Chapter 6
Steam curled up towards the ceiling from the teacup as McGonagall told her concerns about a certain red-headed Head Boy to Dumbledore.
"He just isn't himself, Albus. I'm worried about him. He's such a solid boy, so based in reality, I can't think of anything that would cause him to act this way." Albus took a sip of his tea, the twinkle in his eyes dimmed behind his glasses. He put his cup down before speaking.
"I think him being so based in reality might be part of the problem. Everybody must have some escape from reality somehow or they will have a breakdown, which is something I'm afraid Percy is on a one-way track for. I've had my eye on his for sometime. His condition physically is news to me, however, and it is quite disturbing. If he's been allowed to progress this far I'm afraid we may be to late to prevent permanent damage, but, if we act quickly, we can minimize this."
"Permanent damage?"
" Can be anything ranging from emotional scarring to suicide. Young Mr. Weasley still carries scars from the war. It was very hard on a five year old who was forced to be the big brother; the protector in life or death situations. Even harder since he couldn't afford to be a child himself. There are many still alive who were lost in that war, and Percy is one of them."
"Oh, Albus!"
"I'm not being melodramatic, Minerva. Percy is in a rather bad spot, but I feel that we can do little to help other than offer to listen if he feels he wants to talk and offer him training in his gifts. But I feel the only person who can help Mr. Weasley now, is Mr. Wood."
"Wood?" Albus nodded.
"Yes." And that was all Dumbledore would say on that. Minerva set her teacup down and paused.
"You said 'train him in his gifts".what gifts?" Albus raised an eyebrow.
"Surely you know already, Minerva." He stood and looked out the window. "Ahh.what beautiful weather." He turned back to McGonagall. "I think Mr. Weasley will turn out just fine after all."
***///@@@
a few weeks later.the 'morning after'
The sunlight slanted beautifully through the window gently through the window, gently waking the sleeping couple. It hit Oliver first, as he was facing upwards with Percy curled up on his chest. The golden sunlight hit Percy's pale back, making it glow. Oliver's eyes fluttered open, blinking in the sun.
He looked down at the sleeping red-head and smiled. The sun had turned Percy's milky white skin to gold, his hair the color of gold and rubies. 'An angel of fire.' He thought then snickered. 'even nature knows he's a Gryffindor.' He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Percy's head. He felt Percy stir.
Percy drifted in the clouds, watching the earth, his back warmed by the sun. He felt the smallest of pressures ontop of his head and the clouds in front of his eyes suddenly became sheets. He blinked, feeling Oliver beneath him. 'wow.it really happened.' He thought giddily. He looked up at Oliver.
Oliver smiled at Percy, gazing into his sky-blue eyes, uncovered without his glasses. Percy leaned down and pressed a kiss to Oliver's chest then rested his head so he could still look at Oliver. He heard a rumble as Oliver talked. Oliver's voice had deepened considerably since they had first met and it was now a velvety low tenor. Sleep, however, made it a pleasant baritone.
"G'morning love." Percy smiled.
"Good morning lovely. And how are you on this beautiful morning?" Oliver's smile deepened.
"Well, you're happy this morning."
"I'm always happy after a good shag," Percy said, his voice serious, but with a look in his eyes more deserving of the twins. Oliver spluttered.
"A good shag?"
"Excuse me," Percy could barely contain is grin now, "Mind-blowing, life- altering shagging with the man I love more than life itself." Oliver laughed then kissed Percy's forehead.
"The feeling is mutual." Percy stretched and yawned, looking at the clock.
"If you want breakfast, you better hurry."
"I'm not hungry," his stomach growled. "Ok, maybe I am hungry, but I don't want to move."
"I don't blame you, however." he sat up, the blanket falling down to his bare waist. "I am hungry and so are you. Come on. Let's shower." Oliver nodded and sat up as well.
"Do you want to shower first or." He trailed off as Percy stood up, his skin gold in the sun.all his skin. Percy stopped about halfway to the bathroom and looked back over his shoulder.
"Who said anything about first or second? There are two of us and only one shower and in the interest of saving the ecosystem and preserving water." Oliver laughed.
"Percy? Do you want me to shower with you?"
"I believe I just said that." Oliver laughed again then sprang out of bed, chasing his boyfriend into the bathroom. They barely made it to breakfast, laughing and breathless.
Marcus watched from the Slytherin table, his troll-ish look firmly in place. His eyes narrowed as he watched Percy and Oliver sit at the table, perhaps a little closer than necessary, each movement complimentary, as if they were two of the same mind. There was something there, a spark that had always been there but was now a roaring flame. Maybe Snape was right about those two. He looked over to his head of house, but he was too busy glaring at Lupin. He looked back at the Gryffindor table and grinned a nasty grin. Bits of memory flashed through his head; Percy bloody and broken, on his knees before him. If this new connection was what he thought it was, then he could take both of them down in one act. If not.well.what else was a Weasley good for?
***flashback***
Percy was sitting at his desk trying to ignore the looks Oliver was giving him. He sighed.
"What is it Ol?"
"Bastard."
"Wha.? Olly, what the hell." Percy asked very confused.
"What do you think your doing? You tell me that you love me, and wanto to be with me.but what about that Ravenclaw.Clearwater is it? I thought you loved me! I thought we had something special. I thought you wouldn't lie to yourself." Oliver glared obviously put out. Percy blinked.how.Ginny! The twins! Oh shit. He hated to break Penny's confidence, but he was certain that she would understand and that Oliver wouldn't tell.
"She's not my girlfriend, Olly." Oliver snorted.
"Oh come on. Ginny said she caught you two snogging in a empty classroom."
"Ginny walked in on me kissing her cheek after closing a deal, which Ginny knows about and is helping us with. This gets a bit complicated so please bear with me. Penny is gay, like me, and recently obtained a girlfriend. She found out over the summer that her father and brother are violently homophobic. In order to stay safe, I have agreed to pretend to be her boyfriend until she is of legal age and can move out and away from her family." Oliver blinked, clearly not expecting that as an answer.
"So why keep it a secret?"
"Because we're going about this as we would normally act, which would be to keep it secret. We're both thought of as too shy to display public affection. And now, I don't have to act all lovey-dovey with a girl, even if it is a farce." Oliver laughed.
"That is so like you, Percy." Percy smiled and nodded then continued.
"But that also means that we, you and I, cannot show any public displays until we, Penny and I, "break up". Oliver nodded in understanding.
"I understand. I'm sorry for calling you a bastard, Perce."
"And I'm sorry for calling you a brainless jock."
"It's.wait, what?" Percy laughed, almost falling out of his chair when Oliver threw a pillow at him and missed by a mile.
Present
Penny sat down next to Percy, kissing his cheek and noticing how Oliver's eyes narrowed. She looked at Percy's red ears and sparkling eyes. She hugged him.
"Congratulations!" she looked at Oliver, "to both of you! When did this happen?"
"Last night," Oliver said.
"Twice," Percy added, "and once again this morning." Oliver's eyes widened and he blushed.
"Percy!"
"Sorry Ol." Penny giggled.
"Anyway, I came here to tell you that Dumbledore want to see you in his office after your next class." Percy nodded.
"Care of Magical Creatures."
"With the Slytherins."
"Thank you Penny." She smiled.
"No problem. Good luck you two. I'll see you later Percy, I have to go to the library," she said loud enough for those around to hear.
"Good luck."
"Bye Penny." They watched as she walked away. Oliver checked his watch. "Come on. If we want to get to class on time we should leave now. And as Head Boy, you know, you can't be late."
"Don't Patronize me Oliver."
TBC.
h
Steam curled up towards the ceiling from the teacup as McGonagall told her concerns about a certain red-headed Head Boy to Dumbledore.
"He just isn't himself, Albus. I'm worried about him. He's such a solid boy, so based in reality, I can't think of anything that would cause him to act this way." Albus took a sip of his tea, the twinkle in his eyes dimmed behind his glasses. He put his cup down before speaking.
"I think him being so based in reality might be part of the problem. Everybody must have some escape from reality somehow or they will have a breakdown, which is something I'm afraid Percy is on a one-way track for. I've had my eye on his for sometime. His condition physically is news to me, however, and it is quite disturbing. If he's been allowed to progress this far I'm afraid we may be to late to prevent permanent damage, but, if we act quickly, we can minimize this."
"Permanent damage?"
" Can be anything ranging from emotional scarring to suicide. Young Mr. Weasley still carries scars from the war. It was very hard on a five year old who was forced to be the big brother; the protector in life or death situations. Even harder since he couldn't afford to be a child himself. There are many still alive who were lost in that war, and Percy is one of them."
"Oh, Albus!"
"I'm not being melodramatic, Minerva. Percy is in a rather bad spot, but I feel that we can do little to help other than offer to listen if he feels he wants to talk and offer him training in his gifts. But I feel the only person who can help Mr. Weasley now, is Mr. Wood."
"Wood?" Albus nodded.
"Yes." And that was all Dumbledore would say on that. Minerva set her teacup down and paused.
"You said 'train him in his gifts".what gifts?" Albus raised an eyebrow.
"Surely you know already, Minerva." He stood and looked out the window. "Ahh.what beautiful weather." He turned back to McGonagall. "I think Mr. Weasley will turn out just fine after all."
***///@@@
a few weeks later.the 'morning after'
The sunlight slanted beautifully through the window gently through the window, gently waking the sleeping couple. It hit Oliver first, as he was facing upwards with Percy curled up on his chest. The golden sunlight hit Percy's pale back, making it glow. Oliver's eyes fluttered open, blinking in the sun.
He looked down at the sleeping red-head and smiled. The sun had turned Percy's milky white skin to gold, his hair the color of gold and rubies. 'An angel of fire.' He thought then snickered. 'even nature knows he's a Gryffindor.' He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Percy's head. He felt Percy stir.
Percy drifted in the clouds, watching the earth, his back warmed by the sun. He felt the smallest of pressures ontop of his head and the clouds in front of his eyes suddenly became sheets. He blinked, feeling Oliver beneath him. 'wow.it really happened.' He thought giddily. He looked up at Oliver.
Oliver smiled at Percy, gazing into his sky-blue eyes, uncovered without his glasses. Percy leaned down and pressed a kiss to Oliver's chest then rested his head so he could still look at Oliver. He heard a rumble as Oliver talked. Oliver's voice had deepened considerably since they had first met and it was now a velvety low tenor. Sleep, however, made it a pleasant baritone.
"G'morning love." Percy smiled.
"Good morning lovely. And how are you on this beautiful morning?" Oliver's smile deepened.
"Well, you're happy this morning."
"I'm always happy after a good shag," Percy said, his voice serious, but with a look in his eyes more deserving of the twins. Oliver spluttered.
"A good shag?"
"Excuse me," Percy could barely contain is grin now, "Mind-blowing, life- altering shagging with the man I love more than life itself." Oliver laughed then kissed Percy's forehead.
"The feeling is mutual." Percy stretched and yawned, looking at the clock.
"If you want breakfast, you better hurry."
"I'm not hungry," his stomach growled. "Ok, maybe I am hungry, but I don't want to move."
"I don't blame you, however." he sat up, the blanket falling down to his bare waist. "I am hungry and so are you. Come on. Let's shower." Oliver nodded and sat up as well.
"Do you want to shower first or." He trailed off as Percy stood up, his skin gold in the sun.all his skin. Percy stopped about halfway to the bathroom and looked back over his shoulder.
"Who said anything about first or second? There are two of us and only one shower and in the interest of saving the ecosystem and preserving water." Oliver laughed.
"Percy? Do you want me to shower with you?"
"I believe I just said that." Oliver laughed again then sprang out of bed, chasing his boyfriend into the bathroom. They barely made it to breakfast, laughing and breathless.
Marcus watched from the Slytherin table, his troll-ish look firmly in place. His eyes narrowed as he watched Percy and Oliver sit at the table, perhaps a little closer than necessary, each movement complimentary, as if they were two of the same mind. There was something there, a spark that had always been there but was now a roaring flame. Maybe Snape was right about those two. He looked over to his head of house, but he was too busy glaring at Lupin. He looked back at the Gryffindor table and grinned a nasty grin. Bits of memory flashed through his head; Percy bloody and broken, on his knees before him. If this new connection was what he thought it was, then he could take both of them down in one act. If not.well.what else was a Weasley good for?
***flashback***
Percy was sitting at his desk trying to ignore the looks Oliver was giving him. He sighed.
"What is it Ol?"
"Bastard."
"Wha.? Olly, what the hell." Percy asked very confused.
"What do you think your doing? You tell me that you love me, and wanto to be with me.but what about that Ravenclaw.Clearwater is it? I thought you loved me! I thought we had something special. I thought you wouldn't lie to yourself." Oliver glared obviously put out. Percy blinked.how.Ginny! The twins! Oh shit. He hated to break Penny's confidence, but he was certain that she would understand and that Oliver wouldn't tell.
"She's not my girlfriend, Olly." Oliver snorted.
"Oh come on. Ginny said she caught you two snogging in a empty classroom."
"Ginny walked in on me kissing her cheek after closing a deal, which Ginny knows about and is helping us with. This gets a bit complicated so please bear with me. Penny is gay, like me, and recently obtained a girlfriend. She found out over the summer that her father and brother are violently homophobic. In order to stay safe, I have agreed to pretend to be her boyfriend until she is of legal age and can move out and away from her family." Oliver blinked, clearly not expecting that as an answer.
"So why keep it a secret?"
"Because we're going about this as we would normally act, which would be to keep it secret. We're both thought of as too shy to display public affection. And now, I don't have to act all lovey-dovey with a girl, even if it is a farce." Oliver laughed.
"That is so like you, Percy." Percy smiled and nodded then continued.
"But that also means that we, you and I, cannot show any public displays until we, Penny and I, "break up". Oliver nodded in understanding.
"I understand. I'm sorry for calling you a bastard, Perce."
"And I'm sorry for calling you a brainless jock."
"It's.wait, what?" Percy laughed, almost falling out of his chair when Oliver threw a pillow at him and missed by a mile.
Present
Penny sat down next to Percy, kissing his cheek and noticing how Oliver's eyes narrowed. She looked at Percy's red ears and sparkling eyes. She hugged him.
"Congratulations!" she looked at Oliver, "to both of you! When did this happen?"
"Last night," Oliver said.
"Twice," Percy added, "and once again this morning." Oliver's eyes widened and he blushed.
"Percy!"
"Sorry Ol." Penny giggled.
"Anyway, I came here to tell you that Dumbledore want to see you in his office after your next class." Percy nodded.
"Care of Magical Creatures."
"With the Slytherins."
"Thank you Penny." She smiled.
"No problem. Good luck you two. I'll see you later Percy, I have to go to the library," she said loud enough for those around to hear.
"Good luck."
"Bye Penny." They watched as she walked away. Oliver checked his watch. "Come on. If we want to get to class on time we should leave now. And as Head Boy, you know, you can't be late."
"Don't Patronize me Oliver."
TBC.
h