Chapter 4

Oliver couldn't help but feel a tremendous pity for his best friend. Percy was in bed, recovering from the exhaustion that his tremors brought him. Oliver wanted to help, but he knew there was barely anything that he could do to help him other than let him ride it out. George had to apparate back to the Burrow to inform his family that Percy was safe and sound. Oliver, on the other hand, was offered a chance to stay in Percy's guest room for the night if he wanted. He accepted, of course, because he wasn't the type of guy who left his best friend alone when he needed someone to be there for him.

He took a moment to look around the flat, still in a mess from before. He slowly began to pick up the strewn cushions and rearrange them back on the couch, just the way that Percy liked them. They always had to face a specific direction, because Percy was anal that way, but now Percy was too tired to even think about the horrible state the Death Eaters had left his flat in. The kitchen cupboard doors were hanging loosely on their hinges and all the books were knocked off the shelves. The only attempt Percy made at cleaning up was shoving everything to the side. Out of sight out of mind was Oliver's old motto, but when Percy took to that angle he knew that something was obviously wrong.

He took out his wand and uttered a few incantations to fix the doors of the kitchen area's cupboards. He even pulled each and every one open and closed the again to make sure they were fine. He raised the books off the floor and arranged them back on the shelf, and then he looked to the mess that was the broken glass and broken picture frames Percy had left on the ground, alongside broken trinkets that used to reside on the mantelpiece. They were beyond repair, Oliver decided, but it didn't mean he couldn't salvage the photographs. He picked up the slightly torn moving photographs of various subjects. The one that Oliver spent some time looking at was the one of himself and Percy, with Oliver's arm around Percy's waist, and Percy's arm around his shoulders. They were both in nice suits and dress robes, and Percy was sporting elegantly a glass of what looked to be a fruity daiquiri while Oliver was gently swinging around rather brutishly a bottle of beer. He remembered that night fondly; it was the party a bunch of their year mates threw in celebration of Percy's great promotion. It was the first time Oliver saw Percy smile in days, and luckily that moment was caught in this magical photograph.

He laid out the photographs on the coffee table in a neat row, examining each of the other 4 photographs. There was one of Percy and his family, one of Percy and Penelope together, one of Percy and the guys at a bar for somebody's birthday, and one of him receiving the Transfigurations prize and the Academic Achievement prize from Dumbledore. Percy was the brightest wizard that Oliver knew. He could do anything that he set his mind to, and not to mention his natural propensity for magic really made him a force to be reckoned with.

"Oliver?" came the tired, quiet voice of Percy. He turned to see his friend there, rubbing tiredly at his eyes, still dressed in his dress shirt and the garishly red trousers, though both were equally crumpled from his tossing and turning in bed, presumably. "What are you doing?"

"I was just cleaning up a bit," he replied with a smile, and he raised a hand and continued before Percy had a chance to say what he was going to say. "I know what you're thinking and it's fine, I wanted to clean up, it's no problem, it's not a hassle, and yes I put the bookshelf back in alphabetical order."

"You're a star," Percy said after getting over the initial shock, "And I don't just mean a Quidditch one. I'm going to make myself some tea, would you like any?"

"Yes please," Oliver replied. "Did you sleep alright?"

"Oddly enough, I did," he said, "It was an hour's nap, but it felt wonderful."

"Those are always the best, aren't they?" he said, laughing, "You sure you alright?"

"Better than I'll ever be," he said, "I like when you wake up and you forget that the world around you is in disarray. Then there's that sinking feeling when reality sets back in and you realise that you're not in the perfect world you thought you were in." He shrugged nonchalantly and turned the kettle on. "Thanks for fixing up the kitchen. I'll probably need to buy some new cutlery. Maybe just redecorate. Maybe I'll just move. Milk no sugar, right?"

Oliver wanted to say something about the previous statement, but Percy had already moved on. Typical Percy, he thought, always avoiding the topic by changing it. "Yes please," he said, deciding it wasn't the best time to argue yet.

They were silent as Oliver separated the pile of scattered and broken items into what could be salvaged and what couldn't be. The only things that were alright were Percy's old prefect badge and his old Head Boy badge. Oliver waved his wand and tossed out the rest, then walked over to the mantel to gently rest both badges on it.

"Sentimentality," Percy said suddenly. Oliver jumped at the surprise, turning around to see Percy right next to him, holding a mug of piping hot tea out to him. Oliver nodded bashfully and accepted it. "Didn't mean to scare you." Oliver watched as Percy took a long sip of his coffee, the steam fogging up his glasses. He couldn't help but snicker slightly.

"You're quiet as a mouse, Perce," he said with a laugh.

"They used to call me the quietest Weasley," he paused, "You know, before they started calling me the traitor, the black sheep, and the disgraced Weasley."

"Why d'ya keep these, then?" Oliver asked after his first big gulp, looking back at the badges. He was trying to diffuse the tension by changing the topic. There was something about Percy's self-deprecating humour that was absolutely unsettling. It wasn't anything new, since Oliver always knew of Percy's odd sense of humour, but now it was worrying. Percy shouldn't be seeing himself in that way. He continued, "Do they mean much to ya?"

"No," was the curt reply. No explanation, just another long sip of his tea.

"So why do you keep them?"

"They used to mean a lot," he said, "It was motivation. Now it's just a reminder of my own stupid ambition."

"Percy," Oliver started, but his friend raising a hand and putting it gently on his shoulder cut him off.

"Oliver, I need a new wand."

"Right."

"Where do you think I can get one?"

"Ollivanders may be opening up again soon," he replied, "We can pop by to Diagon Alley and get you one."

"I won't lie, I miss my old one," Percy said with a tired sigh, "It was my favourite, you know. Absolutely wonderful wand. First thing I bought with my first paycheck was a wand that chose me instead of a hand-me-down from Bill."

"You mean the super long one?" Oliver asked, nudging Percy lightly in the arm, "Dude yours was ridiculously long."

"It was not."

"Yeah, dude, it was like twice the length of mine."

"Almost," Percy said, "14 and a quarter inches. Ollivander said it was very odd for such a long wand to have chosen me."

"It's because you're so tall, you giant nerd," Oliver laughed, patting Percy on the back, "What happened to your wand anyway?"

"It got broken in the battle," he replied, "It was a good companion, but it snapped. Hopefully I can get one just as good."

"Maybe this time it'll be 15 inches," Oliver joked with a snort, "Seriously I swear your wand is compensating."

"Sod off Oliver, just because your wand is short."

"My wand is great! Shorter it is, the less likely it is to snap," he said, grinning, "Maybe that's why yours was so long. You snap so easily."

"I do not snap easily!" Percy snapped. He took a moment to sip his tea and regain his composure, glaring at Oliver. "Okay fine. You win this time. Long wands for temperamental people."

"I heard they like to go for people with dramatic wand casting. Are you dramatic?"

"Oliver, quit it," he said, shaking his head and sighing, "I already miss my wand. I really would like a new one."

"You know, you're the first wizard I know who can apparate without a wand," Oliver pointed out. It was another one of the little marks on the long list of 'Why Percy Weasley is a Bloody Amazing Wizard'.

"Many people do," Percy said, "Plus, technically, we already have the magic power. The wand is just a medium in which we focus our magical energy. There are people who can do very basic, wandless magic. It is never as strong, but it works, and—"

"Okay, Percy," Oliver said, cutting him off, "That is all very interesting, but you do realise how far your flat is from the Burrow, right?"

"It's not too long."

"Percy, yes it is," he sighed, "Which means you are a bloody brilliant apparater."

Percy blushed slightly and he scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck, "When I first got my license I practiced constantly. The twins hated it."

"Well, that's too bad," he said, laughing, "So, who's wand do you have now?"

"Some Death Eater's," he said, shrugging, "I think I took it off Thicknesse. I did transfigure him into a sea urchin." He snorted at that, however Oliver only remembered how morbid it was for someone to step on a sea urchin that was once a person. "I threw it out, though. I didn't want to have anything to do with that wand after the war."

"What's it like without magic?" Oliver asked, "You've gone without using it for a whole week."

"It's like normal," he replied, "Not much is different. Not that I've noticed. I've stayed in mostly."

"Right. How about I take you out to eat?"

"You know I hate going outside."

"You're such a shut in," Oliver sighed, "Come on. Just for something to eat. If not, then I'll order some pizza."

"Order the pizza, I can't be bothered to face the world right now."

"You are a gigantic drama queen," Oliver laughed, nudging Percy in the arm. Percy nudged back, of course. "Pizza it is, then."

Ollivanders had just opened 5 days after the war. It had to be restarted quickly to fill the demand of new wands by those who were in the battle only to have it broken, and for those who had their wands stolen or taken away from them. The day after Fred's funeral, Percy and Oliver made their way to said store in the middle of Diagon Alley at 10am, a half hour after its opening time.

"Welcome to Ollivanders!" Mr Ollivander greeted cheerily, looking extremely excited to be back at work. After the fall of Voldemort, most wizards and witches were happy to be free of the worry and the pain. "Oh, isn't it Mr Weasley! What brings you here?"

"Just a wand, Mr Ollivander," Percy said as politely and as courteously as he would. "Mine broke in the battle, you see."

"Ah yes, understandable," he said, shuffling around the store in search for a box, "I have one which may suit you. Rowan, Dragon Heartstring, 14", Reasonably Supple." He took the long, dark brown wand with its engraved handle out of the box and presented it to Percy. Percy took it and held it in his hands for a moment, as if calculating just how it felt in his hand before waving the wand, only to find that the boxes on one of the shelves came toppling down.

"Ah, no, must be the wood. Maybe the rigidity. You need something harder." Ollivander continued whispering to himself as he went through more boxes, then pulled one out, taking out a light wood wand with a very intricate handle that Percy immediately took a fancy to. It was elegant and sleek, much like himself. "Pear, Dragon Heartstring, 14 and a half inches, Hard."

Percy found himself captivated by the lovely craftsmanship of the handle. The handle spiralled around itself, leaving an open space in the center of it. He took the wand into his hand and the handle seemed to perfectly fit his hand, and the weight felt natural in his palm. He waved the wand, and all the fallen boxes returned to their respective places. He smiled, "Wonderful," he said, "Absolutely wonderful."

"Better than your old one, I believe," Ollivander said, "Will be very good for your Transfiguration, this one."

"Thank you, Mr Ollivander," he said, smiling. He put his hand into his pocket to pull out his galleons, putting 10 of them on the counter, "Here."

"It's still only 7 galleons. The war didn't make me that hard up. This is my profession," he said, laughing.

"It's my treat," he said, "I'm just happy I found this wand."

"Wrong, Mr Weasley," Mr Ollivander tutted, "The wand is happy it found you."

"Come on, Perce," Oliver said, nodding his head towards the entrance, "Let's go. We can grab some food on the way, what about that?" Percy was busy being entranced by the light wand in his hand. The gleam in his eye gave him away; he couldn't help but admire the wonderful elegance of his new wand. Oliver couldn't help but laugh at how distracted his friend was. "It's a nice wand, let's move on," he said.

"Alright, Oliver," he replied, slipping the wand into the side of his trousers. Oliver always thought it was an odd place for Percy to keep his wand, but when Percy moved to adjust his jacket, the wand was completely concealed. "What are you looking at?" he asked.

"Just wondering why you put your wand there," Oliver replied, "Isn't that dangerous?"

"It's the best place I've found to hide a wand," he replied, "A pocket means there's too much fiddling around when trying to grab it, and my wand has always been too long so they poke out the top. Then if I were to put it in my jacket pocket, there's the problem of trying to unbutton my suit in order to pull out my wand, or the front sections will get in the way, so that's hardly efficient. Not to mention if my jacket is open, not only do I look sloppy, but a small knockback jinx would send it flying along with my wand. Therefore, obviously, right under my belt is a fantastic place to put it since it's easily concealed with my jacket and if I need it," Percy paused, and in one swift motion, pulled his wand out and pointed it at Oliver, "it's easily accessible." He then slipped it back into its position under his trouser's waistband right at his hip, then adjusted his suit jacket over it again.

"You've really thought about this, huh," Oliver said, laughing, "I just keep it in my back pocket."

"Of course I thought about it. I'm about efficiency. Heaven knows what could happen in a Ministry overrun by Death Eaters," Percy replied. Oliver took note of how Percy continued to speak in present tense. He knew that Percy was still shaken by what he had to sit through, but Percy was very good at internalising his feelings and not talking about them.

"Good thing it's not anymore, huh?" Oliver said, nudging Percy in the arm as he lead them out of the shop and down the streets of Diagon Alley.

Percy looked confused for a moment, then nodded, "Right," he said, "Not anymore."

"So, what are you thinking of doing now, Percy?"

"I'm assuming you are speaking about work. I know that you are returning to Puddlemere United once Quidditch games are started again."

Avoiding the question. Typical Percy, Oliver thought. "Yes," he replied, trying to humour his friend, "Though it may not be in a while. Most teams are in shambles, but hopefully it will be soon."

"Good," he said, "I've been considering helping the reconstruction of Hogwarts. I would very much like for it to be up and running again for students in the next school year."

"With all the help, I'm sure it'll be up and running soon," Oliver said, "I'll probably help, you know, before Puddlemere takes me back." He paused, then continued, "What are you planning to do after, though?"

"I'm not sure," was the curt reply. There was an awkward silence between them where Oliver coughed. Percy was never 'not sure' about anything in his life. Everything about Percy was organised to a tee. There was nothing Percy didn't know, and yet there he was, looking wistfully out wondering what he would do as a job.

"What about the Minis—"

"No," Percy stated harshly, cutting Oliver off before he even had a chance to finish his sentence, "Never again. I'm not going back. I can't stand the look of the Ministry, let alone going back to work there, after all I've done!"

Oliver stopped walking and pulled Percy to the side, grasping both of Percy's arms tightly. He could feel his friend shaking and he could see the tension in the redhead's pale jaw. "Percy, don't worry," he said, "Calm down. It'll be alright."

"It's not going to be alright!" he exclaimed, a look of worry and fear set in his eyes, "Oliver, I watched people die in there. I let people die and I could do nothing to stop them. I'm not going back. I refuse to go back."

"You don't have to," Oliver said, "There are plenty of other jobs for you out there, okay? You're going to be alright. You don't have to go back."

Percy was silent for a long time before shrugging out of Oliver's grasp and placing his hands on Oliver's shoulders. "Thank you," he said, "Thank you."

"Come on," Oliver said with a small grin, "Let's go check out some girls, you and Penelope used to do that together, so I don't see why we can't do it together too." Oliver knew that Percy wouldn't laugh about his dead friend, but he did see Percy's features soften slightly at the fond memory, and that was enough for him.

AN: This became longer than originally anticipated. Just mostly some Oliver and Percy friendship building. I like to think they're just the best of buddies, and just so you know for the future my idea of Percy is demiromantic and asexual, because he just seems like the sort of guy who gets in a relationship because he likes the person over sexual attraction. I also like to think that Percy is honestly one of the brightest wizards in history, but he keeps it on the down-low because he's not the kind of guy to flaunt his magical prowess (He turned a guy into a sea urchin!). It's probably the reason why he's got such a long wand, because of his dramatic wizard flair and power. What a nerd. Also I did take a pottermore test for Percy (like the one with all 30 questions) and he ended up as 86% Gryffidnor, 84% Slytherin, and 82% Ravenclaw. What a tough time.

pureimagination: haha yeah part of the point of Ron's anger is the irony behind it. I think for him he's angry at himself so he's shoving it onto someone else because I like to think he's like that. He's not willing to accept blame until later tbh.

MandyinKC: Haha thank you! I'm really glad you liked it; Ron seems like quite the guy to make brash comments like that in my opinion. I do have an idea of where this is going to go, since there's a lot of ground I would like to cover, so I'm trying to blaze through it as quick as I can tbh.