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The Weight of Living	By : percyplusoliver Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Percy/Oliver Views: 4738 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: This can also be found at AO3. I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters. I am not making any money from this story. I just do this for kicks :) Note: This begins around HBP-era

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Everything was perfect for a long time. Until one day when it suddenly wasn’t.
Stress at the Ministry had been increasing steadily; the Ministry had acknowledged that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had returned, after keeping their heads in the sand for so long, which had created embarrassing situations for the Minister as well as rifts between departments. His workload had increased exponentially, and continued to do so almost daily, so much so that he hardly had time to see Oliver, which had been putting immense strain on their relationship. He had been promoted to the Minister for Magic’s office, which had also increased his stress (and prestige, Percy thought proudly) but decreased the amount of time he had for Oliver.
But his job was so important. He was doing work that directly affected the entire wizarding world. And that had to count for something – Oliver just couldn’t see it yet.
One Tuesday morning, Percy left Oliver’s flat before the sun rose. Oliver was snoring when Percy walked out the front door at 5am. It must be nice to start the day at noon, Percy thought bitterly. Go to practise for six hours, come home, wait for me to make dinner, and then go to bed. It must be nice. He was shocked at how hateful his thoughts sounded. He didn’t really feel that way; it was just stress. He was under so much pressure from the Minister to get everything done, and to get it done perfectly in a short amount of time, that he would give his left arm to have an easier schedule.
He arrived in his office at 5:15, hours before anyone else, as usual. He still had stacks of papers on his desk, organised in order of importance: should have done yesterday, must do today, should do today, and can wait until tomorrow. The “should have done yesterday” stack was slowly shrinking, while the other stacks were growing by the hour. It was Percy’s goal to eliminate the “should have done yesterday” stack by mid-morning and at least make a dent in the “must do today” stack. He settled in his chair and began working.
Before he knew it, it was 11:30. He had reached the bottom of the “should have done yesterday” pile and was starving. Time for a sandwich from the canteen. Percy took the elevator to the canteen on the ground floor and stood in a rapidly-growing queue of impatient Ministry workers. He didn’t really have time to stand and wait, so he used his seniority to jump the queue and order his lunch. He was the recipient of many nasty glares, but Percy didn’t care – he had important things to do in his Very Important Job. He paid for his sandwich and took it back to his office, where he started on his “must do today” stack.
Percy worked uninterrupted until 6pm, when an owl dropped an envelope on his desk. This was unusual. It wasn’t a typical inter-office memo, and he wasn’t expecting anything. He set his quill down and examined the envelope. It was written in a familiar hand – Oliver’s. Uh oh, Percy thought guiltily. Had he promised to do something and forgot? He almost didn’t want to open it; it made him nervous. But it could be good, he thought. It might be a surprise.
With that in mind, Percy carefully opened the envelope. A small piece of paper flew out. It read:
Perce,
It’s late. I know you’ve been gone since 5. I haven’t seen you properly for weeks. Come to mine – I miss you.
Love,
Ollie
The guilt returned in full force. Oliver was right; they hadn’t spent time together in weeks. Percy missed Oliver too, but his work was so important. Oliver just didn’t – couldn’t – understand. How could a Quidditch player understand how important Ministry work was? Percy decided he would finish the report he was currently working on and then go to Oliver’s.
***
Oliver had picked up takeaway on his way home from practise – chicken tikka, Percy’s favourite (but not too spicy; otherwise his eyes would water, his nose would run, and his cheeks would turn that ever-so-attractive shade of red that Oliver found so alluring, and Percy would complain that he couldn’t taste the chicken, only the spice) – and hoped that Percy would be waiting for him, though not expecting it. He hadn’t seen Percy – not really – in weeks. Percy had been much too busy at the Ministry. Oliver could almost understand, since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had returned, but wasn’t he more important than Percy’s job? I should be, at least, Oliver thought, annoyed that Percy wasn’t at his front door when he arrived. I suppose I’ll just send him an owl at work, then. Maybe he’ll actually get here before 10pm tonight.
Oliver dashed off a quick note and headed to the bathroom to shower. He didn’t expect Percy to arrive right away, so he took a leisurely, relaxing shower. He wished Percy were here with him; they hadn’t been intimate in what felt like forever. Percy even went into the Ministry on weekends now, however hard Oliver tried to dissuade him. Closing his eyes, Oliver remembered the first time Percy had been here with him. He had been so nervous, and Oliver had thought it was enchanting. That, along with the absolutely amazing sex, had been one of the things that had attracted Oliver to him. His nerves, and how much he blushed, turned Oliver on more than he cared to admit. He wanted to protect Percy from anything that could hurt or upset him, and playing the role of protector aroused him.
When he finished with his shower, Percy still hadn’t arrived. Now it was 7pm, and Oliver was getting frustrated. Percy had been at work for 14 hours. Was he or Percy’s job more important?
***
Putting the finishing touches on his report, Percy sent it to his boss’s office, rearranged his piles (the “should have done yesterday” pile had been completely eliminated, and he was quite pleased with himself), and Apparated to Oliver’s flat, where he knocked sharply on the front door. It was 8:15. Earlier than usual, he thought. Not bad for a Tuesday.
When Oliver opened the door, Percy saw that he was annoyed. This was not the best way to start what Percy thought was an early evening.
“Thanks for gracing me with your presence,” Oliver said sarcastically as he opened the door. “The great Percy Weasley, Assistant to the Minister, never too busy to see his boyfriend.”
Percy felt stung. He had left work early to be able to see Oliver and spend time with him tonight; if this was how he was going to behave, he might as well just go home. He frowned. “I came as soon as I could,” he said. “It’s been busy. I have a lot to do. But if you’re going to act like this, I’ll just go home.” He didn’t want to, but maybe his threat would make Oliver see reason.
“I can’t have a relationship with someone I never see,” Oliver said. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them. He knew Percy would read too much into what he said; he always did. Percy would overanalyse his sentence, take it too personally, and overreact.
Percy’s eyes widened. Was Oliver splitting up with him? Had he understood that correctly? “Are you...are you...” Percy sputtered, unable to get the words out.
“Serious?” Oliver asked. “I am serious – I want to see you more. Percy, I love you. I miss you. I can’t go this long without properly seeing you.” He gestured to the living room. “Sit down. I got takeaway.” Without another word, Oliver walked into the kitchen and pulled the food out of the fridge. He waved his wand and reheated it – by now it was stone cold, since he had waited nearly 2.5 hours for Percy to arrive. Gathering cutlery, he rejoined Percy, who was sitting rigidly on the couch.
Percy took his plate wordlessly. He didn’t eat. Instead, he mulled over what Oliver had said. He can’t be in a relationship with someone he never sees, Percy repeated in his mind. He just doesn’t understand how important my work is! Of course he wouldn’t; how could he? Even though Percy had tried to impress upon Oliver just how essential Percy was to the Ministry, it hadn’t seemed to get through to Oliver. How could he make his boyfriend – the man he loved, who presumably loved him as well – see that while he was important to him, his work was also important and it affected the entire wizarding world?
“Listen, Percy,” Oliver started, unsure how he would continue his sentence. Please work normal hours? How important can your job be, when you work more hours than the fucking Minister and get paid loads less? Aren’t I more important to you than your stupid fucking job? He turned to face Percy and set his plate on the coffee table in front of him. “You are so important to me. You might not believe me, but you’re - “ he paused “ - more important than Quidditch. You’re the most important thing in my life. I just don’t get that same feeling from you.” He searched Percy’s face for a reaction, an answer, anything, and didn’t see one.
“While I appreciate the sentiment,” Percy began. Uh oh, here it comes, thought Oliver. “I’ve tried to impress upon you the importance of my work and it seems to have failed. My job directly affects all of us, especially now that You-Know-Who has returned and is gaining power. I’m working so hard and so much to protect you.” He looked pained. “Of course a Quidditch player wouldn’t understand – your job is only to entertain.” Percy saw the crestfallen look on Oliver’s face and wished immediately that he could take his words back.
“If that’s how you feel, then maybe you should leave,” said Oliver quietly.
Percy’s only choice now was to double down on what he had said. “Of course you can’t handle criticism. You don’t have a real job that has real demands. You don’t live in the real world, Oliver. In the real world, we have to deal with the threat of You-Know-Who, not the next match. There are real consequences to mistakes, not just letting in a goal or losing the Snitch. If I make a mistake at work, people will die. If you make a mistake, big. Fucking. Deal,” he snarled. He glared at Oliver, feeling his heart break, but unable to stop himself. “It must be nice to only work six hours a day. It must be really, really nice.”
“Is this how you want to do it, Percy?” Oliver snapped. “I wanted to try and work things out, but if you want to throw our relationship away, that’s fine with me too.” No it’s not, he thought immediately. It’s not fine at all. “Your stupid job is more important to you than me, and that breaks my heart. If you asked me to spend more time with you, I would do it without a second thought. Apparently you’re more important to me than I am to you.” Oliver felt his chest tightening. This was not the way he had imagined the evening would go. He had imagined a relaxing meal, some cuddles on the couch, and then maybe some sex. He hadn’t planned on a blowup argument. “If you aren’t willing to compromise, then maybe we should take a break.”
A break. Percy was surprised – no, horrified. He didn’t want that at all, but he couldn’t take his words back. “Fine,” he shot back. “I didn’t even want to come tonight anyway.” Lie. “I’m better off without you.” Another lie. “I don’t want to see you again.” Lies, lies, lies. Before Oliver could say another word, Percy Disapparated to his flat.
As soon as Percy was gone, Oliver broke down in tears. The one person he had ever loved, really loved, didn’t want to see him again. All because he couldn’t keep his stupid mouth shut.
***
Percy arrived at his flat seconds later, hating himself for what he had said and done. He might have thought those awful things, but he never should have said them. He loved Oliver. His heart was broken. He almost Apparated right back to Oliver’s to apologise for the horrible things he had said, to tell Oliver he loved him and wanted to be with him forever, that he would quit his job if Oliver said the word, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t go back on what he’d just said. He was too proud.
A second later, an owl flew into the window. Percy opened it and let the animal in. It dropped an envelope on the counter and waited. It was from Oliver, Percy knew. He ripped the envelope open and read:
If you don’t come and get your things tonight, I’ll throw them away.
Oliver
Percy had hoped it would be an apology, an attempt to mend fences, but it just made him feel worse. He didn’t want to see Oliver tonight. Not again. He couldn’t deal with seeing Oliver’s hurt face, hearing the disappointment and pain in his voice, knowing he was the cause of it. Percy scribbled a reply:
Throw them away if you must.
Percy
Percy heaved a deep sigh and felt hot tears prick the corners of his eyes. Well, he thought, trying to console himself, at least now I’ll have more time for work.
- 11
- 12
- 13
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The Weight of Living