"Get dressed," Wood told him one evening as the sun was setting. Classes were finished for the day, at least for them and dinner was not yet to start so it gave them some time to choose whatever they wished to do in the meantime. As it was nearing December, that meant some of the homework load was slowing down for the anticipation of the holidays.

"Why?" Percy wondered what his dormmate was up to this time.

Wood beamed-which did no good to his inner worry. "We're going to play Quidditch."

"Oh, no," Percy was already shaking his head. The memories of the quidditch game came back at full force. Not to mention, he didn't fancy the idea of playing with his brothers. No doubt they'd be there, full of energy and aggression that would not do well for him. Honestly, what was Wood thinking? "I'd rather not and I know my brothers would prefer me not being there."

Wood was already shaking his head midway through Percy's sentence. "Just us," he elaborated with a reassuring smile. "I won't make you play with them."

You aren't going to make me do anything

"Us?" Percy echoed with skepticism. It would be just like Wood to lure him out there with the rest of the quidditch team waiting, taking advantage of this temporary trusting period they were going through. Although, on the other hand, Wood had been rather convincing during that talk. He really did act like he wanted them to be friends and was fairly disappointed by Percy's reluctance.

"Yeah," Wood said. "Just a little one on one. Or, you know, we could throw the quaffle back and forth while on our brooms."

Percy lightly kicked at an imaginary object. "I haven't been on a broom in ages."

"That's alright," Wood shrugged like it was of no importance.

Was it really, though?

"Don't need to be fancy about it. I'll go easy on you if you'd like," Wood's eyes sparkled teasingly, his grin the kind he would give to someone he knew-a friend.

You're going to make a fool of yourself

Worse than what you already have

Is that what you want?

Wood got on Percy's bed, much to his displeasure. One of the red head's eyebrows twitched, fighting an urge to push his dormmate right off. Wasn't he aware they didn't hold the same views on personal space? "I know you're not fond of it-"

That was it.

"Where did that even come from?" Percy demanded. "Why does everyone believe I hate quidditch?"

It seemed to have come out of nowhere with pretty much everyone accepting it as truth. No one actually came to him to see if it was true. He shouldn't be surprised by that and he wasn't.

Wood's stare lasted longer than Percy wished it would. "You...don't?"

"No," Percy was unable to keep the exasperation out of his voice. "I actually like it. I just don't obsess over it like the rest of the school does."

"Oh," Wood was looking at him in a whole new light. "Have you ever thought about-"

"No."

"But would you ever-"

"No."

"Just think about it for a-"

"No. And for future reference, because I know you won't let this rest, I will not in any way play on the quidditch team."

"Why not?" Wood whined. "I can use you as a backup."

What part of no are you struggling with, exactly?

"I'll tell you what you can do; you can back up and get off my bed," Percy scowled. It fell right off, his lips turning into a weary expression when his dormmate beamed. "What?"

"Progress," was all Wood said as he hopped off.

Percy was baffled. What did he mean by that? "Mind explaining yourself?"

"You're making progress," Wood said simply. "A month ago you wouldn't have said anything."

Percy's hand found its way to his forearm and rubbed. "I suppose."

"I'm glad," Wood said earnestly. "Really, I am."

He's lying

He doesn't mean it

He's probably wishing you would shut up

I barely said anything...

But you spoke

You didn't have to make such a big deal of it

You're so dramatic

Wood had started to fold his freshly cleaned clothes semi neatly but then abandoned that in favor of stuffing back in his trunk. Wrinkles didn't faze him. "I get it, you know."

"Get what?" Percy said.

"How frustrating it is to have people think something about you," Wood said. "You wouldn't believe how many people think I only care about quidditch."

Somehow, I think I would, Percy thought dryly. Because that's how you act.

"I've got other interests. It's not just that."

"Like what?" Percy didn't think he should be faulted for not believing him.

"Well, there's-" Wood cut himself off, face scrunching up, a frown line visible. "Huh, maybe it is just quidditch." He shrugged. "Well, I don't just care about it, contrary to what people think. I care about my friends and my parents, things like that."

But you're not made fun of for it

Little did he know he'd said that out loud.

Wood's face took on a wry smile. "Oh, plenty of people make fun of me. Your brothers do it all the time."

"Doesn't it...doesn't it bother you?" Percy found himself asking.

"Not really," Wood shrugged. "I know it's true."

Not for the first time, jealousy reared its ugly head within Percy. Of course Wood didn't have a problem with it. Of course he was able to brush it off like it was no big deal. Of course he could take the teasing and not feel like it was a stab to the chest, with the knife penetrating deeper and deeper, twisting around until everything was mush.

Why couldn't he be like that?

Why did he have to take everything so personally?

/

"It's too cold out here," Percy was insisting. "We're going to catch our death."

"You sound like my Ma," Wood remarked. "And anyway, we'll have warming charms on." He brandished his wand, flicking it once and murmuring the incantation. With that, he threw his leg over his broom, rising into the air while Percy remained on the ground, arms folded and face pinched. "Aye, come on, Perce!"

"Percy," He mumbled with emphasis. "My name is Percy."

But Wood didn't hear that. He might not have anyway but definitely not with the way the wind was howling. That was another thing, too. What good would it be to play out in this? They would have to be careful with throwing the quaffle around so it didn't get lost.

He grasped the handle of the broom; it was of the school's and had been there for quite some time, as evident by the splintered pieces. He'd have to be careful with that. Truth be told, he was a little more than wary to get on it. It had been ages since he'd ridden one-first year to be specific. Most people would be astonished to know that but it was true; not since his flying lessons with Madam Hooch had he been up in the air.

"What's the matter?" Wood asked, leaning forward while still up in the air.

"I can't do this," Percy was shaking his head.

"Sure you can," Wood disagreed. "You've got this."

"No, I don't. I'm not like you. I can't just play and be good at it."

"It took a lot of work to get this good," Wood told him. "I could hardly stay upright when I first started."

Percy didn't believe him. "You're lying."

"Swear I'm not," Wood crossed his heart-which was more like in the middle of his chest than where his heart actually was.

Percy had to squint his eyes when snow began to blow in his face. "I haven't flown since first year."

(He didn't miss the choking sound that Wood made).

"That long ago?" His dormmate was dumbfounded. "Merlin mate..."

I'm just going to make a fool of myself

Everyone will see it

"I think I'll just go back inside," Percy started but Wood didn't agree.

"Don't back out yet, Perce-" He missed the way Percy's eye twitched. "No one's around; they won't see it."

I'm going to regret this

Just like Wood did, he put his leg over the broom and began to rise into the air. At first, his stomach jolted and his breath hitched. He wasn't afraid of heights by any means, however, being that it had been a few years, he was rightfully apprehensive. Soon, he reached the same level that his dormmate was on and it...it wasn't so bad. Once he got over the initial feeling, it was fine. He relaxed, allowing his body to not be quite as stiff.

Wood smiled encouragingly. "See, you're alright."

Percy glanced down then back up. "I suppose you're right."

"Course, I am," Wood levitated the quaffle up to them, tossing it over to Percy who let out an oof when he-barely-caught it. "You start."

"Thanks for the warning," Percy mumbled. His stare was semi disapproving. "That could have broken my glasses."

"I would've repaired them," Wood said like that was supposed to make it better.

"You're too kind," Percy flew over-along with Wood-over to where the field was. His dormmate went over to one side, bracing himself for what was to come.

"Are we keeping points?"

"I thought we were just tossing it around?" Percy said.

"We could still keep points. Dunno. Whatever you want to do," Wood said.

"Let's not," he didn't need anything to remind him how bad he was. He already knew sports weren't his thing.

Wood shrugged.

He threw the first throw. Much to his surprise, it actually went pretty far. It didn't go through the goal post but it was close. Wood had to leap to the right to catch it. He gave Percy a grin.

"Nice shot!"

"You're just saying that," Percy said. Alright, it went further than he believed it would but most of it was the wind's doing, not his own. It was still blowing out, the sound being much louder now that they were up in the air.

"Have you ever done this before?" Wood switched the topic abruptly, his gaze questioning.

"What?"

"Thrown the quaffle around," Wood clarified.

"Oh." That." No, not really."

"Even more impressive," Wood was clearly exaggerating. It wasn't that good.

But Percy didn't have to dwell on that; the quaffle came hurling back at him-maybe hurling was the wrong word. It wasn't that fast since they were just throwing it around but still. He wasn't able to prevent it from going in the goal post. That was a figurative point for Wood.

"You'll get the hang of it!" Wood called out to him, clapping. "You got this!"

Percy's hands tightened to a near painful grip when a powerful gust came through, tipping him to one side. He swore his heart stopped momentarily, stomach dropping, regret settling in.

I shouldn't have done

I really shouldn't have done this

You're right. You were a fool to agree

"Sit up straighter!" Wood's voice shattered his thoughts. He glanced up, eyes having trouble keeping themselves open with the sheer force of the wind. "Don't want you falling!"

...Because that was reassuring.

Now that Percy paid attention again, he noticed he had started to lean toward one side. When he was in the correct position again, he threw his arm back and tossed the quaffle over to Wood once again. They went through that for a while; repeating the motions over and over. Eventually, the wind began to die down a smidge which helped immensely. Percy actually started to get the hang of it. He was able to get it through the goal post more than once. Wood cheered like a maniac, even going for some playful trash talk that had Percy rolling his eyes (good-naturedly, though).

Perhaps he was even starting to...enjoy himself.

It wasn't as terrible as he'd imagined it would be. And with no one else out and around to watch and poke fun at his expense, it was easier to get into the game.

But it also got him thinking.

Is this the kind of fun he missed out on having with his siblings? He knew when they were home, they oftentimes went out to fly, especially if Bill or Charlie were home. It made them all so happy.

While leaving him out.

Oh please

Don't act like they left you out

You never once asked to join

Stop whining

Maybe it was all their faults. Maybe he didn't always communicate as well as he should have. He'd been certain, though, that they wouldn't have wanted him to play anyway. They would likely assume he would take over and be bossy. Just like at school. You're bossy here. That's why no one likes you. They'd think he'd ruin it for them. And he couldn't let their mum know any of that; not for her to force it to happen and scream at his siblings to get along with him. That sort of thing never worked. It only made the resentment all that much more deeper.

"Want to do something different?" Wood asked.

"Like what?"

Wood shrugged. "Fly around. Do some tricks."

So I can embarrass myself?

"I don't think I should," Percy said.

"You could try," Wood suggested. "You were pretty good at this."

"That's a horrible exaggeration."

"I'm going to bring out the quidditch player in you yet," Wood grinned.

"There is no quidditch player in me," Percy argued, though it was a futile endeavor. "Why do I have to be like the rest of my family? Why can't it be fine for me to simply appreciate the game but not play or be a fanatic about it?"

Wood actually pondered over his words.

"You're right," his dormmate ended up agreeing. "You don't have to."

Percy kicked his foot around lightly as he rubbed his face.

"You okay, mate?'

"I'm fine. I'm just...I'm tired."

"Oh," Wood said. "Well, we can get down if you-"

"It's not that kind of tired," Percy cut him off.

Wood scrunched up his face. "I don't get it. What do you mean, then?"

Percy didn't think he'd ever actually be telling Wood any of this.

Let alone up the air.

"It's...it's hard to explain," Percy muttered. "Everything is hard. Everything is draining."

"Everything?" Wood echoed. "Like what?"

"Classes," Percy didn't have to hesitate there.

"Because of the work?" Wood tilted his head.

"Because of the pretending."

His dormmate frowned.

"I have to act the way others think of me. I can't be one way or the other because someone will question it. I can't break their perception of me."

Wood looked sad. "Oh, Perce."

He'd said too much.

But he couldn't go back now.

"I'm tired, Oliver," Percy sighed in defeat. "I'm just really tired."

When Wood looked at him, there was an emotion to his eyes that wasn't there before. Not sympathy but empathy.

"How about we head to the kitchens?" Wood said gently. We could ask the house elves to make us some hot chocolate."

"That would be nice," Percy admitted.

"Let's go, then," Wood smiled.

They lowered themselves to the ground. Percy waited nearby while Wood went to put both of their brooms and the quaffle away. When they started to walk together, they were abruptly ambushed by Ron and Harry. The two boys were looking at them-at Percy-in surprise. Ron's was more accusatory, though. His mouth was agape, eyes darting from the sky and back to his brother.

"What?" Percy said with the uneasiness that came from being around his siblings.

Wood watched them both carefully.

"What was that?" Ron demanded.

"What was what?" Percy was confused.

"That!"

"I don't know what 'that' is," Percy said, wondering if this was leading to a prank of some kind.

"You and Oliver were throwing the quaffle around," Harry said. "We saw you both."

Ron added, before Percy could respond, "I thought you hated quidditch?"

"He doesn't hate it!" Wood interrupted hotly. Only Harry seemed to notice his tone, face looking curious.

But Ron ignored him. "Since when are you..." He was struggling to say whatever it was.

"Since when am I what?" Percy said quietly.

"Decent," Ron was looking quite confused as he said that. "That was-"

"You had some really good throws," Harry told him.

"How come you never told us about that?" Ron crossed his arms. "Does Bill or Charlie know?"

Percy's gaze lingered on his younger brother for several seconds. He felt Wood nudging him to move along, a silent way of telling him to just let it go. He relented, and they began to move.

But then he turned back.

"I didn't tell you because you nev asked me. You assumed!"

Ron was stunned.

"And for the last bloody time, I don't hate quidditch."