Kitten

2

“Merlin help me”, Oliver was breathing quickly. “I don't think I can do that.”

Percy was sitting next to him on the bench in the Great Hall, pretending to be reading the book next to his plate of scrambled eggs while all he could focus on was Oliver's hot breath. “It'll be okay. You are going to rock that.”

“But what if we won't. McGonagall told me there are going to be scouts and what if that's my only chance to get into a professional Quidditch team.”

“It won't be your only chance. And even if you'd lose that game, it won't matter to them”, Percy said calmly, “as long as you play well.”

“But what if –“

“You know how good of a keeper you are, Oliver, and I know that too. Everyone knows that. Don't you ever doubt that, got me? And now eat or I will shove it down your throat. You'll need that extra energy.”

“You're right, you're right.” Oliver scoffed two slices of toasted bread and half a boiled egg.

“Not too fast. Keep calm, Ollie, you have all the time you need. The match doesn't start until half an hour”, Percy said while watching his best friend. “Ollie, stop that, right now! You're going to be sick!”

“Nope, I need that energy.”

Percy sighed. That stubborn idiot. “I've got something for you, in case you'll need extra energy.”

“Give it to me”, Oliver said in between two bites, while chewing loudly.

“No, not until five minutes before the match. Let's say it's a fun little thing the muggles invented and it's amazing.”

“Oh Merlin, oh Merlin, oh Merlin”, Oliver repeated over and over again and it drove Percy nearly crazy.

They stood in front of the Gryffindor's changing room and before Oliver could enter the room, Percy hold him back.

“Dude, you're a mess. If you go in like that, you'll just make everyone nervous. You're the captain, you need to calm them down.”

Oliver swung one leg back and forth. “I'm very calm.”

Percy chuckled. “Ollie, you're everything but that.”

“Since when are you calling me Ollie?”, he asked.

“It just seemed suitable”, Percy answered and shrugged. “But that's not the point, okay? Here, have these.” He pulled a little box out of his pocket and handed it to Oliver.

“What are they? That's not some kind of doping, right? Percy! I could be disqualified for that!”

“Calm down, man. It's dextrose, basically pure sugar that gives you energy for about twenty minutes. Don't take too much of it though, I don't really know what happens then and it could be dangerous.” That was a straight-up lie. Percy knew exactly it wasn't dangerous at all to take to much dextrose but he knew his best friend who certainly would take too much and than be even more nervous than before. “I can say for sure one or two won't harm you at all. I'd suggest two before the game.”

“Are you sure they're not harmful.”

“Yes. I'm sure they aren't. Unless you take all of them. If that's the case I'm not too sure anymore.”

“Okay.” Oliver inhaled deeply. “I'm ready to go.”

“Yes, you are. And I'm ready to get my seat.” And out of an impulse, Percy hugged Oliver tight. They never hugged. Maybe before going home or when seeing each other again after a long summer but never like that.

Oliver followed Percy with his eyes while the red-haired boy walked out onto the stands.