Chapter Four: Good Clean Fun
CRASH
Percy Weasley smiled to himself, even as he closed the door he'd just entered and jogged through the apartment.
A vase lay broken in the doorway. Books spilled into the long hallway. A large bookcase had fallen.
Percy pulled out his wand and chuckled, "Extollo."
The heavy bookcase rose and placed itself back against the wall.
"Neville?" he asked, tentatively.
Neville Longbottom looked up through his hair. "I thought it was sturdier than that." he said.
Percy offered his hand and helped Neville to his feet. Neville was a head and shoulders shorter than Percy and when Percy gathered him into his arms, he rested his chin on the top of Neville's head. "Why didn't you wait for me to get home?" he said, kissing the top of the brown haired head.
Neville backed up slightly and looked up into Percy's brown eyes. "I thought I could do it myself." he said, shrugging.
Percy chuckled. "Well, you certainly can now that all the books are on the floor."
Neville turned red. "I'm sorry, Percy." he said, quietly shaking his head and looking at the books scattered everywhere. "I'll fix it. How was your day?"
Percy grinned as he watched Neville drop to his knees and start picking up books. "I have to meet with the head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports on Monday. Seems there have been a rash of enchanted golf balls all over the place. The Muggles are going crazy thinking Britian is going to take the PGP or PGB or something like that. And Lapis tells me he thinks he has a lead on those stolen and cursed swords from last winter. I'll have to follow up on that." he dropped to his knees, took Neville's chin in his hand and turned the face to look at him. "And I missed having lunch with you."
"I know." Neville said, dropping the books heavily on Percy's knees. "I forgot all about it. I was double checking the list of herbs Amethyst wanted me to get and," Percy kissed him to shut him up.
"Don't worry about it, Neville." he said when he broke the kiss. "Missing lunch won't kill me."
Percy stood and waved his wand at the books on the floor. "Revertor." and the books put themselves back on the shelves.
Percy took Neville's hand and led him out of the room. In the doorway, Percy pointed his wand at the vase and said, "Renovo." He dropped his wand inside and picked the vase up and took both the vase and Neville into the kitchen.
Percy put the vase on the table and swept Neville into his arms again, he bend his head to kiss him, but Neville put a finger to his lips to stop him.
"I have a surprise for you." Neville said and Percey sat at the table. "Don't look."
Percy looked into the vase and fished his wand out while Neville made small sounds behind him. Percy marveled at Neville's abilities in the kitchen. It was one of the few rooms he wasn't dangerous in. Percy pocketed his wand and picked up the vase and looked at the design on it. Roses. Neville loved roses and had several small bushes in the second bedroom of their apartment, which Neville had converted into a quasi-greenhouse when he'd moved in with Percy back in April. Percy smiled down at the vase when he thought about how they'd come to be here. How he'd come to be here, actually.
Penelope Clearwater had been the perfect mate for Percy. He knew it, she knew it, everyone knew it. The problem was that Percy didn't feel right about it. She may have been beautiful and smart and all those things, but she didn't seem to do much for Percy. She just couldn't seem to get him excited. After he'd graduated from Hogwarts and began working in the Ministry, he'd begun researching potions to help him with his impotency and was in the apothecary when he'd run into Neville. Neville sensed something was up and offered to take Percy to lunch. Percy agreed, but didn't talk about his problem with Penelope. However he'd had the nicest luncheon he'd had in a long, long time. Percy really felt comfortable around Neville. Neither of them had ever had many friends and they were glad to have one now. They met weekly throughout the summer.
Percy, in the meantime, found his problems with Penelope suddenly gone. The problem he now faced was that the only way he could get himself excited enough to have sex with her was by thinking of Neville, which frightened Percy beyond words. He didn't tell Penelope and he didn't tell Neville. He didn't tell anyone. But he realized there was something going on, because when Neville went back to school Percy found himself completely distracted again. He ended his relationship with Penelope and threw himself into his work. He thought of Neville often, but avoided him when his job brought him to Hogwarts. They did not meet at all until the next summer.
It was Neville who finally said something about them. 'I really like you, Percy.' he'd said during a talk they'd had near Neville's grandmother's home. They were sitting in the grass and Percy was recounting his week at work. Neville always listened so patiently when he talked about his work. He was considering changing to another department and had been using Neville as a sounding board.
Percy had looked at Neville sharply. Percy had not missed the underlying message. Percy opened his mouth to speak and Neville kissed him. Percy's world was never the same again.
Percy insisted that they remain chaste until Neville graduated school. This wasn't easy for either of them. Percy had never wanted anyone as much as he'd wanted Neville. But somehow they'd managed, although some times it had been a close thing indeed. However, Percy was also faced with a dilemma. He felt he needed to keep his relationship with Neville quiet. He was terrified of the reaction of his peers. Neville silently agreed.
One of the side effects of Percy's fear was that his relationship with his favorite and oldest brother deteriorated. Long ago, Percy had caught Bill and Christopher Starling kissing in a field near the Weasley home. That it made him so uncomfortable was one of the reasons he fought his own feelings for Neville. Percy strived to be socially acceptable and men kissing men was not socially acceptable. His need to keep his relationship secret caused him a lot of problems within his family. Granted, everyone of his family members thought he was stuck-up, except for his mother, who held him up as an example (which did nothing to improve his relationship with his siblings). But he began distancing himself more and more. The only one he felt he could be himself with was Neville. He even secured a job for Neville in his department. International Magical Co-operation.
Then Percy received the owl from Neville that shattered his world.
Have to leave the country. Can't tell you why. I love you.
Neville
Percy's reaction to this was to throw himself into his work with a will. The very day he read Neville's note, he took his frustration out on his brother, sacking him for having a cluttered desk. Two months later, just when the pain was dulling to the point that Percy was only thinking about Neville ten times a day, Christopher Starling was transferred to the Department of Magical Reversals, where Percy was Head. Seeing Christopher somehow ripped open the wound that had just begun healing for Percy. With calculated precision, Percy worked on getting Christopher out of his department. He succeeded only to find that Christopher had wound up with his brother Ron in a new branch of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Then Ron was killed. Percy never considered himself very close to his youngest brother, but his death rocked Percy to his very foundations. He plummeted into a depression he couldn't see any way out of. He was sitting in his apartment (at the very place he sat in now, as a matter of fact) staring at a bottle of Veneficus potion he had gotten in Nocturn Alley. It was a highly illegal poison, and Percy planned to use it to kill himself.
Why Percy did not ignore the knock on the door was beyond him. He opened the door to find himself facing Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore bustled in and made himself at home, putting on tea and chatting with Percy about almost nothing. Then he told Percy he was going to be heading the Department of Muggle Artifacts and asked him if he would like to join him and some friends of his in finding Ron's killer. Percy was never able to understand what made him agree. He was no crime fighter. No rebel. But he found himself agreeing.
After Dumbledore told him where to go and when and left Percy's apartment, Percy found himself happier than he'd been in the two years since Neville had mysteriously left him. He also discovered that the bottle of Veneficus potion had disappeared.
Percy almost fainted when he saw Neville in the Snapes sitting room that Saturday night. It did not help that Neville appeared to be with Seamus Finnegan. Neville had lost an incredible amount of weight, Percy noticed. He also seemed more anxious than ever. It did not help that not only was Christopher there, but Bill as well. The evening only got worse as it progressed. Bill insisted they let Harry know that no one in the family was blaming him for Ron's death, which meant getting closer to Neville than he'd been in years. Percy was Classic Percy and left as soon as possible. He knew Bill would write him off as being his usual homophobic self, but Percy didn't care. Dumbledore topped off his evening with a lecture on love knowing no sex and telling Percy that he'd discover that someday.
Seamus and Neville were waiting for him in front of his apartment when he got home from that meeting. Dignity prevented Percy from making a scene. Seamus made Percy sit and listen to Neville's story. Although incredible, Percy knew Neville was no liar. Seamus played referee and Neville and Percy were able to patch things up. Seamus understood Parcy's anxiety and vowed he would tell no one about their relationship.
But they hardly picked up where they'd left off. Neville had come to a greater acceptance of his sexuality and encouraged Percy to come out of the closet. Percy was just too scared. Neville was frustrated, but gently accepted.
Then Neville and Bill had been kidnapped and Percy was so worried about them he unintentionally gave himself away. Harry was very observant and he quickly figured out Percy's secret. Draco and Harry agreed to allow Percy to come and collect Neville, Bill and Amethyst and what Percy saw that night changed him.
The greatest change it brought to him was in his attitude. He'd come close to losing not only another brother, but the man he loved. Suddenly propriety didn't matter as much. Percy came out of the closet, made amends to Bill and moved Neville in with him. And that was in April, four months ago.
Percy was jerked back to the present by a hand on his shoulder. "Percy?" Neville said. "Are you alright?"
Percy started, then looked at Neville. "I was just thinking, love." he said, as he pulled Neville onto his lap. Neville was quite thin these days and fit onto Percy's lap wonderfully. Suddenly the aroma hit him. "That doesn't smell like a normal dinner." Percy said, suddenly starving.
Neville smiled. "When I realized I'd forgotten our lunch date, I stopped on the way home and picked up a few things. You know, to make it up to you."
"Oh." Percy said, grinning. "And I am sure you have outdone yourself, again, trying to feed me."
Neville tickled Percy's middle. "You're too thin."
"You sound like your gran." Percy said and watched as his face fell. "That is not a bad thing, exactly, Neville. Your gran loves you."
"I know. She was complaining last time I saw her. Says she thinks I am too thin." Neville said. "I told her this stress diet was the best thing that ever happened to me." and he sighed.
Percy switched subjects. "So what have you prepared for me, my love?"
Neville straightened himself. He smiled down at Percy and said, in a dignified sort of voice. "Tonight, my love, I have prepared for you a poached pear and walnut salad with a Gorgonzola dressing. That will be followed by calves livers, lamb sweetbreads and kidney with carrots and a mustard sauce. And your dessert will be my homemade raspberry sorbet."
Percy raised his eyebrows. "You and Amethyst are going to make a fortune, you know?" Neville grinned and began serving the gourmet meal.
Percy signed his report with a flourish, glad to be done with it. He had gotten into the habit of finishing any work he brought home for the weekend on Friday night, so he wouldn't have to think about it during the weekend. It gave him more time to spend with Neville, he figured.
"Ovid." he called and a large Long-eared Owl left his perch and landed on the desk in front of Percy. Percy rolled up his report and stuffed it into a mailing tube. He addressed it to himself and held it out for Ovid. "The office, Ovid." Percy said and he watched as Ovid flew through the window. He sat gazing out of the window at the clear night.
Grinning, he stood and stretched. He blew out the candle and walked out of the room. He breathed in the scent of roses as he crossed into the bedroom. He poked his head into the bathroom, lit a single candle and began the shower with a wave of his wand. He returned to the bedroom and undressed. He returned to the shower and let the hot water run over him. He closed his eyes and ran both of his hands over his red hair.
He didn't start when he felt the hands around his waist. He felt the kiss between his shoulder blades. He saw Neville's hand reach around him for the soap. Neville began at his feet and washed Percy to the waist. He skipped Percy's groin and soaped his back. Then Percy felt Nevilles hands on his back and allowed himself to be turned. Neville was looking up at Percy with eyes filled with emotion. Percy bent and kissed him. Neville washed Percy's chest from the collarbone down. He paused at Percys groin and Percy moaned as Neville soaped him up.
Forcing himself to calm down, Percy managed to get the soap away from Neville. He washed his love beginning from the head, and ending at the feet. Percy was on his knees and he grasped Neville by the waist and kissed his navel. Percy kissed Neville's growing member and slipped it in his mouth. He heard the gasps and moans even above the pounding of the water on the tiles. Neville never lasted long in Percy's mouth and Percy enjoyed the taste of his lover's cum, before he kissed his way back up Neville's body to kiss him passionately.
Percy shook out his hair. He looked again down at Neville. They rinsed off completely and got out of the shower. Percy wrapped them both in the same large towel and held him close.
"I do love you, Percy." Neville said into Percy's chest.
"I know." Percy replied.
They dried off and went to bed. Neville snuggled against Percy and Percy put an arm around him.
"Do you really think Amethyst and I will get rich off of this restaurant?" Neville asked.
"Well, you will get rich. Amethyst will get richer." Percy said. "But you will wind up in an early grave if you don't do something about your anxiety around her."
Neville chuckled. "She said the very same thing today." he said. "She said if I botch one more herb run she is going to drug me."
Percy smiled. "Well, at least you aren't working with that husband of hers. Severus Snape used to cause you nervous fits."
"Yes, but I understand why now." Neville said, thoughtfully. "And I know my niche isn't potions. But Amethyst is just as good with herbs as I am, maybe even better. And she is every bit as exacting and complicated as her husband is."
Percy shook his head. "Why did you offer to let her in on this restaurant idea then?" he asked.
Percy felt Neville shrug. "I suppose because she is fascinating. She is everything Severus us, but she can be so," Neville searched for the word. "Sensitive? Kind?"
Percy laughed out loud. "If she ever finds out you called her sensitive and kind I'm willing to bet she'd turn you into something slimy."
Neville laughed with him. "But she is." he insisted. "I won't forget how caring she was when we all got captured by the Dark Knights. It sounds wierd, but she saved me and Bill by cursing us. And she took the beating for us. But as angry as she was she let Harry exact the revenge because it was more his fight than hers." he shrugged again. "She is so complicated. She is a cold-blooded killer but she is also a very kind-hearted person, Percy. Just look at how much she loves Severus. Everything they went through. Eighteen years thinking Severus was dead. It's just so romantic."
Percy shook his head again. "Neville you are a hopeless romantic." he said.
"Oh, I know that." Neville sighed, molding himself against Percy's side. "You may not think so, but I think our story is pretty romantic too."
Parcy gave a mock scoff. "You run off and leave me for no reason and we were reunited in a room full of Taipan agents and assassins, plotting spy raids and murders. Real romantic."
Neville slapped Percy's chest. "I meant what happened when we got back here, with Seamus. You didn't want to listen, but Seamus made you. Made you hear my story and understand."
Percy pressed Neville closer to his side. "Yes. I was thinking about that earlier tonight. I owe Seamus a great debt. He brought you back to me, in a way."
"And I'll never leave you again." Neville said.
"I sure hope not." Percy said.
They fell asleep in each other's arms.
CRASH
Percy Weasley smiled to himself, even as he closed the door he'd just entered and jogged through the apartment.
A vase lay broken in the doorway. Books spilled into the long hallway. A large bookcase had fallen.
Percy pulled out his wand and chuckled, "Extollo."
The heavy bookcase rose and placed itself back against the wall.
"Neville?" he asked, tentatively.
Neville Longbottom looked up through his hair. "I thought it was sturdier than that." he said.
Percy offered his hand and helped Neville to his feet. Neville was a head and shoulders shorter than Percy and when Percy gathered him into his arms, he rested his chin on the top of Neville's head. "Why didn't you wait for me to get home?" he said, kissing the top of the brown haired head.
Neville backed up slightly and looked up into Percy's brown eyes. "I thought I could do it myself." he said, shrugging.
Percy chuckled. "Well, you certainly can now that all the books are on the floor."
Neville turned red. "I'm sorry, Percy." he said, quietly shaking his head and looking at the books scattered everywhere. "I'll fix it. How was your day?"
Percy grinned as he watched Neville drop to his knees and start picking up books. "I have to meet with the head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports on Monday. Seems there have been a rash of enchanted golf balls all over the place. The Muggles are going crazy thinking Britian is going to take the PGP or PGB or something like that. And Lapis tells me he thinks he has a lead on those stolen and cursed swords from last winter. I'll have to follow up on that." he dropped to his knees, took Neville's chin in his hand and turned the face to look at him. "And I missed having lunch with you."
"I know." Neville said, dropping the books heavily on Percy's knees. "I forgot all about it. I was double checking the list of herbs Amethyst wanted me to get and," Percy kissed him to shut him up.
"Don't worry about it, Neville." he said when he broke the kiss. "Missing lunch won't kill me."
Percy stood and waved his wand at the books on the floor. "Revertor." and the books put themselves back on the shelves.
Percy took Neville's hand and led him out of the room. In the doorway, Percy pointed his wand at the vase and said, "Renovo." He dropped his wand inside and picked the vase up and took both the vase and Neville into the kitchen.
Percy put the vase on the table and swept Neville into his arms again, he bend his head to kiss him, but Neville put a finger to his lips to stop him.
"I have a surprise for you." Neville said and Percey sat at the table. "Don't look."
Percy looked into the vase and fished his wand out while Neville made small sounds behind him. Percy marveled at Neville's abilities in the kitchen. It was one of the few rooms he wasn't dangerous in. Percy pocketed his wand and picked up the vase and looked at the design on it. Roses. Neville loved roses and had several small bushes in the second bedroom of their apartment, which Neville had converted into a quasi-greenhouse when he'd moved in with Percy back in April. Percy smiled down at the vase when he thought about how they'd come to be here. How he'd come to be here, actually.
Penelope Clearwater had been the perfect mate for Percy. He knew it, she knew it, everyone knew it. The problem was that Percy didn't feel right about it. She may have been beautiful and smart and all those things, but she didn't seem to do much for Percy. She just couldn't seem to get him excited. After he'd graduated from Hogwarts and began working in the Ministry, he'd begun researching potions to help him with his impotency and was in the apothecary when he'd run into Neville. Neville sensed something was up and offered to take Percy to lunch. Percy agreed, but didn't talk about his problem with Penelope. However he'd had the nicest luncheon he'd had in a long, long time. Percy really felt comfortable around Neville. Neither of them had ever had many friends and they were glad to have one now. They met weekly throughout the summer.
Percy, in the meantime, found his problems with Penelope suddenly gone. The problem he now faced was that the only way he could get himself excited enough to have sex with her was by thinking of Neville, which frightened Percy beyond words. He didn't tell Penelope and he didn't tell Neville. He didn't tell anyone. But he realized there was something going on, because when Neville went back to school Percy found himself completely distracted again. He ended his relationship with Penelope and threw himself into his work. He thought of Neville often, but avoided him when his job brought him to Hogwarts. They did not meet at all until the next summer.
It was Neville who finally said something about them. 'I really like you, Percy.' he'd said during a talk they'd had near Neville's grandmother's home. They were sitting in the grass and Percy was recounting his week at work. Neville always listened so patiently when he talked about his work. He was considering changing to another department and had been using Neville as a sounding board.
Percy had looked at Neville sharply. Percy had not missed the underlying message. Percy opened his mouth to speak and Neville kissed him. Percy's world was never the same again.
Percy insisted that they remain chaste until Neville graduated school. This wasn't easy for either of them. Percy had never wanted anyone as much as he'd wanted Neville. But somehow they'd managed, although some times it had been a close thing indeed. However, Percy was also faced with a dilemma. He felt he needed to keep his relationship with Neville quiet. He was terrified of the reaction of his peers. Neville silently agreed.
One of the side effects of Percy's fear was that his relationship with his favorite and oldest brother deteriorated. Long ago, Percy had caught Bill and Christopher Starling kissing in a field near the Weasley home. That it made him so uncomfortable was one of the reasons he fought his own feelings for Neville. Percy strived to be socially acceptable and men kissing men was not socially acceptable. His need to keep his relationship secret caused him a lot of problems within his family. Granted, everyone of his family members thought he was stuck-up, except for his mother, who held him up as an example (which did nothing to improve his relationship with his siblings). But he began distancing himself more and more. The only one he felt he could be himself with was Neville. He even secured a job for Neville in his department. International Magical Co-operation.
Then Percy received the owl from Neville that shattered his world.
Have to leave the country. Can't tell you why. I love you.
Neville
Percy's reaction to this was to throw himself into his work with a will. The very day he read Neville's note, he took his frustration out on his brother, sacking him for having a cluttered desk. Two months later, just when the pain was dulling to the point that Percy was only thinking about Neville ten times a day, Christopher Starling was transferred to the Department of Magical Reversals, where Percy was Head. Seeing Christopher somehow ripped open the wound that had just begun healing for Percy. With calculated precision, Percy worked on getting Christopher out of his department. He succeeded only to find that Christopher had wound up with his brother Ron in a new branch of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
Then Ron was killed. Percy never considered himself very close to his youngest brother, but his death rocked Percy to his very foundations. He plummeted into a depression he couldn't see any way out of. He was sitting in his apartment (at the very place he sat in now, as a matter of fact) staring at a bottle of Veneficus potion he had gotten in Nocturn Alley. It was a highly illegal poison, and Percy planned to use it to kill himself.
Why Percy did not ignore the knock on the door was beyond him. He opened the door to find himself facing Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore bustled in and made himself at home, putting on tea and chatting with Percy about almost nothing. Then he told Percy he was going to be heading the Department of Muggle Artifacts and asked him if he would like to join him and some friends of his in finding Ron's killer. Percy was never able to understand what made him agree. He was no crime fighter. No rebel. But he found himself agreeing.
After Dumbledore told him where to go and when and left Percy's apartment, Percy found himself happier than he'd been in the two years since Neville had mysteriously left him. He also discovered that the bottle of Veneficus potion had disappeared.
Percy almost fainted when he saw Neville in the Snapes sitting room that Saturday night. It did not help that Neville appeared to be with Seamus Finnegan. Neville had lost an incredible amount of weight, Percy noticed. He also seemed more anxious than ever. It did not help that not only was Christopher there, but Bill as well. The evening only got worse as it progressed. Bill insisted they let Harry know that no one in the family was blaming him for Ron's death, which meant getting closer to Neville than he'd been in years. Percy was Classic Percy and left as soon as possible. He knew Bill would write him off as being his usual homophobic self, but Percy didn't care. Dumbledore topped off his evening with a lecture on love knowing no sex and telling Percy that he'd discover that someday.
Seamus and Neville were waiting for him in front of his apartment when he got home from that meeting. Dignity prevented Percy from making a scene. Seamus made Percy sit and listen to Neville's story. Although incredible, Percy knew Neville was no liar. Seamus played referee and Neville and Percy were able to patch things up. Seamus understood Parcy's anxiety and vowed he would tell no one about their relationship.
But they hardly picked up where they'd left off. Neville had come to a greater acceptance of his sexuality and encouraged Percy to come out of the closet. Percy was just too scared. Neville was frustrated, but gently accepted.
Then Neville and Bill had been kidnapped and Percy was so worried about them he unintentionally gave himself away. Harry was very observant and he quickly figured out Percy's secret. Draco and Harry agreed to allow Percy to come and collect Neville, Bill and Amethyst and what Percy saw that night changed him.
The greatest change it brought to him was in his attitude. He'd come close to losing not only another brother, but the man he loved. Suddenly propriety didn't matter as much. Percy came out of the closet, made amends to Bill and moved Neville in with him. And that was in April, four months ago.
Percy was jerked back to the present by a hand on his shoulder. "Percy?" Neville said. "Are you alright?"
Percy started, then looked at Neville. "I was just thinking, love." he said, as he pulled Neville onto his lap. Neville was quite thin these days and fit onto Percy's lap wonderfully. Suddenly the aroma hit him. "That doesn't smell like a normal dinner." Percy said, suddenly starving.
Neville smiled. "When I realized I'd forgotten our lunch date, I stopped on the way home and picked up a few things. You know, to make it up to you."
"Oh." Percy said, grinning. "And I am sure you have outdone yourself, again, trying to feed me."
Neville tickled Percy's middle. "You're too thin."
"You sound like your gran." Percy said and watched as his face fell. "That is not a bad thing, exactly, Neville. Your gran loves you."
"I know. She was complaining last time I saw her. Says she thinks I am too thin." Neville said. "I told her this stress diet was the best thing that ever happened to me." and he sighed.
Percy switched subjects. "So what have you prepared for me, my love?"
Neville straightened himself. He smiled down at Percy and said, in a dignified sort of voice. "Tonight, my love, I have prepared for you a poached pear and walnut salad with a Gorgonzola dressing. That will be followed by calves livers, lamb sweetbreads and kidney with carrots and a mustard sauce. And your dessert will be my homemade raspberry sorbet."
Percy raised his eyebrows. "You and Amethyst are going to make a fortune, you know?" Neville grinned and began serving the gourmet meal.
Percy signed his report with a flourish, glad to be done with it. He had gotten into the habit of finishing any work he brought home for the weekend on Friday night, so he wouldn't have to think about it during the weekend. It gave him more time to spend with Neville, he figured.
"Ovid." he called and a large Long-eared Owl left his perch and landed on the desk in front of Percy. Percy rolled up his report and stuffed it into a mailing tube. He addressed it to himself and held it out for Ovid. "The office, Ovid." Percy said and he watched as Ovid flew through the window. He sat gazing out of the window at the clear night.
Grinning, he stood and stretched. He blew out the candle and walked out of the room. He breathed in the scent of roses as he crossed into the bedroom. He poked his head into the bathroom, lit a single candle and began the shower with a wave of his wand. He returned to the bedroom and undressed. He returned to the shower and let the hot water run over him. He closed his eyes and ran both of his hands over his red hair.
He didn't start when he felt the hands around his waist. He felt the kiss between his shoulder blades. He saw Neville's hand reach around him for the soap. Neville began at his feet and washed Percy to the waist. He skipped Percy's groin and soaped his back. Then Percy felt Nevilles hands on his back and allowed himself to be turned. Neville was looking up at Percy with eyes filled with emotion. Percy bent and kissed him. Neville washed Percy's chest from the collarbone down. He paused at Percys groin and Percy moaned as Neville soaped him up.
Forcing himself to calm down, Percy managed to get the soap away from Neville. He washed his love beginning from the head, and ending at the feet. Percy was on his knees and he grasped Neville by the waist and kissed his navel. Percy kissed Neville's growing member and slipped it in his mouth. He heard the gasps and moans even above the pounding of the water on the tiles. Neville never lasted long in Percy's mouth and Percy enjoyed the taste of his lover's cum, before he kissed his way back up Neville's body to kiss him passionately.
Percy shook out his hair. He looked again down at Neville. They rinsed off completely and got out of the shower. Percy wrapped them both in the same large towel and held him close.
"I do love you, Percy." Neville said into Percy's chest.
"I know." Percy replied.
They dried off and went to bed. Neville snuggled against Percy and Percy put an arm around him.
"Do you really think Amethyst and I will get rich off of this restaurant?" Neville asked.
"Well, you will get rich. Amethyst will get richer." Percy said. "But you will wind up in an early grave if you don't do something about your anxiety around her."
Neville chuckled. "She said the very same thing today." he said. "She said if I botch one more herb run she is going to drug me."
Percy smiled. "Well, at least you aren't working with that husband of hers. Severus Snape used to cause you nervous fits."
"Yes, but I understand why now." Neville said, thoughtfully. "And I know my niche isn't potions. But Amethyst is just as good with herbs as I am, maybe even better. And she is every bit as exacting and complicated as her husband is."
Percy shook his head. "Why did you offer to let her in on this restaurant idea then?" he asked.
Percy felt Neville shrug. "I suppose because she is fascinating. She is everything Severus us, but she can be so," Neville searched for the word. "Sensitive? Kind?"
Percy laughed out loud. "If she ever finds out you called her sensitive and kind I'm willing to bet she'd turn you into something slimy."
Neville laughed with him. "But she is." he insisted. "I won't forget how caring she was when we all got captured by the Dark Knights. It sounds wierd, but she saved me and Bill by cursing us. And she took the beating for us. But as angry as she was she let Harry exact the revenge because it was more his fight than hers." he shrugged again. "She is so complicated. She is a cold-blooded killer but she is also a very kind-hearted person, Percy. Just look at how much she loves Severus. Everything they went through. Eighteen years thinking Severus was dead. It's just so romantic."
Percy shook his head again. "Neville you are a hopeless romantic." he said.
"Oh, I know that." Neville sighed, molding himself against Percy's side. "You may not think so, but I think our story is pretty romantic too."
Parcy gave a mock scoff. "You run off and leave me for no reason and we were reunited in a room full of Taipan agents and assassins, plotting spy raids and murders. Real romantic."
Neville slapped Percy's chest. "I meant what happened when we got back here, with Seamus. You didn't want to listen, but Seamus made you. Made you hear my story and understand."
Percy pressed Neville closer to his side. "Yes. I was thinking about that earlier tonight. I owe Seamus a great debt. He brought you back to me, in a way."
"And I'll never leave you again." Neville said.
"I sure hope not." Percy said.
They fell asleep in each other's arms.