Outfit

Back Dated 07/03/23

Percival stood in front of the large oak doors that used to lead to his Grandfather's study. The heavy doors loomed before him, he wondered if wood could carry the weight of what had happened behind them. The silence in the corridor resonated with anxiety. Percival swallowed thickly as he raised his hand towards the wooden door. He could not lie that when his Uncle had sent for him, his heart had slipped out of his chest and into his throat. A part of him was not ready to face the taller man once again. Their previous interaction had left them shrouded in layers of unspoken tension and unresolved questions. He still struggled to understand why his Uncle continued to keep him in the dark like this. Why would his Uncle ask him to come here when the doors held the crux of their issues in one? He had not forgotten the knowledge of what he found to be true of his Uncle. Something that he knew for a fact the other man had also not forgotten.

The boy sighed attempting to steel his nerves, there was no escaping this. Having exhausted all of the previous opportunities the summer before. Even if he did manage to leave, his Uncle had proven that he would stop at nothing to bring him back. Percival's lips twitched into a frown before rapping his knuckles upon the wooden door. The hollow sound echoed through the empty corridor. Sounding harsh and loud against his ears. After what felt like an eternity, a voice acknowledged his presence. He hated how his heart hit his chest at the voice. How weak that feeling made him feel. It made him want to lash out anything to calm that drasted feeling that sat heavily in his chest.

Percival swallowed with great difficulty as he pushed open the large wooden door. The first thing he noticed was his Uncle sitting at the large wooden desk. The heavy green curtains were drawn closed behind him, the room only lit by the many candles. Bathing the room in a soft, warm light. Busy scribbling away on a piece of parchment. As the door closed behind him, the awkwardness and uneasiness of the situation dawned on him.

Shuffling slightly, the boy brought his arms to rest, clasped behind his back. "I'll be with you in one moment, Percival." the man spoke absentmindly. Soft irritation brewed in his chest at the dismissal as he took the time to look around the study. His Uncle had taken time to restyle the room to his own tastes. It never occurred to him his Uncle had far more macabre likings. The boy scrutinized a small mammal skull that rested on one of the many shelves of the bookshelf. The office that had once belonged to his Grandfather was gone, replaced with a darkness he had trouble describing. At the very least, the old books that lined the shelves had remained. The only influence of his Grandfather left.

Percival's gaze fell back onto his Uncle's stern form, taking in the sight of how old the man had truly become. Gray hairs had grown in number across his long dark hair, a sight that brought a mixture of emotions. It seemed like forever before his Uncle looked up at him and gestured to the soft velvet-lined chair. Percival hesitated for a moment, glancing around the room. Bitting back his attitude, he went to sit heavily into the chair. Not caring if the chair could take such disuse. Even if it was probably twice his age. "Care for some tea, Percival?" the man asked, his sternness not missed in his voice. Despite the question, the man had already filled a cup with tea. The tension in the room was palpable as the man turned around and practically shoved the tea into his hands.

The boy grimaced at the rough nature, taking the cup lightly between his fingers. His Uncle moved away from him, leaving him alone with his tea. Appearing to go grab something. "I have a book I want you to read, Percival." The man offered up in explanation. An annoyed look crossed his features as he sipped at the liquid that sloshed delicately in its fragile incasing. Notes of peppermint hit his tongue; while strong, he could not deny that it was rather pleasant. About half of the cup had been drunk by the time his Uncle seemed to find what he was looking for. He glanced back up towards his uncle as the man walked back toward him carrying a small purple book in his hand.

Percival put his teacup down on the small table between the two matching chairs. Grabbing the book with one hand, Percival would do his best to avoid his Uncle's gaze. Maybe if he had been looking, he would have noticed his Uncle's weird expression. Taking the book, he opened it up to the first page, looking at the title with a slightly perplexed look. "Jinxes for the Jinxed?" he mumbled out in a questioning tone. Percival subtly shifted in his seat, feigning interest in the book as he secretively observed his Uncle. Wanting to gauge the man's mood after his outburst at breakfast. The gravity of the situation was not missed from him. Nor were the consequences if he did not play his cards right. Percival swallowed thickly at the seriousness of it all, and a weird feeling fluttered away in his chest. Cool and yet warming at the same time. " "Quidditch is not everything, Percival. Your spellwork needs substantial improvement." his Uncle chided out. Though for once it seemed that the man lacked any true emphasis behind his words.

The older man had taken the seat next to him, and as far as he was aware, the man was studying him. Normally, the feeling of being watched would have resulted in a complex set of emotions boiling beneath the surface. Though, as he took another sip of tea, no emotions came to fruition. Percival blinked blearily looking towards his Uncle fully. "Why do you even care?" he asked absentmindely. The words fell out from his lips with little care. Percival's brows furrowed as his Uncle smiled at him. His chest fluttered slightly at the sight. When had his Uncle last smiled at him? It seemed so long ago.. "What you don't want me to be concerned about your future?" His uncle spoke in an admonishing tone.

Percival's brows furrowed slightly, confusion dully rolling over him as his Uncle let out a chuckle. The boy watched as his dark-haired Uncle stood up before crouching in front of him. "Feeling better I presume?" the man said vaguely. Percival blinked at the man before nodding slightly. In truth, he did feel better. Why had he even been so anxious in the first place? His Uncle sent him a smirk, one that used to draw his own mischievous look out, before standing up away from him. "Finish your tea Percival and then we can chat." the man said as he walked away from Percival toward his desk. Percival blinked his Uncle's words reaching him slowly. The boy brought up the china cup downing the last of the tea held within. A relaxing calmness rushed through his body, and the boy found himself leaning against the back of the plush armchair. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he looked toward the lit fireplace. Lovingly cared for by magic.

"Oh Percival, you are so lucky I want to preserve what you have up there." came his Uncle's voice. Percival turned his head to see his Uncle crouched in front of him. Dimly dawning on him how quietly his Uncle had moved. Though, he might have been far too enraptured with the way the fire cast a glow onto the stone. "It's a privilege I don't allow on many." The man spoke in an enigmatic tone. Percival's brows furrowed as he noticed how close the two of them were to one another. Up close he could see the years on his face. Deep lines that held a stern frown. "Now I need you to tell me what you meant at breakfast today." His uncle spoke in an authoritative tone. Reminding him faintly of when he was young and had attempted to hide something he had done wrong. Not that he ever truly got away with anything.

Percival swallowed thickly his mouth feeling far too dry. "What do you mean?" he asked his brows furrowing slightly in confusion. A sly smirk pulled its way onto his Uncle's face as the man patted his head condescendingly, and yet no negative emotions raught their way to the forefront of his consciousness. "That night when your Grandfather died. Can you tell me what you saw?" his Uncle inquired. Percival breathed in his eyes widening ever so slightly.

Looking down, "Oh right." slipped out from between his lips. Percival looked back up towards his Uncle before speaking. "I heard you and Grandfather fighting the night he died. When you left the study I tried asking if he was alright." he muttered out brows furrowing. "But..he never responded." he mumbled. The words tumbled out from his lips with little care. As if he were just discussing the weather rather than his Grandfather's untimely death. His Uncle studied him quietly.

"You are correct. Your Grandfather and I had a disagreement that night. He always viewed me as a bastard, and that night he drew the line. It was unavoidable what happened." His Uncle admitted, his gaze heavily watching his facial expressions. Percival's frowned slightly in a confused manner. "A bastard?" he mumbled out quietly. "Oh Percival, acting willfully stupid does not look good on you. You must have heard the rumors by now." "There are a lot of people who question my birthright even to this day." his Uncle mused coldly. Percival stared at his Uncle, an indescribable expression on his face. "I'm sorry." he responded lamely and yet his Uncle still smiled at him. "You know Percival, you were always my favorite." he hummed out.

His Uncle let out a sigh as he stood up from his crouched position in front of him. The older man moved away from him towards one of the many bookcases that lined the wall. "If I could do it all over again, and spare a confrontation before he died. I don't think I would change anything. I refuse to let myself to get overshadowed by that man's selfish desires." his Uncle sneered out. Though, as Percival studied the man's back he got the sense his Uncle was mostly talking to himself now. Uncle Terrence turned around holding two more books in his hand. The man walked back over to him, bestowing the books into his hands in a haphazard way. Percival placed the fragile china down on the small wooden side table. Freeing up his hands to clasp on the new books that had been so graciously granted to him.

"Run along Percival. I want you to start on your reading for the summer as soon as possible." his Uncle spoke authoritatively. A small twinge of annoyance stung his chest at his Uncle's words. Percival held onto the books clumsily, standing up the boy would awkwardly moved towards the door. His Uncle clearly dismissing him by turning away. The boy gripped the handle of the door, stopping as his Uncle spoke up. "Oh and Percival." his Uncle started barely glancing back toward him. "He probably didn't answer because he was too upset." his Uncle Terrence added. Percival hesitated his gaze locked on the metal door handle. Maybe if he had turned around he would have seen the cruel smirk on his Uncle's face. Or the flash of something dark in the man's eyes. Uncertain of what to say the boy simply nodded before pushing open the door. The boy escaped into the cool corridor, standing still as the door clicked shut behind him. As the boy walked away, he could not help but wonder what exactly had just taken place.

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