im so sorry I forgot to post this last week last week! So now you'll get chapters 17 and 18

By Friday of that same week, both Percy and Wood were to be back in their classes.

It wasn't how things should've gone; Percy had strongly hoped he would have until the following week, but all thanks to Wood , he did not. On Thursday evening, just prior to dinner ceasing, his dorm mate had gone down to the common room where Fred and George had left something he'd been wanting to have returned-the specifics of which, Percy didn't know; just that Wood promised he'd be right back and that it would be fine because no one's down there anyway . He didn't know Professor McGonagall was coming to check up on them; right as his dorm mate got down to the last step on the staircase, she came through the portrait hole and was delighted to find him out of bed and looking well.

Percy was sitting up when Professor McGonagall came up to their dormitory. His jaw dropped but he picked it back up, clearing his throat. Wood was behind her, grimacing and mouthing that he was sorry over and over. "Professor McGonagall," he said, respectfully.

"Good evening, Mr. Weasley," she said to him, nodding. "I see you and Mr. Wood are doing better."

Percy couldn't very well deny her observation. He didn't want to risk arising any suspicion she might already have, for that reason, he could only agree. "Erm. Yes, ma'am."

Professor McGonagall was pleased. "Then I assume you both are well enough to return to your classes tomorrow?"

Percy's mouth went dry. Tomorrow? That was so soon. Sooner than he'd like. Must it be tomorrow? No, he'd wanted to scream. No, no, no! He couldn't do it. He couldn't go down there and face anyone. He'd rather stand in front of You-Know-Who or drown in the Black Lake.

But those weren't options right now.

He could already feel the apprehension beginning to creep up, his thoughts being ripped from what he had been thinking about to endless possibilities about what could go wrong. His breathing hitched and he nearly forgot that Wood and Professor McGonagall were still there.

"Yes, Professor," He said, breathily.

His voice didn't crack. He did not cry. He maintained a perfectly normal persona, a smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes.

Even though he wasn't mirroring that on the inside.

/

He can't do it.

He just can't.

He won't do it.

Percy's suffering of insomnia worsened the night before, where he laid in bed staring up at nothing while the sound of Wood snoring filled the room. A sense of panic seemed to take over his body the moment he heard his dorm mate awaken and get ready for the day, grumbling about something or other. His legs felt enormously heavy whilst he got dressed and went through his morning routine. Throughout doing so, his mind felt as though it were screaming. This was a mistake. He should have known better. He should have known that Professor McGonagall was suspicious of Wood and therefore would most likely do a spontaneous check on them to ensure it wasn't the trickery that it actually was.

But it was too late now to dwell on the what if's or what he should have done instead, the damage was done. She'd seen them in their recovery state, as she believed, and unless they were to get genuinely ill within the next few minutes that would prevent them from going anywhere, they were doomed.

Or, rather, Percy was doomed.

I can't do this , Percy swallowed back the bile that rose in his throat. I can't do this. I can't. I can't. I can't.

Standing right beside the door, eyes zooming in on the brass door knob, Percy couldn't bring himself to open it and walk out. Like a coward , his inner voice taunted. You're not worthy of being a Gryffindor. A true Gryffindor is brave. You aren't brave. You're a coward. The sorting hat made a mistake placing you here. You don't deserve any of the houses, really. You're not fit for any of them.

You aren't loyal. You're terribly selfish

Let's face it, you aren't smart, either. Just look at the amount of homework you didn't do

I'm afraid you aren't ambitious either

And you most certainly aren't brave

"Ready to go?"

Percy about jumped out of his skin. He whirled around, finding Wood all dressed in his uniform with his school bag slung over his shoulder. He looked tired, probably because for nearly a week straight he'd not adhered to the regular schedule that the other students did. Getting up and going to bed when he pleased. Besides that, he wore a friendly smile and didn't laugh at Percy for getting scared- startled - by his seemingly abrupt presence.

No . "I...I suppose," Percy glanced at the door like it was going to consume him whole. No. I don't want to go. I want to go back to bed and never leave .

They didn't move anywhere. Partly Percy's fault; he was closer to the door, effectively blocking Wood from leaving. Well, he could have gone if he just up and shoved Percy out of the way. But he didn't. He waited patiently, pretending to be fussing with his tie, which didn't seem to want to stay in place. Of course, it didn't help the aggressive way Wood was tugging at it.

"Stupid thing," his dorm mate kept muttering.

Percy was sick to his stomach when he stepped out in the hallway that led to the stairs which would take them down to the common room. As of right now, there was no one in the hallway; they must have been in their dorms, in the common room or in the Great Hall. But they weren't there . He was moving slowly, dread creeping up the further they had to go.

"You okay?" Wood asked, concerned.

He's not

He's not concerned

Don't fall for it

"Fine," Percy exhaled shakily. "I'm fine."

Wood wasn't convinced. "You sure?"

Please just leave me alone

Please

"Yes," Percy's legs weren't heavy anymore, now they were shaky. Terribly so. Just how was he standing upright? How had he not collapsed? The common room was empty, appearing bigger now that there weren't a large amount of students gathered. The fireplace wasn't producing any fire, not needing to because it wasn't the right temperature for one, but it still gave off a smokey, earthy scent. The smell irritated his nose and he wrinkled it.

"You don't look fine," Wood was still going on about it. He'd come out from behind Percy, falling into step with him, peering at the redhead far too closely. "You look...sick. Are you actually sick this time?"

How can Percy try to concentrate on trying not to vomit when Wood was repeatedly asking him questions?

"M'sure you'll feel better once you eat," Wood said as they left through the portrait hole and began to go down the long staircase. "I'll tell you, I can't wait to have some waffles. No one makes 'em better than the elves. Not even my mum, but don't tell her I said that. She's the designated baker and cook in our family. My dad's good, too. But my parents have this agreement going on: my mum likes to listen to some muggle band that my dad hates while she cooks so he doesn't have to hear it. Dunno what it's called but it's awful. Don't know why my mum and Aunt are so mad over it."

Percy was able to tune out Wood's babble. He was used to doing things like that, pretending he wasn't there or otherwise acting like the noise wasn't affecting him. When they came to the end of the staircase, after he'd taken his time going down, trying to make it take longer than necessary, a few other students came around the corner. It was a group of four boys, none of whom belonged in his and Wood's year or Gryffindor house. All of them were Ravenclaws. They were in the midst of a conversation when they spotted Percy, nudging each other and pointing.

Percy's chest constricted. He came to a full stop.

"Say, Weasley," one of them called, "plan on giving us another show sometime soon?"

The four of them burst into peals of laughter. At his expense.

"I dunno, mate," one of the other boys who stood right next to the first boy that had spoken said, "not sure I want to see more."

They laughed again and it pounded in Percy's ears. His face flushed.

This was a mistake. He should've stayed upstairs where it was safe. Why had he come down?

Most unexpectedly, Wood spoke up. He glared at the boys and snapped. "Oi, leave him alone!"

Percy's head snapped in his direction. Caught off guard.

The four boys snickered, exchanging glances of amusement between themselves. "Oh, no," the third boy said, mockingly. "Seems we've upset Weasley's little bodyguard here."

"Whatever will we do?" The fourth boy put a hand to his forehead in fake despair.

"Leave him alone," Wood said, firmly.

The first boy locked eyes with Wood, smirking. "What are you, his boyfriend or something?"

"I said leave him alone." Wood refused to be goaded into a fight. "Or I'll gladly tell Professor McGonagall on all of you."

Percy's head shifted from Wood to the boys and back to his dorm mate. A peculiar look was on his face, having difficulty registering what had just happened. He watched as the boys suddenly didn't seem to be so hypothetically big as before. The subtle threat was enough.

"Let's go," the first boy ordered his friends to follow him, shooting both Percy and Wood one last glare before departing.

"What a git," Wood scowled. But that look disappeared as he swiftly turned to gaze at Percy. "You alright?"

Percy wished he was anywhere but there. "You didn't have to say anything."

"Course I did," Wood said, giving him a strange look. "I wasn't about to let them talk to you like that."

"Well, it was still quite unnecessary," Percy said, stiffly. "I could have very well said something myself."

But you didn't

You can't

You're a coward

"Of course," Wood said, humoring him. Percy thought he was only doing so to be polite and not cause an argument, not that he actually agreed with him.

"So I would prefer if you stayed out of it," Percy added, just to make himself clear on the issue. "I...I don't need help defending myself." Let alone from you. "I'm perfectly fine on my own."

Wood didn't respond right away. He hummed a tune, showing no signs of being hurt or aggravated with Percy's request. It was quiet between them as they continued to walk, or if one wished for an accurate visualization: Percy slowed down in hopes Wood would walk far ahead of him and get separated. His dorm mate was typically a fast walker, so it only further caused confusing feelings to arise when Wood purposefully slowed down his own pace so he could match Percy's.

"Didn't say you weren't," Wood shrugged. "Course, you know, it's alright to ask for help."

"I don't need it," Percy straightened up. Most certainly not from you . "I'm fine."

"Right, well," Wood said, trailing off but recovering. They were nearing the Great Hall. Percy's heart began to beat rapidly. "I just want you to know I'm here for you."

Percy glanced at him sideways, not knowing how to decipher that.

No one else took a jab at Percy, at least while they were still on the way down to the hall. It meant that Wood was quiet, too. But he did glare at some, in a way that reminded the redhead of his mum when she gave his siblings that motherly look, just daring them to continue with whatever action she'd caught them doing that they shouldn't have been. However, even if the other students weren't openly taunting him, it didn't mean they weren't reacting.

Their eyes, he felt dozens on him, moving along with him. He ducked his head, so he didn't make eye contact. But the feeling was still there. And the whispers; they followed him as well, all of it jumbled together that came out like a hiss. The not so subtle laughter that brought him back to that night.

Awful, terrible, horrifying laughter.

At his expense.

"I can't do this," Percy breathed, shaking his head wildly. Wood halted to a stop, turning to face him, concerned. By now, they'd walked away from the few students that had been whispering and laughing. A few students who had felt like it were many of them, to Percy. They'd made it to just outside of the hall where the large wooden doors were wide open.

And that was far as he was going to go.

"I can't do this," Percy blurted out.

"Sure you can," Wood was trying to be encouraging. "Go on. I'll be right there with you."

I can't!

Don't you understand?

I can't do it

"I'm...I'm not going," Percy stammered. "I can't. I can't do this."

"But, mate-" Percy was so consumed by his panic that he did not react to Wood's words. "You can't. McGonagall will have your hide. She thinks you're well."

"I don't care," Percy was steadily working himself up and he felt pathetic for being that way. "I just...I just don't care."

He hadn't made a scene. Not that he was trying to. On the contrary, he didn't want any more attention drawn to him. He didn't expect anybody to be looking his way anyway. He wasn't extraordinary enough. He was just plain old Perfect Prefect Percy.

"Come on," Wood said, quietly. "You can do this. Just one step at a time. We'll sit at the end. No one's there now. If that's alright with you."

Percy felt all eyes on him as his feet thudded against the floor and he slid down onto the seat. He jumped a little when Wood sat down across from him, dropping his bag next to him.

"What are you-"

"I told you I'd be there with you," Wood said, simply.

I don't understand

Why?

This doesn't make any sense

What does he have to gain from this?

His dorm mate's eyes brightened up upon seeing a platter full of crispy, golden brown Belgian waffles. He eagerly reached for them, stacking precisely four on his plate, pouring a generous amount of sticky maple syrup on each waffle before placing the next down on top. The syrup was overflowing, it dripped onto the table. Wood dug in, taking hearty bites .

Meanwhile, Percy didn't have the same gusto as Wood did. He didn't want anything, actually. Not when he still heard the whispers surrounding him. Did they know? Were they aware of...of that night, of that incident? They must. Why else would they still be talking about him?

Wood held up the platter of waffles in his direction. "Hu'ry?" He asked through a mouthful of chewed up food.

"No."

Wood was doubtful. "You sure? You need to keep up your strength. It's a while 'till lunch."

He sounds like Ron

"I'll manage," Percy was uncomfortable in his seat, having been used to laying in his bed for the past few days.

"Look," Wood leaned in a bit, "I know you say you're not, but you've got to be starving by now. You haven't eaten right in days. You can't keep going on like this. Just eat a little something, won't you?"

"I really don't want to..."

Wood frowned. Seconds later, Percy's gaze flickered back to him and saw him grabbing the nearest box of cereal Wizard Oats and dumped a cup or so into the bowl against the redhead's wishes and pushed it towards him, along with the pitcher of milk. "Didn't know if you wanted the milk or not," he said, without letting Percy have any room for objections. "Dunno about you, but I hate it. Makes the cereal too soggy." He made a face.

Percy reluctantly took the bowl, pushing his spoon through it and moving it around but not making an effort to actually eat it. He can't. He can't do it. The smell was getting to him, even though it was nothing new to him. He remembered how it tasted last time, so bland and stale and disgusting. He can't do it. He let go of the utensil and it clinked against the glass.

"Just eat half, yeah?" Wood said to him like a mother would try to coax her children into eating at least some of the vegetables on their plates. "Better than nothing."

"'I don't-"

"Oh, Percy!"

Percy's head whipped around to see Penny walking towards him. What was all this about? She had no reason to come see him. Her hair was as wild as ever, still as soft looking as they had been when they'd been dating. He'd held a fondness for her hair; sometimes, in the rare instances where it was just the two of them and he could decompress, Percy wrapped a strand of her hair around his finger, absentmindedly toying with it. Her hair was as soft as it looked and smelled sweetly of vanilla.

Percy jumped when he felt a kick to his foot.

It was from Wood. He jerked his head toward Penny, who was still standing there, albeit now with an awkward smile. Percy flushed when he realized he must have been staring. Very obvious staring that could be taken wrongly. She could misinterpret it as him wanting to get back together.

But you do

Don't you?

You wish you had someone to care about you

You wish you had someone to love you

"Hello, Percy," Penny said, gently.

"Oh, erm. Hello, Penny."

Penny looked over at Wood, surprise clouding her face at their seating arrangement. Her eyes flew over to Percy again. "Good morning to you, too, Wood. Oliver, right? Sorry, I'm terrible with names." She was apologetic.

He shot her a smile. "Aye, don't worry about it."

"I'm Penny," she introduced herself.

"I know who you are. Say, it's been-what-two years now since you two got together?' He grinned and nudged Percy with his foot.

Penny's smile became rather fixed. She looked at Percy and he was afraid she would let it slip. Let everyone know how much of a loser you are. But they already know that. Don't they? "Something like that..."

Percy was immensely relieved.

A silence came over the three of them, lasting almost a minute. "So, erm," she started again, "You missed the meeting on Sunday-" How did she... "Professor McGonagall told everyone you were sick. Are you feeling better now?"

Percy fought to wring his hands, feeling suddenly nervous now that he was being questioned. "I suppose so...yes."

"That's good," She said. "Ivan asked me to fill you in, from the meeting, I mean."

Wood was trying to wipe off a spot of syrup on his tie, with much more force than he needed, resulting in him smearing the mess rather than cleaning it up. "What do you do at those meetings, anyway?" he asked without looking up.

"Oh, loads of things," Penny said in an upbeat tone. "Scoping out future Prefects, discuss any issues or problems we think are important and plan any events that might be held at Hogwarts."

"Blimey, that's..." Wood was searching for an appropriate word, "...interesting."

He didn't sound like he thought so.

Penny turned her attention back onto Percy, much to his dismay. "Anyway, there's not much to tell. Ivan did catch your brothers-Fred and George, that is-sneaking out past curfew but they got away before he could do anything. Not to mention, we know someone's sneaking out to the pitch at night and flying unsupervised."

Out of Percy's peripheral, he saw a sheepish look come to Wood's face.

Penny didn't notice. "We were hoping you could talk to your brothers and make sure they're abiding by the rules." Percy's hands tightened. "Could you? You don't mind, right? It's just that we don't want any of the younger years to get any ideas and they'd probably listen to you better then if it were any of us."

They won't

They don't listen to me

They don't even like me

They wish I wasn't born

"Oh, of course," Percy can't decline. He can't give any excuse because there wasn't any that made sense. Why couldn't he?

"Thanks!" Penny said, brightly. "We also decided to have a few of the Prefects stand guard to make sure those late night flyers are in their dorms where they belong."

"Really?" Wood didn't like that idea-no surprise there. "What's the harm? S'just flying."

"It isn't just flying," Penny disagreed. "It specifically states in the Hogwarts handbook-"

"Hang on," Wood interrupted. "We have a handbook?"

"Yes," Penny said, slowly. "Of course."

"Since when?"

"Since...we always have, I believe," Penny said.

"I've never seen it," Wood said.

"I suppose you wouldn't have. It's typically given to muggleborns with their letters so they understand the expectations beforehand. Half bloods and pure bloods, I reckon, are expected to be told everything by their families so they don't send it to them."

"Huh," Wood muttered to himself.

"As I was saying," Penny's train of thought went back to what they were originally discussing, "it's specifically stated in the handbook that students must be in their towers by curfew, no expectations. If you'd like, I can show you where it is-"

"I'll take your word for it," Wood said, dryly.

She wasn't deterred by his answer."So you see, we can't be lax with them. They need to understand we're serious about the rules. Which is why all of us-" That was incorrect. He hadn't agreed to anything. Because you weren't there . "-decided that if we happen to see a student out past curfew, we're docking fifteen points and giving a week's detention," she said, satisfied.

"Little harsh?" Wood raised his eyebrows.

"Not at all. We want the students to know we're taking this violation seriously."

Wood muttered something as he took a drink.

"Other than that," Penny was back to speaking directly to Percy again, "I believe that covers everything. Unless you have any questions-?"

"I don't," he said, shortly.

Wood stood up, stretching. He spied Fred and George's friend, Lee Jordan sitting a few feet away. "Think I'm going to see Lee for a moment," he said to Percy. "Be right back. If you don't mind?"

Penny looked confused.

Percy shrugged, avoiding eye contact with either of them. He watched as Wood walked down there, dropping into the seat next to Lee. Penny was still standing there and she, too, followed to where Percy's eyes were.

"He really thinks I don't know it's him," she said with a small smile. When Percy didn't reciprocate, she tried another tactic. "Are you two friends now?" She asked with an odd tone that he couldn't place.

No

We're not

I want nothing to do with him

"Errr..."

"I wouldn't have thought," Penny said. "You're both so...so different."

She means that Wood is popular and outgoing and vibrantly happy

And you're just you

Nothing

The nobody of the Weasleys

The one that everyone looks over

"I suppose we are..."

"I don't mean any offense, of course," Penny said, quickly. "I'm happy for you, finding a friend. That's good. It's great. I just didn't expect it to be Wood, that's all."

She sat down next to him. Percy didn't like that, her being so close. So nonchalant over it. As if they were still together and not permanently broken up. "I know we haven't talked much," she murmured, "since, well you know..."

He did.

He knew very well.

"I just wanted to check on you after what happened at dinner. It was really mean of your brothers to do that."

He shrugged, because that was the only thing he knew to do.

"Are you okay?" She asked, softly.

A few feet behind Penny, there were some third years imitating him, putting their hands down in front of their private area to cover themselves like he had. They laughed like it was a really amusing joke.

He shrugged again.

"I'm really sorry," she said with what he felt was oversaturated sympathy. "I can't believe everyone was laughing at you."

I can

Because you're a loser

Of course they laughed at you

Why wouldn't they?

"Yes, well..." he trailed off.

Penny tried to make him feel better, simply because she felt it was an obligation for being the person to initiate the topic in the first place. "I'm sure they'll forget about it soon, Percy."

I'm not so sure

"Something else will come along and no one will even remember what happened."

Wistful thinking on your part

Fred and George will never let me live it down

"Perhaps you're right," he said because he didn't feel like arguing with her. It was no use. For one, she was far particularly headstrong when she wished to be. Secondly, it would end up being a game between them; no matter how much he would insist, she would say otherwise. Never mind the fact that he knew his own brothers better than she did, she was optimistic to a fault. It was one of the reasons he sought her out; she was the opposite of him in that aspect, so happy and cheery, looking at the best in people and situations when others-when he -did not. It'd be the same now. She was certain he just needed to give it time.

She couldn't have been more wrong.

"Of course I am," she said with that playful grin that brought back memories of their time together. It vanished soon after and her solemn expression returned. "I meant what I said, it'll get better. If you'd like, I can take your Head responsibilities for a bit. You know, until...until things clear up. If you want."

Did no one think he was capable?

You aren't

You never will be

"No, thank you," he managed to say. "I've got it."

"I had a feeling you'd say that," she said, quietly. "Really, there's no shame in admitting you need help. I hope you know that."

He said nothing.

Wood came back over to where Percy was sitting and took his bag off of the bench. "Ready to go?" he said, despite looking down at the redhead's uneaten breakfast.

Percy rose to his feet, taking a quick drink of juice to quench his throat. "I'm sorry if I interrupted anything," Penny apologized, smoothing down her robes.

"You didn't," Wood assured her when Percy said nothing and she bit her lip.

"I'll just-" she gestured over to the Ravenclaw table, "I need to get my things. I'll see you two around."

"Hang on a moment-don't we have history of magic together?" Wood asked as if he just had a realization.

"For the past six years," she said with humor in her voice.

" Really ?"

"You'd know if you didn't spend the class sleeping," she retorted and left, letting out a slight laugh.

"Really?" Wood repeated. Then, to Percy, he said, "Did you know?"

"Yes," Percy was already feeling the effects from the juice on his empty stomach.

"Well, how about that," Wood slapped him on the back when they came to the end of the table. Percy flinched. His dorm mate cursed. "Sorry, Weasl- Percy . Forgot you don't like being so rough. Anyway, off to Herbology? I know we share that class."

He chuckled.

Percy did not.

"Are you going to follow me around all day?"

Wood gave him a warm smile. "I told you I'm not leaving. I'm making do on that promise."