Disclaimer and Warnings: This part is PG. All Harry Potter character's aren't mine, but the original character is my own.
Notes: Yes, V-Amy it's the jealousy trick. Btw, I the Orlando guy in this story is inspired by my favorite elf. who else... ^_^
Huge thank you's:
For my Angel.
This hasn't been betaed so all mistakes are mine.
Chapter 10 : Denials and Answers
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Percy was avoiding him, Oliver thought. Don't get him wrong he really doesn't act like he'd avoiding Oliver, he still talks to him and he doesn't ignore him completely and Percy answers whenever he asks a question, but that was all. All afternoon, Oliver hadn't seen much of Percy, he had spent it all with Ronan. Best-mate, bah! Who were they kidding. If they were best mates, why do they act as they don't see each other everyday. Why do they seem to prefer each other's company to the exclusion of everyone else. Like now for example. They well all gathered in the dining room having their dinner and though Percy was sitting right next to him, he could have been a statue for all the attention that Percy has been giving him. All he's doing is talking to Ronan on his other side and completely ignoring Oliver. If it wasn't for the twins including him in the conversation, he'd look like an idiot, sitting there, with his food in front of him. He gave the aforementioned two person a look. If Percy and Ronan was so close, then why didn't they go to this wedding together, why did Percy even bother taking someone else.
Oliver's face even became grimmer when the two people that he was looking at seems to talk in whispers. Darn it, Percy was his and no other man or any woman for that matter should be that close to what was his. Oliver was surprised at his thoughts, now where did that come from. Oliver wasn't territorial at least he thought that he wasn't. Even with the lovers that he'd had in the past, he didn't mind them meeting other people, in fact they even went all out and flirted with other people, but Oliver didn't give a damn. Looking back at it, he thought that it was just because that was secure in the relationship, that he wasn't threatened because there wasn't anything to feel threatened about, but now he knew better. He just didn't care enough to feel anything. The feelings that Percy aroused in him, was different, he cared. Comparing them at all, his past relationships with Percy just wouldn't do.
After dinner, they all retired to the den, and as what happened during dinner, Percy continued to focus his attention on his best friend. "Hey Guys, Ronan wants to check out that new gallery downtown that had just opened, so we're going there for a while." Oliver looked up to see Percy and Ronan stand up to grab their coats and was about to get up to follow them when he heard Percy say. "You don't have to come with us Oliver, it would just bore you. Besides, we won't be out for too long anyway. Why don't you just stay here and rest."
That did it, Oliver was miffed, he donned his leather coat, gave a nod to the Weasly's and Hermione and left the two best friends slash lovers behind. He was already at the wheel when he remembered that Ronan didn't bring a car with him and since Bill and Charlie borrowed Arthur's car, the limo that he rented was the only vehicle left in the driveway. Serves them right, he thought. Excluding him as if he didn't exist. His contentment was short lived however, since they still would be able go there by walking (they couldn't apparate, seeing as the gallery was in the middle of muggle neighborhood), he tried to be appeased by the consolation that if they were going to the gallery bu foot, at least they'd be too tired to make out later. He pressed his foot on the gas pedal and sped away.
Inside the house, the Weasly's were confused by Oliver's rather abrupt leaving but was more confused by the fact that Percy and Ronan seemed to be smiling.
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Okay so who needs him, Oliver thought gloomily as he drove around in the car. He was happy before he came into contact with Percy and he could be happy again. Who was he kidding? He wasn't happy, but at least he wasn't this miserable. What was he thinking anyway trying to be someone he's not. People are all the same, they make you think of thinks that you shouldn't be thinking about and when you get used to having them there beside you, they're going to discard you like last year's catalogue. Who needs them anyway, Oliver fumed. Men are only good for two things only… sex and …….. well…. Sex. He doesn't need companionship, he's fine with the way his life is going. Percy was trouble. And he won't be happy but at least he won't be miserable. He still had his owl, and Oliver knows that Pooh would never leave him.
Spying a muggle bar, he cruised the car to a stop and got out. Might as well get drunk and be done with it. The wedding would be in the afternoon anyway, so he had plenty of time to recuperate if he indeed had an hangover. Even better maybe he could pick someone up, and prove once and for all that Percy was just another lay, albeit a damn good one.
*************
Oliver was having a very pleasant evening indeed, his woes from earlier had all been forgotten, but from the look of the man who was sitting in front of him, the man obviously wasn't. The man was resolutely silent as they sat across each other on a later night diner. Oliver saw the attractive man at the bar that he stopped by earlier and tried to chat the man up and here they were having a pleasant discussion.
"Did I tell you about what happened yesterday, when Percy was trying to prove that he could carry the whole cabinet by himself." He could recall the incident with humor now, Yesterday it wasn't even remotely funny. Molly had asked him to shift the oak cabinet, but Percy decided that he could do it all by himself. Then when he hurried over to help over to help, Percy lost his balance and dropped it on his foot. He was unable to get up for quite some time, and was now walking with what he deemed as a permanent limp. Thank the heavens Quidditch was played on brooms, if not, then his career was ruined.
But the reward that Percy has bestowed upon his last night is more than compensation enough. If it means that he'd have another night like that, then Oliver would gladly break every bone in his body. As long as Percy would kiss it all better.
He relayed the story, laughing as he told it. Orlando his companion, however didn't even crack a smile.
Confused, Oliver lowered his coffee mug to the table, his laughter completely abated by this rather obvious lack of interest.
"Do you realize?" Orlando asked, his eyes direct and not amused. "that you've spent the whole of the evening and most of the morning talking about another man."
He had, No way. "Who?" Oliver asked. Surely this man was exaggerating that couldn't possibly be true. Alright, he amended, maybe he mentioned Percy and the cabinet but the only reason he told that story was because it was damned funny.
"First, I heard about how Percy reacted when he found out that you ran out of gas on the interstate, followed by."
"You asked me how I came here." Oliver broke in defending himself. "Didn't I also mention that I'm here for his sister's Ginny's wedding?"
"Sure, sure, you did say that in passing." Orlando shook his head. "then you also said the story about Percy and his ex-boyfriend –"
"You're making more of this than necessary."
"Am I? Really, then you also said that Percy was the star student when you were both still in school and how he got this really cool job that he's really good at."
"But that was all true."
"Look, I only just met you, and I decided that you decided to ask me out. But your suggestion that we get together is becoming too suspicious for me."
"Suspicious?"
"Like you're proving something and you're using me to do it." Orlando explained.
"Not true." Oliver replied in annoyance. "There's a perfectly logical explanation why I'm asked you here."
"Now, that is what I would like to hear." Orlando said, his lips pinched in annoyance. But his demeanor showed otherwise, it was like he was having fun all of a sudden.
"I wanted to get coffee, okay." Oliver muttered.
"You know what? This would have been the most embarrassing night of my life if it wasn't for the fact that I'm having far too much fun at your expense." Orlando placed his hands on the table. "One tip on picking men up on bars, don't try to do it, when you're going to spend all the time talking about another man."
"I don't know what you mean."
He threw Oliver a disgusted look and slid out the booth.
"Hey where are you going?" Oliver was stunned, the man was actually leaving.
Orlando offered his a bright smile. "I'm going home."
Oliver paid for the coffee and followed the man out of the coffee shop. "What did I do that was so terrible?" It was embarrassing, but Oliver suspected that he was actually whining. He'd never in his life whined and this was all new to him.
Orlando turned around. "What did you do?" the man sighed loudly. "Listen you're a very attractive bloke and under any other circumstance I would have been daft to turn you down. But it's perfectly obvious to me that you're crazy about this Percy."
Oliver opened his mouth to deny the accusation, but the man in front of him didn't give him the chance. "I don't know what you're trying to prove, but I resent being used."
"There's no need for you to get into your high horse. If you don't want anything to do with me fine. Then at least let me drive you home, it's the least I can do." It was a matter of pride, if nothing else, Oliver decided.
Orlando agreed and they rode silently to his flat. When Oliver parked the car, the man turned to him. "I hope that you manage to straighten everything up with Percy. It's obvious that you're crazy about the guy."
Oliver didn't try to correct him. He wasn't crazy about anybody, he was fond of Percy and he's attracted to him that was a given, and he would even like to get to know Percy better when they were back in London, but he was not involved with him or anything like that. This weekend was a fling, no other. He'd be wasting his breath in refuting the man, he wouldn't believe him.
"Promise me one thing though." Orlando said, as he opened the passenger's seat.
"Sure."
"Send me a wedding invitation. I'd like to meet this famous Percy that you keep talking about."
This time Oliver couldn't control his outburst. "I am not marrying Percy."
Oliver wanted to shout it out again. He wasn't marrying anybody – was he? Sure he found Percy attractive and damn if he wouldn't mind going to bed with him again. But that doesn't mean marriage does it? It shouldn't be true. The fact is he was mighty protective and possessive of Percy, and he wanted to punch that Ronan's light's off, but that was because he was poaching on Oliver's territory. Does being territorial mean marriage? The hell if Oliver knew.
Orlando laughed softly and patted Oliver's cheek, "You doth protest too much for me to believe you. Just remember what I said, I want an invitation to the wedding." With that he was gone.
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It was about three in the morning when Percy heard a hesitant knock on his bedroom door. He in as much as he would like to know the identity of the person on the other side, he really didn't have any clue. It couldn't possibly be Oliver, since his mum told him that Oliver wouldn't be coming back until early tomorrow morning. Looking at the clock again, Percy couldn't be sure, it couldn't be morning already could it? Maybe this is what Oliver considered to be morning, he was a Quidditch player after all. Percy sincerely hoped that it was, so he could apologize.
After he and Ronan got home from the gallery, something hit him hard, he felt really bad about trying to make Oliver jealous. He wasn't in any position to do so. This thing that they have, it was just for the weekend. A fling. So what if he fell in love with the most exasperating man that he had ever had the misfortune to know. That was just his luck, falling for someone like Oliver Wood, he deserved to get his heart broken.
After this weekend, Percy would like their friendship to remain, if he couldn't have him as a lover, then he would gladly call him his friend. It would make his job a lot easier. He'd have tickets for Quidditch matches to entice his superiors with. One of the perks of knowing a team owner. Putting his robe on, he went to open the bedroom door.
"Ginny?" of all the person that he could have expected to be on the other side, it certainly wouldn't have occurred to him that it would be his only sister. Percy thought that Ginny was already fast asleep since today was going to be her big day. Wedding and all.
"Hey Perce, do you have a minute. I saw your lights on and I was wondering if we could maybe talk for a little while." Ginny said timidly.
"Of course we can, but shouldn't you be in bed, asleep right now, it is your wedding day remember."
"I know." Ginny agreed. "but I just couldn't sleep." Looking around the room she observed. "Where's Oliver?"
"he kinda decided that he rather spend the night in a motel downtown." Percy replied sheepishly.
Ginny gave him a knowing look and smiled. "Having trouble in paradise eh?"
"Of course not, it was just a misunderstanding." Percy led his sister to the bed and urged her to sit down. "Just a joke gone a bit out of hand. It was my fault as much as it was Ronan."
"Oh, dear brother of mine." Ginny reprimanded him. "How many time do I have to remind you that making someone jealous is so last year."
"Hey blame it on Ronan, it was his idea." Percy tried to defend himself.
Ginny snorted, her disdain clearly evident. "And you're a fool to go along with it."
"Enough already, anyway why couldn't you sleep?" Percy asked, trying to change the subject. Only his little sister could make him look stupid. The twins and Ron, making him look like an idiot, but only Ginny could make him feel stupid.
Ginny shrugged. "Well, you know, just a classic case of pre-wedding jitters."
At the serious tone that belied his sister's remark, Percy was instantly worried about his little sister. He might have decided to live away from home but he was still his older brother, they were close and the instinct that he had of protecting his sister had never really gone away. "Ginny, what's wrong?"
At that words, Ginny broke down. Now, Percy was scared. Ginny was one of the strongest woman that he knows, maturity wise and it was a rarity to see her sister cry. He placed his arms around his sister and gently nudged her head to rest on his shoulders. "You know you could tell me anything."
After a while, when her sobs had ebbed a bit, she started to speak. "It's just too soon."
"What's too soon?"
"The marriage, all things that has been happening it just makes this marriage seems to soon. I don't think that I'm ready for marriage. I know that he loves me and I love him dearly, but I don't think that I could ever be ready for something such as this."
"Is it because of Ron?" Percy had to ask, although it seems that he already knew the answer to that question. His brother Ronald Weasly had married Fleur after a year from graduating from Hogwarts, but soon thereafter became an Auror. It was novelty for Ron's family to have him for a month in a year. His job took him from one corner of the globe to another. The Weasly's knew how worried Fleur was every time her husband is gone, and Ruelf barely knows his father. And Ginny knows first hand what Fleur has been going through and she knows how hard it was for the two, Fleur and Ruelf.
"I don't think that I could go through what they're going through, I'm just not sure anymore." Ginny cried, her shoulders shaking.
"What does he think?" Percy prompted.
Through her tears Ginny smiled. "He's been great. Even when things starts to go crazy he's always there making things easier for me."
"Have you talked to him about it? About what you're feeling about this marriage?"
"I can't. I tried to, several times, but he's really excited about this marriage. It's all that he's been talking about. I can't hurt his heart like that. He's been through so much, and I can't do that do him, not about this." Ginny sobbed. For a man that had his heart broken just recently, Percy really didn't know what to say.. So what he did, what say the first thing that came into his head.
"You got to tell him." At the wild eyes that met his, Percy almost stopped, but continued nonetheless. "If this is making you miserable, you have to tell him. He loves you and not matter how this marriage means to him, it's nothing compared to what you mean to him. If you're not ready, then tell him. He deserves to know. If you love him like you say that you did, then you're obligated to."
"I'm afraid Percy." Ginny said quietly. "I don't want him to leave me. I love him far too much. I don't want to be alone anymore."
"He won't." Percy remarked with conviction. "He loves you far too much to even think about leaving you. I know that I don't know him that well, but from what I see now, when he's with you, you're all that he wants. This marriage is nowhere near as important as you."
"You seem so sure." For once, Ginny's voice held a trace of hope.
"Because I am." He assured her. "I'm your smart older brother remember."
"Thank you for saying that." Ginny's voice sounded wistful. "I missed you Percy. I'm glad that you decided to come this weekend."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world." Percy was sure of that now. Whether of not he would have been able to bring a date, Percy would have come to see his sister's big day this weekend. Come hell or high water.
"I love you P." Percy hadn't heard that name in a long time, last time he heard it was when he moved out of their house when he turned 18. He had almost forgotten how he loved to hear the nickname that his sister had given him.
"I love you too, kiddo." Percy gave her a kiss on the forehead, and she in turn hugged him, before she got up and went out the door she gave him one last look. "Tell Oliver that he's a lucky man to have you."
"I will, but promise me that you'll tell your husband to be that he's the luckier one."
"Don't worry. I plan to." Ginny said cheekily.
Percy sat ther at the bed and continued to stare at the door that his sister had just exited on. After a while he laid down and turned the bedside lamp off. But he still couldn't sleep. He had still had a lot to think about.
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Next time : The Ending. I hope that you're all looking forward to it as much as I do. Will we see a happy ending and we'll get to answer who the hell is Ginny marrying. ^_~
