Loud snores yanked Percy out of sleep completely just as he was on the verge of waking up. Eyes cracking open, he found himself back in his dormitory, not his bedroom at the Burrow, slightly disoriented. He licked his dry lips, a yawn coming through. Another ripple of noise had him looking over to his side; Wood was still asleep, down on his stomach, one arm hanging off the bed.

Must be nice

He laid there, breathing in and out, the urge to curl back under the blankets awfully tempting. It'd been yet another restless night, tossing and turning, waking up in the middle of the night once or twice to darkness and the soft snores of his dormmate. Right now, Percy's head felt heavy, a dull ache behind his eyes as he sat up to pull himself together long enough to start getting ready for the day.

At the end of the break, just one day before he and his younger siblings were due to return to Hogwarts, Bill and Charlie needed to leave for their respective jobs. No one wanted them to go, Mum especially. She swept them up in tight hugs, weeping at the thought of being apart once again.

"It's alright, Mum," Charlie was gently trying to pry her off of him. "I'll write, I promise."

"We both will," Bill added while in an embrace with Dad. His back was patted strongly, and the two of them let go.

He'd been hoping to avoid another moment alone with both of his brothers. After that night, he'd done well not to end up in a situation like that again, fairly sure that Bill and Charlie knew what he was doing but not once did they lure him into another conversation. Even so, it didn't stop Percy's insides from churning with nerves at the mere possibility.

And with that, came the guilt. He didn't want to feel that way, nor should he be the slightest bit relieved that they would be leaving. He loved his brothers, he really did. It's just- he needed space, to breathe and to push the discussion on Christmas Eve out of mind.

It'd simply been too much, perhaps that should have been obvious, but Percy somehow thought he could tell them. Deep within him, he'd wanted to, yearning to finally be noticed but then it all went so wrong. In the midst of things, between Charlie's impatience and Bill trying to be the sensible one and coax him into talking, he'd wanted nothing more than to escape.

You ungrateful little sod

You should be happy they bothered to try

No one else would have

No one except Wood and he doesn't count. He feels obligated to

Luckily for him, there'd been no more conversations to trap him in. At the end of their stay, Bill and Charlie pulled him aside, away from everyone else to speak a few quiet words of encouragement that only he was meant to hear. They hugged him a little tighter than they usually did, a little longer too, savoring that moment dearly.

"We'll write to you," Charlie whispered. "Every week."

"No, that's not necessary. You both have jobs-"

"Never mind that," Bill took over when Charlie let go. It'd been a long while since Percy felt the arms of his older brother around him. "We're your brothers before anything else."

He'd not known just how significant those words were to Percy. It was a lot to comprehend.

Swinging his legs over his bed, Percy, still not yet fully awake, padded over to the loo to relieve himself. On the way there, he happened to spare a glance down at his dormmate. Wood was notoriously an early riser, usually out of his fanaticism for booking practices at dawn. This morning, however, he was dead to the world.

You could wake him up

It's the least you can do, really

After all, he could have told them

And he didn't

Percy was vaguely uncomfortable doing so, even if there was some truth to the matter. "Err," he muttered, far too quiet for anyone to hear him. Louder, he said, "Get up. We've got classes today. Come on."

For reasons he couldn't quite understand, his face warmed.

Wood stirred, mumbling, the sunshine highling a faint trail of drool that was on the side of his face. Percy let out a long breath, mildly frustrated, and tried again.

"Come on. It's time to get up if you want to eat before class."

Bleary eyes fluttered open, widening at the sight of Percy standing over his bed. Startled, Wood jerked.

"Bloody hell, mate!"

Percy had flinched too, they'd been frightened at the same exact time. "I was trying to wake you," it was after he'd said it that he considered how odd that must sound. He'd never done that in all the years they've shared a room together.

Yes, he thought, as Wood blinked, That was it.

"You were?"

"Yes," Percy's voice lowered as an awkward silence came over them. "You were still asleep." Wood said nothing, he simply stared. "You could have been late."

Stop talking!

"Oh," Wood finally said, legs tucked underneath him. The blanket slid down to his lap, revealing more of the thick nightshirt he'd worn to bed. Then, a smile bloomed over his face, not quite reaching his eyes, Percy couldn't help but note. "Thanks."

He doesn't need your help

He could have gotten up on his own

But he feels like he has to thank you

Why can't you get a clue?

A crowd of sleepy students filled the corridor moving along to their classes. It was quieter than usual, though that wouldn't last as the week went on. Percy was on his way to Charms with Wood by his side. All morning, Wood was acting strangely. Nervous, distracted. He spent all of breakfast darting his eyes over to the head table where all the professors were, barely eating himself. Percy didn't know what to make of it, unless this had to do with yesterday when they'd skipped the feast. His insides filled with dread. Did anyone know? Had they spoken to Wood when he left to go to the kitchens?

Asking Wood did no good. Each time, he would insist he was fine, hastily changing the subject as if Percy was too stupid to notice what he was doing.

Wood yawned for the umpteenth time. "It's too bloody early to be awake."

"It's almost lunch."

His dormmate grunted. "What're you doing after class?"

"Homework, most likely," Percy replied. He was already anticipating all the work that was to be done later on. It might have been the first day back but that didn't mean anything to the teachers.

"That's so bloody stupid," Wood groaned, only for him to quickly add in, "not you, of course. Just that we're getting homework today. It's the first day back. We shouldn't have to do this yet."

On some level, Percy agreed. Although, that had more to do with the fact that he couldn't yet forget last term's incident where he'd done none of his required work prior to their ruse. Before that day, he'd never so much as gotten anything lower than an Exceeds Expectations. He dreaded to think of what would happen this time around, imagining that there came a time where he was too overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work and could not do it.

"Want to study later?" Wood suggested casually. "I've got quidditch practice after class but we work together after dinner."

It came as quite a surprise to Percy that he didn't despise the idea. It was relatively tame coming from Wood. "I suppose," he said after a moment of silence. "That's fine."

"Brilliant!" Wood beamed. "I'll need all the help I can get with Potions."

He just wants to use you

Did he? Months ago, Percy would have definitely believed so. Now, he was conflicted.

He just wants help with classwork

He doesn't care about you

He just wants to copy your answers

It made sense. Wood had the best access to him out of anyone. He could use him to improve his grades, all while under the guise of further forming a friendship.

And yet, doubt was creeping up.

He gave me a present

He keeps checking on me

He kept my secret

"Ay-" Percy blinked, looking over at his dormmate. "You alright?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You were staring off into space," Wood pointed out. Percy flushed. "Bit weird, if you ask me."

"Yes, well...I'm fine."

"If you say so," Wood shrugged, then changed the subject to - predictably - quidditch. "Ay, I've spent some of the break devising a new quidditch plan. It should work."

"Just some?" Percy said dryly.

Wood grinned, playfully punching Percy in the shoulder. The redhead tensed momentarily, relaxing when he realized what Wood was doing. That was considered a friendly gesture. That's what Bill and Charlie have done to each other. "My parents made me quit for a while. Said I had to do something else. Don't know why. Can't they see how important the cup is?"

Neither of them paid any attention to quickened footsteps that came from behind, so they were caught off guard when Marcus Flint and Terence Higgs shoved their way through, nearly knocking him and Wood to the floor.

"Oops, sorry," Flint cackled.

It was known to everyone just how much of a rivalry Wood and Flint had, especially during quidditch. He wasn't going to take this lightly.

"Come back and face me, Flint!"

"Don't," Percy was muttering, growing flustered as he observed the way Flint and Higgs turned back around while other students began to take notice of them. Wood must not have heard him, not with all his attention on the two Slytherins.

"What was that, Wood?"

"You heard me!"

Wood had no qualms about going up against him, and that was exactly what Percy wished to avoid. The redhead's breath hitched, unable to take his eyes off of the two.

"Better watch yourself," Higgs said coolly. "Wouldn't want anything to happen before the next match."

"That a threat?" Wood locked onto him with cold eyes.

"Consider it a promise if you don't keep yourself in check."

Wood must have just barely refrained from lunging at the former seeker. Maybe if things were different, Percy might've stopped him, grabbing hold of him before he could do anything stupid. But he couldn't possibly think about that right now, not when his brain short-circuited the second Flint made eye contact with him.

"Cat got your tongue, Weasley?" He sneered. Percy shrunk a little.

You can't even defend yourself, huh?

Everyone sees it

They see how incompetent you are

If you can't stand up for yourself, how can you stand up for them?

Words failed him at that moment. He wanted to speak, to do something other than stare dumbly at Flint, but he physically could not form anything.

"Not going to take points?" Hggs joined in, a sly grin on his lips.

"Leave him alone," Wood slid closer to Percy, glaring at the two of them.

"Oi, can it, Wood-"

"I said, leave him alone."

Wood and the two Slytherins stared aggressively at each other, waiting for the other to break.

There were a few lingering students around, eagerly awaiting a fight that could commence. They'd be disappointed, however, because no such thing happened. It was a couple tense seconds, though. There were splotches of red on Wood's cheeks, a look that Percy had seen only on rare occasions.

Miraculously, no wands were brandished.

"Leave Percy out of this," Wood warned, his Scottish brogue more apparent.

"Or what?" Flint challenged. "You think your boyfriend can't fight his own battles?"

"He's not my boyfriend," Wood bristled.

Warmth flooded Percy's face when some nearby classmates snickered. He wanted to escape, to get out of here and go back to bed so he could be done with it. If only he could move his feet.

"Drop it," Percy whispered. "Just drop it."

"Listen to your boyfriend, Wood," Higgs taunted. Wood was this close to whipping his wand out.

"Bugger off," he said through grit teeth.

"Or what?" Flint repeated, but then had his arm grabbed by Higgs, whose head subtly inclined. Percy didn't catch a glimpse of what or who was coming, but whatever - or whoever - it was, it made Flint break away from Wood.

Unfortunately they wouldn't get away from either of them that easily. They still had Charms together.

"You'd better go," Wood snapped, and when the two were further away, he scowled. "Wanker."

Percy didn't trust himself to breathe until they disappeared down the corridor. By then, the surrounding students grew bored and eventually wandered away now that their thirst for violence wouldn't be fulfilled.

"You don't have to do that," Percy knew it was useless to say, knowing Wood would want to do it anyway, but he'd still try.

"Do what?"

"...Defend me to them," Percy said as they resumed walking. "It's not necessary."

Wood's face scrunched up in confusion. "I'm not going to let them talk to you like that."

Percy fiddled with his strap. "It's not very wise of you."

"Why?" Wood frowned.

You really don't see it?

"They'll just keep saying it," Percy said quietly, which did nothing to alleviate Wood's perplexity, "they'll call us boyfriends."

"So?"

For the second time that day, Percy found himself unable to function properly. "What?" He said, stunned.

"So?" Wood shrugged. "I don't care."

"You don't?"

"I don't like blokes but who cares what Flint and Higgs say? We know it's a load of dragon dung," Wood said matter-of-factly. "Besides, I wasn't mad about that- well, no, I was a bit but I'm they've got no right to talk to you like that. Would've tried to hex them if I didn't think McGonagall might find out."

It was said so casually, so sincerely. Percy was taken back.

Then, out of his peripheral vision, he could see curly hair coming into view, effectively switching his focus to someone else he'd rather not see right now.

"Percy," she fell into step with them, her curly hair bouncing behind her. She gave him a smile, the kind that used to have him rendered flustered. "Hello to you both," she acknowledged Wood as well. "How was your break?"

"It was fine," Percy said.

"Loads of fun," Wood said. "But I'm happy to be back. Now I can work on more quidditch strategies so we won't lose the cup to the Slytherns."

She nodded, but not really taking it in. "Could I borrow you for a second, Percy?"

"Me?" he said dumbly. "Err, what for?"

Wood was wondering the same thing. He looked between the two of them, now they'd all stopped practically in the middle of the corridor once again. Several disgruntled students maneuvered past them, grumbling over it.

"It'll only take a second," she promised, deliberately not elaborating. The Charms classroom was a couple of doors down, surely Wood could leave them for just a moment.

"Sure," Wood said, not moving.

Penny obviously wanted them to be alone, and she conveyed this by a simple glance in Percy's direction.

"Go on," he said without fully looking at his dormmate.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Percy muttered, embarrassed given the way Penny was watching them. "Go on. I'll be there."

Wood didn't want to leave him there. Percy didn't think he was actually going to go until something in him gave in, and there on he went down to class without him.

Now it was just him and Penny.

What does she even want?

She's barely spoken to you unless it's to do with your Head duties

"Let's move over here," Penny suggested. They moved off to the side to stand near the wall so they would get out of everyone's way.

"What did you need to speak to me about?" Percy said. To anyone else, he sounded normal, not wrecked with nerves. "Does this have anything to do with the meetings?"

"No," she said, taking a deep breath. "No. It doesn't."

She said no more, letting that sentence hang in the air.

"It's just...I feel that I should tell you-"

He waited in anticipation, stomach coiling.

"I've been seeing someone," she said, carefully watching for a reaction from him.

It was certainly not the news he expected to hear. "Well," he said, unsure of how to proceed, "err, congratulations, Penny." I don't know why you feel like you have to tell me.

"Thank you," she fiddled with her tie. "I know I don't have to tell you but I felt like I should."

"Right," he said. "Well, I already knew anyway. Fred and George caught you snogging him."

Penny was slightly alarmed. "They did? Did they happen to mention who it was?"

"No..." Percy was getting an awful feeling just now.

Her lips thinned out, eyes briefly shifting away from him.

"Well, I suppose you should know. You'll find out soon enough anyway," Penny said as if she were speaking to herself more than to him. "It's Ivan."

Ivan. The Ravenclaw Prefect.

"Oh."

They were untethered now. Percy had no right to feel upset about this latest development. And truth be told, it was unclear to even himself if he was.

It just...it was so final.

He'd accepted a while back that it was over between them. There was no back to what it once was. Only now, it was well and truly over. Penny moved on, she'd found something much shinier.

Everything that he couldn't do for her, Ivan probably could.

"We've been seeing each other for a month or so," she admitted.

"Have you?" Percy wished he could have followed Wood to Charms instead.

She had to he noticed his longing gaze. "I just thought you should know before our next meeting. I don't want it to be awkward in there for any of us."

You should have thought about that before you went off to snog somebody else

She has a right to snog whomever she wants. We're not a couple any longer

But why did she have to choose a Prefect? She could have chosen anyone else!

"It won't be," Percy said.

Except, it would. Walking into those meetings to find Penny and Ivan sitting nearby each other. Catching them Walking around, her arm around his, eyes bright and giggles streaming from her mouth. Perhaps even inadvertently witnessing a snog from them.

She was relieved. "I'm glad," she said, a smile emerging.

The conversation began to drift away, but he was saved from any more uncomfortable silence when Penny sprung into action so she wouldn't be late for her own class.

"I've got to get going," she said. "Bye Percy."

"Right," he watched her walk away, her curls bouncing once more. "Goodbye."

In Charms, Wood was seated at their usual table, clearly keeping a look out for him. He straightened up like a board when Percy was the last to enter the classroom just seconds before he would be considered late.

"What did she want?" He whispered poorly as the redhead sat down.

"I don't want to talk about it," Percy said shortly. Now, Wood was concerned. But he didn't get a chance to ask anymore questions; Professor Flitwick came in, greeting them cheerfully.

"Good afternoon, students! I trust you all had a wonderful break?"

There were various responses, some of which were just tired grunts. Professor Flitwick smiled at them all anyway, using his wand to open all the curtains. Sunshine burst in, and a few students turned their heads away to keep it out of their faces.

"I know you are all probably getting excited," he said. "You're almost done but I must encourage you to keep up with your assignments. Do not start putting them off."

As the professor spoke more about the importance of finishing off strong, Percy's attention was briefly diverted to Wood when his dormmate discreetly nudged him.

"Ay," he whispered.

For the moment, Percy tried to ignore him. But then Wood nudged him again. Three times, four.

"What?" Percy murmured, aggravated.

"What did Clearwater want?"

"It's none of your business," Percy kept his voice down so Professor Flitwick wouldn't hear.

"But why can't you tell me?"

"Because I don't want to-"

"Gentlemen?" Professor Flitwick called to them. He wasn't angry about their disobedience but there was a slight change to his tone, reminding them that they ought to know better. "Whatever you have to discuss, I'm sure it can wait for the moment. You'll have a bit of time to talk about whatever you'd like."

"Yes, Professor," Percy and Wood mumbled. The redhead sunk down in his seat, blushing through his shame. He'd never so much as been called out like this before.

"Yeah, quit talking," Flint snickered from the other side of the classroom. Several other Slytherins chuckled along with him.

"I did not ask for your input, Mr. Flint," Professor Flitwick said scoldingly. That was lost after the seventh year complied. He went to sit on the edge of his desk, legs hanging off. "Now, we're about to start on our newest unit. There are a handful of charms I want you to learn and practice. A couple of these are already familiar to you, but now you will be learning its counter-curse!"

He flicked his wand, and instantly, the name of the spells and the pronunciation of each one appeared on the board.

Ascendio.

Anti-Alohomora.

Lumos Solem.

Impervius.

"Have any of you ever heard of any of these spells?" Professor Flitwick asked. A few hands rose, a few nodded. "If you'll remember, Lumos Solem was taught to you in your first year of Herbology to protect you against Devil's Snare..."

During the lecture, Percy struggled to keep his focus. Several times, he had to bite back a yawn, a wave of sleepiness having crashed over him. Wood was faring much better; propped up by his arm, his cheek in his hand, his eyes were glazed over which let Percy know he wasn't paying much attention at all. Than again, many of their classmates weren't really either. It would take a couple days to re-adjust to being at school again.

At least today was nearly done with. Soon enough he could be back upstairs in Gryffindor Tower. He'd have to remember to look over the scheduled meeting times, there had to be one of those coming up within the next week or so.

And then you'll have to see everyone again

You'll have to see Ivan and Penny together

You'll see just how much she doesn't miss you

Percy rubbed his eyes, willing himself to tune back in so whatever Professor Flitwick was saying wasn't just incoherent babble.

"-I'll now be assigning you into groups," the professor was saying, "And I want to switch it up this time. Let's have a mix instead of staying with your House."

There were quite a few groans upon hearing this. Professor Flitwick waved a hand.

"Yes, yes. I know. But I encourage you to give it a chance."

Percy didn't know how much he believed that statement. The rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin was legendary, unlikely to be solved so easily.

"What are we supposed to be doing?" Percy loathed to ask Wood but he'd not been paying attention and did not catch what Professor Flitwick had said.

Wood made a face. "He's going to put us in groups and we'll have to practice the spells until we master them then we have to go back and show him that we did. He says we've got two weeks to practice."

"Oh..." Percy muttered.

"Now, let's see here. Flint, Jones, Hilliard."

"Think we'll get paired together?" Wood asked while the rest of the class dissolved in quiet talking.

"I don't know," Percy didn't count on it. Not that it mattered. Except, it kind of did. Tension crept up his spine. Wood, he at least knew. What if he did get paired off with two other students he didn't know all that well?

Professor Flitwick named off three more students, unaware of the panic rising up in Percy.

He couldn't work with other people. It would go horribly wrong. They wouldn't be too keen on being with him either. It just wouldn't work out well-

"- Weasley, Wood, and Pucey."

"Ay," Wood brightened up. "We made it! Too bad we have to work with a snake, huh?"

The air was slowly returning to Percy's lungs. He didn't answer Wood's question. Across the room, the aforementioned Slytherin was looking towards them, and didn't appear too put off to be with two Griffindors, unlike Marcus Flint. At least, not visible to anyone else.

"I want you all to work together," Professor Flitwick said pointedly, his gaze sweeping across the room. "If I hear any complaints that you aren't, there will be a significant loss of points and detention." He clapped his hands together. "Go on. Go meet with your groups and begin!"

Percy didn't move. He was hesitant. Should they move over to where Pucey was or wait until he came to them? Wood was unconcerned, he was too busy grumbling about the circumstances.

"Can't believe this. Suppose it's better than Flint but why a Slytherin?"

"Is that going to be a problem, Wood?"

Pucey evidently made the decision to move over to where they were, his book bag over his shoulder, his voice considerably cool after hearing Wood open his mouth.

Wood twisted around to face him. "Why? Planning on going to Snape?"

Pucey's eyes darkened, and narrowed. "Planning on going to McGonagall?" He countered.

It left Percy very much in the middle, quite literally as the two of them glared at one another. Professor Flitwick should have taken notice but he was on the other side of the room, helping someone else with her wand movements.

"Let's calm down," he cautioned, eyes flicking back and forth.

He was ignored.

"Unlike you lot, I wouldn't do that unless necessary," Wood said coolly.

Pucey scoffed.

Percy felt like this was going to be a very long two weeks ahead.

"I don't like this either," Pucey said plainly. "I'd rather not get stuck with either of you but it seems none of us have a choice."

"Why? You think you're too good for us?" Wood was clearly not going to make this easy. He was goading Pucey for a fight, which was the last thing Percy wanted to happen.

"Mr. Wood, Mr. Pucey," came Professor Flitwick's mild yet firm tone. "I suggest you get started on your assignment or I will be forced to take points from both of you."

Neither one of them wanted that, so with reluctance, both backed down.

Still, it was a less than ideal situation. Once out of the classroom under the professor's watchful eye, there would be nothing containing their tempers anymore.

Percy cleared his throat so as to get their attention. Pucey chose to sit behind them, the only option as the seats were fused together. "Er, we should get stared, shouldn't we?"

He was looking back and forth between them again, his toes clenching and unclenching. They couldn't just sit here and do nothing, yet neither Wood nor Pucey was moving. It made Percy increasingly antsy, but what more could he say?

Then, by a stroke of luck, Wood had enough of staring at Pucey. He carelessly flipped open his charms textbook, which by now, had momentarily relaxed Percy sufficiently enough that he didn't have the urge to fiddle with his fingers.

"Right," Percy said, voice quiet, "err, what do you want to get started on first?"

He was met with silence. Even with a few seconds trickling by, nobody seemed to know what to do.

His toes were clenching again, he took a breath or two. Couldn't anyone say something? Did they have to stare at him like that?

"We could start with the impervius charm?" Wood suggested, breaking the quiet and allowing Percy to breathe again.

The classroom didn't allow as much room for practicing the spells. There was little to do at that time other than go over the notes they were supposed to have taken as well as read through the chapters in their textbook , so the three of them were to meet elsewhere, which would have been later that evening except Wood was insistent on attending quidditch practice first and positively refusing to end it early. To avoid a potential argument breaking out, Percy suggested they could do it tomorrow which suited Wood and Pucey just fine.

"We'll meet in the courtyard before dinner," Pucey said succinctly.

"What?" Wood said, unknowingly expressing Percy's very thought. "It's bloody freezing out there."

As if he wasn't going to drag the Gryffindor team out there to practice anyway.

"You've heard of a warming charm, yes?"

Wood didn't take well to Pucey's patronizing tone. His face was rapidly reddening, so Percy hastily cut in, "Why- why would we go out there? I would have thought we'd go to the library?"

Pucey raised a single eyebrow. "You want to use Ascendio in the library?"

It dawned on Percy and he couldn't help but flush, eyes darting away so he wouldn't have to look into Pucey's any longer. "Right..."

Once dinner concluded, Percy and Wood parted for the time being, giving him a chance to decompress on his own without being badgered. With his schoolbag, Wood departed the Great hall, promising to Percy that he'd be back up Gryffindor Tower as soon as practice was over.

The rest of the school dispersed from the Hall, with a few staying behind to finish their plates. Percy's own plate was still mostly full other than the few measly bites of chicken and a forkful of mashed potatoes. A sigh escaped his lips, and he pushed it away from him, gathering his belongings to leave.

Down along the table was his youngest brother. Without Harry, Ron and Hermione were left to themselves, which, as it seemed, brought on another quarrel between the two of them.

It'd awakened memories of last term when those two had hurled shouts and insults at each other in the common room while he did nothing more than poorly handle the situation.

Percy couldn't quite hear what they were bickering about, it was too quiet, obviously kept that way to keep prying ears from catching wind of it or perhaps a professor so they wouldn't lose the points. Either way, a noticeably red flush took over Ron's face, a telltale sign his temper was beginning to boil over.

"Honestly, Hermione! You can't still be mad at me for that!"

In a flash, Hermione had gathered up her things, shooting Ron one last scornful look. "I assure you, Ron, that I very well can be!" She stormed out of the Great Hall, frizzy hair whipping behind her.

His brother slumped down sulkily. Percy spared another glance, but mindful to ensure that he wasn't unobtrusively staring.

He'd hardly seen his brother alone since Ron befriended Harry and Hermione. Right now, he had no one whilst he stabbed at his lamb for one last bite.

It sorely reminded Percy of himself.

Countless meals with only the company of an opened book in front of him. Evening trips to the library in the corners furthest from everyone else. Distinct discomfort settled in him whenever he happened to be in the common room surrounded by his fellow Gryffindors socializing with their friends.

"Ron?" His voice sounded faint to his own ears. He'd approached his brother, almost unable to work his mouth properly once Ron looked his way.

Given the look he was on the receiving end of, Percy was the last person Ron wanted to deal with this at this moment. It was instant- a heaviness in the air that hung over them, a look to his face that conveyed how he was resigned to this interaction. "What?" He said defensively. He must have known that Percy witnessed their argument, did he think his brother was here to take away points or perhaps assign detention?

This was a mistake

I should just go

"I just wanted to see how you are," Percy licked his lips once, twice. Throat dry, yet he didn't think he could tolerate any pumpkin juice. Doubtful, Ron folded his arms.

"Why?"

Well, there was no other way to say it, was there? "I heard what Hermione said to you." Ron let out a groan and a muttered curse that would've had their mother threatening to smack his bum for.

"Oh, lay off, Percy." Ron grabbed his school bag, turning round to exit the hall. Something compelled Percy to follow him, even though everything inside of him was screaming at him to stop.

"Would you mind explaining why?"

Stop

You're going to make things worse

But I have to try

I have to

He's my brother and I'm supposed to be the Head Boy. I shouldn't let this go

He'll hate you for this

More than he already does

Is that what you want?

"It's none of your business," Ron's voice carried; the corridor wasn't bustling with students but there were some lingering around that happened to hear it. A couple of students tittered- he didn't happen to catch what house they were from - while Percy had stopped dead in his tracks.

It stung. Being rejected by his own brother.

I told you

Ron was thirteen. He had his own life. He didn't need his brothers to come to his aid whenever there was a problem.

But there was still a part of Percy that wanted to. No matter how old Ron became, he was Percy's little brother.

Not anymore, he isn't