What the Cat Dragged In

Percy locked his office door and walked out of the Ministry of Magic. It was a cool autumn day and he was looking forward to the evening. Oliver Wood, his boyfriend of three years, was away at a Quidditch Conference for the night and Percy planned to take advantage of having their flat to himself. He walked down the street, pulling his cloak closer around him to stay warm. Thinking about the book that he was planning to read, he nearly walked right past his favorite Chinese restaurant. The proprietors were Muggles who always gave his clothing strange looks, but he was a good customer so comments were rarely offered.

The young woman behind the counter looked up and grinned when she saw Percy. "Oliver is out of town, again, Mr. Weasley?"

With a smile, Percy replied, "Only time I get to eat Chinese food. My usual, please, Serena."

Serena called the order back to the cooks while Percy dug in his wallet for the small amount of Muggle currency that he always carried. English wizards just didn't seem to be able to make a decent General Tso's chicken. After he paid, he gathered his dinner and with a wink at Serena went back out into the evening air. As he rounded the corner, Percy glanced around to make sure that he was alone and then apparated into the entryway of his flat.

"Benjamin Eustace, I'm home!" he called, setting dinner on the table. A large brown and black tabby cat appeared from the direction of the guestroom. "Hello, Benjamin. I've brought dinner home. It's just you and I tonight. Ollie is away, learning how to focus his energy on Quaffles."

Percy ate his dinner, feeding scraps to the cat while he did so. After changing into his pajamas, he found the book that he wanted to read and settled onto the sofa. With a swish of his wand, soft music began playing and cinnamon-scented candles glowed to life. The cat glared at Percy from the floor. He tended to shy away from Percy, perhaps because Percy was responsible for the tabby being dubbed Benjamin Eustace Wood-Weasley. He seemed to prefer Oliver, who called him Benny and gave him better scraps than spicy Chinese food. As Percy never played with him, he was left to entertain himself for the evening while his master read a book. Growing tired of glaring at Percy and not getting a reaction; he gave up and slid under the couch in search of something to play with.

Percy didn't even notice that the cat had left until the quiet chirruping sounds from the cat alerted him and he looked up from the novel in which he was immersed. For a moment, he stared, puzzled at what the cat was tossing into the air as a plaything. It was lavender and looked like something that neither he nor Oliver would ever wear. Percy caught it on the cat's next hind leg toss and examined it. Yes, it was what he had first thought. It was a brassiere. Lavender silk and lace, not too big, but not too small. La Senza, according to the tag.

Percy sat back to think, laying the bra on the couch beside him. It's not one of ours; neither of us cross-dresses. It belongs to some woman and it appears that she left it behind. I just cleaned under the couch two weeks ago, so it hasn't been here too long. I just don't know. I haven't been with a woman since Penny and I fooled around at school. Moreover, I would never dream of cheating on Oliver. He wouldn't do that to me, either, would he? Just because I have worked late a lot lately, he wouldn't run out and find some random girl, would he? He wouldn't find a girl, at that. Oliver just...just wouldn't. He loves me, I think...Percy's conviction of Oliver's loyalty grew steadily less the longer he sat staring at the lavender fabric.

With a growl, he sprang up off the couch. He tossed the bra onto the floor where Benny grabbed it and ducked back under the couch. "Dammit, two can play at that game, Oliver Wood. You think you are pretty sly sneaking in a girl or two while I'm at work? Probably not even at a Quidditch conference. Probably spending the night with some floozy! You think you are the only one who can get some action around here? We'll see about that,' Percy ranted at the picture of the two of them sitting on the fireplace mantle. Photo-Oliver looked shocked and horrified at being yelled at by Percy and eventually turned his back on him.

Still grumbling, Percy stomped into the bedroom. The closet door nearly came off the hinges as he jerked it open. Scowling at his wardrobe, he shoved aside his neatly pressed robes and black trousers. Percy Weasley was normally even-tempered and gentle, but as we all know-hell hath no fury like a Weasley scorned.

"I can't believe you would do this to me, Ol." Percy yelled at a picture of Oliver on Percy's bedside table. It had been taken on a beautiful autumn day; the sunlight reflected off the handsome Quidditch player's light brown hair and his eyes danced with laughter as he tossed a Quaffle into the air. He stared at the picture for a minute, eyes blazing, before raising his wand and screaming, "Eruptio!" The glass in the frame burst and the photo flew out, landing face down on the floor beside the bed. With a maniacal laugh, Percy turned back to his closet and reached way in the back. He emerged with a gleam of triumph in his eyes. Over his arm he hung his treasure and went into the bathroom.

After a quick shower, he changed into the outfit he had chosen. Studying himself in the bathroom mirror he thought, if Oliver can get some cheap tramp by wearing those stupid Quidditch robes, I shouldn't have any problems finding a nice bloke with whom to spend the evening.

He smoothed down the tight, shiny, silver shirt he was wearing. He turned around and glancing over his shoulder, checked to make sure that his black leather trousers were still tight through the butt. He had lost a couple pounds and he didn't want them to be baggy. They were still clinging in all the right places. Percy liberally applied gel to his red hair, making his curls lay perfectly. Looking back into the mirror, he decided that something was missing. He tried to think back to the young man that he and Oliver had met several months ago. Percy had always been attracted to large, muscular men. Skinny, pale, and unremarkable, he didn't find himself attractive at all. Mark had made him change his mind about thin men. He had mesmerized Percy. He hadn't wanted him; he wanted to be him. So far, he had the look down, but it was still missing something. What had Mark done that Percy had forgotten. Percy stared into the mirror again, examining every aspect of himself, starting from the feet and working up. Black leather boots, super-tight dragonhide trousers, even tighter shimmer shirt, every hair in place... What was missing? The eyeliner. Mark's eyes were dark, and made even darker and sexier with a thick ring of black eyeliner. Oliver had teased Percy mercilessly about his Mark obsession for a week afterwards, even buying him a black eye pencil.

Thinking about Oliver infuriated Percy once more and he jerked open the bottom drawer. The eyeliner was still lying there, having never been opened. He snatched it up and tore off the plastic. When he leaned back to study his reflection a minute later, he was shocked. Even the mirror, which had sensed Percy's bad temper and refrained from comment, whistled in appreciation.

"I'm...Oh my God, I'm sexy..." Percy whispered. Then, in a more confident tone he told his reflection, "Eat your heart out, Oliver Wood."

Percy waltzed out of the bathroom. After two more "Eruptio" charms, one aimed at Oliver's Puddlemere coffee mug, the other at the crystal vase Oliver had given Percy as a birthday present last month, Percy grinned. He dropped his wand and a few coins into his boot and apparated, leaving Benny to stare at the mess for a few moments before returning to his bath.

******

An hour later found Percy Weasley dropping onto a barstool to drain the last bit of his drink during a slow song. He had been dancing since he arrived and needed a breather. He had just ordered another Whiskey Sour when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he found himself gazing at a hard body covered by a pair of tight blue jeans and a green muscle shirt. Looking up he saw a pair of warm brown eyes that looked vaguely familiar.

"Hey there, mind if I sit down?" A deep voice with an Irish accent inquired.

Percy looked at him again. He was extremely good looking. I should remember someone that attractive, where do I know him from, Percy asked himself. Noticing the questioning look on the man's face and realizing that he hadn't answered him, Percy attempted to find his voice. "Oh, not at all, please do."

"I know you."

"Do you?" Percy asked. He was positive that he hadn't had so much to drink that he would forget people.

"Yes, you are Oliver Wood's boyfriend, right?"

"Er, well, yes, I am. How do you know Oliver?" Percy was a bit suspicious, but intrigued at the same time.

The man grinned. "I'm a beater for the Chudley Cannons. We met last year at a Quidditch party of some sort." Percy sighed in relief; he wasn't being stalked after all. When he focused his thoughts, he realized who the handsome man was.

"It's John, right?" he asked.

"Yes, it is. To be honest, I'm a bit surprised to see you here. No offense, but generally guys only come in here if they are looking for some action. Where's Oliver?"

"I'm aware of the nature of this establishment. Oliver is...away."

"Oh?"

Percy realized that although John had made the first move, he had just accepted it. Well, that was what he had come here for, wasn't it? To prove to himself that he wouldn't be left in the dust. He smiled to himself, then looked back at John appraisingly. He nodded his head. "Yes, Oliver is away. John, buy me a drink and I'll tell you a little story."

Two whiskey sours and 20 minutes later, Percy had finished telling John his tale about the lavender bra and that he figured that Oliver was cheating on him. Percy was aware of John's hand on his thigh and although he didn't move it, it was making him uncomfortable. He was really enjoying the attention, however he was beginning to grow nervous about what he was doing. It wasn't like Percy to jump into a physical relationship. The idea had been quite appealing when he at been at home strutting in front of the mirror in this get up. Now he was afraid he looked like a whore who was just looking to get a piece of ass. It suddenly occurred to him that that had been his goal. John had been sweet and attentive, buying drinks and encouraging Percy to talk, but Percy knew that John was looking for the same thing Percy had thought he wanted. Although a bit tipsy, Percy did his best to move away from John without being rude.

John sensed the tension, but moved closer even still. Percy was quite the treat in this bar. Attractive, sweet and innocent, he was just what John had been looking for to provide his evening's entertainment. It was obvious that Percy didn't really want sex; he wanted revenge, but John was never much concerned about his bed partner's motives and wasn't ready to give up.

"Percy, listen," he said, moving his hand up a bit further on the leather-clad thigh. "I'll be honest with you, Oliver always seemed like a good guy and although I don't see him as the type to mess around, especially with women, you never know. So, why don't you just forget about him, let me buy you another drink and give me the pleasure of a dance with you?"

Percy smiled and accepted the offer as another fast song blasted out of the speakers on the dance floor. After all, what could one little dance hurt?

*******

Oliver burst through the front door of his home with a bang and a shout. "Perce, baby! I'm home!" The quiet flat greeted him. Realizing how late it was and that Percy had probably already gone to bed, Oliver quietly placed his overnight bag on the floor and proceeded through the flat. Calling "Lumos" over his shoulder, he went into the kitchen. Benny quickly joined him, meowing for food. "Hey Benny, did Daddy Percy not feed you tonight? Poor boy." Oliver shook some dry cat food into the ceramic dish on the floor singing the Meow Mix jingle while he did so. It wasn't until he replaced the cat food carton that he noticed his shattered Puddlemere coffee mug.

"Benny must have knocked it off the counter after Percy went to bed. Perce wouldn't have left broken glass lay around," Oliver spoke aloud to no one in particular. He grabbed his wand and repaired the mug. He went into the bedroom to announce his arrival to his boyfriend. Freezing in the doorway, he took in the scene with a gasp. The lights were blazing, there was clothing strewn everywhere and the closet stood wide open. Moreover, Percy was nowhere to be seen. Glancing around, a bit alarmed by the mess, Oliver called out. "Percy? Honey, you home?"

Checking the bathroom, he found damp towels on the floor and Percy's hair gel on the counter. "What the hell happened here?" he muttered aloud. "And where is Percy? It's not like him to leave such a mess." Bending over to pick up the towels, he noticed the eye pencil lying on the floor. In wonderment he picked it up and set it on the counter. Turning, he noticed that Benny had followed him into the bathroom.

"Benny, did Percy go out? I don't know why else he would use eyeliner." Oliver asked the tabby, not really expecting an answer. Benny gazed silently at him, flashing that "I know more than you" look that cats so often use.

After straightening the bathroom, Oliver wandered back into the bedroom where he began picking up the clothes on the floor to return them to the closet. When he leaned over the bed to pick up a shirt, he saw the empty picture frame. He reached down to pick up the photograph from the floor. Photo-Oliver pouted at him until the frame and glass had been restored and returned to their rightful place on Percy's bedside table. Still shaking his head in wonderment, Oliver slowly walked back to the living room. The crunch of glass under his foot brought him back to the present.

"What the hell? I gave him that vase for his birthday. He loved it! At least he said he did." Oliver bellowed, causing the cat to dive under the couch in fear. Angrily muttering another Reparo the vase reformed on the mantle. Turning to the photograph there, he noticed that the Percy and Oliver in the picture were as far apart as they could get within the frame and were glaring at each other with air of hostility.

"If I didn't know better, I would say that Percy was pissed off at me." Oliver mused. He took a step back as the Percy in the photograph began nodding vehemently. "What the hell did I do?" he further mused as he moved towards the couch. Sinking down into the cushions, he was still muttering to himself. "I got him the vase for his birthday. Our anniversary was two months ago and it's not a major gift holiday, so I haven't forgotten a date. I cleaned up the kitchen as he asked me to. I even put my spare Quidditch gear away. I don't know what I did. Or didn't do."

Oliver leaned back and began to review every thing he had ever done to make Percy mad and tried to figure out if he had repeated a deadly sin. His mind was completely blank. Confused and frustrated, he slammed his large hand down on the couch. With a scramble, the startled cat shot out from under the furniture. He wasn't used to his masters yelling loudly and exploding things. Oliver jumped when Benny catapulted from beneath him. It was when he looked down and saw the lavender bra strap around the cat's neck that he began to laugh. The feline was picking his legs up high to try to escape the constraining garment. With a chuckle, Oliver plucked the bra off him and brought it up where he could see it better. He racked his brain to come up with the origin of the lavender silk. Suddenly he realized where he had seen it before. It had been during a concert the previous week. Percy's ex-girlfriend Penny had gone with them and had imbibed much more alcohol than a petite girl like herself should. Her bra straps had been showing for much of the evening and Oliver had commented that the lavender was a pretty color on her. In response, she had turned around and flashed him, giving him a full view of her lingerie. Percy had laughed and told her, "Ollie isn't interested, Penny. He's more into this." Then he had turned and kissed his lover. This was Penny's bra. Oliver was sure of it. She had ended up sleeping on their couch that night and had probably left it behind.

"Good thing I like blokes or Perce might think I was cheating on him if he found bras laying around the flat," he murmured softly before the realization hit him like a bludger.

"Oh shit!" he shouted as he jumped to his feet. "That's it, isn't it? Percy thinks I'm cheating on him. Oh Merlin. Well, it shouldn't be too hard to explain. I can always floo Penny to have her verify that this is her bra and it's all innocent."

He looked at the picture on the mantle. Within, Oliver was looking hopefully at Percy, who was still glaring. Benny now wore the "what took you so long to figure it out, dumbass?" look.

Oliver was still voicing his thoughts as he began wandering around the room. "Do I wait for him to come home or go find him? From the looks of things here, he was pissed off when he left. He went out, that's obvious, since the eyeliner was out..." Oliver froze for a moment, staring at himself in a mirror. With a roar, he started to yell at the glass reflection of himself. "Dammit, dammit, dammit! He has eyeliner on? Oh shit, he was trying to pick someone up. Percy! How can someone so smart be so fucking stupid? To think I would ever cheat on you, especially with a woman. Then to run off to find someone, just to spite me. Hell, if he went anywhere near the Dancing Dragon...Every guy in that place is looking for action. He's so gorgeous; anyone would take him home. Why the fuck am I yelling at a mirror? I need to go find Percy!" Clutching his cloak, Oliver apparated out of the middle of the flat and into the street outside one of the sleazier clubs in the wizarding world.

This type of club didn't have long waiting lines, but did have a large bouncer. Oliver nodded politely to the huge ex-body builder who might have been Hagrid's cousin. The man looked Oliver over before rolling his eyes towards the entrance. Oliver stood just inside the doorway, not wanting to wait for his vision to adjust to the dim lighting, just wanting to find his boyfriend and get the hell out of there. He just had a feeling that this was where Percy would have come.

Oliver made his way to the bar and signaled to the barkeep. The sloppy young man with long hair made his way slowly down the counter to where Oliver had sat. Customers who arrived at the Dancing Dragon in old robes, trainers and a cloak with "Puddlemere United" emblazoned on the back were not usually big tippers. Sports fans that had lost big on the match that afternoon. They wanted to get drunk and get drunk cheaply. He was already figuring on watering down his drinks a bit. As he drew nearer, though, he recognized the man on the barstool.

"Hey man, you're Oliver Wood, right? You play for Puddlemere." he drawled.

"Er, yes." Oliver replied hurriedly. He didn't have time to chitchat with fans. He needed to find Percy.

"There were a couple fellas talkin' 'bout you a bit ago."

Oliver's eyes lit up with hope that perhaps he could find his lover before anything too disastrous happened. "Really?" he asked, trying to sound non-plussed. "Are they still here? It's always good to meet my fans."

The bartender waved idly towards the dance floor. Oliver spun around on the barstool so that he could watch the wizards dancing, if you could call it dancing. Oliver thought it looked more like sex with clothing on. All that bumping, grinding and groping. Looking around at the movement on the floor he suddenly saw what he was looking for. An extraordinary flash of red hair in the moving lights. Oliver jumped up, desperate to reach Percy when he saw the owner of the red hair. His heart sank. It couldn't be Percy. Just looked a bit like him-tall, thin, curly red hair.

"What the fuck did he do to himself?" Oliver muttered suddenly, just loud enough for most of the patrons in the bar area to hear. The redhead had moved back into Oliver's line of sight and confirmed that it really was Percy. Holy shit, he looks hot! Oliver thought, as Percy turned away again, giving Oliver a perfect view of his boyfriend's arse encased in tight black dragonhide. Oliver took a deep breath and sat back down onto the barstool, his eyes never leaving his boyfriend-turned-Sex God while mixed emotions of anger, lust and love swirled through his brain. He really thought I was cheating on him, didn't he? The prat! Didn't even bother to ask me if it was true. Just got all dolled up and went out to get revenge. And he would have slept with that whore John? Merlin, I'll kill both of them! Damn, though, Percy looks good. That eyeliner works for him. Oliver was trying to will his anger back to a manageable level when he noticed something was happening on the dance floor. John, a fellow Quidditch player, seemed to be trying to talk Percy into leaving. He was putting his arm around Percy's waist and pushing him towards the exit, whispering in his ear. As Oliver watched, Percy wiggled away and said something to John. John was snaking his arm back around Percy's waist and Oliver was starting to get up, when the song ended, leaving a gap in the artificial noise. Just enough of a gap for everyone in the club to hear Percy shout, "I said No! Now let go of me!" at the same time that he reached into his boot for his wand.

John backed away from Percy, shaking his head. "You don't know what you're missing, kid,' he said as he stomped out the door. The music started up again and most of the people went back to their dancing, a few nodding to Percy as they passed by him. The tall redhead was still standing on the edge of the dance floor, his cheeks flaming and eyes ablaze, wand still held at the ready. Oliver approached the dance floor, watching his lover. He was more turned on right now than he had ever been in his entire life. Here was his lover-dressed to kill, furious with him, and standing up for himself and all Oliver could think of was taking him home and ravishing him.

Percy turned slowly around, lowering his wand as he did so. His eyes locked on Oliver, standing apprehensively at the edge of the floor. Oliver saw it all there in those beautiful navy blue eyes. The love, fury, passion, relief, and vulnerability all melted into one sea of emotion. In an instant it was gone, the anger taking over. He approached slowly, gracefully, like a cat that is pleased to see its master, although it won't openly admit it.

"Oliver," Percy was curt, unemotional as he brushed past.

"Percy. Babe, we need to talk. I think I know what happened, but first- God, you need to dress like that more often, 'cause I could devour you right now."

"Really?" Percy looked back at him with eyes that were pleading to be loved. His manner turned cold again quickly. "No, that doesn't matter, does it? You'd rather have some hot little number with big breasts and long hair."

"I'm not going to listen to you rant and rave and make accusations. Why don't you ask me? I've never lied to you before. I never would. So ask me."

Percy's face scrunched up in concentration. He had consumed many whiskey sours and was feeling a bit woozy.

"Sit." Oliver suggested, pointing at a nearby booth.

"I will not take orders from you, Wood."

"Of course you won't. You never have. I am asking you to sit down because you are swaying and I thought it might be better to have this discussion in a booth rather than in the open." Oliver sat down and gazed expectantly at Percy, who glared for a moment before taking a seat.

"Are you cheating on me?" Percy was straight to the point. The anger he had felt all evening was dissipating as he looked at Oliver. It was being replaced by a feeling of helplessness and sadness. He just wanted the answer so that he could get on with feeling rejected by the one man he truly loved.

"No."

Percy shook his head. Oliver didn't lie. Percy had never once, in all the years he had known him, heard Oliver utter a single lie. Why would he start now? Did he really think it would make it less painful?

"Percy? I'm telling you the truth. My turn for the questions. Why do you think I'm cheating on you?"

Percy felt himself close to tears. He had forgotten that he often became emotional when he drank and alcohol on top of everything else that had happened this evening was quickly breaking down his defenses. He looked up at Oliver, his eyeliner starting to run and make dark smudges under his eyes. "The bra. Where did it come from?"

"I had a feeling that's what this was about. Percy-I am not going to play games with you. Last week, when we went to that concert, Penny had on a lavender silk bra. She stayed all night on our couch. She must have left her bra behind."

"What?" Percy looked up, incredulous.

"Yes, that hot little number with the big breasts and long hair is none other than your ex-girlfriend Penelope. Besides, have I ever even looked twice at a woman? You should know better than anyone that I don't swing that way."

"Oh God," Percy muttered. The fading flush of anger on his cheeks was replaced with dazzling blush of embarrassment.

"Percy, are you out of your mind?" Oliver asked, looking around them. "Trashing our flat, dressing like that, coming here, dancing with John?"

"I thought you liked my outfit."

"Merlin, yes. I do. Between that and you standing up for yourself against that oaf, I'm quite turned on. " Oliver met Percy's gaze and they both grinned for a second, before Oliver continued. "But, Percy, do you really not trust me? Baby, I love you so much and I would never hurt you in any way."

Percy lowered his head and stared at the table. He really didn't know what to say. Oliver was right. Why shouldn't he trust him? Oliver was Oliver. He was sweet, honest, and open. He felt the tears slowly slide down his cheeks and drip from his nose. He had hurt his love, his lover, his Oliver, and all because he was too bullheaded to consider the possibilities or consequences of the evening's proceedings. He didn't look up when he felt the seat next to him dip with Oliver's weight. The warm, familiar pressure of his boyfriend's arm settled on his shoulders and he turned his body against the broad chest, burying his face in Oliver's robes. Oliver's hands caressed his back and soft kisses were being dropped in his hair. He managed to swallow the lump in his throat enough to say, "I'm sorry."

"Hey Perce, this is me, Oliver...You know I won't forgive you just because you are crying," he said softly. Percy's body tightened under his arm and he continued on, "but I will forgive you because I love you and everyone makes mistakes. Just, from now on, ask me."

Percy looked up at him and smiled tentatively. Oliver laughed gently. "Your makeup is a mess, love. Let's go home."

"Okay. Wait a minute, Ol, why are you home?"

Oliver was draping his cloak around Percy's shoulders and fastening the clasp. He leaned in for a kiss then said, "We finished up early and I wanted to come home and make love to my angel, who turned out to be quite the devil after all."

"Oh, Ol, that was just bad. Not funny at all"

"I thought it was clever."

Oliver started towards the door when he felt Percy's hand on his arm, stopping him. With a questioning look, he turned back to look at him. Pulling him close, Percy whispered into Oliver's ear. "We're okay, then?"

"Yes, love, we're quite okay." A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes and he stooped to catch Percy's knees over his arm. Percy gasped as Oliver swept him off his feet and then spun around, his long legs flailing as he wrapped his arms tightly around his boyfriend's neck. He was much too tall for carrying; however, Oliver insisted on doing so every now and then.

It was only a few minutes later when Oliver dropped Percy onto their bed. Percy's feet were still hanging over the end and Oliver slid to the floor to remove his lover's boots. He began chuckling as he peeled off the socks Percy was wearing. "You even painted your toenails? Damn, you were counting on getting lucky tonight, weren't you?"

Percy reached down and wrapped his fingers in Oliver's hair, pulling him gently towards the bed. A quick divestment spell left Oliver without clothing and he moaned as his own bare legs met Percy's leather clad ones. Still holding onto Oliver's hair, Percy guided their faces to meet in a long delicious kiss. Oliver broke their kiss and moved away, looking down into Percy's face where his eyes were darkening with lust and his lips swollen from the kisses they had shared the whole way from the club. The eyeliner was streaked and somehow looked even sexier than before. Percy Weasley, wearing only skin-tight dragonhide trousers, navy blue nail polish and streaked eye makeup, was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen in his entire life.

"What?"

"Just thinking about how gorgeous you are and wondering why you would think I would ever want to stray when I have this in my bed every night."

"Oliver Wood!"

"What?"

"Shut up and fuck me, will you?"

"With pleasure, love. With pleasure."