Chapter Text
🥸💌🥸
Monday, 8th May 2006
Harry lived at The Burrow, using Bill’s old room. He had sold Grimmauld Place because he could never make it feel like home. The place held too much horror and bad memories. Luna said the magic there could never be fully healed. Kreacher was still around. He refused to be set free, but Harry let him do what he wanted. He popped up now and again to be annoying.
Molly and Arthur were kind enough to let him stay with them, and the Weasley siblings were constantly in and out, staying for long periods of time. Whenever they visited, it felt like a sleepover. It was a blast, and Harry always looked forward to those days. This was Ron’s third day visiting, and it was as if they were back in school again, goofing off and being kids again. Harry wished more people would visit soon. Sometimes The Burrow felt too big when it was quiet, especially in May when his mind was on the Battle of Hogwarts.
“Are you really doing it?” Ron asked as he and Harry swung lazily on the porch swing.
Harry sighed and looked over at Ron, tucking his leg beneath him. After a moment, he ran a hand through his messy hair, glancing toward the garden. He watched the gnomes stumbling around and wreaking havoc in the carrot patch. Molly would not be pleased. In spite of the mess, Harry always enjoyed watching the gnomes. They were so ugly that they were adorable. Secretly, he loved cute things, even ugly cute things.
“I am. Do you know how many failed relationships I’ve had because it takes less than one date for them to start hero-worshipping me and trying to get things by name-dropping the famous Harry Potter?” He leaned against Ron and closed his eyes, smiling when Ron wrapped his arm around him. His friends never minded that Harry was starved for affection and were more than happy to give it to him.
“But this blind date program seems a bit strange,” Ron said. “You’re going on a date with someone who’s glamoured, and neither of you knows who the other is!” Ron couldn’t grasp this concept, even though he knew it was easier for him to think that way because he had fallen so easily for Hermione and they were now happily married with a child.
“I like the idea behind it,” Harry admitted. “We can skip the awkward introduction part because they don't know my history. The matchmaking program is supposed to choose someone who is highly magically compatible.” Putting his foot back down, he pushed off the ground, sending the swing into a gentle sway. “There’s a better chance that they could like me for me and not for what I had to do as a kid.”
Harry couldn’t exactly tell Ron one of the real reasons he was trying out the website. He wanted to see if he could find a way to move on from the feelings he had developed for Percy as they grew closer over the years. Harry wasn’t even sure when it started to get serious. At first, it was a silly crush he got when he met Percy as a kid, but after the war, when he began to hang out with the older Weasleys more often, his feelings grew into something special. His chest tightened at the thought of Percy, and he pushed it away.
“Still…” Ron rubbed his arm. “What if you end up with a very old lady?” He laughed, shaking his head.
“I’ll manage.” Harry pulled back from Ron and looked back toward the gnomes.
Sensing there was something Harry wasn't saying, Ron looked at him. “Hmm, well, I looked at the webeyes...”
“Website! You’d think after all these years using Muggle tech that you would get the name right,” Harry said, laughing. “I love how wizarding companies have started making magical websites. It’s a fine mix of Muggle and magical technology.”
Ron rolled his eyes. “Yeah, whatever. I checked the site and saw that there are only about twenty users in this part of London looking for their ‘so-called’ perfect match. Don’t get your hopes up. The matches don’t always happen right away.” It was a very low number, but it made sense to Harry. Most wizards were not used to Muggle technology, especially the Purebloods. Ron’s expression softened. "I want you to be happy, mate."
“Thanks for worrying about me.” Harry patted Ron on the shoulder, and standing up, he walked into The Burrow.
Going into the kitchen, the floorboards creaking beneath his feet, Harry took a deep breath. The smell of dinner Molly had in the oven made his stomach rumble. The Burrow always had a lovely scent and was perfect. He peeped into the oven, the blast of heat making his cheeks almost hurt. He saw that Molly was making some kind of roast. He backed away before he could actually get burnt, sitting down at the table.
Opening his laptop, he headed to the Magically Perfect website, signing in. He chose the username ‘Light’ because he needed it to be something nobody would associate with Harry Potter, but he still wanted it to have something to do with him. Light was basically short for lightning bolt.
After completing a survey about his interests in a partner, he leaned back in his chair and sighed. He knew there were Muggle dating sites and had even looked at a couple, but he didn’t like the idea of having to hide a big part of himself, so he decided not to entertain the idea of dating a Muggle. If he ever naturally met a Muggle and fell in love, that would be a different story.
“This is nothing like that EMelody website,” Harry mused, groaning. One thing Muggle dating sites had was instant gratification. If he’d joined up on their sites, he would surely already have people messaging him. He supposed he should be grateful that Magically Perfect only paired you with genuinely compatible people, but the wait was agonising, and he had only been waiting ten minutes.
Ron was right. This could take a while. Harry pouted and closed the laptop. He didn't want to be alone anymore. Even if he couldn't find a romantic partner, he wanted something... anything. His friends were great, but everyone he was close to was pretty much paired off with someone, except for the twins and Percy as far as he knew.
As he was standing up, he heard a ping. Eyes widening, he settled back down and opened the laptop, looking as an instant message window popped up. Glancing at the time on the laptop, he saw that his total wait time to get a message from someone was fifteen minutes. Though this was one of the coordinators to tell him he had a match. His match was probably getting the very same message right at this moment, which made nervous butterflies swirl in his stomach. He told himself not to get his hopes up, but of course, that didn't work.
🥸💌🥸
"Message Between Light & Lucy"
Lucy: Hello! We want to congratulate you! We’ve found a match in your area. While we can’t give away too much, are you alright with this age range: 25-35?
Light: I’m 25, so that’s a perfect age range.
Lucy: Are you comfortable with your date being a man? You forgot to include that preference in your profile.
Light: Oh! I’m sorry. Yes, I’m alright with that.
Lucy: Perfect! He’s alright with all the information about you as well. In about ten to twenty minutes, an owl should arrive with the potion you need for your glamour. As per the rules of Magically Perfect, you must preserve anonymity without revealing any personal details. If you agree, you're magically signing a contract for six dates using the glamour. You will now be unable to say certain things to your date and even to other people to help you keep the secret.
Light: Understood. I agree.
Lucy: You should receive a text from your match soon, allowing you to arrange the date's details and get to know each other a little better. Ta!
🥸💌🥸
"Message Between Light & Fire"
Fire: Hello! It’s interesting how our usernames complement each other. How are you today?
Light: Hello, Fire! Yes, it is cool how we have similar names. I’m great, but a bit nervous, to be honest. I’ve never done anything like this before.
Fire: Neither have I. I’ve been signed up for a couple weeks. With so few users, I thought I would never find a match. Doing this isn't like me, but I wanted to give it a try.
Light: I feel pretty lucky to get an instant match then! They said we can’t discuss identifying details, so I’m not sure what we can say. Let me try: Are you [redacted]?
Fire: You were lucky in that regard. I wonder what you tried to say. My turn: I work at [redacted] with my [redacted].
Light: I am [redacted]. This is challenging! I don’t have any [redacted].
Fire: Goodness, that sentence could have been anything. This is rather fun, I admit, like a mystery novel.
Light: You have a good sense of humour.
Fire: I'm not sure about that, but thank you. My [redacted] are all [redacted]. Come on, why am I not even allowed to say that?
Fire: Let me think...My same blood people are all… funny makers. Great! I got around your system.
Light: I’m laughing so much right now. Thank you! I really needed that. I don’t come from a [redacted] [redacted]. Merlin! Why can't we say [redacted]?
Light: My same blood people are… miniature, but my [redacted] [redacted] is [redacted]. My not blood people are giant.
Fire: I understand what you mean. Do you have [redacted]? This is frustrating. Hmm… Do you have small versions of yourself?
Light: No! Do you?
Fire: No, I don’t, but I wouldn’t mind having little people in the future.
Light: Are you [redacted, [redacted] or [redacted]? I am getting tired of that word. How do I ask this? My question is about your blood. Oh gosh, now I sound like a vampire. I’m honestly not!
Fire: That is what a vampire would say. My cheeks hurt. I haven't smiled this much in a while. My blood? I think I understand. My blood is [redacted]. Really? I can't say that? Hmm...It is clear like water.
Light: Mine is a glass not filled all the way.
Fire: Alright. This is funny, if not a bit confusing.
Light: My glamour potion is here. Did you have an idea about when you wanted to meet?
Fire: Mine is here as well. I’m free all week, except for today and tomorrow. I’m visiting [redacted]. I’m visiting my same blood people.
Light: Alright, we can talk again in a couple of days. I had fun with our little silly chat.
Fire: It was a fun chat. I enjoyed myself.
🥸💌🥸
Harry logged off, wondering why Magically Perfect had censored some of the words it did. Why was it such a big deal to say family? It was amusing to see the various workarounds they employed to convey their message. Harry’s heart raced faster than he thought it would. He hadn’t realised how much he needed someone to talk to.
“I’m actually quite excited,” Harry murmured, his cheeks flushing. It was true that he looked forward to meeting a new person, but part of him couldn’t shake the sadness that he and Percy couldn’t be together.
Harry knew he couldn’t tell much from a few messages, but Fire did seem like a decent person. At least he seemed funny. Harry really liked people who were funny, which is why he had a great time living at The Burrow. Every Weasley had a bit of a comedian in them, even Percy, who at first glance, people might not expect.
He sat in the kitchen for what felt like forever, reading over the messages from Fire, trying to get a better sense of this mystery man. Looking at the time on the laptop, he blinked, seeing that he had been in a daze for thirty minutes. He barely had time to process the strange comforting feeling Fire gave him before the house erupted into familiar pandemonium that he had been missing, not that he didn't enjoy his quiet times.
“Get ready for chaos!” George shouted from the living room. Harry heard Fred laughing, followed by the unmistakable sound of Percy groaning at their loudness. Even hearing Percy’s sound of displeasure at the twins being annoying had the tips of his ears growing bright red.
Getting up, he ran into the living room, smiling as the twins grabbed him in a hug, lifting him effortlessly. They ruffled his hair and planted sloppy kisses on his cheeks. Fred and George were always dramatic in their greetings. Harry loved that they treated him like this. He never got this when he lived with his Muggle family.
“Let him breathe!” Percy scolded, shooing his brothers away from Harry. He then started fixing Harry’s hair, meticulously adjusting it while Harry waited patiently with a massive smile on his face.
“Percy, my hair can’t be tamed,” Harry said, his heart beating faster like it always did when Percy was in the same room. “Thanks for trying, but even magic won’t hold it for long.”
“Well, it’s not a huge loss. Bedhead is in these days,” Percy said with a small smile. He leaned down and gave Harry a more reserved hug. Harry appreciated this because Percy wasn’t usually very tactile, except with family. Harry was family to the Weasleys. Harry hugged Percy back, breathing in the scent of his strawberry hair wash.
“What are you guys doing here?” Harry asked, pulling away from Percy. He was pleased to see them. “Ron’s around somewhere. Hermione and Rose have been staying with her family, and Ron wanted to spend some time with your parents.”
“We missed our little Harry, of course,” George teased, going in for another cuddle. Harry grinned, pressing his face against his chest.
“We’re doing renovations at the shop and can’t stay in the flat above it, so here we are,” Percy explained. “We’ll be here for two to three days.”
“I hope you don’t get sick of us. Charlie said he’d also stop by,” Fred added. “His dragons are thriving, and he doesn’t need him to check in as often at this stage, so he lives at the flat more often. If Ron and Bill hadn’t gotten married, all the Weasley brothers could have lived together and worked at the shop!”
“Yes, because we have so much room,” Percy said, though he didn’t seem to dislike the idea. Percy was fiercely loyal and protective of his family. He loved being around them because they understood him best.
George walked over to the sofa and flopped down face-first with a groan. “I’m knackered.”
Before they could do anything else, the fireplace roared to life, and Charlie stepped through, accidentally bumping into Harry. Harry, never the most coordinated person on the ground, nearly fell over, but Charlie was quick to catch him.
“I swear I’m not this clumsy on the broom,” Harry said, blushing at his clumsiness.
“Noted,” Charlie said, winking at Harry. "Save that sort of information for your suitors, though."
Ears burning, Harry realised how he had sounded, and quickly covered his mouth. He glared at Charlie, or tried to, but it came out like a flustered pout. Harry knew Charlie meant no harm, and kind of enjoyed being teased like a little brother.
“Merlin’s beard, shut up!” he said, voice cracking embarrassingly. He pulled away from Charlie and dashed into the kitchen to grab his laptop, feeling utterly mortified. He could hear the twins laughing and Percy scolding Charlie for being a pervert. Harry wished his face would cool down. It honestly wasn’t his fault, though. He got flustered easily and often spoke before thinking, which frequently landed him in embarrassing situations.
Percy walked into the kitchen and saw Harry clutching his laptop to his chest. “Are you alright?” he asked softly. Harry was annoyed that the tone in Percy’s voice made his heart flip.
“I’m fine!” Harry quickly shrank his laptop, putting it in his pocket. “It’s nice to see you guys.”
“I know. I’m happy to see you as well.” Percy smiled at him, walking closer. He reached out and moved some of Harry’s curls aside, his fingers lightly brushing across Harry’s forehead, making Harry smile goofily up at him. The only problem now, Harry was blushing even more and Percy looked concerned.
“Percy! I meant it! My hair is wild like this. You’ve got to let it go,” Harry said with a laugh, confused when Percy flushed and backed away. Percy didn't usually blush without reason, and Harry hadn't done anything to make him do it, had he?
“Sorry, I should have asked first.”
Harry shrugged. “No, I don’t mind if you touch me, Percy.” The moment the words left his mouth, Harry wanted to crawl into the nearest cupboard, which was saying something. He caught the way Percy’s mouth fell open briefly before he masked his expression and embarrassment flooded Harry.
‘Bloody hell, why did I say that? Though, I wouldn’t mind if he touched me, like…’ Harry inwardly groaned. There he went again. He coughed and turned away from Percy to hide his flaming cheeks. ‘Can’t you use your brain? Stop blushing like a hormonal teenager. For Merlin's sake!'
Harry found himself pressed against the counter with Percy behind him as Percy reached for a mug in the cupboard above. Harry could feel the warmth of Percy’s chest at his back, close enough to make his breath hitch, so he bit down on his tongue. He froze, heat rushing up his neck, not understanding why Percy didn’t use magic.
Percy was not the type to invade another person's personal space. It all happened so fast that Harry wondered if he had imagined it. He grabbed his own glass, his hands shaking slightly, and put the kettle on. He deliberately avoided eye contact with Percy, moving away from him. He tried not to think about the loss of comfort, despite the embarrassment he got from being that close to Percy.
‘What the hell happened? That was like the fourth time he's touched me today.’ Harry turned on the faucet, filling his mug with water. He downed it so quickly that his stomach started to ache. The kettle went off, and he began preparing tea, pouring hot water for Percy as well. Percy dropped in some tea bags, the peppermint scent calming some of Harry's nerves.
“Thank you, Harry,” Percy said, eyeing him over the top of his mug as he sipped his tea. His glasses became fogged and he winced when he scalded his tongue. Harry noticed that his cheeks were still rosy, but reasoned it was from the steam hitting his face. Harry couldn't see the expression in Percy's eyes because the light coming in from the kitchen window reflected off his glasses.
“Yo-you’re welcome,” Harry stammered. “I-I’ve got to go!” he blurted, leaving his full mug of lovely, scented tea behind as he ran out of the kitchen. Percy blinked after him, cheeks still pink, feeling utterly bewildered.