FIC: There's a guiding light (HP, Percy/Oliver, PG)
I've finally gotten the next installment of this series in good shape, so sharing it here!
Another one shot for my Perciver series is up for rarepair_shorts. And there's going to be a cute surprise that follows up with this!
Title: There's a guiding light
Author: sugareey
Pairing: Percy/Oliver
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2,500
Summary: When Percy struggles to conjure a Patronus, Oliver helps out by giving him a motivating push.
Also can be read on AO3.
Percy knew the spell wasn’t going to work as soon as he cast it.
It hadn’t worked any other time, even though he was certain he was casting it correctly. But magic was finicky, and some spells took more rigor and finesse than others. Or, maybe he was being too hard on himself.
The Patronus Charm was classified as highly advanced magic, after all. It was only part of their Charms curriculum to help students better understand its magical theory. Flitwick didn’t expect anyone to conjure full corporeal Patronuses, considering most adults couldn’t do that.
Percy thought he would try anyway, and right now, he was failing miserably.
The wispy cloud emerging from the tip of his wand dimmed before vanishing all together. With a frustrated sigh, he set his wand down and slumped back onto his bed.
Everything he had practised for the last hour felt like such a waste. No matter how many times he tried, the result was always the same. Since he couldn’t move past this incorporeal phase, he wondered if he should keep trying or give up.
Percy grabbed a pillow and hugged it against his chest. He knew he should be proud he could produce anything at all. Most of his classmates haven't even gotten to that point yet.
But being who he was put overwhelming pressure to do better, and be better. His professors spoke highly of him, and his parents expected him to do great things once he was out of school. His classmates called him a “stuffy, brainy know-it-all,” and even the twins teased him for being “Perfect Prefect Percy.”
What people failed to realise was Percy was far from perfect.
He wasn’t like Bill, who could store knowledge like an encyclopaedia. He didn’t know exciting and interesting facts like Charlie. And he definitely wasn’t like any of his younger siblings, who all somehow passed their classes despite getting pulled into constant mischief and mayhem.
Percy also didn’t possess Penny’s cleverness to grasp practical spellwork, or Oliver’s brilliance to cast charms with swiftness and dexterity (the very same reserved for flying).
If he wanted to maintain good marks and achieve his goals, he had to try twice as hard and take twice as long as everyone else to prove his worthiness.
There was a reason why he avoided seeking assistance. Not because he didn’t want advice or appreciate constructive criticism. Percy didn’t want extra expectations to fulfill, or for people to judge him more than they already did.
Asking for help required him to open up. It meant examining his past, like his complicated childhood and mediocre life experiences, to find a decent memory to pull from. He had no desire to revisit bleak moments that reminded him of how often he had been ignored or ridiculed.
For being himself. For being different.
Percy let that last thought sink in. Was that why he was struggling? That explained a lot.
Patronuses weren’t like any other spells. Technique and execution were important, but he should have known the right memory needed to be paired with the right feelings for the spell to work.
Oh, that was going to be a problem. All theories to the side, if Percy didn’t have a good memory to use, there was no way he could produce a Patronus.
Before he could contemplate his worries further, the door burst wide open with a bang.
Percy jerked upright in a panic and threw his pillow aside. If he was going to be interrupted, the least he could do was pretend he was studying instead of sulking like a first year. He snatched a textbook from his bedside table, flipping it open as he hastily positioned himself cross-legged on the bed.
On cue, Oliver breezed into the room, still dressed in practice robes while shouldering his broom and athletic bag. Unfortunately, the twins also trailed in, tracking mud on the floor.
Of course they all had come from Quidditch practice. How could have Percy forgotten?
He looked down at his watch. No wonder why it was so dark outside when he glanced out of the window, and why he had now company.
“We’ll knock Warrington out with our bats if that teaches him not to be a prick,” Fred ranted, clearly in the middle of a tirade.
“You two will not steep that low,” Oliver warned, frowning at Fred. He dumped his bag onto the floor and placed his Comet on his bed. “He may be a cheat, but you and George aren’t.”
“Oliver! He knocked Katie and Alicia off of their brooms last week! That’s bollocks if we let that slide.”
“Doesn’t mean we should play dirty too. Cheating won’t fly with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. We can’t afford to lose rapport with Diggory, Davies and their players.”
“Slytherin’s only going to play nastier when we face them again, “ George chimed in. “They’ll do anything to slaughter us on the pitch.”
Oliver ran a hand over his tired face. He straightened up and rolled his shoulders back, ready to give them his usual Captain’s speech.
Except he never did.
In that moment, Oliver peered across the room, and suddenly, Percy felt his nerves stand on end. His heart speed up as that familiar gaze swept over his desk and his bed before settling right on him.
When their eyes met, Percy knew he was in trouble.
If there was one person who was well-acquainted with his habits, it was Oliver. And Oliver knew Percy never did his schoolwork on his bed unless something was wrong.
The unsettling silence made Fred and George perk up, especially when they caught Oliver staring at Percy. The mischievous smirks they exchanged with each other did nothing to ease the situation.
Percy tried to steady his trembling hands, gripping his book tighter as he braced himself for the worst.
“Didn’t think you were a slacker, dear brother,” Fred remarked.
George snickered with amusement. “What would our faculty and fellow students say? Beds are for sleeping! Well, they could be for napping, or shagging-”
“Oi, lads! Mind if I have a word with Perce?” Oliver intervened abruptly. “In private.”
Fred huffed. “What about the plays against Slytherin?”
“Let’s talk more after dinner,” Oliver replied, waving him off. “Round up the girls and Harry while you’re at it. We’ll make it a team meeting in the common room.”
“But it’s a Saturday night!” George protested.
“I’ll throw in an extra practice next week if you fancy it. A full three hours with laps and drills.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
“Fine. We get it, Wood,” Fred grumbled with annoyance. “Have it your way.”
“We’ll leave you both to it,” George agreed, rolling his eyes. He tugged the sleeve of Fred’s jumper. “C’mon, Freddie. Let’s go find Lee.”
Once the twins shut the door behind them, Percy let out a huge sigh of relief.
The last thing he wanted to discuss with them was a “change” in his studying routine or what was bothering him. But he would have to give an explanation to Oliver. When he heard a click, he knew that time had come.
He looked up to find Oliver pocketing his wand after casting a locking charm at the door. Oliver shifted from one foot to the other, and then his gaze snapped back to Percy, this time shy and uncertain. That was perturbing, because Oliver was neither of those. Yet, he still didn’t say a word.
Percy cleared his throat as the tips of his ears burned. “You didn’t have to turn them away,” he said, breaking the awkward silence.
Oliver snorted. “Don’t tell me you wanted their company. I know how you are whenever they’re around.”
“They’re still my brothers.”
“Sorry we barged in. I should have realised you were in the middle of a spellwork session and knocked first.”
Percy shot Oliver an odd look. “That’s ridiculous. This is your room too.”
“Still,” Oliver insisted, a note of regret in his voice. “You always give me space and privacy when I need it, so-”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Are you sure?”
It was tempting to change the subject. It would be easy for Percy to pretend everything was fine, like he usually did.
But looking at his friend’s earnest face, he didn’t have the heart to do that. Not when Oliver made every effort to be open and candid with him, sharing secrets he never divulged to anyone else. Lying would be an insult to their friendship.
When Percy didn’t answer, Oliver crossed the room and sat next to him on the bed. He glimpsed at the open book resting on Percy’s lap.
“Theory will only get you so far.”
“It was worth seeing if I missed anything.”
“I know you’re too stubborn to ask for help, but maybe-”
“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t conjure a Patronus,” Percy interrupted curtly, snapping the book shut. A pang of guilt shot through him when he saw hurt flicker across Oliver’s face. “Not everyone is that gifted,” he amended.
Oliver’s expression softened. He placed a gentle hand on Percy’s knee and squeezed. “It takes time and patience, mate.”
“Oliver, I’ve tried everything I can think of!”
“You’re thinking too much.”
Percy opened his mouth to protest, but Oliver shook his head and pushed on.
“That’s what I kept doing at first. Overthinking. We’re always told to focus on a single happy memory, but that’s easier said than done.”
“So, it’s not that simple?”
“Nae. It’s a gamble to devote all your energy on one memory, hoping it works.”
Oliver had a valid point. Memories changed overtime. So did the meanings attached to each one.
“What’s your approach?” Percy inquired, turning the book absently in his hands. “The standard procedure doesn’t seem reliable. Unless my magic is broken, or-”
“It’s not,” Oliver cut in. He carefully extracted the book from Percy, setting it aside. Then, he moved to slide an arm around Percy’s shoulder. “Your magic is pure dead brilliant. Perce, look at me.”
And Percy did, gazing into soft eyes that regarded him with affection, making him feel seen. Like he mattered. He hummed as his body relaxed against Oliver. Oliver smiled, holding him closer.
“For what it’s worth, you don’t have to use true memories. Ideas or hopes work too. You just need to acknowledge what keeps you grounded. What makes you feel complete.”
“That’s it?”
“Then it’s about pushing everything into the spell. That’s what works for me.”
“So, conjuring a Patronus starts with mindfulness. Being present.”
“Exactly. You seem sceptical.”
“It’s not that I doubt your technique…”
“Right. Let’s try something.”
Oliver slowly pulled away, rising to his feet. He beckoned for Percy to do the same before reaching out. Percy hesitated but ended up slipping slender hands into rough ones anyway.
“Find your sense of purpose,” Oliver advised once he hauled Percy up. He let their hands drop and drew his wand out from his trackies. “Then, cast like you mean it. Like this.”
Percy watched as Oliver raised his wand, circling it with perfect precision.
“Expecto Patronum!”
A beautiful energetic husky transpired in the air, bounding across the room. It jumped and spun around before trotting towards them. Brushing against Oliver’s legs, the dog curiously made its way to Percy. It sniffed his hand before licking him, which turned out to be an interesting sensation.
“Can’t say it’ll be this simple when facing a Dementor or Lethifold.”
“You’re already an expert though,” Percy stated, lips quirking up as the husky nuzzled his fingers before taking off.
“Only because I know what to focus on now,” Oliver admitted, an unexpected flush colouring his cheeks. “Your turn.”
“Ollie, I don’t think-”
“Please, Perce? For me?”
Percy’s resolve crumbled when he found Oliver’s hopeful eyes trained on him again. Damn it. How was he supposed to resist that?
He sighed with resignation as he reached for his wand.
“Relax, and let everything go,” he heard Oliver reassure him.
Nodding, Percy held out his wand and steeled himself once more. Exhaling deeply, his eyes fluttered shut.
The usual memories rushed back, where Percy was reading animated picture books with Uncle Fabian and Uncle Gideon, helping Mum make biscuits in the kitchen, receiving his prefect badge in the post, meeting Hermes at Eeylops’ for the first time, spending free periods with Penny near the Black Lake, and hearing his declaration as Head Boy from McGonagall.
He furrowed his brows together. No, if he wanted this to work, he needed to concentrate and pull harder.
Releasing those memories, new visions surfaced in his mind.
Now, he saw late evenings on the Astronomy tower under a star-filled sky, hushed debates over Quidditch plays in the library, and unexpected yet amusing snowball fights. Then, there were the times when tender fingers ran through his hair to massaged his scalp, or when a soft lilt whispered reassurances in his ear until he fell asleep.
His focus eventually shifted to the glowing husky he adored. Percy thought about callused hands, bright eyes, a charming smile, and the sound of a warm, hearty laugh.
In his heart and soul, he knew these things made him feel whole.
Safe. Fulfilled.
He just never had a chance to explore these feelings…until now. Feelings he couldn’t quite classify yet.
When Percy opened his eyes, he felt lighter than he had in months. Not wanting to lose momentum, he gripped his wand and waved it in a circular motion.
“Expecto Patronum!” Percy called out with conviction, channelling his emotions into the spell.
To his surprise, a hot energy travelled down his arm all the way to his hand. Mystical wisps burst out of his wand, this time growing bigger and more radiant than ever like a shield of light.
Then, they morphed into something silver and luminous.
A translucent creature resembling a bird took shape, flapping its smooth wings. The bird soared high into the air, drifting towards the window before proudly circling around the room. When it swooped down and came closer, Percy noticed smaller details, like its long legs, straight beak and distinct fan-shaped tail.
It was only when the bird hovered in front of him that he realised it was a crow.
“Merlin, that’s bonnie…”
Percy couldn’t agree more. This was his crow, and what a sight it was to see it fly onto Oliver’s shoulder. Something warm stirred in his chest as the bird sidled closer, allowing Oliver to caress its beak before taking flight.
A misty blur soon pounced after it.
“Are they…?”
“Playing, I reckon…”
Indeed, the husky was now chasing after the crow, as if they had done this before. Percy chanced a side-glance at Oliver, who appeared just stunned as he felt.
He had no idea what this meant. But when he saw Oliver’s face light up brighter than a thousand suns, he felt a faint smile tug at his lips.
Maybe Percy didn’t need to know. At least, not right this second.
Another one shot for my Perciver series is up for rarepair_shorts. And there's going to be a cute surprise that follows up with this!
Title: There's a guiding light
Author: sugareey
Pairing: Percy/Oliver
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2,500
Summary: When Percy struggles to conjure a Patronus, Oliver helps out by giving him a motivating push.
Also can be read on AO3.
Percy knew the spell wasn’t going to work as soon as he cast it.
It hadn’t worked any other time, even though he was certain he was casting it correctly. But magic was finicky, and some spells took more rigor and finesse than others. Or, maybe he was being too hard on himself.
The Patronus Charm was classified as highly advanced magic, after all. It was only part of their Charms curriculum to help students better understand its magical theory. Flitwick didn’t expect anyone to conjure full corporeal Patronuses, considering most adults couldn’t do that.
Percy thought he would try anyway, and right now, he was failing miserably.
The wispy cloud emerging from the tip of his wand dimmed before vanishing all together. With a frustrated sigh, he set his wand down and slumped back onto his bed.
Everything he had practised for the last hour felt like such a waste. No matter how many times he tried, the result was always the same. Since he couldn’t move past this incorporeal phase, he wondered if he should keep trying or give up.
Percy grabbed a pillow and hugged it against his chest. He knew he should be proud he could produce anything at all. Most of his classmates haven't even gotten to that point yet.
But being who he was put overwhelming pressure to do better, and be better. His professors spoke highly of him, and his parents expected him to do great things once he was out of school. His classmates called him a “stuffy, brainy know-it-all,” and even the twins teased him for being “Perfect Prefect Percy.”
What people failed to realise was Percy was far from perfect.
He wasn’t like Bill, who could store knowledge like an encyclopaedia. He didn’t know exciting and interesting facts like Charlie. And he definitely wasn’t like any of his younger siblings, who all somehow passed their classes despite getting pulled into constant mischief and mayhem.
Percy also didn’t possess Penny’s cleverness to grasp practical spellwork, or Oliver’s brilliance to cast charms with swiftness and dexterity (the very same reserved for flying).
If he wanted to maintain good marks and achieve his goals, he had to try twice as hard and take twice as long as everyone else to prove his worthiness.
There was a reason why he avoided seeking assistance. Not because he didn’t want advice or appreciate constructive criticism. Percy didn’t want extra expectations to fulfill, or for people to judge him more than they already did.
Asking for help required him to open up. It meant examining his past, like his complicated childhood and mediocre life experiences, to find a decent memory to pull from. He had no desire to revisit bleak moments that reminded him of how often he had been ignored or ridiculed.
For being himself. For being different.
Percy let that last thought sink in. Was that why he was struggling? That explained a lot.
Patronuses weren’t like any other spells. Technique and execution were important, but he should have known the right memory needed to be paired with the right feelings for the spell to work.
Oh, that was going to be a problem. All theories to the side, if Percy didn’t have a good memory to use, there was no way he could produce a Patronus.
Before he could contemplate his worries further, the door burst wide open with a bang.
Percy jerked upright in a panic and threw his pillow aside. If he was going to be interrupted, the least he could do was pretend he was studying instead of sulking like a first year. He snatched a textbook from his bedside table, flipping it open as he hastily positioned himself cross-legged on the bed.
On cue, Oliver breezed into the room, still dressed in practice robes while shouldering his broom and athletic bag. Unfortunately, the twins also trailed in, tracking mud on the floor.
Of course they all had come from Quidditch practice. How could have Percy forgotten?
He looked down at his watch. No wonder why it was so dark outside when he glanced out of the window, and why he had now company.
“We’ll knock Warrington out with our bats if that teaches him not to be a prick,” Fred ranted, clearly in the middle of a tirade.
“You two will not steep that low,” Oliver warned, frowning at Fred. He dumped his bag onto the floor and placed his Comet on his bed. “He may be a cheat, but you and George aren’t.”
“Oliver! He knocked Katie and Alicia off of their brooms last week! That’s bollocks if we let that slide.”
“Doesn’t mean we should play dirty too. Cheating won’t fly with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. We can’t afford to lose rapport with Diggory, Davies and their players.”
“Slytherin’s only going to play nastier when we face them again, “ George chimed in. “They’ll do anything to slaughter us on the pitch.”
Oliver ran a hand over his tired face. He straightened up and rolled his shoulders back, ready to give them his usual Captain’s speech.
Except he never did.
In that moment, Oliver peered across the room, and suddenly, Percy felt his nerves stand on end. His heart speed up as that familiar gaze swept over his desk and his bed before settling right on him.
When their eyes met, Percy knew he was in trouble.
If there was one person who was well-acquainted with his habits, it was Oliver. And Oliver knew Percy never did his schoolwork on his bed unless something was wrong.
The unsettling silence made Fred and George perk up, especially when they caught Oliver staring at Percy. The mischievous smirks they exchanged with each other did nothing to ease the situation.
Percy tried to steady his trembling hands, gripping his book tighter as he braced himself for the worst.
“Didn’t think you were a slacker, dear brother,” Fred remarked.
George snickered with amusement. “What would our faculty and fellow students say? Beds are for sleeping! Well, they could be for napping, or shagging-”
“Oi, lads! Mind if I have a word with Perce?” Oliver intervened abruptly. “In private.”
Fred huffed. “What about the plays against Slytherin?”
“Let’s talk more after dinner,” Oliver replied, waving him off. “Round up the girls and Harry while you’re at it. We’ll make it a team meeting in the common room.”
“But it’s a Saturday night!” George protested.
“I’ll throw in an extra practice next week if you fancy it. A full three hours with laps and drills.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
“Fine. We get it, Wood,” Fred grumbled with annoyance. “Have it your way.”
“We’ll leave you both to it,” George agreed, rolling his eyes. He tugged the sleeve of Fred’s jumper. “C’mon, Freddie. Let’s go find Lee.”
Once the twins shut the door behind them, Percy let out a huge sigh of relief.
The last thing he wanted to discuss with them was a “change” in his studying routine or what was bothering him. But he would have to give an explanation to Oliver. When he heard a click, he knew that time had come.
He looked up to find Oliver pocketing his wand after casting a locking charm at the door. Oliver shifted from one foot to the other, and then his gaze snapped back to Percy, this time shy and uncertain. That was perturbing, because Oliver was neither of those. Yet, he still didn’t say a word.
Percy cleared his throat as the tips of his ears burned. “You didn’t have to turn them away,” he said, breaking the awkward silence.
Oliver snorted. “Don’t tell me you wanted their company. I know how you are whenever they’re around.”
“They’re still my brothers.”
“Sorry we barged in. I should have realised you were in the middle of a spellwork session and knocked first.”
Percy shot Oliver an odd look. “That’s ridiculous. This is your room too.”
“Still,” Oliver insisted, a note of regret in his voice. “You always give me space and privacy when I need it, so-”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Are you sure?”
It was tempting to change the subject. It would be easy for Percy to pretend everything was fine, like he usually did.
But looking at his friend’s earnest face, he didn’t have the heart to do that. Not when Oliver made every effort to be open and candid with him, sharing secrets he never divulged to anyone else. Lying would be an insult to their friendship.
When Percy didn’t answer, Oliver crossed the room and sat next to him on the bed. He glimpsed at the open book resting on Percy’s lap.
“Theory will only get you so far.”
“It was worth seeing if I missed anything.”
“I know you’re too stubborn to ask for help, but maybe-”
“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t conjure a Patronus,” Percy interrupted curtly, snapping the book shut. A pang of guilt shot through him when he saw hurt flicker across Oliver’s face. “Not everyone is that gifted,” he amended.
Oliver’s expression softened. He placed a gentle hand on Percy’s knee and squeezed. “It takes time and patience, mate.”
“Oliver, I’ve tried everything I can think of!”
“You’re thinking too much.”
Percy opened his mouth to protest, but Oliver shook his head and pushed on.
“That’s what I kept doing at first. Overthinking. We’re always told to focus on a single happy memory, but that’s easier said than done.”
“So, it’s not that simple?”
“Nae. It’s a gamble to devote all your energy on one memory, hoping it works.”
Oliver had a valid point. Memories changed overtime. So did the meanings attached to each one.
“What’s your approach?” Percy inquired, turning the book absently in his hands. “The standard procedure doesn’t seem reliable. Unless my magic is broken, or-”
“It’s not,” Oliver cut in. He carefully extracted the book from Percy, setting it aside. Then, he moved to slide an arm around Percy’s shoulder. “Your magic is pure dead brilliant. Perce, look at me.”
And Percy did, gazing into soft eyes that regarded him with affection, making him feel seen. Like he mattered. He hummed as his body relaxed against Oliver. Oliver smiled, holding him closer.
“For what it’s worth, you don’t have to use true memories. Ideas or hopes work too. You just need to acknowledge what keeps you grounded. What makes you feel complete.”
“That’s it?”
“Then it’s about pushing everything into the spell. That’s what works for me.”
“So, conjuring a Patronus starts with mindfulness. Being present.”
“Exactly. You seem sceptical.”
“It’s not that I doubt your technique…”
“Right. Let’s try something.”
Oliver slowly pulled away, rising to his feet. He beckoned for Percy to do the same before reaching out. Percy hesitated but ended up slipping slender hands into rough ones anyway.
“Find your sense of purpose,” Oliver advised once he hauled Percy up. He let their hands drop and drew his wand out from his trackies. “Then, cast like you mean it. Like this.”
Percy watched as Oliver raised his wand, circling it with perfect precision.
“Expecto Patronum!”
A beautiful energetic husky transpired in the air, bounding across the room. It jumped and spun around before trotting towards them. Brushing against Oliver’s legs, the dog curiously made its way to Percy. It sniffed his hand before licking him, which turned out to be an interesting sensation.
“Can’t say it’ll be this simple when facing a Dementor or Lethifold.”
“You’re already an expert though,” Percy stated, lips quirking up as the husky nuzzled his fingers before taking off.
“Only because I know what to focus on now,” Oliver admitted, an unexpected flush colouring his cheeks. “Your turn.”
“Ollie, I don’t think-”
“Please, Perce? For me?”
Percy’s resolve crumbled when he found Oliver’s hopeful eyes trained on him again. Damn it. How was he supposed to resist that?
He sighed with resignation as he reached for his wand.
“Relax, and let everything go,” he heard Oliver reassure him.
Nodding, Percy held out his wand and steeled himself once more. Exhaling deeply, his eyes fluttered shut.
The usual memories rushed back, where Percy was reading animated picture books with Uncle Fabian and Uncle Gideon, helping Mum make biscuits in the kitchen, receiving his prefect badge in the post, meeting Hermes at Eeylops’ for the first time, spending free periods with Penny near the Black Lake, and hearing his declaration as Head Boy from McGonagall.
He furrowed his brows together. No, if he wanted this to work, he needed to concentrate and pull harder.
Releasing those memories, new visions surfaced in his mind.
Now, he saw late evenings on the Astronomy tower under a star-filled sky, hushed debates over Quidditch plays in the library, and unexpected yet amusing snowball fights. Then, there were the times when tender fingers ran through his hair to massaged his scalp, or when a soft lilt whispered reassurances in his ear until he fell asleep.
His focus eventually shifted to the glowing husky he adored. Percy thought about callused hands, bright eyes, a charming smile, and the sound of a warm, hearty laugh.
In his heart and soul, he knew these things made him feel whole.
Safe. Fulfilled.
He just never had a chance to explore these feelings…until now. Feelings he couldn’t quite classify yet.
When Percy opened his eyes, he felt lighter than he had in months. Not wanting to lose momentum, he gripped his wand and waved it in a circular motion.
“Expecto Patronum!” Percy called out with conviction, channelling his emotions into the spell.
To his surprise, a hot energy travelled down his arm all the way to his hand. Mystical wisps burst out of his wand, this time growing bigger and more radiant than ever like a shield of light.
Then, they morphed into something silver and luminous.
A translucent creature resembling a bird took shape, flapping its smooth wings. The bird soared high into the air, drifting towards the window before proudly circling around the room. When it swooped down and came closer, Percy noticed smaller details, like its long legs, straight beak and distinct fan-shaped tail.
It was only when the bird hovered in front of him that he realised it was a crow.
“Merlin, that’s bonnie…”
Percy couldn’t agree more. This was his crow, and what a sight it was to see it fly onto Oliver’s shoulder. Something warm stirred in his chest as the bird sidled closer, allowing Oliver to caress its beak before taking flight.
A misty blur soon pounced after it.
“Are they…?”
“Playing, I reckon…”
Indeed, the husky was now chasing after the crow, as if they had done this before. Percy chanced a side-glance at Oliver, who appeared just stunned as he felt.
He had no idea what this meant. But when he saw Oliver’s face light up brighter than a thousand suns, he felt a faint smile tug at his lips.
Maybe Percy didn’t need to know. At least, not right this second.