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It was a Saturday. Just an ordinary Saturday you can easily imagine for yourself: most students are getting some rest and trying to catch up on sleep after a busy week, their homework put aside or even forgotten about. An ordinary Saturday. Except for maybe one thing: Oliver Wood scheduled another quidditch practice in the morning. It was exceptionally in his character, if Oliver was interested in anything he would dive into it headfirst and drag others with him, sometimes against their will. In this case, it was his teammates. No matter how much they complained, Oliver would always find a good excuse. This time, for example, he justified it by the upcoming match with Slytherin, despite it being two months away and the fact that they would have to win against Hufflepuff first.
So, this wonderful (at least by Oliver’s standards) Saturday morning the whole of Gryffindor team was already in the changing rooms.
“Oliver, how many times do we have to do this? We have loads of other business, who do you think is going to put a stinking bomb into Filch’s office? Hmm? Maybe Percy? Or Hermione?” the twins complained at the same time so that it was impossible to figure out who was saying what like they often did.
“Exactly, I totally agree! I could have been asleep enjoying my weekend right now!” said Harry, who usually supported Wood and understood his devotion to consistent training, but refused to put up with it this time.
“The key to winning against Slytherin is being ready for everything, so the more we train the higher the possibility of encountering situations we’re already familiar with," Oliver defended himself even though he already understood that he took it a little bit too far today when he stormed into everyone’s bedrooms to wake them up with a surprise practice announcement.
“Making noise again?” a person that most definitely wasn’t on their team wondered as he walked into the changing room.
“Oi, you Percy! Did you come down to add onto our captain’s lecture about the importance of morning practice?” Fred sarcastically asked.
Percy covertly glanced at Oliver as he heard his name mentioned in his brother’s rant but quickly looked away.
“Or do you want to blame us on the alleged explosion of a toilet?” George followed his brother’s question. “Which we didn’t do, mind you!” he added hastily.
“You destroyed a toilet?!” the prefect had a hard time believing it. “Whatever, I’ll deal with you later. You actually got a Howler from Mum, I wouldn’t delay opening it. When I find out what else you’ve done…”
“Great! We just wanted to test a little theory of ours on how to get rid of one. Let’s go have some fun, George!” Fred happily exclaimed as he snatched the red envelope from Percy’s hand. “Don’t worry Oliver, we’ll be back just in time!”
“Promise!” added the other twin, happy to find a reason to get out.
“But…” Oliver hopelessly muttered as the twins were already gone, almost knocking their brother off his feet on their way.
“Merlin, who invented those stupid ties?” Harry grumbled in his attempt to untie a knot on his collar. “I wish we didn’t have to wear them all the time!”
Percy, who was about to leave as he cast another glance at Oliver, stopped and turned back to Harry. “The tie that you are so annoyed with is an official part of the school uniform and the Windsor knot doesn’t cause me as many issues as it does certain others, apparently. Wearing one is part of the school rules, just like the rest of the robes.”
“Sure, but what’s the point? How is a piece of fabric on my neck supposed to help me in my studies?” the seeker persisted.
“It is supposed to help you look like an intelligent person, though from what I understand you’re a hopeless case.”
“Another benefit of someone wearing it is that you can do this,” Oliver intervened and nimbly grabbed Percy’s tie, pulling him closer so that their faces were now mere inches apart. Weasley discovered some unexpected enthusiasm in himself and leaned closer but quickly recoiled as he bumped his glasses into Wood’s face, also suddenly realising that he completely forgot about Harry who was sitting right next to them, dumbfounded and his mouth open in shock.
“I… I need to go,” quickly muttered Percy and stormed out of the changing rooms, his face making a good attempt at blending in with his hair, his glasses almost falling off his nose and the aforementioned tie askew.
“What in…” asked Harry, realising he did not know what to ask.
Oliver, also a bright shade of pink and surprised at Percy’s actions, looked at his watch and almost screamed, ‘’Practice starts in two minutes! Fix your tie and be on the pitch at seven on the dot! And make sure the girls are there too!”
And then he disappeared from the changing rooms, following his coursemate. Harry remained inside, still agape and motionless, practically letting Oliver’s words go past his ears.
***
“Percy!” Oliver hailed as he almost caught up with the redhead by the castle.
Weasley stopped but waited for Wood to come to him.
“Sorry, I know I shouldn’t have done this, I myself suggested we don’t make our relationship public yet, it’s just…” Percy started excusing himself but could not finish as Oliver interrupted him, still out of breath from running.
“Perce, let’s just finish it, you said yourself that once you’ve started something you better get it done.”
He quickly caught the redhead by his tie again and used his other hand to gently place it on his waist. Percy reached out for Oliver’s lips, but once more only managed to bump his glasses into his face. He then removed and threw them away into the soft grass below. It was all very awkward, as they only managed to touch each other’s lips on their third attempt, but not that they cared anyway. When both of them realised they were gasping for air they leaned away but remained holding each other.
“You do realise that anyone in the castle could have seen us, don’t you?” Percy said, surprisingly calm.
“Oh, who cares anyway!” happily declared Oliver and caressed the other’s cheek.
“You know, if ties have some benefits to them, then glasses certainly have an obvious disadvantage!” noted Percy.
“Yes, but you look absolutely stunning wearing them!”
“Alright, good luck at practice, Olly,” replied a slightly embarrassed but happy Percy and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
“If you see Fred and George, tell them both to come back immediately, otherwise I’ll definitely kick them off the team this time,” added Oliver.
“We’re coming, relax!” the twins replied immediately from somewhere in the vicinity, shocking the couple.
Percy and Oliver blushed again, but the twins who have been standing close to them for some time already quickly added, “You thought no one knew?”
“It was so obvious we noticed it in our first year!”
“I said GO TO THE PITCH!”