A/N: Yay! Chapter five up, woot me! Okay, so some of it was in chapter four when this was called 'Extracurricular Activites,' but I'm still happy! By the way, for a full explanation as to why I overhauled this damn fic, go to my bio. Enjoy!

Otherwise Known as Fate

Chapter Five- The Project Begins

Monday, August the second, 1994

8:30 PM

Percy Weasley

I hope he understood, when I looked at him. I guess I just wanted him to know how I felt, try to get him to figure out what's going on in my life. I think I trust him more; somehow, at breakfast this morning, my image of Oliver changed. He was no longer the popular, rather handsome Quidditch player that only his team mates could understand (though others loved him anyway), who happened to share my dorm, he was now the boy that had made a subtle, unspoken connection with me, though I might have even been imagining it. Hell, everything's so questionable now, I can hardly tell the difference between 'yes' and 'no' anymore. It doesn't matter, though, not too much, because I'm comfortable with the fact that he will never get close enough to me as a friend to do any harm, and I am quite pleased with that. Good. I have now established that nothing else will change this year. Right. After Penelope, the last thing I need is another change.

Muggle Studies hasn't changed much; Professor Shiemke is still as scattered as ever, though he seems to be a little more collected than last year, which was a blessing. Of course, I never really approved of his teaching style to begin with, and even offered to help with his lesson plans, but he absently refused, probably not listening anyway. He's far too disorganized to be a teacher, but then again, I did learn quite a bit in his class, following my own study guidelines as he asked us to do rather than him organizing our agendas. He said it was 'to promote independent learning,' though I think it may have more to do with the fact that he gets easily distracted, is rather lazy, and hardly ever returns grades on time. Ah, well. Another issue to solve on another day. All four houses are in our class, as the number of students who wanted to take it was so few that there really would have only been four or five people to a class, even if we did doubles. There are sixteen students in our class, Oliver Wood being the sixteenth, the new addition. I'll never understand why he suddenly showed up in this unlikely class, but I have a feeling it was against his will.

So, first day back, I had hoped for some actual education, but knowing Professor Shiemke, there wouldn't be. I was right. He had us play a game to get aqquainted with one another, pointless, really, since the entire class basically did know one another, with the exception of Wood. So we all sat in a circle and gave our names and two things that we liked that started with the first letter of our first name. Very stupid, as half the time students didn't even like what they said they did, just doing it for the fun of it. It was a waste of time, but I answered with my customary, "My name is Percy, I like puffskeins and purple." That game brought on memories of the first time I met Penelope. I remember how she was so perfect, so polite, so... intimidating. She was intimidatingly perfect, and I had been a fool not to see that she would do this to me eventually. I was charmed by her intelligence, her beauty, her flirtatiousness, though it all was for naught. Two years of my life spent talking with her, studying with her and learning with her, devoting my entire being to her, had been wasted. And I hate it, I wish that I had been smarter, I wish I had known better than letting another person become so close to me. I swear, I'll never do it again. Not with another girl, not with another friend, not with... Oliver, even. Goodnight.

Percy blew on the ink, trying to get it to dry faster. He didn't want to risk having it open all night again, even under his bed where he was sure no one would find it. It was early yet in the night, and there had, surprisingly, been absolutely no homework that day. Of course, the teachers had given an outline of what they were going to be learning first, so he had spent a few hours studying that. His textbooks had been read long before school started, and he had practically memorized the important passages, but still, he took his time to skim through the more fundamental parts once again. It was only the first day, and he had probably already learned more than any of his classmates. He sort of awkwardly admitted this to himself, wanting to be modest even in his own mind, though his burning need for recognition won over, and he became smug for a little while. He sat up in the dormitory, curled in an armchair with his journal in his lap and his quill and ink jar on the side table. He had to admit that this dormitory was great. It was rather spacious, especially for only two people, and the seventh years got other perks- not only did they have their own bathroom and a comfortable amount of living space, but the dormitory had a nice sized fireplace and a cozy arrangement of chairs and a small sofa in front of it. He sighed, watching the flames crackle gently. He was feeling happier than he usually did after the first day of school. He liked the new teacher, Professor Lupin, he seemed to always be 'in-the-know', so to speak. It was as if he knew all the feelings of the teenagers that he taught, understanding them completely. That was the problem with so many adults, Percy reasoned. They don't recognize that their logic makes no sense to children. While I and some other young people understand their logic, he mused silently, not many teenagers and children do. Adult logic is nothing to them, just as child logic is nothing to adults. Couldn't there be some medium, a logic that both age groups understood? Percy shook his head at his own mind wanderings. It didn't matter. Adult logic is obviously greater in power, and possibly more reasonable, yet... He jumped as the door quickly opened, his glasses nearly falling off.

Oliver leapt in and slammed the door shut behind him, breathing hard. He leaned back against the door, closing his eyes gratefully. He heard whistles and crackling from outside the door, obviously some of Fred and George's wet-start fireworks. Percy's eyebrow arched perfectly, looking confused and amused and somehow dissaproving all at once. Oliver opened one eye, and gave him a mock challenging look that clearly said, 'And you have something to say about this?' Percy quickly looked back down at his blank book, cheeks red for no apparent reason, then, realizing that his inner most thoughts and feelings on that page were right out there in the open, ready for anyone to see, he snapped the book shut. He looked back up at Oliver, who pushed himself off the door. "Those brothers of yours, Percy, I swear..." He gave a little chuckle. Percy, taking the statement the wrong way, expected to be complained to about the twins. He started silently staring at the book binding. He didn't want to hear any more complaints about the shortcomings of his family, ever. He heard enough of it at home and from other Prefects, but he particularly didn't want to hear them from Oliver, who was, at the moment, a very embarrassing person to talk to, since the odd happenings of late. If only he had the choice.

Percy's book didn't seem very interesting, at least, not the binding of it that he had been staring at for the past half hour. Ever since Oliver had come in the door, making a few lighthearted comments about Fred and George being like two Cheshire Cats hyped up on sugar, Percy had remained silent. The twins looked for any excuse to celebrate, he knew, and also looked for any excuse to prank anyone, including Oliver. Their enthusiasm for celebration/pranking was what caused Oliver to bolt down the hall, closely pursued by some fireworks. As fun as it may sound, he decided that he'd turn in for the night, not really surprised to see that Percy was already in his pajamas, hair wet from a shower. Oliver had been sittng at his own desk, idling around ever since the humor of his initial statements had worn off, even to him. Percy hadn't seemed to find them funny to begin with. It was silence in the air so thick that you could cut it with a knife, and Oliver was beginning to get just a tad bit more uncomfortable than before. He needed to be doing something, something other than watch Percy bite his lip and stare at his book, though that was entertaining in itself for a while. I wonder why I'm not getting bored stiff... I really should be doing something else by now, Oliver thought. He had been doing nothing but watch Percy, the whole room engulfed in awkward silence.

Throughout his Percy watching, he had thought about quite a number of things, including the incident in the corridor after the feast, how he would talk to Percy about that, how he had deliberately avoided Penelope in class, how lovely his hair looked by the light in the room... that odd feeling again. His stomach felt strange. Dismissing it, he let his mind wander more. He had also noticed things about Percy in the dimly lit room. How concentrated he looked, even when he wasn't really doing anything of importance. Well, maybe, Oliver thought, Maybe whatever he's doing is important to him. He noticed how Percy's lips would curl into a half-smile at a sudden thought, or how he furrowed his brow when he was concentrating hard, or how his eyes searched the book's cover in vain, seeming to look for the answer to an unspoken question. Oliver was fascinated, somehow. He wasn't sure why, until he found himself staring longingly at Percy's lips. Could I be attracted Percy? Oliver thought, a fluttering in his stomach indicating... well, maybe.

He searched himself for the answers, and making his Percy watching a bit more interesting would help the process along considerably. Man, am I a moron sometimes, Oliver found himself thinking, feeling a little stupid and guilty as he shifted in his seat. He looked closely at Percy's lips, trying to imagine how they would feel on his. He closed his eyes. After a moment he reached a descision: Not bad. It would't be bad. Percy looked up from his book. Oliver immediately snapped out of it. Percy's cheeks were still red. "Well, um, best be going to bed. I will be, at least. Just, um, don't make too much noise if you're up, alright?" Percy muttered. He walked to his four poster and didn't seem to know what to do with the book, which was still clutched tightly in his hands.

"I'm turning in too, I think." Oliver said calmly, standing up and walking over to his trunk, brushing by Percy as he did so. His breath caught for a moment as his shoulder lightly met Percy's, and he stopped for a second before quickly moving on towards the foot of his bed. Percy seemed to be frozen, too, for a minute, before quickly pulling back his blanket and sheets, making absolutely sure that everything was lined up perfectly. The book was still in his hand. Oliver still hadn't unpacked yet. He mentally smacked himself. I could have been unpacking instead of making descions that won't ever matter, he realized, then decided not to lose any sleep over it. No big deal. A fair exchange, really, fantasizing about Percy, albeit guiltily, over transporting his clothes to another form of containment. Percy turned off all of the lamps in the room, leaving the candle by his bed lit until he was fully ready for sleep. Oliver pulled off his shirt, then bent down to grab his pajamas out of his trunk. He wad surprised to feel Percy's lingering gaze from behind him. Hm. Odd.

It was strange. I didn't even realize that I was staring at him until... well, until I realized that I was looking straight at, without flinching, a nearly naked, male schoolmate. Am I that comfortable with Oliver? No, I was completely on edge, actually. I had never really been comfortable changing in front of anyone, even my brothers, or watching others change. I find it... embarrassing. That explains the nervous, uncomfortable jolts in my stomach, but not why I didn't look away. It was oddly pleasing, watching him peel off his shirt, back muscles rippling as he bent over to grab some article of clothing from his trunk. And not to mention... wait just one second... Oh my god, I was just checking out my room mates arse! My male room mate! Oh, this is not helping things... what in the name of Merlin is going on with me? I'm not, I can't... this is so... frightening. It's just too much.

Oliver turned around suspiciously. Percy seemed to be busy with his blankets. A blush crept obviously down the back of his neck. Oliver grinned despite himself, but quickly stifled it, still grinning inside. This was going to be a very interesting year for him. He turned back to his bed and changed into his plaid pajama pants more slowly than he usually would, deciding to test the waters and forgo the pajama shirt altogether. All naughty thoughts shoved aside for a moment, Oliver decided that this would be a good time to ask Percy about the corridor after the feast. "Percy?" He said slowly, still not turning around.

"What?" The answer was slightly impatient, rather strained.

"Could you... well, would it be intruding if..." Oliver turned around, searching for the correct words. He leaned against his bedpost, looking up at the ceiling in concentration.

Percy grew a tad impatient. He fiddled with the book in his hands, still standing facing his bed. "What?"

Oliver let out a breath through his nose. "Well," he began uncertainly, "Do you remember, after the feast, in the corridor? When you were-"

"I remember. Go ahead. Make fun of me." Percy said tonelessly, facing Oliver defiantly. His eyes were hardened and cold. His knuck;es were white, clutching the book.

"I was going to say when you were sitting by the window."

"Oh." His expression only changed slightly. They stared each other down, Percy looking upset and bitter, Oliver looking uncertain. He shifted his weight and, after a moment of thought, sighed.

"Listen, Percy, I just want you to know that... if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here." He said awkwardly, resolving that Percy would tell him what went on whenever he bloody well felt like it.

"Yeah, well..." Percy trailed off, not able to think of anything biting or sarcastic to say. He frowned. "Thanks." Was the only thing he could manage to say, and softly at that. Very softly. So softly that he wondered if Oliver heard him. Obviously he did, because less than ten seconds later Percy was enveloped in the largest hug he had ever received from someone other than a very overweight aunt of his. The book dropped out of Percy's hand and hit the ground with a weak thump on the carpet. The first thing that hit Percy was the thought;How come I'm not pulling away?Oliver's arms were wrapped tightly around his shoulders (he must have been on his tiptoes, Percy thought, and then, for some reason, felt a large pang of gratitude). This was cetainly the oddest hug that Percy had ever received, under the oddest circumstances. A million things ran through his mind at once, most of them confused, a few that were grateful for the fact that he was actually cared about, and maybe one or two that noticed that Oliver wasn't wearing a shirt... and didn't mind. He went with the grateful thoughts and halfheartedly returned the embrace, his arms encircling Oliver's waist (because they really couldn't go anywhere else, Percy tried to tell himself). He was completely surrounded by the scent of Oliver, the scent that was, quite appropriately, earthy and wood-like. He breathed deeply, wondering how Oliver could seem so absolutely grounded, so absolutely stable, that it was hard not to just melt into the comfort of his body. Then he remembered that Oliver was comforting him, though Oliver didn't even know why he needed comforting, and was struck with the sudden idea: This man, this boy, this... student, has no idea why he's comforting me other than the fact that I need comforting. I didn't think people like this existed, let alone wasted their time with me! He must genuinely care... He's been brave enough to act as I have never seen any student act, to show emotions like fondness and actual sympathy, to show vulnerability... Has he been this way all along? Before he knew what was happeneing, he was sobbing into his roommate's shoulder uncontrollably at the outrageous cruelty that people could exhibit, and at Oliver's kindness, pale fingers clutching for Oliver's bare sides.

Oliver hugged him back and let him cry, let his hands settle at his hips, let his head rest on Oliver's bare shoulder. Oliver waited until Percy's sobs subsided to move his arms a bit for a more comfortable position. Percy opened his mouth a few times to say something, but ended up just closing it again, for whatever he could have said was labeled as unimportant. He slowly stepped away from Oliver, removing his hands. He couldn't bring himself to look at Oliver's face. Oliver unwrapped his arms from Percy's back, looking at him absolutely seriously.

"It's going to be okay, alright?" Oliver said softly.

Percy frowned and gave a short nod, turning to his bed. Oliver frowned at this, but didn't say anything.

"You didn't need to do that." Percy said quietly, not turning.

"What do you mean?" Oliver questioned.

Face incredibly red, as if he just realized that he had spent three minutes hugging some shirtless bloke and crying into his shoulder, he turned around and glared at Oliver. "You know what I mean. You don't have to go... playing hero and picking up the peices!" He spat with some anguish.

"Percy, look, I'm not trying to play-"

"I don't care. You did. You did something that I should have been able to do by myself." Percy said, then, realizing he had just given much more away than he should have, he whirled and climbed into bed.

Silence took over the dorm as Percy blew out his candle. Oliver just stood in the darkness, his eyes fixed on where Percy and his four poster had dissapeared into the darkness. After a moment, he spoke.

"Good night, Percy," Oliver said slowly and emotionlessly as he climbed into his own bed. If that's how things had to be, fine. He had offered comfort, he had gotten Percy to come out of his shell at least partway, and he had failed. He resisted giving an annoyed sigh. This wasn't just a matter of human emotions- it was a matter of Oliver's ability to do what he had planned on. That was how he saw it, at least. This, he decided with a strange aggression, would be his latest project. Percy would be his latest project.

A/N: Please review! Feedback is greatly appreciated!