Lonely Day
Summary: A part angst part fluff story centered around Percy. Deals with his relationship with his family and his relationship with Oliver. Yes, this is slash. Don't like it, don't read it. One-shot.
A/N: Please be kind, I still consider myself a newbie writer and no one edited my work except me.
I do not own the characters. I borrow them occasionally without permission. (Story of my life)
Percy was lonely. It was a strange feeling, not the feeling of loneliness that was a familiar feeling in Percy's life, but the feeling of loneliness in a house full of Weasleys, that was a new sensation. It wasn't lack of company that made Percy lonely. Well, lack of certain company, he thought to himself.
He missed the people they had lost in the war. His brother Fred, his brother George, who was still here in body, but left a part of himself back at Hogwarts on that terrible day. He missed the relationship that could have been forged with his brothers. A relationship that he had hoped for when they could both be adults and no longer living under the same roof. He had heard countless stories of his father's brothers, and how they always fought when they were younger, but became the best of friends, relying on each other in adulthood to navigate the twists and turns of life.
He missed his mentor and friend Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore had been a confidant during his seven years at Hogwarts. A man who always made time for students in need. A man who held a sympathetic ear for the young man in a time of uncertainty. Most people had been shocked when the it was revealed that Dumbledore had a special friendship with Grindwald but Percy had not been shocked. He had known about Dumbledore's sexual preference. It had been something they discussed when Percy himself was struggling with similar feelings for a certain male student in his house. Percy was sorry that he was never able to apologize to his mentor for not believing him. He wanted to apologize for being swayed by public opinion. He knew in his heart that Dumbledore would not hold it against him, would chalk it up to the impetuousness of youth, but he still wished he could make amends to the man that had helped him in his growth to adulthood.
Most of all he missed one specific person. He missed the sandy haired, athletic student that had shared a dorm with him for 7 years and a bed with him for 3. Their romantic relationship at Hogwarts had been quiet, nothing shown in public, nothing spoken aloud only comfort shared in the night. They only began to share a bed in their last year at Hogwarts, exploring the new territory with trepidation and care.
Their first two years out of school they had continued being room and bed mates. Percy fondly remembers the two-bedroom apartment they shared in Muggle London. Muggle London was the perfect place to maintain their anonymity and have a certain freedom from the wizarding world. They each had separate day lives, Percy at the Ministry of Magic and Oliver at Puddlemere United. They shared the evenings. Often walking and exploring Muggle London. Or rather, Percy thought with a laugh, Oliver showing a naïve and awestruck Percy all the wonders of Muggle London. Percy remembered the feeling of wonder at seeing all of the things he had read about but never experienced. The British Museum had been his favourite, and they had visited it frequently.
At the end of their second year in Muggle London Oliver was recruited by the resistance and they began to drift apart. Percy remembers those days as being fraught with paperwork and things to do at the office, so he hadn't even noticed that Oliver was away so often. They never spoke or discussed politics at home, but politics entered their lives and thrust a wedge between them. Oliver spent more and more nights away training and Percy was caught up at the office, spending many nights preparing reports for Fudge.
The relationship ended as quietly as it had begun. Oliver sent Percy a note explaining that he would be in Glasgow for training for the next two months and would he please forward him his mail.
Percy had been sad and had spent too many nights working late at the office. He had sent a reply with Oliver's accumulated mail. He remembers sitting at the kitchen table in an empty apartment and wondering at how he could write a letter so calmly ending his relationship. He had written Oliver stating that the lease was up and he had moved Oliver's belongings into storage. He had mailed the letter, Oliver's mail and the key. For two weeks after he had needlessly worried about a reply. None came and Percy had left the apartment for Wizard London without looking back.
Until now. Today he was lonely and wished for that two-bedroom apartment in Muggle London. He wished for a walk through the museum and an ice-cream cone. He had seen Oliver twice since he sent that letter. Once before the battle, he was surveying the Great Hall and there was Oliver doing the same thing. Their eyes met and they shared a smile. Oliver had begun to walk towards him and Percy's stomach had been aflutter with butterflies. Oliver had been about to open his mouth when the battle began and with a smile and a small wave he turned, mounted his broom and was off. Percy watched him briefly and then hurried himself to join the fray.
The second time had been at Fred's funeral. Percy had been pre-occupied with his family and had been unable to relate or speak to anyone else, even when Oliver approached him to give him his condolences Percy had been cold and brief, unable to share his grief.
The funeral had been nine months ago and many of the Weasley children had left home. They lived in different parts of the United Kingdom, but the second Sunday of every month they all came home. It had been mandated by Molly. Too many had been lost in the war that she was not going to allow distance to create any more rifts or loss between her and her family. So every Weasley child and their spouse and children descended on the burrow once a month. This was a bittersweet time for Percy who was still trying to find his way back to the family. He still lived in the same apartment he had moved to after leaving the apartment he had shared with Oliver. It was quiet and close to the ministry. The contrast between his apartment and the burrow jarred him each time he entered either but he was glad for the emotion. He was glad to be once again among the chaos of his family. He had missed them.
He was shocked out of his reverie by a knock on the door. They had all been enjoying a post brunch quiet time in the living room, reading, playing chess or talking quietly. No one else was expected. All of the Weasley's exchanged confused glances except Charlie who bound for the door with excitement.
"Sorry guys," he explained, as he opened the door. "Ì didn't know if he would come or not, so I didn't warn you, but I didn't think you would mind." Charlie opened the door with a flourish and all 10 heads looked with curiosity at the figure standing outside the door.
Oliver Wood smiled at Charlie and the Weasleys as he stood inside the door. He wasn't allowed to stand there long as Charlie pulled him into the room. Many of the Weasley's rose upon seeing who their visitor was. Oliver was a friend to many of the Weasleys and was warmly welcomed with a hug by everybody. Percy was shocked and it took him many more moments to stand and join the others. He extended his hand for a handshake with Oliver. Oliver grinned and thankfully ignoring his handshake pulled Percy close for a hug. Percy was thankful that his face was facing the door and none of his family could see his face as he hugged Oliver. He didn't want to reveal the emotions that were quickly bubbling up inside him. Oliver was then pulled away from him by Harry who wanted to say hello. Percy took a moment to compose himself and then returned to the safety of his chair in the corner. Oliver was finally sat beside George, who although he was not smiling looked the happiest he had in a long time.
Oliver quickly explained why he had dropped by. "I was shopping in Quality Quidditch Supplies for new gear for the season when I saw a tuft of red hair over the shelves and when I investigated there was Charlie. He invited me to join you for brunch. I had my own family brunch to attend but promised I would stop by if I had a chance. I am sorry to come by without calling.."
"Nonsense, " Molly quickly interjected, "You are always welcome here, anytime."
"Yeah," Charlie added, "especially when you can give us the inside scoop on this year's Quidditch season."
Quickly more voices jumped in and the talk quickly descended into Quidditch teams, stats, players and the likelihood of a Quidditch world cup this season. Percy tuned out the conversation and appeared to all eyes to have returned to his book. He held his book in his lap and feigned reading but was actually watching Oliver very closely. He maintained his vigil till he felt other eyes upon him. He looked up to see George watching him as intently as he was watching Oliver. Percy coughed and excused himself. He quickly climbed the steps to his room and closed the door. He didn't think anyone noticed him leaving; everyone had been so caught up in discussing Quidditch.
He was just beginning to catch his breath when he heard a knock on the door. He opened the door and was shocked to see George standing at his door.
"How long Percy?" George asked.
Percy heart stopped and he feigned ignorance to George's question. He straightened up and using what many used to call his head-boy voice he addressed his grief struck brother. "How long what, George?"
George, not one to cower from confrontation, stepped inside Percy's room. He said only one word. "Oliver."
Percy looked down at his brother from his taller and straighter stance. He looked at the black circles that were permanently etched in his face and the mouth that no longer curved into a smile. Percy sighed, saddened by his younger brothers face and unable to be secretive with someone who had lost so much.
"Since our seventh year at Hogwarts. We broke up two years before the battle at Hogwarts." The battle at Hogwarts had become a milestone that people measured time by. Things happened either prior or post the battle. For those who had lost loved one it was a milestone that was used cautiously and with great reverence. Percy hated the hurt he saw cross his brother's face, but was astonished by the small smile that followed.
"Fred knew." He said.
Percy stood dumbfounded. How, what, he was unable to create a coherent sentence in his head, a first for the eloquent red-head who always knew what to say. George continued as if there had been no pause.
"Fred knew something was up between you and Oliver. Although he thought it started much earlier. He asked me one evening during Christmas holidays if I thought Oliver was seeing anyone. I honestly hadn't given it much thought. I was too wrapped up in trying to get my own dates to worry about Oliver's dates. I forgot all about it till next Christmas when he told me that he knew who Oliver was dating. I begged him to tell me. I figured he was dating someone from the Quidditch team and I wanted to know who was off the market. He wouldn't tell me who it was. It was one of the few secrets he kept from me. I thought he was just trying to bug me because I was so obsessed with getting a girl and I didn't like the idea of Oliver dating anyone from the team. But it wasn't me that he was trying to annoy, he was protecting you." George looked up into Percy's eyes and again smiled that small smile.
Percy collapsed onto his bed. He was shocked. He was touched. He was so many emotions he was unsure how to catalogue them and didn't know what to say or do. He wanted to laugh and cry at the same time, but nothing would come out. He felt tears well up in his eyes and he wiped them with his sleeve.
George continued. "We were so mad when you left the family. We vowed never to speak to you again. We wrote limericks about you. Mean ones, derogatory ones, ones that we never shared with anyone but each other, but still he never told me. Even when he was so mad at you he couldn't see straight he still protected you. I've seen you Percy, trying to join the family, but staying on the outskirts. You feel like its your fault, that you let us down, and you did."
Percy caught his breath, but George ploughed on. "I need to tell you the truth, the only way to heal this family is with the truth. We were all so mad at you. We didn't understand what you had done, we didn't understand what you were thinking, how you could do what you did. But we loved you. We missed you. And we protected you, even when you needed protection from yourself."
Percy looked with astonishment at his brother. He hadn't realized how much George had grown in the past nine months. Fred and George had always been his little brothers, trouble makers who needed to be looked after, and scolded. He hadn't realized that they had grown up, and that George had become this insightful and thoughtful man.
Percy took a deep breath and said the one thing he trusted himself to say. "Thank you." They stared at each other for a moment, both thinking of another red-head that would never return to the burrow, a red-head whom they both loved and who loved both of them. A red-head that would never be forgotten.
Finally George broke the silence, "So, I have some love potion chocolate left over from Weasleys Wizard Wheezes do you want to slip some to Oliver later?"
Percy laughed, a single bark that was quickly contained. "Thank you, but no, I think I we need to talk while we are both under our own faculties and not purple, or growing extra limbs."
"We worked out the those kinks, long ago Percy. You might feel a slight tingle on your tongue and maybe sing a couple notes of Love Me Tender. But the effects don't last long. Wait here and I will go fetch them from our room."
As George stepped out of Percy's room he was stopped by a figure in the doorway. Oliver stood just outside the door. He looked like a little kid that had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, he wanted to enter Percy's room, but he didn't want to disturb the brothers.
"I came to get George, Charlie wanted to play Quidditch on the lawn and we wanted to know if you wanted to referee, we didn't know if you would feel like playing. I heard your voice in here and I came to see and I didn't mean to.." and he trailed off, unable to finish his sentence. He caught Percy's eye and the two of them stared at each other. George caught in the middle glanced from one to the other and made a decision.
"No worries, Oliver, he said, I'll head straight down. I'll take your place on the team." George gave Oliver a thump on the back and a none to gentle shove into Percy's room. As he shut the door behind the pair he gave a thumbs up to an oblivious Percy and again smiled that little grin.
Left alone the boys made no moves towards each other. Percy was still recovering from George's revelations and he wasn't sure he was up for another emotional reunion. But he remembered the warmth of the hug they had shared earlier. It had been overwhelming. Percy hadn't realized how much he missed Oliver's hugs. Oliver was one of those people that hugged with his whole body and you knew that he meant it. It was a hug with purpose. A hug that enveloped you and buoyed you up. No matter how horrid his day had been as Head Boy or at the ministry, he remembered that a hug from Oliver had always made it better. The remembrance of that warmth gave Percy the courage to speak.
"Oliver," he started. He didn't have to continue because Oliver stepped forward and opened his arms. He gladly entered his embrace and they hugged. Percy finally allowed himself a deep breathe and his lungs were filled with the intoxicating smell of Oliver. He relished the smell and allowed himself another. When they finally pulled away from each other, only enough to be able to see each other's face, neither of them ready to let go, Oliver spoke,
"I saw that red hair in Quality Quidditch Supplies and was hoping it was yours. I was so shocked to see Charlie that it took me a second to get over the disappointment that it wasn't you." He began to laugh, and Percy quickly joined in. "I was so glad that he invited me to the burrow, I was hoping I would be able to see you. I was scared to ask him how you were. I was scared to show my eagerness. My mother was so sad to see me leave brunch early, but I couldn't stay away from you. I've wanted to talk to you since the battle."
For once in his life Percy did not want to talk. He was all talked out. For once he didn't care about the consequences he was going to do what Percy wanted to do. Not what was expected of him, not what was right according to public opinion, but what was right for Percy.
"Can we not talk?" He slyly asked Oliver. Oliver was confused until he continued. "I have not had a good nights sleep since that apartment we shared on Yardley street. Could we just go to bed? Nothing needs to happen except that we share the bed, please?"
Oliver looked incredulously at Percy and laughed, "Whose fault is that," he teased, "you packed all my stuff and sent me a key!"
Percy was glad that Oliver understood, he had missed his time with Oliver, it was the only time he could completely relax. They kicked off their shoes and pants and slipped into bed. Oliver enveloped Percy in his arms.
"What will we tell your family?" He whispered to Percy.
"Who cares." Percy said with a grin as he snuggled closer to the Quidditch player.
Oliver thought he would never stop grinning ever again.
A/N: I know this probably doesn't follow canon exactly, but oh well, call it poetic license. Also I am not from England so I have no idea if there is a Yardley street in London, but I used the most British sounding name I could think of.
If you enjoyed this fic, please let me know!