. "Honestly, you two! Focus! We're not going to win that match against Slytherin if you don't."
"Oh, come off it, Oliver," George said.
"Yeah, the match isn't until next month."
"That isn't that far away!" Wood exclaimed like a mad man. "We need all the practice we can get if we want to crush them! Now, I've taken the liberty of writing out all new plays for us-"
"Aha!" Fred said. "So you did skip out."
"I didn't skip," Wood insisted.
"Well, why else wouldn't you come?"
"Because..." Wood trailed and for a split second, Percy thought his dorm mate was going to mention that night to them. "Err, well, I didn't do the homework McGonagall gave us last week and I can't afford to get a bad grade, or else she'll kick me off the team."
"Do you believe a word of this, Fred?"
"Hmm. Possibly. It makes sense. After all, we know how obsessive our captain is."
"Worse than a bee on a fly."
"Or a Malfoy to money."
"Is that all?" Wood said over their needless chattering. "I've things to do. Also wouldn't want McGonagall to find me like this, so if you've got anything else to say, do it now."
"Nothing much," Fred said.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist."
"Just wanted to see how you were doing," Fred told him. Percy heard the grin in his voice. "We knew you weren't really sick."
"Yes, well," Wood said, gruffly. "Now you know. So you can leave."
"Can you believe this, brother of mine?" Fred said, dramatically. "Our dearest Olliekins is kicking us out."
"After all we've done for him," George chimed in, pouting. "I've never been so insulted."
"You'll live," Wood said to them, plainly. Then, it seemed, a thought came to him and just as the footsteps of his brothers indicated they were, indeed, leaving-he stopped them. "Hold on, you two."
"Having second thoughts?" Fred said.
"Can't really blame you," George snickered. "We're irresistible."
There was a brief lapse of silence before Wood finally got onto it.
"Look," Wood said, like he didn't know where he was heading with this. "About Friday at dinner-"
"Wasn't that brilliant?" Fred said, brightly. "We weren't sure if our little idea would work."
"Let alone on Percy," George said and the twins erupted into laughter.
Percy's hands were in fists. His head ducked, eyes shut. Remembering that night and the laughter that surrounded him.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you both about."
What?
Why?
"Why?" Fred asked with incredulity.
"You don't even talk to him, do you?"
"Just listen," Wood told them, sternly. "You really ought to apologize to your brother. You really embarrassed him."
"Don't you think you're exaggerating just a little?" George said.
"It wasn't that bad. Unexpected, sure. But where's the harm?"
"The harm is that he was laughed at by practically the whole school," Wood wasn't happy with the two of them and Percy didn't know how to fully process that. It didn't make sense. Why was he upset on behalf of him?
He's not
He's trying to get in your good graces
Don't believe him
"Don't be so serious," Fred said. "Besides, we already got a lecture from McGonagall. She gave us detention with Filch."
"Yeah, and it wasn't that bad. Everyone'll forget about it soon enough."
"Have they yet?" There came another round of silence, to which only proved Wood's words. "Both of you need to start thinking about other people's feelings. How would you feel if Percy embarrassed you?"
They snorted at the idea.
"I'm serious!"
"Alright, but," Fred said and his tone showed Percy that he wasn't taking the situation seriously at all, "that was a bad comparison on your part."
"Why?" Wood challenged.
"Because it's-it's Percy," was the best response Fred could come up with.
"Yeah, you know how he is, since you live with him and all."
"To which we give you our condolences."
"Oh shove off," Wood told them. "He isn't so bad. You'd know that if you spent some time with him."
"I think our darling captain must be delirious from not flying," George said to Fred.
"You're definitely right. Why else would he tell us to spend time with Percy of all people?"
"He's gone mad, I'm afraid," George said, mournfully.
Percy tuned out the rest of the conversation. He didn't come out for quite some time or open the door upon Wood's request after his brothers had left.