Work Text:
Slicing Silence
A normal day at Hogwarts for fourth year Oliver Wood. He was in the great hall already eating but also waiting for Percy.
His dorm mate already had to scold his two younger brothers for starting the day with a dung bomb.
He finally came rushing in with a blush so crimson like his hair. Probably out of anger. The twins followed soon after him but seated themselves far away at the table.
"How bad does it look?" Percy asked Oliver as he filled his plate.
"Well, I can't spot your freckles anymore." Oliver told him truthfully.
"Great." Percy said before he shoved food into his mouth. He chewed for some time and swallowed. "I wish they could be less of a mess for one bloody day. Or that Charlie would scold them just once." He huffed before he continued eating.
Oliver hummed incoherently. He really didn't want to get between the brothers. Percy was his dorm mate and classmate and helped him study. Charlie was his quidditch captain and a damn good seeker he admired. The twins on the other hand were annoying but also incredible beaters. Almost unbeatable. Even with just twelve years.
It would be impossible to choose a side. Charlie would be gone after this year and he had a few more with the twins. Probably as their captain. God, he hoped to be the next captain.
Soon after that they went for charms. Their first class of the day. And then potions. After lunch had Oliver a free period but Percy went for ancient runes. The day was over in a blur soon after that and left them with new homework to do.
In the library, they worked on essays quietly with just one or two whispered questions from Oliver which Percy could answer without consulting any of his notes. Sometimes Oliver wondered why Percy needed notes anyway when he could remember anything anytime.
"I can remember because I made notes in the first place." Percy told him once. He wouldn't dare to ask again. Once he had asked the same question twice with only a few hours in between and Percy had looked at him mortified as if he was crazy before Oliver remembered himself. Having a very smart person as your best friend was practical but also humiliating.
At dinner was everything normal as well. They hadn't encountered any of Percy's brothers all day which was a success because the bigger the distance in time and space from Percy to his siblings the more relaxed he got.
And a relaxed Percy was always the best.
They had just discussed the upcoming essay in transfiguration when Percy suddenly sucked in air. He let the cutlery clatter to the table and hastily drank something but only start wheezing.
Oliver looked at him in concern. He must have choked on something. Oliver couldn't do much because he sat opposite to Percy but the student next him was so kind to pat his back.
By now had Percy loosened his tie and opened up the first three buttons of his shirt. He tried to drink some more but he got into a coughing fit instead. His head started to become red again and Percy hastily stood up and went for the exit of the hall.
Oliver couldn't help it to get up as well and abandon his food. He just had enough sense to take Percy's bag with him before he followed him. Oliver was strong and an athlete but his own and Percy's bag did weigh a bit nonetheless.
When he finally had reached the entrance hall through the doors of the great hall was Percy already at the base of the stairs. But instead of going up he held himself on the banister with one hand and the other one covering his mouth. He was shaking vigorously as if he tried not to cough.
"You probably have caught a cold. It is okay to cough." Oliver told him when he reached for Percy's shoulder in comfort. Oliver already knew that Percy had too much pride for his own good. And getting ill was a weakness he wouldn't show anyone.
The touch on his shoulder let Percy look up and Oliver had never before seen him this panicked. His eyes were so big and round and terrified as if he had just seen the You-Know-Who himself.
Oliver was shocked for a moment. Then he saw something red in Percy's hand with which he had covered his mouth but before he could say anything was Percy having another coughing fit and now could Oliver see clearly that Percy was coughing blood!
Oliver's eyes went wide as well. This wasn't a cold! Something was wrong. Something was terribly, terribly wrong.
He took the arm that was steadying Percy on the banister and hauled it around his shoulder and circled his own arm around Percy's waist and then mostly dragged him up the stairs to the hospital wing. Whatever this was, Percy needed medical care!
Loaded with two bags full of school books and one classmate Oliver was sweating when he reached the infirmary. Percy had grown less and less obedient so that Oliver feared that he might have fell unconscious but he didn't want to waste time to stop and check.
"Madam Pomfrey!" Oliver had shouted even before he had reached the door and did so again when he had pushed the door open.
At the noise, came Madam Pomfrey into the room by another door and immediately came to their aid. She guided them to the next free bed and Oliver rambled about the blood and the coughing and the wheezing.
Percy barely moved when he was lying on the bed with closed eyes. Blood was around his mouth and on his chin.
"Go find Professor McGonagall!" Madam Pomfrey told him and for a second he thought she must be mad. Leaving? Let Percy suffer through this alone? Doing nothing?
Madam Pomfrey worked quickly on Percy with her wand trying to figure out what was wrong. Inspecting his throat.
"Go on!" She told him again and this time he complied. Oliver brushed off the two bags and went through the door again and to the stairs. He stopped there. Where was Professor McGonagall? Was she still in the great hall at dinner? Was she back in her office? Anywhere else?
He decided for the classroom for transfiguration because it was the closest.
"Professor McGonagall!" Oliver now wheezed himself when she actually was in her classroom grading some essays.
"Mr. Wood!" She said surprised. "What is going on?"
He was more than ready to tell her everything but out came only half sentences and keywords.
Thankfully it was enough to say "Percy! … Coughing… blood!" and then she was, with him hot on her heels, back on the way to the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey and Percy.
"What happened?" She demanded to know now from Madam Pomfrey who seemed to give a last spell to Percy.
"He was cursed." The nurse told them. "Seems like two different kinds at the same time and they had a cross reaction. I gave him a sleeping potion. He'll live."
Oliver looked at Percy who now looked as if he was just sleeping. He had seen him sleeping often in his dorm but it was weird to see him sleeping in the sterile white of the hospital wing.
Oliver felt like collapsing and had to sit down on the next hospital bed.
"He'll live?" Oliver asked weakly.
"Yes. Don't you worry." Madam Pomfrey tried to console him.
"As in he could have died?" Oliver knew he was trembling. Hell, even his voice was trembling. The adrenalin that had him keep going was wearing off. His hands shook and his legs felt like jelly.
Now came Madam Pomfrey to him and examined him. His chest felt like tightening and it became harder and harder to breath.
"Panic attack." He heard her mumbling before she gave him a potion and pushed him down on the bed to lie there. He saw McGonagall's worrying face before everything turned dark.
When Oliver jolted awake he first didn't know where he was. Then he noticed the whiteness around him and he remembered again what had happened. He got up in a haste that made him nearly topple to the floor but he could catch himself.
"I see you are awake again." He heard Madam Pomfrey say. "How are you feeling?"
He needed a moment to check his own body mentally. No trembling, no tightness in his chest, no jelly legs. "Okay." He said.
Then finally landed his eyes on Percy. He was propped up in his bed and awake. He wore a pajama. Oliver checked his own clothes but he was still in his uniform and robes.
"How are you?" Oliver asked when he made it to Percy's bed. McGonagall was still there sitting on Percy's other side in a chair. Oliver decided to ignored her for now.
Instead of saying anything Percy scribbled something on a little chalkboard which made Oliver frown.
When Percy turned it to Oliver it said I'll live.
Oliver stared at the words and got angry. "That is not a satisfactory answer!"
Percy only rolled his eyes and wrote something else. But the truth!
"Why can't he talk?" Oliver asked no one in particular.
"For one was his throat heavily injured." Madam Pomfrey said also next to them. "It needs time to heal."
Oliver stared at her for a moment. "You can heal broken bones within minutes." He reminded her. He himself had already experienced such injuries and the marvelous healings.
"We don't know what the curse was that hit him. It was actually two and they did not work well together. Any more meddling with magic might do more harm than healing." Professor McGonagall said now. "This has to heal mostly naturally."
Oliver did not like this.
"How long was I out?" Oliver asked. The sky outside the windows was already dark.
"Two hours." McGonagall said. Oliver reluctantly looked at her.
"What will we do now?"
"You'll go to your dorm and sleep. Mr. Weasley will stay here. He needs rest." Madam Pomfrey told him.
"I mean because of those that have attacked him!" Oliver almost yelled.
His best friend was lying in a hospital bed because of a botched curse. Two botched curses. He had coughed blood because of an injured throat and almost died. And he was send to bed?! Someone had to be disciplined for that! The culprit had to be identified!
"Mr. Wood!" McGonagall chastised him. "You will not run around searching for the wrongdoer! You will leave that to the adults!"
Oliver looked at her as if she was mad. "I have to do something."
"You will continue with your normal life and classes. You will not tell anyone about this."
"Why?"
"Because we don't want a mass hysteria."
"What."
"If the word gets around that one student got nearly decapitated out of nowhere everyone will think they are next. It will lead to a mass hysteria that will make everything just worse. And we will never find the one responsible for it." McGonagall explained.
Oliver stared first at her than at Madam Pomfrey and Percy. Decapitated?
"Nearly decapitated? Like… like Sir Nicholas?" Oliver felt fuzzy again and sank into a chair next to Percy's bed. Percy looked at him and seemed less frightened than Oliver felt like.
Yes. Was written on his chalkboard when he turned it to Oliver once more.
Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall exchanged a worried glance. It seemed like they have told more than they had originally planned.
"Mr. Weasley's throat was cut from the inside. Not the outside." McGonagall said reluctantly.
"And you don't want to tell the other students that someone is running around nearly decapitating others?" Oliver stressed.
"Our guess is that he was supposed to get a cold. No more. When the student responsible for it thinks they had nearly killed someone it will be less likely for them to step forward and confess."
"You think so too?" Oliver asked Percy who was still holding the chalkboard with the Yes on it and nodded in agreement.
"How can you be so chill? You could have been killed!" Oliver questioned his best friend.
Percy hesitated and then wrote on the chalkboard again. The teachers know what they are doing. It said. It was an accident.
"Well, I doubt that you brothers will be that chill about it too!" Oliver huffed. The words were out before his brain had actually registered what he was about to say. Percy's brothers! "Where are they anyway? Shouldn't they be here??"
Don't tell them. Said the chalkboard.
"What!" Oliver couldn't believe that Percy didn't want them to know. Didn't he realized that he had nearly died?
"We have already discussed this and it would probably be best not to tell them." McGonagall said. "As you said. They probably would try something too. We can't risk that."
Oliver rubbed his face in frustration. They were all mad.
"Now you should go." His head of house said. "It is almost curfew."
"And what am I supposed to tell them when they ask where you are?" Oliver didn't like this at all.
They won't care.
"They are your bothers!"
That's why I know them best.
Oliver sighed as if he was a hundred years old. He actually felt like that as well.
"Just tell them that he was hexed with a cold and has to stay in the hospital wing." McGonagall said when she stood and herded Oliver to the exit.
A banging sound made them look back. Percy had rapped a mug on the surface of the bedside table. He looked at Oliver and pointed at his bag which was still neatly put away next to the bed he had laid in. When Oliver made a turn to retrieve it Percy also held his chalkboard up. Thank you. And for a moment Percy did looked scared and frightened.
"You are welcome." Oliver said and he knew that Percy not only meant staying quiet towards his brothers but also to get him in the hospital wing in the first place.
Oliver just wished he hadn't to go away. He wanted to stay with Percy so he wouldn't be alone overnight. That neither of them would be alone.
The way upstairs felt longer than it actually was. He still felt a bit sleepy from the potion he got for his panic attack and he felt aching all over.
There weren’t many people left in the common room but one of them was Charlie Weasley.
“Wood!” He immediately barked when Oliver entered through the portal.
This was it. How could he pretend that everything was alright when he was caught like this? Of course, would he notice the absence of his dear brother…
“Where were you at quidditch practice?” Charlie demanded to know as he towered over Oliver with a scowl and crossed arms.
Oliver stared at Charlie as if he had two heads. He had missed quidditch practice? Oliver mentally though back which day they actually had. Everything had become irrelevant when Percy had become ill.
“Hospital Wing.” He told Charlie truthfully.
Charlie’s scowl immediately morphed into concern. “Are you hurt? Was it one of those Slytherins? Did they tried to knock you out before the game?”
“No, I brought Percy there.” Oliver said.
“Percy? Why?”
Oliver blinked. That didn’t sound quite as concerned as it should.
“He caught a cold. They will keep him there. They gave me a pepper up potion as well and I had to stay a few hours out of precaution. To stop it before it spreads.”
Oliver didn’t know where these words came from. He hoped it was convincing for Charlie.
“Oh.” Charlie dropped his captain attire and relaxed. He had to be stern with his teammates but someone’s health was more important. He checked his watch. “Just a cold, yeah? It’s already curfew. He is probably already asleep anyway. Those anti-cold potion always knock one out hard. I will drop by him in the morning. “
Charlie gave Oliver a once over. "You look even more worn out than after practice. Go to sleep. I am sure Percy is better soon and back at scolding and warning others off before we know it."
He gave Oliver a friendly pat on the arm which was way harder than it should be. Oliver had seen him give those to Percy often and they almost always made him topple over.
Oliver just nodded and marched up the stairs to his dorm.
He did not have a restful night. He tossed and turned and woke up every now and then. At some point, he dreamed to be at Percy’s funeral.
In the morning, he felt even worse. For a moment, he laid there contemplating why he felt this awful. When he remembered most of the previous day he was up in no time and left without a second thought the dorm and Gryffindor common room in order to go to the hospital wing and Percy.
He slipped inside without anyone noticing and didn’t stop until he was next to Percy’s bed.
He stared at his roommate for some time and took in his appearance. He looked paler than usual. He didn’t think it to be possible but Percy managed that. Percy was still sleeping. At least he hoped it was sleeping. It looked peaceful anyway.
Oliver hesitated a moment but ultimately touched Percy’s hand lightly with two of his fingers. It wasn’t a pulse point or anything but feeling the warmth of the hand was reassuring enough.
“Mr. Wood.” Oliver shrieked at that. Madam Pomfrey had startled him. “What are you doing here? It’s way too early for visitors.”
“I barely slept.” Oliver told her and she looked him over.
“Indeed.” She said and left them.
Oliver looked back to Percy just to find him blinking at him sleepily. “Ah, go back to sleep.” He whispered at Percy as if that would refrain him from fully waking up.
“Here.” Madam Pomfrey was back and gave Oliver a vial. “A pepper up potion. You will need it for class.”
Oliver stared at her. Class. He had to go to class. Pretend everything was fine. How could anything be fine when Percy wasn’t with him in class?
“Class, right.” Oliver said monotone. Percy wrote something on his chalkboard: You have to bring me any new homework.
Oliver stared at it. “You are supposed to rest!” He chastised.
My Body, not my mind.
“Madam Pomfrey!” Oliver said desperate so she would chastise him as well.
“Homework will be alright.” She said. “Just no spell practice.”
Oliver felt deeply betrayed but just pressed his lips into a thin line so he wouldn’t say something he would regret later.
“Now you should go to breakfast.” Madam Pomfrey shooed him out of the wing.
Just when they reached the door it opened from the other side and Charlie was in front of them.
“Hello.” He said and got inside when Oliver slipped out.
“I wanted to look for my brother…” That was all Oliver could hear before the door fell shut.
It was the weirdest day ever. To be in a class without Percy? Unthinkable!
Percy was in every class which meant he had classes that Oliver didn’t have. That meant that Oliver had to seek out those who had the classes he didn’t had and would share their notes with Percy and also collect homework from them.
Once he had managed that he was almost late for his own class because he had left the Gryffindor tower that morning without his bag and had to go back to get it.
Then the classes themselves were odd. For Oliver, it felt like there was one big hole missing where Percy should be. He often turned around to ask Percy something but he wasn’t there.
Merlin, was he depending on Percy. He couldn’t ask him; he couldn’t spy on his notes.
Even the teachers were so used to Percy always having an answer to their questions that they had to remind themselves that he wasn’t there.
Usually, it was Percy who trained spells with those in charms and transfiguration that were a bit slower than the rest. Oliver tried to help out but he was just average.
The worst was during lunch and dinner when the twins were gloating. Now that Percy was out of the way there was nobody stopping them. Charlie told them once or twice to stop but that hadn’t quite the emphases it needed to actually make them stop.
Fred and George had visited Percy on the first day after classes to wish him well.
For a short moment Oliver wondered if the curses could have been their doing. But he was sure that even they wouldn’t dare to curse their own brother.
But who had cursed Percy to begin with?
He was told not to investigate but he couldn’t help it. He started with a list of his classmates who might not like him. It started with every Slytherin and ended with some Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor. The Hufflepuffs were out of question.
The Slytherins were just evil and didn’t liked anyone else in his opinion. Three Ravenclaws didn’t liked how Percy constantly bested them in classes, two of them took all classes like Percy. And one Gryffindor girl didn’t like that Percy often tried to help her as if she couldn’t do anything herself. She was just hurt in her pride.
Stop it. Percy wrote on his chalkboard when Oliver visited him. He had just told him his suspicions.
“It had to be someone.” Oliver stressed. Because when they found the culprit he could tell what spells were used and Madam Pomfrey could help Percy properly to get him out sooner.
I mean it. Percy wrote.
Oliver looked away and only hummed.
The times that Oliver wasn’t in class or at meals or at training he spent with Percy in the hospital wing.
Madam Pomfrey was against it, at first, but he came back over and over again. What was the difference if he worked on his homework in the library or in the hospital wing? He had to be quiet anyway and Percy couldn’t talk either. The natural way took way too long to heal in Oliver’s opinion. He had a lot of opinions lately.
Show me the move again. Oliver read on Percy’s chalkboard. They had a new spell in charms: Accio.
Oliver did as he had been asked and let a book fly into his hand when he said loudly “Accio book!”. It took him some time to learn it without Percy.
Percy copied the movement of the wand perfectly but nothing happened since he couldn’t form the words.
It was frustrating. The learning out of books and writing essays was no problem at all. But performing spells? Impossible.
“It looked flawless.” Oliver told Percy well-meaningly but he only let his wand clatter into the first drawer of his bedside table and shut it to reach for a different book to read.
In all honesty, Oliver was worried. He feared that the inability to perform spells could affect Percy negatively. What was a wizard without magic?
The door of the hospital wing opened and Charlie came in.
“How are you faring?” He asked in what he hoped to be a cheerful tone.
Percy was now in the hospital wing for over a week and Charlie visited once a day. Somehow had Oliver the suspicion that he was ordered to do so by their mother.
“Quite a cold, huh?” He tried with humor. Oliver didn’t laugh and Percy couldn’t. It was unusual for a cold to take this long but so far nobody questioned the official story.
I need a book. Percy wrote on his chalkboard and hold it into Charlie’s direction to read. Oliver frowned at that. So far he had gotten Percy all the books he needed. Why now Charlie?
“Don’t you have already enough?” Charlie frowned too. And it was true. Percy’s hospital bed was covered in books and parchment.
Percy shook his head.
“I am sure Oliver can get you all you need.” Charlie said. That’s apparently where brotherly love ended.
Percy shook his head again. He can’t.
Charlie looked from Percy to Oliver. “What does he mean?”
“Dunno.” Oliver shrugged.
It’s advanced. Percy explained with his chalkboard.
Now Charlie sighed deeply. “Percy, it is okay to keep up with your classmates but you shouldn’t overdo yourself!”
“For what?” Oliver asked Percy.
Unspoken spells. Percy wrote.
“That’s for sixth years!” Charlie said sharply.
But Oliver saw this as an opportunity. Unspoken spells! If Percy could do that, he wouldn’t feel so helpless.
“It won’t be permanent. The loss of your voice.” Charlie tried to reassure his brother.
Please. Percy wrote on his chalkboard.
“No.” Charlie said firmly and turned to Oliver. “We have to go. Training starts in a few minutes.”
Charlie often used his visits to collect Oliver for training. With his best friend in the hospital wing, Oliver’s obsession with quidditch somehow lacked its former intensity. He still loved it, but a little part of him feared that whoever attacked Percy would try something else.
“I think he really needs that book.” Oliver said to Charlie after they have collected their brooms and sports gear.
“He needs to rest and not to overdo himself.” Charlie repelled the request. “And if you had his wellbeing in the focus you would understand that.”
“No, you don’t understand!” Oliver bit back. “He is frustrated that he can’t do magic. How could he heal if he fell into a depression!”
Charlie looked taken back at that. "Depression? Is that Madam Pomfrey's official opinion on that?" He asked just slightly concerned.
"It's MY opinion. I know him best." Oliver spit out. He hoped Charlie heard the undertone accusation that it should be Percy's brothers to know him best.
Charlie opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted when the twins joined them on the way to the pitch.
"How is our dear brother doing?" One of them asked with way too much amusement.
"You would now, would you ever visit him!" Oliver barked at them and walked faster to leave the Weasleys behind. He could hear how Charlie scolded them, and the twins responded with a "He is supposed to rest, right? He never rests when we are around…!"
Sadly, that was true. They always managed to get Percy worked up in no time. But one lousy visit, was that really too much to ask? Just a checkup. Five minutes.
Oliver mounted his broom and flied high up, zooming around the pitch before he settled in front of the hoops. He did love flying. And his mind settled on quidditch and quidditch only. He felt the wind in his face and breathed in deep. He almost felt guilty when he looked back to the castle counting the windows to where Percy was at the moment.
Charlie whistled and the train started.
It went by in a blur when Oliver was busy blocking the quaffle from Angelina, Alicia and Taryn.
He barely noticed how the sun sunk lower and lower und suddenly the training was over.
"Good work." Charlie told them and the twins high-fived each other in flight. Oliver landed on the ground as well and wondered what time it was. Would Madam Pomfrey let him see Percy for five more minutes?
On his way up to the castle, Oliver felt worn out and was easily caught up by Charlie again. "You did very well." He told him and patted his shoulder. "Are you going to Percy again?" Oliver only hummed a response before Charlie continued talking. "I will try, okay? Tell Percy I will try to get the book for him, alright?"
Oliver looked at Charlie surprised and almost slipped on some mud. "Careful." Charlie said and stabilized him with one strong arm. "It's bad enough that Percy is in the hospital wing. Don't get yourself admitted too."
"Yeah." Oliver said. If there wasn't the stupid rule that the brooms are only used in the pitch or in fling lessons he would have used it to get to the castle instead of the unsteady path.
They parted ways on the floor of the hospital wing and Charlie was so kind to take Oliver's broom with him. Oliver carefully opened the door and peaked inside to check if Madam Pomfrey was around or in her office. When he couldn't see her, he sneaked inside as quietly as he could manage and tiptoed to Percy's bed. He was still awake but reading one of his books very attentively.
"Hey." He whispered in hope to not scare his best friend. He looked up at him and smiled brightly at seeing Oliver. Oliver's heart made an extra leap.
"You are in a good mood." He said, trying to will his heart to a steadier rhythm.
Percy needed a moment to pick up his chalkboard and write something still with a smile.
You are in a good mood. Percy showed him. I am glad Quidditch make you stop worry.
Oliver blinked at that. He hadn't noticed that his own mood would affect Percy just as Percy's mood affected him. Maybe they were more co-depending then he thought.
"Not only Quidditch." Oliver blurted. Then he blushed. Percy was also responsible for his mood. "Charlie has agreed to get the book." He said as a distraction.
Oliver looked around the hospital wing to check the clock on the wall. It was almost curfew. He winced. "I just wanted to tell you. I should go now." He moved to squeeze Percy's hand in a reassuring manner just like he had done the past week when Percy also reached up to clasp Oliver's hand in his. This was new.
They stood/sit there for a moment awkwardly while holding hands. Percy squeezed his hand and Oliver squeezed back before they let go again.
"Good night." Oliver said. Percy scribbled on his chalkboard.
Thank you and Good night.
Oliver nodded at Percy and then turned to leave. He was already halfway to the exit when Madam Pomfrey came out of her office to check on her only patient. "Mr. Wood…!" She started but he cut her off.
"Too late! I am already going!" He called back before he slipped outside. He only heard an 'Unbelievable!' before the door shut again.
The next day Oliver waited until lunch to ask Charlie again about that book. He didn't want to be too impatient. He waited for Charlie finish his meal and when he moved to walk out of the great hall Oliver got up when he walked past his place and looked expectantly at his captain.
"Right." He sighed as if he had hoped that Oliver had forgotten.
Oliver just smiled at him and followed Charlie when he beckoned Oliver to come with him.
On the way Oliver tried some small talk about their current strategy at quidditch which Charlie gladly accepted. Before they reached the library, Charlie held Oliver back.
"It will be best if I go first. And you come in some time later and get yourself also a book to lend."
Oliver nodded at that and watched Charlie go inside. It would be suspicious to just stand outside the library so he went for the next boy's toilet and then come back. He needed to relieve himself anyway.
When he reached the toilet two boys just stumbled out. Fred and George. They startled when they saw him and dropped some things. Some joke articles rolled over the floor. Oliver helped to pick them up. It was mostly dung bombs and frisbees.
"That looks like quite a prank." Oliver commented when he gave the stuff back.
"Shouldn't you be with Percy?" One of them stressed.
Oliver opened his mouth to tell them they should visit their brother too again but stopped himself. "Where did you get all of that?" He asked instead. He just remembered that the twins were only in second year and couldn't go to Hogsmeade just yet.
"Doesn't matter." Said the other one while stuffing the things into their bags this time. Before Oliver could say anymore they were gone. Oliver just shook his head at that and quickly went into the toilet to continue his task so he could go back to the library.
In the library, Oliver made a beeline to the history section and grabbed a book about witch trials and went back to the front where Madam Pince was already in discussion with Charlie.
“… in need of this for my NEWTs.” Charlie said.
“You should already be capable to perform unspoken spells.” Madam Pince said.
“Yeah, I am capable of doing that, but for the exams it can’t hurt to go over the theory again.” Charlie explained.
Oliver frowned. It shouldn’t have been a problem for Charlie to lend a book below his grade. Above would be difficult, but below?
“It’s an advanced book.” She stressed.
“I know. And I need it.” Charlie continued to say.
“I have your history of lend books right here. It ever only contained books of dragons, mentions dragons or anything similar to dragons.”
“That’s the issue? You won’t let me lend it because it doesn’t fit my previously lend books?”
“It’s suspicious.” She ended. She took the book and set it somewhere in the depth of her desk.
“But…!” Charlie stared at her with an open mouth and looked at Oliver in disbelieve then back at Madam Pince but he couldn’t form any more words.
“It’s for Percy, his brother.” Oliver piped up.
Charlie’s head whipped around to him again and Madam Pince looked at him as well.
“Oliver!” Charlie shushed him.
Madam Pince lips formed a thin line and she narrowed her eyes at Oliver. “Mr. Percy Weasley?” She asked tersely.
“Yes. You know he is in the hospital.” Oliver said.
“I know. You have said so when you convinced me to lend more books than allowed in his name.”
Oliver had the audacity to look down embarrassed. When he looked up through his eye lashes at her he spoke again. “His throat is hurt. He can’t speak. And he needs the book to learn unspoken spells.”
Charlie saw right through his puppy dog eyes and had his eyes narrowed at him.
“It’s above his learning level.” Madam Pince insisted but she suddenly sounded unsure.
“But he could try? You know how serious he is about learning. He goes up the wall in the hospital wing. When he knows unspoken spells, he could go back to class.” Oliver spoke in a soft voice reserved for sounding needy.
Charlie didn’t know what was happening but when he looked back at Madam Pince he saw her resolution crumble right in front of him.
“Well, maybe.” She said blinking and obviously ringing with herself. “But only if you bring at least four books back that you have lend for Mr. Weasley!”
“Yes! Thank you! Oh, Percy will be very happy about that.” Oliver beamed at her. “And that one’s is for me.” He said when he pushed the history book across the counter.
Madam Pince nodded at that and went to check it out together with the book for Percy.
Oliver was pleased with himself and when he met eyes with Charlie he raised his eye brows in a confident manner.
“The fuck was that?” Charlie asked instead in a whisper.
“She has a soft spot for Percy. He often helps her out to sort the returned books and they have lengthy conversations about books. Sometimes she lets him have new books first.”
Charlie stared at Oliver and shook his head. Oliver just shrugged.
Then was Madam Pince back with the books. “And wish him well from me, would you?"
"Of course!" Oliver beamed at her. "And thank you again."
"Don't forget about the other books!" She told him when they left the library. "Yes." He called back to her.
Charlie stopped Oliver just when they were out of the library. "So, Percy has her wrapped around his little finger?" He asked again.
Oliver nodded.
"Unbelievable." Charlie muttered as he walked down the corridor. The hospital wing was in the other directing so Oliver left him muttering to himself and went for Percy.
"Who is your best friend in the world?" Oliver asked cocky when he sauntered into the hospital wing directly towards Percy.
You. Why? Percy wrote on the blackboard.
Oliver waited until Madam Pomfrey, who tsked at him for his behavior, was out of sight before he gave Percy that book. "Madam Pince wants four books back in return and she wishes you well."
Percy was already skimming through the book, eager to learn something new. He looked up and around his bed with all the books.
Oliver knew it was difficult for Percy to decide which one could be brought back to the library. Eventually, he picked four of them and Oliver stuffed them into his bag for later. Then Percy made room on his bed for Oliver to sit right next to him, so they could both read the book. Being able to cast spells without saying them was also interesting for him.
Oliver also had a little tin box with baked goods from his mom to share with his best friend so they sat there reading and munching.
Eventually, Oliver had to leave again, because of curfew. They've made it to chapter three after all. For the first time, since Percy got ill, Oliver felt like everything would turn out good.
"Almost!" Oliver said excitedly when Percy made a feather shiver. They decided to start with a spell they learned in first year, at the very beginning. Wingardium Leviosa. The feather wasn't flying yet, but certainly moving.
Percy pointed his wand onto the feather, concentrating very hard. His lips moved but no words came out.
"Don't forget to breath." Oliver told Percy because he seemed to turn red in his face.
The feather jumped shortly into the air but immediately fell down again. At least it wasn't catching fire or something like that.
Percy stopped his effort and let his wand sink, it was more exhausting then one would think. He leaned back on the bed and breathed in deeply.
"The book said that the first one is the most difficult one." Oliver said reassuring. When he tried the unspoken spell, nothing happened yet with the feather. He didn't mind. It was advanced after all. He was okay with mastering it in sixth year like everyone else. He tried, of course, but not as determined as Percy.
"How is it going?" Charlie was back to collect Oliver for training. "Any improvement?"
Percy smiled at him and nodded. It was baby steps, but steps nonetheless.
"We're getting there." Oliver told him.
"Okay, but don't overdo yourself!" Charlie said sternly. It was obviously that Percy was exhausted. "Promise me, to leave it be for today!"
Percy sighed but nodded and put his wand back in the drawer of his bedside table.
"Good boy." Charlie said approving. He turned to Oliver. "Then let's go."
Oliver said his goodbye to Percy and followed Charlie out and to the pitch. Before they reached the changing rooms, one of their chasers pulled Charlie into a conversation, so Oliver went ahead.
The other two chasers were already on their brooms. Only Fred and George were in the changing room.
"…we're running out of time." He heard one of them say and stopped in his tracks. Was this about one of their pranks? "I know. Percy will be healthy again, soon."
Oliver sighed. So, they really planned something for as long as Percy was out of the way.
"Maybe we can give him another time out." "I am still surprised how long the first one lasts."
Oliver stood there and listened. Had he heard right?
"Yeah. Another two weeks would be enough, don't you think?" "Sure."
Then they rounded a corner and came face to face with Oliver in their training robes. He stared at them and they visibly jumped at his sight. "Oh, Oliver! Don't surprise us like that!" They joked. "We are the ones responsible for surprises around here."
"Tell me, that it's not true." He said to them in a quiet voice. They looked at him confused. "What?"
"Tell me, that you aren't responsible for Percy lying in the hospital wing!" He barked at them. The smiles fell of their faces and they quickly looked at each other. "No idea what you are talking about."
When they tried to walk past him he grabbed both of them at their collar and pushed them back into the changing room. Fred and George had to let go of their brooms which clattered to the ground. They tried to pry Oliver's fist off their robes. Oliver didn't stop until he had both of them pressed against a locker. "Do you have any idea, what you have done??!" He yelled at them. They gasped. "Nothing!"
"Don't lie to me!" He shouted at them and pressed further.
Now, that they weren't stumbling backward anymore and had better footing, Fred and George could actually ward Oliver off properly. It was two against one after all.
George got free first and tried to get Oliver into a head lock, so that he would let go of Fred. "Let go!" Someone of them gasped.
Oliver pulled instead Fred into a headlock with one arm and swatted at George with the other.
They wrangled on the floor with each other. Oliver was angry. How could they do this to Percy! Their own brother! Because of a prank! He had tear in his eyes when he remembered how Percy had wheezed and coughed. All the blood.
"Stop that!" Oliver chocked when George was pulled off of him. Charlie was there. Then he was pulled off of Fred who immediately scrambled to his feet. Now it was Oliver who was in a tight embrace from Charlie. He was three years his senior, after all. "What's going on here?!" Charlie had difficulties to keep Oliver and the twins apart, all of them tried to attack the other again.
"I said, stop!" Charlie barked one more time before they somewhat calmed. "What is going on here!" He demanded to know.
"He attacked us!" The twins accused Oliver while heavily breathing.
Charlie turned toward Oliver for an explanation. "Is that true?"
Oliver was heavy breathing himself. He pointed at the twins. "They almost killed Percy!" Everyone stared at Oliver. "What?!"
"And they want to do it again!" He spit out.
"Oliver, we just came from Percy, he was fine!" Charlie tried to reason.
"No!" Oliver yelled and tried to escape Charlie's strong clasp around his arm. "Earlier! When he got ill!"
"Percy has a cold!" The twins yelled back.
"No, he hasn't!" Oliver almost laughed at their stupidity. "You fucked up! You cursed him and fucked up!" The tears were back in Oliver's eyes. "He never got the cold! His throat was cut!"
Tears were streaming down Oliver's face when Charlie let go of him. "He could have died."
Oliver let himself drop onto a bench. He rubbed his face. "He could have died!"
"Fred? George?" Charlie addressed his brothers.
"No! It was just…" "…just…" "a cold" "nothing more!" Oliver heard how they whimpered.
"You really cursed Percy?" Charlie choked a bit. The twins didn't answer. He turned to Oliver. "Why did nobody tell us? Me? I am his older brother! I am responsible for him!"
Oliver looked up to Charlie towering over him. "McGonagall made that decision with Percy. I told them that it's stupid." Oliver sniffed.
"And you wanted to do it again?!" Charlie had turned back to Fred and George. "No! Not like that…!"
"We are going!" Charlie said suddenly and pulled his brothers on their collars just like Oliver had done in the beginning. Oliver followed them with heavy steps. He had wanted to know who had done this to Percy, but this revelation didn't felt good at all.
This time the twins didn't put up a fight. They were shocked by their own actions.
At the entrance were the three chasers, wondering what was going on. Charlie barked at them that training was over and that they had to clean up the changing room. Oliver, Fred and George had made quite a mess.
Charlie dragged them all up to the castle and the hospital wing. Percy shrieked up when the group of quidditch players marched in. He had gone back to trying the unspoken spell.
"I told you to rest!" Charlie holler at him when he dropped the twins on the hospital bed next to Percy. He looked confused at all of them.
Oliver sat next Percy. Madam Pomfrey was luckily nowhere to be seen.
"And now you explain to me, in detail, what is really going on here!" Charlie ordered.
Oliver took a deep breath and started to explain the real events. How Percy had started to cough at dinner, how Oliver followed him and saw all that blood. How he brought Percy to the hospital wing and everything Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall talked about.
About what he heard the twins talk about in the changing room.
Oliver watched how the twins went paler and paler at the part with the blood and the near decapitation. Charlie clenched his jaw tight but didn't say a word. Oliver felt how his own throat went dryer and dryer because he wasn't used to talk so much.
"Why did you curse Percy?" Charlie asked after a quiet moment when Oliver had finished. He looked at the twins.
They visibly gulped and looked as if they were melting away. "We had a prank planed." "Our biggest yet." "We needed time without Percy sniffing after us."
None of them could look away from the stone floor of the hospital wing.
"Dear Godric." Charlie mumbled when he rubbed his face.
"What spell did you use?" Oliver asked. "Madam Pomfrey refused to heal Percy's throat with magic because we didn't know the botched curses. What did you use?"
Fred and George looked up to Oliver and pulled out their wands. They both started to move their wand but in different movements. "No, I think it was…" They started anew with different movements again. Oliver sighed. "Guys, none of the movements lead to a cold." He had tried to study these curses since Percy was attacked. "You just hit him with something! Different something! That you can't even remember!" They put their wands away. "It's a miracle that you didn't blow him up right there!"
That was the last bit that made the twins start crying. They lunged forward to Percy's bed and Oliver could just hastily get up. "We are sorry!" "So Sorry!" "We didn't mean to!" "That's not what we wanted!"
Percy sat there with his two younger brothers in his arms. They yelped and whined and cried and apologized all over him. Percy held them tight and patted their heads.
Percy looked at Oliver and seemed angry. Oliver blinked and tried to interpret the look Percy gave him.
"Why are you angry at me now? They are the wrongdoers!" Oliver yelped. Percy somehow managed to gesture to the mess his brothers were in his lap. "I had to say that! They had to understand how massively they have fucked up!"
"Oliver is right." Charlie agreed but also leaned forward to comfort the twins with pads on the backs.
"And why are you not surprised about this outcome!" Oliver shouted at Percy.
Percy sniffed some tears away and opened his mouth. The twins looked up to him, still sobbing. "I … knew." He breathed softly. Those were the first words he spoke since he was cursed. "Accident."
Charlie sighed. "You didn't want to report them? Because of the consequences?" Percy nodded and held his brothers even closer.
Oliver slumped into a chair. "How? When?" Percy shrugged with a watery smile. He just knew his brothers. "They do need a punishment!" Oliver insisted.
"The standard is... detention, essays, exclusion from quidditch, expulsion." Charlie counted. He winced at the last two options.
Oliver didn't want to lose two members of the team either, but this was necessary. Percy shook his head as well.
Oliver stood again and squared his shoulders. This family bond was too tight. They needed a Non-Weasley to decide.
"You two." Oliver said sternly. He waited until they looked at him. "Will give out all your pranking materials!" Their eyes got huge. "You will not pull any other prank on your brother, or anyone else for the rest of the school year! You will, for once, be good students and study and won't give your brothers any more trouble! Or Professor McGonagall will hear about your… investments." The twins were about to disagree but one elevated eyebrow from Oliver was enough to make them shut their mouths and nod.
"Well roared, lion!" Charlie said and slapped Oliver's shoulder. "Like a true leader."
"Yes. Like a quidditch captain." Oliver said with his head held high. "Somebody has to take over when you are gone next year!"
Charlie smiled at that. "Alright." He looked to the twins who managed to untangle themselves from Percy. "That won't be easy for you guys!"
The door to the hospital wing opened and Professor McGonagall came in. "I've been informed that quidditch training was cancelled, today?" She demanded to know. She looked expectant to the five boys.
"It's my fault." Oliver stepped forward. "I accidently told them about Percy's real condition. I am sorry."
Professor McGonagall sighed at that and looked at each of the Weasleys. "You don't have to worry. Madam Pomfrey had told me that she can soon start a magical treatment for his throat. He won't be much longer in the hospital wing."
Oliver yelped at that! Percy would be healed soon. Finally, finally, good news!
Shortly after that, Madam Pomfrey appeared and gave Percy the first dose of a slow healing potion for his throat. When they all cheered, Madam Pomfrey made them all go, soon after. It was still a hospital wing with patients.
Oliver was allowed to stay, because Charlie announced that the twins and he still had something to do. When they left, Charlie winked at Oliver and he was sure that Charlie would make the twins hand over all their pranking utensils as agreed. Charlie was not only the quidditch captain, but also a prefect.
A few days later, Percy was released. He could go to classes again. His voice was still a bit wonky, but that was okay.
He was back and continued his classes as if he had never been gone. He informed Professor McGonagall that he has been approached by his attackers and they thoroughly apologized and were not in need of a punishment. She didn't really agree but as long as she had no names, there wasn't much she could do.
Fred and George actually did their homework and studied as they should.
"That won't last." Percy predicted when he watched his brothers in the common room. "And I doubt that they have given up all their pranking supplies." Oliver looked at Percy. "But they will hopefully be more careful the next time they come up with something."
Percy smiled at Oliver and nudged his shoulder with his own. "Thank you for everything. I would have gone mad without you."
"Your welcome." Oliver blushed. It had been a given for him. He watched how Percy ordered a book to fly into his hand with an unspoken spell. "Who else will help me through all my exams, if not you?"
Percy laughed and Oliver had to admit he liked the sound of it very much.