The beginning of the courses wasn't too tricky. Percilla made her way through classes quickly enough. The only hiccup was the all too obnoxious Professor Gildroy Lockhart. Percilla's mother was obsessed with the man, owning several of his works, and talked about him like she was talking about a long-known friend. Percilla just thought he was a hack. The defense was filled with no actual work, just him sitting there talking about how great his work was while he had minor-aged children to fawn over him. It was creepy. Today was his first tutoring session with Marcus. She had sent a school owl to him after the first week when she got her times table and tutoring schedule worked out. Luckily the free hour she had was before quidditch.

Percilla sat at her table as she opened her transfiguration book and notes. Percilla began working on her essay that Professor McGonagall assigned to them earlier. Percilla was almost finished with her writing, and Marcus was already 15 minutes late when he showed up. Setting himself down in the seat in front of her, he laid his textbook down.

"You're late," Percilla stated as she continued to write, not sparing the Slytherin a look.

"Yeah," came the gruff voice as he gathered his supplies.

"Oh well," Percila stated in the same tone he used, "it's your money. You still owe me the exact amount regardless if you show up or not." Raising her head, her eyes met his.

"Is that so?" Flint asked, raising a dark eyebrow at her.

"Yep," Percilla stated, not fazed by the burley boy.

"Well then, I guess I should get my money's worth."

Percilla's weeks continued like normal. She worked diligently on her coursework and took all the extra steps that the professors didn't ask for but was expected. She continued her tutoring sessions Monday with Ravenclaws, Thursdays with Hufflepuffs, Saturday with Slytherins, and Sunday with Gryffindors. Wednesday was her free day, but she had slid Flint in. Percilla wasn't sure when it began, but she was starting to look forward to Wednesday's sessions. After the first day, Marcus stuck to his word and was surprised there before her. Percilla found the Slytherin to be funny? During their sessions, Flint would throw out a joke or two, which would have her laughing before pulling his attention back. It wasn't until a month into their sessions that Flint had asked her a personal question.

"Why do you do all the tutoring sessions?"

This caught Percilla off guard as she looked up from her Accident Ruines text, "Oh," She bit her lip, a habit Percilla picked up from when she was a child. "for the money, I guess." She didn't know what this bought of honesty was coming from as she shrugged her shoulders. "My family is. Not well off as people know." It was an understatement, but that information didn't seem to phase Marcus. "My brother, Bill, introduced me to the olde ways when I was a child, and I enjoyed them. Books are not a necessity, according to my mother. Especially not books about the olde ways and mother magic. So to get what I want, I have to work for it."

Percilla had outgrown the shame of being poor. If she didn't, she would be embarrassed her whole life. It was easy to ignore as a child when they kept to the burrow, and all they knew as second-hand clothes and too many mouths to feed. However, out in the real world, in school, you could tell the difference between classes. The muggleborn girls whose hair was down and flowing about. They were excited about having magic but didn't care to know where magic came from. Percilla was sad that they did not manage to learn about mother magic, leave offerings or appreciate the gifts that were bestowed upon them.

Percilla shook her head as she met Marcus' eyes. His face looked confused as he stared at her. Percilla had never spoken to anyone besides her best friend Penelope Clearwater about her traditional beliefs and the struggles she had in her home life. If rumors were true many pureblood families thought all Weasley's were traitors that turned their back on mother magic. Percilla guessed they were not rumors if they were true.

"You believe in the olde ways?" It was more of a surprising statement than a question, Percilla noted as she nodded.

"The twin's cut my hair off once, up to my ears. I cried and cried, but my mom said it was an accident. Bill gave me this book he had. I read it for hours. By the following morning, all my hair had grown back, and I started braiding it. I've kept it up every since my mother hates it and complains, but it's a part of me now." Percilla let out a small chuckle as she shrugged once more before looking back at her book.

"What books?"

Percilla raised her head. Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Marcus, "huh?"

"What books are you saving up for now?"

"Oh, "Eloquence. by Ilaria Draven. It's only sold in bulk which is a pain, but then I'll have all four books," Percilla smiled shyly but excitedly over at the Slytherin before laughing and reigning them back to the task at hand.

A week later, Percilla sat at the Gryffindor table eating breakfast, rereading a very worn but loved copy of 'An Owe to Mother Magic." It was getting closer to All Hallows Eve, and the table was excited. Percilla kept her eyes perked as she listened to the twins talk excitedly about a prank on Lockhart they had planned for their third table slot, while her younger brother Ron was complaining loudly about his broken wand mishaps. The hoots of owls caused Percilla to look up as a flock of owls swooped into the great hall. Percilla wasn't expecting anything that day. Their mother had already sent her weekly letters to the five of them. Adoration to Ginny, disappointment but encouragement to Ron, disdain, and pleading for obedience towards the twins.

In contrast, Percilla's was more of a letter to a friend than a daughter. Her mother discussed household issues and how difficult her time was at the grocery store. Molly talked about how she was still holding out for Perci to bring home a lovely lad for Christmas. Maybe from a friendly muggle family so she can let go of all the traditional nonsense. Percilla let the letter go through one ear and out the other. She would never be adequate for her mother, "Perfect Perci" was never perfect enough for Molly Weasley.

A loud hoot caused Percilla to look up from her book to see a large brown eagle owl in front of her with a package. The owl hooted again to get her attention, clearly annoyed with her slowness. Percilla pulled the shrunken box from the owl's leg and took the letter. Moving her plate over to the owl, she offered him to take whatever he chose before flying off. Opening the letter, she noted the scratchy letters right off.

Percilla,

I commissioned my mother to seek out the set of books you wanted and some others that she thought would help you in your pursuit of knowledge.

I hope your stubborn pride does not deny you the opportunity to accept these gifts.

Marcus Erebus Flint

The Victorious and Most Ancient House of Flint

One house. One family.

Percilla quickly shut the letter as her eyes raised to search the Slytherin table. It didn't take long for her blue eyes to catch the pools of black that were watching her from where he sat. 'I hope your stubborn pride does not deny you.' His letter had urged her to accept the gifts he was giving her. Nodding slightly at him, she gave a shy smile before returning to the present. Taking her wand out, she raised it over the box as it extended in size. Pulling back the parchment, she saw the pureblood etiquette and customs books she had been saving for. Many purebloods took these courses as a child, under those set two books that did not seem to have titles on the front. One was a kaitoke green. It looked old on the front and had a giant F in what looked like gold stitching.

A low whistle broke Percillas thoughts and had her look up to see Oliver wood looking at the books with wide eyes.

"That's some courting gift, Weasley."

It was Percilla's turn for her eyes to go wide. Courting gift? No, this wasn't a courting gift. It couldn't be. Percilla was about to clarify that this was not a courting gift when Ronald beat her to it.

"Courting gift? Please, who would want to court Perci?"

The laughter that came from the table hurt. Turning to look, she noticed Ron was laughing along with Dean Thomas and Shemus Finigan. All of which had no clue what courting was and what intentions meant for purebloods.

Percilla felt sick and was sure her face was almost as red as her hair. Gathering the books in her arms, she stood up and began to walk quickly out of the great hall. Percilla didn't know where she was going, but she knew she needed to get out of there before she cried. The laughter could be heard as she passed the muggle-borns and half-bloods who had no clue.

Laughing at someone else's courting gift was taboo. It was frowned upon. Courting was special. It came from tradition and dedication that the one person you have chosen or was chosen for you was forever yours. Most courting gifs were traditional, first something from the gifter to show interest. It was a way for the courter to show they had been watching, listening, and learning who they desired. The second was from the family. It provided the desire that they were welcomed. This could be a family heirloom, usually a hair comb or necklace. The third was the courtship ring. After the first two were accepted and the desired decision if they were willing to take the court, they were given the family courtship ring. It was personal and romantic.

However, the idea that Percilla was a girl unworthy of such luxuries was dishearting but not unknown. Percilla knew she wasn't beautiful. She was tall, too skinny, her hair was too red, and she spent more time with her nose in a book than socializing. It didn't take her long before she made it to the prefects' room and up to her bed. Percilla didn't even realize that the tears in her eyes were falling before she couldn't muffle the sob that passed her lips. She finally let herself cry, ugly, red-faced crying that felt good to get off her chest at that moment. It lasted a good half an hour before she could calm herself. Wiping her eyes one last time, she picked herself off the bed. Classes had started already, and Percilla knew she was missing Herbology, but she knew she was not interested in running to class. Professor Sprout was a kind-hearted woman and would understand Percilla's struggle and let her make up any late assignments.

Walking to the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror. Percilla's braid was a mess. The springs of her red hair were flying out of the braid and sticking up. Letting her braid down was the easiest way to fix it as she gently undid the braids of her long hair before redoing them. Percilla quietly hummed an ole song as she braided her hair, an owe to Mother Magic. Once completed, she threaded the hair comb she had purchased that day in Diagon Alley in her hair. After washing her face, the only perception she had been crying previously was her red eyes that would go away in a few hours.

Walking back to her bed, she picked up the Kaitoke-colored book. The Ancient and Noble House of Flint: Strength lies in unity. One house, one family.