Entry tags:

!status: complete, ^date: november 18 2003, character: percy weasley

Who: Percy Weasley
What: Saying a proper, final goodbye to an old love
Where: Suburban London graveyard
When: November 18, 9am
Rating: Language

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Percy watched from behind a large oak tree as a couple stood before a pair of graves so fresh that the seams where the sod met the grass were still visible. He remained silent as he watched as first the woman, then the man, touched each grave before finally walking each other away to a nearby vehicle, staying in the shadows until they were long gone. It wasn't until Obsidian, dutifully perched on Percy's shoulder, mewled at him that he finally moved toward the spot where the couple had been.

Unable to face the one he was here to see, he paused by the first stone. Lloyd Clearwater. Percy hadn't known him much, but he remembered how much Penny had loved her brother. For that alone, along with the tragically short life that had been extinguished, Percy pulled a calla lily from the bouquet he held and placed it among the many other flowers that covered the grave. As he bent to do so, Obsidian jumped from Percy's shoulder and went to poke his nose into the many flowers. Within moments, the flowers had disinterested the cat and it swiftly changed direction, moving toward the next gravestone and jumping up on it, perching on the top as if it belonged there.

Percy's eyes grew wet as his lips twisted into a painful half-smile. "Yes, Dian. That's where she is now."

He stepped over until he could see the name he'd been avoiding the last several moments. Penelope Clearwater. It was nice that the family had managed to arrange their graves next to one another. Brother and sister, siblings, there for each other to the end and beyond. Percy looked around self-consiously, verifying that there was nobody else around, before he bent down onto one knee to set the rest of the calla lilies upon Penny's grave.

"I hope you like them," he began, unable to stop the tears from falling as he started speaking words from the heart, words that should have been said aloud long ago.

"I'm so sorry, Penny. I didn't have the chance to tell you, before... well, before. But it's true. I'm sorry for every time I hurt you, every time I canceled a date, or came home late and expected you to be up. I'm sorry I never told you I loved you as often as you deserved, and for venting to you when things went ill with my family. I'm sorry I didn't pay more attention to your needs, for taking you for granted. And Merlin, I'm so, so sorry that you had to die for me to look into this curse. I promise, after today, nobody else will die because of me."

He reached into his jacket pocket to pull out a handkerchief to wipe away at his eyes, and in doing so caught the look tha Obsidian gave him, as if waiting for more. He sighed, crumpling the handkerchief in his hand as he looked back down to the name on the grave.

"But... there are things I will never be sorry for. Stealing kisses back at school, even if Ginny saw us. Trying to keep you my very own secret, something pure and untainted that made me smile even when the twins were at their worst. Thinking you were the most intelligent and beautiful woman in the world. For loving you... I don't know if I ever really stopped, you know, it simply changed into something less passionate, more nostalgic I suppose."

His knee began hurting and so he shifted until he was sitting on his hip, not quite ready to get up and go just yet. Instead, he stayed there over thirty minutes, petting Obsidian, and remembering all of the good times he and Penny had together. Only when he was so cold he feared for his own health did he rise up onto his feet, immediately casting a spell to rid himself of the dirt and wetness he'd accumulated from the ground. He helped Obsidian back on his shoulder, then reached out to touch the gravestone one last time.

"Thank you for being my joy, and for loving me even when I didn't deserve it. Goodbye, Penny."

And with a final, shaky breath and a look around the cemetary to ensure his privacy, he Apparated away.