Percy was equally dissatisfied with that trip.
He had been in his seventh year then, about to face internships and employment. He did not like Bill's job and hoped to stay in London.
But Arthur's status as a "blood traitor" would make Percy's career difficult. Charlie later went to Romania to study dragons, and Percy did not like dragons either.
Unlike his younger siblings, who were more interested in having fun, Percy had worried throughout the journey. He was still the same after returning home. He did not even care when his former pet Scabbers was chased by Hermione's cat. He had once argued against everyone else to make Scabbers part of the family and even bathed it every day.
"I couldn't find any cracks." Severus stood on a ladder, inspecting the bathroom wall. "Are you sure you didn't get it wrong?"
"How could I?" Pomona stood below with her hands on her hips. "There must be wind blowing in."
But he had already run out of patience and climbed back down the ladder.
"I don't want to waste time on this sort of thing," he said imperiously, then turned and left the bathroom.
"What exactly are we doing?" she asked as she followed him, and then they arrived at the study.
On Severus's desk stood a model, identical to the one Albus Dumbledore had once displayed in the headmaster's office cabinet—a three-dimensional version of the Deathly Hallows symbol. If it had not looked newer, Pomona would have thought Headmaster Snape had "taken" it from the school.
He walked to the desk and stood facing Pomona across it.
"Can you recognize what this is?"
"Of course." Pomona was expressionless. "You're interested in the Deathly Hallows too?"
He sneered, picked up a piece of parchment, and pointed his wand at it.