"Hello," Percy muttered in return, glancing quickly at his wristwatch for lack of nothing else to do and not quite wanting to make eye contact. This was going to feel like the longest elevator ride, ever.
Until Harry mentioned Ginny, and Percy remembered how she said she had contacted Harry in her note, last night. "You could say that," Percy replied. "It wasn't... easy... trying to explain."
Percy was uncomfortable talking about his exchange with Ginny, concerned about who might overhear. As far as he knew, Minister Diggory had set up listening devices in the elevator to catch dissent - it was certainly something Diggory would do.