Percy hadn't been speaking that loudly; he was no fool. He didn't appreciate being manhandled into the nearest curtained area, either.
"Excuse me," he said, wrestling his arm away with what little dignity he could muster. "I am aware of certain circumstances; perhaps more than you think."
He didn't wither under her gaze, but he pulled his lips taut, not really liking the scrutiny. Perhaps he was right? They were hurt? "I'm not like them, how?" he asked. "Because you don't think I'm hurt by all this? I suppose they told you I ran off at the mouth, insulted the family. That's partly true, I admit. But I'd finally done something to be proud of - something that separated me from the rest, and they all shrugged it off like I didn't deserve it. That it was their affiliations that led me to that position in the first place."
And maybe it was, but he liked to think that his dedication and talent had something to do with that, too. He'd worked very hard to establish himself. All he'd ever wanted was to impress his brothers and sister and to make his parents proud. All he'd ever got was a smattering of insults and jokes at his expense. Ridicule.
"I don't need help," he said, letting his pride outweigh his common sense for a moment. Immediately regretting it, he softened a little and rubbed his forehead, above his eyebrows. "Now is not a good time for me to be drawing attention to myself, Fleur. I've got other things to take care of before I start making amends."