The Second War against Voldemort had ended much sooner than anyone had imagined. After the first "unyear" of war, it had been muttered about by those training the Boy Who Lived for battle that it would be at least five years before the sixteen-year-old would be ready to fully defeat the Dark Lord. People only had to hold off the hordes of Voldemort's minions that long.

Therefore, it came as quite a shock when a barely nineteen-year-old Harry Potter fulfilled the expectations of the wizarding world and completely destroyed Tom Marvolo Riddle. Those just outside Dumbledore's inner circle postulated that the murder of Remus Lupin was the driving force behind Potter's unexpected attack and consequent victory. And although Voldemort's second defeat at the wand of the Boy Who Lived undoubtedly saved hundreds of lives, it came at a high price to the Boy himself.

In the fearless, reckless manner that had become his trademark, Harry Potter brushed off the cautions of his friends and teachers and attacked Voldemort savagely but blindly. His lack of preparation meant that Harry was not properly protected when all parts of Tom Riddle were destroyed, including anything he had conferred upon Harry during their first meeting eighteen years earlier.

The traits Voldemort had bestowed were qualities Harry resented but had learned to use when necessary. For years he had alternately resisted and utilized these traits and tendrils had naturally woven themselves in and out his psyche. Voldemort's destruction had the same effect as tearing a tree out by the roots and Harry's soul was shredded almost beyond repair.

He had been bundled off to St. Mungo's almost immediately and was recovering in a heavily warded room.

Percy was well aware that his family, as some of the Order's most trusted members, likely knew everything about Harry's condition. He couldn't bring himself to inquire about the honorary Weasley, though, not even when he received a letter from Albus Dumbledore asking him to a meeting to discuss the Boy Who Lived. Although he had reconciled with most of his family to varying degrees during the War, he wasn't comfortable enough with any of them to bring up the subject of Harry Potter. He certainly couldn't imagine why Dumbledore would want to speak to him, of all people, when he was the only Weasley who was not a member of the Order.

Even when the Ministry changed its stance on the Boy Who Lived and acknowledged Voldemort's returned, Percy remained wholeheartedly faithful to the Ministry, and made no attempt to join the Order. Even when Cornelius Fudge was replaced by the much more competent Amelia Bones and Percy was quietly demoted, he remained faithful to the Ministry and began working harder than ever to regain the footing he had lost. That was when Arthur Weasley had forgiven his son, realizing that Percy hadn't chosen loyalty to Cornelius Fudge, but to the Ministry and what it stood for. Molly Weasley had, naturally, completely forgiven her son the instant Hermes swooped into the Burrow bearing a short note from him. Still, the idea of discussing Harry with either of them usually left Percy with a hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.

So it was that, with far less preparation for a meeting than he'd had in years, he stepped onto the spiral staircase that would take him to the Headmaster's office. Two hours later, he had left as Harry Potter's Secret Keeper. During the first hour Dumbledore had tried every means he had--and his means were considerable--to verbally convince Percy to become the Secret Keeper.

He began with simple logic--there were dozens of Death Eaters still at large, and several of them were vying to be the next Dark Lord. Harry Potter had become a trophy among them, and anyone who managed to kill or better yet, acquire the Boy Who Lived, would cement a high standing among the Death Eaters. Harry, although he was slowly recovering, was still defenseless and needed as much protection as they could give him. The Death Eaters would be anticipating a Secret Keeper, but Percy would be the last person anyone would suspect.

Percy politely but firmly refused, telling Dumbledore honestly that he did not believe he was the best person for the job.

So Dumbledore added flattery to the mix, saying that although he and Percy were of very different opinions about many things, he had always held Percy's intelligence, dedication and perseverance in the highest regard.

Percy thanked him politely and refused him again, just as firmly.

Then Dumbledore added a little more incentive, pointing out that becoming Harry's Secret Keeper would go a long way towards redeeming him in the eyes of his family.

Percy refused firmly but less politely, telling Dumbledore truthfully that he would prefer to reconcile with his family on his own terms.

Applying more pressure, Dumbledore told Percy that someone at the Ministry had all but volunteered him to do this for Harry and that refusing could prove detrimental to his career. He added that Percy's career could not really stand another setback.

Once again, Percy refused him, abandoning politeness and telling Dumbledore that no one at the Ministry had mentioned Harry Potter to him and that he didn't appreciate threats.

Obviously, Dumbledore realized his mistake, because in the next moment, he was asking Percy to accompany him on a trip by portkey. The invitation was so gracious and kindly that Percy couldn't find a way to refuse, even though he knew deep inside that somehow he was being railroaded.

The portkey landed them in a small room that appeared to be a sitting room and dining area combined. At one end were a counter and sink with a table and chairs in front of them. A caldron was set up in the corner with a small, contained fire flickering underneath it. At the other end was a fireplace with a deep chair and a sofa in front of it. A full bookcase stood between two doors, one of which was open to show a washroom. The other door was closed, but Percy knew instinctively that it led to another room rather than being an exit.

It had been years since he'd been in a safehouse, but he still knew the feel of one--of being shut off from the world. There were no windows, and the fireplace would never be used as part of the floo network. The entire place was likely heavily warded against apparation, and the only way in or out was obviously by special portkey.

Then the second door opened and Severus Snape stepped through. Percy guessed there had been an alert about the portkey, because the Potions master didn't seem surprised to see them there, even though his eyes narrowed when he looked at Percy. "Headmaster Dumbledore," he nodded.

"Hello, Severus. You remember Percy Weasley, don't you?"

Snape jerked his head in Percy's direction, "Weasley."

Percy hastily reminded himself that he was six years out of Hogwarts. "Snape," he replied in much the same tone.

One dark eyebrow lifted a fraction, whether in surprise or amusement, Percy couldn't tell.

"How is Harry, Severus?"

"The same," Snape replied in a carefully clinical tone. "He seems to have reached a plateau of sorts this week. Only time will tell whether there will be further improvement. He awoke only moments ago and should be out soon."

Percy held himself rigid so that he didn't fidget and tried to look as though he was perfectly at ease with the situation. Judging from Snape's expression, he wasn't terribly successful.

The door opened again, and Harry Potter entered the room.

Checkmate.

Dumbledore had just played his trump card and, as usual, won. After a single look at Harry Potter, Percy knew he would agree to do anything to keep the boy safe. The boy because although Harry was nineteen, the look in the green eyes was much younger. In fact, Harry at nineteen looked much more frightened and uncertain than he ever had at eleven. When Percy had first met Harry eight years before, those eyes had been bright, direct and inquisitive but still a little wary, now they were wide, uncertain and frightened. It was enough to break the heart Percy's brothers swore he didn't have.

"I'll do it," Percy whispered.

That had been four months ago, and during that time there were so many strange occurrences around Percy that Dumbledore convinced Minister Bones that Percy was needed at Hogwarts. Near the end of August Percy was installed as the new History of Magic professor, replacing his old classmate, Jolie Tabor. She was off to further her studies in Japan and Percy's old professor, Binns, was one of the ghosts that had been destroyed while defending the castle from an attack two years before.

Although Percy didn't appreciate being shuffled about without being asked, he was reconciled to his situation when he saw his suite of rooms, which was twice as large as his flat. His room, along with his connecting office and classroom, were in the same wing as Gryffindor Tower, where Minerva McGonagall still reigned. Percy was surprised at how comfortable he felt there. He was also surprised to find that he rather enjoyed teaching and was encouraged by the fact that, unlike Binns, students weren't falling asleep in his class very often.

Dumbledore had mentioned that Harry would need a Secret Keeper for at least one year and perhaps two, but once Percy gave his promise, he was determined to make the sacrifice for as long as necessary. A few weeks into the new school year Percy decided--and felt a bit guilty about it--that being Harry Potter's Secret Keeper could very well be the best thing that had happened to him since the War began. Therefore when odd, and sometimes rather dangerous, things began happening to him at Hogwarts as well, Percy willingly agreed to the various precautions Dumbledore suggested, rather than risk being sent elsewhere.

Oliver always said the same thing no matter how dangerous or repellant his assignment was. When Special Auror Wood's superiors heard the phrase--"I'll do my best, sir," they knew the job would be done and done well.

Therefore, once he had explained the latest assignment, Chief Solis Starke calmly folded his hands and waited for the usual phrase.

"You want me to what?"

Starke blinked in surprise and quickly rearranged his thought processes to accommodate this unexpected response. "Which part of the assignment did you not understand, Wood?"

"You want me to bodyguard Percy Weasley? Percy Weasley?"

"You have objections?"

"Not exactly, but--"

"Excellent. Your briefing--"

"Why in the world would Percy Weasley need a bodyguard?" Oliver frowned. "He spent the entire War in an office."

Starke frowned, normally he wouldn't stand for being interrupted by his subordinates, but he made allowances for Wood, who was prone to speaking his mind off-duty. On duty, his stoic professionalism was nothing short of outstanding. Still, Special Aurors occasionally had to be reminded of their place. "As I told you, Wood, Mr. Weasley is now a professor at Hogwarts."

"I don't remember any of the staff needing bodyguards when I was at Hogwarts."

"The world has changed since you were at school," Starke reminded him dryly. "Albus Dumbledore made the request for protection of Commander Quinlan himself."

"Protection against what?"

"Nothing specific," Starke said in an off-hand manner, not noticing that Oliver's frown darkened. "Just the usual bodyguard duties, but at the highest degree possible."

"Have I done something wrong, sir?"

"Why would you think that?" Starke asked in astonishment.

"You're assigning a Special Auror to general bodyguard duties. Even at high degree, that sort of thing is for training newly enlisted erks."

"You believe Dumbledore is over-reacting to a situation?"

Oliver barely restrained a snort. If anything, Albus Dumbledore had always been the master of understatement. "No, sir. Of course not."

"Have you some objection to guarding Mr. Weasley specifically? I understand you were at Hogwarts together. Is there a problem there?"

"No, sir," Oliver replied promptly but not as emphatically as usual.

"Excellent. Dumbledore asked for our best to help and that is what he shall get." Starke rolled a small glass orb the size of a strawberry across his desk. "Here is your briefing."

Oliver caught it deftly. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"You report to Hogwarts first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir."

"Dismissed, Wood."

"Yes, sir."

It was only after the door had closed behind the Special Auror that Starke realized Wood had not made his usual statement. He shook off the feeling of unease and chalked up the omission to Wood's surprise at an unusual assignment.

Oliver spun the briefing orb widdershins to turn it off and settled back against the pillow he'd propped against his headboard. Lazily, he flicked his wand towards his wardrobe and murmured a spell that would start his clothes folding themselves. That done, he began reflecting on Starke's questions during their meeting.

Did he have a problem with Percy Weasley?

Oliver cast his memory back to Hogwarts and the seven years he and Percy had shared a dorm. Despite very diverse interests they had been good friends for the first few years. It was only when the Weasley twins joined the Quidditch team that a wall began to go up between he and Percy. As Oliver spent more time with Fred and George, Percy either became more critical in their presence or avoided them altogether. During their last three years at Hogwarts, Oliver's life centered more and more around Quidditch and he viewed their dorm as little more than a place to sleep and store his property. He ate in the Great Hall where he could make sure the rest of the team also ate properly--especially Katie who tended to opt for a slim figure over a healthy diet; did his homework in the Common Room where he could keep an eye on the comings and goings of his players--especially Harry who seemed to be a Snitch trouble was always Seeking; and every spare moment he had was spent on the Quidditch pitch either flying or plotting plays. People outside of the Quidditch team made little impression on Oliver in his determination to win the Quidditch Cup, and that included teachers, prefects, and Head Boys. His love life in school consisted of purely physical relationships with other students who were Quidditch fans and whose expectations of him went no further than winning the next game. That these fans were male caused him no problems--either personally or socially. That they were all built along slim and wiry lines--much like his roommate--occurred to no one, not even Oliver.

During the Unyear of War, on a cold Saturday in February, the Weasley twins met him after a game against the Chudley Cannons and invited him out for a pint or two (or five). Oliver was glad to see them and to catch up, because his world had narrowed down to Quidditch and Quidditch alone, more so after he'd dropped his subscription to the Daily Prophet because they began printing unflattering articles about his former Seeker. Fred and George filled him in on everything that was happening at the Ministry, Hogwarts, and in their family. Oliver commiserated with them over the attack on their father, snarled over Umbridge's treatment of Harry, laughed at the idea of McGonagall joining in the chaos against Umbridge and was outraged when he heard of Percy's throwing over of the Weasley clan and rejection of a Weasley jumper. What little camaraderie he might have still felt for Percy after two years away from school diminished even further when he heard about his old roommate's actions.

Then came the War and Oliver found something he wanted to dedicate himself to even more than Quidditch. As he moved up quickly through the ranks of the Strike Force, he had to make occasional visits to the Ministry of Magic to give reports or to receive special instructions and the occasional commendation. Most of the Ministry workers were regarded with disdain and mild disgust by the Strikers who were risking their lives daily, and so Oliver treated Percy with the same polite condescension as anyone else on those rare occasions when they did meet up.

Oliver finally decided that he didn't like Percy any less than he did any of the other parchment pushers at the Ministry. Any hard feelings he felt for the way Percy had treated Arthur and Molly were mitigated by the way Percy had been demoted to one of the lowest-ranking positions in the Ministry. He didn't remember hearing that Percy had left the Ministry to take a position at Hogwarts, and couldn't help wondering why Dumbledore would hire the one Weasley that hadn't joined the Order.

Still, he was confident that he would be able to do his job as well as always, so Oliver decided to hunt up some other Aurors for a last night out. After all, the briefing hadn't been specific as to how long he would be stuck in close quarters with Percy Weasley and Oliver wanted to get some fun in while he could.

As Percy stepped onto the revolving staircase, he wondered what new safety precautions Dumbledore had taken. Just two weeks ago Nymphadora Tonks had replaced Dorcas Wildsmith as the Defense Against the Dark Art professor, supposedly because Dorcas had wanted leave. Percy had assumed that had actually been for his benefit, but was now doubting it.

He entered Dumbledore's office and stopped short at the sight of a man in Special Auror robes with a rucksack over one shoulder, a broom over the other and looking better than any Auror had a right to look.

"Ah, Percy," Dumbledore twinkled at him. "You remember Oliver Wood, don't you? I'm certain the two of you won't mind being roommates once again."

"I suppose the story about why I'm here came as a bit of a surprise," Oliver said mildly, propping his broom against the wall.

"You knew?" Percy turned back towards him, disbelief and annoyance written clearly on his features.

"If was in my briefing."

"And you didn't object?" Percy's eyes widened behind his glasses.

"Why would I?" For some reason those glasses annoyed Oliver. They were the same horn-rimmed frames Percy had worn in school, and Oliver thought it was high time Percy transfigured them into something less ugly. "Why do you object?"

"'You will be introduced as a very good friend of Mr. Weasley's who will be staying with him indefinitely,'" Percy quoted Dumbledore.

"What of it?" Oliver unfastened his cloak and tossed it over the back of a chair.

Percy's lips tightened as his watched the careless action. "You do understand the implications of the Headmaster's statement, don't you?"

Oliver suppressed a snort in response to the condescending tone. "I do, thank you," he replied dryly. "Is your problem with having a male...er...good friend or with me in particular?"

Percy was actually stuck speechless for several long minutes. "With...with...the implication that I'm involved with anyone when I'm not."

"If it's any consolation, I don't find it the most believable cover, either," Oliver said agreeably. He dropped his rucksack on the floor and sank into an easy chair. "Fortunately, the only person who would really doubt it is Tonks, and she knows enough to guess why I'm really here and not give anything away."

"Give anything away? Such as?"

Oliver looked amused. "Are you trying to find where my objections would lie?"

Percy drew himself up even more stiffly and gave Oliver his haughtiest look.

Oliver merely stretched out his long, muscular legs, crossing them at the ankle. "No one would be the least surprised to see me with a man," he said simply.

"But for that man to be me would surprise people?" Percy was trying unsuccessfully to imitate Oliver's casually attitude.

"I think most people would be surprised to see you involved with anything besides red tape." Oliver glanced up at Percy, "And sit down, for Merlin's sake. Stop hovering about me like a maiden witch."

Percy looked down his nose at the Auror. "You can't tell me what to do in my own quarters!"

"Actually, I can," Oliver replied easily, hiding his annoyance at Percy's continued loftiness. "And I will. From now on, when I tell you to go, you go. When I tell you not to go somewhere, you don't."

An outraged flush burned on the pale cheeks. "How dare you!? I'll not take orders from some thick-headed Quidditch--" Percy broke off as Oliver rose so quickly that it looked like apparation. Oliver was only an inch or two taller, but more than twice as heavy, and the sheer power he exuded made Percy stop speaking.

"I'm assigned to bodyguard you, and how you or I feel about it doesn't mean a bloody thing." Oliver reined in his quick flash of temper. "I don't know what sort of odd ideas you have about a bodyguard, but it is not the same thing as a servant. I give the orders and you follow them. Not the other way around." He stepped aside and nodded towards the other chair. "Now sit down and I'll explain the rest."

Percy sat down before he actually knew what he was doing.

"Very good," Oliver said approvingly, and with a hint of amusement in his voice. He sat back down as well. "From now on, I go everywhere you go--except your classes. Dumbledore is setting up a cubby off the classroom where I'll have access without being seen by the students, so while you're teaching History, I'll be in there with my eyelids propped open." Oliver hid a smile as Percy's nostrils flared at the implied insult. "The rest of the time, we're going to be together. Depending on where we are, I'll tell you whether you should be walking ahead of, beside or behind me. We'll probably establish a routine here in the castle but the rest of the time, I'll tell you which one of us enters a room first and where to sit once we're inside. The same applies if I think something looks off inside of Hogwarts."

"That is utterly--"

"I open any post you receive, whether you recognize the owl or not," Oliver continued as though Percy hadn't spoken. "Back to mealtimes, I will pass you the plates of food that I'm sure are safe, and those are the ones you serve yourself from. Don't go reaching for plates on your own. The same goes for anything you drink. You don't get into bed until I've checked it out, and I'll be sleeping in the same room."

"And the water closet?" Percy asked with biting sarcasm.

"I go in and check first, and if there's a window, you leave it closed. Once you're inside, I'll put a ward on and I'll let you out again where you're finished. The same goes when you bathe."

"No." Percy gritted out. "Absolutely not. This is completely ridiculous. I'm certainly not going to account for every moment of my life as though I was some irresponsible--"

"Take it up with Dumbledore," Oliver said shortly. "But in the meantime, I've got a job to do--whatever I may think about it--and I'm bloody well going to do it. No matter if the former Head Boy gets his robes in a twist over it."

"How dare--"

"Leave off, Perce," Oliver said firmly. "This is the way things are. I can't imagine why you're so important all of a sudden and I don't really care. But I'm not about to ruin my reputation as a Special Auror just because you happen to like being bossy."

"I'll thank you to stop insulting me."

"And I'll thank you to stop being such a prig. You'll only make things more difficult for yourself and I won't quit over it. If I can sleep under a rotting house surrounded by bundiums and doxies every night for three months, I can put up with you."

Percy had always done his best to maintain certain standards of behavior. He had decided early on in his life that it was the only way he could maintain any semblance of dignity within the Weasley clan. Intelligence, propriety and achievements needed to be stressed to demonstrate superiority. Embarrassment, hurt feelings and self-doubt were all ruthlessly suppressed as signs of weakness.

Although these efforts weren't as successful at impressing people as Percy thought they should be, they were such an effective defense mechanism as to become habitual. This attitude had been more successful at the Ministry than anywhere else and was the only thing that had kept him in the Ministry after some of the disastrous decisions he had made.

It had only taken Percy a week or two to realize that these standards had little effect at Hogwarts' Head Table, and they were absolutely useless if Oliver Wood was at the same table. Everyone at the Head Table generally wanted to talk to Oliver rather than Percy, and whether they wanted to talk about his life as a Quidditch player, Striker or Auror depended on the meal. Although it annoyed him during the first week, Percy was now resigned to it. It wasn't that Oliver tried to draw attention to himself--just the opposite actually. But the quiet confidence was more developed than it had been in school, and people seemed to respect him without the least effort on his part. It was one of the things Percy had envied him when they were students, and a small part of what always made Oliver so attractive.

To others, Percy amended in his mind.

"Did you want pumpkin juice or just tea this morning, Percy?" Oliver's voice drew his attention.

"Just tea, thank you." Percy watched as Oliver set the pumpkin juice jug back down.

"You have third years first thing, don't you?" Oliver asked as he squeezed just the right amount of lemon in Percy's tea.

"Yes, Hufflepuff and Slytherin." Percy drew his cup and saucer closer

Percy had begun to accept Oliver's manner as the norm, at least when there were others about. After his initial rudeness, Oliver had become very solicitous in public but still maintained a distant professionalism in private. Percy was also acutely aware that this gallantry was responsible for the envious looks aimed at him by many of the female and also a few male professors.

Only four members of the staff were the same as those in Percy's day. McGonagall, Snape and Sprout still headed their various Houses, and Madam Pomfrey still reigned supreme in the hospital wing, but the rest of the staff were all new and the majority of them were under forty. Percy found himself in the unfamiliar position of being envied by his peers and he knew it was only because of his "relationship" with Oliver. He still wasn't certain how he felt about that.

"What are you going to be doing this morning then, Oliver?" Magnilde Loring fluttered her magically lengthened eyelashes at him.

"My days aren't exactly planned," Oliver replied to the Ancient Runes professor with yet another version of his standard answer. "I was thinking about going into Diagon Alley, but I'll probably stay in our rooms and catch up on my rest." With that, Oliver neatly took care of anyone who couldn't find him if they called at Percy's chambers.

"Merlin, Oliver," Roger Davies, now the Charms professor, grinned wickedly. "You seem to need to rest every day. What in the world do you do all night?"

Oliver laughed along with nearly everyone else at the table. It was not the laugh of a man who spent every night sleeping lightly on a cot in Percy's bed chamber. It was a low, throaty laugh and Percy felt his cheeks grow hot at the sound of it. Percy couldn't help noticing that his flush seemed to amuse everyone further, although no one seemed to think anything odd about it.

The only person who didn't seem to find the exchange funny was Professor Loring. She looked rather miffed at having lost Oliver's attention. She made another attempt--"I was thinking about going to Diagon Alley myself, since I have no classes this afternoon. Maybe I should call 'round for you just after lunch?"

Percy wondered if she realized how obvious she was being.

Tonks apparently did. "Brill! I've been meaning to go as well. We can make a day trip of it, hey?"

Oliver coughed slightly as Magnilde's carefully painted lips thinned. Percy suspected that Tonks, as a fellow Auror, knew the real reason for Oliver's presence, although probably none of the actual details. "Actually, now I think of it," Magnilde replied smoothly but coldly. "I believe I have some papers left to correct. I probably should be doing that."

"Another time then," Tonks said in her usual cheerful manner. She flashed a quick grin at Oliver, who responded with an almost imperceptible wink.

Percy, of course, was not the least bit jealous of that wink.

Oliver settled himself into his usual spot in the cubbyhole behind the tapestry depicting a battle of the Goblin Rebellion of 1612. It was the most effective spot for guarding that he had encountered in quite some time. The heavy tapestry effectively hid him and muffled any inadvertent sounds he might make, but could easily be flung aside if he needed to act. A large patch of the tapestry had been rewoven with demiguise hair so that Oliver could see the room clearly but was still completely concealed. He kept his eyes on the door as the group of fifth years entered the classroom.

After another quick but thorough scan, Oliver made himself more comfortable in order to enjoy the class. Usually, any class that immediately followed lunch was difficult to keep awake in--at least that had always been the case when he'd been in school--but Oliver found Percy's classes far easier to pay attention to than Binns' lectures had been. He thought Percy did fairly well with all his students, but was exceptional in dealing with the younger ones.

This particular class was always lively. Many of the Slytherins and Gryffindors that comprised it also played on their individual House teams. These students would disagree on every fact simply for the sake of disagreeing, but from time to time, Percy managed to turn the arguments into interesting discussions. Today proved no different as Vaughn Chittock, a Gryffindor Beater, and Marius Quigley, the Slytherin Seeker, spent much of the class contradicting one another on every point concerning Egyptian curse-writers. Percy never quite shouted--no school rules were actually being broken--but Oliver could tell he came close to losing his patience on several occasions.

It was another change in Percy that Oliver had gradually gotten used in the month-and-a-half since beginning his assignment. Rather than being a stickler for every detail of propriety, Percy was now more willing to allow smaller things to pass provided his students obeyed the majority of his and the school's rules. It wasn't clear whether Percy had changed on this point during his years at the Ministry or whether he'd had to make the adjustment soon after he began teaching in order to maintain his sanity, but Oliver found it much easier to deal with Percy the Professor rather than Percy the Prefect.

Oliver certainly never expected the assignment of guarding a prissy, proper parchment-pusher to be so enjoyable. He found that he rather liked being as attentive as possible to Percy in public and he especially relished the blush came to Percy's face whenever he did something extra considerate. He also found that Percy could actually take a joke, provided it wasn't entirely at his expense. Oliver now suspected that all his time spent with the Quidditch team, and thus the twins, may have skewed his perspective of his roommate.

The glasses, though, bothered Oliver more than ever. Percy's face had thinned since Hogwarts, leaving his cheekbones more pronounced, his eyes larger and his skin almost translucent. The heavy glasses obscured these features and Oliver found it endlessly irritating. Percy had also shed any remaining physical teenage awkwardness and the movements of the lithe body were fluid and graceful, making it no hardship to keep an eye on him. If Percy had noticed that Oliver's watchfulness wasn't always entirely duty-bound, he gave no sign of it and there were many indications that he enjoyed Oliver's attention. None of this had affected any of his duties thus far and Oliver was determined that it never would. There had not been the slightest hint of danger to Percy, but Oliver was taking a page from Old Mad-Eye's book and remaining constantly vigilant nonetheless.

Once the fifth-years had filed out, still squabbling back and forth, Oliver was free to leave his hiding place while Percy prepared for his next class. "I don't remember Ancient Egyptian wizards being quite that interesting," he remarked as he now leaned against a part of the tapestry backed by stone.

Percy glanced up at him and then went back to marking the pages he would need in the text with his wand. "Chittock and Quigley have both done a great deal of research on Egyptian curses. That always makes for an excellent debate."

Oliver blinked, and mentally chalked up another change. Head Boy Weasley had never been known to pass credit on to others so readily. He decided to let it go for now. "So it's first years next, isn't it?"

"Yes, Slytherin and Ravenclaws."

"I like watching you with first years," Oliver said. "You're really very good with them. And I think the change in curriculum is a brilliant decision. It's far better to be teaching first years about the Founders and leaving the Goblin Wars until they're older." He watched as a slight flush began on Percy cheeks, barely visible under the glasses.

"That was Professor Tabor's idea. She implemented it when she began teaching. I'm just continuing it." This time, Percy kept his eyes one his books.

Oliver could hardly believe he was embarrassing Percy Weasley with honest praise. He stifled a smile and changed the subject. "So there's another Quidditch match this weekend." Hufflepuff had beaten Slytherin during Oliver's first weekend on duty at Hogwarts.

"Yes, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw," Percy looked up now that his embarrassment had subsided. "I trust you will declare it safe for me to go."

For a moment, Oliver would have sworn there was a teasing glint in those blue eyes, but Percy looked down at his work before he could know for sure. In case it was, Oliver responded with a laugh, "Of course. We want as many people cheering for Gryffindor as we can get."

"Well, I won't be cheering for Gryffindor," Percy said absently, flipping through several quizzes he had to hand back.

Oliver wasn't sure he'd heard correctly. "You...won't be--"

Percy stopped what he was doing at the sound of Oliver's bewildered voice. "That is, I will be cheering any good plays by Gryffindor, but I'll cheer for Ravenclaw's good plays as well." He gave Oliver a rare, genuine smile as he explained, "It would be different if I was the Head of Gryffindor, but I'm not, and I don't want to encourage any more division between any Houses now that theWar is over." He paused for a moment, then added, "Mostly over."

Oliver's respect for Percy rose a notch. He had suspected for awhile that Dumbledore had brought Percy to Hogwarts for safety's sake, but Percy obviously took his obligations--whether actual or perceived--very seriously. "I never thought of that," he admitted. "But I suppose its pretty important." He couldn't resist adding--"I hope Dumbledore knows how lucky he is to have hired you."

Percy blinked and this time his blush extended down to his collar and up to the tips of his ears. "I...er...that is...thank you," he murmured.

This time Oliver didn't try to stifle his smile and resolved to compliment Percy as often as possible.

In the evenings, when Percy was sitting at the desk in his living room grading papers or making lessons, Oliver would seat himself in one of the wing-back chairs in front of the fireplace, angling it so he had a clear view of two specific doors. One of the doors led to the History of Magic classroom, while the other was actually behind a portrait of Bridget Wenlock that hung in the hallway. Although his back was to the fireplace, Oliver was close enough to hear any telltale noises of a floo opening, something he kept alert for even though this floo had been closed off.

For the past ten days, Percy had sat himself at his desk for at least four hours every night making draft after draft of tests. Oliver remembered the end-of-term tests they were given at school just before the Christmas holidays. Students would study if the needed to bring up their marks or if like the legendary Hermione Granger, they studied and revised for everything, but the tests were rather insignificant when compared to the end-of-year exams. That wasn't the case for the professors, though, at least not for one professor in particular.

Percy spent more time revising, rewriting and double-checking his end-of-terms tests than he ever had preparing for his NEWTs. With only days left before he had to give the tests, Percy's nights were growing later and later as he tried to come up with the best tests possible.

One night during the previous week, Oliver had taken a look at the draft of the third year test. As he read over the questions, he let out a low whistle. "This ought to put them in their place."

Percy looked concerned rather than offended as he took the parchment back and reread it. "Do you think so?" He gnawed on his lower lip. "I asked McGonagall about my fifth year draft a few days ago and she thought I was being too easy on them. So I thought I should probably redo all of them."

"Go by what McGonagall says," Oliver assured him. "If anyone ought to know, it's her."

Percy didn't reply at the time, but in the ensuing five days, Oliver noticed him taking several heavy tomes out of the library. Among them were Teaching Standards at Hogwarts by Willow Everard, Teaching Magic by Adalbert Waffling, Magical Testing by Artemisia Lufkin and several more equally dry and dusty volumes. As he saw the subsequent drafts being rewritten time and again, Oliver resigned himself to the fact that this would continue until the Christmas holidays began. Percy was obviously determined to be as fair as possible to all his students and give them the most perfect end-of-term tests any professor could write.

With Percy's recent four hour stretch in mind, Oliver took his eyes off the doors briefly to ask Percy whether he wanted to break for a cuppa. When he saw the red head resting on a pile of parchments he was on his feet next to the desk in an instant. A quick survey with his eyes and then his wand confirmed Oliver's suspicion that this was nothing more than a case of exhaustion. Percy's deep breathing ruffled the quill feather resting against his cheek and occasionally rustled some parchment, explaining to Oliver why the lack of background noise hadn't drawn his attention earlier.

Oliver craned his neck to read some of the drafts and sighed when he saw three versions of the first year test and four of the sixth year--likely there were that many for every year. At times he felt that he'd learned more about Percy in the past two months that he had in the entire seven years they had roomed together at Hogwarts. Never, in all the years he had known Percy, would Oliver have described him as indecisive. Now though, he was beginning to see that Percy was exactly that--deeply, deeply indecisive. Oliver thought that actually explained a great deal about Percy's fanatical adherence to rules--as long as rules were in place and strictly followed Percy never actually had to make his own decision risk making a mistake.

Oliver wondered what it was like to mistrust your own judgement so much that you were afraid to step outside of established lines even a little bit. If absolute perfection was the only place he felt safe, Percy's day-to-day life had to be horrendous. He looked down at the sleeping man and thought about what some of Percy's recent life decisions--which were terrible no matter how one looked at them--would have done to his self-esteem and felt a sudden rush of protectiveness that had nothing to do with the job.

Resisting the urge to smooth down the bright, tousled hair, Oliver instead took out his wand and with the utmost professionalism, levitated Percy away from the desk and towards the bedroom.

Percy never thought he'd be glad that Gryffindor was out of the running for the Quidditch Cup, but he was relieved that the final match of the year was between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. If Gryffindor had been playing, Percy would have found it difficult to remain impartial himself, and he would have hated for Oliver to have to contain his enthusiasm. Although Oliver was not on staff and could cheer for whomever he liked, ever since they discussed it in November, he had made a point to cheer for all good plays, no matter the House.

This match marked sixth months of body guarding and Percy was impressed that Oliver never once wavered or slackened his watch, even though there had never been the slightest sign of danger. Percy wondered how frustrating it was getting for Oliver--whom he knew was used to being out and active--to conform to his habits, which revolved around desks and parchments.

If he was chafing under the sedentary lifestyle, Oliver gave no sign, unless the fact that he did his workouts in the evenings while Percy graded papers could be taken as a sign. He regularly refused invitations from Quidditch coach Rindy Powell, Roger Davies, Magnilde Loring and Librarian Ian Graves. What's more, Percy was certain that Loring's and Graves' invitations had nothing whatsoever to do with Quidditch. Oliver turned them all down readily and without any visible regret, but Percy often worried about how long it would be until his bodyguard asked to be reassigned to a less time-consuming duty.

Percy dreaded that day. He'd grown comfortable with having Oliver as his constant companion--far more comfortable than he'd ever been around the Quidditch player while in school--and knew he would miss all the attention Oliver paid him. Attentions which seemed to increase and grow more frequent as the months wore on.

That is, Percy corrected himself firmly, I don't like the idea of adjusting to a new bodyguard's habits.

As they entered the staff box, they were greeted by the other professors already present. Ian Graves, with the sun glinting off his silky brown hair and catching mahogany highlights, stood up in his seat at the front of the box. "There's room in this row," he said politely.

Percy had to fight to keep the scowl off his face. Graves spoke to Oliver and acted as though Percy wasn't standing right beside him. Then he felt the pressure of a big hand at his back nudging him towards the steps within the box. "Thanks, Ian," Oliver said with his usual smile. "But I want a really good view of this match. I think we'll sit a bit higher up."

Percy was possessed with the sudden, childish urge to stick his tongue out at Graves, and he started up the steps before he succumbed. Two rows up, Astronomy professor Valerien Summerbee smiled at him and moved over slightly. Percy returned the smile and halted by Summerbee's row. He had always gotten along well with the dark-haired man, who was one of the few staff members that seemed more interested in talking to him than Oliver.

The pressure at his back increased, urging him further along up the steps. Percy glanced behind him and was surprised at the scowl on Oliver's face. He was about to tell Oliver that Summerbee was certainly not a danger, but Oliver's guiding hand grew more insistent and Percy had to either keep moving or be toppled over.

With an apologetic smile at Summerbee, Percy continued on until Oliver's hand slid from the small of his back to his right ribs when they reached the second to last row. When Percy stopped, Apollonia Rhodes, the Divination professor, grinned at them and obligingly moved down to make room. In the row behind her, Roger Davies was laughing knowingly.

"Oh, belt up, Davies," Oliver reached over to give him a shove as he followed Percy into the row.

"Why are sitting you in the last row all alone?" Percy asked Roger.

"So he can say as many nasty things about Hufflepuff as he likes without getting into trouble," Apollonia laughed.

Roger did his best to look shocked and offended. "Of course not! These kids are all my students and I'd never--" He soon gave it up as a bad job, "How did you know?"

"She's the Divination professor, you prat," Oliver grinned.

"Oh, yes," Apollonia snorted. "And it takes a great seer to know that a former Ravenclaw captain wants his House to take the Cup."

Percy smiled at the banter, even though Apollonia unnerved him a bit. He personally thought she was a bit too cheerful and straight-forward for a Divination professor.

Oliver and Roger didn't seem to mind, though. They both teased and joked with her until the players took to the air. Then Oliver and Apollonia continued to snicker their way through the game as Roger alternately muttered advice to the Ravenclaw Keeper and swore under his breath at the Hufflepuff Chasers. Neither of them said too much to Percy, but he didn't feel excluded. That would have been difficult to do with Oliver sitting quite a bit closer to him than the seating dictated. In addition, Oliver often leaned across Percy to speak to Apollonia, bringing him into even more complete body contact with Percy, who was rather sorry to see the match end.

Not nearly as sorry as Roger, though. The two teams were tied most of the game, until a brilliant catch of the Snitch by fifth year Michaela Fancourt gave Hufflepuff the win and the Quidditch Cup. Roger still stood and applauded with everyone and when Magical Creature professor Jocelyn Bonham called back, "The Three Broomsticks, then? Rog?" he answered with a smile and a nod.

"Polly?"

"I'll be there," Apollonia wrinkled her nose at the nickname as she followed Percy to the steps at the end of the row.

"What about--"

"Move it along, would you, Joss?" caretaker Carlisle Tugwood prodded the tall blond. "The whole bloody box heard you."

Bonham shot a dirty look over her shoulder, but she joined the crowd that was leaving the box.

Apollonia was shaking her head in amusement, then turned to Percy and Oliver. "I think Joss meant to ask if you two were joining us."

Percy glanced at Oliver who raised his eyebrows to indicate it was Percy's decision. "Ah...no, thank you. I believe we'll just head back to the castle."

"See you later, then," Apollonia said as she passed them.

Percy and Oliver also let Roger past them on the steps and were the last ones to leave the box. As they walked back to the castle, Percy began to feel guilty about not accepting the invitation. He had no desire to go, but he thought that Oliver probably would have enjoyed it. He berated himself for refusing just because he didn't feel like sitting in a corner while everyone talked and jested with Oliver. It occurred to him that Oliver might very well enjoy the attention, and that his apparent indifference might be part of his dutiful cover.

"I...um...had you wanted to go to Hogsmeade with the others?"

"Not particularly," Oliver shrugged.

They had dawdled long enough in the box that they were far behind the still-cheering students and even the other professors. "Are you certain? We can still go if you like."

Oliver looked at him a bit longer. "It's fine, Percy. Why do you ask?"

"I just thought..." That you might like more interesting company for a change. "Well, that perhaps you'd want to join in the celebration."

"It's Hufflepuff's celebration," Oliver replied. "I had my Quidditch Cup celebration in our seventh year."

Percy smiled in spite of himself. "I remember."

"Great party. Went on all night." Oliver shot his companion a teasing look, "Even the Head Boy gave up trying to stop it."

"Even the Head Boy knew a lost cause when he saw one," Percy returned, secretly pleased when Oliver laughed. Then the memory of another brilliant Seeker, the one who won Gryffindor its Cup, suddenly came to Percy and his stomach tightened so painfully that he stumbled a step. He had purposely forced back any thought of Harry since becoming the Secret Keeper, when research revealed that it was often safer for the Secret. Now he saw the image of that lost and frightened savior in his mind's eye as clearly as the day he was at the safehouse.

"Percy?"

Percy felt Oliver's arm at his waist and looked at him questioningly.

"What is it? You've gone dead white."

The brown eyes were close and oh-so-concerned and Percy felt like it would be the most natural thing in the world to relax against that solid body and tell Oliver everything. Why Oliver had been assigned to protect him, who Percy was protecting and why he had agreed to do it. Instead, he murmured something about too much sun.

"I didn't think it was that warm." Oliver's arm became firmer and Percy leaned gratefully against it. "Good thing we didn't go to Hogsmeade."

Percy abruptly realized that Oliver was practically supporting his entire weight and reluctantly straightened away. He would have continued on to the castle, but Oliver blocked his path, looking at him so intently that Percy thought he could pass for a Legilimens.

Just in case Oliver had mastered the art at some point, Percy quickly dropped his eyes. Oliver certainly didn't need to know where Percy's thoughts led lately whenever they stood so close.

Oliver stared at him several moments longer, his eyes roaming over Percy's pale features. "Let's get you back to the castle, then." His arm slid around Percy again.

Percy knew he didn't need the assistance, but Oliver's touch was so comforting that he didn't pull away until they reached the castle doors.

Oliver smiled when he heard Percy draw in a long breath and congratulated himself on having maneuvered Percy into making the walk to Hogsmeade, as much for Percy's sake as his own.

School had been out for more than two weeks and during that time, Percy had only left the castle twice--first when Dumbledore decided the staff should have tea outside one day and then when Professor Bonham invited them to see the hippogriff hatchlings. The rest of the time Percy kept to his rooms, writing up endless student evaluations. It was when Percy began planning the next year's curriculum that Oliver decided they could both use a break.

Oliver was surprised that he hadn't become restless sooner, but he hadn't minded being sequestered with Percy at all. Of course, walking outside with Percy on a sunny day was certainly preferable, even though it meant Oliver had to pay more attention to the surroundings. He was determined not to let his guard down, although he was beginning to wonder how serious the threat to Percy was, as he still hadn't seen any sign of danger. On the other hand, he no longer doubted that Percy would put himself in jeopardy if he thought it was the right thing to do. Oliver's disdain for Percy as a mere "parchment pusher" had long since evaporated, replaced with feelings Oliver knew were better kept under control while he was on guard duty. "I know you want to stop at Scrivenshaft's," he said before the silence could grow uncomfortable. "Was there anywhere else you wanted to go?"

"I was thinking that I should probably get at least one new robe for the summer," Percy replied sensibly. "Perhaps two."

Oliver didn't let on how glad he was to hear that. He hoped that Percy would choose something more flattering than the robes he usually wore. Percy always seemed determined to wear the plainest, most severe clothing possible in the most drab colors he could find. "Anywhere else?"

"Not for me. Where did you want to go?"

Oliver looked at him with bemusement. "I go where you go, Percy. That's my job, remember?"

"Oh," Percy honestly looked as though that hadn't occurred to him. "Of course." They continued on in silence, but when the ruins of the Shrieking Shack came into view Percy spoke again. "I suppose I..." He cleared his throat and when he spoke again it was in the very proper, uptight tone that he rarely used around Oliver anymore. "That is, I'll stop in and see the selection at Quidditch Collectibles. And I believe a visit to Honeydukes is in order."

Oliver was touched by the small gesture and for a moment he couldn't think of anything to say.

Percy misinterpreted his silence. "And...yes, I think perhaps lunch at the Three Broomsticks would be a nice change." He glanced at Oliver quickly, "Provided that won't be too much of a bother for you."

"That should be fine," Oliver followed Percy's example and used his most professional bodyguard voice. "Mind you watch that you don't wander away." When he saw the smile tug at Percy's lips, it was all Oliver could do not to fling a companionable arm around Percy's shoulders, or better yet, to wrap a lover's arm around Percy's waist.

"We could go all the way up High Street to Scrivenshaft's and work our way back down. Then we'll be able to stop at the Three Broomsticks on our way out."

"Trying to do my job for me, Perce?" Oliver laughed. "That was pretty much my plan, as well."

The shopping excursion began very smoothly, and Oliver couldn't remember the last time he had enjoyed a trip to Hogsmeade so much. After Percy stocked up on parchment, quills and ink at Scrivenshaft's, they stopped next door at Gladrags so Percy could get his new robes. Percy eventually purchased three robes and Oliver couldn't help wondering whether Percy actually chose his robes based on his reactions to them or whether it just seemed that way.

Done in Gladrags, there was a slight change in plans because Percy simply couldn't walk past the Iverwood-Rowan Book Shop. There, Oliver found the newest title by Kennilworthy Whisp and the latest editions of Which Broomstick and Quidditch Monthly and Percy bought several history titles. After that, it was across the street to Quidditch Collectibles where Percy seemed impressed to hear Oliver talk about the evolution of Quidditch in addition to the modern game. When Percy mentioned that he hoped to incorporate some Quidditch history in his fifth year curriculum, Oliver recommended Quidditch Through the Ages, after he got over his surprise that Percy had never read it, that is. Oliver always assumed that everyone had read it, much to Percy's amusement.

Except for the fact that he remained watchful, Oliver barely felt like Percy's bodyguard any longer. They could have been two good friends meeting in Hogsmeade for the day. They could have been something even more, but Oliver didn't think it wise to entertain those thoughts too often.

They crossed back to go into Honeydukes. Inside, Percy abandoned any remaining formality and all but rushed to the Chocoballs.

"I thought sugar quills would be your favorites," Oliver commented.

"I am fond of them, but I always preferred these," Percy admitted. "Dragon Egg Truffles are my favorites, but I rarely feel extravagant enough to pay that much for candy." Oliver realized that his staring was making his companion uncomfortable when Percy abruptly turned back to the display. "Look, they've added new flavors. Lemon chocolate sounds good and I believe I'll try banana marshmallow, as well."

Oliver stifled a smile at Percy's embarrassed rambling. He was about to make a teasing comment when the shop door opened again, drawing his attention. He saw three new customers enter the shop, and Oliver's instincts went on trouble alert, even before he actually recognized the three Weasleys. Percy never mentioned his family and as Oliver recalled his last conversation with Fred and George, he knew this was not going to be a pleasant experience.

"Ollie!" one of the twins exclaimed with they spotted him. "Oi, Fred! Bill! It's Oliver."

Oliver felt Percy stiffen at the first sound of George's voice and braced himself for whatever might happen as the trio of redheads approached.

"Ollie, old man, what--" Fred stopped short when Percy turned around and his normally cheerful expression darkened ominously.

George and Bill followed Fred's gaze. "Percy," Bill didn't seem as hostile as the twins, but he didn't look pleased to see his brother, either.

None of the Weasleys noticed the nearly imperceptible signs from their brother, but to Oliver, Percy may as well have been strapping on erumpent armor in preparation for something very painful. "Hello, Bill. Fred, George," his voice was excruciatingly stiff.

The twins, predictably, ignored his greeting. "Say, Ol, why don't we take you over to the Three Broomsticks for a drink?" George asked.

"You can always come back here when the air isn't so foul," Fred added.

Most people who looked at Percy would have assumed the twins' words had no effect, because his facial expression did not change. Oliver, on the other hand, noted Percy's trembling hands, carefully concealed in the folds of his robe; his suddenly pale cheeks hidden behind the heavy frames of his glass; the pain in his eyes obscured because Percy kept them stoically fixed on a far away point. Oliver could only assume that Percy's voice would shake as well, because Percy did not reply to the taunts. "I'm actually here with Percy," Oliver informed them.

George blinked in surprise. "Being punished for something, are you?"

"That's worse than Azkaban, that is," Fred added.

Oliver was about to retort--it angered him that they kept after Percy even when he didn't snap back--but Bill broke in to change the subject. "Mum's been worried about you," he said, his tone civil but extremely cool. "You haven't written since the letter when you said you were taking a position at Hogwarts."

"How long did you have to stay on your knees before Dumbledore gave you the job?" George sneered.

His twin decided to change the implications of the question by adding--"On his knees? I don't think Dumbledore is that desperate. I doubt anyone is that desperate."

Oliver had enough and drew his wand. He moved so quickly and looked so menacing that the twins took several startled steps back, Bill went for his own wand and the clerk hit the ground. Everyone was even more stunned when Oliver merely flicked his wand at the stack of order forms on the counter. After murmuring for nearly a minute, Oliver put his wand away, tossed a handful of Galleons on the counter, took Percy's arm and pulled him out of the shop.

Percy followed him readily, and it was several minutes before Oliver realized that the pale face was still unnervingly blank of expression. "They had no right, Percy."

"Of course they did," Percy whispered distantly.

"It's been over three years and the War is practically over," Oliver continued dragging Percy along back to Hogwarts. "They had no right."

Percy didn't answer, but continued following Oliver as though under Imperius.

"You weren't trying to hurt anyone when you decided to support the Ministry," Oliver said, verbalizing one of the many things he'd come to realize of the past eight months. "You were following your beliefs and they differed from your family's." Oliver's anger had propelled them along at such a quick clip that they had already reached the winged boars at the gate.

Percy still didn't reply and Oliver decided to let his words sink in a bit before saying anything more. He maintained his grip on Percy's arm, though, until they reached the portrait that guarded the doorway to Percy's rooms.

"Fwooper feathers," the password was barely audible and the portrait gave Percy a concerned look before swinging open.

Once inside, Percy headed straight for his desk, but Oliver caught his arm. "Percy?"

"I'm..." Percy cleared his throat. "I'm fine, Oliver. Being insulted by the twins is nothing new for me. They've been doing it for years, after all."

"I remember them saying things in school," Oliver acknowledged, watching as Percy levitated his packages to the desk. "But it was never that vicious."

"They believe they have reason," Percy looked pointedly at Oliver's had which was still clasping his upper arm. "Most people would agree with them."

Oliver pulled Percy around so they were standing face to face. "Who were you trying to hurt, Percy?"

Percy blinked, "I...what?"

"When you decided to stay with the Ministry instead of joining Dumbledore," Oliver clarified. "Who were you trying to hurt?"

"I..." Percy looked thoroughly bewildered at the question. "I wasn't trying to hurt anyone. I just...I almost got sacked for the way I'd handled the situation with Mr. Crouch." The words began tumbling from Percy's mouth faster and faster. "Then...the Minister came back from the Third Task and told us that Harry and Cedric had disappeared...and that Harry came back covered in blood and holding Cedric's body...he said Harry was making wild accusations and that Dumbledore believed him. That they had tried to prevent the carrying out lawful sentencing on an Azkaban escapee. Then he said it hadn't been my fault I'd been wrong about Mr. Crouch...that a lot of people were being fooled."

Percy drew in a deep shuddering breath. "He made it sound so...so sensible. It just seemed...well, Dumbledore was always a bit daft and he'd always give Harry extra-special care. I thought he'd just gone round the bend and was believing whatever Harry told him. And Harry.." he gritted his teeth as though in pain. "Harry never cared much about rules and I knew he and Ron and even Hermione had done some dodgy things before. I thought...and then it came out that Dumbledore had people working for him outside the Ministry and I couldn't understand why someone wouldn't work through the Ministry unless they were doing something wrong. Fudge said that I would be a bigger asset to the Ministry in another position, but Dad acted as though they couldn't possibly want me for anything I could do..."

Oliver could see that this was the first chance Percy ever had to explain his choices, so he nodded encouragingly for him to continue.

"Dad hadn't always...sometimes the things he did seemed..." Percy shook his head. "Well...I thought--the Ministry has been around for centuries longer than Dumbledore. It seemed so much safer...it was so logical to stand by the Ministry. Even if another War did come, it was better to stand by the Ministry. But some people at work still muttered about the Weasleys being in Dumbledore's pocket, so I broke off with my family completely. I wanted to prove I knew what I was doing, that I was standing by my decision...and I was wrong and I'm a horrible son and I practically broke Mum's heart. But Dad wouldn't listen to me...I wanted to tell him that the Ministry was safer for the whole family. Then Dad...Dad got hurt working for Dumbledore and I knew if I tried to visit him everyone would..."

"All right, Percy," Oliver put a finger to the trembling lips to stop the near-hysterical flow of words. "You proved my point. Whether you were right or wrong, you didn't set out to hurt anyone. They twins were trying to really hurt you. That's why I say they're wrong. They were malicious." Oliver frowned at the memory, "I never would have thought it of them."

"They aren't really. Not with anyone else."

Oliver hated the weariness in Percy's voice. He was actually swaying a little, obviously drained after baring his emotions. Then a tapping at the window alerted Oliver and he looked over to see a large grey owl flapping at the window. Nudging Percy towards the sofa, Oliver walked towards the window, actually grateful for the distraction--another moment and he would have given in to the temptation to pull Percy into his arms. He opened the window and saw a Honeydukes collar around the owl's neck. The bird dropped the package into Oliver's waiting hands and flew back toward Hogsmeade, apparently having been trained not to accept payment for delivery. Oliver closed the window and quickly cast several spells over the package. When it became clear nothing about the package or its contents had been tampered with, he brought it with him back to the sofa and sat down next to Percy.

"What ever the reason for the twins' behavior," he said as he untied the package. "It was really too bad that you had to miss out on feeding your sweet tooth."

Percy looked in bemusement at the paper sack that Oliver held out to him. A quick look inside showed several dozen Chocoballs in different flavors. Without a moment's hesitation, Percy took a caramel apple one and popped it in his mouth. "Is that why you took out your wand? To make an order?"

Oliver was pleased he'd successfully distracted Percy from his thoughts. "I wasn't about to leave Honeydukes without getting candy somehow."

Percy chuckled and watched Oliver opened the other bundles. One contained several sugar quills, another, a package of ice mice and the third was a box of--"Dragon Egg Truffles?"

"I have no problem being extravagant and paying ridiculous amounts for candy," Oliver laughed and held out the box to Percy.

"No, thank you. Save them for yourself."

Oliver rolled his eyes. Surely Percy wasn't going to be troublesome over something as simple as chocolates? "Don't be ridiculous," he picked up a smooth chocolate egg and held it out to Percy. "Have one."

"I have the Chocoballs, which I will reimburse you for."

"Don't you dare," Oliver said. He leaned closer and held the egg in front of Percy's mouth. When Percy shook his head, Oliver let out an exasperated sigh and tried another approach. He bit off half the egg and held the other half out to Percy. "See? Just in case you didn't trust my bodyguarding skills."

Percy's eyes widened. "That isn't why--"

Oliver merely raised his eyebrows and after another second of hesitation, Percy closed the distance and let Oliver put the chocolate in his mouth. As he did so, Oliver's instincts took over and he kissed the corner of Percy's tempting mouth.

Percy choked on the truffle. When he'd recovered, he stared at Oliver out of huge, questioning blue eyes. Then he touched his tongue curiously to his lower lip, and Oliver decided that sort of display was more than any man should have to watch.

Lunging forward again, he covered Percy's mouth with his own, slid one arm around Percy's waist and let his other hand tangle in the fiery hair. Percy seemed stunned for a moment, but then opened his mouth under Oliver's and let Oliver coax him into exploring even further with his questioning tongue. In no time at all, Percy was leaning back against the arm of the sofa, running his hands up and down the muscular back while Oliver's skillful hands were working into his robes in a search for bare skin.

When he did feel Oliver hands on his ribs and chest, Percy gasped and suddenly seemed to realize what was going on. He broke off the kiss and pushed steadily at Oliver's shoulders until the Auror moved off him. "We can't do this," he said, standing up.

It Oliver took a few minutes to shake off the lustful daze that had enveloped him and understand what Percy was saying. "I'm sorry," he said immediately. "Percy, I don't know what I was--" He stopped and shook his head firmly, "No, I won't make excuses. I was completely in the wrong. All I can do is apologize and say that I completely understand if you want to ask Dumbledore for another bodyguard."

"No!" Percy exclaimed quickly. Then he dropped his eyes as he continued, "It's not as though you forced me, Oliver. But I don't think it would be right while...well, obviously there are extenuating circumstances." He straightened his glasses, which had been knocked slightly askew, "I certainly don't want another bodyguard. We just have to continue on as though this never happened."

Oliver didn't think it would be as simple as that, but if Percy wanted him to remain on the case, he wasn't going to argue.

It took two days, but Percy was finally able to slip out from under the watchful eye of his bodyguard. Since he had never tried to avoid him before, he hadn't realized just how good Oliver was at his job. In addition, only a handful of staff still remained at Hogwarts--the rest having gone after finishing up the year's work during the first few weeks of holidays. Even Dumbledore had left, no doubt attending to Order business. Only Snape, Tonks, Apollonia, caretaker Tugwood and groundskeeper Rhea Dearborn remained in the castle, and none of them were likely to help him escape Oliver for a few hours without expecting an explanation Percy didn't care to give. Asking Snape for assistance was out of the question; Tonks, as a fellow Auror, would no doubt alert Oliver; Apollonia might have looked on it as a good joke and gone along, but Percy still wasn't entirely certain whether she was a seer of any merit and didn't want to risk it; Tugwood was as unpleasant as his predecessor and Dearborn rarely even came into the castle for meals.

He finally had to arrange to be in the library at the same time as Apollonia and then appear completely absorbed in searching for books. He slipped around the stacks and practically ran for the door. Concentrating on his goal, he walked past the first two doors, opened the third and entered a room that hadn't changed much since he'd last looked for it in his seventh year. There was a cheerful fire in the fireplace, but instead of a desk and chair, there was only a comfortable-looking easy chair in front of the fire. Percy scanned the walls and found the real object of his search--a tapestry that was a bit out of place for Hogwarts. McGonagall had told the prefects about the Room of Requirement in Percy's fifth year, but the tapestry depicting a lioness with a cub nestled between her paws was Percy's own discovery, made when he'd sought the Room of Requirement to avoid Marcus Flint and Terence Higgs. Before that, he'd only used the Room occasionally so he could study without the twins pestering him. That fateful day, he had been searching for safety and had found it through the door behind the tapestry. It was a room identically furnished to the one he left, but the door disappeared immediately after closing behind him. Percy had sat behind the desk until the door reappeared, and when he left it and the Room of Requirement, he found that Flint and Higgs were long gone.

Percy had looked for the mysterious room in Hogwarts: A History, but it wasn't mentioned. He finally found reference to a Room of Sanctuary, along with several others that the founders had placed here and there when the castle was built, in some of Rowena Ravenclaw's more obscure writings. He'd been surprised to see that the Room of Requirement had been Salazar Slytherin's contribution while something called the Room of Sanctuary had been spelled into existence by Godric Gryffindor. He'd been even more amazed to read that Ravenclaw's essay had been charmed so that only Rooms that the reader had found would be described. Whatever Rooms she and Helga Hufflepuff had created would remain a mystery to him, but he was overjoyed to have found the Room of Sanctuary and had used it often when trying to avoid Flint and even, on occasion, the twins. According to Ravenclaw's essay, the Room of Requirement appeared in response to general needs, but the Room of Sanctuary was only found by those seeking safety, refuge or protection.

Today Percy was seeking refuge--a place that he could sort out his thoughts without the object of them being right next to him. He threw himself into plush red velvet chair and gazed into the fire, pondering how he could be happy and miserable over the same occurrence. When Oliver had kissed him, it affected far more than just his libido. There had been a wonderful feeling of actually being wanted, really wanted that Percy had never experienced before. He and Penelope had slept together several times, but the experience hadn't been fulfilling for either of them, and they parted amiably not long after. There had been two more experiences during his first year at the Ministry, one with a man and one with a woman, but Percy found it very difficult to discover what his partner wanted and somehow give it to them just the way they wanted. It was far easier to satisfy himself, and so he had been doing ever since. With Oliver, though, it had been overwhelmingly simple.

Oliver wanted him.

Percy had gotten the distinct feeling that Oliver found it fulfilling to take care of Percy in lovemaking as in everything else, and all Percy had to do was enjoy himself. Every little thing Percy had done during their brief snog seemed to please Oliver immensely. Part of what had startled Percy back to his senses was the realization that here was someone with whom he didn't have to plan every move to perfection.

In the next split second, it had occurred to him that after eight months without any other companionship, Oliver would probably have been equally enthusiastic with anyone. Because of his bodyguarding detail, Percy was the only person available to him. That's when Percy knew he had to put a stop to the situation before he got too wrapped up in it.

Ever since, those brown eyes would rest on him with a different look, making it more and more difficult to concentrate on anything other than the memory of Oliver's hands on his skin. He didn't dare mention it again for fear Oliver would decide to remove himself from duty, and if remembering with Oliver there was difficult, remembering without Oliver there would be painful.

Percy sighed again and closed his eyes. He hadn't resolved his problem in the least, but he did feel a bit better for having some time to himself. Even without the kissing, having someone constantly around was tiring for someone as solitary as Percy and being alone even for a short time was a welcome relief. He knew he had to return, though, before Oliver turned the entire castle upside down looking for him. Hopefully, he hadn't been gone so long that Oliver would actually become alarmed.

Opening his eyes, Percy glanced around for the tapestry of two other lion cubs playing that would take him back to the Room of Requirement. He didn't see it, but instead noticed something new in the room. In the corner opposite the missing door was such an amazing statue that Percy got out of his chair to examine it more closely. It was a stone statue, incredibly realistic, of a majestic lion that was lying down but still held his head erect. A stone badger looked very comfortable between the huge paws while a stone eagle perched on its back. When Percy reached out to touch it, the eagle rustled its wings while both mammals stared at him. Percy started and quickly drew his hand back. Then something in the lion's mane moved and Percy's jaw dropped when a stone snake slithered from up the lion's neck and peered at him over the top of the shaggy head.

"I...I was just looking for the way out of the room," Percy said to the statue respectfully. This was a fairly unusual situation, even for Hogwarts.

All four animals regarded him for several moments longer, then the eagle took to the air, the snake glided down from the lion's back and around Percy's feet while the lion and the badger walked away in opposite directions. Then an arched doorway with the Hogwart's motto carved above it appeared.

Thinking there might have been some changes, even in the castle, since the War, Percy walked through the arch which opened into a six-sided room with another archway directly opposite. Shaking his head at this new path out, Percy walked through into yet another room. This room was familiar, but Percy didn't see how he could possibly ended up where he was. Quickly turning back, he found the door had vanished, leaving him in the doorless, windowless room that was supposed to be in the Orkney Islands. As if clarify matters, the door to the bedroom opened at that moment and Harry Potter stepped through. He also stopped short at the sight of Percy and for several long minutes they merely stared at one another.

Then Harry fumbled behind him for the doorknob, never taking his eyes off Percy. "What are you doing here? Who are you?" He paused and looked harder. "I've seen you."

"I'm Percy Weasley, Harry," Percy said quietly. "Dumbledore brought me to see you last summer. Do you remember?"

"Yes." Harry didn't move any closer. "But why are you here now? No one comes here except--" He bit his lip.

Percy was happy to see that Harry was at least coherent this time, although he still looked frightened and confused. Confused, Percy could relate to. "No, you don't have to say. Harry, I'm not here to hurt you."

"You were doing something to protect me, weren't you? I thought they said--"

"Yes, I am."

The green eyes grew wider, "Is something wrong? Did something happen to--"

"Nothing is wrong," Percy hastened to assure him. "To tell you the truth, I'm not entirely sure how I got here. I wasn't looking for you. You're supposed to be miles away from here." He thought about the statue and whether it may have been a portkey, but then remembered he hadn't actually touched anything, not even a doorknob. "Are...are you at Hogwarts, Harry?"

Harry frowned. "Is that the castle? I hear S--I've heard a castle mentioned."

"Yes," Percy's mind began to spin. "Oh, Merlin, Harry. I'm not supposed to be here."

"I know," Harry replied so matter-of-factly that Percy almost smiled. "The only person who sees me is--that is, only one person comes to see me since Christmas."

Percy looked around, determined to find a way out and not panic. He couldn't imagine what was possibly happening, but he felt like everything had been turned on its axis. "I have to leave, Harry. You don't have to tell me the way out, but just...does the other person who comes to see you leave through an arched doorway?"

"No," Harry frowned, looking surprisingly like his old self. "He doesn't use a door at all. Did you come in through a door?"

"Yes, right there," Percy pointed to the blank wall opposite bedroom door.

"There's nothing there," Harry sounded dubious.

"I know. Oh, Merlin, let me think." Percy tried desperately to organized his thoughts. "Harry, I think you may have to go back into the bedroom again. Maybe then, I'll find the way out."

The bright eyes lit with understanding behind Harry's round glasses. "The bedroom door stuck a bit when I first tried it. Is that when the archway was opened?"

"Yes," Percy's shoulders slumped with relief.

"All right, I'll go wait in the bedroom." Harry stared at Percy for a bit longer. "I suppose you can't stay a bit."

Percy had to fight to find his voice. "I'm sorry, Harry."

"That's okay. I just haven't seen anyone different for a long time."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I have to get better first."

"Yes, you do," Percy said kindly, feeling a bit as though he was sometimes speaking to a six- or seven-year old. "But you're much better than when I last saw you."

"Yes," Harry agreed with a tentative smile. "I'll go then. Good-bye."

"Good-bye, Harry."

Harry went into the bedroom and closed the door behind him. The next time Percy turned to the blank wall the arch was back and Percy rushed through it, the six-sided room and the first archway. Returning to the Room of Sanctuary, Percy wasn't entirely surprised to find that the stone animals had disappeared. He scanned the walls and suddenly he caught sight of a flash of color in his peripheral vision. When he turned fully, the lion cub tapestry was back and he was able to go back to the Room of Requirement.

He made in through that room blindly, his mind trying to process everything he had just seen as he rushed through the hallways back to his rooms. Harry was in Hogwarts! Had been there since Christmas. Likely had never been to the at Skara Brae. How in the world--

"What in damnation do you think you are doing?"

Percy spun around, his heart leaping to his throat at the sound the furious voice. "Oliver..."

Oliver grabbed his upper arm once again, not nearly so gently as he had in Hogsmeade, and began dragging him back toward his rooms. Percy stumbled along, still trying to process everything he had just seen.

"You went off on purpose, didn't you? Didn't you?" Oliver gave Percy's arm a sharp shake. "Agrippa's Urn," he barked at the portrait.

"Easy, lads," Bridget Wenlock said to them.

Oliver ignored the painting and propelled Percy through the doorway in front of him. "Why? I've been searching the entire castle for you! What in Merlin's name were you thinking?"

"That I needed a little time to myself," Percy replied lamely.

Oliver ground his teeth. "I knew it was a mistake to stay on after what happened. You'd do better with someone else guarding you."

"No!" Now it was Percy who clutched at Oliver's arm, hanging on to the only thing around him that still seemed stable.

His actions were unusual enough to make Oliver pause in his fury. "What's going on, Percy?" Oliver studied Percy's pale face and the wild look in the blue eyes. "What happened?"

Percy drew a deep breath. "I did run off and I'm sorry for that. But when I realized how worried you would be after about five minutes, but when I tried to come back--" There he stopped, knowing nothing he said would make sense unless Oliver was told why Percy had needed a bodyguard in the first place. The moment he made his decision, Percy knew it was the right one. He was overcome with such a feeling of relief that he fairly dropped onto the sofa.

Oliver sat beside him, curiosity overwhelming whatever was left of his anger.

Percy examined and discarded several ways of beginning, but finally decided to simply say it. "I'm Harry's Secret Keeper."

From Oliver's expression, Percy might as well have been speaking Mermish. "You're Harry's...Harry Potter?"

"Of course Harry Potter," Percy sounded exasperated.

"But Harry--" Dozens of questions raced through Oliver's mind, but it was no trouble deciding which was the most important. "How is he? I heard--how is he?"

"He's...I think he's getting better," Percy nodded as though confirming this with himself as he spoke. "It will be a while yet, but I believe he'll get better."

Oliver didn't need to be told why Harry needed protection. "The Death Eaters were getting that close to him?"

"Apparently. Dumbledore thinks that they'd want to capture him instead of killing him. Sort of a trophy," Percy said the words as though they tasted bad and noticed that Oliver's lip had curled in a similar reaction. "Whoever managed to capture him could likely become the next Dark Lord."

"Merlin..." Oliver closed his eyes. "Poor Harry...it never ends for him." He looked at Percy, obviously still confused, "But why--ah, that is..."

"Why me?" Percy asked with a tight smile. "Don't worry, Oliver, I asked him the same question. And he said it was for the very good reason that I'm the last person anyone would suspect." The perplexed look on Oliver's face hadn't diminished in the least. "Because I'm not in the Order, no one would think that I would be asked," Percy clarified.

Oliver shook his head. "Then why do you need a bodyguard?"

"Well..." Percy hesitated. "Some odd things happened to me. Someone put a sleeping draught in my tea one day. I only discovered it because there was no lemon so I used cream and it reacted with the potion. A few days later, someone sent me some Bertie Bott's Beans but I never cared for them, so I handed them off to some other people in the office. Six off them had to be rushed to St. Mungo's. A few days after that I got back to my flat and the door was unlocked. I didn't go in, but slept at the Ministry instead. That's when Dumbledore decided he wanted me at Hogwarts. When the same thing happened here--the sleeping draught, that is--Dumbledore put me under guard."

"That doesn't sound like you're the last person anyone suspects," Oliver pointed out. "That sounds like someone is on to you."

Percy considered this. "I suppose, but that's not what's important right now--"

"Not important?" Oliver looked outraged. "Percy, if someone suspects you, the Secret Keeper needs to be changed, for Harry's sake as well as yours."

"But I'm not Harry's Secret Keeper."

"Percy, what in all that's magical--"

"What I mean is that Harry is not where they told me when they cast the Fidelius charm. He's here. They told me he was at Skara Brae, but he's here. I just found him through the Room of Sanctuary."

"The what?"

Percy took a deep breath and backtracked. "The Room of Sanctuary is a room that sometimes opens off the Room of Requirement when a person needs safety or refuge. The Room of Requirement is--"

"I know about the Room of Requirement." A smile tugged at the corner of Oliver's lips.

"Oh?"

"Do you remember Renzo Nellisi? The Hufflepuff prefect from fifth year? He showed me."

"Really," Percy arched an eyebrow. "What was inside?"

"A sofa. In sixth year with Kyle Adler, there was a bed--same with Raphael Zared. And in seventh year--"

"I get the idea, thank you," Percy sniffed.

"What was in it when you visited it while at Hogwarts?"

"A desk." When Oliver's eyebrows shot up with interest, Percy scowled, "I went there to study."

"So did I," Oliver countered. "We were just studying different things."

"Anyway," Percy continued as though that little aside hadn't happened. "I had found the Room of Sanctuary while I was at Hogwarts, and that's where I went today."

Oliver's amusement vanished. "You felt you needed to be safe from me?"

"No, nothing like that," Percy hastened to assure him. "I just wanted somewhere to be alone and think. I sought out the second room because you could have found me in the Room of Requirement." Oliver nodded, and Percy continued. "When I tried to leave, though, I couldn't find my usual way out. And instead I went into a little hexagon shaped room, and that room had a door that led to Harry's safehouse."

"Portkey," Oliver said.

Percy shook his head. "I hadn't touched anything. Both doorways were arches without actual doors. What's more, Harry said that the other person--only one other person goes to see him and I don't think it's Dumbledore--had mentioned being inside the castle."

Oliver frowned as he turned all this information over in his mind. "That makes no sense."

"I know. I left--" Percy winced. "He asked if I could stay and visit, but I knew I had to get back here. I had to try and figure out what's going on."

"Can you find it again?"

"Of course I can," Percy said confidently. "I've already been there and it becomes easier to find every time."

"I believe you, Percy," Oliver assured him. "I hadn't even known about the Room of Sanctuary until you brought me there today. But why the trip to the library right after? What were you looking for?"

"An old book of essays by Rowena Ravenclaw. You can read about these special rooms after you've found them."

"But it wasn't there."

"No, it wasn't," Percy confirmed.

"I'd lay money that the essays were removed when Harry was placed here."

"Most likely."

"We'll have to tell Dumbledore we've found Harry when he gets back."

"I know," Percy continued as he sat on the sofa.

"But in the mean time, Harry is safe." Oliver dropped down beside him.

"Yes."

"Then maybe we can go over why you need the search out the Room of Sanctuary in the first place."

Percy was so bewildered by the sudden change in topic that he could think of nothing to say.

Oliver looked down-hearted. "I meant what I said before, Percy, although I shouldn't have yelled it at you. You would probably be better off with a different bodyguard."

"I don't want a different bodyguard," Percy insisted. "I want you." When Oliver's eyes widened in surprise, he realized that may have come out a bit too forcefully and quickly backtracked. "That is, I've told you about Harry, so certainly Dumbledore would want you to remain here."

Now though, Oliver could see through Percy's formality and he decided to push a little further. "Percy, unless I know what the problem was that sent you looking for a secret room to get away from me how, how can I possibly do my job? I can't, not if the person I'm supposed to be protecting is afraid I'll attack him."

"I'm not afraid of that," Percy exclaimed indignantly.

"No? Then why have you been so uncomfortable around me? You've been even more uptight that usual."

"I beg your pardon," Percy demanded in the most uptight tone Oliver had heard for months.

Much to his astonishment, it went straight to his groin. The memory of an extremely proper Percy turned into a wild thing by his kisses was prodding him to repeat the experience, duty be damned. All he had to find out was whether Percy was as willing as he'd been a few days ago. "Are you sure that I didn't force you?"

"Positive."

"Worried about your job then? Or mine? Because if we were both willing, it's not something we'd necessarily be reprimanded for. I know some people consider it unprofessional, but when it's long term like this--"

"--the bodyguard has to take whatever he can get?" Percy finished in an arch tone.

Lumos, Oliver thought, suddenly realizing why Percy had called the snog session off. His notion was so ludicrous that Oliver was barely able to stifle his laughter and wasn't able to restrain his grin at all. "Is that what you think? That I only want to be with you because I can't find anything else? Oh, Percy, you're so far off the hoop--"

"Really," Percy didn't looked convinced.

"Really," Oliver leaned closer and lowered his voice. "You really think that I only kissed you because I couldn't find anyone else to kiss?"

"Why else?" Percy schooled his features into a haughty expression.

That expression was enough to make Oliver jump Percy in that very instant, but he managed to maintain some degree of decorum. He had a few points to make clear first. "I suppose it didn't occur to you that I might be very susceptible to big blue eyes."

Percy's haughtiness transformed into astonishment. "Ah..."

"Or that I'm absolutely mad for men with long, lean bodies--especially when the body includes a fantastic arse."

Percy turned crimson, but didn't take his eyes from Oliver's face.

"I suppose you also didn't know that lately when you start lecturing, it makes me harder than I've been in years."

Percy opened his mouth but no sound came out.

"Or that with your mouth open like that, it makes me think ab--" Oliver didn't get to finish because Percy pounced on him, startling him into stillness for a split-second. He recovered quickly though, and immediately picked up where he had left off days before--rummaging under Percy's robes for the feel of bare skin. This time, Percy was doing the same, gasping with need.

Oliver knew this wasn't going to last long--he was already close to the edge and could feel that Percy was as well. He decided to get right down to business, and chuckled at the turn of phrase even as he sucked on the hollow of Percy's throat.

Percy felt rather than heard the chuckle and was about to ask what was so funny, but Oliver's hand had found the waistband of his underwear and slipped inside, leaving Percy incapable of forming a coherent sentence. He could moan, though, and he did. Discovering that was the only noise he could actually make, he moaned once more. Vaguely, Percy realized he should be returning the favor, and fumbled through Oliver's clothing to grasp the weeping cock. Oliver muffled his groan by biting down on Percy's neck. Then they were both pumping themselves into the other's hand, mouths fastened to whatever bit of skin they could reach.

Oliver slumped further down on the sofa, pulling Percy with him and running his clean hand through the bright hair.

"Sorry," Percy muttered into Oliver's shoulder.

Oliver wondered if his orgasm had affected his hearing. "What?"

"Sorry," Percy repeated. "I just--"

"Bloody hell, Percy, don't apologize. That was brilliant," the satisfaction in Oliver's voice was obvious.

"We didn't even get out clothes off," Percy pointed out.

"Nothing wrong with a little quick and dirty," Oliver returned. "Speaking of which..." he found his wand and cast a cleaning spell over both of them. When they were clean, he asked, "Didn't you enjoy it?"

"Yes, but I thought you'd want it to be more...well, it wasn't most people's ideal--"

Oliver stopped Percy's words by putting a finger over his lips. "You've got to stop with this kind of pressure, Percy, it can't be good for you."

Percy's eyebrows rose and Oliver wondered how he could possibly go from satiated to prissy in an instant. "You weren't complaining about pressure a few minutes ago."

Oliver chuckled, and Percy's expression became even more lofty. "Do you always make jokes without realizing it, Percy?" he asked, then kissed the thinned lips to take any sting out of his laughter.

Percy relaxed more fully against the broader body, no longer affronted.

"Don't get too comfortable," Oliver nudged him.

"Why not?"

"Well, seeing as you like getting things just perfect," Oliver traced a finger down Percy's cheek. "I thought we'd go to the bedroom and try this again."

Percy had to make an effort, but he managed to school his features into a very proper expression. "Anything worth doing is worth doing right."

Oliver laughed again, gave Percy a kiss and then stood up. Pulling the slighter man to his feet, he then let Percy lead him into the bedroom.

Once standing beside the bed though, Percy grew uncertain. "Oliver."

"Mmm?" Oliver began unbuttoning Percy's robe.

"I'm not very...I've only been with another man once before..." Percy admitted haltingly. "And we didn't actually...I mean, all we did was..." Words failed him entirely and he looked down.

Oliver could see how vulnerable such an admission made Percy, and he kissed him softly, reassuringly on the lips, nose, then forehead. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to do, Percy. You just let me know how much you're comfortable with. All right?"

Percy nodded, then blinked when Oliver lifted his glasses from his face and put them on the beside table.

"Can you see anything without them?"

"Only things that are very close," Percy replied.

"Then we'd best stay very close," Oliver went back to divesting Percy of his clothes, smiling when Percy hesitatingly began doing the same. When they were both nude, Oliver ran his hands down Percy's sides, enjoy the feel of the lean torso. He glanced up to see Percy's reaction, but Percy had both hands splayed across his chest, sliding his fingers over the tanned skin. The sensation made Oliver's breath hitch and he slid his hands back up to cup Percy head and seal his mouth in a devouring kiss.

They tumbled back onto the bed began exploring as much of one another's body as they could reach. Percy was fascinated with running his hands over the prominent muscles that defined Oliver's back while Oliver was more interested in licking every freckle that dotted Percy's collarbone and chest as though he expected to find one that tasted like cinnamon.

Percy made a whimpering sound and began bucking against Oliver, and when Oliver slid one a thickly muscled thigh downwards, Percy opened his legs wider and tangled his slimmer legs around Oliver. The sensation of their pricks pressed together between their straining bodies nearly finished Oliver then and there, but after several calming breaths, he managed to slow himself down. Percy did the same, but it wasn't long before they began moving faster again. Percy buried his face in the crook of Oliver's neck with a long moan while Oliver let out a hoarse shout and their combined spunk fused their bodies together.

Oliver was collapsed on top of him, his heavier weight pushing Percy down into the mattress, but when he tried to roll away, Percy tightened his arms around Oliver's neck.

Really, breathing could wait until tomorrow.

Percy nestled his head more comfortably against Oliver's shoulder and wondered muzzily whether he should bother rising to find out what time it was. Then Oliver shifted in his sleep and tightened his embrace, so Percy decided that they both deserved a bit of a lie-in.

Rather than going down to the Great Hall for dinner the previous evening, Oliver asked the house-elves to bring some food to their room, and the elves were more than happy to oblige. He then proceeded to feed Percy by hand, interspersing the bits of food with kisses. After their meal, they took their time in lazy explorations of each other's body before Oliver gave Percy a blowjob that practically turned him inside out. Once Oliver was sated as well, they fell into a deep contented sleep from which Oliver had yet to emerge. Percy sighed happily and closed his eyes, ready to drift back to sleep.

He was just turning the corner when a huge commotion from the sitting room jerked him back to full wakefulness. Someone was arguing with the portrait that guarded Percy's door. Before Percy had fully realized what was going on, Oliver had disengaged himself and was pulling on his robe. "Wait here," he said, then headed into the sitting room with his wand at the ready.

Percy paused only a few seconds before getting out of bed and pulling on his robe as well. He hadn't even reached the bedroom door when a new voice sounded from the other side.

"Where is he? Don't play the big, brave bodyguard with me, Wood. Just fetch him here."

Percy's eyes widened as he recognized Severus Snape's voice. He was tempted to remain where he was--an enraged Snape was not something he cared to see first thing in the morning.

"Professor, you should know I'm not about to let Percy anywhere near you when you're acting this way," Oliver spoke in a voice Percy had never heard before. It was the voice a soldier and Special Auror--firm, commanding and supremely confident. "And definitely not when you have your wand drawn."

Percy's heart stopped when he heard that. The image of Snape holding a wand on Oliver was not one he wanted to contemplate. He heard Snape's exasperated tone and relaxed. "Don't be a bloody fool, Wood. Although I likely should hex Weasley into next week, we both know I won't do it. The wand was for that bloody-minded portrait you have outside."

Percy decided he had heard enough and walked into the sitting room.

No wands were in sight, but both men scowled at Percy when they saw him.

"Didn't I tell you to wait?" Oliver demanded.

"What in Merlin's name are you up to, Weasley?"

"What?" Percy looked at Snape because Oliver's question seemed rhetorical at this point.

"You know very well what," Snape's voice dropped to that dangerous silkiness that the younger men both remembered from school. "He told me you had been there to visit him yesterday."

"Oh." Percy tried not to let on that Snape was the last person he would have expected to be Harry Potter's caretaker. "That."

"Yes, that," Snape spat, his tone made Oliver shift his body slightly so that Percy was shielded from the Potions master. "Do you think being his Secret Keeper entitles you to endanger Potter's life?"

"I wasn't trying to endanger Harry!" Percy's exclaimed, outraged. "I would never do that!"

"Really," Snape didn't sound convinced.

"I wasn't even looking for Harry," Percy insisted. "I thought he was in the Orkney Islands. I was in the Room of Sanctuary and when I tried to leave, a statue let me pass into a little six-sided room and from there into the safehouse."

Snape relaxed considerably. "The Room of Sanctuary, hm?" he smirked. "Having a lovers' spat, are we, boys?"

"Professor Snape," Percy huffed. "I don't appreciate the insinua-"

"Don't be a prat, Snape," Oliver rolled his eyes. "Why couldn't we get back in later that day?"

Snape seemed amused rather than offended by Oliver's words and actually deigned to answer his inquiry. "Were you angry at any point yesterday? Not merely annoyed, but very angry?"

Oliver shot a side-long glance at Percy. "Yes, I was, actually."

"You can't enter the Room of Benevolence unless the sun has set on your anger. You wouldn't be able to pass through the second doorway unless you have only goodwill toward the person on the other side."

"Did you move Rowena Ravenclaw's essays, then?" Percy asked.

Snape shot Percy an ever-so-slight look of respect. "I did. At Dumbledore's request, of course."

Oliver had questions of his own. "Can we see Harry today, then?"

"May we," Percy corrected automatically.

Snape shot Oliver an archly amused look. "Astonishing really, that you haven't been hexed before this, Mr. Weasley. My compliments, Wood."

Oliver choked back a laugh at Percy's affronted expression.

"I will let you know at breakfast whether Potter should have visitors," Snape told them so firmly that neither was willing to dispute it. "Some days are naturally better than others. I suppose it would be beneficial for him to see other people."

"He's better than when I saw him in September," Percy offered.

"He is," Snape agreed. "He can now look after himself as far as eating and washing go, and he seems to be recovering some vague memories, but it will be at least another year before he is able to safely live without supervision."

"Am I supposed to remain his Secret Keeper the entire time?" Percy asked, "Or rather, pose as his Secret Keeper."

Snape actually looked a bit uncomfortable. "You will have to discuss that with the Headmaster when he returns."

"We certainly will."

Percy was impressed with Oliver for not giving an inch.

"Well, I'd better see to Potter before breakfast." At the door, Snape turned back, "By the by, Mr. Weasley, you might want to consider wearing a high collar today, even if it is summer."

Percy frowned in confusion, until he saw Oliver glance at his neck. Touching the skin, Percy felt several tender spots, and then felt heat as his entire upper body flushed bright red.

With a triumphant smirk, Snape walked through the portrait door.

Oliver made no objection and gave Percy's hand a squeeze.

They found the Room of Requirement empty except for the lioness wall-hanging. "Nice tapestry," Oliver commented. "Although I rather expected to see a bed in here," he slanted a teasing look at Percy.

"Hardly a requirement considering you now have easy access to a bed and privacy."

"Mmm...among other things," Oliver nuzzled and then kissed the suddenly warm cheek.

Percy tried to aim for a censorious look, but couldn't manage more than a pleased smile. "Shall we go on to the next room?"

"Lead the way."

Lifting the tapestry, Percy led Oliver through the door behind it, into an equally empty room.

"I thought you said there was a statue."

Percy only had an instant to consider the implications of Oliver's statement before the Auror spoke again.

"Oh. Bloody strange. Like a game of look-away."

Percy turned in the same direction Oliver was facing. The statue of the four Hogwarts animals was there again, this time the lion was standing with the eagle perched on its rump while the badger was underneath with the snake coiled contentedly around the furry wedge-shaped body.

"So how do we get in to see Harry?"

In response to Oliver's question, all four stone heads swivelled first to study him and then Percy. Then they separated in the same manner as Percy recalled and the arch appeared. Oliver's grip on Percy's hand tightened slightly as they walked into the six-sided room where the second arch appeared almost immediately. They walked into the safehouse where Snape was waiting for them.

Percy expected Oliver to release their joined hands now that someone else was present, but Oliver still held on firmly. If Snape noticed--and Percy would have bet a sack full of Galleons he had--he made no comment. "I told Harry he had visitors coming," he said before walking through the bedroom door.

Oliver grip on his hand tightened painfully and Percy he heard him muttering, "What do I say to him? Merlin, don't let me say anything that upsets him."

The words came as quite a shock to Percy, who had never before seen the slightest dent in Oliver's self-confidence. He tried to think of somethin