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Chapter Seven
By Rosa241
Percy's POV:
Attempted robbery at gringotts, Harry making the Quidditch team, so far everything looks like it's going to plan (I'm assuming they've discovered the three headed dog by now).
Even though I'd already lived through it once Halloween still scared the crap out of me. I think it's because I knew what was going to happen; I knew Quirrell was going to let a troll in so I was on edge all day. I just about drove myself mad thinking up the different possibilities...I got myself all convinced that something was going to happen, that something else was going to happen, that everything that happened would somehow change. Naturally it didn't, everything went how it was supposed to.
Ron and Harry saved Hermione from the Troll, she took the blame and the three of them became friends. Even though Harry and Ron had saved her life I couldn't help but still be a little bit angry with them – hey I may be trying to be there for him but that doesn't mean I condone everything he did – which of course meant I had to have words.
Flashback:
"And exactly where have you three been?" I questioned as the three 'heroes to be' walked tiredly back into the common room. I quickly drag the three into the back room – knowing full well how quickly gossip travels in this school.
"Well we..." Ron attempted to explain before Hermione jumped in with her version of the truth. How she had stupidly gone to confront the Troll and how Harry and Ron had bravely come to her defence...if I didn't already know what had happened in that bathroom then I probably would have believed her.
"Right so just one question. Hermione you weren't at dinner so how did you know about the Troll?" A flash of panic crossed her eyes and she attempted to stutter out an explanation but she was an inexperienced liar. "Exactly, now how about you tell me the truth."
Harry quickly explained how the two had realised Hermione had been missing and subsequently didn't know about the Troll and had gone to save her. Ron was giving me a sheepish expression as Harry concluded his tale whilst Hermione was beaming proudly.
"Right so you two confronted a Troll, risked your own life and..." Ron was staring at the ground by now, clearly expecting me to chew him out. "And saved Hermione's life. Honestly I'm glad you two did what you did. You both saved Hermione's life, and you should be proud of that. Not many first years could take on a Troll." Both of them smiled at my words. "HOWEVER, that doesn't mean it wasn't a stupid thing to do. You should have grabbed a teacher or a prefect. You both could have been killed!"
"Sorry." They both muttered in tandem.
"What you did was brave...very brave, but that doesn't mean it wasn't stupid. But I guess I can't be too mad at you for saving someone's life now can I?" Sending them both a small smile as they visibly relaxed. "Now Ron and Harry into the common room, Hermione I'd like a word." I waited until the boys had left before turning back to her.
"So do you want to tell me why you weren't at dinner? Only I can't help noticing you've been crying." She lowered her head to the ground and sniffed sadly before taking a deep breath.
"Nobody likes me. They think I'm a freak." She sniffed again as a tear dripped down her cheek.
"Because you're intelligent?" She nodded and wiped her eyes. "Hermione, there is nothing wrong with being intelligent. Having a thirst for knowledge is a good thing...but some people don't understand that. You know when I first started I didn't have any friends either."
"But Oliver..." She began and I knew exactly where she was going. Everyone assumed that Oliver and I had been friends since the first moment we met, unfortunately not true.
"Oliver and I didn't become friends until half way through our second year. He found out I didn't know that much about Quidditch and took it upon himself to teach me everything he knew. We've been friends ever since." She looked at me sceptically, clearly wondering where I was going with this. "My point is, just because you're not that friendly with your peers now doesn't mean you won't grow close to them. Just give it some time and I promise everything will be okay. Besides...do you honestly think that after lying to Professor McGonagall for Harry and Ron they're just going to walk away?"
She smiled at me before drying her eyes and heading back into the common room. I think I just did something right.
End Flashback:
Things since then had settled between the three first years, just as they had before. Hermione had thanked me a few days later for my words and then proceeded to quiz me about what her lessons had in stall for her.
Things between Oliver and I had also settled, he'd finally confessed that he had a crush on me...only took him five years to admit...and naturally I'd reciprocated those feelings. We hadn't done anything about it just yet; we were still dancing round that subject. I remember last time, we'd danced round the subject and by the time Oliver got round to actually being ready to do something about how he felt I'd gotten together with Penny. I'd simply got fed up with waiting for him. But not this time. This time I was going to be patient and wait for that time...now that I knew he would tell me eventually I could deal with waiting.
As much as I loved the prospect of actually being with Oliver this time, my mind was still focused on my job. I was still focused on this year but I wasn't that worried in all honesty, I mean...everything worked itself out last time round so it'll be fine again. No...I wasn't worried about this year...my worries were focused entirely on Scabbers. How the hell do I prove that he's Pettigrew?
Oliver nudging me brought me from my thoughts and back to the present, where Professor McGonagall was looking at me expectedly. A tapping caught my attention, looking down Oliver was pointing at a word in the open text book in front of me.
"Oh um...Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration?" She gave me a tight lipped smile before turning back to the class. Quickly mouthing a thank you at my best friend – who was looking at me strangely - I couldn't help the smile as I realised just what I could do about my situation.
McGonagall is an animagus and she used to teach Pettigrew, if anyone would recognise him then she would. But how do I do it without making myself out to be completely crazy?
Olivers POV:
There's something weird about Percy. He's always been a little bit odd...probably why we're frei-oh...not really sure what I should call us anymore. We're more than friends but...not quite together. I'd finally found the courage to tell him about my crush...thinking he'd tell me to get lost but he didn't. He seemed happy, well...happy enough to admit to his own crush...although I'm not sure it was genuine...maybe he was just trying to humour me.
Anyway there's something off about Percy. He's spacing out in lessons but still knows everything when it comes to doing the homework. He's so much closer to his family (and by that I mean the twins) than before. He's still got the same sense of humour, the same belief in rules and stuff but...there's something different about him. There's something else there. He's so much more easy going now, he's friendlier with people...I just can't work out why. I've tried asking him but he just says he doesn't know what I'm talking about. Honestly I'm worried. He's just asking so different...what if he's in some sort of trouble?
I suppose I'm just trying to justify what I'm currently doing. I'm attempting to justify going through my best friends stuff. I honestly don't know what I'm looking for, a clue...some sort of hint...anything that might tell me what's going on inside his head. Percy would probably kill me if he knew I was doing this. He's meticulous about his things not being touched so I don't doubt that he'll notice.
About twenty minutes pass before I find something that really gets my nerves going. It's quite by accident that I discover it but I discover it none the less. I finish searching his desk for anything that looks remotely suspicious and naturally I find nothing. On the verge of giving up I let out a frustrated sigh and lean back against the desk only to knock a pile of books on the floor.
"Oh crap!" Now he's definitely going to notice I've been through his things. "Oh god!"
It's as I try (emphasis on try) to put the books back in some sort of order that I notice the piece of paper on the floor. Natural curiosity (and maybe a little bit of nosiness) makes me open it.
"What the hell?"
Things that Ineedto do something about.
1. Stop Harry, Ron and Hermione getting caught after sneaking the Dragon to Charlie.
2. Be there for Ron so he'll come to me with his suspicions about Snape.
3. Somehow make Ron, Harry and Hermione realise that Snape isn't the bad guy here.
4. Prove that Scabbers is Pettigrew.
"What on earth...?" Before I can begin to process what I'm reading a familiar voice breaks through my thoughts.
"What are you doing?" Percy's standing there looking at me expectantly.
"Um...looking for my potions text book...think I've lost it..." Maybe I'm getting better at lying because he looks like he actually believes me.
"Under you bed. You threw it there in a fit of rage over Snapes essay, remember?" For a moment he smiles and I find myself lost in it. He quickly excuses himself, grabbing his Transfiguration book and muttering something about Professor McGonagall.
Percy what are you hiding?
Percy's POV:
Okay, all these years of being around Fred and George, listening to their lies...some of it had to have paid off...
"Professor?" She nods at me, indicating for me to come in. It's now or never. "Are you busy only I might need your help with something?"
"And what might that be Percy? Homework trouble?" Sitting across from her I can't help but feel nerves kicking in.
"No. Um...it's Ron. He's been going on about Scabbers having magic for days." She gives me a confused look. It's going well...
"The rat. Hermione pointed out that Scabbers was unusually old for a common rat, he's been in the family for nine years now and we've no idea how old he was when I found him. Anyway, after she pointed it out Ron's been going on and on about him being magical, saying that Scabbers must be magical." She gives me a look, like she thinks I'm going mad. "Honestly Professor he's been driving me crazy. He won't stop going on about how Scabbers must have magical powers or something and well I was wondering whether you could help me."
"And how might I help?" She's amused, please work...
"There must be some sort of spell or something we could do to prove that Scabbers is just a common rat." Please...
"And why not go to Professor Kettleburn? He in charge of Care of Magical Creatures after all." Oh crap...
"Well I just...Look, Scabbers is just a common rat that's been very well looked after but Ron doesn't see it that way. I've tried talking to him but he just won't listen...he's going on and on about it and to be quite frank he's driving me insane! I'm at my wits end! Is there nothing you could do?" I sigh heavily, hoping to pull of some sort of stressed out, exasperated look.
"Bring Scabbers to me tomorrow and we shall find out." Yes! Yes! Yes!
"Oh thank you so much Professor...maybe this'll get him to shut up." Cannot believe it worked!
"And bring Ronald with you, we can solve the problem." How I keep my face from dropping is a feat unknown to me but somehow I keep a straight face long enough to walk out the room.
Now I have to convince Ron...that could be a problem...
Like it?
How long will it take for Oliver to get to the bottom of things?
What'll happen when McGonagall tests Scabbers?