Ron's words flew over Percy's head as he focused on the idea of being cursed. People seemed to die around him, and those that didn't suffered terrible fates, like Minister Fudge. But Penny, she had left him, she should have been able to get away from it, away from him. Except she came back, as if to give him one last chance to say goodbye. Something had told him he would never see her again, but he'd believed it to be voluntary on her part.
"I never told her I was sorry." His head finally lifted, eyes staring into his brother's as if trying to make him understand. "I had the chance, and I didn't tell her. She died not knowing how much I hated myself for hurting her."
And this time he'd hurt her one last time - for the last time.