The next day, Percy seemed to be even more nervous and uptight than usual. He took off points for almost everything ("Hey, Boot! No studying in the hall!"), refused to talk to anyone, and almost ran out of the room when Fred and George came in.
"What's with him?" asked Fred as Percy fled out the common room.
"Beats me," said Lee Jordan, somewhat amused.
Naturally, the twins assumed he's avoiding them just so he doesn't have to tackle another practical joke, which will probably lead to his complete insanity. However, he couldn't avoid them forever- even Head Boys have to ear dinner.
He sat in the Gryffindor table and ate some bacon while the twins sat on either side of him.
"Hello, Perce," said Fred.
"How are you doing today?" asked George.
"We couldn't help but to feel – "
"You're slightly avoiding our company."
"Do you not like us anymore?" added Fred and put his arm around Percy, who looked as if he's going to choke on his bacon.
"Um… of course… of course not, I'm fine."
"Great to hear," said George and took a sip of Percy's pumpkin juice, "I hope you don't mind."
"Where's Lee?" Percy asked. The twins looked quite shocked that he cared- after all, they never even talked to each other (or at least so they thought…)
"Well, he's skipping dinner tonight, he went off to play some one-on-one Quidditch with Alicia."
"Alright then," said Percy, and suddenly looked somewhat relieved.
"You know, you really worried us after yesterday, we thought you're going to go mad with all these shouting."
"Yeah, we even saw that vain of yours, you know, like Mum's."
"What vain?"
"The one on your forehead, who pops out when you get really mad – "
"We've only seen it three times so far, so we've learned it's for emergencies only."
"I don't have a vain!" said Percy, feeling his forehead, looking for it.
"Well, now you don't, but wait until you get really upset, and shout all night long, like you did yesterday."
Percy remembered what Lee told him the other night. "Say… when people shout at you… do you really go into a trance?"
Fred and George exchanged frightened looks. "Er – I wish we could, Perce," said Fred, a little too quickly.
While Percy was doing his homework in the common room, he saw Lee and Alicia going in, holding their broomsticks and laughing. Percy felt weird- are they together or what?
He waited for everyone to go to bed- Lee was usually the last one to go, except for Harry, Ron and Hermione on some days. Then he went to talk to him.
"Hullo, Percy," he said.
"Are you kidding me?"
"What?"
"After last night, that's all you have to say? And what, are you and Alicia a couple?"
"No, not really. And what do you want me to say?"
"Maybe you can say why you did it!"
"No particular reason, really, you just looked like you needed to loosen up, do something you don't normally do."
"That's mental," said Percy.
"You said it yesterday," Lee reminded him, "and besides, you kissed back, you know."
"So what if I did? It was the heat of the moment, I wasn't – "
"You don't have to prove anything to me," said Lee, leaning back on his armchair.
"Of course I do!"
"Look, if it bothers you so much, I won't do it again."
"You want – " Percy looked like he just got hit in the face with a frying pan, "you want to do it again?"
"If the mood strikes. But don't worry, you're not my type, anyway," he said with a smile.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I beg your pardon?" Lee mimicked, "you're too stressed. I saw how you acted today, you were like a fox being hunted, it was quite sad, really."
"But – it makes you wonder – "
"Don't worry. You're not a queer, I'm not a queer. We just kissed. It's nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"No, but it's bloody likely. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm commentating tomorrow, and I'd better get some sleep," he said and got up. Percy followed him to the stairs.
"Wait," he said, and kissed him. Lee was slightly surprised- he never thought Percy would initiate, but he played along. Percy's hands were on Lee's shoulders, and one of Lee's hands was playing with Percy's hair, the other on his back.
As they broke apart for air, Percy said, "Well, I just needed to be sure."
"Did it work?"
"No," he said quite desperately, "not at all sure."
