Penelope bit another piece of fish and chewed slowly while she waited for Percy to explain why his expression looked so grim. When he admitted he had the illness, she gasped before she could think to not sound as shocked as she felt.
Once the words sunk in, her first instinct was to hug him, tell him how sorry she was, ask if she could do anything, but she knew Percy wouldn't like that. He wouldn't want her to pity him. She swallowed slowly. Her second instinct was to be afraid. Could she catch it from him? But he said he'd cast barrier charms, and she trusted Percy. He'd never been careless with anything.
"Percy," she finally said. "I had no idea. I--wow." She tucked her hair behind her ears, but it fell forward again. She reached out and touched his arm. "I'm sorry to hear this."