I don't own this song. It as written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, and performed by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

Listen, baby

Ain't no mountain high

Ain't no valley low

Ain't no river wide enough, baby

Madame Pomfrey consulted Percy's pulse, took his temperature, and thoroughly examine dhis healing scars and, burises, and burns. She nodded briskly, and summoned a glass vial from her desk with a wave of her wand.

"Congratulations, Master Weasley.", she said in her usual business-like maner. "You are well enough to return to your normal quarters. Time for you to get back to class." She handed him the vial, which was filled with pills. "Take one a day until they run out. They're to fight any lasting effects of the Cruciatus Curse. They're very important, so don't forget."

Percy promised he wouldn't and with Oliver's patient help, got out of bed and got dressed in his beloved robes. They proceeded to walk out of the Hospital room, together, and headed towards their first class, Potions. Oliver carried both their books, and Percy walked beside him.

"Oliver?", Percy said hesitantly.

"Yes, love?", said Oliver.

"Could I- could I sleep in the dormitory tonight? I, I don't want to be alone tonight." Percy said quietly.

"Of course you can, Perce."

If you need me, call me

No matter where you are

No matter how far

Just call my name

I'll be there in a hurry

You don't have to worry

By and by, they came to the tall door of the Potions dungeon. Percy hesitated.

"You okay, love?", asked Oliver.

"Yeah…" Percy said softly.

"You sure. Nobody'll think any less of you if you need a few more days. Hell, it might be better for you…"

"No, I, I need to do this."

"Alright. But listen, Perce. You need anything, you want anything, you start to feel uncomfortable, let me know. Please. If you feel scared, you want to leave, tell me. We'll leave. If this is too much to handle, tell me. I'll be there for you. I'll sit right next to you."

"Yeah…"

And the two walked in.

'Cause baby,

There ain't no mountain high enough

Ain't no valley low enough

Ain't no river wide enough

To keep me from getting to you

Oliver took Percy's and as they passed through the imposing archway. As they entered the classroom, Percy tensed. Just our luck Oliver thought bitterly. Percy's first class back, filled with Slytherins and Snape. Just great. Marcus was not among the students present, he having been taken into Ministry custody a week prior. But there were a lot of Slytherins, and every single pair of eyes seemed to be focused directly on them.

Percy and Oliver moved to sit down at one of the tables on the Gryffindor side of the room.

"Ahem." Came Snape's soft and menacing voice.

"Yes, Professor", said Oliver, holding tight ot Percy's hand as he felt the redhead begin to quail under the professors merciless gaze.

"I will arrange the seating in my classroom, Master Wood. Master Weasley, over there." He motioned to a seat in the midst of the Slytherins. "Master Wood, you will be over there." Snape gestured to a seat on the opposite side of the room. He turned to the blackboard.

"Excuse me, Professor.", said Oliver loudly.

Snape did not turn around.

"Excuse me, Professor!", Oliver nearly shouted.

"What is it, Master Wood?", Snape said slowly, turning around, his voice full of malice.

"I think it very important that I sit with Percy."

"As teacher of this class, what I deem important and not important supercedes your own such perceptions, Master Wood. Your seats will remain as I have determined them."

"Professor, I must insist that I sit with Percy. I consider it of the highest importance." There was a strange look in Oliver's eyes, one of implacable resolve.

Snape glared at the tall Gryffindor for a moment, then said venomously, "Very well, Master Wood. But twenty-five points from Gryffindor for disobeying a teacher, and detention today. You will clean out the cauldrons after my first years this afternoon.

Percy and Oliver sat down together by the Gryffindors.

"I told you I'd always be by your side." Whispered Oliver.

Remember the day

I set you free

I told you

You could always count on me

"Yeah", smiled Percy weakly, "but now Snape's pissed, and you have detention. What'll I do when your at detention? He'll never let me near you."

"Go up to your room, and I'll come an get you after I'm done and I've showered quickly. Then we'll have dinner, and you'll come back to the common room with me."

"Okay", said Percy, though he was wracked with nerves for what would happen.

"Hey, don't worry, Perce. Remember what I said. I'll never desert you. I'll always be there for you. I meant that. As soon as I finish, I'll be right there with you. You won't have to face anyone without me. You never have to worry again. I'll always be there to protect you. Remember that."

Percy smiled and held Oliver's hand tightly.

From that day on I made a vow

I'll be there when you want me

Some way, some how

Internally, Oliver was just as worried as Percy. He couldn't bear the idea of having to abandon Percy today. He felt like such a louse. How could he do that to Percy? Today was the day his boyfriend needed him most. And today, after school, Snape would hold him for two hours at least, cleaning out filthy cauldrons and wiping away burn marks.

I'll go as fast as I can. Then get Percy as quicjkly as possible. I won't abandon him. I'll come and get him, and we'll go to dinner, and we'll go to bed, and I'll protect him. Just like I promised.

'Cause baby,

There ain't no mountain high enough

Ain't no valley low enough

Ain't no river wide enough

To keep me from getting to you

After class, they walked along the stone corridors, brushing by student after student. For a moment, the endless stream of other pupils separated them, and they beagn to drift apart in the sea of bodies. Oliver, seized with a mad fury, dove through the milling students and grabbed Percy like he would disappear if he didn't hold on, and pulled him to the relative calm of a niche in the rough stone walls. He kissed the flustered redhead on the cheek.

"I'll always be at your side."

Oh, no, darling

No wind, no rain

No winter storm

Can stop me baby

Their next class, Herbology, was out in the greenhouses. The snow had piled up several feet high, and several students were struggling through the banks of snow towards the steaming glass strcture. It was difficult to get through, and the snow has heavy and thick.

"Percy, hold the books."

"Huh?", Percy murmured.

"Hold 'em." Oliver handed the book bags to Percy, who took them. The Quidditch player then scooped up Percy and book bags in his long arms, and proceeded to fight his way through the snow, holding Percy and books tight in his arms. Percy threw an arm around Oliver and held him close, feeling the warmth of that beloved chest. He's the sweetest boyfriend there is. I'm so damn lucky. I can't believe this. He snuggled into the warmth, and felt safe and happy. I love him so much.

If you're ever in trouble

I'll be there in the double

Just send for me

And so they passed through their classes of the day. After class, Oliver walked Percy back up to his room. He held the redhead's hand.

"Perce, fi you get really scared, or need me, or anybody starts to bother you, come find me in the dungeon. I swear to God, I'll curse Snape into oblivion and fight my way out of the dungeon rather than let anything happen to you.

"I love you, Ollie!", Percy wrapped his arms around the brunette.

"I love you too." Smiled Oliver. After one last kiss, he sprinted down the halls to get to Snape before the appointed time.

Percy sipped through the portrait-hole and into his room, which seemed, though a brisk fire was burning, very cold to him.

My love is alive

Way down in my heart

Although we are miles apart

Percy sat on his bed, and held a pillow to his chest. He missed Oliver, and he hadn't been gone more than a couple of minutes. He tried to read, to write, to study, but he couldn't concentrate. It felt as if a part of him was missing.

Meanwhile, as Snape set Oliver to work on the disgusting cauldrons, the Quidditch player worked like a man possessed. His wand flew back and forth, his arms felt like they were going to fall off, he was scrubbing so hard. One more, he kept telling himself. One more is one closer to Percy.

If you ever need a helping hand

I'll be there on the double

As fast as I can

Don't you know that,

At long last he finished, and, jumping up, he dashed out the door. He raced to the common room, showered just long enough for the water to touch his body, then dressed and ran back to Percy's room. He breathlessly said the password, and all of a sudden he was holding Percy again in his arms.

"I missed you so much.", he breathed.

Percy, so overcome, didn't respond, only hugged the other boy tighter.

They walked down to the Great Hall, and ate dinner. Percy, nervous, ate slowly, and Oliver held Percy's hand a lot more than he held a fork. So they stayed in the Hall longer than most of the other Gryffindors. At last they finished, and they rose to climb the stairs up to the tower.

There ain't no mountain high enough

Ain't no valley low enough

Ain't no river wide enough

To keep me from getting to you

Don't you know that?

As they climbed, Percy clutched at Oliver's hand like a drowning man clutches at a rope. It was his safety, his salvation. As they approached the portrait, Percy began to falter.

"Ollie…"

"Perce, do you want to do this? We don't have to.

"I want to, I just…"

"Do you want me to carry you?"

"Yes", said Percy breathlessly.

Oliver picked up his boyfriend, and holding him tightly in his arms, fearlessly entered the common room. On such a wintry night, it was packed. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Lee, Colin, Alicia, Angelina, Katie, practically everyone.

As Oliver carried Percy up the stairs to the dormitory, first Fred, then George, then everyone, stood up and applauded loudly.

There ain't no mountain high enough

Ain't no valley low enough

Ain't no river wide enough