Expectations of Approval
Chapter One: The Situation
At a young age Percy had deiced to he wanted to be like his father, to prove to his family that he was someone to be proud of, that he could truly blend in with them, and be great like his brothers. As years went by Percy's thoughts began to change, as his parents began to have higher hopes for him. His hard work only earned him scorn for his siblings. His classmates talked behind his back about him being too stiff, just too perfect. His study habits stopped him from having any time for friends but he would not chance doing less work. He has to get into the Ministry to be like his father and nothing else matters. It is now his 5th year at Hogwarts. Percy starts to think that maybe he can't do it, he can't take it. All his hard work just doesn't seem to be getting him anywhere.
At 15 Percy is tall, an intimidating 5.11 feet already and still growing; he is a little lanky as he has grown so tall so fast but it is not so noticeable in his Hogwarts robes. His hair long loose flaming red curls, the color expected of a Weasley but his curls uniquely his, as none in his family had curls. His skin aristocratically pale and smooth, marred only by the very few and almost unnoticeable freckles he had, which is also an oddity as he brothers are all covered with freckles. Percy's face can be describe as femininely beautiful, with his large dark blue eyes, high cheek bones, well portion nose and lovely pink lips. Though his expressive eyes are always hidden behind thick framed glass and his face always kept in an impassive mask.
It's now mid November and already he feels drained by his fellow students.
As Percy makes his way to his usual table in the library he hears two Ravenclaw girls, one he recognized as Penelope Clearwater, a fellow prefect, gossiping about him.
"Look, there goes Perfect Percy" says the Ravenclaw girl with curly black hair.
"Shh, what if he hears you? I don't want to be lectured" Penelope scolds. "And I have to talk to him at the meetings; I don't want him mad at me"
"But, it's sad isn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
The curly haired girl roles her eyes "I mean even his younger brothers pick on him, I wonder how he can just ignore it. It's almost as if he thinks he is better then us so it doesn't matter what we think"
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't think he cares, his Mr. Ice after all. You should see him at the meetings. The room gets colder when he walks in. What a snob even when his family is so poor." Penelope agrees with her dark haired friend.
Percy keeps on walking without even slowing down at the girls' comments. He has grown used to the chatter. He keeps on walking till he is in the farthest corner of the library and sits at his usual seat. He begins to work on his homework. Days for him go on like clock work, he makes sure to stick to his schedule but today he finishes early and is so far ahead of his class he can't find anything to do. Maybe it's his imagination but he swears he can still hear the girls' mindless chatter. Feeling sick Percy grabs his things and heads out of the library, walking only for the sake of walking leads Percy to finding himself outside and near the Quidditch pitch entrance closet to the Forbidden Forest. Deciding that he needs to sit and just relax for a while Percy walks in and up to the stands to have a seat and calm down, away from his tormentors.
Sitting down after putting down his heavy bag, Percy finds himself relaxing into the uncomfortable seat. He takes off his glasses as he throws his head back to get a better look at the sky. "Just two and a half more years . . . and that will be all" He tells himself.
So busy with his thought is Percy that he doesn't notice the young man who has just made his way out into the pitch, broom on hand. Though the boy is 15 as well he surpasses Percy in height at 6.1 feet, and not at all as lanky as Percy. He possesses well definedmuscles. Oliver Wood's appearance can be descried as rugged with his golden skin, strong jag, and his hair cut stylishly short so as not to get in his way during a match. Though he might look intimidating, his laughing hazel eyes and broad smile put the people around him at ease.
Percy rubs the bridge of his nose as the headache that has been ever present starts to settle, he can feel sleep starts to over take him and is grateful for the distraction. Over his head young Oliver Wood has started to fly drills around the pitch. This goes on for another half an hour before one notices the other.
Oliver has decides to take a small rest from his drills when he notices Percy's bright red hair from the Hufflepuff stands. Oliver's lips curve into a wicked smile as he flies quietly over to the red head.
Oliver hovers in front of the sleeping Weasley. "What should I do now? His asleep,"
Oliver takes the time to look over his roommate, as he has never seen the boy so relaxed. A light from the hand covering Percy's eyes catches Oliver's attention. It's the sun reflecting off of Percy's glasses. "Glasses . . .I don't think I've ever seen Percy with out them . . . " Oliver's sentence trails off as curiosity quickly overtakes the young Keeper.
Slowly, as to not wake Percy, Oliver removes Percy's arm from its resting place. Oliver vaguely wonders why he has not awakened Percy. He knows Percy to be a very light sleeper as he has to sleep with an "Own World" charm around his bed or eles he can't sleep over their other roommates snoring and sleep talking . . . so then why isn't Percy even stirring? Pushing the thought to the back of his mind Oliver concentrates on satisfying his curiosity.
Oliver feels his heart rate pick up, but he can't believe that the person in front of him is really the Percy Weasley he has known or thought he knew for so long. There are no glasses or hair to get in his way this time and Oliver can see Percy's face clearly. Percy's flawless skin, slim eye brows and long curving eye lashes. In the afternoon sun the trade mark red hair glitter like golden fire. What attracts Oliver's attention the most are Percy's lips. They look to be very soft, now that they are not held on a grim line or frown. This Percy is Angelic. This Percy is Beautiful. As he is not paying notice anymore to his hand, too distracted by Percy is he that he lets go of Percy's arm, successfully rousing the boy from his sleep.
Percy's eyes flutter open, and Oliver snaps out of his thoughts, but as reality strikes him Oliver feels his heart would stop as Percy calls his name. It is sweet and softened from sleep. In an unsuccessful attempt to calm down Oliver pulls back only to be reminded that he has been perched on his broom this whole time, not a chair. As he falls Oliver glimpse deep blue eyes that shine with shock, amusement and confusion. Oliver is mesmerized by Percy's expressive eyes.
Oliver yells as he lands on the ground, he let his arm out to absorb most of the impact but his arm gives a small snap under the sudden pressure. "ahh . . . shit"
"Oh Merlin, Oliver! Are you all right?" Percy asks, quickly waking from his half sleep and hurrying to Oliver's side.
"Hey Perce," Oliver replies lamely as he sits up nursing his injured arm.
"Is there something wrong with your arm?" asks Percy as he reaches over to examine Oliver's arm.
"I don't-Aahh Ok maybe there's something wrong" says Oliver shame faced as Percy gently probes his arm. Oliver tries to calm his heart and his thought, which are highly inappropriate and are making it hard for him to ever consider looking Percy directly in the eye again. Oliver busies himself by looking at Percy's face as he works. Oliver is glad Percy had been too worried to notice he isn't wearing his glasses.
Oliver is too busy looking at Percy's eyes that he doesn't notice as the pain in his arm lessen, his arm quickly healing under Percy's touch and wand work. "Well, I think I fixed all the damage" Percy tells Oliver, once again snapping the boy from his daydream.
Oliver forces himself to look Percy in the eyes. "Hey, I- thanks Perce" He stumbles over his words as he feels his face flush, and quickly adds "I didn't know you know how to heal" to distract Percy from noticing he is acting odd.
"Yes well- Oh, I didn't notice. You've also scratched up your face pretty badly. Your bleeding" scolds Percy, "Hold still"
As Percy gets even closer Oliver lets him fret, over the small wound. He decides to ask again, and to steady his breathing.
"I know what I'm doing if that's what your asking, Oliver" Percy replies.
"That's not it! If I had thought that, I wouldn't have let you near me. I was . . . I'm just . . . curious"
Percy smiles at Oliver, a warm and loving looking smile "I started to learn half into our 1st year. I asked Pomfrey to teach me when she could. I thought it might come in handy seeing as who my brothers are. . . "
Oliver looks on as Percy cleans off the excessdirt from his face; he feels his gentle touch and wonders why he had never seen this Percy before. Oliver has started to believe- no, he knows, his starting to fall for Percy and his warm smile and soft voice.
Percy pulls away, finishing his healing and story "I've been learning ever since, turns out I have a knack for it"
"I never knew that"
"Well it's not like it's something I tell most people Oliver" Percy stands and holds out a hand for Oliver to take. Oliver takes his hand, and regrets it immediately knowing he'll have to let it go as soon as his up. "Come on, we should head back, it's almost dinner time"
They head back to Hogwarts laughing and talking about nothing in particular, Oliver Enjoying Percy's company. He doesn't mind that much when Percy replaces his glasses in its rightful position on the bridge of his nose.
Just before they make it into the Great Hall, Oliver and Percy meet up with Fred and George. Oliver can practically feel the change as if by the change in temperature or the rustle Percy's hair makes as he lifts his head higher. The twins stare back at Percy with the face Oliver has seen only when the twins delight in picking on their older brother.
"Hey there Oliver, . . .. Percy" They say while staring at Percy with that eerie look, Oliver doesn't know why he hadn't seen how ill humored that look is before now.
"Fred, George" Percy nods at both of them, before he turns to Oliver. "I forgot something I needed to do, but before I go. I think it best to tell you, let Madam Pomfrey take a look at your arm, just in case"
Oliver looks back at Percy, stunned. He manages a slight nod and small "Sure Perce-cy . . ." as he looks at the boy he has been rooming with for 5 years, as this is him. This is the Percy he had known before some hours ago. This isn't the Percy he wanted to get to know, or the Percy he had started to have feelings for –Oliver drops the though. He makes a decision as he looks at Percy walk away and back at Fred and George who have started to make exaggerated imitations of Percy. Oliver doesn't care, either way, Percy is Perce, and he will accept Percy's mask, scares and anything else because he has fallen for that smile and beautiful eyes.