I'll Take Care of You

Friday. Yes, it was finally Friday, thought Percy as his alarm clock blared in his ears. He had slept better than he had in months he realized as he climbed out of bed. He could already hear his parents arguing. It was only voices though; no words came through the floor. Molly seemed to be raging about something. Oh, well. I'm sure I'll find out soon enough, he thought as he surveyed his closet. He wanted to look nice, but still casual, and it had to be within Ministry guidelines. There had been no news from the hospital during the night, so he was assuming that Oliver was okay. Lunchtime was going to be the only chance Percy would have to see his love today, at least until the evening.

A few minutes later, Percy stepped from the shower whistling the song that had been playing when his alarm went off. After drying himself, on went black trousers, khaki button-down shirt and his favorite blue robes, the ones that matched his eyes. A comb was raked through the curly red hair, which needed cut badly, Percy noted. He wondered if he trusted his mother to do it for him. Ron and Harry had both braved a Molly Weasley haircut a few months ago. Consequently, they had returned to Hogwarts with Harry in a new 'Wheeze' hat and Ron in the old Chudley Cannons cap that he always wore. Percy decided that he would just go and get it cut at the barbershop. His hair was, if possible, more unruly than Harry's was. This went against everything that Percy believed in. Control, composure, neatness. This was what Percy was made of. All except that shock of curly red hair on his head. Curls? No other Weasley had curly hair. Not one of them did. Percy realized that he was staring at himself in the mirror. He smiled then; a thought crossed his mind. None of them had Oliver Wood, either.

He left the bathroom and paused at the top of the stairs listening for his parent's voices below. They were quiet now, so he took the opportunity to descend, hoping that they wouldn't start arguing again. Upon reaching the kitchen, Percy slid into his seat at the table muttering a quiet 'Good morning'. Arthur, grumbling darkly about 'that stupid Irish prat' and 'if I ever find him' didn't look up from the paper or even acknowledge that Percy had entered the room. At the sink Molly was banging the pots and pans much louder than necessary. Percy knew this was serious, as his mum only did the dishes by hand when she was really upset.

'Breakfast is on the stove, love,' she replied shortly, 'I didn't want it to get cold.' She glanced up at him, forcing a smile. He returned it and made to retrieve his breakfast when his eyes came to halt on the parchment laying on the table. There were two letters, both on Hogwarts stationary. Molly followed his glance and made a 'hmphff'ing sound. 'Well, you might as well read them. It won't do any good to keep it from you. Maybe you can help us figure out what to do,' Molly's speech was harsh and angry. This must be about what they were fighting.

Resuming his seat, Percy picked up the letter on top and started to read.

Dear Arthur and Molly,

I'm am very sorry to have to report to you at this time, but as you are aware of the school's discipline policy, you will realize that it was necessary to inform you of an incident of this nature. At 10:45pm, your daughter Ginny was caught in a 'compromising' position with another student in the astronomy tower. Although Hogwarts does not punish students for sexual activities, there were several other factors involved. Your daughter and Mr. Finnigan are being punished for (1) Being out after curfew, (2) breaking into a classroom, (3) defacing school property, (4) using a sleeping potion on the school's caretaker and his cat, and (5) disturbing the peace, as they were making so much noise that a school professor went in search of the source of the disturbance and nearly had a heart-attack when she walked in on them. Although Professor Trelawney and Mr. Filch, as well as his cat, will all recover, both students will be serving a great deal of detention with myself and the staff members mentioned.

Thank you,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Percy felt his own cheeks turn pink as he read the letter. Mr. Finnigan? Seamus Finnigan? Ginny and Seamus? He now understood his father's monologue and felt that he would be using a few of the nastier hexes he knew on Seamus the next time that they met. Percy almost dreaded picking up the next letter, but he did, if only out of morbid curiosity.

Dear Arthur and Molly,

To say that I am afraid I have failed you is an understatement, as in my time at Hogwarts I have never had to write to the same parents twice in one night. It appears that while I was dealing with the before mentioned matter with Ginny, your son Ronald was involved in a heist that Hogwarts has never seen the likes of. With the help of Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, and Mr. Thomas, Ronald proceeded to break into a teacher's private quarters and wreak havoc. There were no fewer than 20 different pranks set in Professor Snape's quarters, some of which were very dangerous. It now appears that Mr. Finnigan and your daughter were also involved in this and were creating a distraction to lure Professor Snape away from his quarters. At this time, I am not expelling any of these students as I feel that it is more important for them to remain at school and continue to learn while they are punished. Your children are a very powerful witch and wizard and it would be a discredit to the wizarding world to force them to leave school now. Please note that the whole of Gryffindor House will suffer for their actions.

Thank you,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

'Wow,' was all that Percy could say when he finished reading the letters. He looked up at his mother, who was now quietly crying. 'Oh, mum! Don't cry! It'll be okay. They won't be expelled. We'll figure something out, even though I'm personally going to Crucio Seamus Finnigan when I see him next.'

'Seamus? That's the boy who Ginny.... Ron's roommate? That nice blond boy?' Molly looked up at Percy questioningly. 'Well, Arthur, he is a nice boy and if Ginny is in love, I'm not sure we can do anything about that.'

'Molly! How can you say that? She's our little girl!'

'Er, Dad.... I'm not trying to cause problems here, but Ginny is 15. She is in her fifth year. In addition, I think you got a similar letter about Charlie when he was a 5th year. I don't think it's fair to treat Gin any differently than you did Charlie'

'And just how do you know about that, young man?' Molly had turned on him now.

'I was a 1st year when Charlie was a 5th year. Mum, the whole school knew about Charlie and Susie Crumbaker up in the astronomy tower.'

'Oh. Well, aside from Ginny and her boyfriend, what Ron did is unacceptable.'

Percy shrugged as he finished his coffee and finally grabbed his French toast from the stove, eating it while he gathered his cloak and briefcase. 'I'm sure you'll figure it out, Mum. Even if the babies of the family have topped Fred and George on getting into trouble. I'll see you tonight.'

He pecked his mother on the cheek and then his father on the top of his balding head. 'She can't be a baby forever, Dad,' he whispered in his ear. 'We all have to grow up sometime.'

As usual, Molly watched him walk across the yard and then disapparate. 'When did our son get so much wiser than us, Arthur?' she mused. 'And what are we going to do with our children?'

'Molly, Percy was born wiser than us, I think. He just usually hides the wisdom in all that book knowledge. As for Ron and Ginny, we are going to love them and then tan their hides the next time we see them!'

Molly Weasley promptly sat down on her husband's lap and put her arms around him. He laid down his paper and hugged his wife. They sat there in each other's arms, in silence, for a long time.

~~~~~~~~~

After leaving the Burrow, Percy figured the rest of the day should slide by nicely, accented by a visit to Oliver at lunch and then packing to move this evening. Unfortunately, Percy figured wrong. For the second time this week, his inbox was overflowing with mail and there was a note from Mr. Longfellow on his desk. He was supposed to meet his boss as soon as he came in.

After knocking timidly on the office door, Percy straightened his robes and tried to make his hair lay flat.

'Come in,' was the growled response. A pair of dark, stormy gray eyes glared at him from over a report on Japanese wand ingredients. 'Mr. Weasley, so glad you could be present at work this morning. Sit down,' Mr. Longfellow continued in his sarcastic growl. Percy sat gingerly on the edge of a chair, shaking slightly.

There was no other greeting or warning. The tall, dark haired man started into his tirade. Percy got the feeling that he had wanted to yell at Percy for a long time, but had never before had reason to. Percy also knew that he probably deserved the berating he received.

'Tuesday morning, you didn't show up for work. You owled your secretary at 1pm to say you wouldn't be in the rest of the day. Wednesday, you took an extra, unauthorized hour for lunch. Yesterday, you went to lunch with Mr. Fudge and although he returned to the office, you did not come back the rest of the day. You have always been the most responsible person in this department, but this week it has gone to hell. What are you thinking? No. Obviously, you aren't thinking. Percy, I'm serious, if your arse isn't in your desk chair when it is supposed to be from now on, you will be washing dishes at the Leaky Cauldron before you know it.' It continued like this for another 10 minutes with Mr. Longfellow never giving Percy even a chance to get a word in to defend himself. By the time he finally ran out of things to yell about, Percy had decided not to retaliate. He muttered a meek, 'Yes, Mr. Longfellow,' feeling much like a first year who had just received a tongue-lashing from Professor McGonagall.

After slinking back to his own tiny office, Percy set to work on his over-burdened inbox, resuming the usual fast efficient manner that had kept him in this department in the first place. It was almost eleven before he looked at the clock again. It would be lunchtime soon and then he could leave. Looking around, though, he decided that taking a lunch break might not be a good idea. He was only halfway through the stack of work in front of him and if he went to see Oliver, there was a good chance he would be late coming back and then would be in even more trouble. No, he had better eat at his desk and keep working.

Taking a five-minute break he wrote a note to Oliver to explain that he couldn't come at lunchtime, but would try to be by this evening. It hurt to think about not going to see him. Not to see the spark in his eyes when he saw Percy, the gentle smile that shown only for him. However, it would have to wait. Percy tried to tell himself that love was more important than work, but love didn't put a roof over your head and food on the table. The threat of being fired was still too near for Percy to risk it.

The note sent with a ministry owl, Percy bent his head over his work and focused all attention on it. He had to force Oliver's face out of his mind a couple times when international wizarding trade contracts got too tedious, but he told himself that the faster his work was done, the sooner he could see the real Oliver.

~~~~~~~~~

Across town at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Ailments and Maladies, a tall, muscular man was raging at his doctor. Official ministry parchment had been dropped on the floor. Morgan tried to read it without Oliver noticing.

Oliver,

My boss won't let me take a lunch break. Long story. I will tell you later, though. I have to have dinner with my parents and brothers tonight, but I will try to stop by to see you at some point this evening. I'm really sorry.

Percy

'Morgan!' Oliver shouted her name to get her attention. He had figured out that she was reading his note.

'Oh, sorry, Ol. However, I don't see why you are so upset. He said he'd come tonight.'

'You read it. He said he'd try to come. I knew it. I scared him yesterday. Damn it, Morgan, the only man I've ever loved and I scared him off as soon as I got him back. Argh! See! Look!' he handed her the letter Percy had sent him yesterday.

'What about it?'

'That one was signed, "Love, Percy". This one isn't.'

'That one from yesterday is also written much neater and was more thought out. This one is messy and scribbled. He wrote it in a hurry. I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it. Ol, really, calm down. It's okay. Percy seemed to be okay yesterday when he was here. I don't think you scared him at all. He probably can't take a lunch break. Oliver, you are one of the most confident people I know; I can't believe you are so unsure about Percy. I told you, I have never seen someone more in love than he is with you. I promise it'll be fine. He'll come see you as soon as he can, I'm sure. And when he does...'

'What?' Oliver wasn't screaming now. He seemed to have resigned himself to listening to his friend.

'You need to tell him about yesterday. Tell him why you were upset. He thought he had done something wrong. My Lord, if you two are always going to be so self-conscious, this relationship will never get off the ground. Ol, I have other patients to see. You need to relax and try to take a nap. I'll see you later,' She left him to his brooding thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Percy apparated into the back yard of the Burrow and hurried inside. The weather was getting colder. It would be winter before long. Entering the house, he heard Fred and George's voices from the sitting room.

'Hello?' he called, hanging up his cloak and setting down his briefcase. Friday night was always interesting at the Burrow. Fred and George, having moved into a house near London a few months ago, always came home for dinner. Occasionally, when they got the chance, Bill and Charlie would make it home on Fridays. These dinners were usually pleasant and gave Molly a chance to check up on all of her grown children.

'Oi! Perce!' called George, 'Can you believe Ron and Ginny? I mean, we never got two letters sent home in one night! I'm so proud! However, I'm going to kill Seamus when I see him next. Corrupting our baby sister like that? How dare he!'

Molly entered then, taking Percy's arm and leading him to where the rest of the family was sitting. She frowned at the twins, George, whose face was purple, and Fred, who had blue hair. Fridays were inventing days for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and they often showed up to dinner experiencing the after effects of Wheezes gone wrong, or sometimes right.

'None of the Weasley's will be doing any harm to Seamus Finnigan. George, you are the fourth one who has threatened to today. Moreover, I'm sure Ron has put in his share as well. Your sister is a smart, strong woman who can take care of herself. You leave her relationship alone.' Molly fumed at the redheaded men seated around her.

'Right, mum.'

'Sure thing, mum.'

'Yes, mum.'

'Of course, Molly.'

Fred, George, Percy, and Arthur all responded rather meekly to the short, stout woman who was glaring daggers at all of them. She then retreated to the kitchen to finish with dinner. Percy pulled his chair closer to the fire and listened to his brothers argue about what had gone wrong with their 'color changing gum' and why George's face was stuck purple. Percy wondered why those two hadn't done better in school. They really were brilliant. The potions they used to create some of the Wheezes were more advanced than most wizards knew how to brew. They used complex transfiguration and their charms were genius. They didn't want to do well in school, Percy realized. They had more fun creating jokes then doing what they were supposed to be doing. Well, at least they're well off now. A mysterious backer had given them enough money to buy a little shop front and get it started. Business was booming and Percy knew that most of their money went straight into Gringotts. They had few expenses. They shared the rent of the house with Fred's long-time girlfriend Angelina and George's fiancée, Katie. Things were good for the twins. They knew what they wanted out of life and were well on the way to getting it. They had laughter, beautiful women whom they were deeply in love with, and a job that they loved. Moreover, they were together. They had a connection that Percy truly envied.

Fred broke his reverie, 'So, Perce, Dad tells us that you are moving out. You want the spare room in our house? Ang and Katie won't mind.'

'No, Fred, but thanks for the offer. I have a little flat in London already. I'm going to start moving stuff tomorrow. I'd...well, I'd like some help, if you want to.'

'Of course, big brother! We' love to help!' George exclaimed, a little too eagerly.

'On second thought, judging by the crazed look in Fred's eyes and the fact that you are salivating, I think Mum, Dad and I can handle it,' Percy stated.

'Oh, well, we thought maybe if we helped out we could meet... Oi! George! That hurt!' Fred exclaimed, as George interrupted him with a sharp kick in the shins.

Percy's eyebrows went up questioningly, 'Meet who, Fred?'

The twins blushed and looked away. 'Well, we figured you were moving out so that you could live with a significant other and we wouldn't have to know about it. Not that we care, since we live with our girlfriends, but we just wanted to see if you found someone prettier than Penny this time,' Came a mumbled voice from the couch where the twins were sitting.

'Why do you think I'm dating someone?'

Arthur cleared his throat and looked up from the remote control car he was fiddling with, 'Er, Perce, I'm afraid that's my fault. You've disappeared twice this week, you are moving out, and you've been positively glowing for the last couple of days. Your mother and I figured you must be dating someone and didn't want to tell us. I wasn't going to ask you, but obviously, I have raised sons ruder than myself.'

'Oh,' was all that Percy could say.

'So, prettier or uglier than Penelope? Come on Perce, we have money on this!'

Percy froze for a moment. Maybe this was the perfect time to tell them. He opened his mouth to say, 'It's Oliver Wood, if you think he's better looking than Penny, then there you have it,' but the words stuck in his throat. Thankfully, Molly called them to dinner. No, it was too soon to tell them. He just stared at his brothers as they went to eat dinner.

They chatted about Wheezes, work and wedding plans through dinner and Percy thought that they had forgotten about their bet on his 'significant other'. He noticed that they had never said anything about it being a girl. Did they know he was gay? Was he that obvious? If so, maybe coming out to them wouldn't be so awkward.

Molly was preparing coffee after dinner when Percy excused himself, saying that he needed to run an errand. He was putting on his cloak and missed the looks that his family exchanged.

'Hey Percy, take a picture for us, will ya? Then we'll just judge for ourselves about our bet.'

Percy groaned, realizing that they hadn't forgotten. A devilish smile played around his lips. 'Better looking, if you must know. Much better looking.' He apparated out of the kitchen, leaving the remaining Weasleys speechless.