Chapter Text
The next morning, while everyone else headed to the Great Hall for breakfast, Percy went to McGonagall's office to tell her about the previous night. He figured that she should be apprised of the situation, and he needed advice as to how he should brooch the subject with Harry.
When he arrived she was sitting at her desk having tea and biscuits, and grading one of the end of term Transfiguration essays she had assigned. She looked up as he entered.
“Hello, what can I do for you Mr. Weasley?”
“Good morning, Professor. I was wondering if I may have a word with you. It is about my brother’s friend, Harry Potter.”
At the mention of Harry’s name, she was quite surprised. What could Harry have said or done to warrant one of her prefects requesting a word with her?
“Of course, Mr. Weasley. Please be seated.”
He sat, but he was unsure of how to begin. Should he start with what happened last night, or should he describe some of Harry’s abnormal behavioral patterns?
Professor McGonagall saw his indecision, and decided to gently prompt him.
“So, what has Mr. Potter done to warrant your attention?” She saw him start, and she supposed that he must have been in deep thought.
“Well…” Percy began, “Harry didn’t do anything per say, but he made a passing comment to Ron, and it really has all of us, my brothers and I, worried about his home life.”
The mention of young Mr. Potter’s home caused Professor McGonagall’s expression to morph into one of concern. She remembered some of her day of observing the Dursleys. They had been truly vulgar, could they have done something to hurt Harry? No, even if Petunia was a terrible person, she surely wouldn’t condone child abuse, especially towards her own flesh and blood. Nevertheless, something is wrong and it must be addressed.
“What was this comment, Mr. Weasley?”
“I didn’t hear him say it directly, as I wasn’t in the room, but last night I was studying in the common room with Fred and George, and-”
“Fred and George, studying?” McGonagall hadn’t meant to interrupt but those two were born troublemakers. The fact that they had been studying had even her surprised.
Percy laughed and said, “No, They were playing Exploding Snap.”
Oh, that was more like it. “My apologies for interrupting, Mr. Weasley, please continue.”
“Quite alright Professor, I understand,” Percy said with a smile. But he quickly turned serious and continued regaling the events of the previous night.
Once he had finished, Professor McGonagall was shocked. How could anyone rob a child of the joys of opening gifts on Christmas Day? From her observations at the Dursley's home all those years ago, she could tell that they made a decent living, so it wasn’t like they couldn’t afford it. Could Harry have been truly harmed by these muggles? But how would anything like that get past Mrs. Figg, who has been watching Harry over the years to make sure he is okay?
“Do you know why he believes that he will not receive gifts, Mr. Weasley?” She said in a voice dripping with concern.
Percy looked a bit sheepish as he said, “No professor, I don’t. But I can say for certain that my family and I will make sure he has a wonderful Christmas.”
McGonagall couldn’t help but smile, “I am sure you will Mr. Weasley. Now, is there anything else you would like to tell me?”
She earnestly hoped that he could tell her a little more about Harry’s home life than just this. It would help her get to the bottom of his predicament.
“Yes, there are a few things about Harry’s general behavior that concern me Professor. Firstly, I have noticed that he is oddly polite and well spoken for a first year, yet doesn’t speak his mind as much when his friends aren’t there with him. He is also very small for his age, the smallest in his year in fact, even amongst the girls, and he never seems to eat enough. His meals are very meager for an eleven year old boy, and his food choices are typically more on the bland side. This suggests that the size of his meals are not because he is a picky eater, as I had originally thought.”
Percy paused to wrack his brain for anything else that could be suspicious, while McGonagall was waiting patiently for him to continue.
Then it suddenly hit him, “He also flinches sometimes when someone around him is yelling, or is gesturing wildly,” Percy added softly.
This had sent off warning bells in each of their brains. They both thought that talking to Harry would be wise.
“Mr. Weasley,” McGonagall said, “would you be so kind as to fetch young Mr. Potter for me? I should like to speak with him immediately.”
“Of course, Professor, um...would you mind if I maybe remained here while you spoke with him. I was actually going to ask you for advice on how to talk to him myself but-”
“Mr. Weasley,” McGonagall interrupted, “I have no idea if Harry would want company in this context, even for moral support,” Percy’s expression fell, “That being said, should Mr. Potter be in need of it, you or any of his closest confidants will be welcome,” McGonagall finished with a small smile.
Meanwhile Percy was lit up like a muggle Christmas tree, “Thank you so much Professor. I will go get Harry right now.”
“You are most welcome, Mr. Weasley. Now off you go.”
Percy left McGonagall’s office feeling ready for answers as he swiftly made his way to the Great Hall.