Part three.
Brian waved a hand, dismissing Percy's panic and pointed to the chair. "Sit."
Percy sat, nervously folding the parchment into smaller and smaller pieces.
"Brian…"
"Percy, shut up."
Percy blinked and leaned back. Brian placed his elbows on the desktop and leaned on folded hands.
"The fact is, we need all the eyes we can get right now. Not just Aurors, not just agents like yourself, but people who are in a position to overhear possible valuable pieces of information. Take Wood, for example," said Brian, leaning back, getting into his 'explaining mode. "He's on Puddlemere United and they play quite a bit in Europe in exhibition and league games. Who's to say he hasn't heard something already, but isn't able to put it together yet?"
"Wood isn't stupid, sir. He was the Quidditch captain for his house."
"Yes, I know that," Brian said, frowning at his underling. He tapped the scroll next to his right elbow. "We have all his information right here." Percy's eyes dropped to the scroll. All Wood's information? His fingers itched. He wanted to grab the scroll and devour all the information it contained about his former roommate.
"As I was saying," Percy looked back up at Brian, "he might have heard something, but if he's not looking for Deatheater information, he may not have put two and two together. This is where you come in."
"Four."
Brian blinked at him, "Pardon?"
"Four. Two and two."
Brian rolled his eyes, "For Christ's sake, Weasley." He rubbed the back of his neck and tossed the scroll at Percy. "Read that. Your orders are to bring Oliver Wood in, by any means necessary."
Percy gave his boss a sour look. "How are you even sure he likes men?"
Brian gave him an evil look. "The same way we found out about Dominic."
Percy blushed and clutched the scroll tighter. "Oh," he said in a small voice.
"Don't take it personally, Perce. Everyone's sex life is documented in their files."
Percy walked towards the door, then stopped and turned around. "You know, when I signed up to defend my country, I didn't think it involved me getting naked."
Brian was already reading another document. "We ask for everything you've got."
"Clothes and all, apparently," was the muttered response as Percy closed the door behind him. He walked down the corridor into the coffee room. Two other people sitting were there. A black-haired witch looked up and grinned at Percy, while the other guy grunted an acknowledgement and went back to writing on his parchment.
"Hey!" The witch waved him over. Percy flopped down on the couch and rubbed his temples.
"What's wrong? Got some bad news?"
"Casey, how do you go about seducing someone?" Percy muttered, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the back of the couch.
"Uh, sorry? Did you say seduce?"
"Yes."
Casey sighed, "You're asking the wrong woman. I don't do well in relationships. Too many things to explain like, 'How did you get that bruise?' and 'Where were you last night?' and 'What do you mean you don't want to marry me and wear this lovely apron with magic pockets?'"
That made Percy's eyes pop open. "Magic pockets?"
Casey gulped some tea and replied, "Yep. Magic pockets."
Percy looked over at her. "You won't look good in an apron with magic pockets."
Casey smiled, "That's what I said. Plus, I could never do those cooking spells right." She leaned close to him. "So seduce? Who?"
Percy shook his head. "Can't talk about it. You know that."
"Yes, but I was hoping. Good luck."
Percy got up and dusted the seat of his jeans. "Thanks," he said. "Nice talking to you."
"Anytime."
Percy went up to his office, shut and locked the door, then slumped in his chair. The scroll was on the desk in front him, teasing him with all the secrets that made up Oliver Wood, his crush from his fifth year when he had discovered he liked boys. He reached for the scroll, slid off the blue ribbon and opened it.
OLIVER WOOD
AGE: 21
PLACE OF BIRTH: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
EDUCATION: St. Joseph's (primary); Hogswarts (secondary) Eight OWLS, Four NEWTS.
OCCUPATION: Keeper (reserve) Puddlemere United.
ALLERGIES: None
SEXUAL PREFERENCE: Men
RELATIONSHIPS:
Percy's eyes widened. Oliver definitely liked men by the look of things. According to the information, Oliver had a couple of relationships after leaving Hogswarts.
"But that doesn't mean he's going to fall into my arms," Percy muttered, as he continued reading the scroll. Everything was here – Oliver's favourite restaurant, his relationship with his parents (good, his mother kept trying to fix him up with nice boys), that he had a sweet tooth and that he even had a birthmark on his upper inner thigh. Percy grinned at that notation. Dropping the scroll, he stood up and walked over to the window. The redhead looked down into the courtyard where various wizards and witches were enjoying the late morning spring sun, robes rolled up and tucked away, baring their arms and legs. Percy turned away. If he hadn't received this assignment, he would have been down by the frog pond, happily reading a book and turning red from the sun. Instead, he was worrying about bringing Oliver in. After destroying the scroll with a frustrated sigh, Percy walked out of his office. He glanced over at his secretary, who was dictating a memo. The brunette looked up at Percy and smiled.
"Hi Percy. When did you get back? I didn't see you come in."
Percy shrugged and smiled. "Hi Sarah. You weren't at your desk and besides, I wasn't supposed to be in today."
Sarah tapped the day planner on her desk. "I know. You were supposed to be off. Let me guess, Brian called you in?"
Percy nodded, leaning over her to take a peek at the schedule. Sarah rapped him on his knuckles. "Don't read over my head." She smiled up at him and called up his schedule. "Right. You've got a meeting with Smiley in fifteen minutes, then another one with Stokes. She wants to talk to you about your expenses from your trip to Russia."
Percy groaned. "I explained that in my report. I needed to pay off that informant."
Sarah smiled. "Yes, but did you have to buy him a car?"
"Considering the average wage there, I don't think I spent that much. Besides, his information was crucial to the mission," said Percy both primly and defensively.
"Let me guess, you put that in your report?" Sarah raised an eyebrow.
Percy raised his eyebrow back at her. "Stop mocking me and find some way to save me from that barracuda. You're supposed to be my very efficient secretary."
"And I run your life, don't forget that."
"Yes ma'am."
Sarah stood up, "Alright. You go meet Smiley and I'll take care of Stokes. You owe me lunch for this by the way." Percy smiled as he walked out of the office.
"Sure," He replied. "Pick a place. I'll pay."
Percy walked down to the third floor to meet Smiley, a skinny little man who was in charge of outfitting everyone before an assignment. Percy had to grit his teeth at the smirk on Smiley's face as he ushered him into his office.
"So I hear you're on a seduce and bring in!" Smiley said, in a voice that was way too happy. "Who's the lucky guy?"
Percy muttered a few choice swearwords and felt his ears turn bright red. He stumbled forward when Smiley hit him on his back as he made his way over to the older man's desk in the corner of the room. On the desk rested a moneybag and a few pieces of paper. He ushered Percy into a chair.
Smiley stood behind the desk and assumed a lecturing tone. "We've got everything you need. You're not leaving the country, so hopefully you won't be buying anyone cars."
Percy groaned and buried his head in his hands. "That's not going to go away anytime soon, is it?"
"Nah," Smiley grinned, then pointed at the items on the desk. "We've got your moneybag, but you'll have access your vault if you need it. Here…" he pointed at the bits of paper lying about. "Reservations and your ticket to the Puddlemere/Clovers match in Ireland. You don't need a cover because officially you're on vacation and decided to go to Ireland and catch a game."
Percy nodded, slowly taking the items and folding them into his pockets. He stood up and headed towards the door.
"Have fun."
Percy stopped and looked back, eyebrow arching, "Oh, I'm required to have that?"
Smiley shrugged, "My girl tells me Wood's a good looking guy. Hate to tell her he fields for the other team."
"Thanks for the imagery."
The smile grew into a leer. "Picture him naked."
Percy groaned and rolled his eyes, "I haven't started the assignment yet. I didn't need that."
"What? You plan to lie back and think of England?"
Percy shrugged. What was he supposed to say? That by doing this he might end up getting his crush killed? That really didn't help his mood right now.
He sighed again, "No, Smiley. I plan on enjoying it." He walked out of the room, leaving the man to ponder the mechanics of gay sex. Percy headed downstairs, managing to avoid Stokes and once out of the building, apparated back to the Burrow.
Once again, thanks to Dangermouse for the beta and the suggestions.
Vez, Indus, Rogue and ravenchel – thanks for the reviews.
Leopardskinqueen – yes, it definitely has benefited from a beta. Thank for the feedback. I always find your comments very useful regarding style, dialogue and pacing.
Kimagure – I'm writing, I'm writing. Stop poking me, I'm ticklish. *smile*
Brian waved a hand, dismissing Percy's panic and pointed to the chair. "Sit."
Percy sat, nervously folding the parchment into smaller and smaller pieces.
"Brian…"
"Percy, shut up."
Percy blinked and leaned back. Brian placed his elbows on the desktop and leaned on folded hands.
"The fact is, we need all the eyes we can get right now. Not just Aurors, not just agents like yourself, but people who are in a position to overhear possible valuable pieces of information. Take Wood, for example," said Brian, leaning back, getting into his 'explaining mode. "He's on Puddlemere United and they play quite a bit in Europe in exhibition and league games. Who's to say he hasn't heard something already, but isn't able to put it together yet?"
"Wood isn't stupid, sir. He was the Quidditch captain for his house."
"Yes, I know that," Brian said, frowning at his underling. He tapped the scroll next to his right elbow. "We have all his information right here." Percy's eyes dropped to the scroll. All Wood's information? His fingers itched. He wanted to grab the scroll and devour all the information it contained about his former roommate.
"As I was saying," Percy looked back up at Brian, "he might have heard something, but if he's not looking for Deatheater information, he may not have put two and two together. This is where you come in."
"Four."
Brian blinked at him, "Pardon?"
"Four. Two and two."
Brian rolled his eyes, "For Christ's sake, Weasley." He rubbed the back of his neck and tossed the scroll at Percy. "Read that. Your orders are to bring Oliver Wood in, by any means necessary."
Percy gave his boss a sour look. "How are you even sure he likes men?"
Brian gave him an evil look. "The same way we found out about Dominic."
Percy blushed and clutched the scroll tighter. "Oh," he said in a small voice.
"Don't take it personally, Perce. Everyone's sex life is documented in their files."
Percy walked towards the door, then stopped and turned around. "You know, when I signed up to defend my country, I didn't think it involved me getting naked."
Brian was already reading another document. "We ask for everything you've got."
"Clothes and all, apparently," was the muttered response as Percy closed the door behind him. He walked down the corridor into the coffee room. Two other people sitting were there. A black-haired witch looked up and grinned at Percy, while the other guy grunted an acknowledgement and went back to writing on his parchment.
"Hey!" The witch waved him over. Percy flopped down on the couch and rubbed his temples.
"What's wrong? Got some bad news?"
"Casey, how do you go about seducing someone?" Percy muttered, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the back of the couch.
"Uh, sorry? Did you say seduce?"
"Yes."
Casey sighed, "You're asking the wrong woman. I don't do well in relationships. Too many things to explain like, 'How did you get that bruise?' and 'Where were you last night?' and 'What do you mean you don't want to marry me and wear this lovely apron with magic pockets?'"
That made Percy's eyes pop open. "Magic pockets?"
Casey gulped some tea and replied, "Yep. Magic pockets."
Percy looked over at her. "You won't look good in an apron with magic pockets."
Casey smiled, "That's what I said. Plus, I could never do those cooking spells right." She leaned close to him. "So seduce? Who?"
Percy shook his head. "Can't talk about it. You know that."
"Yes, but I was hoping. Good luck."
Percy got up and dusted the seat of his jeans. "Thanks," he said. "Nice talking to you."
"Anytime."
Percy went up to his office, shut and locked the door, then slumped in his chair. The scroll was on the desk in front him, teasing him with all the secrets that made up Oliver Wood, his crush from his fifth year when he had discovered he liked boys. He reached for the scroll, slid off the blue ribbon and opened it.
OLIVER WOOD
AGE: 21
PLACE OF BIRTH: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
EDUCATION: St. Joseph's (primary); Hogswarts (secondary) Eight OWLS, Four NEWTS.
OCCUPATION: Keeper (reserve) Puddlemere United.
ALLERGIES: None
SEXUAL PREFERENCE: Men
RELATIONSHIPS:
Percy's eyes widened. Oliver definitely liked men by the look of things. According to the information, Oliver had a couple of relationships after leaving Hogswarts.
"But that doesn't mean he's going to fall into my arms," Percy muttered, as he continued reading the scroll. Everything was here – Oliver's favourite restaurant, his relationship with his parents (good, his mother kept trying to fix him up with nice boys), that he had a sweet tooth and that he even had a birthmark on his upper inner thigh. Percy grinned at that notation. Dropping the scroll, he stood up and walked over to the window. The redhead looked down into the courtyard where various wizards and witches were enjoying the late morning spring sun, robes rolled up and tucked away, baring their arms and legs. Percy turned away. If he hadn't received this assignment, he would have been down by the frog pond, happily reading a book and turning red from the sun. Instead, he was worrying about bringing Oliver in. After destroying the scroll with a frustrated sigh, Percy walked out of his office. He glanced over at his secretary, who was dictating a memo. The brunette looked up at Percy and smiled.
"Hi Percy. When did you get back? I didn't see you come in."
Percy shrugged and smiled. "Hi Sarah. You weren't at your desk and besides, I wasn't supposed to be in today."
Sarah tapped the day planner on her desk. "I know. You were supposed to be off. Let me guess, Brian called you in?"
Percy nodded, leaning over her to take a peek at the schedule. Sarah rapped him on his knuckles. "Don't read over my head." She smiled up at him and called up his schedule. "Right. You've got a meeting with Smiley in fifteen minutes, then another one with Stokes. She wants to talk to you about your expenses from your trip to Russia."
Percy groaned. "I explained that in my report. I needed to pay off that informant."
Sarah smiled. "Yes, but did you have to buy him a car?"
"Considering the average wage there, I don't think I spent that much. Besides, his information was crucial to the mission," said Percy both primly and defensively.
"Let me guess, you put that in your report?" Sarah raised an eyebrow.
Percy raised his eyebrow back at her. "Stop mocking me and find some way to save me from that barracuda. You're supposed to be my very efficient secretary."
"And I run your life, don't forget that."
"Yes ma'am."
Sarah stood up, "Alright. You go meet Smiley and I'll take care of Stokes. You owe me lunch for this by the way." Percy smiled as he walked out of the office.
"Sure," He replied. "Pick a place. I'll pay."
Percy walked down to the third floor to meet Smiley, a skinny little man who was in charge of outfitting everyone before an assignment. Percy had to grit his teeth at the smirk on Smiley's face as he ushered him into his office.
"So I hear you're on a seduce and bring in!" Smiley said, in a voice that was way too happy. "Who's the lucky guy?"
Percy muttered a few choice swearwords and felt his ears turn bright red. He stumbled forward when Smiley hit him on his back as he made his way over to the older man's desk in the corner of the room. On the desk rested a moneybag and a few pieces of paper. He ushered Percy into a chair.
Smiley stood behind the desk and assumed a lecturing tone. "We've got everything you need. You're not leaving the country, so hopefully you won't be buying anyone cars."
Percy groaned and buried his head in his hands. "That's not going to go away anytime soon, is it?"
"Nah," Smiley grinned, then pointed at the items on the desk. "We've got your moneybag, but you'll have access your vault if you need it. Here…" he pointed at the bits of paper lying about. "Reservations and your ticket to the Puddlemere/Clovers match in Ireland. You don't need a cover because officially you're on vacation and decided to go to Ireland and catch a game."
Percy nodded, slowly taking the items and folding them into his pockets. He stood up and headed towards the door.
"Have fun."
Percy stopped and looked back, eyebrow arching, "Oh, I'm required to have that?"
Smiley shrugged, "My girl tells me Wood's a good looking guy. Hate to tell her he fields for the other team."
"Thanks for the imagery."
The smile grew into a leer. "Picture him naked."
Percy groaned and rolled his eyes, "I haven't started the assignment yet. I didn't need that."
"What? You plan to lie back and think of England?"
Percy shrugged. What was he supposed to say? That by doing this he might end up getting his crush killed? That really didn't help his mood right now.
He sighed again, "No, Smiley. I plan on enjoying it." He walked out of the room, leaving the man to ponder the mechanics of gay sex. Percy headed downstairs, managing to avoid Stokes and once out of the building, apparated back to the Burrow.
Once again, thanks to Dangermouse for the beta and the suggestions.
Vez, Indus, Rogue and ravenchel – thanks for the reviews.
Leopardskinqueen – yes, it definitely has benefited from a beta. Thank for the feedback. I always find your comments very useful regarding style, dialogue and pacing.
Kimagure – I'm writing, I'm writing. Stop poking me, I'm ticklish. *smile*
