Percy looked up as Penny rushed to the kitchen. "I- I'm sorry, I can't remember. More often I think. You can get information on the wireless or from St. Mungo's. There's a protection pendant you can buy too. That might be worth thinking about, but they are quite expensive."
Percy looked down again as Penny gasped. He hated to see how upset he had made her.
"They don't know yet. From what I can gather it affects everyone slightly differently. But they are getting closer to a cure I think." Or at least, Percy hoped. "Charlie has a son, Nicky. Well, you see Nicky had the illness only he got better. He completely recovered and there's no sign of the illness in him at all now," Percy said with a smile.
Thinking of Nicky being well again always made him smile. Not just for Nicky and his families own sake, but for what it meant in terms of the illness. It wasn't hopeless. Someone had recovered. Completely recovered. That meant that everyone else could too. At least, that was how Percy chose to look at it.
"I'm sorry, Pen," Percy said softly, looking up at her once again. "I just didn't want to tell you by owl. I'm sorry. I've ruined our evening." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Percy knew he sounded horribly self pitying but he felt so bad. He couldn't help apologising.