Harry Potter: The Blogger of Hogwarts

It was all starting to make sense to me. Percy wasn't scared of me. He was scared for me. He thought I was in real danger in Slytherin from the kids of the Death Eaters. I'm not, don't worry. Half of the kids think their parents are psychopaths and want nothing to do with them and the other half talks a big deal but doesn't have the guts to do anything. Except Malfoy, who's been very quiet recently. Too quiet.

"I was scared," I told him. "But I knew had Harry and Hermione to protect me from the bad kids there."

"That's not what I meant!" Percy said frantically. "Weren't you scared about what Mum and Dad would think?"

I didn't understand what he was talking about. Why on Earth would I be scared of you two? Uncle Fabian and Uncle Gideon were both Slytherins, after all. And I know some of Dad's work friends are Slytherins too. "No? They love me. And they're totally fine with it, Percy!"

Percy looked at me with horror. "They're FINE?! They didn't even take time to come around to the idea?!"

"No! Percy, what is this about?"

He put his head in his hands. "But then it was all meaningless," he muttered.

I put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, Perce, what's going on? You can tell me. Do the brave thing, right?"

He raised his head and seemed much more composed now. "You don't understand, Ron. I'm not upset you're in Slytherin. I'm upset that I'm not." He sank to the floor, as if saying those words had taken up so much energy he couldn't even stand up anymore. "I was terrified during the Sorting Ceremony. The hat wanted to put me in Slytherin. It told me I was making a mistake by wanting to be in Gryffindor."

"But what does that have to do with me?" I wondered.

"Ron, don't you see?" he begged. "I'm in Gryffindor because I thought Mum and Dad would hate me if I was a Slytherin and I was wrong! The last five years, I've been living a lie! And for no reason at all! All those months terrified of what they'd say, how they'd hate me, and they didn't even give a damn. All that pain, all that suffering, it was completely meaningless."

He started crying. Percy, crying. Let that sink in for you. I had thought it was impossible for him to cry. It was not. "Ron, I'm so, so sorry. I should have been there for you. But every time I even looked at you, I just couldn't stop the bad thoughts from coming." He tried his best to stand up and he failed. Then I offered my hand and he took it and I pulled him up. "Thank you," he said and I knew he was thanking me for more than just the help getting up.

"Percy, isn't there something we can do?" I asked. "Is there a way you can get resorted?"

"I've never heard of anyone getting resorted before," Percy said. "Mind you, that doesn't mean it hasn't happened." He looked much more thoughtful now. I rolled my eyes. He and Hermione were like two peas in a pod – research was their answer to anything. "But if I was in Slytherin, I wouldn't be a prefect anymore, and how would that look to the Ministry when I apply?"

"There's only so many prefects, Perce," I pointed out. "There's got to be more jobs than that."

He pulled himself together, looking very much like – though not entirely – his old self. "Yes. You're right. It's about time I started to embrace who I am and not who I think my parents want me to be." I gave him a thumbs up, a Muggle gesture. He stared at me in bewilderment. Maybe I've been spending time with Harry and Hermione too much. "You're the best, Ron."

"I'll keep this secret from Mum and Dad, I promise."

Percy shook his head. "No. I want them to know."

"So you won't avoid me anymore?" I said hopefully.

"Not anymore," he said with a grin.

"And you'll ask the Gryffindors to audition for the Tempest?"

Percy nodded. "Yes, absolutely I will – HEY!" I ran for the exit with a cheeky wave. "Definitely in the right house," I thought I heard him mutter.

So that's the solution to the Percy conundrum. Try to go easy on him, Mum and Dad. He was just a scared kid. You didn't do anything wrong.

Love,

Ron

....

Dear Ron,

It's your father writing and thank you so much for telling me about Percy. I can't believe we've missed that all these years. We've reached out to him, but I think we'll have to settle things in person during winter break. Speaking of winter break, I was wondering if Harry would like to spend the break with us. (Hermione's parents told us the whole family is going on vacation, but they're hoping they can sneak in a day or two for you all to spend together near the end of the break.) I know he wasn't planning on going back to those relatives of his, so it might be a good opportunity for him. But if he wants to spend the break at Hogwarts, we won't be offended!

I'm afraid we're not going to be able to cheer for Hermione at the game, son. You did the right thing asking, but with Fred and George on the Gryffindor team, our loyalties must be with our children's team. If you were on the Slytherin team, it'd be a different story, of course. But we have something even better! My friend Reggie Shafiq, as you recall, has an uncle on the Board of Governors, and after much begging, I convinced him to let Hermione's parents attend the match! They'll be given a special enchanted medallion to allow them to see through the anti-Muggle protections.

Your mother and I always love you very much, Ron.

Love,

Dad

.....

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