Percy was a very private person. His family, of course, knew a lot about him, but they didn't really know. They knew what foods he liked and didn't like, what was his favorite season, how he liked to read, and write. They knew how hardworking he was, how he liked to achieve a lot and took pride in his studies. They knew, especially his siblings, knew what things bothered him and how to rile him up easily.
The few friends he had, didn't actually know that much about him, but he didn't mind. They knew he was quiet and liked having his own space. They knew he was smart and someone who would always help when it was needed, also someone who was set in his ways and sometimes stubborn.
He didn't tell people a lot about himself, not about his struggles, or about how much his brother's teasing bothered him. He didn't tell how he panicked when he got a bad grade or how his mind just sometimes had enough of everything, and he couldn't do anything than just cry.
He only told someone something when he was asked. Like what was his favorite colour or what book he liked the most. But when it came to the more personal questions, he answered with more caution, trying to dodge the question the best he could, or simply just lie if he didn't know what to answer, or if this person would be trustworthy enough to actually tell something to.
But when a certain someone became one of the most important people in his life, he kind of had to let his guard down. Somehow, Oliver seemed to notice the small details, like how his nose scrunched up when he nudged his glasses up, or how he crossed his arms when he was feeling uncomfortable and needed to ground himself.
He noticed how he stuttered, and a blush creeped from his neck when he needed to answer a question he didn't want to. He noticed how Percy's eyes shined with determination when he was doing his prefect duties. He noticed the small things, the things that mattered. To him, at least.
He noticed how his dimples popped out when he was really smiling, and it definitely wasn't one of Oliver's favorites things to poke them, definitely not. He loved noticing all those small details of the boy who tried to hide them so badly.
After dinner on Friday evening, before quidditch practice, he made his way up to the Gryffindor tower. He looked around the common room, not seeing his boyfriend anywhere, he'd usually be there studying or keeping an eye on the younger ones.
But he wasn't, so he had to be up in his dorm, so he made his way to Percy's, he had his own, like all the perfects. He tried to open the door, but it was locked, it often wasn't, for some weird reason he still doesn't know.
So he gently knocked on it, but he didn't hear an answer, maybe Percy wasn't there, maybe he was somewhere in the castle, or outside. Although he had told Oliver that he'd be in his dorm after lessons, for some reason, he hadn't shown up for dinner either. So he knocked again, this time a bit louder.
“N-not now.” He heard Percy answer quietly. He sounded a bit off, he started to worry.
“It's me, Perce.” He said, leaning against the door, so he could hear what was going on. “Can I come in?” He heard some shuffling around through the door, but no answer, he frowned, waiting for the boy to open the door or answer.
After a few minutes, the door cracked open, just slightly and Percy peeked through, his eyes looked red, like he had been crying. He looked up and down the corridor, before opening the door and letting Oliver in. He was definitely worried, even though his boyfriend was known for his odd habits, there was just something off about him.
Percy hurried off to his bed, sitting down onto the edge. Oliver slipped into the dorm, closing the door behind him. “What's up?” He asked, walking over to him, and standing in front of him.
“Nothing.” He said, smiling slightly as he looked up at him. Oliver gently started to brush his hand through the curly orange locks.
“You sure? You seem upset about something.” He kneeled down in front of the bed, so he was eye level with him, Percy pulled his sleeves down nervously, looking down to his lap. “Makin' me real worried over here, want to tell me please?”
Percy shook his head, looking at him and Oliver could see tears starting to well up in his eyes, he continued to pull his sleeves down in a nervous manner and his hands had started to shake. “That's okay, love, don't worry.” He smiled, taking one of his shaking hands into his, rubbing his thumb gently over his wrist. “don't have to tell me anything, if you don't want to, but I'll help you, okay? How about some cuddles, would that make you feel even a tad bit better?”
He nodded slightly, and Oliver got up from the floor, going to lay down in his bed, opening his arms, so Percy could cuddle up to him. He did, although a little hesitantly, like always when he needed some comfort. The boy curled up to him like a small kitten, his head on Oliver's chest, tucked under his chin, and one leg over Oliver's, who wrapped his arms around the boy, his other hand resting on his hip. He sneaked it under Percy's worn out jumper, rubbing his thumb over his hip, trying to help him calm down.
He listened to Oliver's heart beat, closing his eyes, trying to prevent the tears. No, he couldn't cry, not in front of him, and definitely not now. “You can cry, Perce, it's alright.” Oliver whispered after a while, trying to get the boy to calm down and just let go, but he shook his head.
“Shouldn't be.” He whispered, hiding his face even more, Oliver pulled off his glasses, so he wouldn't be too uncomfortable and set them on the nightstand. “I'm just tired.”
“You can sleep, I've got nowhere to go.” Percy shook his head again.
“I need to do work.” He whispered, his voice cracking slightly, he coughed before continuing. “I have to finish that potions essay, do a star chart, we have a prefects meeting, and I got rounds today.” He listed, clearly close to tears, but he just wouldn't let them fall.
“When's the school stuff due?”
“Monday.”
“Okay, can't you do it during the weekend?” Percy shrugged, he could, but then he'd have to redo the schedule he had made. “At what time is that meeting?”
“In a few hours, right before rounds.” He said, sounding really sad, and just tired. Percy lifted his head, looking at Oliver, even though he couldn't really see him that clearly. “My head hurts, just wanna sleep.”
“I know you do, do you have your medicine somewhere?” Percy had medicine for his headaches he got more often than he probably should have, but it wasn't really surprising. But at least he had gotten medicine from poppy to help with them when Oliver had forced him to go see her a few months ago.
“Top drawer bedside table.” He mumbled, leaning back against Oliver.
“Do you want it?”
“Mm.” He mumbled, and Oliver reached to the top drawer, pulling out the small bottle and shaking a few pills out and filled a glass with water with his wand, giving them to him. “Thank you.”
“No problem, love.” He whispered, kissing his head as Percy got more comfortable. “Sleep, okay? I'll wake you up in an hour. How about that? Then you have time to work if you'd like.” Percy nodded, finally giving in for a bit of a rest.
“Promise to wake me?”
“I promise, now shush and sleep.” Percy nodded again, tucking his head back under Oliver's chin. It didn't take long for him to actually fall asleep, but Oliver continued rubbing his side and just holding him.
He was still worried, knowing Percy was overworking himself and that there was something he wasn't talking about, but he knew to be patient with the boy. He was always stubborn and hesitant when it came to talking about his feelings or something that was bothering him. So he'd just wait until Percy wanted to talk, if he wanted to, if he didn't, he'd be there anyway.
Oliver swore Percy was the cutest thing when he was sleeping or really sleepy. That was the time when he let his guard down and was just him. His features softened and there wasn't that sharp edge to his voice there was when he was doing something important. He just really liked sleepy Percy.
When an hour had gone by, he gently shook Percy awake, noticed the small flinch he made when his arm was touched, he had done that before and it really worried him. “Wake up, sleepy head.” He whispered, as Percy stirred, hiding more into his chest. “C'mon open those pretty eyes, there you go, hi, slept well?”
“Mm.” He mumbled, yawning as he sat up just a little, so he could look at Oliver.
“That's good.” He smiled, as Percy rubbed his eyes, Oliver gave him his glasses and he put them on, smiling as a thank-you. “Feeling any better?”
Percy shook his head, sitting up properly, and Oliver couldn't help but frown. “ 's alright, though.” He smiled, and Oliver nodded, not really believing him. “Um, could you stay the night? You don't have to I just thought -”
“Percy.” He said, interrupting him. “Of course I'll stay, I sleep way better with you anyway.” He smiled, and Percy blushed as Oliver leaned up to give him a kiss, before he'd get up from bed.
“Do you have practice today?” He asked, going to get his uniform, as he had changed out of it earlier.
“Mm do, but I'm keeping it short today, it's rainy, I'll be back before you.” He said they really needed to practice and there wasn't much room for keeping shorter ones, but that would mean he'd not be back when Percy was done with his rounds, and he was too worried to let that happen.
Percy quickly changed into his uniform, and Oliver couldn't help but notice something on his arm, like a bandage. He almost asked about it, but then decided that it probably wasn't the best to ask about it right now.
He pulled out his books, writing the end to his potions essay, and Oliver just watched him, amused with how he had the energy to actually do that while not feeling the best. Also, watching his boyfriend, not in a creepy way, was one of his favorite things to do.
Then he put his books back, pulling on the robe and making sure the perfect patch was on it. Oliver got up from the bed, going to give him a hug, and a kiss, before he had to go. “See you in a few hours.” He said, his arms still wrapped around Percy's waist, who nodded.
“See you.” Percy smiled, looking up at him for a moment, and Oliver pressed a kiss between his eyebrows, making his eyes close for a moment.
He soon left the dorm to go to the prefect's meeting in the staff room, it was held there as the heads of houses were also there. Oliver went to grab his quidditch stuff from his dorm before making his way down to the quidditch pitch.
It was rainy, like he had said, and even though he didn't usually let that be the reason to keep a shorter practice, but he was pretty sure his team was just glad that they had a shorter one for once.
When they were done with practice, he made his way up to their common room after the other Gryffindors. “Were you going to wood?” Fred asked, and Oliver turned to look at him as he was about to walk up the stairs as the rest of the team stayed in the common room.
“Need to finish some school stuff.” He muttered, and they nodded. He couldn't actually tell them what he was going to do, he hated lying, but he was going to do it if it was for Percy. He hadn't told his family about any of this, and no one really knew about them being together, and he didn't honestly mind. He just cared about being with him, not about people knowing, it wasn't important.
He dropped his stuff in his dorm, and changed his clothes and quickly dried his hair, before making his way to Percy's he grabbed his bag and uniform, planning to stay the night like Percy had asked. He wasn't back yet, but he would be back in about an hour. To pass time, he started doing some of his homework, waiting for Percy to come back.
“Hi, love.” He said, looking up as the door opened, revealing Percy.
“Hey.” He whispered, glancing at Oliver, before locking the door, going to dig more comfortable clothes from his trunk, going to the bathroom to change. Oliver noticed something was wrong, he was acting odd, but it was Percy, he was always acting a bit odd, but something was just off now. Even More than before.
He put away his books, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “C'mere.” He said, smiling softly as Percy came out of the bathroom, he did, standing in front of Oliver. “What's the matter, baby?” He didn't use that nickname often, it was saved for times when the boy was feeling really bad, but he knew Percy loved the name, and it always made him blush.
“I-i don't know, Ollie.” He whispered, looking down, as Oliver reached to take his hand. “Just- anxious.”
“Something I can do to help?” He asked, looking up at Percy, seeing the tears in his eyes. “Maybe some cuddles? And maybe we talk a bit? You know, talking helps.” He nodded just slightly.
Oliver smiled, scooting on the bed to sit with his back to the headboard, pulling Percy onto the bed too. He pulled Percy to sit on his lap, wrapping his arms around the boy. “I'm sorry.” He whispered, playing with his fingers.
“No Perce, you got nothing to be sorry for.”
“Do.” He whispered, glancing at Oliver, who was just confused.
“Losing me here. Talk to me Percy, please.”
“You're gonna be mad at me.”
“I'm not, whatever it is won't get mad at you, I promise, Percy.”
Percy nodded, but it took a while before he started talking. “I um, when I'm feeling r-really bad, there's something that takes i-it away.” He said, looking down. “But I don't think it's good.”
Oliver nodded, a little scared of what Percy was about to tell him. Percy let go of his hands, slowly pulling his sleeves up, Oliver looked at his shaking hands, there were bandages wrapped on each of his forearms, both stained with blood.
“Oh, baby.” He whispered, looking up at Percy, wiping away the freshly shed tears. “Mind if I-?” He asked, his fingers hovering over the bandages, and Percy shook his head, more tears spilling out. “Shh, I'm not mad at you, or upset with you, don't worry.” He said, gently starting to unwrap the bloodstained bandage from his right arm. He could feel tears burning in his eyes as he saw the new cuts and old scars on his arm, some of them looked like they had been done today.
“I-i'm sorry.”
“Shh, it's okay, don't apologize.” He said, discarding the bandage onto the bed, before doing the same to his other arm, seeing even more cuts and scars. Some of them were thinner and some of them looked deep, a little too deep. He took Percy's hand into his, gently turning one of his arms over, so his wrist was up. He saw something he didn't want to see. There was one, deep looking scar going down from his wrist for some length, it looked old too, but he couldn't help but look up at Percy who was watching closely what he was doing. He had tears in his eyes, but he tried so hard not to let them fall.
“Percy.” He breathed out, the next words getting caught up in his throat, sadness and worry clear in his voice. He cleared his throat before continuing. “When have you?” He trailed off, looking up at him, still holding his hands.
“Two years ago.” He whispered, refusing to meet Oliver's eyes. You were fourteen, Oliver thought, reaching his hand up to cup his cheek, making Percy look at him and wipe away his tears. “Charlie found me, in my room, it was Christmas, he had just turned seventeen, so he closed i-it up with magic a-and-”
“You don't have to tell me, baby.”
Percy nodded, but continued anyway. He hadn't told anyone, ever. The only one who knew was Charlie. “I begged him to never tell anyone, and for some reason he promised he wouldn't, only if I promised I'd never do that again and that i-i'd stop, but it just got worse from t-there.”
“Calm down Perce, it's okay, it's all okay, I promise.” He said, and Percy nodded, more tears falling out, staining his glasses. “Shh, c'mere, it's okay.” He soothed, and Percy slumped against his chest, curling up into a small ball, crying. He wrapped his arms tighter around the boy, rubbing his side, trying to calm him down.
“Never told anyone.” Percy whispered through his sobs. “Except Charlie.”
“And that's okay, baby, it's all okay.” He murmured into his hair. “I'm glad you told me.”
“Y-you won't -”
“Shh, no, I won't tell anyone, I promise Perce, okay?” Percy nodded again. “Your secret's safe with me, jus' like you are, yeah?” He nodded, sniffling sadly.
After a long while, Percy lifted his head up, wiping his eyes, looking at Oliver, who looked like he had shed a few tears too. “Didn't mean to make you cry.” He whispered.
“I know. It's okay though, don't worry about it.” He smiled, and Percy nodded. “Do you want to tell me why did you do that today?”
“I was feeling really overwhelmed and anxious and stressed, and I just needed t-to get it out somehow.” Oliver nodded. “That's why I didn't want to let you in earlier.”
“I'm glad you did, though.” Oliver said, and Percy looked confused. “I mean it Perce, I want you to be able to come to me when you're feeling horrible because I want to comfort you and be there for you, I don't want you to be alone, especially if you're feeling bad.”
“I'll try, I promise, it's just hard.”
“That's all I want, love.” Percy nodded, wiping his eyes once more. “Should we clean these up? And put a fresh bandage on?”
“You don't have to, it's fine, don't worry.”
“I wanna take care of you, if you let me.” He nodded a little hesitantly, climbing off of his lap to let Oliver up from the bed, then he took his hand, leading him into the bathroom. “Hop on the counter.” He said, and Percy did, watching as Oliver looked through the cabinets to find some cotton pads and a fresh roll of bandage.
He wet the cotton pads slightly under warm water, gently cleaning the dried blood, and a few of the newer cuts that didn't look so good. Then he wrapped both of his forearms back into the bandages, giving him a kiss when he was done.
“Wanna go to bed?” Percy nodded, and Oliver took his hand back into his, leading him back into the dorm and into the bed. He got under the covers and Percy laid down next to him, taking off his glasses before resting his head on Oliver's chest.
“How was practice?”
“Just fine, they were just happy to have a shorter one because of the weather.”
“You never keep practices short because of a little rain.” Percy said, and Oliver hummed, smiling though Percy couldn't see it.
“I don't, but I had a special reason today.” He said. “I didn't want you to be sad all alone.”
“You kept a shorter practice because of me? You don't get to blame me when you lose.” Oliver chuckled, shaking his head.
“Of course I won't. Because we won't lose.”
Percy giggled quietly, pulling the blanket better over him, and hiding his face more into Oliver's chest. Oliver turned off the bedside lamp, shifting a little. “goodnight.” Percy whispered, feeling Oliver kiss his head.
“Goodnight, sleep well, perce.”