A/N: First of all, this is *not* what I call angst. This has *nothing* to do with angst. This is pure fluff. *grin* You'll know my angst if you ever see any of it. Thanks to Louise for the beta :) And to everyone who's reviewed/sent me feedback!
Forget Me Not Part II: Fake And Lie
~~~
Oliver was amused. Hell, it *was* amusing to watch Mrs Weasley yell at his two sons, who had been joking around again. They had done something to had upset Percy... again. Well, pretty much everything anyone ever did upset Percy, so Oliver couldn't really say he felt bad for his former best friend. Or, maybe he just wanted to see him suffer. Oliver shook his head a little, pushing those thoughts happily away.
Ever since he had arrived at the Weasley household, Percy had been like a friend to him again. They had talked and even laughed, though Oliver was very uncomfortable. What was up with Percy? He was acting strangely. Or
maybe this was his way of saying, "I want you to forget we ever had anything and go back to being friends. If you ever talk about our seventh year again, I will make you suffer."
"So what's up?" Oliver asked the twins in a whisper once Mrs Weasley had let them go.
"We..." George started but made the mistake of looking at his twin and couldn't continue when laughter overtook him.
"We made a potion and Percy drank it accidentally," Fred continued with a sly grin.
A delighted smirk spread on Oliver's face. "Really?" he asked. "What happened to him?"
"He... forgot," George said simply. "So if he doesn't remember something about your seventh year, it's because of the potion." He burst into laughter again.
Seventh year? "What are you talking about?" Oliver demanded.
"He forgot everything about his seventh year at Hogwarts!" Fred giggled. Yes, giggled. "Everything! He doesn't remember Lupin, he doesn't remember the Quidditch Cup. He doesn't even remember Sirius Black!"
As much as Oliver usually tried to avoid swearing... Oh *fuck*. Percy had forgotten about everything... even about him too? The twins *had* to be joking!
"Yeah, right," he said dismissively. "Tell me this is just a joke." Please tell me this is just a joke.
"No, it's true! Ask him! He doesn't remember a thing, doesn't have a clue!" George said and burst out laughing again.
Oooookay. So this *was* going to be interesting. Oliver looked at Percy again. Was that it? He didn't remember? He didn't remember their... romance?
God. Oliver wasn't completely ready to believe that yet. He made his way to Percy, who was talking with Ron about something. Oliver stood beside them and smiled at Percy, then turned his attention to Ron.
"Hello, Ron! What does it feel like, to have graduated?" he asked, ignoring Percy altogether.
"S'okay," Ron answered flatly.
"I hear you played Quidditch for a couple of years, how was that? The team still good? Except that you were *never* able to find another bloody brilliant Keeper, eh?" Oliver smirked.
At the mention of Quidditch, Ron's face lit up. "Yeah, I played Chaser! It was great. Well, we had this fifteen-year-old John Gates as our Keeper - he was good, but no one at Hogwarts could beat you, Mr 'I-Play-Professional-Quidditch'!"
That only encouraged Oliver to start talking about Quidditch. He was like an automaton; you mention the word Quidditch or anything that is related to it, and you get a full report on everything that is going on, whether you want it or not.
Percy watched his friend and his little brother talk. Oliver hadn't changed a bit. He was still as handsome as ever. That was as much as Percy let himself think. He didn't remember everything that had gone on at Hogwarts, but he remembered they had been good friends. Best friends, even. He remembered he had always had some sort of crush on him. Then, why hadn't they kept in touch after school? Had something happened in their seventh year, something he couldn't remember? Or was it just that they both had been so busy? He wanted to grab Oliver's arm and drag him upstairs where they could speak in privacy. However, he didn't really dare. Oliver had seemed a bit uncomfortable around him, and now - well, he was talking to Ron instead of him, wasn't he?
By the time the Weasley family and Oliver had finished eating supper, Oliver was already yawning. Mrs Weasley told Percy to take Oliver up to his room so that the poor guy could get some sleep. Percy obeyed willingly, with Oliver following tiredly behind him.
"You'll get to sleep on the floor," Percy said and then frowned apologetically. "Sorry about that. Mum said this would be the most comfortable solution."
"It's okay," Oliver assured and yawned again. "I'll be fine." 'Okay, so I'd rather sleep in your bed with you, but I'm not telling you that, am I?'
Percy smiled. "Well, you know where the bathroom is and so on, don't you? I'll just go downstairs and get you a towel. Won't be long."
Percy made his exit and Oliver was left alone in Percy's room. When Percy got back upstairs, Oliver was already soundly asleep.
~~~
"So...you *honestly* remember nothing about our seventh year?" Oliver asked at breakfast. "That's a shame, it was a good year. The Quidditch Cup and all that."
Percy found that he had lost his appetite.
"Did something happen back then? I mean, since we haven't exactly kept in touch after Hogwarts."
Oliver shrugged. "Well, we've both been very busy. You in the ministry and me, well, defending the hoops. Speaking of life after Hogwarts... how's Penny?"
They had slept in and were now eating alone, since everyone else had already eaten. It was good, really - now they were able to talk about anything and not just the things that were suitable for everyone's ears.
"Penny? Oh, Penelope. We broke up about a year ago. She wasn't, I mean, it didn't work out." Percy was suddenly a bit red.
"Oh. Sorry, mate."
Percy tried to think of one good reason why he hadn't told Oliver, his best bloody friend, about his break-up with Penelope. It wasn't as if it had happened that recently! Was it because it had been so embarrassing?
Penny hadn't been exactly subtle when she had hinted Percy might enjoy the company of a man more than her.
"So, are you seeing anyone? I'm sure the girls won't leave you alone," Percy said.
"No, I'm not seeing anyone at the minute. You know me, I don't like the girls as much as they like me!" Now if *that* wasn't a hint, what was? Oliver tried to look at Percy nonchalantly.
Had Oliver just said he, um, liked boys? Percy tried very hard not to think about it. "I guess," he stated simply.
Okay, so Oliver had been mad at Percy Weasley for four years. But it wasn't *this* Percy Weasley he had been mad at. This Percy was more innocent - this was the same Percy he had fallen in love with, not the one that had broken his heart. Not even Oliver could blame him for something he couldn't remember!
This version of Percy, he was adorable. He was shy and cute and awkward and very...Percy. The twins would've thought of that as something hideous, but Oliver actually thought it was cute.
"You know, there's this funny thing about me and Penelope." Percy said suddenly, "I don't remember how it started between us. I mean, I remember we were good friends for a couple of years... but how we got, um, involved...I don't know how it happened."
"Me neither," Oliver said simply. Hell, it *was* true. He hadn't found out about Penny until it had been too late. It was probable that he had just refused to see it; it had been there all the time. Percy had always said he and Penny were only friends; however, Oliver had been stupid not to see Percy hadn't been as serious about him as he had been about Percy.
"How can you not know?" Percy asked. "I mean, we were roommates. And best friends, right?"
Yeah, and lovers. "You hid it well," Oliver said and smirked - though it looked a bit more like a grimace. Then he hesitated a bit and said, "Who knows, maybe you even had some other relationship before her in your seventh
year, you've just forgotten about it!" His tone was playful, but it sounded a little fake. Oh well, faking playfulness was better than showing his real disappointment.
"What do you mean? Do you know something I don't?" Percy asked, eyeing his friend suspiciously.
Oliver shrugged and faked a smile. Damn, he'd really learn to fake during this visit. Maybe he should consider a career in acting. "It was a joke," he replied. And he'd learn to lie, too.
~Feedback more than appreciated~
Forget Me Not Part II: Fake And Lie
~~~
Oliver was amused. Hell, it *was* amusing to watch Mrs Weasley yell at his two sons, who had been joking around again. They had done something to had upset Percy... again. Well, pretty much everything anyone ever did upset Percy, so Oliver couldn't really say he felt bad for his former best friend. Or, maybe he just wanted to see him suffer. Oliver shook his head a little, pushing those thoughts happily away.
Ever since he had arrived at the Weasley household, Percy had been like a friend to him again. They had talked and even laughed, though Oliver was very uncomfortable. What was up with Percy? He was acting strangely. Or
maybe this was his way of saying, "I want you to forget we ever had anything and go back to being friends. If you ever talk about our seventh year again, I will make you suffer."
"So what's up?" Oliver asked the twins in a whisper once Mrs Weasley had let them go.
"We..." George started but made the mistake of looking at his twin and couldn't continue when laughter overtook him.
"We made a potion and Percy drank it accidentally," Fred continued with a sly grin.
A delighted smirk spread on Oliver's face. "Really?" he asked. "What happened to him?"
"He... forgot," George said simply. "So if he doesn't remember something about your seventh year, it's because of the potion." He burst into laughter again.
Seventh year? "What are you talking about?" Oliver demanded.
"He forgot everything about his seventh year at Hogwarts!" Fred giggled. Yes, giggled. "Everything! He doesn't remember Lupin, he doesn't remember the Quidditch Cup. He doesn't even remember Sirius Black!"
As much as Oliver usually tried to avoid swearing... Oh *fuck*. Percy had forgotten about everything... even about him too? The twins *had* to be joking!
"Yeah, right," he said dismissively. "Tell me this is just a joke." Please tell me this is just a joke.
"No, it's true! Ask him! He doesn't remember a thing, doesn't have a clue!" George said and burst out laughing again.
Oooookay. So this *was* going to be interesting. Oliver looked at Percy again. Was that it? He didn't remember? He didn't remember their... romance?
God. Oliver wasn't completely ready to believe that yet. He made his way to Percy, who was talking with Ron about something. Oliver stood beside them and smiled at Percy, then turned his attention to Ron.
"Hello, Ron! What does it feel like, to have graduated?" he asked, ignoring Percy altogether.
"S'okay," Ron answered flatly.
"I hear you played Quidditch for a couple of years, how was that? The team still good? Except that you were *never* able to find another bloody brilliant Keeper, eh?" Oliver smirked.
At the mention of Quidditch, Ron's face lit up. "Yeah, I played Chaser! It was great. Well, we had this fifteen-year-old John Gates as our Keeper - he was good, but no one at Hogwarts could beat you, Mr 'I-Play-Professional-Quidditch'!"
That only encouraged Oliver to start talking about Quidditch. He was like an automaton; you mention the word Quidditch or anything that is related to it, and you get a full report on everything that is going on, whether you want it or not.
Percy watched his friend and his little brother talk. Oliver hadn't changed a bit. He was still as handsome as ever. That was as much as Percy let himself think. He didn't remember everything that had gone on at Hogwarts, but he remembered they had been good friends. Best friends, even. He remembered he had always had some sort of crush on him. Then, why hadn't they kept in touch after school? Had something happened in their seventh year, something he couldn't remember? Or was it just that they both had been so busy? He wanted to grab Oliver's arm and drag him upstairs where they could speak in privacy. However, he didn't really dare. Oliver had seemed a bit uncomfortable around him, and now - well, he was talking to Ron instead of him, wasn't he?
By the time the Weasley family and Oliver had finished eating supper, Oliver was already yawning. Mrs Weasley told Percy to take Oliver up to his room so that the poor guy could get some sleep. Percy obeyed willingly, with Oliver following tiredly behind him.
"You'll get to sleep on the floor," Percy said and then frowned apologetically. "Sorry about that. Mum said this would be the most comfortable solution."
"It's okay," Oliver assured and yawned again. "I'll be fine." 'Okay, so I'd rather sleep in your bed with you, but I'm not telling you that, am I?'
Percy smiled. "Well, you know where the bathroom is and so on, don't you? I'll just go downstairs and get you a towel. Won't be long."
Percy made his exit and Oliver was left alone in Percy's room. When Percy got back upstairs, Oliver was already soundly asleep.
~~~
"So...you *honestly* remember nothing about our seventh year?" Oliver asked at breakfast. "That's a shame, it was a good year. The Quidditch Cup and all that."
Percy found that he had lost his appetite.
"Did something happen back then? I mean, since we haven't exactly kept in touch after Hogwarts."
Oliver shrugged. "Well, we've both been very busy. You in the ministry and me, well, defending the hoops. Speaking of life after Hogwarts... how's Penny?"
They had slept in and were now eating alone, since everyone else had already eaten. It was good, really - now they were able to talk about anything and not just the things that were suitable for everyone's ears.
"Penny? Oh, Penelope. We broke up about a year ago. She wasn't, I mean, it didn't work out." Percy was suddenly a bit red.
"Oh. Sorry, mate."
Percy tried to think of one good reason why he hadn't told Oliver, his best bloody friend, about his break-up with Penelope. It wasn't as if it had happened that recently! Was it because it had been so embarrassing?
Penny hadn't been exactly subtle when she had hinted Percy might enjoy the company of a man more than her.
"So, are you seeing anyone? I'm sure the girls won't leave you alone," Percy said.
"No, I'm not seeing anyone at the minute. You know me, I don't like the girls as much as they like me!" Now if *that* wasn't a hint, what was? Oliver tried to look at Percy nonchalantly.
Had Oliver just said he, um, liked boys? Percy tried very hard not to think about it. "I guess," he stated simply.
Okay, so Oliver had been mad at Percy Weasley for four years. But it wasn't *this* Percy Weasley he had been mad at. This Percy was more innocent - this was the same Percy he had fallen in love with, not the one that had broken his heart. Not even Oliver could blame him for something he couldn't remember!
This version of Percy, he was adorable. He was shy and cute and awkward and very...Percy. The twins would've thought of that as something hideous, but Oliver actually thought it was cute.
"You know, there's this funny thing about me and Penelope." Percy said suddenly, "I don't remember how it started between us. I mean, I remember we were good friends for a couple of years... but how we got, um, involved...I don't know how it happened."
"Me neither," Oliver said simply. Hell, it *was* true. He hadn't found out about Penny until it had been too late. It was probable that he had just refused to see it; it had been there all the time. Percy had always said he and Penny were only friends; however, Oliver had been stupid not to see Percy hadn't been as serious about him as he had been about Percy.
"How can you not know?" Percy asked. "I mean, we were roommates. And best friends, right?"
Yeah, and lovers. "You hid it well," Oliver said and smirked - though it looked a bit more like a grimace. Then he hesitated a bit and said, "Who knows, maybe you even had some other relationship before her in your seventh
year, you've just forgotten about it!" His tone was playful, but it sounded a little fake. Oh well, faking playfulness was better than showing his real disappointment.
"What do you mean? Do you know something I don't?" Percy asked, eyeing his friend suspiciously.
Oliver shrugged and faked a smile. Damn, he'd really learn to fake during this visit. Maybe he should consider a career in acting. "It was a joke," he replied. And he'd learn to lie, too.
~Feedback more than appreciated~