Headmaster's Son
“Percival Dumbledore.”Matron called from the doorway of the common room.
“Here.”Percival replied dryly as he sat up on the couch he had been laying on all morning.
Matron’s familiar scowl met his gaze. “Time to leave.”she commanded.
“Fucking finally.”
Percival got up from his lounging place, picked up his suitcase from the floor and followed Matron out to the front steps of the boys’ home. Much to Percival’s annoyance, Albus stood there, waiting patiently.
“Ah, Percival, so good to see you.”his father beamed at him.
“Sure. Good to see you too.”Percival replied, trying not to sound too cold.
The two walked to Albus’ car in an uneasy silence, Percival made no effort to break the silence that they fell into, knowing that there would be no point in asking questions or even a break of small talk. As the car took off, time crawled as the two of them drove away from the boy’s home that Percival had learned to call home and toward the train station. Percival felt his discomfort rising like a dark blush up his neck and shoulders.
In less than an hour, the car parked in front of the bus station, Percival made no effort to speak to his father as he picked up his suitcase by its tattered handle and exited the cabin, already taking a running start toward the brick pillar between platforms nine and ten. Sirius, thankfully was waiting by the doors of the train, his usual cocky smirk and perfect posture a welcome change from the rowdy boys that Percival had gotten used to living with.
“You are absolutely a sight for my sore eyes, Sirius Black.”Percival grinned as he approached his friend.
“How so? Was your little muggle home just that awful?”Sirius replied, laughing.
“You know how it goes, born to be a rich and fancy pureblood like you, forced to endure Matron’s god-awful screeching.”Percival said, mocking Sirius’ usual posh tone.
Sirius let out a less than sophisticated snort at Percival’s mocking. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to give you a taste of the sweet life then.”
Percival followed Sirius, James, Remus, Peter and Regulus onto the train. For once he was finally thankful to be back in his homeworld. Being in that boy’s home was the only home he had ever really known, but being a strong wizard from a seemingly well-known bloodline in a world full of muggles who would burn him at the stake at the suggestion of magic was never exactly a welcoming feeling. Remus probably understood… Sort of, at least. He seemed to stick around his group of friends anyway, even though they’d betrayed him in such a way.
Percival always found the thought of that sort of reaction interesting. Why stick around someone if they harmed you in such a way, he supposed that the infamous Marauders must be serving some purpose for Remus. They must be providing some sort of help that the half-breed wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere. Most likely their status as purebloods was the reason.
Percival slid into a seat beside Regulus Black who had seemingly blocked everyone else’s way but moved over ever so graciously for Percival.
Something was already getting messy about this, Percival could feel it in his bones.
The entire train ride was spent with the boys loudly recapping their summers and rehashing old memories. Sirius and Remus seemed to not even acknowledge one another, though Remus still participated in the group’s tomfoolery. When they arrived at the school, the ceremony and everything seemed like a blur for Percival. His father’s voice droning on toward the end before dinner and the flurry of students making their way to their dorms as they’d finished eating, making it hard to focus on much.
Before Percival could enter his dorm room for some much-needed respite, Regulus cornered him in the hallway with a cold, accusatory look in his eyes.
“Good, I suppose I’m just making friends all over your family, Black. How was your summer? You didn’t seem to talk much about it.”Percival remarked, trying to avoid any questions the boy could have for him.
“Mouth shut until I’m done talking.”Regulus replied sharply.
“Ah yes, that pureblood charm.”Percival laughed.
Regulus rolled his eyes at the taunting. “What’s going on between you and my brother? He seems quite… torn up over you. Seems to have some sort of feeling toward you. I don’t understand.”
“Oh, must the most beautiful boys always be so tangled in scandal.”Percival sighed in mock-drama. “Nothing is going on. We’re just close mates because he needed some sort of charity project after he and his little wolf boyfriend broke up.”
Regulus squinted at Percival, an accusing glare that seemed to burn right through Percy’s body. “So you believe that’s all there is to it? That he pities you?”
“Yes. I’m sure that’s all there is to it. Any feeling he may hold toward me is most likely some hoax. He needed someone to hang out with and I happened to be the perfect target.”
The beautiful Black twin seemed to look disapprovingly at Percival. “You’re blind.”
“You’re being fooled. Now may I please step past you into my own room? I’ve had quite the day and could frankly use a wank.”
Regulus scoffed in mock annoyance and stepped aside, allowing Percival just enough space to squeeze past him and walk into his dorm room. Before Percival was allowed the luxury of closing the door in Regulus’ face, Regulus pushed past him and walked into Percival’s dorm room. Percival could only sigh and roll his eyes as he shut the door behind the poor idiot.
“So Sirius wasn’t bluffing. You really are Dumbledore’s son.”Regulus muttered, eyes scanning the room as though he was looking for some sort of trap or something.
“Why would I lie about such a terrible thing?”Percival inquired. “That’s like lying about being the love child of the dark lord and his god-awful pet snake.”
“You talk like a muggle.”
“What can I say? You act as how you’re raised. Must be why you act like such a posh and poised little shit.”
Percival flopped down on the end of his bed. Regulus leaned against the post, watching him with some sort of curiosity.
“Why do you happen to care so much about my relationship with your kin anyway?”Percival asked, his annoyance at the pretty little menace evident in his voice.
“He doesn’t show feeling. He feels as though he can’t. I don’t understand why you’re able to make him feel something.”
“It’s because he’s hiding the truth from you. The guy he’s all twisted up over certainly isn’t me. It sure as hell isn’t Remus either and you should really open your eyes about what he’s really fucked up about.”
“Who do you think it is? You must have a clue if you’re so sure that it has nothing to do with you.”Regulus’ tone emitted just a smidge of care, seemingly only about his brother.
“He’s got the hots for his childish best friend. I’m just easy to make up stories about because I’m something of a mystery. It’s easy to fill in the blanks when you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“How would you know that’s what it is? They’ve always been close. Something like brothers.”
“You and Sirius are actually brothers. What do you think is going on? Noone cuddles up to their brother and fawns over him and follows him around like some obedient bitch. That’s not brotherhood, it’s a damn crush.”
Regulus seems to be blown back by this revelation. Percival sat up and took his pack of fags from his coat pocket, shamelessly removing one of the sticks and lighting it with a simple flame spell. Regulus stayed quiet as he watched Percival. The only sound in the room was the gentle hiss and crackle of the cigarette tip burning and Percival’s breath and he exhaled the toxic smoke.
“You’re too observant.”Regulus muttered after a few silent moments.
“Clearly you aren’t observant enough. If Sirius meant to bend over backwards for me, he would have been much louder about it. It has nothing to do with me no matter how much you read into it.”Percival retorted, his tone calm and indifferent.
“Just can’t believe that I missed all that. What do you think about him?”
“Honestly? I think his brother sounds like my type and he’s just a fun mate to hang around whenever I need a load off.”
“Your type?”Regulus scoffed. “I am the furthest thing from anyone’s type.”
“Dark, brooding, mysterious, obsession with knives and daggers and his pockets filled with blood money? Definitely my type.”Percival mused as he put his cigarette out on his wrist.
Regulus didn’t say a word, he just walked out of the room silently, leaving Percival alone at last. Percival laid back and sunk into his mattress falling right into a deep sleep.