How long had Hestia and Percy known one another? Since Hogwarts. She was two years ahead of him and from Gryffindor's rival House, but somehow they got along. There were only a handful of people that Percy felt were his closest friends - Oliver and Penny had been among the list but over the years they had drifted apart so much that they barely spoke to one another any more. Hestia was last on the list, so her leaving tore apart his soul and left him empty on so many levels. Still, he squared his jaw and continued on, for what else was there to do?
When Hestia wrote to ask for forgiveness, Percy's first inclination was to hold a grudge, but he couldn't. Not with friend like Hestia. He answered the door to his apartment knowing she would be there, but that didn't brace him for the shock of her appearance.
"You look a fright," was the first words that naturally came out of his mouth, followed by, "Get inside, before the cat drags you in." He was lightly teasing, of course, but concern was written all over his face.