In A Time Of Uncertainty

Part Two, Chapter Ten

Percy woke to a twittering sound; still half asleep, his thought it was the pixies. After a few confused seconds he sat up and saw an enormous red bird sitting on Hermes's perch. "Hello," said Percy, blinking. The bird tilted its head and sang a single note. There was a letter attached to its leg, which Percy removed and read.

Dear Percy,

Oliver spoke to me last night about your work schedule; I must admit that it will be difficult to manage. The Order have more need of you than the Ministry, yet your sudden unemployment would look suspicious, which is the last thing we want. Cornelius and I have come to this compromise: with the exception of a few hours a day at the Ministry, you will spend your time with the Order. If anyone asks as to your whereabouts, they will be told that the Minister has sent you away from the Ministry on business. Cornelius would like you to arrive today at nine o'clock.

So far, your work for the Order has been superior, as I knew it would be. Therefore, I shall entrust you with this information. The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix are located at 12 Grimmauld Place, London. Please memorize that last line and then destroy this letter.

Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore

Percy read the line ten times, learning it down to the spelling of "Grimmauld". Then he lit the letter on fire with flames from his wand and watched as it burned in the air.

The bird was still sitting on the perch. "I suppose you're the phoenix the Order is named for," said Percy. "Er - can you tell Dumbledore that I did as he asked? And tell him I said thank you."

The bird chirped and then disappeared.

Percy glanced at the clock; it was seven o'clock, which meant that he had plenty of time to get ready for work. He wondered how long he would have to stay there; he was eager to see Oliver and read through the files, in that order. As he thought of Oliver standing in his office doorway, Percy realized he was grinning, his mouth spreading so wide that his face began to ache.

"You idiot," he said affectionately to his reflection, the way that one would tease an old friend. The face in the mirror beamed back.

It took half an hour of digging through his wardrobe and bureau drawers before Percy decided on wearing jeans and a dark green t-shirt. He spread the outfit out on his bed and looked at it critically, eventually deciding that it was too plain. Oliver never wore anything that was very detailed, but a firm chest and narrow hips were accessories enough. After some more rummaging Percy found an old leather jacket of Bill's and laid it next to the shirt.

Well, he thought as he surveyed his clothes, it wasn't ravishingly sexy, but it would look all right. Besides, Percy had a suspicion that he could appear in front of Oliver naked, oiled, and hard as a rock, and somehow Oliver would still manage not to shag him. At this point in their relationship, anyway.

But that was all right. Better than racing full speed into another horrendous mistake.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tonks was sitting at the breakfast table, listlessly stirring her coffee and looking very morose.

"So then I tripped on the stairs, and the pixies must have snuck off or something - I didn't even know there were pixies in the box, Jemima Folle saw me in the corridor and asked if I'd take the box down to the Pest Advisory Bureau...by the time I stood back up the lid on the box was closed, I never realized it'd sprung open, but it must've - "

"Didn't you hear the pixies?" Charlie asked.

"No, I had my headphones on."

"Headphones?" asked Percy's father eagerly. "With batteries? Do they - "

"Not now, Arthur!" snapped his wife.

"Sorry, dear," he answered meekly, but with a definite spark in his eye. "Sorry, Tonks."

"It's all right." She grabbed for a napkin and blew her nose rather loudly.

"How long did it take for Pest Advisory to open the box?" Percy asked, sitting down next to Ginny.

"Seven hours, they were really busy all day." She tossed the napkin into the wastepaper basket and looked up. "Your glasses are different."

"Yeah," said Percy, self-consciously touching the new frames. He'd transfigured them from round and horn-rimmed to black oval wires.

Tonks smiled. "Looks good."

"Thank you."

It was at that moment that a screech owl began to manically bang its beak against the window.

"I've never seen that owl before," said Ginny curiously as she leapt up to open the window. The owl landed on her arm and she took its letter. "Perce, it's for you."

He read the letter twice, once to himself and once aloud.

"Dear Head Git. Mum says you've joined the Order, so we suppose this means we have to at least be civil. Therefore, we shall henceforth acknowledge the fact that you are our brother and shall also agree to be in your presence on occasion. Happy birthday. Sincerely, Gred and Forge."

Arthur put his head in his hands and groaned.

"At least it's a start," said Charlie. "Up until a few days ago he was 'that bloody pile of rat droppings'. Compared to that, 'Head Git' sounds almost affectionate."

Percy rolled his eyes and reached for a piece of toast.

"Sirius told me once that his mum used to call me 'a genetic flaw conceived by an unnatural union'," Tonks offered.

Percy started to smile; he felt guilty until he realized that Tonks herself was trying not to laugh. "See? It can't get worse than that."

"How about, 'a genetic flaw conceived by an unnatural union with dead flobberworms for brains and a tremendous wart on her nose'?" Ginny suggested.

"Virginia!"

"Or, 'a genetic flaw conceived by an unnatural union with dead flobberworms for brains and a tremendous wart on her nose, stringy hair, bulging eyes, and a voice like fingernails on the blackboard'."

"Charles!"

"Plus ingrown toenails, the head of a monkey, and the feet of a mooncalf."

"Percy!"

"No to mention drool and breath that smells of garlic vomit."

"Nympha - "

The rest of the table laughed as Molly realized her error and blushed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Percy arrived at Oliver's at half-past eleven, the exact second Fudge released him. He found Oliver asleep on the couch, cheek pressed against the pillow and feet hanging off the armrest. Percy watched his chest rise and fall for a few seconds before he leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.

Oliver's eyes fluttered open. "Hey," he said sleepily.

"Hey." Percy kissed Oliver's forehead again. "Where's everyone else?"

"They've gone off to get some names checked with Dumbledore. If it all goes well the Order ought to have eight new members soon."

"That's good."

Oliver sat up, blinking. "I was thinking about you a lot last night."

"I was thinking about you too. And reading The Emerald Cloak - I'm at the part where Madam Auricle finds the blood-spattered shoes in Sir Henry's trunk." He paused, eyes resting on Oliver's messy hair. "Ol, I want to say that I really appreciate that you gave that to me. I mean, it's one of the rarest books in the wizarding world."

"And should therefore belong to one of the rarest people," said Oliver, stretching his arms. "Get up here, Perce."

Percy sat down next to Oliver and brushed some hair off of his new boyfriend's forehead. It really was a beautiful forehead - so broad, so smooth. Oliver's features were too sharp to be conventionally handsome, but that only made Percy want to look at him longer.

"Edinburgh today?" he asked.

"As soon as this meeting's over. I thought we'd basically stick to the Royal Mile, it's my favorite part of the whole city. You ought to see it in August; it's mobbed because the Muggles have their Fringe Festival. Huge theatre thing. I saw a couple of shows last summer with my boyfriend at the time."

His matter-of-fact speech made Percy realize how comfortable Oliver was with himself, something that Percy envied enormously. "When did you come out?" he asked.

"That's a bit of a long answer. To my parents - summer before seventh year. Extended family, October after graduation. In terms of my career, it doesn't come up. Puddlemere's a dedicated lot, we hardly ever have conversations about anything personal. I'm only Reserve Keeper, so the press has mainly left me alone so far."

"When did you come out to yourself?"

"Fifteen. Although looking back, I wish I'd admitted it sooner."

"I was thirteen," said Percy, relieved that he had been ahead of Oliver in something.

"That's probably when I should have done it." Oliver cupped Percy's face. "But if it ever did come up at work, I wouldn't lie." He reached further for Percy; Percy nudged over and let himself slide into Oliver's arms. "I'd tell them I'm seeing a brilliant - " nuzzle " - sexy -" kiss " - wonderful man." He started to slowly chew on Percy's lower lip.

Percy loved sitting on Oliver's lap; it made him feel consumed, surrounded by a warm fortress of Oliver. He stroked Oliver's jawline as they kissed.

"I love this outfit, by the way," Oliver murmured, slipping his hands inside Percy's jacket. Percy moaned softly. He found that he was no longer anxious for climax; instead he enjoyed the tenderly arousing feel of Oliver's fingers tracing his ribs. It reminded him briefly of Penelope, during their sixth year when they were just beginning to learn the feel of each other's bodies. But his reminiscence was short; the past was gone, he was Oliver's now and didn't want it any other way.

He started to nibble on Oliver's earlobe; Oliver sighed and pulled him closer. "The top, bite the top. Not too hard. Yes...that's it, Percy...that's it...yes..."

The loud pop startled them both; Percy fell forward onto Oliver, who was then pinned against the armrest. Charlie was standing across the room.

He took a deep breath. "Well."

Oliver and Percy exchanged worried looks. "We've been dating since last night," said Percy hastily. Anything to interrupt the perilous silence.

Charlie sighed and sat down in one of the armchairs. "I hope you're treating him well."

"I am," said Oliver at once. "Believe me, I would never - "

"I'm not worried about you one bit, I was talking to Percy!"

The door opened and Mrs. Figg came in, with Mr. Tibbles on a lead. "Well Oliver," she said, "you certainly waste no time."

"Guess not."

"Percy," Charlie continued, "if I find out that you are in any way being manipulative, unfair, or cruel - "

"Hey!" Percy protested, scrambling off Oliver's lap. "I haven't done a damned thing wrong!"

"See that you don't. You two have to keep getting along, at least for the sake of the Order."

"We're getting along fine," Oliver said firmly, kissing Percy's cheek.

There was a sharp crack and then Mundungus was standing by the doorway, surrounded by a cloud of green smoke. "I can't believe Dumbledore don't want Enery," he said." Old Ennie's one of the best - " He looked at the others and stopped. "I miss something?"

"I'll tell you if you put that thing out," said Oliver, nodding at the pipe.

"Yes, Mr. Tibbles is allergic," said Mrs. Figg.

"Your Tibbles likes me better than you think, Figgy," said Mundungus, the pipe and smoke vanishing. "Oy, Tibbles! Come over here and give Dung a kiss."

"He doesn't want to."

"You're still clenching onto that lead."

Mrs. Figg let the purple lead slip from her fingers. The entire room watched as Mr. Tibbles took a few tentative steps toward the door.

"That's right...nice Tibbles..."

The cat began to rub its face against Mundungus's trouser leg. He bent down and let it lick his finger. Mrs. Figg sniffed.

"See, Charlie, at least Perce and I get along better than those two, anyway," said Oliver.

"Hmm?" said Mundungus, looking up. His gaze landed upon Oliver and Percy's intertwined hands and a sudden look of understanding spread across his face. "Ohhhh...so that's how it is...well, Wood, you could do a lot worse."

"Thanks, Dung," said Percy.

"You're entirely welcome."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Percy, can I keep these files in your desk?"

"Go ahead," said Percy, not looking up from his book. He'd sorted all his files and decided to spend the last few minutes before he and Oliver left for the Royal Mile reading.

"What's the book?" Oliver asked, bending over to open the drawer.

"Hung Jury." Percy's eyes slid over to Oliver. "Mmm, keep bending over."

Oliver laughed. "You know, Perce, for someone who spent seven years of his life devoted to following rules, you're very horny."

"I admit it." He closed the book and slid it back into the shelf. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"Not in the slightest," said Oliver before he licked Percy's neck.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"If you keep smiling like that, Mum's going to know that something's up," said Charlie to Percy five hours later, just before dinner.

Percy shrugged. He felt emboldened, exhilarated, high off of the fresh air and the fresh memory of Oliver's arm around his shoulder as they walked through the streets.

"I'm not joking. They aren't stupid, you know. Someone's bound to ask you what's going on."

"You know what?" said Percy, kicking his feet against the side of the steps. They were outside on the porch; Charlie was polishing his broomstick and Percy was doing nothing in particular except thinking of Oliver. "Here's what I think. Somehow, bits of our personalities have switched. You got my former overbearing trait."

"Look." Charlie set down the broom. "This whole romance with Ol is new, right? Give yourself some time to get used to it before they have to. Hell, I didn't even know you fancied men."

"And women."

"God, that's just going to complicate the whole thing more."

Bill had come home for dinner.

"The fang was bad enough," said his mother as she passed the corn. "Actually, I was starting to get used to it. But what, Bill, did you have to buy a hoop that makes you look like a pirate?"

"Yes," said Bill, which made Ginny giggle.

"Really, Mum, it isn't as big of a deal as it used to be," said Charlie, setting down his water glass. "Look at Kingsley, he's got an ear pierced."

"Yes, but Aurors have always been a bit eccentric. Look at Mad-Eye, for heaven's sakes! Look at Tonks!"

"Poor Tonks," said Percy's father a bit absentmindedly. "I have a feeling that the Ministry will forgive her for the pixies sooner than she'll forgive herself."

"Is she always that clumsy?" Percy asked.

"Most of the time, yes."

"Speaking of Tonks," said Molly, addressing Bill, "she liked Percy's new glasses. I think she might even fancy him a bit."

"You're getting ahead of yourself, Molly," said her husband. "They barely know each other."

"Ooh, Percy and Tonks!" said Ginny, her face lighting up. "Maybe she'll trip and fall into his arms!"

Charlie was giving Percy a very pointed look from across the table.

"Well, if she does, I'll stand her back up and keep walking," said Percy, blurting it out before he lost his nerve. "I'm already seeing someone."

Charlie bit his lip. Ginny settled her chin in her hand, as though she was getting ready to sit and listen for a while. Bill raised his eyebrows in surprise. Percy's parents slowly turned to face him.

"Oh?" asked his mother. Her voice was unnaturally high. "Who?"

Percy steeled himself. "Oliver Wood."