Percilla Weasley knew she was different than the rest of her family. It was glaringly obvious. Being one of only two girls from the Weasley clan, she was outnumbered. Being the only gray witch out of her six siblings made her alone. Percilla knew she was different when she was seven, and Fred thought it was funny to cut her braid off. A prank, they said, but it made her so mad. She didn't expect was for her magic to burst out of her and throw both her annoying twin brothers across the room and into the far wall. It scared her parents, the wholesome of the light—they owled Dumbledore that night.

Percilla could still remember the old wizard's smile as he looked down at her and patted her head a little too hard while informing her that she was fine. 'Accidental magic is always worrisome.' his voice boomed with a laugh, 'but we must keep one's emotions steady, for anger is the ruler of all destruction.'

That statement didn't do anything but make Percilla mad. Her brothers had cut her braid, and she was supposed to be okay with that. Her parents might have been enamored with the 'great' Albus Dumbledore, but Percilla wasn't. Her mother sent her to her bedroom, which she shared with baby Ginny. A selfish part of Percilla wondered if maybe she scared her mother enough so that she wouldn't have to wake up with Ginny at night. Her mother always praised how well-mannered and helpful Percy was, but Percilla knew it was required of her regardless as the third oldest.

"Hey, Perc," a whisper came as she passed her older brother's door. Sure enough, Bill and Charlie were standing there looking sheepish. They, too, had duties in the house according to their parents. Charlie was to look after the twins, while Bill was supposed to look after all of them. Percilla always found it funny that their parents wanted too many children but never required the help of the older children to watch the younger ones. "I'm sorry, I should have been watching the twins better. It's my fault they cut your hair." Bill's voice came out weak as he looked towards her with hope in his eyes that she would forgive his indiscretions.

Percilla didn't hold any ill will towards her brother, knowing he was young, just shy of his twelfth birthday.

"So I thought maybe as an apology you would like this?" Bill said as he held out a book from behind his back.

"The Eloquent and Enthralling book of Hair Magic by Arantxa Bagtree." Percilla was amazed as her small hands touched the evergreen-bound book. "How did you get this?" It was no secret the Weasley family was poor. They were bottom-of-the-barrel poor. Percilla was wise for her age. She saw the looks that other high-born witches and wizards gave their families. She would always window shop and watch girls twirl and twiddle around in dresses and robes made of fine silk and lace. She wanted the same, instead of having to wear Bill and Charlie's hand-me-downs.

"I nicked it from the school's library," Bill whispered, shrugging his shoulders at his two wide-eyed siblings. "You can return it when you start Hogwarts Perc. I don't know why but you like to read these things."

"Thank you, Bill," Percilla whispered before running off to her shared bedroom to begin reading. Percilla read that book front to back by the end of that night. By a shear miracle, the following day, her burnt orange hair had grown back longer than when it was cut off. It was like a candle had been lit inside Percilla. She began to braid her hair as listed in the books. It started as a simple braid at her tender age but would eventually begin with more intricate and tasteful designs. As she brushed, she would thank mother magic and would leave offerings when an orange strand would break off.

Molly was unhappy about Percilla's persistence in wearing her hair in a braid. Dark magic and blood purity arguments came throughout the years. It got worse when Ginny first asked for her hair to be braided, but their mother refused to introduce young Ginny to the nonsense, as she put it. The Weasley family was not favored in the wizarding world. Being one of the first to turn their back on tradition and blindly follow Dumbledore when given a chance. Percilla Weasley was going to change that.

Her brothers William, Bill, and Charlie were out of the house already. Bill had gotten a job within Gringotts, while Charlie took a job in Romania working with Dragons. Percilla knew that Bill wouldn't take the Weasley title. He wanted to go his way even though Wizengamot was his birthright. A set of twins could only take the Prewitt line after her Uncles, Fabian and Gideon, had passed.

In her mind, it was up to Percilla to make something of herself. She loved to learn and learn she did. She read all the books she was able to find. When she got to Hogwarts at the tender age of eleven, she noticed the Pureblood girls and how they dressed. Silk dress gowns and uniforms are made of the best fabrics. Percilla was in her brother's old clothes. It was embarrassing being the only girl in boy's clothing that was too big for her. But if anyone in Gryffindor noticed, they didn't say anything, at least not to her face. Percilla knew that if she wanted the same items as the other girls, she would have to work and get the money. By winter break, Percilla started tutoring and doing school work for others in exchange for gallons. Percilla was one of the most brilliant girls in her grade. She opened up her services to anyone in any house. That summer, she got clothes that fit her. Percilla was afraid that her mother would be asking how she got the clothes she did, but she was more concerned with getting Fred and George away from Knockturn Alley. Percilla enjoyed having money for once. She could get items she wanted while they were on the sale rack, and an older style, they were still her, not her brother hand me downs.

Her family was poor, their father spending all their money on those stupid muggle artifacts he could find and purchase. It would bite them in the arse if they ever got caught with the car her father kept hidden. Percilla was pretty sure they would end up spending all summer eating nothing but bread after having to pay off the ministries' fines. It would get a little better when Harry came to the house. Molly Weasley wanted to put on the ideal of a perfect home. Percilla only snorted at that. The woman couldn't even tell the twins apart. Percilla and the twins didn't have the best relationship. They always called her 'perfect Perci,' but Percilla cared about them. She took them to buy their wands in her third year when their mother tried to make them go to Hogwarts using their deceased uncle's wands. It did mean she couldn't buy better shoes for that year, but she had students lined up for tutoring and study guides, and she could deal with too small shoes for half a semester. They had a better relationship, but it wasn't perfect, but they respected her decision to follow traditions, and they accepted her book over the Prewitt lordships the last Christmas. They were only in their fourth year, but they could receive a lord ring at sixteen if an already adult wizard could not.

Percilla hoped they read the book. While Percilla lived the traditional way, it didn't mean that her family had to. It was probably why she alienated herself. While her mother was running around Diagon Alley fretting over getting Ginny everything she would ever need for Hogwarts, Percilla was making her way to Caliadne's. A jewelry store on the corner of Diagon and Knockturn carried some of the most beautiful necklaces, rings, bracelets, and hair combs. Many girls in her year had been gifted combs with their house colors from their parents as sixteen was an important year. However, that was not in Percilla's cards, but she had made extra last year when extra Quittitch practice was scheduled for all houses trying to beat Harry. Many students did not have time for studying, and her guides helped them pass even Professor Snape's exams.

Stepping into the store, Percilla tried to make herself invisible. Several families were milling about. Pureblood daughters were looking, eyes glued to diamonds and jewels. Pureblood parents were standing with their sons discussing courting gifs and timelines. Percilla bit her lip slightly at the idea of courting. She knew that she wouldn't get such luck. Pureblood families marry off sons for money, power, and good genes—all of which Percilla did not have. Sliding over to the less expensive section Percilla eyed the plain silver combs. One comb caught her attention as she gently touched the silver tooth, it was simple, but it had Vermillon-colored cloth flowers attached. She had 24 Galleons in her small coin purse that would deplete after she bought it, but it called her. Vermillon was the house color of the Weasley family, long forgotten, but could it be brought back?

"Weasley?" A deep voice said lowly beside her, causing Percilla to jump. She had been so transfixed that she didn't even notice the boy snuck up on her. Marcus Flint, a seventh-year student, stood over her. Percilla had heard other girls talk about how scary Flint's piercing black eyes were. However, standing this close, they didn't look terrifying at all. Taking a deep breath, Percilla curtsied low as was tradition for an heir of a noble house.

"Heir flint, my apologies, I didn't notice you there," Percilla's voice was soft as she rose from her curtsy. "What can I help you with?"

Marcus Flint was a young burley boy. The Flint was a pureblood farming family going back centuries. Most of the food from owl posts came from the Flint, Woods, Batworthy, and Horton farms. Marcus should have graduated last year. However, he was no wear near stupid. He was the captain of the Slytherin quidditch team, head boy, and top in his class regarding specific classes. They ran in different circles, no mutual friends per se, but she tutored a few six and seventh-year Slytherins in Transfigurations.

"Heir Pucey said you are the one to come to when you want to pass a difficult class?"

Percilla nodded her head. She knew Heir Adrian Pucey from the Herbology tutoring. "I am," she stated, raising her blue eyes to meet his black ones. "I'm guessing Transfigurations?"

It was Marcus's turn to be caught off guard, but like a perfect pureblood, he didn't show it. "McGonagall nit-picks everyone else's work to the hair besides her precious Gryffindors." The spiteful tone in his voice caused a small smile to form before nodding her head.

"Very true," Percilla wasn't an ignorant girl. She knew the Gryffindor head of the house was biased toward her home. "I should have a free period on Wednesday, but I can work around your quitch practice and head boy duties if you need a later time." Percilla didn't know why she was so accommodating, she usually set a schedule, and if the person couldn't make it, she would give it to someone else. She was one of the best tutors, so people jumped to her open slots.

Flint nodded, "I can do Wednesdays," his voice was rough but smooth, Percilla decided as she watched his lips move as he spoke. "and payment?"

"Tutoring sessions run 1 Galleon for a one-hour session in a group, a 3 Galleon for one-on-one, eleven Sickles for a study guide for an exam, and four Galleons for completing homework for you." Percilla bit her lip, a bit of nerve flooding her stomach as she negotiated her prices.

"Okay," Flint said, his tone showing disinterest, "I'll take the one-on-one sessions on Wednesdays it is then,"

Percilla nodded her head, "just send an owl with your set ti-"

"Marcus," a feminine voice said as an older couple stepped toward the teens. "We are done. Are you ready to go? Oh, hello, and who might you be?"

Percilla assumed they were Marcus's parents as Marcus was the spitting image of the man. Percilla smiled softly as she curtsied towards the couple once they stopped. "Percilla Weasley, it's a pleasure to meet you, Lord, Lady Flint."

"Weasley?" Lord Flint seemed to ask as he raised a dark brow.

The blush seemed to creep across her freckles as she nodded her head to his question, "yes, sir."

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Percilla," Lady Flint said, smiling. She was a beauty, her black hair in the traditional married lady braid. "Are you and Marcus friends from school?"

"Mom," Marcus's voice sounded like an embarrassed child. It made Percilla bite her lip to stop the giggle from coming through.