Chapter 8
Gryffindor 7th year boys dorms
Oliver was sitting on his bed, re-reading his battered copy of Quidditch Through The Ages, when Percy stormed in.
"Percy? You alright love?"
"No. It was short and terse. He disappeared into the bathroom and Oliver heard the water running. A few minutes later he heard the shattering of glass and then quiet. Scared for his lover's safety, Oliver jumped up and ran to the door. He knocked.
"Percy?" No answer. He knocked again. "Percy, what happened? Are you alright?"
"No," it was barely heard, muffled as it was by the door and distorted by tears.
"Percy, I'm coming in." There was no reply as Oliver opened the door. Percy wasn't noticed at first, the bathroom seemingly empty. Then he saw the sink, with Percy's toothbrush and the bloody shards of Percy's glass. "Percy?!" He heard a sniffle. There, beyond the sink, sat Percy, all huddled up, cradeling his bloody hand to his chest, tears streaming down his face.
"Percy!" He sobbed louder. "Percy, what happened? Was it something Dumbledore said?" Percy shook his head. "Please, Percy, tell me what's wrong. I just want to help." Percy slowed his tears.
"Nothing happened."
"Percy." Oliver said, his voice stern. Percy kept his head down.
"Flint cornered me after my meeting with Dumbledore in an empty hallway. He- "His voice cracked and his tears increased.
"Bullocks" Oliver muttered and gently maneuvered him out from behind the sink. He wrapped the still mangled and badly bleeding hand in a hand towel. "Come on.lets get you to the hospital wing.
***
Ron was playing chess with Harry in the common room. Hermione was reading by the fire. Oliver led Percy down the stairs.
"Steady now.alright." Ron and Harry looked up.
"Percy?"
"What happened?" Percy's hair was mussed, his glasses were missing and he wasn't wearing his robes. He had on his trousers and shirt, but his tie, vest, and shoes were missing. His hand was wrapped in a hand towel. It was crimson. Percy was very pale.even for him.
"Percy here had a little accident with his glass." The towel got impossibly darker as they watched and Percy was getting even paler. He was loosing blood and fast. They left the common room and the boys went back to their game, but Ron was preoccupied and almost lost to Harry. Hermione stared into the fire, thinking.
***
"I hate detentions with Snape."
"Everybody does, George. That's why it's a punishment."
Fred and George were walking back to the Gryffindor tower after yet another detention, tired and covered in grime. They turned the corner and almost ran strait into Percy and Oliver.
"Oi!"
"Watch it there, mate!"
"Percy? Are you ok? You look a bit pale." Percy swayed where he stood.
"I'm." he trailed off. His eyes rolled back in his head and he would have fallen if Oliver hadn't caught him.
"Percy!" Oliver cried as he went down. He wasted no more time nor words. He simply picked Percy up and carried him as fast as he could to the Medical wing, leaving he twins behind in confusion.
"Did you see Percy's hand?"
"Yeah.that was blood wasn't it?"
"I think so." They exchanged a look and ran strait to their dorms, barely pausing to say hello to Ron, Harry and Hermione. George, who had the better handwriting, took out a quill and parchment. Fred began to speak.
"Dear Mum."
***
Oliver sat next to Percy in the bed. Madame Pomfrey had removed the glass and properly bandaged Percy's hand, coaxing a potion for bloodloss down his throat at the same time. Percy should wake up any minute and he'd be right as rain in about an hour.
The door opened and Oliver looked up to see who it was. He immediately wished he hadn't. His eyes flashed and his jaw set, but he stopped himself from rising, thinking of what Percy would say. It was Snape, with a prone Marcus Flint floating behind. Snape called to Pomfrey in a surprisingly gentle voice.
"Poppy! Come quickly!" As Pomfrey came up from the back of the wing, Percy opened his eyes.
"Oliver?" he asked quietly. Oliver grasped his hand.
"I'm right here, Percy." He nodded, obviously still a little out of it. He turned his head and happened to catch a glimpse of Marcus being lowered onto the bed next to him. His eyes widened and he gripped Oliver's hand tightly, his fear only slightly exaggerated in his less than rational state.
"Percy! Percy, calm down! He's not going to touch you, now. You're safe. I'm here. Please, Percy, you're crushing my hand. Percy!"
Oliver;s voice had raised considerably and Pomfrey turned to tell Oliver to shush when she saw the look of terror on Percy's face, and the faint beginnings of anger. The winds shook the window frame, almost breaking the window. She quickly closed the curtains between the beds and shook her head at Snape's questioning look.
"He's terrified of Marcus, the poor dear."
"Marcus? Whatever for? I've seen Percy tell Marcus off many times. He doesn't seem afraid."
"Appearances are often deceiving, Severus. I've had to patch Percy up because of Marcu's fists more than I had to patch up you and Sirius Black combined." Severus's eyes widened.
"I knew there was conflict between those two, but I never knew it was that bad." She smiled grimly at him.
"I think the only people who know are Percy, Marcus, myself, and Oliver Wood."
"Wood?"
"He was the one who always found Percy all bloodied up and forced him into my care. Percy is very proud, and would rather suffer in silence than admit he was being beaten up. If it wasn't for Oliver, Percy would probably have been killed by now."
"That bad?" he was clearly shocked. Pomfrey nodded.
"I'm afraid so. It took me three years of broken bones, black eyes, and various other cuts and bruises for him to finally admit to me that he was being beaten up. It took me another year for him to admit it was Marcus doing the beating. It stopped soon after that, or at least, I thought it had." She shook her head, "so," she changed the subject, "What's wrong with him?"
On the other side of the curtain Oliver finally calmed Percy down. Percy covered his face with his free hand. It was shaking.
"I don't know what happened, Oliver. I haven't lost control over my emotions like that since."
"It was the potion, Percy, not you." Percy looked at him. Oliver looked back and smiled. "Have I ever told you how much I love your eyes?" Percy laughed.
"Yes.but you can tell me again.I don't mind." Oliver laughed.
"I love your eyes." He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Percy's lips. He sat back and smiled at him again, stroking his thumb over Percy's hand.
"Oliver, I-" he was cut off as Madame Pomfrey came through the curtains, glad when Oliver didn't release his hand.
"And how are you feeling now, Mr. Weasley?"
"A little out of it, but much better, thank you." Pomfrey smiled.
"I'm glad. Now, do you mind explaining that little display earlier, and perhaps your split lip and bruised arm while you're at it. And don't even think of lying to me, Percy. I know when you lie." Outside the curtains Snape listened. He wanted to know how far Marcus went.
"Nothing-"
"Percy." Oliver's tone was warning and he could hear Percy sigh.
"I had a meeting with Dumbledore today and on the way back to the dorms Marcus cornered me in an empty hallway. When I tried to leave he grabbed my arm and forced me against the wall. He made some comments about me, and about Oliver," he swallowed, "and made some insinuations as well as flat out telling me what he planned to do to me. in graphic detail. Then he.he kissed me. His teeth cut my lip. I don't remember much after that except red and anger raw power until I was running away. He was lying on the floor across the hall, his shirt smoking. I don't know what happened." Poppy's eyebrows raised.
"And your hand?"
"I wasn't paying much attention when I got back to the dorm. Oliver said something, but I can't remember it now. All I remember is the taste and that awful feel. I kind of got angry and I smashed the glass against the sink. Olly found me there." Pomfrey nodded.
"Thank you for telling me, Percy. I know this was hard for you." Percy smiled at her. Behind the curtains Snape turned and left. He had a lot to think about. AS he left he muttered one barely audible phrase.
"Fifty points from Slytherin."
Later that night
Oliver relaxed against the side of the pool-sized bathtub in the Prefects bathroom. He smiled at Percy, who sank down into the water next to him.
"This is why you became a Prefect, Percy. I won't believe anything else." Percy laughed, almost, but not quite, masking the bell-like giggle from the painting opposite them. Percy glared at the mermaid, who's face was playing peek-a-boo with her hair.
"If you say one word." The mermaid giggled again and mimed zipping her lips. She then swam into the background of the painting and turned over, appearing to go to sleep.
"What'd you do that for? She wasn't hurting nobody." Percy grinned at him.
"I just don't want an audience." He then moved so he was straddling his boyfriend's hips. He kissed him before Oliver could say anything, and cupped his face in his hands. Those same hand soon traveled downward to caress Oliver's neck and to rest on his shoulders. Oliver's hands came up to explore Percy's chest.
The two moved together, soap and water and flesh mingling in a storm of passion. The water lapped at first in gentle waves. Their passions increased and the waves crested higher.
"Oliver! Please!" Percy cried.
"Anything you want, love." Oliver murmured and they were one. Cries and moans, groans and wails all mingled and echoed in a maelstrom. All too soon the storm was over and the two wizards lay exhausted in the warm water.
On the wall the mermaid blinked wide eyes. She had turned around to peek, as mermaids often will do, and she had seen the storm. That was the most erotic thing she had seen since Bill Weasley had entertained Melissa Howlett, a Hufflepuff prefect. It must be in the Weasley DNA.
She watched as the two boys cleaned up and prepared to leave. She blinked suddenly. This was the biggest piece of gossip and she couldn't tell anyone.
They might not come back if she did.
Back in the dorms
"So what did Dumbledore want? You never told me." Percy look up from where he sat on the bed. Oliver was walking around the room, preparing for the next day's quiddich practice.
"I'm a Weather Mage." Oliver stopped and looked at Percy.
"That's not funny, Percy. Don't insult my intelligence."
"I'm not joking. That's what he said. He gave me a scroll with the signs of being a Weather Mage. They could have been writing about me. It was spooky."
"A Weather Mage."
"Yes."
Oliver whistled. "Damn. I thought they were a myth"
"So did I." Oliver and Percy sat in contemplative silence for a while before the former began to giggle.
"What's funny?" Percy asked.
"I'm dating a myth." Oliver said between giggles. Soon Percy began to see the humor in the situation, and his laughter joined Oliver's. The two fell into each other's arms in a fit of laughter. They stayed entwined all night.
Gryffindor 7th year boys dorms
Oliver was sitting on his bed, re-reading his battered copy of Quidditch Through The Ages, when Percy stormed in.
"Percy? You alright love?"
"No. It was short and terse. He disappeared into the bathroom and Oliver heard the water running. A few minutes later he heard the shattering of glass and then quiet. Scared for his lover's safety, Oliver jumped up and ran to the door. He knocked.
"Percy?" No answer. He knocked again. "Percy, what happened? Are you alright?"
"No," it was barely heard, muffled as it was by the door and distorted by tears.
"Percy, I'm coming in." There was no reply as Oliver opened the door. Percy wasn't noticed at first, the bathroom seemingly empty. Then he saw the sink, with Percy's toothbrush and the bloody shards of Percy's glass. "Percy?!" He heard a sniffle. There, beyond the sink, sat Percy, all huddled up, cradeling his bloody hand to his chest, tears streaming down his face.
"Percy!" He sobbed louder. "Percy, what happened? Was it something Dumbledore said?" Percy shook his head. "Please, Percy, tell me what's wrong. I just want to help." Percy slowed his tears.
"Nothing happened."
"Percy." Oliver said, his voice stern. Percy kept his head down.
"Flint cornered me after my meeting with Dumbledore in an empty hallway. He- "His voice cracked and his tears increased.
"Bullocks" Oliver muttered and gently maneuvered him out from behind the sink. He wrapped the still mangled and badly bleeding hand in a hand towel. "Come on.lets get you to the hospital wing.
***
Ron was playing chess with Harry in the common room. Hermione was reading by the fire. Oliver led Percy down the stairs.
"Steady now.alright." Ron and Harry looked up.
"Percy?"
"What happened?" Percy's hair was mussed, his glasses were missing and he wasn't wearing his robes. He had on his trousers and shirt, but his tie, vest, and shoes were missing. His hand was wrapped in a hand towel. It was crimson. Percy was very pale.even for him.
"Percy here had a little accident with his glass." The towel got impossibly darker as they watched and Percy was getting even paler. He was loosing blood and fast. They left the common room and the boys went back to their game, but Ron was preoccupied and almost lost to Harry. Hermione stared into the fire, thinking.
***
"I hate detentions with Snape."
"Everybody does, George. That's why it's a punishment."
Fred and George were walking back to the Gryffindor tower after yet another detention, tired and covered in grime. They turned the corner and almost ran strait into Percy and Oliver.
"Oi!"
"Watch it there, mate!"
"Percy? Are you ok? You look a bit pale." Percy swayed where he stood.
"I'm." he trailed off. His eyes rolled back in his head and he would have fallen if Oliver hadn't caught him.
"Percy!" Oliver cried as he went down. He wasted no more time nor words. He simply picked Percy up and carried him as fast as he could to the Medical wing, leaving he twins behind in confusion.
"Did you see Percy's hand?"
"Yeah.that was blood wasn't it?"
"I think so." They exchanged a look and ran strait to their dorms, barely pausing to say hello to Ron, Harry and Hermione. George, who had the better handwriting, took out a quill and parchment. Fred began to speak.
"Dear Mum."
***
Oliver sat next to Percy in the bed. Madame Pomfrey had removed the glass and properly bandaged Percy's hand, coaxing a potion for bloodloss down his throat at the same time. Percy should wake up any minute and he'd be right as rain in about an hour.
The door opened and Oliver looked up to see who it was. He immediately wished he hadn't. His eyes flashed and his jaw set, but he stopped himself from rising, thinking of what Percy would say. It was Snape, with a prone Marcus Flint floating behind. Snape called to Pomfrey in a surprisingly gentle voice.
"Poppy! Come quickly!" As Pomfrey came up from the back of the wing, Percy opened his eyes.
"Oliver?" he asked quietly. Oliver grasped his hand.
"I'm right here, Percy." He nodded, obviously still a little out of it. He turned his head and happened to catch a glimpse of Marcus being lowered onto the bed next to him. His eyes widened and he gripped Oliver's hand tightly, his fear only slightly exaggerated in his less than rational state.
"Percy! Percy, calm down! He's not going to touch you, now. You're safe. I'm here. Please, Percy, you're crushing my hand. Percy!"
Oliver;s voice had raised considerably and Pomfrey turned to tell Oliver to shush when she saw the look of terror on Percy's face, and the faint beginnings of anger. The winds shook the window frame, almost breaking the window. She quickly closed the curtains between the beds and shook her head at Snape's questioning look.
"He's terrified of Marcus, the poor dear."
"Marcus? Whatever for? I've seen Percy tell Marcus off many times. He doesn't seem afraid."
"Appearances are often deceiving, Severus. I've had to patch Percy up because of Marcu's fists more than I had to patch up you and Sirius Black combined." Severus's eyes widened.
"I knew there was conflict between those two, but I never knew it was that bad." She smiled grimly at him.
"I think the only people who know are Percy, Marcus, myself, and Oliver Wood."
"Wood?"
"He was the one who always found Percy all bloodied up and forced him into my care. Percy is very proud, and would rather suffer in silence than admit he was being beaten up. If it wasn't for Oliver, Percy would probably have been killed by now."
"That bad?" he was clearly shocked. Pomfrey nodded.
"I'm afraid so. It took me three years of broken bones, black eyes, and various other cuts and bruises for him to finally admit to me that he was being beaten up. It took me another year for him to admit it was Marcus doing the beating. It stopped soon after that, or at least, I thought it had." She shook her head, "so," she changed the subject, "What's wrong with him?"
On the other side of the curtain Oliver finally calmed Percy down. Percy covered his face with his free hand. It was shaking.
"I don't know what happened, Oliver. I haven't lost control over my emotions like that since."
"It was the potion, Percy, not you." Percy looked at him. Oliver looked back and smiled. "Have I ever told you how much I love your eyes?" Percy laughed.
"Yes.but you can tell me again.I don't mind." Oliver laughed.
"I love your eyes." He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Percy's lips. He sat back and smiled at him again, stroking his thumb over Percy's hand.
"Oliver, I-" he was cut off as Madame Pomfrey came through the curtains, glad when Oliver didn't release his hand.
"And how are you feeling now, Mr. Weasley?"
"A little out of it, but much better, thank you." Pomfrey smiled.
"I'm glad. Now, do you mind explaining that little display earlier, and perhaps your split lip and bruised arm while you're at it. And don't even think of lying to me, Percy. I know when you lie." Outside the curtains Snape listened. He wanted to know how far Marcus went.
"Nothing-"
"Percy." Oliver's tone was warning and he could hear Percy sigh.
"I had a meeting with Dumbledore today and on the way back to the dorms Marcus cornered me in an empty hallway. When I tried to leave he grabbed my arm and forced me against the wall. He made some comments about me, and about Oliver," he swallowed, "and made some insinuations as well as flat out telling me what he planned to do to me. in graphic detail. Then he.he kissed me. His teeth cut my lip. I don't remember much after that except red and anger raw power until I was running away. He was lying on the floor across the hall, his shirt smoking. I don't know what happened." Poppy's eyebrows raised.
"And your hand?"
"I wasn't paying much attention when I got back to the dorm. Oliver said something, but I can't remember it now. All I remember is the taste and that awful feel. I kind of got angry and I smashed the glass against the sink. Olly found me there." Pomfrey nodded.
"Thank you for telling me, Percy. I know this was hard for you." Percy smiled at her. Behind the curtains Snape turned and left. He had a lot to think about. AS he left he muttered one barely audible phrase.
"Fifty points from Slytherin."
Later that night
Oliver relaxed against the side of the pool-sized bathtub in the Prefects bathroom. He smiled at Percy, who sank down into the water next to him.
"This is why you became a Prefect, Percy. I won't believe anything else." Percy laughed, almost, but not quite, masking the bell-like giggle from the painting opposite them. Percy glared at the mermaid, who's face was playing peek-a-boo with her hair.
"If you say one word." The mermaid giggled again and mimed zipping her lips. She then swam into the background of the painting and turned over, appearing to go to sleep.
"What'd you do that for? She wasn't hurting nobody." Percy grinned at him.
"I just don't want an audience." He then moved so he was straddling his boyfriend's hips. He kissed him before Oliver could say anything, and cupped his face in his hands. Those same hand soon traveled downward to caress Oliver's neck and to rest on his shoulders. Oliver's hands came up to explore Percy's chest.
The two moved together, soap and water and flesh mingling in a storm of passion. The water lapped at first in gentle waves. Their passions increased and the waves crested higher.
"Oliver! Please!" Percy cried.
"Anything you want, love." Oliver murmured and they were one. Cries and moans, groans and wails all mingled and echoed in a maelstrom. All too soon the storm was over and the two wizards lay exhausted in the warm water.
On the wall the mermaid blinked wide eyes. She had turned around to peek, as mermaids often will do, and she had seen the storm. That was the most erotic thing she had seen since Bill Weasley had entertained Melissa Howlett, a Hufflepuff prefect. It must be in the Weasley DNA.
She watched as the two boys cleaned up and prepared to leave. She blinked suddenly. This was the biggest piece of gossip and she couldn't tell anyone.
They might not come back if she did.
Back in the dorms
"So what did Dumbledore want? You never told me." Percy look up from where he sat on the bed. Oliver was walking around the room, preparing for the next day's quiddich practice.
"I'm a Weather Mage." Oliver stopped and looked at Percy.
"That's not funny, Percy. Don't insult my intelligence."
"I'm not joking. That's what he said. He gave me a scroll with the signs of being a Weather Mage. They could have been writing about me. It was spooky."
"A Weather Mage."
"Yes."
Oliver whistled. "Damn. I thought they were a myth"
"So did I." Oliver and Percy sat in contemplative silence for a while before the former began to giggle.
"What's funny?" Percy asked.
"I'm dating a myth." Oliver said between giggles. Soon Percy began to see the humor in the situation, and his laughter joined Oliver's. The two fell into each other's arms in a fit of laughter. They stayed entwined all night.