Work Text:
Bundled up in a thick winter coat, Percy crossed the threshold of Hogwarts' main entrance. The icy wind whipped across his exposed face and hands. He hiked his book bag further up his shoulder before slipping his wand out of the holster in his sleeve.
He cast an uncomplicated warming charm, saving his brain power for studying. Despite the winter chill, the air was clear and crisp. Almost anywhere on Hogwarts’ grounds would be suitable for Percy to study.
The raucous behavior of his fellow peers caused Percy disdain. A vast majority of the seventh years opted to stay at Hogwarts. At first, Percy was proud that other students were putting learning above a silly holiday, but he soon realized they only wanted to party and act ridiculous with their friends.
Percy needed to be prepared for NEWTs if he was to gain a job at the Ministry of Magic directly after graduation. Nowhere in the castle was a safe place to study.
Fred and George were supposed to go home to the Burrow with Ron, Ginny, and Harry until Percy informed them that he would remain at Hogwarts for the holidays. Coincidentally, the twins changed their Christmas break plans and decided to stay at Hogwarts.
They told their mother they wanted to follow Percy’s “inspiring footsteps” and prepare for their OWLs. Molly was so proud that her sons were finally showing dedication to their education that she willfully ignored Percy’s every attempt to convince her that his brothers were only staying so they could sabotage him.
He was correct. The twins had not done one bit of studying in the week since break started. Instead, they threw a party in the Gryffindor dorm every day. Their parties lasted all day, from the break of dawn to midnight.
Even with muffling charms, Percy couldn’t concentrate in his dorm room. The library wasn’t an option either because Dumbledore closed it for the break, claiming the students should “use this time to relax and focus on your friends.”
At his breaking point, Percy decided to brave the winter weather and find a secluded place to study outside. He thought about asking Hagrid if he could borrow his hut for a few hours, but he wasn’t as close to Hagrid as Ron, and with the number of animals and creatures Hagrid had, it would have been too loud.
He was almost to the Black Lake, ready to conjure a blanket and study on the bank, when Oliver Wood leaving the castle with his broom in hand caught his attention. Of course, Oliver was practicing Quidditch. He would have had his entire team practicing daily from sunrise to sundown if McGonagall had allowed it.
Percy changed direction, heading to the Quidditch pitch. The pitch was secluded and should be empty. It was the perfect place for Percy to study.
His eyes tracked Oliver’s movements, ensuring he went where Percy assumed.
Oliver took to the air on his broom and flew a few circuits around the pitch. Percy settled onto the stands. He spread his books, parchment, and ink out and held his quill loosely. He attempted to focus on memorizing the brewing instructions of The Draught of Living Death.
The students wouldn’t make the potion, but Snape expected them to recite the instructions and ingredients from memory.
Dumbledore banned Snape from adding brewing the potion to his NEWTs test because of the difficulty level. Only one or two students achieved the correct potion every few years and those that didn’t often brewed a dangerous potion.
“Powdered root of asphodel. Infusion of wormwood. Sloth brain. Most importantly, Sopophorous bean.” Percy mumbled to himself.
Oliver kept drawing Percy’s attention away from his work. He was practicing a new Quidditch maneuver he was certain would win Gryffindor the Quidditch Cup this year. Oliver’s thick muscles bulged under his Gryffindor sweater, and Percy lost his breath.
He wasn’t a Quidditch fan, but he appreciated the physique it gave Oliver.
Percy forced his eyes off of Oliver. He chose the Quidditch pitch because it was the best place to study for his NEWTs, not so he could watch Oliver Wood.
Really, he did.
Percy was a studious man with solid aspirations and his entire life planned out. Oliver was a hard-headed, one-track mind type of person. The only thing he ever thought about was winning at Quidditch.
They had nothing in common besides sharing a room for the past six and a half years. Percy had no reason to be interested in Oliver.
Yet he was.
He could deny it as much as he wanted, but it didn’t change the facts. Percy had been quietly in love with Oliver since their fifth year.
There was no explanation as to why he felt this way. He couldn’t relate to Oliver on any level. They had different goals in life and most likely wouldn’t see each other after graduation.
So why was Percy shirking studying for his NEWTs to give Oliver attention?
…
Percy alternated between creating mock tests to complete and watching Oliver refine his special move. His muscles cramped up from spending hours in one position in the cold. It was worth it to witness Oliver’s victorious shout and celebratory lap around the Quidditch pitch when he perfected his trick.
Percy dropped his quill, spraying ink across his parchment, and clapped. He couldn’t help it. He had spent hours watching Oliver’s dedication to the sport, and Oliver deserved the acknowledgment.
The action caught Oliver’s attention. He swooped out of the air and stopped five feet from the ground. “I didn’t know you were here.”
Percy gestured to his materials littering the stands. “I came out here hoping to get away from the rabble of the castle.”
“Are you studying for NEWTs?” Oliver asked.
“Yeah,” Percy sighed. “My brothers have made Gryffindor Tower party central. I couldn’t study there, so I chose here. I didn’t mean to interrupt your practice.”
“No worries. I was almost done anyway. I’ve been creating a never-before-seen Quidditch move. It should win us the Quidditch Cup. Slytherin won’t know what hit them. Except for a bludger, the twins are good at that.”
“Gryffindor deserves a win,” Percy said.
Oliver checked his Muggle watch - a gift from Harry for his birthday the year before. “It is almost dinner time. Would you like to take a break from studying and accompany me?”
Percy might as well. He hadn’t gotten much studying done because he was distracted by Oliver. It was late, and darkness was creeping across Hogwarts’ grounds. He couldn’t study outside without a light charm and needed his wand to practice spells. Fred and George made Gryffindor Tower uninhabitable for him, so retreating to his room was not an option.
There was nothing else for him to do other than go to dinner. There was no reason not to take Oliver up on his offer.
“I would,” Percy said, primly. He carefully packed his things and slung his book bag over his shoulder.
He looked up, alarmed when Oliver cried out. Oliver dangled in mid-air from his broom. One of his belt loops had gotten stuck on his broom handle. Oliver thrashed and squirmed, trying to free himself.
His weight tipped his broom. The sudden movement sent Oliver falling to the ground. He landed in a heap with a dull thump.
Percy rushed to Oliver’s side. He knelt on the grass and cautiously rolled Oliver over. He had grass stains on his face but otherwise seemed unharmed. “Are you okay?” Percy asked anyway.
Oliver sat up, straightened his sweater, and answered, “I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m a little embarrassed, but physically I’m alright.”
Percy extended his hand, and Oliver took it. Percy helped Oliver to his feet, blushing at their closeness. “We should hurry,” he blurted.
Oliver coughed awkwardly. “Yeah,” he agreed. “We should.”
Oliver called his broom to him, and they returned to the castle.
…
After dinner, Percy and Oliver walked to Gryffindor Tower together. The twins' party was still going strong, so they retreated to their room. Oliver cast a silencing spell on their door to keep out the hubbub.
“So,” Percy said, a teasing tone in his voice, “what made you fall earlier?”
Oliver blushed. He looked away from Percy and refused to glance back. “To be honest, I was trying to impress you.”
“Impress me?” Percy was shocked. He and Oliver had never truly talked before then. They were congenial toward each other, but they weren’t friends. What reason would Oliver have to impress Percy?
“I know you’re not interested in Quidditch, so it surprised me when you clapped for me. I liked knowing I did something that impressed you. I tried to jump off my broom and land smoothly before you. I wanted you to look at me again.”
Percy was struck speechless. No one had ever wanted his attention before. He had no friends, and his family did their best to avoid or irritate him. “Really? Why?”
Oliver sat on Percy’s bed beside him. He took a deep breath to prepare himself. He had repeatedly promised himself he would finally confess his feelings to Percy. Every time, he chickened out. He was supposed to be a Gryffindor. “Why would I not want your eyes on me every second of every day? You’re perfect, Percy.” He gently ran his thumb along Percy’s cheekbone. “You’re beautiful.”
Percy froze at the touch. He was in uncharted territory, with no idea of how to act. “What are you saying?”
Emboldened by Percy’s lack of disgust or hate, Oliver forged on. “I’m saying I love you. I’ve been obsessed with you since our second year.”
Percy’s heart stopped for a second or two. The man he had secretly been in love with since he was fifteen loved him, too. It had to be some sort of cosmic joke. Percy wasn’t the lucky type. He wasn’t the type of person whose dreams came true and lived happily ever after.
“Say something, please,” Oliver begged.
“You are foolish. There are better people for you to fall in love with. I am nothing special, unlike my siblings. Bill is a curse breaker, Charlie works with dragons, Fred and George are popular, Ron is the Chosen One’s best friend, and Ginny is a Quidditch prodigy.”
“You’re plenty special. No one else has your passion to better yourself and become who you’re meant to be. No one else is studying for their NEWTs on Christmas break. No one cares more about what is right and following rules. I’ve watched you drive yourself beyond your limits. I’ve applied that same drive to Quidditch. You’ve been an inspiration to me for years. I wish you understood how much you amaze me.”
Heat flooded Percy’s cheeks. “You’re serious?”
“I am. If you’ll let me, I’d like to prove it to you.” There was no mistaking Oliver’s eyes darting to Percy’s lips.
Percy nervously licked his lips. He had a fling with Penelope Clearwater in his fifth year, but they never got this far. He believed Oliver could do better than him, but he was too selfish to protest further.
He nodded.
Oliver leaned in, one hand covering Percy’s, and connected their lips. He kept it short and sweet, nothing more than a chaste press of their lips. He smiled when he pulled away. “I’ve wanted to do that for years,” he admitted.
“What does this mean for us?” Percy whispered.
“I’d love to be your boyfriend, but if you aren’t ready for that, this can be whatever you want it to be.”
“I would love to be your boyfriend.”
This time, Percy drew Oliver in for the kiss.
…
George pressed his ear against the stolen cup from the kitchens he spelled in his first year to hear everything happening in Percy’s room. Oliver’s confession prompted a gasp from his lips.
Fred pushed his brother out of the way and pressed his ear against the cup. “Merlin’s balls!” he exclaimed.
“I told you he is gay,” George muttered.
“Shut up,” Fred handed his brother a handful of galleons.