A/N: "Wizard's Flu" is something xixie came up with (so a big thanks to her for that!); we think of it as a sort of chickenpox for magical people. Thanks also to everyone who reviewed. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. :o)
*****
"Percy?"
He rolled over, groaning. His eyes opened slowly and he tried to get his bearings. Where am I? Without his glasses, everything was fuzzy. His head was pounding, and his entire body felt like it was on fire. What's wrong with me? Oliver's face appeared suddenly, blurry but concerned.
"Are you alright? You look terrible."
Percy opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't. Have I gone mute? He coughed, and tried again. He managed to rasp out, "I think I'm sick," before he was seized by a coughing fit.
Oliver disappeared, then came back with a glass of water. "Here," he said, handing it to Percy, who thanked him and immediately drank the contents. "And you might want these, too." He retrieved Percy's glasses from the coffee table.
Percy slipped them on, and everything went back into focus. He looked around the living room, remembering what had happened the night before. "Thanks," he wheezed, "how long have I been asleep?"
Oliver looked slightly guilty. "Almost 12 hours. When I left for Quidditch practice this morning, you looked so peaceful I didn't want to wake you up. I figured you needed the sleep."
Percy's mind raced. It was almost noon on a Thursday, and that meant he was already four hours late for work. His supervisor wasn't going to be pleased. On the other hand, he was sick, and probably wouldn't have gone in anyway. "I should probably send them an owl, tell them I'm not feeling well."
"Already taken cared of," Oliver smiled. "When I came back you were shifting around a lot and had kicked off your blanket. I thought maybe you were having a bad dream, but then I saw the spots." He pointed at Percy's arm, where a cluster of small, red dots had formed over night.
Percy followed his gaze and groaned. "Wizard's flu? That's the last thing I need right now." He made a move to get off the couch, but Oliver stopped him.
"I already owled your mom. We agreed it would be best if you just stayed here for a week or so. Ginny and Ron have never had it before, and your mom's worried about contagion."
"That's really nice of you, but I don't want to be any trouble."
"It's really not a problem. Besides, it's time I repaid you for our first year at Hogwarts."
Percy looked confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't you remember? The first month of our first year, I caught Wizard's flu and was stuck in the hospital wing for a week. You were the only person who came to visit me the whole time, even though Madam Pomfrey kept lecturing you about the dangers of spending too much time with me. She was convinced you were going to catch it, too."
Percy smiled at the memory. "I'd forgotten all about that. I didn't think I was in danger, because the twins had had it the year before. I figured I was immune. And besides, someone had to update you on the homework assignments . . ." He began coughing again and Oliver ran to the kitchen to refill his glass with water, shaking his head at Percy's last comment.
He remembered all too well the lonely week he had spent in the hospital wing. Percy had come almost every night, sneaking him sweets from dinner, filling him in on the day's events and giving him an overview of the lectures and lessons he had missed. He had really been struck by Percy's kindness that first month. Oliver knew it was hard for him, living in the shadow of two older brothers who had accomplished so much before him. Both first-years had especially been in awe of Charlie, who was on their house Quidditch team and had led them to victory on numerous occasions.
He sighed as he refilled the glass, reminiscing. He had thought he and Percy would be really great friends, but after that first month they had both gotten really busy with school work and Oliver had begun hanging out with the Quidditch team, so practically the only time they saw each other was just before falling asleep at night and when they first woke up in the morning. The next year, Oliver was recruited for the Quidditch team himself and his free time had disappeared even more. No matter how busy they were, though, they always managed to have a few late-night conversations just before they fell asleep. Oliver remembered one conversation in particular . . .
*****
It was about halfway through their seventh (and final) year at Hogwarts. Oliver had realized his romantic preferences were slightly different from those of his friends, and he was wrestling with the idea of telling Percy. He didn't know why, exactly, he just knew that he felt comfortable telling him anything, especially in the late-night hours when their conversational skills weren't exactly up to par.
"Percy? You asleep yet?"
Percy rolled over so that he was facing Oliver's bed. The other wizard was staring up at the ceiling, a curious look on his face. "No, not yet. Just thinking. Is something wrong?"
"Naah…" Oliver tried to think of the best way to segue into his newly discovered sexuality. Sports metaphors were always the way to go, right? "Have you ever thought about . . . playing for the other team?"
Percy was silent for a few seconds. Then, "Geez, Oliver, you think about Quidditch way too much. Besides, you guys are a game away from winning the House Cup. Why would you want to play for another team?"
Oliver frowned. Apparently, sports metaphors were completely lost on Percy. "Good point." He thought for a bit, then decided to try again. Maybe directness would work. "Have you ever thought about what it would be like to kiss a guy?"
Percy was quiet for a while. Oliver was worried that he either had fallen asleep and not heard the question, or had worked out its implications and decided never to talk to Oliver again. Either result was somewhat disappointing.
Oliver had almost given up and gone to sleep himself when he finally got a response: "About the same as kissing Penelope, I suppose."
He sighed and rolled over. "That's what I thought. 'Night, Percy."
If Percy had caught on, he didn't show it. "'Night, Oliver."
*****
By the time Oliver returned to the living room with the refilled glass, Percy had fallen asleep again. He set the glass down on the coffee table and found something to write with.
Percy, Gone to store for soup and other sickly things. Back soon. Make yourself at home. –Oliver
He left the note propped against the water glass, then gathered his emergency Muggle money. The nearest wizard food store was pretty far away, and he didn't want to be farther from Percy than necessary right now (purely for health reasons, of course). He would have to take his chances with the Muggle grocery store across the street.