Unintended

The next few days were a blur. Luckily for Percy, the Minister was not too busy, so he found himself with a lot of free time that he spent with Oliver. They ate all their meals together, and spent a lot of time just talking and having fun. Percy often wondered why they had not been friends at Hogwarts; they seemed to fit together so seamlessly now. It was ironic, in a way.

Meanwhile, their relationship was progressing gradually, as they had both agreed to take things at a leisurely pace. Thus, they kissed and went no further. Percy was beginning to get used to sharing his bed space, and he actually rather liked having someone to wake up next to. He liked the feeling of Oliver's warm, strong body next to his. It made him feel safe.

Now, here they were, climbing into Percy's bed for the last time. Oliver would be leaving for Egypt the next day, and Percy felt anxious. What exactly did their relationship mean, if indeed, it meant anything at all? Was this just a fling? Would Oliver leave and pretend that nothing had ever happened?

Oliver pulled the covers over them and scooted toward the middle. Percy was lying on his side, facing toward the window's closed curtains. He was deep in thought when he felt Oliver's arm around his waist.

"What's the matter, Perce?" said Oliver, pulling Percy close.

"Nothing," sighed Percy.

"Oh, come on," said Oliver. "You're not a very good liar, you know." He put his lips close to Percy's ear and whispered, "You know you can tell me anything."

Slowly, Percy rolled over so that he was facing Oliver. They were so close that their noses almost touched.

"Oliver, what does this mean for us?" said Percy.

"What are you talking about?" said Oliver, puzzled.

"After you leave tomorrow, are we going to see each other again? Or is this just a fling?"

"You're joking, right?" said Oliver, looking taken aback.

"I'm serious," said Percy. "I'd really like to know if you're just leading me on, if you're just toying with me."

"Why would I ever do that?" he asked, looking hurt. "Percy, did you really think that I've been pretending this whole time? I would never, ever do that. I don't want to hurt you."

"So, when you come back from Egypt..."

"I'll call you every day," said Oliver, "I promise. And when we finish playing Cairo, I'll come back to London again."

"I'll hold you to that," said Percy.

Oliver smiled and moved closer so that their foreheads were pressed together.

"I don't know how I'm going to survive without you," he said, letting his lips brush against Percy's. He leaned forward again and kissed him, awakening within Percy a deep well of passion. Oliver sensed this, and shifted his weight over Percy. Within thirty seconds, both of them were shirtless and breathless from kissing.

Oliver planted a trail of kisses from Percy's neck to his navel, making him tremble with pleasure. He traced the faint birthmark with his lips, hesitating when it disappeared beneath the waistband of Percy's navy blue boxer shorts, into uncharted territory. He sat up and then propped himself up over Percy, balancing himself over his chest.

"I don't want to go too far," said Oliver. "I don't want this to be uncomfortable or awkward."

"It's okay," said Percy, though he was a little nervous. Other than Penelope Clearwater, he had never really had any 'lovers,' and he had certainly not done this with Penelope. To him, this was new and fascinating and terrifying all at the same time. "It's fine."

"I'll stop if you want me to," said Oliver, beginning the light kisses again. This time when he reached Percy's boxers, he paused for a second, and then took the waistband in his white, even teeth and gently eased them down over his slim hips. He felt Percy's muscles tighten as he again followed the birthmark with his lips, sweeping over his hipbones. He stopped, waiting for Percy's protest, but he didn't say a word. He kissed the smooth skin of Percy's inner thighs and felt muscles tighten beneath his tongue.

Percy felt Oliver's mouth moving downward, and his whole body flushed with heat. A draft of cool air below his waist announced the removal of the rest of his clothing, and he found himself completely exposed. He almost sat up, but closed his eyes and forced himself to lie back on the pillow. The touch of Oliver's lips made his entire body tingle, and he felt his heart accelerate. An explosion of pleasure rushed through his veins when Oliver's mouth closed over him, and he was faintly aware of himself crying out.

A minute or two later, the lightning-hot feeling of bliss took over, and his mind was blank with ecstasy. He felt his back arch and his hips thrust forward involuntarily; it seemed as if his body and brain had been taken over by a wild beast that he could not control. Then, in a split-second, everything was over, and Oliver flopped onto the pillow beside him, breathing hard. He pulled Percy to his chest, and Percy let his cheek rest against Oliver's bare skin.

------------------------

Amazingly, when Percy woke up before alarm birds sang, Oliver was still curled around him. He carefully extracted himself from Oliver's embrace and pushed the curtains aside from the windows with a flick of his wand. The gentle glow of the morning sun fell upon Oliver's tranquil expression, and Percy could not help but gaze in awe at him. His eyelashes, long and feather-like, cast delicate shadows down his tanned cheeks. Oliver stirred and opened his eyes, smiling sleepily.

"Morning, Perce," he said, stretching. He glanced at the clock. "How come you're up so early? I mean, earlier than usual."

"I don't know," said Percy. "I just kind of woke up."

"Well, you still have half an hour before it's time to get up, so why don't you come back under the covers for a bit?" He held up the sheets so that Percy could slide back into the warmth.

"I wish I could go to the match," said Percy, settling down beside Oliver again. "What day are you playing?"

"Sunday morning," said Oliver. "Tomorrow's training day, then we play the next morning. And then we always have dinner with team we played later that evening."

"Oh," said Percy, falling silent.

"Let me guess," said Oliver, interpreting the silence correctly, "you want to know when I'm coming back to London. Well, after we play Cairo, we'll be training there until our next Saturday match in Athens. We'll train in Athens until we play Albania on Wednesday. Then the team dinner and all that stuff, and we'll leave Thursday morning. So I'll be back in about two weeks."

"Two weeks," repeated Percy. "That seems like such a long time."

They were interrupted by a light tapping noise on the window: two tawny owls were waiting outside. Percy quickly let them in.

"They're invitations," said Percy, untying the envelopes. "One of them is yours."

"It's from Alice Newbury," said Oliver, opening his and reading it quickly. "Something about a masquerade ball."

"Oh, yeah," said Percy. "She was telling me about that. She's having one at her house to celebrate her birthday."

"It's the Saturday of the week I come back," said Oliver. "I don't think I have any plans. What about you?"

"I promised her I'd go," said Percy.

Oliver looked up in surprise. "You already knew about it?"

"Yeah," said Percy sheepishly.

"Well, what are we supposed to wear?" said Oliver, frowning. "I don't think I own any masquerade appropriate clothing, and I have no idea where I'd buy any."

"Just wear a black tuxedo," said Percy. "You've got one of those, haven't you? And Alice told me that we could borrow some masks from her collection. We'll just have to go to her house a bit early."

"Whatever you say," said Oliver, getting out of bed and running to the bathroom. "I call shower first!"

While Oliver was in the shower, Percy packed his suitcases, carefully folding each item of clothing. He rolled up the unused sleeping bag and went into the kitchen to make French toast and sausages, Oliver's favorite breakfast foods. Oliver came out, a towel wrapped around his waist, humming a tune.

"Thanks, Perce," he said appreciatively as he sat down. "You really know me well."

Percy blushed at the compliment and quickly changed the subject. "We should leave for the airport in half an hour. I've already sent a memo to the Minister to tell him I'll be late to work."

"You don't have to do that," said Oliver, waving his fork.

"It'd be rude not to send you off," insisted Percy. After a few back-and-forths, Oliver agreed. They grabbed Oliver's luggage and took a cab to the Muggle airport. There, they Apparated to a large expanse of open land. Percy tapped the large rock to their left, and immediately, they were able to see what all wizards saw: a small, bustling airport. Witches and wizards were arriving in all directions, and sleek jets embossed with the words 'Wizard Air' rolled across the runways and disappeared into the grey skies above.

As they approached the airport's main building, a porter offered to take their bags, all the while telling Oliver how much he loved watching him play Quidditch and was it possible that he could get an autograph? Patiently, Oliver waited as the porter dug out a pen and a piece of scrap paper, on which he scrawled his untidy signature.

"Thank you so much," said the porter, staring at the piece of paper reverently.

They had arrived at the security checkpoint, and Percy could go no further.

"Have a good trip," he said, giving Oliver a hug.

"I'll call you," said Oliver, letting go after a few seconds. "I promise."

"See you," said Percy, waving as he watched Oliver walk away.

He Apparated to work and greeted Wyatt cheerlessly on his way to the Minister's office.

"Good morning, Minister," he said.

"Ah, there you are, Percival," said the Minister, swiveling around in his chair. "I did get your memo by the way, and I hope your sister is feeling better soon."

"Yes, sir, it wasn't very serious," said Percy. He had lied in the memo, saying that he had to take Ginny to St. Mungo's because she had suddenly become ill.

"Well, I am glad," he replied. "Anyway, I've just received an invitation from my dear niece Alice to her celebratory birthday masquerade in about two weeks. I've sent her an owl in return saying that I will be attending, and I've also asked if I may bring a guest. I'd like you to accompany me. I'd like to introduce you to her."

"Oh," said Percy, who had been totally unprepared for this announcement. "We've already met."

"You have?" It was the Minister's turn to be surprised.

"Yes," said Percy. "I went to an evening dinner event last week and she was there."

"I see," nodded the Minister. "Well, then I expect you've received an invitation as well?"

"I have," answered Percy.

"Good, good," said the Minister. "You see, my Alice is generally a very shy girl. So it's quite astounding that she would invite someone she has only just met. You must have really caught her eye." He chuckled. "Now, I don't know if she told you about the glass figurines..."

"She did," said Percy, though he thought it best to neglect to mention the fact that he had already been to her house.

"I'd like to add to her collection," said the Minister, "but unfortunately I don't have time to do the shopping. I recently came upon a small, glass kangaroo figurine that I liked, and I thought it might be a nice thing to buy her."

"That sounds very nice, sir."

"Here are directions to the shop," said the Minister, tapping a small square of purple paper to make words appear. "I'd be very grateful if you could get it for me and have it wrapped. I'm sorry to send you on what probably seems like a menial errand, but I really wouldn't trust anyone else to do it."

"Of course, sir," said Percy, taking the slip of paper from the Minister's outstretched hand. "I could get it right now if you have nothing else for me to do."

"Wyatt seems to be hard at work answering those letters, and I've already had you do that last week," said the Minister. "So, go on and buy Alice's gift."

"Yes, sir," said Percy.

He stepped out onto the street and followed the directions on the piece of paper. They led him to a small, quaint gift shop that smelled faintly of roses. The bell chimed when he opened the door, and an old woman appeared behind the counter.

"How may I help you?" she queried, squinting up at him through her glasses.

"I'm looking for a glass figurine of a kangaroo," said Percy. "I was told that you have them here."

"Ah, yes," said the woman, hobbling over to a glass display case in the corner. "We have all sorts of glass animals here, and if you don't see one that you like, you can request to have it made."

"I'll have a look around before I decide," said Percy, and she shuffled off to the back room.

He leaned forward to see the little glass animals. There were horses, wolves, tigers, penguins, and just about any animal you could think of. The kangaroo was quite charming, and in the very back of the case, almost concealed behind the rhinoceros, was an owl. It had outstretched wings, and its features were outlined in black, with a yellow beak. He paid for them both, requesting to have them wrapped. She meticulously placed them in small gift boxes, nestled in soft velvet, and tied silk ribbons around the boxes.

On his way back to the office, he stopped at his apartment and tucked the owl into his dresser drawer.