Percy became acutely aware of brown eyes staring at him. It was a sensation he tried to ignore, preferring to focus his attention on the essay he was struggling to finish. Words weren't coming to him easily; everything he wrote down sounded off putting, cousin ghim to wrinkle up that piece of parchment and start over.

He didn't need his dorm mate to be a complete distraction on top of that.

"What?" Percy asked snippily when the sensation didn't go away-Oliver was still there. Unfortunately.

A grin spread over Oliver's face, one that practically screamed trouble was brewing. It was a recurring occurrence with him; an idea led to another or he was in dire need of helping get out of a situation he'd gotten himself into, which meant he felt the need to drag Percy into it as well.

Much to Percy's disgruntlement, Oliver came to a halt in front of his desk, pushing away his materials to prop his elbows down. Before he could scold his dorm mate for interrupting-as always-he wasn't given time to say anything. That grin was wider now and fairly creepy. "I don't believe it," Oliver said in a sort of awe voice.

He'd leaned in far too close for Percy's liking. Unlike him, Oliver didn't mind invading someone's personal space and most often, it was his space that was invaded.

Attempting to keep his composure whilst he really wanted to hex Oliver, Percy said as nonchalantly as possible, "Don't believe what?"

"Don't play dumb with me," Oliver snorted. "You know what I'm talking about."

"I don't," Percy's hand itched to grab his wand. "And I would prefer if you left me alone for right now. I have to finish my defense essay, which I'm sure you need to finish as well."

He raised his eyebrows, his thought being confirmed when Oliver shrugged.

"Aye, I've got 'till Friday."

"Well, I think you should do it now, if you want my opinion."

"Don't worry, I don't," Oliver retorted and then flashed Percy another smile to let him know he'd only been joking. "Stop stalling, mate."

"What are you talking about?" Percy was growing irritated at being kept from his homework and having to endure Oliver's juvenile games.

"You've got a hickey there," Oliver pointed, finger hovering over the spot on Percy's neck. A faint smirk appeared on his dorm mate's face.

What? Percy seized the mirror on the corner of the desk, the one that Oliver used for-actually, he couldn't recall what his friend used it for. But he'd brought it when they arrived. Sure enough, standing out from the surrounding porcelain pale skin was a bloody hickey.

"I don't believe it," Oliver cackled. "Someone got you good, Perce."

"Shut up!" Percy snapped, his homework forgotten.

"And I bet I know who that someone is," Oliver said in a singsong voice.

They were so careful! How had-Oh, he knew staying there for those extra couple of minutes was a bad idea. And now look at him!

Percy's face flushed, clashing horribly with his hair. He nervously adjusted his uniform even though it didn't need adjusting at all. "It is most certainly not a hickey. I don't know what you're talking about."

Oliver raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Oh, really?"

"It's a mosquito bite," Percy said as confidently as he could under pressure.

Oliver's lips were pressed together and his shoulders trembled from trying to smother his laughter. "A mosquito bite, aye?" He managed to choke out.

"Yes," Percy said primly. He began to put his materials back where they had been originally. "It happened last night."

"Ah. Right."

"Yes, well I'm sure it will go away soon enough."

"Right," Oliver repeated. "I'm sure it will."

/

Percy was wholly embarrassed at the wolf whistles he received from various students. For some sadistic reason, they found immense pleasure in this; that proper, rule-following, straight-laced Percy Weasley had a hickey.

"It's not a hickey," he told multiple people and in return he received doubtful looks, blatant amusement. "It's a mosquito bite."

He groaned when he felt two people come up behind him. He didn't need to guess twice as to who it was.

"Percy!"

"Our dearest brother."

"We heard a bit of news about you."

"And we must admit we were surprised about that. Don't hear about you very often."

"Word on the corridor is that you've got yourself a hickey."

Percy buried his face in his palms. "It's not a blasted hickey, for Merlin's sake!"

The two of them came around to face him. He scowled when Fred affirmed to his twin that there was a hickey there, with a tone more sensible for outdoors than in the Great Hall. Several people nearby turned their way and Percy wished nothing more than for the ground to swallow him whole. Or his brothers. Preferably them.

Fred observed it, poking it with one finger. Percy flinched at the tickling sensation, glaring at his brother. "It sure looks like a hickey, doesn't it George?"

"Why yes, Fred, it does," George agreed and then gave a dramatic sigh. "It's hard to believe Percy here got one before us."

"I'm as shocked as you are," Fred said solemnly.

"Alright, enough," Percy said, annoyed. He made a noise of exasperation when Fred and George came at each side, sandwiching him in between.

"Do we get to know the name of the lovely lady that decided to take away your innocence?" Fred smirked.

"Don't say it like that!"

"So he admits there is someone!" George cried.

Percy wanted to rip his hair out. "For the last time, there isn't anybody. It's not a hickey. It's a mosquito bite."

"Face it mate," Oliver chirped as he approached them, "no one believes it's a mosquito bite."

"Well, it is!" Percy scowled deeply.

At that moment, Penelope Clearwater came into the hall. She walked by them on her way to the Ravenclaw table. Her golden, curly hair bounced behind her and she smiled shyly at Percy.

"Hello Percy, Wood."

Percy smiled back in a rather dreamy fashion.

Oliver looked between them. "Hello mosquito," he said to her, dryly.