Green with Envy

Green with Envy

Chapter One: It's My Life!

Draco hummed slightly to himself as he made his way back from the Owlery. Hopefully his brother Elan's return letter would provide some useful hexes to use on that swot who had annoyed him today. No one knew better then Elan how best to get revenge. He knew Elan would enjoy taking Weasley Sr. down three pegs or so.

"Hold it right there, Malfoy," Draco heard a nasty voice say behind him. Draco rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Weasleys were like roaches, find one and you found a dozen.

"Weasley, don't you have anything to do besides bother me?" he asked, turning to face his favourite enemy. "And are you really so afraid of me that you had to bring your baby sister along to protect you?"

"If having a clever mouth were a crime, you'd be in Azkaban where you belong, Malfoy," Weasley snapped. "I bet they'd give you the cell next to the one your mask-wearing brother deserves as well."

It was to be one of those encounters apparently. "My brother rescued the Boy Who Lived from a bad situation, Weasley," he said meticulously. "I doubt that you or that swot prefect would have the courage or the brains to deal with the situation."

"Shut up, Malfoy, just shut up!" Weasley snarled. "You think you're so bloody clever with your nasty little comments. You strut around this school as though you owned the place just because your father is a governor. You and your father are ghastly, spotty, cross-eyed, vicious, awful, evil bastards."

Draco felt like he'd been dunked in a tub of ice water. His anger never burned hot. When he got angry, he got colder, quieter, sharper, and more deadly. Now he narrowed his steely grey eyes at Weasley.

"I don't much care for your tone, Weasley," he drawled. "Your words don't bother me, since all inferior beings try to drag their betters down to their level, but your tone is quite insolent. Apologize at once, and perhaps I could find it in my heart to forgive you."

To Draco's surprise, Weasley's sister spoke up. "There's no room in your heart for forgiveness, Malfoy. Your heart is cold and dead and black with evil."

Draco drew his wand. He had the uneasy feeling that this was about to get ugly. Weasley's sister had a frenzied sort of gleam in her eye. She did not appear entirely sane.

"Your father hurt our family," Weasley spat. "So now we mean to hurt him. Hurting you will hurt him, but don't for one second think that we're just using you. The sins of the fathers are the sins of the sons, and you're just like him."

Draco smiled chilly. "Thank you," he said mockingly.

"Petrificus totalus!"

The shout came from behind him! Draco threw himself to the floor as the curse flew over his head. He rolled onto his back and brought his wand up in time to receive the full brunt of a second curse cast a second later. He couldn't move! His mind furious, Draco stared up at the ceiling as four heads of red hair came into his view.

"Well, that was easy," one of the twins said.

"Big, bad Slytherin, and he's captured in two spells," laughed the other.

"Get the mask," Ron ordered. One of the twins brought out a blank white mask made of paper. It had no eyes, no mouth, and only two small nose holes. The sister poured what appeared to be glue on it.

"Grab him," Ron said, drawing his wand. The twins took hold of Draco's wrists and ankles. "Finite incantatem!"

Draco instantly tried to thrash away. This was no game; this was potentially deadly. These people really wanted to hurt him. His wand was twisted out of his grasp as he was rolled over and his hands and ankles tied tightly.

"There!" one of the twins said in a satisfied tone. "Nobody can escape the Fred Weasley Bow Knot."

"You mean the George Weasley Tie," his brother corrected him.

"Knot!"

"Tie!"

"Shut it!" the girl hissed at them. She gestured with the mask, which was dripping glue. "Hold him down."

Draco felt panic as his sight was obscured. "There's your mask, Death Eater," the girl said. The glue was cold, and he could feel the excess running down his face and onto his neck.

"Your daddy can't save you now," one of the twins taunted.

"Pick him up," Ron said.

The first punch came as a shock. His gut was totally unprepared, and he yelled in pain, muffled by the mask. He couldn't even open his mouth to cry out. Tears leaked from his eyes as he was dropped to the floor. He was hoisted back up to his feet, and the next blow struck him in the face.

When they grew tired of punching him, they bounced him off the floor a few times and kicked him. Starbursts of white pain were the only thing he could see. All he could smell was the glue. All he could hear was the four individuals laughing as they hurt him. The only taste in his mouth was fear. The only thing he felt was pain.

He lost track of time. Time was measured only in the few seconds between experiences of pain. So delirious was he that he almost missed the sounds of footsteps approaching.

Draco heard a gasp, followed by a sudden shout of, "Obstringere!" Draco thought he make out the sounds of four bodies hitting the floor. Someone was pulling at the mask. He moaned as he felt his face being pulled with it.

A muttered spell that Draco didn't hear dissolved the glue, and the torchlight stabbed into his eyes. Squinting, he couldn't make out who had saved him. The whole room was spinning.

"My God," the person muttered. "What have they done to you?" He leaned in to get a good look into Draco's eyes. Draco felt that he must be delirious at the sight of red hair. His saviour was another Weasley, Percy by name. Deciding that he must be going mad, he sank gratefully into the unconscious blackness. The world would be aright when he awoke.

* * *

Perseus Ignatius Weasley sat back on his heels, his head pounding. Until a moment ago, he had been looking forward to delivering an owl to his parents before the Halloween Feast. Now he had his younger brothers and sister gagged and tied up together on the floor. Lying next to them was the battered form of Draco Malfoy, younger brother of Percy's greatest rival. This did not look good.

Percy had tried to tend to Malfoy, but after he had removed the mask, the little brat fainted. Percy knew that Malfoy needed better medical help than even a sixth year prefect could provide, but he was afraid of moving the boy and hurting him further. Maybe Percy should leave Malfoy here and run to get Madam Pomfrey. Would that be making matters worse?

Professor Snape was Malfoy's Head of House. Percy would contact him to make the decision. He cast a Messenger spell for Professor Snape and began to wait anxiously, wondering if he'd be in trouble. Too late, the thought of an enraged Snape finding this scene and possibly blaming him occurred. It made his knees feel like jelly. Perhaps he should have selected a different teacher to inform, like Professor Flitwick or Binns!

As Percy turned to contemplate his siblings, he noticed a strange piece of folded parchment on the floor. When the twins realized Percy had noticed the parchment, they started thrashing about violently, trying to break free. Percy quickly picked it up and shoved it into his book bag. It must be a list of joke products; it would be one less grey hair for Mum if he took it. His siblings were still protesting vehemently through their gags, only increasing Percy's migraine.

"Silencio," he snapped, not wanting to hear them. They would only make it worse for everyone. Percy turned away, unable to even look at his siblings. What they had done to Malfoy was inexcusable, and he felt nauseated. There were proper means to deal with windbags like Malfoy without resorting to outright violence. He glanced at the battered form in front of him. Should he begin casting Healing Charms? He had to do something productive till Snape came. Thankfully he was spared the trouble of making that decision.

"Why did you send for me, Weasley?" The Potions Master did not look pleased to see Percy again.

Percy gulped. He had already bothered Snape at potions brewing today, which in itself was a completely unforgivable sin. Now he had more bad news to tell him. Legend had it the last student who made this mistake of annoying Snape had been dismembered and used for potion ingredients. "Draco Malfoy's been hurt, sir, and I did not know if he should be moved or not, so I summoned you," he whispered, pointing behind him to the fallen forms on the floor. The sight would not improve the professor's mood. Percy was finished. The last time Percy had brought up the subject of Draco Malfoy; Snape had given him a Death Glare, a punishment essay and dismissed him. If God decided to be kind, maybe that would happen again.

Snape had already knelt down by the small form. Malfoy was so very small, it seemed. How had Percy never noticed it before? He had always seen him as an annoying arrogant pest, never a small and helpless child who needed to be protected. He had to admit, Draco was a lot easier to pity when unconscious.

The professor drew his wand and began muttering spells rapidly under his breath. A faint mist surrounded the fallen boy. Snape checked Draco's pulse and then he looked up with blazing eyes directly at Percy. The prefect quailed. There was a clear death threat in those eyes. Snape wanted immediate answers.

"I was coming up to deliver a letter to my mother, and I heard a scuffle. As a prefect, I of course had a duty to investigate. I didn't think it would be something so big! I was shocked to find George, Fred, Ron and Ginny thrashing Malfoy. I didn't know what to do with Malfoy, because I might hurt him more if I tried to move him, so I contacted you, sir because you-" Percy babbled, his knees knocking.

"Be still, you fool!" Snape snapped impatiently, returning to the fallen boy. Percy did not dare move a muscle until Snape finally rose to his feet and looked down at him disdainfully. Although Percy was only two or three inches shorter then his teacher, Snape could make him feel like a tiny first year in seconds.

"Is he going to be alright, sir?" Percy choked out, desperate to say something.

"I don't know, Weasley," the Professor said archly. "For now we'll act as though I believe that the story you just rather incoherently recounted is true. Madam Pomfrey will be arriving shortly. Once Malfoy is under proper medical attention, we shall discuss the details of this incident more... thoroughly."

Percy flinched at those words. Snape had a way of making the phrase "thorough discussion" sound as if it would include thumbscrews and the rack. Knowing Snape, such speculation might not be that far off. "Yes sir," he whispered, glaring at his siblings out of the corner of his eye. His siblings looked sufficiently cowed by Snape's presence to just lie there silently, unwilling to attract a murderous Potions Master's attention. Unfortunately, he had seen them. "As for you four, you will dearly regret your actions," Snape began menacingly, towering over Percy's bound brothers and sister with unconcealed fury in his being.

"Severus," the Headmaster said by way of arrival, saving the siblings from a horrible fate. "What in the name of magic has happened here?"

"We have one severely injured student, Headmaster," Snape said dryly. "We also have four tied-up Weasleys, and one Weasley who says they are responsible for said injured student."

"I am aware of bad feelings between the families," Dumbledore said with vast understatement, Percy felt. "I am quite saddened to hear that it has come to this. It was just these four who did the deed?" Dumbledore asked his tone melancholy and serious.

"This is what the eldest Mr. Weasley says, though I must say I find his presence suspicious as well, Headmaster," Snape answered disdainfully.

Percy turned pale. "I had no part in this sordid scheme, sir! I swear, I would never harm a fellow student! You know me, Professor, I am a prefect! I would never do something heinous like this," he pleaded desperately. He wracked his brains, trying to think of who could possibly verify his whereabouts. He had been sitting in an empty classroom working on an essay, so he had no idea who might have seen him.

Snape glared at him. "It is quite true that Weasley here is notably different than his four siblings here." Percy felt a ray of spiritual light strike him. His reputation spoke for him.

Snape's eyes glinted malevolently. "But," he continued. "I submit that his father, Arthur Weasley, recently lost his position at the Ministry due to Lucius Malfoy's new budget. He was moved to an even lower position, which surprisingly was possible. I would say it is quite a financial loss for a family with seven children. Therefore, there is clear motive here for suspecting all with the surname of Weasley."

Percy bit his lip. In that light, he seemed far less heroic. This was not boding well for him. He was supposed to be lauded as a hero! He was not supposed to be accused. If only he had contacted Lockhart! But Dumbledore would believe him.

"Furthermore, this boy complained to me about Malfoy's attitude just today. Perhaps he decided to take matters into his own hands," Snape finished.

Percy gulped. He would have protested at being called "boy" if a terrible chill had not run down his spine. This was not turning out the way he planned.

"Then how do you explain his actions now, Severus?" Dumbledore asked intently.

Snape's cold eyes never left Percy. "Despite all assurances of Gryffindor bravery and courage, perhaps he just became a little bit squeamish," he sneered cruelly.

Madam Pomfrey arrived at that moment, taking the attention off Percy. She tut-tutted to herself as she set to work. Within a few moments, Malfoy's body was floating on a cushion of air and on its way to the Hospital Wing.

Percy had been busy trying to melt into the castle walls. He had tried to slip away, but Snape's eyes were watching him, even as he was speaking to the Headmaster. Trying to leave would be futile; Percy would only be brought back with more suspicion on his head. He kept reminding himself that he was innocent and had nothing to hide. Dumbledore would have faith in him.

"A vicious attack of this nature must be investigated immediately," Dumbledore was saying. "We must know the truth of what happened here."

"The only person who can identify the attackers is Draco Malfoy himself, and he is presently unconscious. I think we can safely assume what happened, based on what we see, Headmaster," Snape said frostily.

The headmaster turned to the tethered siblings. "We must hear all the accounts, no matter who gives them. These children deserve a chance to speak in their own defense. I will speak to them myself," he reminded. Percy marveled that for someone so old and eccentric, Dumbledore easily took control of the situation.

Snape glared at younger Weasleys for a moment. "Fine," he said. "It is better you hear their accounts. I don't think I could stomach such lies," he sneered, before resting his cold glower on Percy. "Weasley, you will come with me. I still require some answers,"

Percy opened his mouth, ready to protest. He was a prefect; he should not be submitted to this sort of interrogation! Surely Professor Dumbledore could not allow it. Unfortunately, the headmaster was now dealing with the trussed siblings and had not been listening. His objections never made it to his lips. Percy could speak up, certainly, but he knew that Snape would make him dearly regret that action one way or another. He did not want to fail Potions, but he also wanted to live! if the fingers are tucked into the collar and twisted, yeah.

Professor Snape obviously saw that Percy was vacillating, because the next moment, Snape had grabbed the back of Percy's shirt collar and given it a painful twist. Percy gasped in pain as he felt the affects of a distinct lack of air and the material of his shirt digging into his throat. The professor gave him a sharp yank down the halls as he strode. Having no other alternative but to be dragged down, Percy obediently followed Professor Snape, desperate to keep up to maintain the flow of air into his brain. Happily he was saved from garroting due to the fact that the shirt had been passed down by his father and was a bit worn. Being grasped like that did still hurt!

All Gryffindor bravery had turned to sheer terror. He glanced over his shoulder and noticed the twins were smirking after him. Percy wondered why the Bible came down so hard on the brothers for selling Joseph. Given the proper price, he would gladly sell Fred and George!

He tried to steel himself but it was impossible. This attempt at choking him was only the beginning. He knew the next span of time would be as unpleasant as legally possible. Percy just hoped Malfoy would wake up soon and by some miracle confirm the story. He did not know how long his nerves would last before he had a nervous attack.

The sight of a prefect being hauled about by the collar and nearly throttled by the Potions Professor would have attracted a great deal of attention, but thankfully, everyone was in the Great Hall eating. Percy was red faced by now. It was a struggle to breathe and Snape's long gait was hard to keep out with.

Then to add to his bad day, Slytherin Prefect Sam Palce walked out of the Great Hall and stopped dead in his tracks. Percy tried lower his eyes, unwilling to look at anything but his shoes. Unfortunately, any movement of his head cut off even more air to his system. Even as he tried to look away, he could feel the eyes of his fellow student burning into him. Palce was the best friend of Elan Malfoy and a member of his little crew of Slytherin sycophants, all of whom would rejoice at his downfall. Although he had never been outwardly cruel to Percy, Palce would definitely inform the gossipy females of his house, and soon the entire school would know of his humiliation. Of all the people to see him like this!

The two journeyed silently down into the cold dungeons. It seemed to take forever, every step long and painful. At times, it felt like his head was going to be squeezed off. To Percy, it felt more like a journey of the condemned to the gibbet and the hangman at Tyburn. Although he was not being dragged on a hurdle, being dragged about by the collar like a delinquent student was just as shameful and just as painful as a noose. Percy gulped at the change in temperature; it was an ill omen. Hell was supposed to be hot, not cold.

Snape agonizingly pulled him into the Potions classroom and down to the front where he imperiously propelled Percy into his office. Once Percy was inside the torture chamber/office, Snape finally let go of the collar. Percy took the opportunity to take several deep breaths before looking around. It seemed as dark as the inside of his boots here. The room looked like a chamber of horrors from a nightmare. Vials of strange liquids decorated the dark walls. Various body parts of bizarre animals were floating in jars, making Percy feel even more disgusted. The place also smelled strange, sanitized with small hints of the different ingredients. Snape finally let go of him and closed the door hard behind him. The loud click made Percy jump.

"Sit," Snape ordered as he began searching the shelves of vials and flasks. Percy obeyed, taking the uncomfortable chair placed in front of the desk. He was not used to being in trouble; it was a strange feeling. He stared at the stone floor nervously, as he rubbed his sore neck with one hand.

He could not look at what Snape was doing. It was too terrifying. In a situation such as this, ignorance was bliss. He heard the sound of a liquid being poured and then more sounds of searching the shelves. What was Snape looking for? Somehow, despite the fact that the question kept repeating itself in his mind, Percy found he really did not wish to find out. Snape had mentioned a discussion of the events, yet Percy had been waiting for what seemed like an eternity. Most likely, Snape was making him wait, to build the pressure and make him nervous. Well, if he was, Snape was doing a good job.

Percy tried to think of anything, anything but what was happening. It was not helping; he was terrified. Nothing could help him now. He doubted that even if the Eternal Father his mother so strongly believed in was real and came in person to vouch for him, it could not save him from Snape's wrath. The case against him was plain to see; he had a recent motive, and he had been found at the scene of the crime. Even his defense of having turned in his own siblings could be explained away. He doubted his siblings would vouch for his innocence. No doubt about it, Percy was doomed. He was going to be stripped of his prefect's badge, expelled, his wand would be broken, and if he didn't live out the rest of his days in Azkaban, he'd be a complete failure for something he did not do!

Snape cleared his throat. Percy looked up to see that the professor had a small clear crystal vial in his hand. He was suddenly amazed at how tall the Potions Master seemed, looming over him in that minute. "This is Veritaserum, Weasley. I've mentioned it in lecture before, so you know what it does," he said silkily as he carefully poured three drops into a glass of water. With a silver spoon, he gave the mixture a quick stir.

Percy haltingly recounted the effects as if this exchange was taking place in Potions class. Surely, Snape wasn't thinking of using it on him? "Veritaserum is a potion which forces the victim to speak only the absolute truth without the ability to withhold information or stop speaking until the question is finished to the victim's absolute best ability, sir. Its side affects include lethargy, dizziness, nausea and headaches,"

"Very good," Snape said, half-smiling as he placed the glass on the desk in front of Percy. "A point to Gryffindor. Now then, Weasley, you're an intelligent young man. You can put the pieces of this puzzle together fairly quickly, I'm sure."

It seemed Snape was thinking just that. Percy flinched as he looked up at the Potions Master's icy glare. This was against regulations! He hesitated for a split second before lowering his eyes again, as his shoulder ached some more. And just who was he going to complain to? Anyway, it might be the only way to clear his name. Without a word, he took the glass with a shaking hand and downed the contents to the dregs.

"A wise choice," Snape approved smoothly, sitting down behind the desk. Percy resisted the urge to throw the glass at him. The brew tasted exactly like the water, which he knew was one of the properties. Percy took a deep breath, resolved to get the interrogation over as quickly as possible. He knew the potion worked quicker when the victim relaxed, and there really was no point in struggling. Slowly, he felt a lassitude creep over him. He felt vaguely sleepy. His limbs began to feel very heavy.

Snape peered at him quizzically. "You are Perseus Ignatius Weasley?"

Percy answered in a dull voice that seemed detached from the rest of him. "Yes, sir."

"You are a sixth year?" Snape continued, boring into his eyes.

"Yes."

"Where were you born?"

"Ottery St. Catchpole,"

"How many siblings do you have?"

"Six. Bill, Charlie, George, Fred, Ron and Ginny,"

"Tell me about the Malfoy family," Snape continued.

"The Malfoys and my family are at odds and despise each other," Percy recited as if he were reading from the encyclopedia. "It has been that way since a dispute between Valucius Malfoy and Henry Weasley, four hundred years ago,"

"What do you think of Draco Malfoy?" Snape asked.

Percy inwardly winced as guilty words flowed out of him. "I think he is an abhorrent egotistical unpleasant brat."

"You most likely feel he deserved a good come-uppence, didn't you?"

"Yes,"

"You and Elan Malfoy were on poor terms as well, am I correct? Are you glad he is gone?" Snape asked leisurely.

"Yes, we were rivals. I'm glad he left, because he probably would have been Head Boy next year. But he's part of an elite foreign study programme at Durmstrang, which is even better then being Head Boy. Elan gets everything," Percy answered dully. What did that have to do with anything?

"So you do dislike him?"

"I dislike his mocking manner of treating me as though I were his social inferior and an embarrassment. Sometimes I want to humiliate him the way he does me, but I hate that part of myself, the part that wants to hurt another. I am better then that. I do not hate Elan Malfoy."

"Then what do you feel about him?" Snape said in a curious tone.

"Mostly I envy him. He has everything I never had. His family is wealthy, well-connected, and has the time to notice him. He had better grades then me and is far more popular," Percy answered, wishing through the fog of his mind to melt into the chair. "I want to be just like him, or if that's not possible, at least win his respect and prove to him that I am every bit as good a wizard as him."

"Why would you want to earn his approval, if your families hate each other?" Snape inquired.

"I don't know. Elan would never admit it, but we are third cousins in the Black line. Elan is the relative who is the most like me, ambitious and clever. If we weren't enemies, I think we'd make really good friends, though I doubt he'd agree. We have so much in common. I'm not like anyone else in my family. Seeing him makes me believe that my parents did not find me in a field and dye my hair red," Percy blurted out. He was aware of how guilty he sounded, but he could not stop himself. In the back of his mind, he was ashamed beyond imagination. He couldn't believe he was saying all this.

"What about Lucius Malfoy? Are you angry at him?" Snape said with a cold smile.

Percy had no choice but to answer. "Of course I am angry at him. My family had enough financial problems before, and my poor mother doesn't need this stress on her. My father said Mr. Malfoy executed a whole scheme in reshuffling the budget just to humiliate our family. Though I suppose theoretically I agree with the budget changes Mr. Malfoy set up. He is improving the government, making it more efficient. Even if from what my father tells me he is a criminal, he is doing great things for the wizarding world. I am far more annoyed with my father."

"Why are you angry with your father?"

"My father never made the right connections, and my poor family is reaping the rewards of his failure. If he hadn't made himself so expendable, Mr. Malfoy would not have been able to get him fired. Dad does nothing to better wizard society. All he does is tinker with Muggle junk. He has a flying car in the garage, and he does not care that he breaks the law. He never thought to improve his circumstances, and that will make my dreams of working in politics so much harder."

"Your father has a flying car? He enchants Muggle artifacts?" Snape asked with an eyebrow raised.

Percy quivered, realizing what danger he was putting his own family in but he had to speak only the truth.. "Yes. A car, these spark plugs that I do not understand, a talking machine called a telepone, these funny black disks that Dad claims will play music, this funny metal box called a refrigeratinger-" he confessed. He now understood why the Ministry kept this truth serum under such strict supervision. It was the most degrading feeling to have one's innermost secrets an open book to be read.

"That will do," Snape decided smugly. "So the former head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office has been misusing Muggle artifacts. I must say I find it ironic. These are things I never expected to hear. You do not sound very much like a Gryffindor, boy."

Percy was unable to do anything. His words were not his own to stop. Tears filled his eyes, but he blinked them away. He would not let Snape see how much he was breaking inside.

"The Sorting Hat greatly wanted to put me in Slytherin, but I was afraid my family would never forgive me, so I coaxed it into Gryffindor. My family thinks I am too ambitious as it is, especially my father," Percy choked as the next words came out. He was telling his most fearsome teacher issues he had not even told his own mother.

"Trouble in Paradise? Feeling a bit lost among all those siblings," Snape queried mockingly, clearly enjoying this.

Percy nodded. "He spends far more time with the twins and Ron, or with Bill and Charlie, and he takes far more pride in their accomplishments. I wish we had a closer relationship so that I could look up to him, but I am just a joke to him, an ambitious pill to mock. When the twins tease me, he laughs along with them. All I have wanted to do was make him proud, but nothing I do is good enough. I think he'd prefer if I was less ambitious. I can't help feeling like I am a disappointment to him," Percy confessed mechanically, his cheeks red with shame. Why was Snape doing this to him? Percy's hatred of his father had nothing to do with what happened. Why was the professor tormenting him like this?

"This all explains a great deal," Snape said thoughtfully. "Now that we have had a nice heart to heart, let us return to the issue at hand. Did you see who hurt Draco Malfoy?"

"Yes, I did, sir."

"Was it your four younger siblings?"

"Yes sir."

"Was anyone else but your four younger siblings present or involved?"

"No sir. Not unless they left before I came,"

"Did you help assault Draco Malfoy?" Snape continued.

"No sir."

"Did you hurt him in any way, shape or form?"

"I might have hurt him when I tried to remove the mask, but it was unintentional."

"Did you plan or aid in the attack?"

"No sir."

"Did you know about the attack beforehand?"

"No sir."

"What happened to you in the last thirty minutes?"

"I was working on that idiotic essay you assigned me. I did not want anyone to see the topic, since I knew you choose it just to humiliate me for doing my job. That is why I worked in secret. I watched Penelope Clearwater walk across the yard for a few moments outside the window. I remembered I needed to send Mum a letter and went to the owlery to get my owl, Hermes. There I found my siblings beating up a student. Without thinking, I immediately restrained them using the Rope-Binding Hex. I tried to remove the mask the student was wearing, but when I realized how strong the glue was, I used a spell to dissolve it first. I then realized that the victim was Draco Malfoy. He fainted a moment later. I was scared that I would be blamed, but I could not let Malfoy die. So then I contacted you, because I was not sure if I should move Draco or not. While I waited, I took away a joke products form from the twins, and I shall be giving it to my mother, just like she asks me to do. I also used a Silencing Charm on them because they were giving me a headache. Then you arrived. I was quite afraid because I realized I had already disturbed you at brewing-" Percy recited. Honesty was not always the best policy, he was veering close to insolence. He closed his eyes, but was unable to beg for this to stop. He had told Snape everything! The potion left him unable to speak unless spoken to.

"Enough," Snape lazily ordered. He seemed to be thinking deeply. "Why did you save him? A short while ago, you were dragging him to my office, and you got punished for something he did. You had every motive to hurt him and yet you hold yourself back. Why?" Snape asked softly, in a confused tone.

"When I first saw what happened, I did not know it was Draco," Percy confessed.

"Yet you still had an opportunity to untie your siblings and help them finish the job," Snape pressed.

"It was the honorable decision. I may think Draco is an obnoxious brat, but I do not believe he deserves to die. Saving him makes me the better wizard," Percy said weakly.

Snape nodded, satisfied. "That will do," he said with a wave of his hand.

Percy slumped into silence, like a marionette that had its strings cut. The body did not like having control taken from it, and it reacted badly. The sleepy feeling was getting stronger in his limbs, and he was already feeling the dizziness and the nausea. He grimaced as the room spun before his eyes. The cloudy feeling in his head was making it hard to process thoughts, and his headache was getting worse. Percy had been aware intellectually of the side affects, but he did not know how horrible they would be. He just wanted to return to his dorm and sleep till Judgment day. "May I be excused to return to my room?" he asked.

Snape waved him away, clearly thinking about other matters.

Percy tried to get to his feet, but his head began to spin. He felt so weak, as if he was going to collapse. Groaning slightly, he fell back into the chair.

Snape looked up quizzically. "Are you all right, Weasley?" he asked. Percy decided the serum had driven him barmy, because Snape's voice was sounded almost kinder.

"I feel ill, sir," he asked in the same monotone voice. Snape was soon by his side.

"It is merely the side affects of the potion, but you seem to be having an intense reaction to it. You will have to see Madam Pomfrey. Can you stand?" Snape asked in that some tone.

Percy nodded slowly. "Yes, sir."

Snape took some greasy powder out of a small sack. "We shall travel by Floo powder," he decided. He took a pinch of the powder and shouted, "Hospital Wing," as the flames turned emerald green.

Percy stumbled to the fireplace; the room was spinning so badly! A second later, he discovered a very uncomfortable fact: traveling via Floo while nauseous was a horrible experience.

Madam Pomfrey was checking on a heavily bandaged Draco when Percy stumbled out of the fireplace, falling to the floor. Professor Snape stepped out a second later. "Good Lord, Severus, what did you do to him?" she asked as she ran to Percy's side.

"Mr. Weasley is quite all right. All he needs is a bit of rest and some of your fine care," Professor Snape answered. Madam Pomfrey helped Percy up and onto a bed and removed his book bag from his shoulder. Percy closed his eyes which seemed to stop the horrible spinning. The bed felt so cool and wonderful, Percy felt like he could sleep for days. He felt so tired.

"Open your eyes," the nurse ordered. Percy weakly looked up into the nurse's face. Madam Pomfrey tried to make him follow a finger with his eyes and seemed disappointed with the results.

"You gave him Veritaserum, didn't you? That is why the poor boy's eyes are unfocused. He is so dizzy and weary that he can barely move. Severus, how could you?" she accused.

"Mr. Weasley took the potion of his own free will, fully aware of the risks and side affects, Poppy. Ask him yourself. I'm sure he'll tell you the truth. I did not force it on him; I merely offered it to help him clear his name, considering how damning the evidence against him was," Snape said calmly.

"You offered a controlled potion to a minor?" the nurse choked.

"He will be quite fine. He should stay still for a half hour or so. The serum should have worn off by then, leaving him completely returned to normal," Snape assured the nurse.

Percy was not convinced. He felt himself being raised up and a warm liquid being pressed to his lips. "Drink this," the nurse coaxed as she forced some down his throat.

Percy coughed and sputtered. The liquid made him want to vomit. Even though he couldn't smell the potion and it barely had a taste, it was horrible. "More," the nurse urged, forcing more down his throat. After another potion, he was able to lean back and rest.

Percy didn't know how long he lay there in a state of semi-sleep. He was aware of his surroundings somewhat. He could hear Snape speaking to Madam Pomfrey, but it was just a dull drone of noise, not words. Percy did not mind, he had no wish to do anything but lie still. All the dizziness and nausea he had experienced began to melt away along with the heaviness in his limbs. It was a delicious cool rest that seemed to refresh his whole self, body and mind. He just lay back and relaxed, his mind strangely empty of anything upsetting.

When Madam Pomfrey moved to check on him and placed a cool hand on his forehead, he finally decided to open his eyes. Percy was very pleased to find he felt completely normal, as Snape had said. His thoughts on what he had actually said to Snape were still a bit foggy, but everything else seemed regular. He mentally listed a few Arthimancy principles just to insure that his mind was fully back. He tried to sit up but Madam Pomfrey pushed him down.

"Now what do you think you are doing? You must not exert yourself! You are not leaving this bed till I am sure all of that serum is out of your system! What were you thinking, taking that horrible concoction?" she scolded.

Percy did not answer, as the nurse had forced another potion down his throat, a mildly sour green one that made his mouth burn.

The door to the Hospital Wing opened and happily, Madam Pomfrey went to the door. "Mr. Malfoy, good, you're here," she said kindly. "Draco is resting comfortably." She then spoke to two other people. "You two are not permitted at this time. Back to your common room. At once." Most likely students.

A tall and well dressed blond man entered the room, moving immediately to Malfoy's bed. Although he had a dignified manner, Percy could see a deep sadness in his bearing. This must be Lucius Malfoy, the resemblance to his two sons was uncanny. He didn't have horns or a devil's tail, so he didn't seem as horrible as Dad had said he was. Mr. Malfoy sat in the chair nearest his son and looked up earnestly at the approaching Madam Pomfrey, who was closing the door. "How is my son, Madam? Will he be all right?" He asked as he gently caressed Draco's bandaged face.

Percy listened as the Healer explained the various injuries that Malfoy had suffered, including broken bones and internal bleeding, which was making healing complicated. It would take time, but he would live and eventually make a full recovery.

Mr. Malfoy took his son's hand during this discussion. "Oh Draco," he whispered, the anguish clearly written on his face.

"He's under a good sleeping potion, but he should be awake soon enough," Madam Pomfrey said reassuringly.

"Thank Slytherin for your skills, Madam. You have my gratitude."

Percy felt a tickle building in his throat as he thought of his own parents. He tried to ignore it. He didn't want to cough and attract any attention to himself. He had a feeling that this wizard would not react well to any member of his family. Percy looked up to Heaven. "You're having far too much sadistic pleasure at my expense," he thought. Now what?

Desperately, he tried to bury his head under the pillow, trying not to be seen. Damn it, why had Heaven deemed it necessary to give him red hair to mark his identity. Perhaps if he remained very quiet, nothing would happen. He tried not to face towards the front of the room, lest he meet the wizard's eyes. In fact, he was terrified to breathe, lest he make too much noise. Happily, Mr. Malfoy was absorbed in his own problems to notice the gangly red head who was trying to cover his face with the sheet. The minutes slowly and uneventfully passed, and soon Percy began to relax. Mr. Malfoy clearly could not be bothered to pay attention to anyone else in the room.

A cheery voice broke through the air, breaking open the gates of hell. "And how are you doing, Mr. Weasley? What are you doing, with your head under the sheets?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

Mr. Malfoy's head came up suddenly. "A Weasley?" he asked in surprise. He began to scan the room. A pair of pale grey eyes narrowed as they meet Percy's, and the older man was suddenly on his feet. "What do we have here?" he hissed unpleasantly. His wand appeared in his hand.

Percy felt his blood run cold in his veins. This was definitely not good! "Help!"

"How dare you come here to gloat, you vile criminal? I promise you, it will be your final mistake. Nothing can help you! You will pay dearly for the suffering you inflicted on my son!" He began to stalk the length of the room, his long gait eating up the distance at an alarming rate. "I can not imagine a fate horrible enough for you, but I will teach you new definitions of the word pain," he snarled.

"Mr. Malfoy, stop this at once!" Madam Pomfrey ordered, trying to maintain order.

Mr. Malfoy ignored her. "Any last words, boy?" he hissed threateningly.

"Ave Maria, gratia....plena, Domina...no...Dominus tecum," Percy thought desperately, hoping for a miracle. God wasn't helping today, perhaps He would help out now. No lightning came down from the sky and Malfoy was still walking across the room.

Percy had known a great deal of fear during the last few hours, but all of that seemed like a picnic by the lake compared to this. Dad had told him that Malfoy was almost certainly a Death Eater, and at this moment seeing his murderous fury radiated, Percy now understood why Dad called him a devil. He mentally went through the list of horrible fates that could befall him. He had lost a lot of relatives to Death Eaters and so had a long list. There was the Killing Curse, the Cruciatus Curse, being hacked to death like Benjy Fenwick, burned and broiled like his uncles Gideon and Fabian or perhaps Malfoy would be creative!

"Please, you are making a horrible mistake!" Percy begged. Madam Pomfrey was still shrieking in the background, but Mr. Malfoy hadn't seemed to notice.

"The only horrible mistake was you laying hands on my son!" Mr. Malfoy was standing directly in front of the bed, blocking any escape. Percy scuttled back, banging into a wall and the headboard. He was cornered! Where in Merlin's name was Snape?

"I didn't hurt your son!" he protested as he kept trying to find his wand. Damn it, it was in his book bag! Madam Pomfrey had removed it when Percy had come in and placed it on her desk.

"Don't lie to me!" By the glint in Mr. Malfoy's eyes, Percy knew he was doomed; nothing could block an Unforgivable. He hoped his mother wouldn't take his death too hard.

At that moment, the door to the Hospital Wing opened again. "Lucius, no!" cried Professor Snape. He dashed towards the enraged father, taking a tight grip on the man's wand arm. Mr. Malfoy glared at the Potions Master and tried to shake off his grip.

Snape shook his head. He leaned in close and began talking very rapidly in a low, quiet voice. Percy tried to listen, but only caught the words, 'truth', 'innocent', and 'serum.' Mr. Malfoy listened intently and slowly relaxed. He put his wand away. He adjusted his robes and composed himself with a deep breath.

"Mr. Weasley, I apologize for my outburst," he said in a civil, urbane tone. "I thought you were one of the miscreants who assaulted my son. I was informed that a gang of Weasleys had attacked Draco, but no one mentioned that a Weasley saved his life. You have my sincere gratitude." The older man reached out his hand.

Hesitantly, Percy shook it, not knowing what else to do. "Thank you, sir." He was just glad that he hadn't been reduced to a pile of ashes. His heart was still beating in his ears.

Mr. Malfoy squeezed Percy's hand tightly. "Thank you, Percy. May I call you Percy?"

Percy nodded slowly. "Of course, sir," he answered, still greatly dazed by the near death experience. Professor Snape had returned to Draco's side and was now calming Madam Pomfrey, so Percy determined that Professor Snape felt there was no longer any danger. However terrified he was of the Potions Professor, Percy believed that Snape would not allow anyone else to hurt the students.

"You did the right thing, you know," Mr. Malfoy said to him. "You must have tremendous courage to turn in your siblings like you did. Professor Snape tells me that you're a prefect for Gryffindor House. I'm glad to see they still choose prefects based on intelligence."

Percy had to admit, the compliments did make him calm down quite a bit. It was wonderful to see that some people still respected prefects, instead of mocking them. He was still quite tongue-tied from all his nervousness at nearly being cursed into oblivion and a bit awed of Mr. Malfoy. Regardless of his criminal status, this was one of the most important wizards in the Ministry, talking to him! "Thank you, sir for your kind words. I was only doing my duty, I could not favor my family. I am just glad your son is going to be all right. Please accept my best wishes for a speedy recovery."

"I cannot thank you enough for what you have done. I wish such responsibility and sense of duty were more common traits. I believe such characteristics will take you far in life, young Percy." He looked speculatively at the young man. "Have you ever thought about a career with the Ministry?"

Percy couldn't hide the eager look in his face. Speaking about the Ministry was one of his favorite topics. He had dreamed about working there for as long as he could remember. "Of course!" he said brightly, before realizing how undignified that sounded. "I mean, yes I have," he said.

Mr. Malfoy smiled. "I have some small amount of influence at the Ministry," he said modestly. "As a governor of the school, I have a place in the Office of Education. Would you be interested in a summer internship with the Department? I could arrange for it."

Percy's mouth dropped open. A summer internship at the Ministry? Was this a dream induced by too much truth serum? He couldn't believe it. This was his deepest wish fulfilled. A job like this would be invaluable to his future! Those internships were rare and usually given to only to those who came from very well-connected families. He could not believe this opportunity had just been handed to him.

"An internship?" he repeated, his eyes glowing. Even Bill, who had done everything first, had never achieved a summer internship or the gratitude of a powerful man. It couldn't be a dream! Madam Pomfrey was saying something, but Percy wasn't listening. He still could not believe his ears.

Mr. Malfoy nodded. "An internship. You would work for me, and I can show you the way of things about the Ministry."

"I cannot thank you enough, Mr. Malfoy. I would definitely be interested. It is most generous and kind of you!" he said, grinning as the news sank in. A small voice inside him reminded him that this was dangerous. Percy disregarded it easily. Mr. Malfoy had no reason to trick him; after all, he owed Percy his son's life, and he did seem genuine enough in his gratitude. In fact, Percy had been completely wrong about Mr. Malfoy! This man was a saint, giving him this job!

Mr. Malfoy smiled indulgently at him. "It's the least I can do to repay the service you have done for me. If you ever need anything, I hope you will call upon me. Know that Lucius Malfoy is your friend."

Percy was fully aware that eight generations of Weasleys were turning over in their grave with the knowledge that a descendant of their descendants had been called friend by a Malfoy, but that was irrelevant. He could not believe his luck. With a mentor like this, he could be in line for a department head position by age thirty. "You won't regret putting your trust in me, sir," Percy assured, his face radiant.

"Of course not," Mr. Malfoy said. "Now please excuse me. I must sit with my son."

Percy nodded, still not completely believing these events were happening. Madam Pomfrey was seething in the corner, and as soon as Mr. Malfoy left his side to return to Professor Snape and Draco, she returned.

"Are you all right, Weasley? Did he hurt you?" she asked quietly, looking quite shaken as well.

Percy shook his head. "I am fine, ma'am," he answered, still going over the words of the discussion in his mind.

"I shall have a house elf bring you up some soup; you still are not at full strength. Veritaserum is a nasty brew, and I do not want you collapsing in the middle of the hall because you overexerted yourself," she said, trying to sound authoritative. She clearly was quite put off and was muttering under her breath about the safety of students today. Percy submitted himself to another eye exam, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Madam Pomfrey seemed satisfied with the results and returned to Draco's side. She began casting spells over the boy, who whimpered pitifully even in his unconscious state. Mr. Malfoy was still sitting by his son, looking quite miserable. Percy's heart went out to him, to think his own siblings cause such a nice wizard pain. It wasn't Mr. Malfoy's fault that his sons were beasts. He couldn't blame Mr. Malfoy for threatening him. Had the situation been reversed, Percy was not sure how he would have reacted.

Percy was soon served a hearty chicken soup and told to drink it up or have it spoon fed to him. He nodded, wondering when he would be getting out. He did not mind the hospital wing very much, but enough was enough. He had celebrating to do. He kept looking at Mr. Malfoy out of the corner of his eye, trying to assure himself that what had just happened was not a figment of his imagination.

He was very hungry, but he sipped the broth slowly, relishing the taste. It was just as calming as the Draught of Peace Madam Pomfrey had given him. Percy was quite sure no amount of soup or draught could give Mr. Malfoy peace at this moment.

He heard the door open again. Professor McGonagall stepped into the hospital room, looking quite haggard.

Mr. Malfoy looked up coldly, still holding his son's hand protectively. "Ah, Professor, so good to see you again."

The Transfiguration teacher frowned. "Lucius, it's been a long time." Percy got the distinct impression that she didn't like this man at all.

"It has been rather awhile, hasn't it?" Mr. Malfoy said rhetorically.

"Indeed. As head of Gryffindor House, I wish to apologize for the conduct of my students," Professor McGonagall said in a forced tone.

"I am sure that apology will do my Draco a lot of good. I'm pleased to see that Dumbledore's 'progressive' teaching methods have yielded such spectacular results with the students."

Professor McGonagall lips tightened. "Twenty points from-" she said before she caught herself.

"Is that what passes for discipline today? I must say, Professor, that you have gone soft. As I remember correctly from my time at Hogwarts, a student who used such cheek towards you would have received a quick trip to Filch for a flogging or a night in the dungeons in chains. This was in the days before Dumbledore when a student could deliver an owl without being in a mortal peril of his life," Mr. Malfoy drawled. Percy had to admire his bravery. McGonagall ranked just behind Snape in her ability to glare others into shuddering submission.

Professor McGonagall's mouth went even thinner. "Oh, I very much disagree," she said artlessly. "I had a student who never learned from all the punishments he received from his insolence to me and the other teachers. In fact, perhaps he wasn't punished quite severely or often enough,"

Mr. Malfoy smiled tightly. "Charming. But never in my years at Hogwarts did a gang of hooligans attempt to murder a younger student."

"Percy, I was told I would find you here," Professor McGonagall said after a long moment, walking over to his bedside. She had apparently chosen to ignore Mr. Malfoy's bait.

Before Percy could answer, Madam Pomfrey had cause to glare at the Deputy Headmistress. "This boy has been through enough of an ordeal. He should not be excited!" she demanded protectively.

"I understand, Poppy. It will just take a moment," she assured the nurse before turning back to Percy. "I know you have been through many tribulations and must be very tired. Well, I must say that both the school and I are very proud of you for what you did today," she said softly. "I know it couldn't have been an easy decision for you to make."

Percy tried to keep a stony face. He was utterly ashamed of all the trouble his family caused now that he saw the affects it had on innocent people. "They were in gross violation of both school rules and wizard law," he said in a monotone. "As a prefect, I had no choice at all."

"I do hope Professor Snape was not too hard on you. You understand how suspicious it looked, even to someone of your excellent reputation. I hope you are feeling better," the Professor said.

Too hard? Percy would not wish his worst enemies to experience the minutes he spent with Snape. "I'm quite all right," he said proudly, trying to look unaffected.

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Excellent. I am glad to hear it. Your siblings have finished speaking with Professor Dumbledore and are currently sweating outside my office. Your parents will be arriving here any moment now. As difficult as it may be, I'd like you present as well, if you are physically up to it, and of course, if Madam Pomfrey agrees."

"Speaking of those abhorrent little demons and ideas on discipline," Mr. Malfoy interrupted, "I want those deviants masquerading as mages made an example of. This type of behavior can not be allowed to continue. They are to be expelled of course. After that, they will be arrested and indicted before the Wizengamot as soon as possible. I plan to press charges, and I daresay I have a very good case."

"I assure you that we are dealing with the situation," Professor McGonagall said coldly.

"The time has come for more then mere 'dealing' and this mollycoddling you call discipline," he sneered. "I will personally see to it that those little criminals have their wands broken for this insult to my family. My son will be safer after they are locked away in Azkaban for the rest of their pathetic lives and the keys thrown into the Thames. It is the only fate suitable for such menaces to society as these juvenile delinquents are. Young Percy saved the day today, but even a prefect of his intellect and valor cannot be there to save the day every time some students go on a rampage. Hogwarts is enormous, there are many places crimes can take place. If this anarchistic behavior is not stopped now, it will spread, leading to general lawlessness and a breakdown of education. Only with a return to strict discipline can the students of this school be safe again. Perhaps the great and powerful Dumbledore himself cannot keep control over his students, but severer methods can be found outside the school to insure the safety of the society."

Percy blanched at the vivid mental picture Mr. Malfoy was painting. Azkaban was the most horrible place in the world. Only a small handful of those who sent there ever returned back alive. Of those few, almost none returned back sane. Kept in the captivity of Dementers, going slowly mad in a constant torture of the most horrible memories without a single cheerful thought to tide one through, it was considered worse then dying. He couldn't bear to see his siblings suffer so, no matter what they did. They were only children, after all. This would kill his mother and destroy his remaining family! Poor Ginny, he had to help her. What course of action could he take? He knew that in the case of a grievance between two pure blooded families, one side could offer a large sum of money, chattels, land, or the indentured servitude of a son or daughter to the other side in repayment. Percy had nothing of value to offer the Malfoys, and the indenture would serve no use now. He had to do something though!

"Please, sir," he spoke up hesitantly. "I know better then anyone that my brothers are horrid beasts, but they are merely extremely stupid and immature. I know that does not make up for it, and of course what they did was very wrong and criminal. They definitely deserve to be severely punished, I cannot contest that. I only beg you to show mercy to them out of the goodness of your heart. Please, have pity, and don't send them to prison," he implored, seeing no other option of saving them. Although it pained him to lower himself to pleading, he had to do this for his family. Hopefully, Mr. Malfoy would remember who had saved his son and look upon his request with favour.

Mr. Malfoy's eyes studied him for a long moment. "There can be no mercy," he said quietly. Percy winced visibly, as if he had been struck.

Mr. Malfoy seemed to notice the affect of his words, because he put a hand on Percy's shoulder. "If there was any way of helping you, Percy, I would. But this is not a personal matter of vengeance. This is justice, plain and simple. You have my friendship and gratitude, but unfortunately, this is not in my hands. Just as you did your duty as a prefect and now do your duty as a brother, so must I do mine as a father and a school governor. As you learned today, it is not always easy or pleasant to do the proper action, and it's a rare person like you who can look beyond personal gain for the greater good," he said in a soothing paternal tone.

"You are right. I understand, sir," he said softly, his heart heavy with the knowledge that his siblings were doomed and now he had no way of saving them. Professor McGonagall's eyebrows rose at Mr. Malfoy's actions, but she did not comment on it since her face expressed her opinions quite clearly. The elderly professor looked shocked and confused by this behavior and kept trying to position herself between Mr. Malfoy and Percy.

Mr. Malfoy nodded benevolently, walked around the Transfiguration professor and patted Percy's shoulder. "Quite understandable, we all lose our head at times. I knew an intelligent young man like you would understand what must be done."

Percy lowered his eyes as he didn't want anyone to see his eyes mist up. Mr. Malfoy had comforted him, acting the way a father should, so very wise and moral. The man seemed to appreciate Percy's ambition and goals. How he wished Mr. Malfoy was his real father!

He then returned to the Head of Gryffindor House. "Now Professor, how soon can those monsters have their bunks cleaned out so the Aurors can be summoned?" he asked lazily.

"I have a letter here from Professor Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall said, taking an envelope out of her pocket and handing it to Mr. Malfoy.

Percy watched as the murderous fury returned to Mr. Malfoy's face. "Professor Dumbledore's latest password is 'lollypop'," McGonagall said quietly. "I am sure you know the way."

Mr. Malfoy's lips were pressed tightly together. "If there are any changes in my son's condition, contact me immediately. I shall return shortly, and my wife should be here within the hour," he said in a low voice as he stormed out. Percy was greatly confused. What was in that note? Had something else terrible happened?

Professor McGonagall's expression was unreadable. Percy had had enough glares to last him the year and remained perfectly quiet. "Come along, Weasley," she commanded.

Madam Pomfrey looked greatly put off. "This boy requires complete rest," she snapped, hands on her hips.

"Please, ma'am. I want to see my mum so badly. She would make me feel better," Percy begged. Seeing Mr. Malfoy had really made him long for his own parents.

Madam Pomfrey glared at him for a moment before her face softened. "Oh all right, but I want you to be very careful, and if you feel the slightest bit light-headed, you are to sit down and have someone contact me," the nurse cautioned.

Percy nodded and hesitantly got to his feet. Finding his balance steady, he straightened his clothes, took his book bag, and followed his Head of House to her office. Curious stares emanated from various students, who were wondering what was going on. Why were teachers dragging him about so much today? Percy again felt his ears burn red with shame. Did they think he was in even more trouble now? Percy tried not to look guilty and just look official. This time he was merely on prefect business and had no reason to feel nervous. At least Professor McGonagall was not dragging him by the collar. His neck was still sore!

"Percy, what just occurred between Lucius Malfoy and yourself that you are on such good terms?" she suddenly asked.

"I did save his son," Percy tried to stop the words from coming out of his mouth, but they had escaped. What had gotten into him?

The professor treated Percy to one of her patented glares, shaking a finger in his face. "You are not Lucius Malfoy, Percy. I will not tolerate an impertinent tone from you," she said severely, her hand an inch from Percy's glasses.

"I apologize, ma'am. I truly meant no disrespect. It's the Veritaserum and the long day; I'm still a bit off."

"And what a foolish idea that was! Just because you were in trouble did not mean you needed to resort to putting yourself under such dangerous potions. I expected better of you," she exclaimed. "There were much easier ways for us to ascertain the truth, Weasley." Percy wondered just what Snape told her. He obviously did not mention that Percy had no choice in the matter. As if she could read his mind, Professor McGonagall's tone softened a bit. "But I understand. Just don't make this sort of cheek a habit," she said gently, dropping the matter.

It was a great relief to Percy when they finally reached the office where a worried Mum and Dad and four surly siblings waited outside. Mum looked a bit disheveled; she must have dropped everything when she got the owl.

"Mother," he said, embracing her tightly. He felt horrible that she had to suffer so because of the idiocy of his siblings.

"Did you hear something? I thought I heard a rat squeak," growled Ron.

Oh yes, his siblings were in a great deal of trouble and most likely hated him. He hadn't really considered what the foursome thought of him. He had been preoccupied with the battered student, seeing how bad the evidence had looked. He had been facing down an enraged, sarcastic Potions Master. He had been consumed by the thought of being blamed as an accomplice in the matter, being dishonored, losing his prefecture, and generally all Hell breaking loose.

Or perhaps the reason Percy had not thought of his siblings was that he had been dragged down to the dungeons, completely at Snape's limited mercy and unaware of what would be done to him. Perhaps his stress had come from having to submit to a Truth Potion to show he had nothing to do with the shameful behavior shown by his siblings and then having his mind picked over, unveiling his secrets. He could also have been occupied with facing down an angry father who wanted revenge for actions against his son. Yes, he had dealt with quite a lot today, and not having a thought for the anger of his criminally inclined family was quite understandable.

"We're doomed because of him," mumbled Ginny, who was near tears. Percy's heart nearly broke. He really wished his stupid brothers had not dragged their sweet innocent little sister into the matter. He wished he could give her a hug, but felt that this would be a bad time to show affection.

"You may come in now," Professor McGonagall said sternly, waving them inside.

The Weasleys filed into Professor McGonagall's spotless, book-filled office, all with various expressions on their face. Dad looked distraught and exhausted. The stress of working two jobs was begin to wear on him and had already aged him considerably. His balding hair had started to turn gray and new lines and shadows decorated his face. Mum appeared furious, barely keeping her anger in check. Percy's four younger siblings stared at their shoes as their Head of House paced around her office, looking apoplectic.

Percy studied them out of the corner of his eye. Fred and George looked grim; Ginny was already in tears, while Ron squirmed with anxiety. Clearly, they all finally realized they were in a great deal of hot water. The seconds ticked by, and it seemed as if they had been waiting an eternity for McGonagall to tell them the four miscreants' fates.

Percy knew it was quite likely that they would be expelled and that everyone would blame him. But it wasn't his fault! Had he not gone through enough for their misbehavior? He felt like speaking, trying to take control of the situation, but at this point, he felt that nothing he said would be heard. It was better if he allowed the adults to take charge. He knew the adults were on his side and knew he was telling the truth. That was all that mattered. But why had he been asked to come? The professor hadn't seemed angry with him; she had praised him. Finally, the elderly professor spoke.

"Arthur, Molly, I have been head of Gryffindor for twenty-two years, but never in all my days have I seen such horrific violence done to a student as I have seen today. The facts are these. These four," she glared at them, "ambushed Draco Malfoy alone in a corridor and proceeded to beat him literally within an inch of his life. They may thank their lucky stars that Percy is an extraordinarily intelligent young man. He intervened before they would have earned themselves expulsion and a quick trip to Azkaban for murder! For his actions in upholding school rules and wizard law, Percy will be receiving the Cliodne Medal of Wizardly Merit."

Percy couldn't resist cracking a tired smile; he was over the moon at this news, even as his siblings glared at him. That definitely made him feel him better about all he had gone through. At least his parents could be proud of one of their children. The Cliodne medal was a high honor indeed, given to students who displayed distinction in both academics and character. Definitely something good for the old resume.

"Turncoat," muttered Fred.

"Vulture," added George.

"That's enough out of you," McGonagall snapped. "Percy is a hero, while you all have shamed your house, your family, and yourselves. I am truly disgusted with all four of you. Miss Weasley, those tears will not move me, so stop them immediately. As for you, Fredrick and George, bullying a child younger and smaller then you is deplorable. You both have a reputation for mischief, but leading your younger siblings into this- this malice, is demented and perverted. It is evil of the purest and most vile sort," she thundered, losing her pretense at civility. "You seem to share a greater portion of the blame here. Your younger brother and sister are at least near to Mr. Malfoy in size, but you both are older and larger then he."

Dad bit his lip. "Will Malfoy press charges?" he asked quietly, his face melancholy and worried.

"He very much wants to, Arthur, and I must say he has a rather good case," McGonagall sighed. "Aggravated assault and battery is quite a serious offense. Young Mr. Malfoy was very lucky indeed that Percy intervened. He was viciously thrashed, and they pasted a white mask to his face. He could have suffocated. The poor boy is in the Hospital Wing as we speak. Professor Snape wants them expelled, as do quite a few other teachers and school governors," she said coldly. "They agreed with Malfoy that the whole affair should be brought before the Wizengamot for good measure."

Mum paled dramatically at those words, and her hand tightened on the armrest. "Have Aurors been called?" she asked.

Ginny began sobbing uncontrollably. "We're going to be arrested and expelled!" she cried, choking on her sobs. Dad put his arm around her, hugging her tightly. Percy winced. He hated hearing Ginny cry! He sighed and wondered how the family would afford the legal fees that a trial would cost. He wished he knew what was in the note Mr. Malfoy had read.

"We'd best go pack, now that he has ruined our lives forever," Fred said miserably, glaring at Percy, who stared defiantly back. He did not want to see his brother arrested but this situation was not his fault.

"Your brother saved your lives, Mr. Weasley, and you should be grateful to him. More grateful then you know," McGonagall corrected him sternly. "Had he not intervened, you eventually would have been caught, but at least now you have some shred of hope to cling to. A thin one, mind you, but a shred. Luckily, extremely luckily for your parents, Professor Dumbledore has decided to allow you all to stay on, against a great deal of protest from the governors and some of the teachers. Ordinarily, in a matter so serious, the headmaster himself would speak to you all, but he is currently meeting with Lucius Malfoy concerning his decision not to expel you or allow you to stand trial. No charges will be pressed, though this incident will be recorded at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and will be noted on your school record," she said dryly.

Percy cringed. By the looks on their faces, his siblings didn't understand how disastrous this was to them. It would be hard to find a good job with a criminal record and with a father in disfavor of many powerful people. It wouldn't be too easy for him either, but thank Merlin for Mr. Malfoy or he'd be in dire straights.

"Really? We're not going to Azkaban!" Ron said, his face starting to relax. Percy wanted to shout at him that this wasn't entirely good news but kept his tongue. What was the use? They would never understand, He supposed he would let them have their moment of happiness. At least they were safe, thank Heavens.

"Thank you, Professor. We truly appreciate what you've done for our children. I can't tell you how much this means to us. I assure you, this lot will be absolute angels for the rest of their schooling," Mum said, glaring murderously at her brood. Percy was starting to wonder if they were better off facing the Wizengamot then their formidable mum. He always did found humor at the oddest times.

"I certainly hope so, Molly, for their sakes. But they are not getting off that easily." Professor McGonagall fixed the four Weasleys with her icy stare. "First of all, you will each have detention every night until after the St. Valentine's holiday. You will be assigned to a faculty member, who shall determine the nature of your punishments," she began. She took a list of out of the pocket of her robes and began to read.

"Mr. Ronald Weasley will be assisting Professor Snape to prepare Potion ingredients, set up the lab in the mornings and clean it up in the evenings, as well as scrubbing cauldrons and equipment as needed. Miss Ginevra Weasley will be working in the hospital wing, cleaning bedpans, keeping the hospital sanitary and spotless, and assisting Madam Pomfrey. Mr. Fredrick Weasley and Mr. George Weasley are assigned to Mr. Filch, to assist in keeping the castle clean and tidy. These detentions include weekends," she concluded icily. All four siblings looked rather put off at that. They would have no free time for quite awhile.

"You four will also be losing the house one hundred and fifty points -- each," she continued matter-of-factly. At that news, bedlam ensued.

"WHAT?" Ron gasped.

"Six hundred points? But- but- we'll never win the House Cup!" Fred howled incredulously.

"Please, not that!" George begged.

"Oh no, we're finished now!" wept Ginny.

"Silence! You should have thought of the consequences before you engaged in that criminal behavior," the Professor snapped, giving them a stare that could freeze Butterbeer.

Percy didn't say anything, but he winced again. His day had just turned dark again. Six hundred points! That would put them severely into negative points, the black stones in the hourglasses that only the Headmaster or Deputy could assign. His house was going to hate them for this. Just lovely. He could count on an unpleasant year. Actually, it would be a miracle if he didn't get the same treatment as Malfoy got. Even Dad and Mum looked extremely upset.

"Professor McGonagall, it was just my children. Is there really a need to punish the whole house that badly?" Dad begged.

"I'm sorry; Arthur, but rules are rules." She did sound genuinely sorry. Percy knew it must hurt her deeply to have to punish her own house so severely, but she had to be fair. "I'm not through yet." She turned to the twins.

"George and Fredrick, your lawlessness can no longer be overlooked or excused. There can be no excuse for your actions today. Clearly, severe measures are needed. Mr. Filch has been given full discretion over your detention. One toe out of line and you'll most likely be hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. In addition, your Hogsmeade trips are terminated for this year, and both of you are suspended indefinitely from the Quidditch team. Ronald, you are barred from trials till they are back on the team. Furthermore, you are all on probation, and one slight deviation from the rules will get you a return ticket on the Hogwarts Express. You may think it harsh, but be grateful it wasn't Lucius Malfoy who had the final decision, or you'd be in Azkaban Prison at this very moment," McGonagall finished frigidly.

Fred and George looked like they were going to faint. No more Quidditch? Percy recoiled as well; Wood was going to kill him! The hopes of Gryffindor having any honors this year was completely shot. The twins were off the team, they were all in disgrace, and their stupidity had cost their house everything. Any more good news?

"Molly, before they return to the dorms, I imagine you'd like to say a few things to your children. I'll give you several minutes alone" the professor concluded, giving Percy a significant look as she walked out.

Silence reigned for a moment. Ginny was still sniffling, and Mum didn't look very well. She had clearly been under far too much stress with Dad being transferred and working himself half to death. This was all probably too much for her. Percy longed to protect his mother. He hated seeing her so forlorn.

"That was very foolish of you. I know you were trying to stand up for me, but this was the wrong and worst way to do it. I hope Professor McGonagall made it clear to you how serious this situation is. You are very lucky that this wasn't any worse for you. Thank the Almighty for Professor Dumbledore, who saved you from horrible fates. I am very saddened by your actions and hurt that, as a father, I could not teach you better ways of dealing with your feelings," Dad said, looking very tired.

There was more awkward silence. George scuffed his feet a bit, looking very ashamed of himself. Fred's face mirrored his expression; the twins were very close to Dad. Ginny sniffed loudly.

"Well, at the least we shan't require to pay for a solicitor," Percy said, desperate to say something. "There won't be a trial for all this madness."
"Who cares about the cost?" Fred snapped. "We could just melt down your precious medal."

"Pawning it would work too," George interjected angrily.
Percy felt a stab of pain as one more invisible tie between he and his brother parted under the sharp knife of anger. Those two had broken half of his belongings over the years! "You will leave my medal alone!" he half-shouted. "It's an enormous distinction, something you could never appreciate!"

Dad sighed exasperatedly. "As for you, Percy, I can't believe all you care about is a medal over your own family."

"Yeah, thanks for the sympathy, you self-righteous, glory-seeking tosser," snapped Ron.

A hot anger spread through Percy, making his ears feel sore. That's what Dad asked? His youngest children were felons, but no, he blamed the good son! It wasn't his fault his siblings had almost slaughtered Mr. Malfoy's son; he had spent the afternoon proving that! Why was he being blamed? He had saved the boy, and it wasn't as if he did it for personal gain or because he had any loyalty to the brat. He knew very well that the younger Malfoy boy was an annoying and arrogant prat who enjoyed mocking him. He knew that the elder Malfoy brother had tormented him for five years. He knew that in some ways Malfoy Sr. was partially responsible for this whole affair, transferring Dad to a dead-end job that paid next to nothing, but by Ptolemy, no one deserved to be treated like that, no matter what they were like or their father did! Four against one, being thrashed like that, it just wasn't right, even for a Malfoy. He stood by what he did, and he didn't care what anyone else thought. It wasn't as if he'd known he'd be generously rewarded and that Mr. Malfoy would turn out to be a fine person. Percy had put his own neck on the line; why couldn't Dad see that? Why was his father always taking everyone else's side but Percy's? A sharp reply came to his tongue, but he bit it back. He would be respectful of his father, despite how completely unfair and biased he was being.

"I was not trying to get glory!" he said in as calm a voice as possible. "What should I have done? Let Malfoy die there? It was the proper action under the circumstances!" He was unable to take the haughty note out of his voice. Mum seemed too weak to speak, something which worried him even more. He patted her hand, to make her feel better. He resisted the urge to return the glares his siblings were giving him. Why did they feel the need to upset poor Mum?

"You didn't have to turn us over to Snape, to try to ruin our lives. What kind of brother are you?" Ginny cried.

"Too right," Ron growled.

"What kind of brother am I? I didn't make you become assailants. You ruined your own lives and almost destroyed my own as well! Did anyone tell you that I was accused of being party to your criminal escapades? I had to spend the last few hours in hell proving my innocence, due to the damage you miscreants did," Percy snapped furiously.

"They were angry, Percy. You should have thought about that. You should have understood what they were going through," Dad broke in.

"That doesn't excuse what they did! I can't favor my own family or ignore my duties. As a prefect, every student is my responsibility, and that includes pests such as Draco Malfoy. I still stand by my choice and would do it again if I had to. They should have been the ones pondering their actions. After all, they didn't think about their future, or about how this would negatively affect anyone else. They didn't think of anything but cowardly beating up a defenseless boy! They deserved to be punished for it!" What kind of father was he? How could he not understand this? How could he take their side?

"What's he doing here anyway? This is supposed to be family time," George snapped, glaring at Percy with undisguised hatred.

"Because as embarrassed as I am to say it, I am your family, Azkaban brat! Believe me, being related to you has not been an honor!" Percy answered between gritted teeth.

"Percy, watch your mouth. You will not call a member of the family that foul term ever again, do you hear me?" Father said in a deadly voice.

"Then tell him to stop trying to push me out of this family," Percy answered, bordering on insolence.

"You're no family of mine, you traitor," George spat.

"It's the Snake in Lion's clothing," Fred chimed in.

"Sod off," Percy snapped.

"Or what? You'll tell on him?" Ron jeered.

"Grow up already. It is long past due," Percy returned.

"Oh, they had better grow up and quickly," Mum hissed at her four younger children, finally finding her rage, and not a moment too soon. Percy smirked; he knew he could count on Mum to know the right thing to do.

"Do you four realize the shame you've caused this family? Never, as long as I live, could I have imagined such humiliation coming from my own children. I have never been so disgraced! I could die of mortification! I'm absolutely disgusted with the lot of you! I thought I raised you better than this! I should put you all over my knee, one by one, right here and now. You all are just lucky I don't have the wooden kitchen spoon here.

"Don't think that this is the end of this matter! You just wait till you come home for the summer holiday! You are all grounded indefinitely. Since you will have nothing better to do, I'll be giving you extra chores to fill your time. You will also be losing your allowances and your brooms, and you can forget about ever getting a Hogsmeade form signed ever again.

"What you will do is make the best of Professor Dumbledore's generosity! You are quite lucky to be remaining at school. I intend for you to keep my promise: you will be perfectly behaved from now on. Not a single toe out of line, you hear me! You will be model students. Even a hint that this behavior is repeating itself and you'll be out of this school before you can even blink!

"Bill and Charlie never gave us a fraction of the trouble I get from you! Don't you know our family has been going through a hard time already? We can ill afford these problems. Have you no shame? Have you no sense of responsibility? You have burdened your poor father, who doesn't need this stress. I can't believe you could be so insensitive like that. I don't suppose you stopped and thought what went through our heads when we received an urgent owl to report to Hogwarts because of this?

"We didn't bring you up to behave like common savages or trolls! What were you thinking, children? Were you even thinking? Didn't you realize how dangerous and stupid, as well as how absolutely wrong this was? You could have been arrested; you could be in prison right now; they could have snapped your wands in two. As it is, the four of you have criminal records before you are even of age. My own flesh and blood, common criminals! How will you ever make anything of yourselves? What am I supposed to do with you? Your whole lives could have been ruined, and perhaps they already are! Is that worth some petty vengeance? I am very deeply disappointed in all of you!"

By the looks on his siblings' faces, they were really cowed now. By now, all of them were staring at their shoes.

"Malfoy hurt our family, we were just giving him some much needed payback," Ron said in a low voice. Speaking was the wrong idea, for Mum's face grew redder.

"Much needed payback? Believe me, I'll give you payback for what you did," Mum snapped. Ron paled rather badly.

"We only wanted to rough him up a bit, we didn't intend to kill him. We didn't think it would go so far," Ginny pleaded earnestly.

"Though we really didn't think it was a loss if we did though," Fred said airily, trying to avoid facing his mother's glare.

"That's obvious," Percy muttered to himself. How stupid could his siblings be? Mum was right, couldn't they have stopped and thought of the consequences of this idiotic escapade?

"What's happened to you, Percy?" Ginny demanded, fighting back her sniffles. "You used to love us. Now you're acting just like a Malfoy, just like the person who tormented you! Cold-hearted; selfish; ambitious. You don't care for anybody or anything, except what's best for yourself! I bet you didn't even care that we were going to be expelled, so long as you kept your precious prefect badge!"

Percy drew himself up to his full height. "My concerns were to fulfill my duties as a prefect and see to it that students here are safe," he said haughtily, although he went crimson as his hair. That had been closer to the truth then he had liked it to be. Ginny was a better listener then he thought, and perhaps he shouldn't have ranted so much about how much Elan annoyed him. It was clear everyone saw a raw nerve had been hit. Ginny had always been his favorite sibling. Coming from her, the insults hurt twice as badly.

"I hate you, you selfish prat!" Ginny ran out of the room, sobbing wildly. A piece of Percy's heart went with her. He rose to follow her.

"Where are you going?" Fred demanded hatefully.

"To go speak to my sister," Percy answered back defiantly.

"Stop pretending to care about Ginny. We are the ones who really cared. We defended her to Dumbledore and that is why he was a lot easier on her then us. We didn't get to go clean ourselves up like she got to," Ron snarled.

"This is all your fault. Look what you did to poor Ginny. Maybe we defend our sister and should start treating you like a Malfoy," George muttered, clenching his fists ominously.

Percy had grasped his wand in his hand, just in case of sibling problems. He may have been considered a bit of a bookworm, but few students could match his dueling skills, and he was known to have a nice array of hexes at his disposal. He would defend himself if provoked. He would cower no more. "Just try it, George," he invited. "I'm not as easy to bully as a second year is. Or do you only harass innocent helpless little children?"

"You call the spawn of the slime that fired your own father innocent? You belong in Slytherin, you nosey parker!" Fred hissed, backing down from a physical attack.

"Mr. Malfoy isn't slime! He is a school governor and a very important wizard! You, Fredrick Eugene Fabian Weasley, are just a juvenile delinquent with a criminal record!" Percy snapped. He had gone too far, and he knew it, but he truly did not care. He had enough of being of attacked.

"You all call me selfish? The way you are acting, I don't know why I bothered, but here is some information you don't know. I was in the hospital wing when I heard Mr. Malfoy speaking to Professor McGonagall. I didn't know Dumbledore had saved your sorry selves already, so I thought that charges would be pressed, and I realized the danger you were in. I threw my dignity to the wind and begged Mr. Malfoy to show leniency to you, even though you all deserve to be given the full extent of the law!" Percy snapped irately.

"Where is your pride, Percy?" Dad demanded in a broken tone. "You lowered yourself to grovel before that Death Eater? Weasleys do not beg from Malfoys! We do not need anything from him and his kind."

"My other alternative was to watch my siblings lead away in chains! I had no choice! You make it sound like I knelt to the Devil and signed his Black Book! Mr. Malfoy is just someone who almost lost a son and was grateful to the person who saved him!"

"Grateful?" Mum said in a suspicious tone. "How grateful was he?" She was looking at him in the way she did when she thought he had fever. Percy looked away guiltily. He had never been good at keeping secrets from Mum, and now he had lost the element of planning. It was now or never, no matter how terribly unpleasant it would be for him. He had no other alternative.

"I was going to wait to tell you, but Mr. Malfoy offered me an internship with the Ministry -- and I accepted it. He said I was responsible and intelligent. With a wizard like him helping me, imagine what I can do. I'll really be able to go far," Percy said quickly, bracing for the worst.

"What?" Mum whispered, looking like she had just spotted a boggart. A small statue on the shelf behind her exploded with a sharp detonation.

"You bloody bastard of a traitor!" Fred hissed, his eyes glinting murderously.

"You scheming Judas!" George spat.

"I knew it. I knew he was in league with him!" Ron said darkly.

Percy looked around him. Furious looks were being directed at him from all angles. Actually, that was an understatement, his family was staring at him in the same manner they would if he had just announced he was a spy for the Dark Lord.

"Percy, tell me you are joking. This can't be true," Dad said, looking at Percy, who merely looked away. He couldn't believe his dad thought this was a joke.

"And if it is true?" he asked quietly.

"How dare you accept anything from that bastard? Have I taught you nothing? You do understand that Malfoy is just trying to get revenge on our family and using you as his tool," Dad continued sharply.

"He said I was responsible and intelligent, and I did save his son. He's just trying to repay a life debt to me," Percy protested.

"Surely you can't believe that!" Dad sputtered.

"Believe what? That someone can find me knowledgeable and mature? I know it's something you never noticed, but apparently other people do!"

"That isn't what I mean!"

"Then what do you mean?" Percy demanded. "That I am not mature enough to judge people for myself?"

"I don't care how mature you think you are! I forbid you to work for him! He's dangerous!" Dad retorted accusingly.

"You can't be serious!" Percy was not going to lose this job! This was his big chance, and by Merlin he would have it.

"Silence! I have spoken, and you will do as you are told! I'll die before I allow any of my children to be hurt and tainted by that criminal!" Dad shouted, looking angrier then Percy had ever seen him in a long time. In fact, Percy had never seen his father so irate. Mum tended to shout a lot, but Dad wasn't the type. Percy was almost scared; he wasn't used to being in trouble, and he didn't know how to react. He had never spoken back to his parents before either. But he needed this job! He needed it more than anything else in the world. A chance like this one came once in a lifetime. If he obeyed his parents, he would regret it forever. Mum and the three deviants were just staring open-mouthed at the sight.

"I am taking this job, Dad, and there is nothing you can do to stop me," Percy said defiantly, feeling backed into a corner.

"How dare you speak to me that way? I am your father; of course I can stop you. The decision is therefore closed! While you live under my roof, you will obey my rules!" Dad roared, his face as red as his hair.

"It's a paid internship! I'll be getting good money. Maybe you don't think we need it, but I could use new clothes and books. There's the mortgage to pay for and tuition. I'll contribute some of my income. I'm old enough to start working and pulling my weight," Percy tried to explain, hoping they'd see reason.

"This family doesn't need their filthy, blood-stained money," Dad answered back furiously.

"Perhaps, as I said before, you don't need to eat, but I do. Food and other necessities cost money! I can't believe you are doing this! You're ruining my future just to satisfy a stupid feud. Why can't you understand? He's not tainting me; he's offering me his help to make something of myself. He's a great man, well respected and important. He doesn't drive a bus; he has a real career," Percy snapped, his voice dripping with acid.

Dad's eyes narrowed. "Driving a bus is an honest days labour, which is more then I can say for Malfoy. And I wouldn't have been driving a bus, if your little hero hadn't destroyed my career."

"You destroyed your career, Dad! If you hadn't had this insane obsession for Muggles, had a bit more ambition, risen up further in the ranks, made some more valuable connections, we wouldn't have been in the situation we are -- poor and sneered at. Look around you! Shabby robes! Every bit of it is old and half-broken! Third- and fourth-hand books! What kind of life is this? Do you think it is easy to be impoverished and to have to make do with poor quality of everything? I am tired of being sneered at, just because you could not take the time to differentiate between a hobby and responsibility!

"Elan Malfoy has always been my main rival. We both worked hard, but he always had an edge over me because he didn't just have to rely on himself. He also had the best of everything money could buy. Did you know Elan is in a private study program overseas to round out his education? We couldn't afford to let Bill study overseas, and I could never dream of having something like that. There was always four other mouths to feed, so I had to suffer and take less. From the beginning, I knew everything I would have, I'd going to have to put together from my own sweat and blood, because I'd have to do it alone. I am not going to follow your path. Now that I have a chance to have the advantages my competition has, I am going to make something of myself!" Percy exploded.

"Yes, make a disrespectful, conniving, underhanded social climbing toady of yourself, that's the ticket. Spit on everything I gave you! Spend your life as a sycophant to a corrupt demagogue. Is that what you want?" Dad yelled.

"At least I won't be a destitute, ineffectual disgrace of millstone around everyone's neck. You are jealous," Percy spat back.

"Jealous of what? Of an ungrateful child who bites the hand that loving fed it?"

"Lovingly fed it when there was food, which wasn't too often. You may have your pride, but pride doesn't put food on the table. Face the truth, Dad. Don't hide from the fact that we are dirt poor. You lost your job; four of your children now have criminal records. This is nothing to be proud of. But instead of trying to better our circumstances, you try to ruin mine. You are jealous of my success, jealous that in my sixth year, I have already begun a path which will insure I am financially stable and respected, something you could never do," Percy snarled, years of resentment boiling to the surface.

"If it means being the servile minion of a criminal, then it's something I never would want," Dad fired back.

"Good, for you'll never have it. You can continue to ruin your life if you want to, but I won't," Percy said haughtily.

"How dare you speak to me this way?" Dad demanded.

"It's about time somebody did," Percy retorted.

"Percy, what has gotten into you? You have always been our good son, the one we didn't have to worry about," Mum pleaded, her eyes filling with tears.

"I still am, Mum. You'll note that I am not the one in trouble with both school and law. I have always proven myself to be responsible and to be capable of making good decisions, haven't I? I've held this in long enough. Someone had to speak up to Dad. You deserve better then the abject poverty we live in because of his stubbornness and pride, as well as his own law-breaking nature, building flying cars in the garage, collecting Muggle artifacts, and so on. Someone has to tell him it's time to grow up and live in the real world. I'm taking this job and that's final," Percy answered angrily. The glass in a picture frame exploded.

"You are grounded this summer, and that is final," Dad retorted.

"Both of you will be quiet!" Mum demanded, breaking up the argument instantly. There was shock in the room. Dad looked like he had been physically hit, smoldering with anger, and his siblings looked ready to spit nails.

Percy had not meant to lose his temper; he could not believe his own behavior. What had gotten into him? Snape had said the Veritaserum would have worn off after an hour, so it could not be a side affect of the potion. He wondered if he should apologize. Every word he said had been true; someone had to tell Dad to wake up and live in the real world. Yet, deep down, he understood that he had hurt his parents as much as his siblings had. Percy decided to leave and clear his head a bit before matters were twisted up further.

"I have to get back to the tower; I have an Arithmancy essay to finish. It was nice seeing you, Mum. Happy Halloween," he mumbled and ran out of the office as quickly as he could. He didn't stop to speak to anyone; he just raced down the hall and up the stairs as fast as he could. Luckily, most people were back at the dorms, so he did not encounter too many people. When he reached the Fat lady he recited the password "Tir Na Nog" anxiously.

"All the portraits have been talking about you, Mr. Weasley. How is it you are still alive? The portrait of Anne Boleyn reported seeing an angry Professor Snape taking you down to his office. Is it true you sent your own brothers and sister to Azkaban?" she asked.

It took every ounce of patience Percy had not to snap at her. "Please, ma'am, I don't feel well. May I please come in?" he begged.

"Oh, all right," she huffed, opening the door.

A gaggle of Gryffindors were waiting inside the Common Room for him. He could feel the angry eyes of everyone on him. News spread fast at Hogwarts.

"We saw your sister run out sobbing hysterically, what did you do to her?"

"Is McGonagall going to punish the whole house?"

"Did your brothers nearly get off the team?"

"Weasley, is it true we lost four hundred points?"

"Did your brothers beat up Draco?"

"Did you really turn your own siblings in?"

"Bloody pillock of a traitor!"

"What kind of a person are you?"

"Are they expelled?"

Percy held up his hands. "QUIET! George, Fred, Ginny, and Ron attacked and savagely beat up Draco Malfoy. Yes, they were caught. No, they aren't going to Azkaban, nor are they expelled. They will be along shortly, so you can bloody well ask them for the details, not me. No, Draco Malfoy isn't dead; he'll be on his feet in a few weeks. Also despite any rumors to the contrary, I had nothing to do with the incident. As you can see, Professor Snape did not commit unspeakable acts of physical torture on me, he merely asked me to recount what happened. That will be all, so go away. I am going to do homework. The next person to pester me will receive detention," he said firmly in a haughty voice, before striding out of the common room and up the steps.

Ah, his quiet, crimson dorm. Neither of his two roommates were in, which was a blessing. He did not mind having missed the Halloween feast since he really didn't want to face anyone right now. He was not hungry either. He opened his satchel and took out his book, "Advanced Numerology and Grammatica," spread out some parchment and ink, and began to write, trying to clear his mind.

"The properties of seventy-two are best used in defensive magic, especially against harmful or powerful demons. A chain containing seventy-two links or seventy-two stones around a sleeping demon will imprison it and make it obedient such as in the case of the witch Salome of Ashkelon who used it in 1289 BC to subdue the demons that were destroying crops, by encircling the town with seventy-two stone pillars. The reason it's so potent is this number's power directly corresponds to Pendragon's Principle Fifth of Even Numbers which states that-"

Time passed quickly. As he neared his second foot of parchment, Oliver Wood burst into the room looking fit to be tied. "You dolt! You monster! You cost me my two Beaters! You cost us the Quidditch cup! You've ruined everything! How could you to do this to me?" he howled by way of greeting.

Percy inwardly groaned. Oliver lived, breathed, ate, drank, slept and woke with Quidditch on the mind; he knew this struck him a mortal blow. This was going to make life quite disagreeable.

"The world doesn't revolve around you, Wood," he dryly reminded his roommate, not looking up from his work.

"There is no world! There is nothing left! Armageddon has come! Why did you have to turn them in?" he moaned pitiably.

Percy started on his numerology chart. "Next time I see a crime, I'll first check to see if it will affect anything related to Quidditch before stopping it," he muttered irritably.

"Now you see sense. Why couldn't you have done that before?" Wood whimpered pitifully.

Percy rolled his eyes. Was he surrounded by idiots? Did everyone want to be trivial or were they just acting this way to irk him. "They were killing younger Malfoy," he reminded.

"If they needed to throw Malfoy into a volcano and sacrifice the whole of Slytherin to the Gods of Chaos to make them knock those Bludgers harder, then so be it. Honestly, where are your priorities?" Wood demanded angrily.

"Hey Weasley, the rest of the Quidditch team are waiting for you in the Common Room. They want to kill you for turning in the twins," Rex Irving said, walking into the room. "Angelina and Alicia want to rip you into a million pieces and feed you to the Giant Squid. Katie wants you sold into slavery to goblins. Lois wants to have you publicly lynched. And then Lee Jordan-"

"Thank you for that information," Percy said through gritted teeth. All right, he was surrounded by idiots. This was going to be a long year.

"You really let us down, Weasley. Where is your house pride?" Irving asked in a surly tone. "You cost us six hundred points. Six hundred points!"

"If it makes you feel better, Irving, we did not lose six hundred points. I got a point from Snape for answering a question of his, so it's only five-hundred and ninety-nine. See, there is a bright side to everything!" Percy had to admit, he enjoyed watching his roommates turn red with anger. The nerve of them to speak of priorities and pride!

"You haven't apologized yet for ruining everything," Wood said in a nasty tone. Apparently, the loss was really hitting them both hard.

Percy looked down at his books. "I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it," he fired back.

Wood's face was now ugly with hatred. "You will regret this, Weasley. I can promise you that and more. You will wish you never crossed my team."

Percy looked up from his book, giving Wood a cold stare through his horn rimmed glasses. He had allowed Snape and Mr. Malfoy to make him cower in fear, but he had tired of allowing others to walk all over him. He now had his wand in hand and was ready to use it. "I can hex you, Wood, and then I can give you detention, or you can allow me to work in peace. It's your choice," he said in a haughty tone.

Wood looked away, clearly not willing to take Percy on at this moment. "Come on, Rex, you can help me comfort the team. Gods know they need it," he muttered, slinking out with his friend.

Percy heard the door slam and returned to his studies. He tried to concentrate on proving Pendragon's principles, but all that had happened today kept swirling through his mind. He had been reliving the events all day; he just did not want to think about the anger, frustration, helplessness, fear, and humiliation he had endured today. He couldn't remember everything he had told Snape; the side effects of the potion prevented that, but he could remember enough of it to be aware that he had told far too much. Well, that couldn't have been helped; he was under the influence of the world's most powerful truth potion. What could he have done? Then he remembered, he had never told his parents that Snape might know about Dad breaking the law.

Well, whatever trouble resulted from this was long overdue. His anger at his father hadn't abated one bit. He couldn't believe how he had been treated. He supposed he should have expected it sooner or later; he wasn't close to his father and never had been. Dad had always favored the others over him. His face would shine with joy when he spoke of his cherished eldest, Bill who had been Head Boy and was now a curse breaker, who was so popular with the ladies. He couldn't hide the joy in his voice when he spoke about Charlie, the Quidditch star who was now studying to be a Dragon tamer. He never ceased to boast about his mischievously hilarious twin sons, and to speculate about the great things Ron and Ginny would achieve. But when conversation came to him, Dad's voice would sound so casual. "Percy's a prefect."

He had always been the closest to Mum; she had appreciated him. When Dad had taken the others flying or out to the shed to tinker with Muggle junk, Percy always seemed to be left behind with Mum and Ginny. In some ways, he hadn't minded, because he'd been learning to cook, and it was due to her cooking lessons that Percy managed his O grade on the Potions O.W.L. exam. Now when he thought about how stricken her face had been when he'd said what he had said in his outburst, his eyes watered a bit.

He had never understood why his father hadn't been proud of him. It had always bothered him terribly when his father would fuss over everyone but him. He would score high grades, he would study harder, he would make sure to always behave perfectly, but nothing ever impressed Dad. Now Percy finally understood; Dad felt threatened by his ambition.

Yes, Dad deserved everything Percy had said to him. But he hadn't meant to hurt Mum in the process! The thought that he caused her pain was burning him inside. He really loved her very much; she was the only one who appreciated him. He only had exploded because he knew she deserved better. Well, there was nothing he could do now. He'd write her a letter in the morning.

Percy forced himself to concentrate on his essay and finally he finished it. He was still alone, for which he was grateful. He decided against going to the Halloween feast. He was in no mood to face the world. He decided to change into his pajamas, get ready for the next day, and go to sleep early. He knew he hadn't had dinner and was supposed to be eating, but he wasn't feeling very hungry, just tired.

Ginny's accusing words, and his own confession, were still biting at his mind. He couldn't believe he wanted to be just like the person who had made life miserable for him. He remembered the first time he had met Elan.

"Is this compartment taken?" he had asked on his first year aboard the Hogwarts Express, trying to find a place to sit. He had been eager to make friends. He had dreamed of going to Hogwarts since he was three and here he was. He would have many adventures and wonderful friends.

The boy had stared at him suspiciously. "Elan Octavio Malfoy. Your name being?" he asked.

Percy had been aware that the name Malfoy wasn't a good one, but he didn't want to be rude and leave. "Percy Ignatius Weasley," he had answered holding out his hand.

He would never forget the look of hatred that had flitted through the boy's gray eyes. "A Weasley? Oh yes, one of the gargantuan litter of that flea-bitten Muggle-lover Arthur Weasley. I should have known by those tattered rags you are trying to pass off as robes. Well, my friends and I have no need of the likes of you around," he had drawled snottily.

Percy drew himself up to his full height. "There is no need to be rude," he snapped. He could feel his ears turn red, his robes were second hand and a bit patched, but they weren't rags. How dare this boy say those horrible things about his family and be so mean to him?

"I must say, I agree. Your unwanted presence is very impolite. Kindly remedy the situation before we do it for you. And don't slam the door on the way out, peasant,"

That had been the beginning of a very ugly relationship. Percy was distressed to find that Elan excelled at his studies and wasn't shy about rubbing his excellent marks and wealth in his face. Elan was also popular, always surrounded by his friends. Percy worked to the bone trying to compete with him, to win his respect, but to no avail. Even if Percy could usually match Elan and the other Slytherins point for point on exams, even if he was always in the top percentage of students, it did not matter. For two years, he was still the subject of cutting sarcasm. The verbal abuse then doubled in his third year when his terrible twin brothers had came to school. Elan had rather enjoyed mocking him about coming from a family of impoverished hooligans. Percy had never fought back, never challenged his adversary to a duel or tried to hex Elan or any of his snickering friends, no matter how angry he was. He had always tried to walk away with dignity, holding his head high despite Elan's snickers. In fact, Percy had found himself behaving beyond the letter of the law, just to prove not all Weasleys were ruffians. Then Ron came along and more ammunition was added to Elan's arsenal. Percy dearly loved his youngest brother, but the boy was being influenced far too much by the twins. Percy had tried to offer some advice, but Ron had shrugged him off and proceeded to get into more trouble. He could still remember Elan jeering over his brother being caught dueling last year. The worst part was that Percy had begun to believe Elan, because when he looked at his family, he felt his brothers were common hoodlums.

He still had a headache. He tried to banish those troublesome memories. As he lay back in bed, staring at the stone ceiling, he knew that there were going to be a lot of changes in his life, like his new job and the opportunities it would bring, as well as the Cliodne Medal of Wizardly Merit. But there would be other changes, and he could expect many of them to be negative. His house would not forgive him easily and neither would his family, especially his younger siblings and his dad. With a yawn, he pulled the curtains around his bed. The constant jerking of his emotions, trepidation and panic, to happiness, to anger and back again had put a strain on his nerves, and even the Draught of Peace Madam Pomfrey had given him had worn off. He opened the curtains and removed his music box from his bedside table. The small silver box had been his grandfather's before Percy had inherited it. It was enchanted to be attuned to it's owner's feelings, and it had often been Percy's greatest comfort. He had spent many hours listening to the sweet melodies, which always complimented his moods. A slow dirge floated out of the box. He looked up into nothingness for quite a while, until sleep finally came and again relieved him of his feelings.