Keeper's Secrets

Keeper's Secrets, Chapter 6 -- Come What May

Christmas Morning, 1994

Adeste, fideles, læti triumphantes.
Venite, venite in Bethlehem
Natum videte, regem angelorum
Venite adoremus dominum.

Cantet nunc io, chorus angelorum.
Cantet nunc aula cælestium.
Gloria in excelsis deo.
Venite adoremus dominum.

"Good morning, darling boy," Percy said, nuzzling into Oliver's ear. "Happy Christmas."
"Mmm, h'py c'ss," Oliver woffled, arching backwards into Percy's warm grasp. "Wh' time z'it?"
"Eight," Percy said. "Weasley Christmases always start early."
"V'rry early. Nnng, g'back t'bed, Perce," Oliver muttered, snuggling deeper in Percy's warm down duvet and pulling the top over his head to shut out the light.
"Don't you want your presents?" Percy asked.
"Nnng, Father Christmas hasn't been yet," Oliver muttered.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Percy replied, tickling him and eliciting a squirm.
"You horrible man," Oliver said, now awake. "Fancy tickling a poor sleeping boy like me."
"Hmph," Percy said, pulling the duvet off Oliver and tickling him again. Oliver's skin contracted into goosepimples, the light brown fuzz standing up on end. "Don't play innocent with me, Mr Wood."
"Why not, Mr Weasley?" Oliver asked. "Feeling a little guilty?"
"No," said Percy with a smirk. "The guilty bit I'm feeling right now is definitely not little."

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

Oliver sat on the end of the bed as Percy pulled on his pyjama bottoms. "Umm...Percy..."
"Mmm?"
"Slight problem."
"What?"
"Distinct lack of PJs."
"Huh?"
"Percy, remember last night, when I was lifting your legs over my--"
"How could I forget?"
"Well, I never put pyjamas on afterwards, because I was covered... erm... anyway, that's why I didn't notice that I hadn't brought any with me from home."
Percy laughed and fished out a spare pair of pyjamas. "Of course, you could always just not wear any downstairs and show off those legs of yours. Although...there's not really anyone to appreciate them, seeing as all my brothers are straight."
"There's always your mum..." Oliver said.
"Oh, superb. Coo coo ca choo, Mrs Robertson."
"Robinson, Percy. Mrs Robinson. I thought you liked Muggle Studies," Oliver said with a grin.
"Oliver dear, while we were watching the thing you'd taken your cloak off and were sitting in front of me on an open-backed chair and your shirt was riding up on the back of the chair. I was too busy staring at your arse to even listen to the film."
"Fair point, Perce, fair point."

Someone knocked twice on the door, and Percy quickly tossed Oliver his old, tattered dressing-gown, which he knotted around his waist.
"Morning, lovebirds," Charlie called through the door. "Will we have the pleasure of seeing you downstairs at all?"
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Oliver whispered into Percy's ear, giving it a nip as he lifted his head.
"Yes, Charlie, we'll be downstairs in a few," Percy called back, giving Oliver's leg a light slap, and whispering, "Down, boy."

Down on me, down on me,
Looks like everybody in this whole round world
They’re down on me.
Love in this world is so hard to find
When you’ve got yours and I got mine.
That’s why it looks like everybody in this whole round world
They’re down on me.

Oliver and Percy thumped down the stairs and into the kitchen a couple of minutes later. The kitchen table was piled high with breakfast things -- muffins, toast, freshly-baked rolls, cereal, juice, tea and coffee. Percy's father sat on the other side of the small table, head buried in the morning paper. The headline this morning was "DMLE Minister Saitaina Hexes Reporter", which neither Percy nor Oliver found exciting or newsworthy. Obviously, not many people were working on the Prophet for Christmas Morning. None of the other Weasleys were in the kitchen, although they could hear Bill making rustling sounds in the sitting-room next door.

"Good morning, Percy dear, good morning, Oliver, did you sleep well?" Mrs Weasley asked from the countertop where she was stuffing an ostrich-sized turkey.
"Yes thanks," Percy said, with a quick knowing look at Oliver.
"Wonderfully, Mrs Weasley," Oliver said, pinching Percy's bum while nobody was looking.
"Oliver dear, call me Molly."
"Sorry, Molly," Oliver said with a smile.
Arthur Weasley lowered the Daily Prophet he was holding. "Morning, lads. Help yourselves." He took a gulp from his mug of tea. "Just remember that dinner isn't 'til three, so make sure you're not going to get hungry. We'll open presents when the others are down."
His wife poked her head around the kitchen door. "Fred! George! Are you two up yet?"

Oliver and Percy wandered around the kitchen in a groggy state of half-sleep until the tea started to take effect, by which time the rest of the Weasley clan had descended and were talking nineteen to the dozen.

"Right, presents!" Molly said as soon as everyone had arrived in the kitchen, and led the way into the sitting-room. Oliver brought the remaining half of his crumpet with him as he followed the others, being careful not to drip any of the golden syrup off the plate onto the floor or the sofa he and Percy sat down on. Fred and George piled onto one rather squishy armchair, each trying to take up as much of the cushion as he could. Charlie shook his head at Bill, who grinned back and pulled a chair around for Ginny.

The Weasleys' massive thick green Christmas tree bulged with ornaments, which ranged from sparkling metallic balls to home-made paper snowflakes which looked like they had been around for several years, all encrusted with a sprinkling of sparkling multicolored glitter where somebody had got carried away with a Glitter Charm. At the top, an enchanted red-haired angel was perched on the tree, flicking her star-topped wand in various directions and making eyes at Percy and Oliver's angels, who looked slightly offended and went back to heavy petting behind the carriage clock on the mantlepiece.

Arthur walked in last and bent down above Oliver's sofa. "Oliver," he said quietly, "if this is uncomfortable for you, we won't think anything less of you for going home."
"No, it's okay, Arthur," Oliver said. "At home we don't start opening presents until later anyway. I'll pop off home then."
"Good lad," Arthur said, squeezing his shoulder. "Right," he said, looking around. "Who's first?"

A frenzy of present-opening followed. Percy squeezed Oliver's hand and whispered in his ear. "I don't know if they had time to get you anything, darling boy, but I certainly did."
Oliver smiled as he put the sticky plate down on the floor and, covering one hand with the other, sucked the syrupy end of his hidden index finger suggestively. "You're the best thing I've ever had for Christmas."
"On so many levels," Percy murmured in Oliver's ear.
"Quite."

They hugged each other tightly, but Oliver had to let go to catch a lumpy parcel which one of the twins swish-flicked over to him.
"For me?" Oliver asked, surprised.
"Yes, dear," Molly said as he ripped open the paper. "Now, it's only a temporary one which I had to...ahem...cheat to make, but I'll knit you a proper one just as soon as I can."
Oliver opened the package to find a woolly black jumper with a golden yellow 'O' on the front, with two little white wings poking out of the sides. He held it up, speechless.
"Go on then, put it on," Percy said, opening his own, which was a shade of silvery grey, with a dark grey 'P' on it. "Very nice color this year, Mum."
"I'm glad you like it, Percy dear," Molly said.
Oliver shrugged the shoulders of his dressing-gown off and Percy helped him to get the jumper over his head. Oliver stood up, shucked off the dressing-gown entirely, and walked out to the hall mirror, beaming with pride at his jumper. It fit snugly over his torso, emphasising his chest and arm muscles. "Molly, I don't know what to say," he said, finding his voice again. "I mean...thank you...it's--it's wonderful. Really. I love it to bits. Don't even think of making me a new one, I like this one too much."
Percy came up behind him and put his arms around Oliver's waist. "You look gorgeous in that," he murmured.
"So do you," Oliver said.
"Was it exceedingly naughty of me to tell mum that your chest size was four inches smaller than it is?"
"Yes, Percy, that was exceedingly naughty, and I shall deal with you later," Oliver replied.
"Is that a threat or a promise?" Percy whispered.

Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before.
I want to vanish inside your kiss.
Every day I'm loving you more and more.
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing
Telling me to give you everything.
Seasons may change, winter to spring,
But I love you until the end of time.

"Oi! No necking in the hallway!" Fred yelled from the sitting-room as he pulled on his own purple jumper with a red 'F'. George's was red with a purple G, and as he came back into the room, Percy checked for the tell-tale scar on Fred's hand to make sure the right twin was in the right jumper.

The sitting-room descended into chaos as Molly and Arthur, who were making the discarded wrappings fly into the crackling fire, attempted to keep up with their six children. Oliver was very surprised at the number of presents he managed to accumulate -- Molly and Arthur had got him not only the jumper but also a signed photograph of the players of Puddlemere United, which Arthur explained had come from Molly's Second-Cousin Gerald, who worked with the company which made Puddlemere gear and who had been woken up early by Errol with a note from Molly.

Charlie had brought back an extra set of miniature players and balls for the Romanian game of Quanto, which was played on dragonback and used long sticks with nets on the end to catch and throw the four rocks from player to player. Bill gave him a bottle of Egyptian Lightning Grease to use on his broom, and Fred and George gave him a brand new Puddlemere United scarf and hat, again courtesy of Cousin Gerald.

Percy, who had been the only one who'd had time to prepare presents, gave Oliver a framed photograph of the two of them in Diagon Alley. Percy explained that he'd arranged with the witch in the magical photography shop to take several pictures and have them developed. The one he'd chosen had caught them both laughing as they licked at a two-headed ice-cream cone just outside Fortescue's. The sunlight was catching Percy's hair, making it even brighter than normal, and the reflection from it was caught brilliantly in Oliver's eyes.

"I...I don't know what to say," Oliver said in amazement. "These are all just fantastic! Thanks ever so much, all of you."
Percy grinned and slipped his arm around Oliver on their sofa. "They love you almost as much as I do."
Oliver hugged Percy back. "Not half as much as I love you," he said.

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place.
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace.
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste.
It all revolves around you
And there's no mountain too high,
No river too wide.
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side.
Storm clouds may gather,
And stars may collide
But I'll love you until the end of time.

After the presents had all been opened, Oliver and Percy headed upstairs to take a shower. They were just ready to head downstairs and through the Floo network to Oliver's house when someone knocked on Percy's door.
"Ols? It's Lij." Elijah Wood sounded a little concerned.
"Lij? What is it?" Oliver asked.
"Can I come in?"
"'Course," Oliver said after checking to see that Percy had pulled his trousers on. Elijah opened the door and, narrowly missing a low-hanging beam, walked over and gave Oliver a hug. "Morning," he said.
"Pull up a seat," Percy said as he and Oliver sat down on the sofa, which creaked ominously.
"Lij, what's going on?" Oliver said, noting Elijah's slightly creased forehead as he pulled Percy's desk chair around to sit opposite Percy and Oliver.
"First of all, Happy Christmas," Elijah said with a smile.
"Happy Christmas," Percy said.
"Was Father Christmas good to you?" Elijah asked Percy.
"Very good. And he was also good to Ol," Percy said, pointing out the two Weasley jumpers.
"Very...tight," Elijah said as he looked at Oliver's jumper, raising an eyebrow at Percy.
"Yes, that's my fault, sorry," Percy said. "Reverse male exaggeration -- I knocked four inches off instead of putting four inches on."

They all shared a smile, and Percy squeezed Oliver in a hug. Elijah took a deep breath and his face turned serious.
"Ols...Mum and Dad need time to--to think about you, and you being gay, and everything that goes with that."
"Yeah, I know that. Everybody needs time," Oliver said.
"A lot of time," Elijah said.
"How much time?"
"I have no idea. But...oh, Ols, I'm really sorry. Dad told me to tell you to not come home for Christmas Day."

So don't come around here tonight
But that doesn't mean forever.
I trust you to spare us a fight
And humor my endeavour.

"What?" Oliver asked incredulously.
"Yeah," Elijah said. "Exactly."
"What the fuck do you mean, not come home for Christmas?" Oliver sprang up from the sofa.
"Ols, I am just the extremely unhappy messenger here," Elijah said, holding out his hands in frustration.
"How could they?" Oliver was on the verge of tears. "They said...they said they love me. How...how could they say that if...if..."
"They do love you, and so do I," Elijah said. "Which is why I, er..."
"What?"
"I said that if you weren't going to be there, then I wasn't going to be there either," Elijah said.
Oliver sank back onto the sofa and into Percy's arms. "You...you said that?"
"I did. And I meant it."
"What did they say?"
"Dad started shouting. So I left. Apparated to the Alley to collect my thoughts and then came straight here." Elijah put his hand on Oliver's knee. "Ols, I'm your big brother. I love and care for you immensely, and I will protect you. I'm not going to let Mum and Dad's immediate reactions get me discouraged from the fact that they will eventually be okay with you -- and with Percy."
Oliver's head sank back onto Percy's shoulder and he stared at the ceiling. "I don't believe this is happening to me. I really, truly, fucking don't."
"You and me both," Elijah agreed. "I'm as angry about this as you are, Ols. I can't believe they'd say that...but I hope they'll come to terms with you as who you are."
Oliver just squeezed his eyes shut, trying desperately not to let any of his tears leak out.

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child.
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child.
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
A long way from home.

Images flashed through Oliver's mind. Tottering down the long corridor with the brown rug after his Puffskein at the age of 3 or 4. Hiding underneath the kitchen table with an entire bag of sherbet lemons, which had put him off them for life. Sitting around the fire in the living room. Numerous family Christmases, the golden-brown turkey and mountains of roast potatoes seeming enormous to his small eyes. His father patiently teaching him how to ride a broomstick in the garden. Long walks down to the beach in the bright summer evenings. Throwing snowballs in the winter, with and without broomsticks. And now...what?

Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone.
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone.
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone.
A long way from home.

Percy had been very quiet, just holding and hugging Oliver, trying to transfer some of his strength to his lover. Giving Oliver a squeeze, he stood up. "Back in a sec," he said, and headed out of his room and downstairs to find his parents. He found his mother in the kitchen, drying up a newly-washed roasting tin.
"Mum?"
"Yes, Percy?"
"Did you talk to the Woods last night?"
"Yes, actually. They seemed a little taken aback, but apart from that...why do you ask?" Molly looked up at him.
"Because they told Oliver not to come back for Christmas."

Percy's mother let the roasting tin fall out of her hand with a clatter, and she stared at Percy. "They said what?"
"That was Ol's reaction. Lij -- Elijah, Oliver's brother -- just came round to tell Ol. Oh, and Lij said that if Ol wasn't there, he wasn't going to be there either."
"Oh...oh dear. I saw Elijah on his way in..." Molly said, regaining her powers of speech. "Poor Oliver...he must feel so awful!"
"Yeah," Percy said. "So. I don't know what he wants to do -- I might need to go out with him this afternoon, might not -- I just don't know what's happening right now."
"Oh, don't worry about us," his mother said. "If you boys aren't here I'll keep something warm for you, don't you worry. Now go see to Oliver. I'll bring up some tea in a little while. Off you go now."

When you're standing on the edge of nowhere
There's only one way up, so your heart's got to go there.
Through the darkest night see the light shine bright.
When heroes fall in love or war they live forever...

This is a song for the lonely! Can you hear me tonight?
For the broken-hearted, battle-scarred
I'll be by your side.
And this is a song for the lonely
When your dreams won't come true
Can you hear this prayer
'Cause someone's there for you.

Percy opened the door and walked back into his room and sat down beside Oliver on the sofa. He gazed into Oliver's eyes with an unspoken "You okay?" and Oliver nodded slowly, leaning forward for a brief kiss.
"I'll be fine," Oliver whispered unconvincingly as their lips parted.
Percy turned to look at Elijah and hugged Oliver again. "You okay, Lij?"
"Yeah," Elijah said, sighing and shrugging slightly. "This too shall pass."
"Percy?" Oliver spoke softly.
"Yes, love?"
"Can we...can we just get out of here for a while?"
"Broomsticks?"
"Yeah. I need to...need to fly. With you. Just you," Oliver said with an apologetic look to Elijah, who nodded.
Percy squeezed Oliver tightly. "Of course. Elijah, my folks know you're here...if you want to go downstairs and chat to them, or Bill, or Charlie, go ahead, or you're welcome to sit and think here."
"Cool," Elijah said, standing up and heading for the door. "Take as long as you need. Oh, and I brought both your sticks with me. They're in the front hallway."
"Thanks, Lij," Oliver said softly. "Love you."
"You too, Ols. See you later."

When you're standing in deep water
And you're bailing yourself out with a straw.
And when you're drowning in deep water
And you wake up making love to a wall
Well it's these little times that help to remind,
It's nothing without love...

The door shut behind Elijah and Oliver sagged into Percy's arms, the tears flowing freely now. "I...I hate them!" Oliver cried, squeezing Percy's arms angrily. "I--just--hate them!"
"Shhh..." Percy comforted. "Shh, Ol, my love, let it all out."
Oliver took a couple of minutes to get his emotions under control. "I need to get flying," he said, his eyes still red and watery. "Can we go?"
"You sure you're safe to fly?" Percy said.
Oliver chuckled through his emotion. "Yes, I'm sure. Always am. Anyway, no Bludgers after me this time."
Percy gave Oliver one last squeeze and pulled him up. "Right then," he said. "Off we go."
They pulled on their riding gloves, coats, hats and scarves -- Oliver put on his new Puddlemere United hat and scarf -- and went downstairs. Arthur came out of the sitting-room, which now had an enormous dining table which he, Fred and George were laying.
"Have a good time, lads," he said, with a comforting smile at Oliver, who smiled wanly back.
"Cheers, Dad," Percy said, and picked up his broom from where it was leaning against the wall in the corner of the hallway.

They walked outside and hopped on their broomsticks, rising into the crisp, dry Devon morning. Once they cleared the treeline by about fifty feet, Percy leaned slightly forward and he and his CleanSweep moved off slowly, away from the village of Ottery St Catchpole and up the River Otter, with Oliver directly alongside him. They were going slowly enough that Percy could reach out and take Oliver's hand as they flew, squeezing it every now and again.

Reach for the stars
Climb every mountain higher
Reach for the stars
Follow your heart's desire
Reach for the stars
And when that rainbow's shining over you
That's when your dreams will all come true...

Oliver gazed at the rolling Devon countryside, at the morning mist coming off the river at the bottom of the twisting valley beneath them. The sun glinted off the mist, making a rainbow or two shimmer into existence ahead of them on the moor. They passed above a couple of farmhouses, their chimneys puffing smoke out as the farmers tended to their cows in the barns. The summits of the hills ahead of them were crested by tors, large stacked granite rock formations which had been left while the ground around them was eroded by wind and weather. Oliver pointed his finger forward in a 'go faster' motion, and Percy let go of his hand and gripped more tightly onto his stick.

One day I'll fly away
Leave all this to yesterday.
Why live life from
Dream to dream
And dread the day
When dreaming ends?

Picking up speed, they raced ahead, the wind whistling around their ears. Their scarves flapped behind them as they flew past one tor and then another, the moorland landscape beneath them becoming more and more steep and rugged as they left the river valley behind. They rose gradually, until they crested one tor and slowed, circling, drinking in the morning sunshine as it crept across the wide moorland valley beyond, which dipped smoothly and gently along to the next tor. Swooping to a hover above it, Oliver and Percy landed, their feet just balancing their centers of gravity on the ground.

Beyond the tor, the valley fell away sharply as another river cut deeply through, splashing its way to the sea at the foot of the valley. On the opposite hillside was a thick pine forest, not neat and commercial in this National Park, but slightly unkempt -- a dead tree leaning against another, each tree a different height than its neighbour, not planted in tidy rows. On the side beneath them grazed a herd of wild moorland ponies, their dark manes flapping as they dashed around between mouthfuls of grass. The bracken grew thick around the tor as the rocks gave way to moorland around them, and here and there a sheep or a gorse bush dotted the hillside.

"Ol?" Percy's voice broke the beautiful silence.
"Mm, Perce?"
"Remember when you showed me your valley yesterday?"
"'Course."
"This is mine."
"It's gorgeous," Oliver said, turning his head. "Maybe we should have two houses when we grow up."

It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money, but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live...

"Well, a house wasn't exactly what I was thinking of," Percy said with an enigmatic smile as he slipped off his broom. "Follow me."
Percy propped his broom against a rock and deftly hopped down into a crevasse behind one of the larger outcroppings of the dark grey tor. Oliver followed, putting his broom down next to Percy's and joining him in the small crevasse. It was barely big enough to fit both of them at the same time. Percy pulled out his wand and with a muttered spell tapped a slight indentation in the side of the crevasse, which moved aside with a grinding, creaking sound to reveal a set of roughly-hewn steps which descended into a murky darkness lit only by the sunlight peeping over the crevasse.

"Percy?" Oliver said in amazement.
The red-haired boy turned to his lover with a grin. "Follow on, Ol, follow on."
They both muttered a quick "Lumos," and their wands flickered into life, casting light and shadows in the passageway. Behind them, the rock creaked and ground back into place. Descending, the passageway twisted and turned, until it finally opened out into a vaulted room twice the height of Oliver's ceiling. It was almost warm, certainly warmer than outside, probably what 'room temperature' would have been in a room without a fire.

Percy pointed his wand at what looked like a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, said "Lumare", and the room brightened quickly into daylight brightness, giving off additional heat. It was a good twenty feet wide and long, roughly square, and into the granite walls were cut rough shelves, storage holes and what could only be thought of as a sleeping platform. An old wooden chair and table stood at one end, and at the other end another passageway slanted down into further darkness.

"Percy, this is absolutely amazing," Oliver said. "What is this place?"
"It's an old hiding place I came across in a history book," Percy said, hopping up onto the sleeping platform and dangling his legs off it. "Binns made some reference to the Devon Revolution of 1187 back in fifth year and, seeing as we live here, I did a little extra research."
Oliver sat down next to Percy and put his arm around him, leaning back against the wall.

Percy explained how he'd sweet-talked Madam Pince into letting him take several books with accounts of the Revolution and its heroes home in the summer after fifth year and how he'd flown out looking for it. The landscape had changed over eight centuries, and it had been hard to track down the exact tor and crevasse, but it had paid off in the end. The table and chair were from the Burrow, and Percy had brought them down soon after he had discovered the room.

"It was my space," Percy said contentedly. "I was the only one in my family who knew about it. I still am, as far as I know. Well, apart from you, now."
"Thank you for sharing your hiding place with me," Oliver said. "I'm really touched."
"Well, you showed me your valley yesterday," Percy said. "Only fair that I show you my equivalent."

Oliver and Percy fell into a hug, wordlessly sharing the love they felt for each other and allowing it to shine out across the entire cave. They sat like that for several minutes, just holding each other, providing reassurance, support and, above all, love.

Come what may,
Come what may,
I will love you until my dying day.

"What's down there?" Oliver asked, pointing at the second passageway.
"An underground stream," Percy said, hopping off the ledge and taking Oliver's hand. "Let me show you."

They walked down the passageway, which grew colder as they descended. Their wands lighted the way, until they reached a low cavern with a swiftly-flowing stream splashing its way through.
"Probably a bad idea to fall in," Oliver commented.
Percy smiled, glad that Oliver's mind was being taken off the situation with his parents. "A very bad idea."
Percy led the way back up the passageway and into the underground room.
"So...who was this built by?" Oliver asked.
"Not quite sure," Percy said, "but it's entirely possible that it was here before the Devon Revolution. That's just the first recorded history of the place. Might have been a shepherd who was making himself a house, or a hermit, or...anyone."
"It's amazing," Oliver said, leaning back against the wall inside the sleeping platform and pulling Percy towards him.

For a long time, they sat silently, each gazing into the other's eyes. Oliver's head rested on Percy's chest with his arms around Percy's middle while Percy softly stroked Oliver's hair. Without saying a word, they both knew that they wanted that moment to last forever.

Now touch my tears with your lips,
Touch my world with your fingertips,
And we can have forever,
And we can love forever,
Forever is our today.

Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?

Oliver spoke finally. "Love you."
"You too."
"Forever and ever?"
"Forever and ever and always."
Oliver sighed. "I used to do that with my mum. Before...before they decided that they didn't want me around any more."
"Oh, Ol...it's not that they don't want you around..."
"Easy for you to say. Your family practically gave us shagging lessons, they were so happy for you." Oliver sounded pained.
"Oh, sorry, did you not notice one of my siblings screaming 'YUCK!' at the top of her voice?"
"Yeah, but, A, she's twelve, and B, look at the response the rest of your family gave to her. You're bloody lucky, Percy! Luckier than me, that's for certain."
"Oliver, that's not fair..."
"Yeah. I know. I'm sorry. It's just...ach. I can't say it."
Percy hugged him. "I think the reason it's easier for my family is that it's not an issue for us. My aunt Bea is a lesbian, and she's sixty and very happy living with her lover Sandi down in Exeter. She came out to the family about thirty years ago, and all us kids know that aunt Bea and Sandi live together and love each other very much, and that's all that matters."
"What about your sister?" Oliver asked.
"Ginny hasn't clicked yet that Bea and Sandi are lesbians," Percy said. "Remember, for girls it's normal to walk arm in arm and hug and go shopping together. It's not so easy with us. But, at some point, Ginny will realise that Bea and Sandi are lesbians, and her perspective will just go 'click'."

Percy emphasised the 'click' with a tilt of his head. "Oh, and, it would be really hypocritical of my parents to tell us not to have sex. Because we know they had sex before they were married, as their siblings delight in reminding them. And as for my brothers..." Percy trailed off.

"I wish there was someone like your aunt Bea in my family," Oliver said sadly.
"Ol, your family is just different. Every family is. Your parents' reactions are better than ninety percent of gay people's parents. They told you that they loved you and that they always will. The fact that you are now different to their expectations is just sinking in and registering, and they're confused and unsure."
"Yeah, and they don't want to see me. On Christmas. And Lij left too...I've broken my family apart, Perce."
"No son has the power to break a family apart, Oliver Wood."
"How about two sons?" Oliver counted on his fingers. "Me, Elijah. Two."
"Ol...you have not broken your family apart. Every family goes through times of trial, and it just serves to make them stronger. Together."
Oliver sighed and let his head fall against Percy's chest. "How can you be so wise? You're the same age as me and still you're more mature."
"That's open to debate," Percy said wryly.
"No, I'm serious. You are."
Percy laughed. "Even if I am, who cares? Who really cares that Percy Weasley is more mature than Oliver Wood? Or anybody else?"
"I care. I care because I want you more than anything else in the world," Oliver said quietly.
"In case the last week hasn't been enough of a hint, the feeling is mutual," Percy said, ruffling Oliver's hair.

It's a little bit funny,
This feeling inside.
I'm not one of those
who can easily hide...

"Yes, I got the hint," Oliver said with a grin. "Every time you moaned my name, I got the hint."
"See?" Percy smiled. "I love you, and you love me, and that's all that matters. We have each other. Yes, our families are important. But I remember that you asked me a question in your kitchen last night. You asked me if I was willing to give up my family if they rejected me."
Oliver nodded slowly. "And you said that you were."
"I still am. And I assume that you are -- and were -- too."
Oliver thought for a long moment. "Yes. I am."
"Well then," Percy said, "you have nothing to lose. Like the warriors who, before each battle, declared that they were dead. They had nothing to lose, and if they came back it was an added bonus."
"Percy dearest," Oliver said, "the death metaphor is not helping."
"Sorry," Percy said, grimacing. "My Inner Boffin gets carried away with itself sometimes."
"I know," said Oliver. "And it's not just your Inner Boffin."
"Oliver Wood, are you suggesting something?" Percy asked in mock shock.
Oliver smirked. "Might be."

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place.
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace.
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste.
It all revolves around you
And there's no mountain too high,
No river too wide.
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side.
Storm clouds may gather,
And stars may collide
But I'll love you until the end of time.

Come what may,
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day.

The morning stretched into noon, and into afternoon. Percy and Oliver talked, laughed, cried, hugged, and talked more, as their angels and devils fluttered around above them, doing much the same thing. They spoke of family, of friends, of school, of pasts, of futures, of hopes, of dreams, of work, of Quidditch, of the Ministry of Magic.

But most of all, they spoke of love. Straight love, gay love. Lucky love. Love which changes everything. Love that can build a bridge. Stoned love. Love you stop in the name of. Love and understanding. Love that puts you on top of the world. The power of love. Love you can't hurry. Miraculous love's wounding. A love rendezvous. Love so high. Good lovin'. Love, not just a four-letter word. Imaginary love. Love, love, love.

Love is a many-splendored thing!
Love lifts us up where we belong!
All you need is love! All you need is love! All you need is love.
I was meant for loving you baby! You were meant for loving me!
Just one night, give me just one night!
In the name of love! One night in the name of love!

Love lifts us up where we belong, where eagles fly on a mountain high.
We could be heroes just for one day.
We should be lovers, and that's a fact.
We could steal time, just for one day.
Just because I will always love you.
How wonderful life is now you're in the world...

"I don't know about you," Percy said after a long time of just holding onto each other, "but even with the enchanted heating and damp-proofing this place has, I'm starting to get chilly. So, unless you have any great objections to us going home and sitting in front of the fire with leftovers and a glass of wine, I vote that we get flying."
"It'll be dark outside," Oliver said, lighting his wand again as Percy removed the spell from the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The light dimmed and before Percy could light his own wand the room was dark except for the light coming from Oliver's wand.

They headed up the steps carved roughly into the floor of the passageway, up and around the shadowy corners until they reached the top. Percy found the indentation from the inside of the passageway, pressed it, and the rock moved aside with the same creaking and grinding noise as before. It was a crisp, cold, clear night, several degrees below freezing.

"Bloody hell, it's cold," Oliver said, his breath clouding in front of him.
"Wonder what time it is," Percy said, swishing his wand and saying "Tempustellar" as he flicked it, then held it steady. Thin beams of purple flared out from his wand in the direction of several stars. Half a second later, the beams snapped back into Percy's wand and a glowing blue V.XXXVIII popped out with a quiet puff, hanging in the air like a cloud until it drifted apart in the slight breeze.

"V point X X what?" Oliver said, trying to work his brain around the Roman numerals.
"V point X X X V I I I," Percy said. "Work backwards. I I I is three, plus V which is five, make eight. Add that to three X, which are ten each, and you get thirty-eight. Five thirty-eight."
"I'll just stand here and look pretty and pretend I understood a word of that," Oliver said, blowing on his hands to warm them up before giving up and putting his gloves on.

As far out on the moor as they were, the stars were large and bright without the lights of 'civilisation' to dim them. The sky seemed enormous but at the same time just out of reach of their arms. The familiar constellations glittered down on them like old friends, Orion's belt gleaming brightly despite the half moon.

Some days are meant to be remembered.
Those days we rise above the stars.
So I'll go the distance this time
Seeing more the higher I climb.
That the more I believe
All the more that this dream will be mine.

If I could reach higher,
Just for one moment touch the sky.
From that one moment in my life
I'm going to be stronger.
Know that I've tried my very best,
Put my spirit to the test
If I could reach...

The handles of their brooms were ice-cold, and Percy and Oliver rubbed them with their gloved hands to warm them up slightly. The two boys mounted their broomsticks and pushed off the ground, speeding downhill, around the diminishing tors and hillsides, until they picked up the River Otter again, splashing and sparkling in the starlight beneath them. They followed it down until Percy spotted the familiar ring of trees near the Burrow, and they set down in the garden, cold but glowing. Oliver opened the door and the warm air, smelling of roast turkey and vegetables, washed out over him, making his cheeks sting and his mouth water.

"Fooooood," he said to Percy, holding his hands out like a zombie.
"Quickest way to a man's...heart," Percy said with an eyebrow raised quirkily as he closed the door behind them.
"Mr Weasley!" Oliver pretended to be shocked.
"Mr Wood!" So did Percy.
"Dinner."
"Agreed. Mum! Dad! We're home!"

Percy and Oliver poked their heads round the corner of the Weasley's sitting-room to see not only Molly, Arthur, Elijah, Bill and Charlie but also Rose and Birnam Wood, sitting close together and looking concerned on one of the smaller sofas. Rose's eyes were red and teary, and Birnam was tight-lipped and looked very much like he felt that the current situation was completely out of his control. The Weasleys' Christmas tree, which had looked happy and joyful that morning, now looked very much out of place in the almost palpable atmosphere which filled the room.

Oliver stepped stiffly through the door and into the sitting-room. Percy followed, standing just behind Oliver.
"Oh. Hello," Oliver said neutrally.
"Oliver..." his mother said.
"Where have you been?" Birnam Wood asked. "You went out without telling anyone where you were going."
"Yes. I'm not twelve." Oliver's voice was flat.
"It would be nice to know where you were," his father replied tightly.
"It would have been nice to be at home for Christmas," Oliver shot back.
Oliver's mother spoke for the first time. "Oliver, we didn't have dinner -- we just couldn't. It's so difficult to think about this -- about you...and him..." she inclined her head at Percy.
"Percy has a name, mum," Oliver said pointedly.
"Well, you and Percy, then. It's very hard for us to come to terms with you and this new...lifestyle you've chosen."
"It's not a lifestyle, Mrs Wood," Percy said firmly. "And it's not a choice."
"Whatever it is, we don't understand how you could have turned out like this...did someone...do things to you?"
"Mother!" Oliver threw his hands up. "Don't you read? Even the Prophet says that being gay is not a lifestyle, or a choice, or that people don't 'turn' other people gay. It's just part of me."
"Don't use that tone of voice with your mother!" Birnam Wood shot across the room angrily. "She's trying to make some sense out of this...this whole unnatural business."
"Unnatural? Is that what you think my love is? I can't believe how ignorant you are, you small-minded--"
"How dare you?" Oliver's father's eyes narrowed as he interrupted.
Oliver threw his hands up and sank back into the couch.
"Don't you huff at me, sunshine, or you won't know what's hit you."
"I'm not a child," Oliver said, teeth gritted. "And if you fucking lay a hand on me..."
"You--" his father began, but his wife grabbed his arm before he could finish.
"Birnam, don't. You'll just make things worse. They're already bad enough..."
"'Bad enough'? What do you mean, 'bad enough'?" Oliver blurted out.
"Do not shout at your mother!" Oliver's father said angrily.
"I am not shouting," Oliver said quietly as the emotions inside him changed from an angry crimson maelstrom to a white-hot calm as his mind raced.

This was not supposed to be how it went, Oliver thought. Parents were supposed to be a bit worried, a bit concerned, maybe some disappointment about the grandchildren thing, but that was supposed to be it. Oliver's mind laughed darkly.

Molly spoke again, leaning between the two Woods. "Look, Oliver, Birnam, Rose, this conversation isn't getting anywhere helpful. Why don't we leave it until tomorrow?"
"Well, that depends if they can stand the sight of me tomorrow," Oliver said. "They couldn't today. How's it going to be any different?"
"Oliver, we do love you," his mother said.

"Love me? I thought you did. But today, I wasn't so certain. It's odd, isn't it, how being told to fuck off for Christmas can do that," Oliver spat out, eyes flashing.
"Ol..." Percy began, taking his arm as Rose and Birnam Wood flinched.
"No, Perce." Oliver folded his arms and fixed his parents with a stare. "You hurt me. You really hurt me. And you didn't even have the balls to do it yourselves. You sent Elijah to deliver your message for you. Your own personal prophet of hate. And that's cowardice, pure and simple, and I think a lot less of you for it. He," Oliver said, jerking a thumb at Elijah, "had the courage to stand up to you. So. I ask again. Do I know you?"

"Ol. Now." Percy's voice cut into the silence like a knife, as he pulled Oliver out of the sitting-room and into the hallway. "You're saying things you're going to regret."
Oliver turned to stare deep into Percy's eyes. "Fuck 'em."

God, I feel like hell tonight
Tears of rage I cannot fight.
I'd be the last to help you understand
Are you strong enough to be my man?

When I've shown you that I just don't care
When I'm throwing punches in the air
When I'm broken down and I can't stand
Will you be strong enough to be my man?

In the kitchen, Percy pushed Oliver against the kitchen countertop and placed a hand on Oliver's chest, staring straight into his eyes.

"Ol..." Percy said, letting go and pulling him close for a hug. Oliver hugged back tightly and sighed.
"Damn it."
"What was the drama queen act, Ol? That's not like you."
"It needed to be said. They hurt me, Perce."
"And that's a good reason to hurt them back? When they reached out to you?"
"Reached out my arse. They shoved me away."
"That was this morning. This is now." Percy took Oliver by both arms and looked deep into his eyes.
"'Then' was only eight hours ago."
"And what about the future 'then'? The future that we talked about today, and your plans, and your hopes and dreams? Don't your parents come into that at all?"
Oliver breathed several times before answering. "I--I'd like them to."
"Well then. Perhaps you should go tell them that."
"After...that? What they did? What I said? No. I can't."
"You have to. For your own sake, but for theirs too. You need to talk to them." Percy moved his face closer to Oliver's. "I'll be there beside you. Always."

Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I'll love you until the end of time

Percy darted his head forwards for a brief, passionate kiss, which Oliver returned hungrily. "Mmmnnnot now, later. When you've sorted things out with your parents," Percy said.
Oliver sighed. "Right then. Time to face the music."

There may be trouble ahead,
But while there's music and moonlight,
and love and romance,
Let's face the music and dance.

Molly Weasley had moved over to the cushioned footstool next to Rose Wood, while Arthur was talking to Birnam. Percy coughed quietly as he walked in, holding Oliver's hand tightly, and moved to the two-seater sofa on the other side of the room from the Woods.
"I regret some of the things I just said," Oliver began stiffly.
"Some of them?" his father said, frowning.
"Yes. Some of them. Implying 'not all'."
"Don't you get cocky with me, boy, or--"
"Birnam," Arthur Weasley broke in urgently.
"Or what?" Oliver said, eyes blazing.
"Never mind."
"Or what, I asked."
"I said, never mind."
"Oliver, Birnam, this is not helping," Molly Weasley said placatingly. "Perhaps we should wait until tomorrow to talk, to let cooler heads prevail."
"Now's fine by me," Oliver said, leaning back and putting his arm around Percy's waist.
"I--I--" Birnam said haltingly. "And for me," he finished.
"Rose?" Molly asked.
"Yes, now is all right," Oliver's mother said.
"Right," Molly said, taking charge. "We'll have one person speaking at a time. No interrupting, no swearing, no shouting, no threats." She paused. "Right?"
"All right," Oliver said as his parents nodded.
"Okay. Oliver. You first."
"Umm..." He took a deep breath. "You hurt me today. You really hurt me, and deeply. You made me question whether or not you loved me. And that's painful. You have no idea how painful that is."
Oliver leaned back on the sofa and Molly pointed at Oliver's mother. "Rose?"
"Oliver, we didn't mean to make you think that. We just...we just needed time to think, to digest what you said to us, what you...are, what it means, what it...just everything about it."
"It?" Oliver put in.
"The...the gay thing," his mother replied.
"The gay thing," Oliver repeated. "You make it sound like a disease."
"Well what do you want her to make it sound like, a gift?" his father said sarcastically.
"Yes," Oliver said. "That's what I consider it. A gift. Of love."

His last word stopped his father's retort, and Oliver caught Percy's eye and gave him a strong hug to emphasise that the discussion was about love.

"It's very simple," Oliver said. "I love Percy. Percy loves me. More than anything else in the world, I love him."
"More than your family?" his father asked.
"More than you," Oliver said. "Remember how you and mum were always asking when I was going to bring a nice girl home? Well, after god-knows-how-many years of living with a love that dared not speak its name, I've finally spoken it. The name is 'Percy'. And the love is a love I've chosen. The type of person I love isn't a choice, though, any more than being left-handed is a choice, or having ginger hair. But who I love? That's a choice. And a choice I've decided to make." He turned his head to stare into Percy's eyes. "And I choose you."
"And what about us?" his mother said softly.
Oliver blinked and turned from Percy's face. "I love you too. But...I hope you can see that with what you said...you hurt me. You made me feel unwanted, rejected. Alone. But I'm not alone. I have the person who I love, who will be there for me. Don't force me to choose between his love and your love. Because I'm almost certain what the answer would be." Oliver leaned over and kissed Percy softly on the cheek.

The room was silent for several seconds until Elijah spoke.
"I wouldn't make you do that."
Rose Wood shook her head slowly. "Neither would I."
"Nor I," her husband said.
Oliver blinked away a tear. "Thank you. I'm very glad you said that."

I don't need your sympathy.
There's nothing you can say or do for me.
And I don't want a miracle.

Cause I'm strong enough
to live without you.
Strong enough
and I quit crying long enough
now I'm strong enough to know
you've got to go.

"I can't come home right now, though," Oliver said to break the silence that had fallen. "Maybe soon, but...not now. I need time to forget today. And you need time, like you said. Time to think, time to digest, all that."
"Yes, we do," his mother said. "Take as long as you need."
"What does this mean for you and Hogwarts, Oliver?" his father asked.
"I...don't know," Oliver said, looking around the room. "I honestly don't."
"It'll be fine," Bill said. "It's happened before."
"That it has," Bill's father said, looking at his wife with a faint smile. "That it has."
"I...I'm suddenly very tired," Rose Wood said. "I think it's past time we went home, Birnam, Elijah. Molly, is it all right if Oliver..." she trailed off as she nodded her head at her son.
"Of course, Rose. Oliver can stay with us as long as he wants and needs," Molly said. "Elijah, dear, if you bring some of his clothes over tomorrow, that would be nice."
"'Course I will," Elijah said with a smile. "Anything else you need, Ols?"
"No, it's okay, I'll come over and get some stuff tonight, like PJs and things," Oliver said.
"Have a bite to eat before you go, dear," Molly said. "Nothing worse than Flooing on an empty stomach. I'll make you a sandwich."

Rose Wood stood up. "Thank you for having us over, Molly. Come along, we should be off home," she said to her husband and elder son, who stood up and said their goodbyes. Molly and Arthur showed them to the kitchen and the Floo -- none of them trusted themselves to Apparate that evening. Bill and Charlie gave Oliver and Percy a thumbs-up and said that they were going to bring in some more wood from outside.

Molly returned with turkey and stuffing sandwiches and a glass of milk each for Percy and Oliver.
"Oh, mum, you're a star," Percy said, biting deeply into a sandwich and taking a big gulp of milk.
"Mmm," Oliver said, chewing and smiling gratefully. "V'ry g'd, f'nks"
"Well done, Oliver," Arthur said, poking his head through the doorway as he headed past. "Didn't go exactly swimmingly, but still, well done for taking the step. And for coming back in after it got a bit much for you. That shows real maturity."
Oliver blushed, swallowed and took a long drink of milk to try to cool his cheeks. "Thanks. That means a lot to me at the minute."

So what happens now?
So what happens now?
Where am I going to?
Where am I going to?
...Don't ask any more.

Percy pressed his finger down on the plate to pick up the crumbs. "That was really good, thanks Mum."
"Why don't I warm you both up a plate? There's loads of turkey and stuffing and potatoes and everything left. It'll be ready when you get back from Oliver's," Molly said, heading for the kitchen.
Percy blinked. "Ol? Do you want me to come with you?"
"D'you mind?" Oliver asked.
"'Course I don't!"
"Thanks...but...umm, I'd just assumed that you'd want some time, I dunno, alone with your folks."
"No, we're fine." Percy hugged Oliver. "You're very brave, Olli bear."
"Olli bear?" Oliver looked quizzically at Percy. "Where'd that come from?"
"Not sure, it just sounded cute," Percy admitted. "Annoying-cute?"
"No, cute-cute," Oliver said, planting a kiss on Percy's forehead and drawing a finger down his slightly stubbly cheek. "Love you, Percy bear."

I just want to be your teddy bear.
Baby, let me be around you every night,
Run your fingers through my hair and cuddle me real tight.
Oh, let me be
(Oh let him be)
Your teddy bear.

"Off you go now," Molly called from the kitchen, and Oliver and Percy stood and walked into the kitchen. Taking a pinch from the jar, Percy threw the Floo Powder into the fire and said, in a loud, clear voice, "The Woods." The familiar spinning started, and five seconds later they were standing in the Woods' kitchen, where Oliver's mother was pouring a glass of water.

"Go on up, Oliver, and get what you need," she said with a smile.
"Okay," her son said and headed upstairs. As they entered his room, Oliver turned to Percy and frowned. "Did you see how difficult her smile was?"
"Ol...she's trying. Give her some time."
"I--I know," Oliver said, sighing deeply and flopping down face-first on his bed. "Oh gods...why me?" he moaned.
Percy flicked Oliver's bum with his wand. "Okay, step one, remove violin."
"Ow," Oliver said, twisting and rubbing his bum. "That hurt."
"Bollocks it did," Percy said, flicking it again.
Oliver flipped himself over and sat up. "Okay. So whining doesn't work. Must remember that."
"Correct," Percy said, brandishing his wand menacingly.
"You're being very kinky, Percy bear," Oliver said as he pulled a weekend bag out from under his bed and stuffed in his pyjamas and dressing-gown.
"Yeah, and you like it," Percy said with a grin.
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Do not!"
"Then what's that?"
"Umm."
"Quite."

Whither away so fast?
Tell me my dear, my sweet bonny darling!
Whither away so fast?
Tell me, ah, my dear, from your love approved?
What haste, I say, what haste?

"Not here, Perce," Oliver said, kissing Percy's nose. "Later. Oh, can you grab a few pairs of boxers for me out of that chest of drawers over there? And some socks?"
Percy got up and wandered over to Oliver's chest of drawers, rummaging through the top drawer.
"Silk boxers?" Percy said questioningly.
"Yes, silk," Oliver replied. "It feels nice against my skin."
"You're awfully gay," Percy said, throwing a pair at Oliver which landed on his head.
"Am not," Oliver said, pulling the deep red silk boxers down over his forehead like a hat.
"Are too. And remember where the last "am not-are too" conversation landed us."
"Quite."

O I burn me! O I burn me!
Alas! Alas! Fa la la!
I burn, I burn, alas, I burn!
Will none come quench me?
O cast water on and drench me!
Fa la la...

"Ready? Percy said, picking up the second bag Oliver had packed, which was a smallish blue duffel bag with shirts, jumpers and trousers inside.
"Yep," Oliver replied, picking up Mr Snowy from his pillow and putting him inside the first bag on top of his socks. He swept his gaze around the room he'd grown up in, wondering if it would ever seem like home again.

"Off we go."
"Umm...Ol?"
"Yes, Perce?"
"You have a pair of pants on your head."
"Ah."

Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place.
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace.
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste.
It all revolves around you
And there's no mountain too high,
No river too wide.
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side.
Storm clouds may gather,
And stars may collide
But I'll love you until the end of time.

Come what may,
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day.

They arrived back in the Weasleys' small kitchen and, slinging Oliver's bag under the table, tucked into the heaped plates of leftovers which Molly had heated for them.
"Mmm, mum, this is really good," Percy said after his first mouthful.
Oliver agreed. "Yes, it's great."
They munched happily, sitting next to each other with Molly bustling around the kitchen, tidying things, wiping down surfaces and polishing them. Percy offered to help, but she said, "Oh, no, dear, don't even think about it. You boys never know where anything goes, and I end up looking for a spatula for three weeks before finding it in the onions."
"She's right," Percy said. "Bill did that, we reckon."
"Mmm-hmm," Oliver said through a mouthful of potatoes.
"Oliver," Percy said, looking amusedly at him.
"Mmm?"
"Lean forwards." Oliver did so, and Percy leaned towards him and licked the tip of his nose. "Were you saving that gravy for later?" Percy asked with a grin.
"No, I was about to eat it, and now you've deprived me of it, you bad, bad man."
"Oh, no, does that mean I'm going to stunt your growth forever?"
"Doubt it," Oliver smirked.

Molly finished her tidying and went off into the sitting-room to listen to the WWN while Oliver and Percy washed up their plates, knives and forks.
"Right, mum, we'll be upstairs. I want to see what those Romanian Quanto players Charlie got Oliver are like," Percy called.
"Okay, dears. Love you!"
"You too, mum," Percy said, blowing her a kiss through the door to the sitting-room.
"She means you too, Ol," Percy said quietly on their way up the stairs.
Oliver gave a wan smile. "I know. And that's one of the reasons why my family's reaction is affecting me so badly."
Percy turned around and flung his arms around Oliver. "I love you, you strong, brave bear."
"You too, you...you supportive, loving, cuddly bear," Oliver said, pulling Percy close to him and rubbing noses.
"Yuck, do you mind?" Ginny said as she came down the stairs. "That's disgusting."
"Oh, for heaven's sakes, grow up, Ginny," Percy said exasperatedly, pulling Oliver into his room and pushing the door shut. He locked it with a muttered spell.

We're going to love one another 'til morning comes,
Seek sweet salvation for what we've done,
Give up resisting one by one
One by one.

He gives a new kinda meaning to what I am.
I know that I could never love any other man.
One of these days you'll understand...

Oliver sat down on the sofa and pulled off his Weasley jumper, folding it and putting it down on top of the Quanto boxes. "Something tells me, Percy bear, that you would rather play Hide the Broomstick than Quanto this evening."
Percy turned to face Oliver and pulled off his jumper and shirt with one fluid motion. "I thought you might get that feeling. After all, it's a decision between several two-inch men and one man with considerably more than two inches. Not much of a choice for me, frankly."
"It's not the size that matters," Oliver said beatifically as he leaned down to untie his shoes.
"That's easy for you to say," Percy said as he kicked off his shoes and threw a sock at Oliver. "You're not riding the broomstick."
"You're not being very perceptive these days, Perce," Oliver said, catching the sock and slipping off his trousers and boxers.
"Perception is all to do with the mind, Oliver dear," said Percy as he unfastened his own trousers and let them fall to the floor. "And that doesn't leave much to the imagination."
"So you said last night," said Oliver with a grin, pulling his shirt off. "You know...for someone who wears cotton boxers with stripes and checks on them, you look remarkably sexy."
"Strange, I'd got some hints that you might think that," Percy said, tucking his thumbs in the waistband of his boxers and giving them a provocative tug.
"I thought you might have picked up on those," Oliver said as he stood and walked over to Percy, gazing into his eyes. "The hints I gave you when your legs were over my shoulders were supposed to be particularly obvious."

Percy's angel nudged Oliver's and grinned. "Oh, I do like it when they get like this, don't you?"
"Mmm. Especially when you're wearing that easy-access surplice."

Oliver's angel stretched, grinned, and pounced.

Gitchi, gitchi, ya ya, da da
Gitchi, gitchi, ya ya, here.
Mocha-choco-lata ya ya.
Creole Lady Marmalade.

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?