Disclaimer: Do I really have to write this every chapter? I don't own any of these characters. HAPPY!

Author's Note: To tell you the truth, I don't have a plot for this. I'm just writing as I think of it. Let's see where it leads, shall we?


Chapter 4

"I can't take it anymore," Oliver confessed to Percy. "It's so annoying! He just pokes and prods and pinches to set me off, and now he knows my breaking point."

"He pinches you?" Percy asked, looking up from his homework.

"Not, literally... mentally. He's giving me mental brain pinches." Oliver pinched at the air like his hands were lobster claws for emphasis.

"Oh..." Percy nodded, to show he understood. "Why don't you just ask your teacher if you could switch partners?"

"Hey, why don't I just ask my teacher if I could switch partners!" Oliver jumped up from his bed, suddenly full of energy.

"That's what I sa-"

"Gotta go, Perce, thanks!" Oliver said, leaving the room.


"Absolutely not."

"But Professsor-"

"No buts! Now, Hogwarts is all about unity and bridging the gap, Mr. Wood," Professor Malichewski looked at him, her fake blonde curls bouncing.

"But you don't know what he's like, he's-"

Professor Malichewski held her hand up, cutting Oliver off yet again. "That is enough, Mr. Wood."

"It's not fair," Oliver grumbled turning to leave.

"Well, it wasn't fair when you so rudely interrupted my class and stormed out, now was it? You cost me valuable lesson time, and you cost your House valuable points, not to mention valuable learning for yourself. It affects everyone when you behave immaturely. You will have detention every night for the next 2 weeks for an hour each night, AND you will continute to work with Mr. Flint as your partner," Professor Malichewski looked at Oliver, daring him to say anything.

"Now, we're through with this discussion, you may leave," she waved him off like she was being pestered by a disgusting fly. Oliver bit his tongue to keep from arguing and left the room quietly to avoid costing his house more points.


"How'd it go?" Percy asked at dinner.

"I've got detention, so now I have to work that out with Quidditch practice," Oliver complained. He was upset. Quidditch was all he had. He got average grades. Nothing brilliant, but nothing horrible. He wasn't very talented at much of anything other than Quidditch. That was his ticket to success as an adult. Needless to say, he took Quidditch pretty fuckin' seriously.

"Oh..." Percy lowered his eyes and picked at his mashed potatoes. He glanced back up and a look of worry washed over his face, that Oliver didn't see, blinded by his own depression.

"You forgot your stupid egg," A voice said from behind Oliver. Oliver didn't even have to look up to know who it was. Calloused fingers set the egg down within Oliver's line of vision. Oliver's hand shot out from under his chin to grab the egg. Marcus left to go over to the Slytherin's table after he returned the egg. He didn't want to have to deal with that egg. Eggs broke too easy. Dumping the responsibility of it on Oliver seemed much simpler. While it wasn't exactly an act of kindness, it was very unlike Marcus to be seen near the Gryffindor table unless he was loudly jeering at them.

"This egg has cracks in it," Percy observed, gently taking the egg out of Oliver's hand to examine it.

"Dually noted, Mr. Perfectionist," Oliver rolled his eyes. Percy looked hurt. He tapped the egg with his wand and the cracks faded, then he got up from the table and left the Great Hall, the fixed egg still sitting on the table where he had left it.


Author's Note: Hmm... Percy's hurt, Oliver's pissed and depressed and cranky, and Marcus is being, dare I say it, considerate! gasp Review and I'll do the fifth chapter! I might do it even if you don't review. Hell, I might do it tonight. But reviews make me feel good. I just finished the 3rd chapter, so review that one too. And if you didn't review the first and second ANCIENT chapters, review those too!

Also: I know this one is short too, but this one is not because I ran out of ideas. It was because I was trying to create a small cliffhanger. It's not a large one, just a small one. Tell me if it worked. Also, I MIGHT add a little fluffly one-sided Percy/Oliver let me know in your reviews what you'd prefer.