A/N: Hello, all.  Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, and special thanks to xixie, who not only beta'd for me but also insisted I use the phrase "camp as a row of tents."  I'm not entirely sure where she got it, so whoever I'm borrowing it from, thanks.  And just so you know, A.I.M. stands for "Acquiring Information Magically."  This is probably going to be the last chapter, unless I get inspired to write an epilogue or something.  Which would be pointless, since we all know how they end up, right? :o)

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Penelope Clearwater looked at the pile of documents sitting on her desk and sighed heavily.  Percy had been out sick for almost a week now and the load was starting to get to her.  Honestly, I don't know how he does it, she thought to herself.  One thing's for sure, he's going to go mad when he sees this.  She had been trying to keep Percy's workload to a minimum by taking on several of his projects in addition to her own (not as difficult as it sounded, since no one in the office worked as hard as he did) but over the past few days the pile had been mounting.  I just hope he gets better soon.  Of course, he is staying at Oliver's, and if that's not an excuse for milking an illness for as long as possible, I don't know what is.

A tapping at the window pulled her from her thoughts, and she turned to face a fluffy brown owl with a note attached to one leg.

"Hello, Hermes," she commented as he flew in and settled on the desk.  After carefully extracting the letter, she patted him on the head and indicated the cage across the room.  "Go rest for a minute and have some water while I read this and see if he wants a reply."

The owl hooted softly and flew to the by-now familiar perch of Penny's owl, Cassiopeia.  Poor Hermes had been flying back and forth from the office to Oliver's flat twice a day for four days now, bringing instructions and news from Percy, who refused to rest and forget about work as Oliver had suggested.  She opened the letter and began to read, strongly suspecting it would contain some sort of "helpful hint" from Percy about how to make the most out of her meeting with the French wizarding Prime Minister this afternoon. 

Dear Penny,

            You'll be shocked (and no doubt pleased, I wager) to learn that this letter is social in nature, rather than related to work.  I'm started to feel loads better, and I was wondering if you'd like to come over after work to visit.  Oliver has practice 5-10, so I'm usually on my own after dinner.  I don't mind being left to my own devices, of course (you'd be amazed at the amount of reading I've been able to do, not to mention all the work I've gotten a head start on) but it does get rather lonely and there are some things I'd like to discuss with you.  You needn't worry about sending a reply with Hermes.  I've bewitched the paper with a linking spell – A.I.M.ing, I believe it's called – so simply write your response down and I'll be able to read it here.  I do hope everything is going well in the office.  Have a pleasant day, and I look forward to hearing from you.

                                                                                                Best,

                                                                                                Percy

Penny pulled out a quill and quickly responded,

Perce,

            I'd love to come visit you!  I can be there by 5:15.  Should I bring dinner?

                                                                                                Penny

After a few seconds, the response came.

That would be lovely, but don't worry about dinner.  I'll make something here.

Sounds great.  See you then.

Penny folded the paper and placed it inside her desk – she could always use it to write to Percy later in the day, if she got bored.  Things to talk about, huh? she mused to herself, smiling.  That's Percy-speak for "I'm in love with Oliver and need your advice."  She faced the stack of paperwork with renewed energy, mentally planning the best way to put her matchmaking skills to work.

*****

"You're probably wondering why I asked you to come over."

It was nearly 8 p.m. later that same day, and Penny had been keeping Percy company for the better part of three hours.  At the moment, they were talking in what had unofficially been dubbed "Percy's room" – Percy stretched out on the bed under the pretence of resting, Penny sitting next to him, reading one of Oliver's Quidditch articles.

"No, not really."

Percy looked up at her, surprised.  His skin was already pale from being sick –the red bumps having all but disappeared – but if it was possible, he went even whiter.  "Seriously?"

Penny smiled down at her friend.  "Do you remember what I said when we broke up?"

"I believe it was something along the lines of, 'Percy, you stupid prat, how could you do this to me?'"

"No, after that."

He shifted uncomfortably.  "I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."

"That's because you've probably blocked it out.  I told you that I knew we were doomed from the start because your heart had always belonged to someone else.  At the time, I just didn't know who."  A mischievous grin flashed across her face.  "I've since wised up, and I would suggest you do the same."

Percy gaped at her for a moment, a bright blush spreading across his face.  "You mean you knew this whole time?"

She shrugged.  "Of course!  Who wouldn't have figured it out by now?"

"Do you think Oliver knows?"

"Unless one of the many Bludgers he's taken to the head has stripped him of his last shred of intelligence, I'd say he has some inkling, yeah."

Percy put his head in his hands and moaned, loudly.

"Perce?  What's wrong?"

"It's just so embarrassing.  I mean, he's not even gay."

Penny couldn't help it: she burst out laughing.

"What?  What's so funny?"

"Let me get this straight.  You haven't told Oliver how you feel because you think he isn't gay?"

"Well, among other reasons, yes…"

"Percy, sweetie, Oliver Wood is as camp as a row of tents."

*****

Oliver pushed open the door to the flat quietly.  The coach had become increasingly frustrated with him over the past week, yelling that he wasn't paying attention during practice.  A stray Bludger had knocked him off his broom and, after his leg had been magically healed by the team's doctor, he had been sent home early.  He was still limping slightly as he headed towards the kitchen to make tea.

Percy had already eaten, from the looks of things.  The sink was full of softly clinking dishes, magically being washed by a scrubby brush.  Oliver smiled at the sight.  I'm glad he's making himself so at home, he thought.  Too bad he won't be here for much longer.  Percy had tried to downplay the sickness for as long as possible, and now that he was starting to feel better he had begun to downplay his health instead.  Just that morning he had insisted that he was much too ill to read his owl post, although Oliver had a strong suspicion that he had, in fact, been secretly working from the flat since day one of his illness.

Now, where did I put that teakettle?  Oliver opened a cabinet door and stopped short.  He gazed at the contents for a second, bemused, then opened the next door, and the next.  His entire kitchen had been reorganized.  And, he realized with a smile, all of the cans and boxes had been alphabetized.  He opened the refrigerator, and was not too surprised to discover that all of his expired dairy products had been chucked and replaced with fresh ones.  Chuckling to himself, he walked down the hall to Percy's room.

"I guess you're feeling better," he commented as he reached the door.  "You know, I had no idea I even owned so many tins of tomato soup-" Oliver, shocked, stopped talking as he walked in.  Percy was lying down on the bed, and there was a girl sitting next to him, beaming.

"Oliver! Hi!"  Penny took advantage of Percy's speechlessness and jumped up, extending her hand.  "You probably don't remember me.  Penelope Clearwater, from Hogwarts."

Oliver nodded stiffly and shook her hand.

She smiled, noting the way his fists balled up when she resumed her place on the bed.  "I just came by to visit our little Percy here.  We've really missed him this past week at work."

"I can believe that.  Percy's a very hard worker."  Oliver's look softened slightly as he glanced at the man in question, but Percy merely smiled shyly at him before turning to look at Penny once more.

"Well," she started, looking back and forth between the two, "I'll just let you boys talk.  Nice to see you again, Oliver.  Hope you feel better, sweetie."  Penny leaned over to kiss him lightly on the cheek, and softly murmured, "See?  Jealousy works every time."

Percy glanced at Oliver and couldn't help feeling pleased with the expression on his face – a mixture of jealousy, yes, but also sadness and anger.  He responded with a quick smile and mouthed, "Thanks," as Penny grabbed her purse and walked out the door.

There was a heavy silence for a minute as Percy tried to think of something to say.  Oliver saved him the trouble.

"I take it that reorganizing my kitchen means you're starting to mend."

Percy blushed slightly.  "Well, Penny came over for dinner and it was just natural for me to straighten up a little as I went."

Oliver raised an eyebrow.  "A little?"

Percy smiled.  "You're home early.  Is everything ok?"

"I was injured in practice…"

"Are you alright?  Come here, sit down.  Do you need anything?"

Oliver crossed the room and settled onto the bed, shaking his head.  "I'm fine.  It's my own bloody fault.  Coach thinks I've been too distracted lately."

"Really?  Why is that?"

"I've just…had a lot on my mind."  He looked away, tapping his foot nervously.

"Not because of me, I hope."  Oliver smiled at him somewhat sadly and shook his head.

"Nah.  So, when did you and Penny get back together?"

Percy gave him a quizzical look.  "What are you talking about?"

"Penny.  I thought you guys broke up after graduation, but I guess I was wrong."

"No, we did.  We're just good friends now.  She came to visit to…give me some advice, I guess you could say."

"Really?  What about?"  Oliver's face had brightened considerably.

"Well…" Percy took a deep breath.  "Do you remember that conversation we had one night, when you asked me if I ever thought about what it would be like to kiss a guy?"

"Of course.  I think about that all the time."

Percy avoided his eyes.  "See, the thing is…" He paused, thinking about how he wanted to say it.  "I did- I do.  That is, when you asked me that, I wasn't- I mean, you-" he closed his eyes and sighed.  "This is so hard to say.  And it's not coming out right." 

Oliver cocked his head to the side, a slight smile on his face.  Percy continued stuttering and trying to come up with an appropriate way to get his feelings across, but Oliver had a pretty good idea as to what he was trying to say.  He let Percy babble on for a few more seconds before taking matters into his own hands.  "Percy?"

Percy trailed off and looked up.  "…Yeah?"

"Just shut up and kiss me already."