Author's note: Based on the prompt: "'I don't know your name or who your neighbors were before moving here, but I swear if you set off one more firework in the middle of the night I will end you." Enjoy!
Disclaimer: The following characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and this story derives from her original works, storylines, and world. You know I'm not her because #transrights.
Hogwarts: Assignment #3, Charms Task #2 Write about someone getting someone else into trouble, whether deliberately or by accident.
Dedication: Lizzy
Warnings: NA
A Bit Late For a Visit
He had tried. He had really, honest to goodness, tried to handle the fact that there were fireworks blasting off next door and ignore the ungodly combination of lights and sounds that had been keeping him awake all night. But, as it turned out, Percy just didn't have the patience for it in any way, shape or form. Shocking, coming from the man who had shared a wall with Fred and George growing up, but he just couldn't do it. He was already exhausted after having spent the entire day moving into the tower of flats within walking distance of the Ministry that he had so diligently researched and found for himself. Mum had come to help him get settled in, but patting her shoulder when she got weepy about her third eldest child moving out and promising that he would be home for Sunday suppers had added to his lengthy to-do list. Plus, he was nervous about starting his first day of work—for which he had to wake up in five hours—to the extent that his usual cup of evening chamomile tea hadn't been able to soothe his nerves. And now, fireworks? Oh no: Percy didn't think so.
He muttered to himself as he pulled on a pair of socks and threw his dressing gown around himself, over his striped pajamas. He had neatly lined his shoes by the doorway of the one-bedroom apartment and grabbed the first pair he could reach, tightening his robe around himself. He sat down on a kitchen chair to put his shoes on and startled, screamed, and nearly fell off when another firework went off.
"The nerve!" Percy muttered to himself before stomping out of the apartment and down the hall. He knocked at his neighbour's door; he could hear the muffled sound of a blaring radio and excited chatter even through the doorway.
He rolled up his sleeve and knocked at the door sharply. Of course, they didn't hear him over the commotion that they were busy making—which included yet another damned firework—and so Percy knocked again, louder and more impatiently this time.
He barely heard the sound of footsteps coming towards him and startled when the door finally opened. The sounds of chatter, the voice of a broadcaster chattering away on a radio, and the smell of beer and artificially cheesy snacks wafted out and joined Percy in the hallway.
"Hullo," the man who answered the door said—a well-built man with brown hair cut very short, a big smile, and chocolate brown eyes. He was wearing a royal blue jersey of some sports team logo on the front that Percy didn't recognize—which essentially just meant that it wasn't one of the teams any of his siblings had favoured. He cocked his head when he realized that it was Percy who was at the door. He saw the man scan through his memories trying to see if he could recognize him as he leaned against the doorframe, holding an opened beer. "Bit late for a visit, isn't it?"
"A—a bit late for a visit?" Percy repeated. He scoffed. "A bit late for fireworks is what I think you're trying to say, sir! I would ask you if you had any idea how loud they were, but they are fireworks so of course you do!"
"Oh, are you the new neighbour?" the man said, as if he was just placing him now. "Landlord did say there'd be someone new moving in today."
"I—well, yes, I am, but that doesn't matter! I'm sure the entire building is woken up by your fireworks, possibly even the building next door!"
The man passed the beer he was holding to his left hand to free up his right, which he extended to Percy. "Pleased to meet you, I'm Oliver."
"I—I don't care who you are at one o'clock in the morning," Percy insisted. "I care about what reason you possibly have to be setting off fireworks!"
"Oh those!" Oliver said. "Yes, see, the big game was on tonight and Puddlemere just got themselves to the finals!" He turned back and raised his beer to whoever was assembled in his miserable little flat. "Didn't they, lads?"
A cheer rose up from within the apartment followed closely by some sort of a sports chant and—God help him—another round of fireworks.
Percy readjusted his glasses and swallowed his rage.
"Yes, well, I am very happy for you and the lads and whatever Puddlemere is, but it is one o'clock in the morning," Percy said. "Some of us have things to do in the morning which means that some of us have to be sleeping now, which means some of us would quite appreciate for the fireworks to end."
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you," Oliver nodded. "We're just wrapping up here. Do you want to come in for a drink? Plenty of beer left."
"I—no, no I do not want to come in for a drink," Percy said. "I would like you all to do the bare minimum to follow municipal bylaws and keep it down. No more fireworks."
"Yeah, I can tell Alicia to stop the fireworks," Oliver said. "I think she's running out anyways. You sure you don't want a beer?"
"Very sure," Percy said. "Besides, it can't possibly be safe to set fireworks from… where are you even firing them from, your balcony?"
"Oh, don't worry," Oliver said. "Alicia's an expert, she does this all the time."
"Does this all the…" Percy trailed off and ran out of things to say to that. What could there possibly be to say to that? Maybe he could use a drink after all, not that the smell of cheap beer coming towards him was particularly attracting or alluring.
"Right," Oliver said. "Well, we'll tune down the fireworks, anything else I can do for you? I think they're about to interview the players over the radio now…"
"No," Percy said, forcing a smile on his face. "No, that's absolutely everything."
"Brilliant," Oliver said with a grin. "It was great to meet you…"
He cocked his head to the side, searching for the name and leaving a blank space in the air for Percy to fill in.
"Percy," he said dryly, desperately wishing that he didn't have to be on a name-to-name basis with this man whose balcony was a launching pad for fireworks all the time.
"Cheers then," Oliver said. "Have a good night. Get home safe and all."
Percy smiled dryly as Oliver closed the door on him. A firework went off and was greeted by a massive cheer, followed by some song about the eternal glory of whatever Puddlemere was.
Percy called the non-emergency number and made a noise complaint.
WC: 1120