Kitten

3

“He got it! Harry Potter caught the golden snitch! The game is over, Gryffindor wins with 350 to 170 points against Ravenclaw!”, Lee Jordan basically shouted into the megaphone.

Percy saw to Oliver who threw his arms into the air and cheered. He sat very close to the Gryffindor goal and watched every single move of Oliver during the time the game lasted.

Harry landed on the ground and jumped of his broom, between his fingers a small golden ball.

It's been a good season for the Gryffindors. They've only lost one match against Slytherin (“It was very close”, Oliver says on many occasions, “very, very close”, even though Percy didn't see what was “so very close” about the fact that the match ended 410 to 240 for Slytherin) and now the cup was for sure their's.

Oliver left his rings and flew into the middle of the pitch. But instead of landing next to his teammates, he stopped in front of Percy. “We won! Perce, we won!”, he shouted, grinning from one ear to the other.

“I know”, Percy said less enthusiastic but still happy and very proud. “You did it.”

“Yes, I did it!” Oliver grabbed Percy's hand and tried to pull him on his broom but Percy resisted.

“I hate broomsticks.”

“Come one, Perce! Just the one time, I promise.”

Percy rolled his eyes and carefully climbed over the border. “If I fall off that thing, I promise I'll kill you.”

“You won't fall”, Oliver laughed. “Hold on tight, my little friend.”

“I hate you”, Percy muttered and wrapped his hands around Oliver. Underneath his fingers he could feel Oliver's muscly belly and he was glad Oliver couldn't see his face, because he surely was as red as a tomato.

Percy could physically feel the eyes of the other's following them and he could already imagine them talking about it. It was quite unusual to pick up the best friends from their seats and fly them to the cheering team. Mostly it was boyfriends or girlfriends. Percy really didn't want to overthink the situation but on the other side he just wasn't able not to.

Oliver landed softly on the ground and both boys jumped of the broom. “Perce, what are you doing here?”, Fred asked. Apparently he didn't see the whole “picking up with the broom” situation and Percy was really grateful for that. The twins would've found a way of mocking him with that for all eternity.

“Potter! I didn't think you would catch the thing!”, Oliver shouted and gave the third year a high five.

Suddenly, Percy realized another thing why it was weird for Oliver to pick him up. He cared so much about Quidditch and the celebration with the team and eventually the whole house (and in some case even half of the school) until late night were so important for him, he wouldn't miss a single second about it. Especially not at his last match in Hogwarts ever.

“What are you thinking about?”, Alicia Spinnet's head appeared next to him.

“I – I'm just a bit sad, you know”, he stuttered.

“Sad? Why? We won!” Alicia's eyes were bright and full of happiness.

“Yes, and I'm happy about that, but this is my last match at Hogwarts and I'll kinda miss it, you know?”

“Who knew Percy Weasley was that big of a Quidditch fan”, Alicia grinned and put one hand on his back. “But I totally get that and I'm glad I still have two years left. Quidditch matches are one of the happiest memories and if I'd have to cast a Patronus spell right now, I'm sure it would be corporeal. On the other hand, Hogwarts is filled with happy memories and everyone here is living their best lives. And I love it. Merlin, I love Hogwarts so much, I would never want to leave. But on the other hand it's time for the real life, with all the scary things like searching for an apartment, applying to jobs or paying taxes. But I'm confident that by the end of my seventh year I will be ready for it. And you already are, Percy, and it's time for you to leave the safe space at Hogwarts to explore the real world outside of it.”

Percy smiled at her, inspired by her confidence and intelligence and her wisdom, even though she was two years younger than him and just preparing for O.W.L.s.