Summer After the Goblet 3

By Indus

Disclaimer: Again, no copyright of JK Rowling and publishers of Harry Potter intended. This is for non-commercial uses only. Any original characters are mine and I am usually willing to share if my permission is asked.

Summary: Percy is blinded in an attack on the Ministry and the Weasleys, which goes wrong because Percy opens an exploding letter while working late, alone. The magical world still refuses to believe in the return of Voldemort, and claims this is the work of some rogue mad wizards. Oliver, Percy's lover, wants to take care of him and the little girl they will adopt in a matter of months. And this is summer after GOF.

Warning: The rating shouldn't be more than PG-13. Slash Oliver/Percy.



Percy opened his eyes to complete darkness. With his hand, he tried to check if his eyes had indeed opened, and for a second he was shocked to realize that they had, before he remembered it made no difference now. If he had been in a Muggle Hospital, tubes and wires would restrain his hands but healing practices were different in the Magical community. Even his eyes were not wrapped anymore and the lighter scratches and bruises on his body had faded. It was halfway through his second week in the wizard hospital, but he had managed to be asleep every day during visiting hours. The first few days he had really been asleep and then he had faked it. A few days ago he realized that he wasn't going to fool anyone any longer, especially Oliver, so he had begun a routine of becoming agitated a couple of hours before his family could visit and forcing healers to give him a sleeping potion. But today he had no more reasons avoid them.

Percy gathered up his courage and waited for the first person to come in. It had to be his mother. He had heard her several times during visiting hours talking about how much she loved and needed him, and it had been difficult enough to keep his composure when he was pretending not to hear and thus had no need to respond. She had been the only one in the family, aside from Ginny, to accept him as he was until Oliver came along, and their relationship had been somewhat strained by his sexual orientation and his belief that the Ministry was more reliable than his family. It had been a difficult lesson, but he knew that he had been wrong about the Ministry and Voldemort. But not about Oliver- no, never wrong about Oliver.

Molly Weasley walked in slowly. The healers had told them he was awake and not to disturb him too much, which meant that Fred and George could only go in for a few minutes. But Molly was relieved to see her son look as if he were healing. For the first time she could see color in his face and a slight smile on his lips. His head was turned towards her even though he was completely blind.

If Percy had worried about the atmosphere being awkward, he had forgotten his mother. Forgetting his injuries for a minute, she gave him a bone- crushing hug and held him to her breast, murmuring incoherent but comforting words. Percy could not hold his tears in and clutched her. In the infirmary room that day, months of bitterness and tension were put aside. Forgiveness was begged from both parties and given freely. And Molly Weasley finally gave her blessing for the life Percy was pursuing.

When Percy was finally able to calm down and speak normally of inconsequential matters with his mother, he asked her why she was alone.

"I thought two people were coming in together."

"They are Percy, but since this is the first time you're awake," this was said with an admonishing look by a mother who had not been fooled for a minute, "they're letting us have as long as we need, and we decided I should come in first alone. When you're ready, I'd like to call in your father."

Percy stiffened a little, but then relaxed and smiled. "I'm ready."

Arthur Weasley entered the infirmary with difficulty. Despite the fact that Percy was following his path, he had never been able to relate to this child. But Arthur had always had enough love to give to his seven children.

It was painful to see his son turn his head to one side and appear to look straight at him, although unable to see him. But if a parent loves a child unconditionally, so does a child love his father, and Percy needed him to be strong for him.

"Well, Perce. We're so glad to see that you're all right…"

Percy interrupted him hotly, sounding like Ron for a minute. "All right? Is this what you call all right?"

"Percy, we thought you were dead. Everything but your eyes is going to heal, and when you were found we thought the damage would be greater. It didn't matter because we were so happy that you were alive. So you may be blind, but you're going to make it. And that's such a relief. You do mean the world to us." Arthur's voice was gentle as he said all the right things. It was only in times like this that Arthur knew what to say to Percy because it was only in such times that Percy acted like his brothers and sister.

Percy smiled at the realization that he was being assured of his family more now that he was blind than when he was in a position of being an active, equal member. It was ironic that it took something like this for such conversations to take place. But then, he thought, it was his fault too. If someone wants to hear certain things, they sometimes have to break the silence and begin the conversation.

After his parents, his two eldest brothers visited Percy. Bill and Charlie were both obviously dealing with issues of big brothers who should have protected their little sibling, but by the end of the meeting they were all laughing hysterically at some joke of Charlie's. And then it was time for the twins. Percy was shocked by the way Fred and George were acting. They seemed so sensible he wondered if they were ill. Had Percy been a student of psychology, he might have recognized guilt. During their last fight with Percy, one of the twins had shouted something about Percy dying for the Ministry before his own family. Then the other had called him blind because he didn't see what was wrong with the Minister he so passionately defended. Percy didn't know that the twins had made some exploding candy right after the fight, and all the factors together, they were wondering if they could have set off the explosion on the Ministry themselves by accident. Logically they knew it was Voldemort, but in their hearts they also realized they had spent a great deal of time wishing for some such fate for their overly solemn brother. The summer would be a growing experience for the twins and they did not relax until everyone reassured them that they were sorely in need of a joke.

Next were Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Harry, despite the 2-person rule. Hermione and Percy had always had a great deal in common, while Ginny was most possibly one of the closest people in his life. Percy and Ron never got on well, but the love between the brothers was real and constant. Harry was Ron's best friend, and as such, family. Ginny was prone to rush to Percy and cry all over him, but Ron, with the innate sensibility of a brother, held her back. His voice was rough and Percy was dismayed to realize that his little brother was furious. An angry Weasley was a danger to himself as well as to his friends. Harry sounded guilty if he spoke at all. When asked why he told Percy about the return of Voldemort and the part he played in the resurrection. Percy had never listened to the whole story but being almost killed made it easier to believe in the existence of Dark Magic. He reassured Harry that he felt no ill will to the boy who was far more a victim than he; Percy could not imagine life without his parents. Hermione then lightened the atmosphere by telling Percy about Rita Skeeter, at which Percy was shocked and reproachful. He wasn't completely genuine since he hadn't appreciated her comments about his family.

When they left, friends who had somehow distracted the nurses and sneaked in to mob him visited Percy. Among them was former girlfriend Penelope, who was now happily involved with one of his friends at the Ministry. She had been the one to push him to Oliver when she realized that their relationship didn't mean much to either of them, and she remained his and Oliver's best friend. He could tell she was trying hard not to cry.

Percy had expected Oliver to be last, but half an hour passed after his friends left and his lover had yet to appear. That was unusual for someone as particular as Oliver.

After an hour alone, Percy was somewhat miffed. Then the door opened slowly, and a voice called from outside, "I've got a peace offering…" This was pointless as Percy was confused by the sound of the voice and could not see the door opening.

A little girl's face peeked around the door, and then the rest of her, held up by hands Percy knew well, but of course he could not see them. She squealed at the sight of him and screamed, "Dad! Dad! Dad!" Her voice was high and sweet and already beloved by her two fathers-to-be.

Oliver came in and set her down. She ran to him and hugged him tight. At once Percy felt strong enough to handle the world. He was a big, brave father, not just a blind man. And then he felt the arms of his lover, no… husband, hold him close.

"When I heard you were awake, I realized you were ready to face the world and I brought one of the most important parts of it to see you. I spoke to the orphanage and they decided to see how we settle down after you are released and then we can take her immediately." Percy smiled at hearing this, but then was distracted by Molly, who questioned him about his injuries. Oliver had already told her and she was accepting as the very young are.

The little family played and talked in the hospital room until Percy's parents came in. They had returned and heard about the baby from the nurses, and they stole her from her parents to show to Percy's siblings. Molly was the first of the new generation and the only baby. Moreover, she looked enough of a Weasley for everyone to forget she was adopted.

Meanwhile, Percy and Oliver were able to talk.

Oliver was finally losing his temper. "I knew you were awake, you know. I kept quiet and let you stew, but now I'm pissed. We face everything together remember? With all the stupid things you've done, these last few days you've outdone yourself. And considering all the things you've done in the past, that's saying a lot. I mean, take the time…"

Percy sat still and listened to him rant about the stupid things Percy had done previously, but then Oliver began to bring in events of their years at Hogwarts. "And then you had to go and date Penelope. I mean if it had to be a girl, I'm glad it was she since she's one of the best people ever, but still. A girl? You're gay, you know."

"I know," Percy answered dryly. To stop Oliver from continuing on until the days of diapers, he leaned over and stopped the words with a gentle kiss. There were some things you didn't need eyes for, and kissing was one of the best of them.

Oliver pushed him away after a while. He looked seriously at Percy's face and tried to read it, but his lover could be impossible to decipher at times. "We're going to be all right, you know."

And it was as simple as that. Percy's famous stiff upper lip dissolved in tears. "How can you be so sure? There is a war on, and we need to be strong. Don't you remember the last one?"

Oliver shushed him gently. "We were both born into a dangerous time, and we were both old enough to be frightened out of our wits. Unlike your brothers, you and I didn't spend that last, traumatic year at Hogwarts, safe and sound. And our first memories are of a time when it wasn't safe to speak out loud or stand near windows most of the time. And who knows, maybe we are headed to those times again. But I would rather we faced them together than apart. And I don't think we're in any more danger than before. Wizards don't need eyes. They have magic to protect them."

"And what about the people we're supposed to protect?" Percy, as usual, thought of his large family and their well-being."

"They'll be all right. We all will. You're alive Percy, and that's all that really matters at the end of the day. And with Molly, we'll make our family. Let You-Know-Who himself try to come between us."

*

As time progressed, Percy relaxed and began to come to terms with the new development. His eyes had always been weak and he was accustomed to using his other senses. Wizards had the added advantage of magic to make their lives easier, and his old teachers at Hogwarts helped Oliver make their apartment friendlier for the sight impaired.

Since Percy now accepted the resurrection of Voldemort, his family was more relaxed around him and he became party to certain secrets. He accepted the Order of the Phoenix readily enough and accepted his own admission with his customary smugness. As Ron quietly remarked to Harry, it was saying something about how worried they had been that his family was happy to see him getting a swelled head. He was also told about Sirius' innocence, and he came up with a brilliant plan to help hide the fugitive.

"I know Sirius lives with Remus, but I was thinking that I could do with a pet to help me in the apartment once Molly comes to live with us," Percy began.

"Oh, like a Seeing-Eye dog," Hermione interrupted, confusing her audience, except Harry, considerably. Arthur was the only one who looked remotely interested.

"Right," Percy said slowly. "But I can get a big, black one. Then, when Sirius wants to get to Hogwarts he can come by fireplace and guide me there without anyone being the wiser."

It was unanimously agreed that this was a brilliant plan. Dumbledore would ensure that Percy would get a big, black dog when he arrived at the school for Seeing-Eye dogs, and Oliver would make sure the dog was taken care of and hidden during those times. Although he didn't say anything, Oliver was relieved to know that his lover would not be alone when he had to go to Quidditch games. Moreover, a dog trained by wizards would happily take any curse for his master or mistress.

Oliver and Professor McGonagall spent most of their time at the apartment, making sure that nothing remained on the floor where a blind man could trip. Then they rigged several elementary spells that would allow a voice to give Percy directions when he became disoriented in his own room. Oliver also enchanted a few maps to speak. Percy learned Braille, and was joined by Hermione who said she had extra time that summer since she had already read most of the work for the next semester. It was nice for Percy to spend time with someone so much like him.

When Percy arrived at the apartment, he felt exhausted by the drive home (his mother had insisted her husband drive instead of fly). Seeing his obvious exhaustion, his family made their excuses and left, after Molly made sure he had enough blankets and food there.

And then Oliver and Percy were alone in their apartment for the first time after a long while.



END PART 3. PROBABLY NOT MORE THAN ONE MORE PART.