Whooo!
The deafening train whistle jolted Percy out of his despondent thoughts. When he came back to himself, he found that the scenery outside had left behind the endless emerald mountains and the rippling lakes nestled between them. The Hogwarts Express was racing across boundless fields and pastures dotted with cattle and sheep.
The vast land beneath the brilliant sunlight did nothing to lift Percy's spirits.
He lifted himself slightly from the cushioned compartment seat and looked back in the direction they had come from. The towering, majestic Hogwarts had vanished completely from sight; not even a shadow remained.
"Ah..."
A heavy sigh dissolved into the rhythmic clatter of wheels crushing over the tracks. Percy bent forward and buried his face in his open hands.
Professor Breen had not been persuaded by him.
Percy did not want to deceive himself into thinking he had not expected this outcome, but Professor Breen had been so decisive that he had not even explained why he was refusing. That was something Percy had not anticipated.
In Percy's view, Professor Breen had always looked after him rather well.
Back when he had been Old Barty Crouch's assistant, he had only just begun independently holding up the Department of International Magical Cooperation's daily operations after Mr. Crouch took sick leave. That period had been agonizing. Countless trivial, tedious matters plagued him, and Professor Breen had offered him some guidance. He had told Percy to seek more advice from his father and ask him to take Percy to visit the heads of the various departments.
Though doubtful, Percy had done as instructed. From then until he was driven out of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, his work had gone far more smoothly than before.
"Why won't you help me one more time?"
A disappointed complaint