I'll Take Care of You

I'll Take Care of You

Chapter 1

"Hey, Perce," Arthur Weasley called over the top of the Daily Prophet.

"Yeah, Dad?" answered Percy, trying to cram some toast into his mouth before he went to work at the Ministry.

"Oliver Wood. He was a friend of yours from Hogwarts, right. Plays Quidditch for Puddlemere now? Well, it says here that he was hit by a bludger and fell off his broom. Been unconscious for three days now," Arthur gave this information without much concern. He was just passing on the news to his son.

Percy stood up quickly and dropped his plate into the sink. He crossed the kitchen and pulled on his cloak. Stopping to give his mother a kiss goodbye and gather his briefcase, he stammered out, "Yeah, he was my roommate, well...I'll see you tonight. Thanks for letting me know, Dad."

Molly Weasley watched Percy walk out the door into the yard and then disapparate to work. She flicked her wand at the sink and the dishes started washing themselves. Sitting down at the table with her copy of Witch Weekly she commented, "I know Percy loves his job, but he usually isn't in quite that big of a hurry to leave for it."

"Hmm..." Arthur responded, not listening to his wife and completely forgetting the conversation about Oliver.

~~~~~~

Percy though, did not apparate into his tiny, stuffy office at the Ministry of Magic. He appeared just outside the front entrance of St. Mungo's Hospital. His normally pink complexion even pinker with a combination of embarrassment, worries and anger. After they had graduated from Hogwarts, he and Oliver had written to each other occasionally and they had had a good time visiting at the Quidditch World Cup last year, but Percy had a secret.

It started in their sixth year at Hogwarts. Percy had been dating Penelope Clearwater and when the basilisk had petrified her, he had been so worried and upset. He cared for Penny a great deal. She was sweet, smart, and very pretty-the perfect girlfriend. Percy hadn't told anyone but Oliver that he was dating her. While she was petrified, Oliver had done everything he could to help cheer up Percy. He had constantly asked Professor Sprout when the mandrakes would be ready. He invited Percy to Quidditch practices and Hogsmeade visits, and even sneaked into Hogsmeade one evening to buy Percy some butterbeer. He acted more like a brother than any of Percy's real brother ever had. When Madame Pomfrey and Professor Sprout restored the petrified people, Oliver had been as happy and excited as Percy.

There was something missing, though. Everything that Percy had thought he felt for his girlfriend was gone. His feelings for her were the same as for his little sister, Ginny. Penny was just like another sister to him. If things were awkward between them, Penny just chalked it up to them being apart for so long. It had been a very stressful school year but things would get better once it was over and they had a whole summer to be reacquainted.

When the letter had arrived from Hogwarts saying that Percy would be Head Boy that school year he was overjoyed. Not only had it been his lifelong dream, it also gave him the excuse that he had been looking for. He wrote to Penny to break up with her. He explained that being Head Boy would take a great deal of his time and with studying for his N.E.W.T.S., he just didn't think that things would work out between them.

Seventh year had been wonderful for Percy. Penny had taken the news well and mostly just avoided him. The attacks by Sirius Black on Gryffindor Tower, although very scary, allowed Percy to shine through leadership. He loved it when Dumbledore put him in charge of the students. All of his classes went well and the Ministry seemed very interested in giving him a job after graduation.

Oliver had also had a good year. He and Percy had remained close even after Penny was restored. Consequently, Oliver found himself studying more and in return, his grades improved. Gryffindor finally won the Quidditch cup and several Quidditch teams had contacted him about playing professionally. The two boys, both very ambitious, often stayed awake late in their dorm room talking about what they would do after Hogwarts. Percy's greatest dream was to be the Minister of Magic and Oliver wanted nothing more than to help England win the Quidditch World Cup some day. Their strong wills and great ambition brought them together as friends.

Then graduation day was suddenly upon them. Percy gave a beautiful speech that made most of his class cry. Molly Weasley had to be given a large glass of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey to calm her down and Arthur couldn't stop beaming with pride for his son. Even the twins managed to behave themselves for one afternoon. After the ceremony, the whole Weasley clan, except Percy and Arthur headed down to Hogsmeade to celebrate at The Three Broomsticks.

Arthur was talking to Professor Winters, who taught Muggle Studies, about the 9-volt battery he had recently acquired while Percy went to finish his packing. Oliver was just taking down his own Chudley Cannons poster when Percy entered the room. Oliver turned away quickly to hide his red, swollen eyes. He hadn't realized how much he would miss Hogwarts, his Quidditch team, Gryffindor Tower, and especially Percy, until Percy's speech.

The two boys shut their trunks at the same time.

"Well, I guess that's it then," Percy said quietly.

"Yeah," muttered Oliver.

They turned to face each other, cheeks wet with tears. Oliver approached Percy with open arms and they embraced. A spark of electricity went through both of their bodies. It wasn't at all uncommon to hug the other boys after Quidditch matches. Oliver had hugged Percy's brothers and Harry all the time but it had never felt like this. Oliver thought that Percy felt more alive, more warm, more loving than anything he had ever touched before. Nudging his strong jaw against Percy's smaller face, Oliver got Percy to turn his head and then, without warning, he kissed him. Not a little peck. This was a hot, wet, passionate kiss. At first, all Percy could feel was shock, but this kiss felt so right that he returned it.

It suddenly occurred to Oliver what he was doing. He was kissing a boy. His roommate, his best friend, his Percy. His Percy??? Where the hell did that come from? He broke the kiss, grabbed the end of his trunk, muttered "see ya" and was out the door, trunk clunking down the tower stairs before Percy even had time to react.

Percy stood in the middle of the room, not moving, not blinking, not breathing. He, good old "Perfect Percy" was in love. Head over heels, madly, passionately in love. And had been for a long time. It just took that kiss, that incredible, delicious kiss to make him realize it. He finally shook himself out of his stupor when Arthur called his name.

"Yeah Dad, I'm still up here. Can you give me a hand with my trunk?" Percy called back.

That day had been over two years ago and now here Percy stood in front of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries recalling that last year of school. The boys had written back and forth, made plans to meet up at the Quidditch World Cup, even had a butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron over the Christmas holidays last year and that kiss had never been mentioned. Then there had been all the trouble with the TriWizard Tournament and the murder of his boss. Another busy year at the Ministry, trying to deal with all the aftermath followed, so Percy hadn't had much time to write lately. Either Oliver had been too busy to write, or just thought Percy didn't want to talk to him anymore. This couldn't have been further from the truth, though. Percy just found it harder and harder to write to Oliver and not confess his true feelings.

~~~~~~

Percy stood just outside the door, embarrassed that he had rushed to see his old roommate who probably didn't even care if he saw Percy again. He was worried about his old friend and angry with himself for never telling Oliver how he felt.

An orderly tapped him gently on the arm, "Sir, did you need some help?"

Percy was brought out of his daze quickly. "No, I'm sorry, but thank you anyway," he stammered very fast. He made up his mind then and there that if, no, not if, but when Oliver woke up, he would tell him how he felt. He only hoped that Oliver wouldn't hate him for it. He realized that the orderly was still watching him curiously, so Percy squared his shoulders, held his head up, and walked into the hospital. The desk attendant gave him directions to the right room. Outside the room, Percy hesitated for a moment before going in.

Oliver lay in the bed, an IV needle in his arm, but looking as beautiful as Percy had remembered him. He had neglected a haircut recently, so he looked a bit shaggy, but his lips were full and turned up at the corners as if he was having a great dream. His thick eyelashes and strong jawline were perfect and Percy just about melted into the floor looking at him.

The redhead crossed the room and sat down gingerly on the edge of the bed. He took Oliver's strong warm hand in his own sweaty, clammy one. His nervousness eased as the comfort of being near Oliver swept over him. Before he could change his mind, Percy leaned over and pressed his lips to the back of Oliver's hand.

"Oh Ol, I was so worried when I heard. I wish I had known earlier, you know. I came as quickly as I could when Dad told me. It was in the Prophet this morning," Percy spoke softly so that people in the hallway wouldn't hear him and come in to disturb the quiet moment. The sleeping man shifted slightly, which Percy took as an encouraging sign.

Percy sat on the edge of the bed, holding Oliver's hand for several hours, until the early afternoon sun filled the tiny green hospital room. There were vases of flowers and bouquets of balloons all over the room. Enchanted greeting cards had been placed under large books to keep them from dancing and singing all the time. Many of Oliver's fans had sent greetings. Percy noticed that there was even a large box of "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes" sent directly from the proprietors. Anger flamed again on his cheeks. Why hadn't his brothers let him know? Yeah, they had played Quidditch with the guy, but I'm his best friend, thought Percy fuming. They never think of anyone but themselves. He realized that this wasn't true, if they were sending get-well packages to Oliver. Okay, steamed Percy, they just don't think about me.

A young doctor poked her head in around noon, to check on Oliver. She was tall, thin, and had long reddish-brown hair. A large happy smile that extended deep into her green eyes greeted Percy warmly. She introduced herself as Dr. Morgan Wolfe and stated that she had been treating Oliver since he came in. She was sweet and caring and reminded Percy of someone he knew. Suddenly he pictured his little sister introducing herself as "Dr. Virginia Weasley". He was oddly comforted by this thought, because if this woman was anything like Ginny Oliver was safe.

"Dr. Wolfe, what happened to him?" Percy asked, slipping his hand from Oliver's finally. He stood and faced the doctor.

"Oliver was hit in the back of the head by a bludger, he has a nasty head injury from that. Then he fell off his broom and hit his head again. I think he will recover in time but I'm afraid that his Quidditch days may be over," she replied seriously.

Percy gasped and sat down again. Quidditch is his life. What will he do if he can't play? He never had a chance to play in the World Cup. He'll be so upset. These and a thousand other thoughts flooded his brain.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I know who you are," The young doctor was looking at him patiently.

"Oh, um...I'm Percy. Percy Weasley. I'm a...a...a friend of Oliver's. From school. We went to Hogwarts together."

"Well Percy it's nice to meet you. I'm glad that Oliver has someone here with him. He seems like a great guy and very popular, judging by all the gifts he has received, but hardly anyone has come to visit. His mom was here for a little bit yesterday, but she said that she was too busy to stay long. You know it would be great if you would talk to him. It might encourage him to wake up," Dr. Wolfe continued talking to both Oliver and Percy while she checked Oliver over. Once she was satisfied with everything, she changed the IV bag and was ready to walk out the door when she turned and said, "Oh, the cafeteria is down the hall and there is an owlery on the 6^th floor."

Morgan Wolfe left Oliver Wood's room with an even bigger smile. She was friends with Oliver and had heard him speak of Percy quite often. She was quite excited to find this Percy Weasley in her friend's room and looking at Oliver with such adoration that he couldn't be anything but in love. Maybe Oliver's love wouldn't go unrequited after all.

Percy was intrigued and baffled by this witch. How had she known that he would be here for a while? For all she knew he had just stopped in to say hi on his lunch break and would be headed out the door in a minute.

"Lunch break? Oh, shit!" Percy thought aloud, "I was supposed to go to work!"

"Oliver, I am going to go Owl work and then get a bit to eat in the cafeteria, but I'll be right back," Percy cooed gently to the sleeping form in the bed.

The hospital owlery was much nicer than the one at Hogwarts or even at the Ministry. Much cleaner and more organized and, therefore, much better in the eyes of Percy Weasley. He wrote short notes on a couple of pieces of parchment. The first one read:

Louisa,

Something urgent has come up and I need to deal with it. I will not be in to the office today. I will be in tomorrow. Thank you.

Percy Weasley

The second one:

Dad,

I am going to be busy with work today, so I will not be able to go to lunch today, I'm very sorry. Maybe next week, though.

Percy

With the owl sent to the Ministry and his stomach full, Percy returned to Oliver's room. He took his spot on the bed again and reached for Oliver's hand.

"Ol it's me, Percy. I'm back," he whispered. It was probably his imagination or just wishful thinking, but Percy could have sworn that Oliver squeezed his hand just a little. Percy smiled and gazed dreamily at his best friend. Then he remembered what Dr. Wolfe had said about talking. He wasn't sure what to say, so he just started talking about work and what he did on a daily basis. He didn't share just the facts, either. He told Oliver his opinions, his fears, everything. Everything that Percy had kept bottled up since the Quidditch World Cup, he now shared with the comatose Oliver. Percy then fell silent; watching the remaining fall leaves dance in the autumn sunshine. A lot had happened in the last year, too much really. His boss had been murdered, he had been taken in for questioning by the Ministry of Magic and Voldemort had returned. Percy, as well as everyone else, knew that it was just a matter of time before the later became a real problem. Sitting here, holding the hand of the love of his life, Percy realized for the first time that he had grown up. He was no longer a child who followed the rules and let others make the decisions for him. He was 21 years old and still lived at home with his parents. He still had lunch with his dad once a week and wore the underwear that his mum picked out for him.

Realizing what he had to do, Percy stood up quickly. His legs had fallen asleep from sitting on the edge of Oliver's bed for so long. As he stood there waiting for them to wake up, he looked down at his love, looking so helpless and beautiful in the hospital bed.

"Ol, I'll be back to see you later this evening, I promise. There are just some things that I have to take care of right now. For me, for you...For us," he whispered the last two words. Percy took a chance and gently kissed Oliver's sweet lips.