Chapter III: Cheating Heart
Percy sipped on his cocoa as he read a book on Arithmancy. He took a sip too fast, and scalded his tongue. He endured the pain, and placed his mug on the sidetable. His Danish was halfway done, a few crumbs graced the table. As soon as he noticed them, he picked them up, and placed them in the trashcan. Then there was a knock on the door. "Perce? You in there?" Oliver asked, hoping that he was. "Yeah? I'm just reading," he answered, "Come in, Olly." Oliver opened the door, and closed it quietly behind himself. He was now the bearer of a terrible secret, and he didn't know whether he should keep it a secret or spill the beans. He couldn't even look into Percy's eyes without thinking of Penelope and Marcus. "So, how are things with Penelope?" he asked, knowing the truth. "I never saw her today. I thought she might come in here so we could talk, but she never did," he said, looking a tad concerned. "Oh? That's interesting," he replied. Oliver then sat down on his bed. "I think I'm going to go to bed early. I'm kind of tired," Oliver said, pulling his shoes off and changing into night clothing. "Okay. I'll be quiet so you can sleep. Sweet dreams, Olly," he said quietly. "Goodnight, Perce," Oliver said, rolling over on his side, lying his head on his feather pillow. Penelope never found Percy that night.
* * *
Penelope knocked on the door early the next morning. Percy was already up, so he answered, clad in his Gryffindor robes. "Where were you yesterday? I was worried," Percy said. Penelope's eyes were guilty. Percy couldn't tell. "Oh. I had a huge project for McGonagall. But I wanted to see you," she replied. She looked down at her feet, shifting her weight uneasily. Percy didn't like where this was going. "I'm not sure if we should be together, Percy," she said, tearfully. He frowned. "Oh. Can we think about it for a few days?" he asked. "Well, alright," she answered. With that, she left. Percy re-entered the room, confused. "What just happened? I thought we were doing great. What went wrong?" he asked himself. He woke Oliver up, and they went to their classes. * * *
That night, Percy thought long and hard about his relationship with Penelope Clearwater. He was thinking of dumping her, but he wasn't sure. "Oliver, what do you think of my relationship with Penny? Do you think I should dump her?" he asked. Oliver's ears perked up, but he didn't want to share his real feelings. "I don't know. I mean, it's up to you to decide who you want to date, Perce," he answered. "I know. I was just wondering what you thought. Your opinion matters to me," he said, staring up at the ceiling as he lay on his bed. That night was freezing. Wintertime was falling upon Hogwarts, and it seemed like the Gryffindor tower was taking the brunt of it.
Oliver got up and sat next to his roommate. Percy immediately sat up to be at level with his friend. He was shivering, teeth chattering audibly. "You're freezing, Perce. Here, take my blanket. I'll keep you warm," Oliver said, leaning over to his bed to grab a fluffy, fleece blanket. It seemed to be big enough for four people. Oliver wrapped it around himself and his cold roommate. "How does that feel? Are you warmer?" Oliver asked. "Um.yeah. Thanks, Ol," he said, clutching the blanket to keep the frosty air out. "I.I think I'm going to break up with her. I have mixed feelings, and I'm not sure if she even cares about me," he said. "I think you made a wise decision, Perce," Oliver said, putting his arm around the other boy. Percy looked confused for a moment. He had been rooming with Oliver for about four years. They had a unique bond. But was this the type of bond that they had? Love? Percy began to think. Well, I guess I have had some curiosity. And I have kind of had some sort of attachment to him. Maybe it's true, Percy thought deeply. "Hmm.the blanket doesn't seem to be working; you're still as cold as an icicle. Maybe I can warm you up," Oliver said seductively. Oliver wrapped his arms around Percy, and held him close. "How does that feel, Perce?" Oliver asked. "Um.it feels nice, Ol. Thanks," Percy said, snuggling closer to Oliver. This was Oliver's dream come true; Percy seemed to share his feelings. Oliver was in a state of sheer bliss, holding Percy and placing light kisses on his neck. They fell asleep in each other's arms that night.
* * *
Percy sipped on his cocoa as he read a book on Arithmancy. He took a sip too fast, and scalded his tongue. He endured the pain, and placed his mug on the sidetable. His Danish was halfway done, a few crumbs graced the table. As soon as he noticed them, he picked them up, and placed them in the trashcan. Then there was a knock on the door. "Perce? You in there?" Oliver asked, hoping that he was. "Yeah? I'm just reading," he answered, "Come in, Olly." Oliver opened the door, and closed it quietly behind himself. He was now the bearer of a terrible secret, and he didn't know whether he should keep it a secret or spill the beans. He couldn't even look into Percy's eyes without thinking of Penelope and Marcus. "So, how are things with Penelope?" he asked, knowing the truth. "I never saw her today. I thought she might come in here so we could talk, but she never did," he said, looking a tad concerned. "Oh? That's interesting," he replied. Oliver then sat down on his bed. "I think I'm going to go to bed early. I'm kind of tired," Oliver said, pulling his shoes off and changing into night clothing. "Okay. I'll be quiet so you can sleep. Sweet dreams, Olly," he said quietly. "Goodnight, Perce," Oliver said, rolling over on his side, lying his head on his feather pillow. Penelope never found Percy that night.
* * *
Penelope knocked on the door early the next morning. Percy was already up, so he answered, clad in his Gryffindor robes. "Where were you yesterday? I was worried," Percy said. Penelope's eyes were guilty. Percy couldn't tell. "Oh. I had a huge project for McGonagall. But I wanted to see you," she replied. She looked down at her feet, shifting her weight uneasily. Percy didn't like where this was going. "I'm not sure if we should be together, Percy," she said, tearfully. He frowned. "Oh. Can we think about it for a few days?" he asked. "Well, alright," she answered. With that, she left. Percy re-entered the room, confused. "What just happened? I thought we were doing great. What went wrong?" he asked himself. He woke Oliver up, and they went to their classes. * * *
That night, Percy thought long and hard about his relationship with Penelope Clearwater. He was thinking of dumping her, but he wasn't sure. "Oliver, what do you think of my relationship with Penny? Do you think I should dump her?" he asked. Oliver's ears perked up, but he didn't want to share his real feelings. "I don't know. I mean, it's up to you to decide who you want to date, Perce," he answered. "I know. I was just wondering what you thought. Your opinion matters to me," he said, staring up at the ceiling as he lay on his bed. That night was freezing. Wintertime was falling upon Hogwarts, and it seemed like the Gryffindor tower was taking the brunt of it.
Oliver got up and sat next to his roommate. Percy immediately sat up to be at level with his friend. He was shivering, teeth chattering audibly. "You're freezing, Perce. Here, take my blanket. I'll keep you warm," Oliver said, leaning over to his bed to grab a fluffy, fleece blanket. It seemed to be big enough for four people. Oliver wrapped it around himself and his cold roommate. "How does that feel? Are you warmer?" Oliver asked. "Um.yeah. Thanks, Ol," he said, clutching the blanket to keep the frosty air out. "I.I think I'm going to break up with her. I have mixed feelings, and I'm not sure if she even cares about me," he said. "I think you made a wise decision, Perce," Oliver said, putting his arm around the other boy. Percy looked confused for a moment. He had been rooming with Oliver for about four years. They had a unique bond. But was this the type of bond that they had? Love? Percy began to think. Well, I guess I have had some curiosity. And I have kind of had some sort of attachment to him. Maybe it's true, Percy thought deeply. "Hmm.the blanket doesn't seem to be working; you're still as cold as an icicle. Maybe I can warm you up," Oliver said seductively. Oliver wrapped his arms around Percy, and held him close. "How does that feel, Perce?" Oliver asked. "Um.it feels nice, Ol. Thanks," Percy said, snuggling closer to Oliver. This was Oliver's dream come true; Percy seemed to share his feelings. Oliver was in a state of sheer bliss, holding Percy and placing light kisses on his neck. They fell asleep in each other's arms that night.
* * *