Percy couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. It was very unlike him to hesitate like he had; And to hesitate when the one he was supposed to kill was Harry Potter? That was confusing to him.

He was sure he could kill Harry, he had the hatred! But the hatred just seemed to disappear for that moment.

He let Harry live. Even Loony Lovegood.

He was just lucky Voldemort didn't punish him.

"Mr Jackson." Snape spoke.

"Yes sir?" Percy asked as he looked up.

"Pay attention." He said coldly.

"Of course, sorry sir."

Percy wondered if Snape was aware of what happened. He hoped not, Snape didn't seem like someone he wanted to cross. Especially after Percy heard of Snape's unbreakable vow to kill Dumbledore if Draco failed.

Class was dismissed, it was Percy's free period. He had no clue of what he was going to do in that time.

Maybe take a walk to clear his head. He headed back to the common room, and sat down on the first chair he saw. He was soon interrupted.

"Hey, Percy was it?" The redheaded boy asked. Percy remembered his name to be Ron.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah." Percy grinned at the redhead. He had just helped the boy pick up his books the day before.

If he was remembering correctly, he was also Harry Potter's best friend.

"Did you want to play wizards chess with me? I thought I might thank you for helping me yesterday." Ron explained, giving a small smile.

Percy thought it over, questioning the boy's intentions.

'Harry couldn't have possibly caught on...no. This had to have been Ron just being kind,' Percy thought to himself.

Percy sighed and plastered a small smile onto his face, "of course."

Rob smiled and showed him the chess board, "want to play it in the great hall or stay in the common room?"

Percy looked around the common room, it seemed too populated by stressed Gryffindors. "The Great Hall sounds fine."

"Great! Let's head over there," Ron walked out of the common room, waiting for Percy to walk next to him before heading to the Great Hall.

Percy nodded, but kept looking behind him, and making sure to keep his guard up. He couldn't risk the possibility of Hermione and Harry sneaking up on him and telling him they know.

Percy didn't even care if these students were evil, he lowered his guard as soon as Voldemort threatened the life of Madam Red. Sure, Madam Red had shown signs of betrayal, but Percy couldn't help but to worry. It was all that Percy could think of.

The pair finally arrived at the Great Hall, and sat in an empty area. Ron laid the board on the table and set it up.

"Know how to play?" He asked.

Percy nodded, he had played with Madam Red all the time. She said it was to show how important strategy was and to always pay attention to your opponents moves, but Percy just thought she wanted an excuse to play it.

"Great! Saves me loads of trouble, no offense."

"None taken." Percy gave a half-smile.

The boys started the game, and decided to chat.

"So, Tell me about yourself, I haven't met you before yesterday," Ron asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

Percy had to think for a moment, not like he could tell the full truth, but he didn't want to fully lie either, but that was what had to be done. "I live with my Mother, she taught me a lot, and homeschooled me for a while, she has this fear of Hogwarts or something. I think she just doesn't want me to leave her, but she finally let me come here, so here I am."

"You going to visit her for Christmas?" Ron asked, one of his pieces took out one of Percy's pawns.

"I dunno. That's the plan as of right now, but I'm not sure." Percy's knight took out one of Ron's bishops.

"Why wouldn't you go?"

Percy shrugged, "My Mom has been busy with work, one of the reasons she decided to send me to Hogwarts this year."

Percy was impressed with how well he was lying, although he was trained to do so, so his excitement soon vanished.
"Have you heard about the Prophecy?" Ron asked, taking out one of Percy's pawns.

"The one about Volde- I mean, you-know-who?" Percy questioned, trying to make it seem like he had only heard of it and had no other interest in it.

"There's that one, but there's a second one." Ron Said.

Percy blinked, his eyes gazing behind Ron, but not focusing on anything in particular. "There is?"

"Yeah, it's one about a mystery person and Harry Potter."

Percy blinked once more. Voldemort never told Percy of this second prophecy, which meant Percy could pass this information onto him and get great praise for it.

"It's said that Harry and the other person will fight and one will die." Ron spoke, staring right into Percy's eyes.

"I've never heard that one before, is it taught to us in a course I missed?" Percy asked, speaking honestly for once.

"No, just heard it from my parents." Ron shrugged and took his turn.

Percy shrugged it off, if it were important Ron would've discussed it more.

"I have an older brother named Percy." Ron smirked, "he's quite a prick, but he's family."

"That's nice, I've always wanted a brother, but I'm an only child." Percy signed, yet another truth. His whole life he hadn't even met his parents, all he knew was Madam Red and the other cruel death eaters, along with Voldemort.

But Percy was starting to question them, which he knew he shouldn't do, but he couldn't help it.

No.

The people at hogwarts were merely manipulating Percy into thinking they were good.

Percy shook the thought out of his head and focused on the game.

"Almost a Checkmate." Ron grinned.

Percy looked down at the game board, and sure enough, he was about to lose. Percy decided to move a pawn instead of attempting to save his king, he knew he wouldn't be able to win the game, Ron had him cornered.

Ron grinned, "checkmate."

-///

Ooook so I could really use some critiques and suggestions because I want the story to progress but I'm too excited to write the ending that I just can't focus on writing it!

Anyways, hope this story is mildly entertaining, I haven't really gotten many comments so I don't really know for sure.. anyways, continue onwards with your reading!

The one and only,
      Juliet Nebula