It was tradition in the Weasley and Prewett families, after every sorting without the children sending letters home, there would always be one sent the next day. The letters would always be brimming with pride, adoration and love, the child’s favorite candy wrapped in a small box. Their parents letting them know how happy and excited they were that they had carried on the family tradition of red and gold.
Percy had been in the kitchen for his brother's letters, another sort of tradition he would sit with his parents listening to the words they did not say, listening to the relief, listening to the unspoken oh thank merlin’s. For he knew as expected as it was for each child to don the red and gold, there was fear it would be another set of colours.
Percy knew he and his siblings had allowances for the houses they could be sorted into. None of them were green and silver.
**
He woke up for the first time under a green canopy and surrounded by green curtains. He would be honest with himself he never had much hope that he would be surrounded by red and gold, but he always thought it would be blue and bronze and or even yellow and black. The green and silver though he silently liked.
He had four roommates: Elliot Inkwell (Half-blood), Anthony (Tony) Nettle (Full blood), Rufus Madison Rubble (Muggleborn) and Ali Adisa (Half-blood).
The five young boys had all found themselves in the house of the snake. Rufus and Anthony had been looking forward to Slytherin, Ali had been looking at Hufflepuff like his grandparents and Elliot was just happy he had magic like his mother, his house had never been a concern to him or his dad.
All he had was his dad and although he knew his father would love him if he did or did not have magic, as he had reassured him throughout his life, especially after his mother walked out on them, Elliot had never stopped hoping he would get a letter like she did.
He was hopeful she would return once he got it.
He was still hopeful.
**
Percy hoped none of the other boys had heard him breaking down when the curtains were drawn the previous night, it was a mix of being homesick, not having his mom to go to for her assuring hugs nor his dad and his words love, or his siblings and their jokes.
On the one hand, he already felt at home in Slytherin. It was nothing like how his parents and older siblings had said it would be.
Professor Snape was an imposing figure but not a dangerously scary one like his older brothers had warned him about, instead he seemed more no nonsense and straight to the point. He did not mince his words, addressing every Slytherin student in the common room the previous night, that any form of bullying would be severely dealt with.
Telling the first years and reminding the older students, he did not care how wealthy their families were or how pure their bloodlines may be. At the end of the day, they were all united under the emblem of the snake and regardless of what they had been taught or told, house came first nothing else mattered.
The first years had also been informed they would be assigned to tail an older student for their first term.
**
“They will guide you to your classes and show you the ropes. Ask them any and everything, whatever they cannot answer, you may come to me.
Be respectful of their time and activities.”
Percy stared up at his new head of house, he was not a warm man. He had offered no smile when he walked in but had let them know he understood some of them were surprised to be here, angry even and that was fine.
It’s alright if you’re upset. I am sure no one wants to be sorted into the house of evil.
Percy felt as though the words were specifically for him but had he not asked the hat to put him here?
Home.
**
This was not the Slytherin Percy expected. His assigned older student Sheridan Bouquet had made a passing comment on having a Weasley in Slytherin but had welcomed him all the same.
With all that though, the shy boy still wondered about his family and had nightmares of getting a howler the next day.
Audrey stood talking with her assigned senior student, Daisy Backster, laughing at the stories the older girl had to tell about her siblings, Jessica and Roald Johnson.
“…it was hilarious, he was picking pie out of his hair for the rest of the day, and that is why you don’t mess with the house elves.”
“Percy!” Audrey shouted once she spotted him, waving him over.
Sheridan watched his charge from across the room. Saw how he was chewing his lips in obvious worry and fiddling with his tie. He’s scared! Sheridan realised, he was relieved though to see how the fear waned once the first year spotted Audrey and a small smile played at his thin lips as he picked up his pace to be by her side.
Friends then.
Sheridan was glad the younger boy had made a friend already, he moved towards the small group, he and Daisy sharing a look, they would have to speak to Professor Snape.
Both of them had acted as senior ambassadors from their third year and like the others knew the signs to look for in first years whose fears where outside the castle walls and inside them as well.
The job had brought them closer, and they both knew they would be signing up in their final year.
Slytherin had welcomed 23 new students the previous night, 11 boys and 12 girls and while the majority seemed chipper; oohing and aahing at the school now it was daytime, they waved at the portraits, laughed, joked and spoke to each other and the older students, there were a few who seemed to lag behind.
Audrey was evidently trying to cheer her new friend up; Daisy and Sheridan could hear her telling Percy everything would be fine, but they could see she herself appeared to be nervous.
They would give her credit though, when she did run into her siblings in the Great Hall, she raised her head towards then and refused to break eye contact until they looked away.
She also did the same thing to the Weasley brothers.
She was the definition of small but immensely fierce.
She reminded Percy of his sister Ginny, the youngest child and only girl, she was barely six but already had no problems in telling everyone her mind and doing as she pleased regardless of her gender.
He missed her so much, more than he had ever imagined.
Like the others, he waited for the Owls that morning, watched eagerly when they flew in. Chuckled when some letters were thrown in porridge and watched with envy as his classmate’s got letters, packages and sweets from home.
My baby girl in Slytherin! You study hard but enjoy yourself, and do write darling, the house is empty without you.
...And you were worried you would end up somewhere else, what did I tell you son, you’re a Gryffindor through and through.
A Hufflepuff?! Oh my, you’re the first but it’s not surprising, you’ve always been the kindest soul I know.
“Ravenclaw? That’s the smart/creative one, right? Goodluck to that house and any art supplies they have laying around, but in all seriousness my dear, congratulations. We love you.
Percy listened to the love-soaked howlers, surprised howlers could even be used for such soft messages, a howler from his mom was never good news but at that moment, Percy was willing to get anything.
Percy looked at the empty space on the table in front of him, the one he had cleared for his letter and little box of chocolates, he bit his bottom lip to stop himself from crying at the fact the letters had stopped coming and his space was still empty.
He did not notice Audrey’s forced smile as she stuffed her letter in her bag. No word of congratulations nor endearments, just reminders that her grades had to be perfect and not to let the family down.
He did not notice Elliot clutching his letter in one hand, this one full of praise and love but his watery smile still searching the open windows for one more letter.