Beginnings and old books
The first time Percy Weasley laid eyes on Oliver Wood was not at the Hogwarts express, it was not at the sorting ceremony and not even during dinner.
No, the first time Percy saw Oliver was at the dorms.
Because that was the first time he put down his copy of 'Hogwarts: a history of magic' since he had gotten off the train, with a little push from his older brother Bill.
He had obviously stopped reading shortly to be sorted or to say hello to one of the older students, only because it was the polite thing to do, but for the remainder of the night his nose was buried in the tattered old pages. He even managed to eat while reading it but he certainly didn't leave it alone long enough to notice who he was supposedly sharing a dorm with the upcoming seven years.
When he did notice Oliver Wood he noticed some small details about the boy. Like his abnormal obsession over Quidditch. Sure, Percy liked Quidditch. On a normal level, like a normal witch or wizard would, but he couldn’t compete with the level of engagement this boy put into the sport.
He spoke of Quidditch with so much energy and movements that Percy thought he was going to fall down the side of his bed any minute now.
He also noticed that he was dirty and fairly short for his age.
Percy spoke to him out of courtesy but all he really wanted was to read his copy of Hogwarts: a history.
The first time Oliver Wood laid eyes on Percy Weasley he was standing in a nervous line of first-years waiting to be sorted.
Oliver wasn't exactly nervous himself; he was way too occupied with staring at everything in wonder. Watching excitedly at all the students, wondering in what house he would belong himself.
When he got his first good look at Percy, clutching a thick old book in his hand that looked centuries old, he thought that he looked very clever. Guessing he probably would be sorted into Ravenclaw he briefly wished he could be that clever too, he wondered how it must be like knowing so much.
He energetically watched as a girl called Penelope Clearwater was sorted into Ravenclaw, a boy named Marvin was also put in Ravenclaw and then there was a row of Hufflepuffs.
Then it was the clever boy’s turn to be sorted. Percy however was not sorted into Ravenclaw but Gryffindor.
Oliver's eyes shot up in astonishment, he briefly wished he could be both clever and brave, he wondered how it must be like to be both clever and brave like that.
After a rough looking boy with rather grim features stepped up and was sorted into Slytherin, it was Oliver's turn to step up.
It didn't take the hat long to place him in the only house Oliver felt he could possibly belong. He gladly sat down with his fellow Gryffindors and began to feast.
It was first when they had been escorted to their dorm and Oliver was dangling his short legs over the side of his bed that they finally spoke.
"Hey'a! The name's Oliver, Oliver Wood" he said, Scottish accent rolling over his lips good naturedly.
Percy perked his head up to this but said nothing, a shy hint of a blush on his pale and freckled cheeks.
"Well, that's a really old book ye got there!" Oliver exclaimed and waited briefly for the boy to respond.
The boy pushed his glasses up and opened his mouth to speak but Oliver had already grown impatient and had started rambling
"I had a really old book once, it was Quidditch through the ages but then dad bought me a brand new one for when school started. See, that's my favourite thing in the whole world! I'm gonna play meself when I'm old enough, dad says I have a talent for it!"
He was wailing his arm around as he spoke, mimicking a beaters movements as he got into detail about different strategies he knew.
Percy wrinkled his nose at his behaviour, unbeknownst to Oliver Percy found it rude to not wait for a reply inbetween questions.
However he did not fret much over it and went back to his book, sometimes sneaking glances at the energetic boy before him. Oliver didn't notice, too wrapped up in his own world of sport.
"Do you even know what Quidditch is, are you muggle-born I mean?"
At this Percy scrunched up his nose like he was offended and shook his head.
"I happen to come from a rather old wizard family actually" he finally said and Oliver was utterly amazed by how mature he sounded.
"Well, sorry" the Scotsman blurted out suddenly grinning "Old like your book then, I suppose it's inherited"
Oliver probably should have guessed that a muggle wouldn't have such an old book about magic anyway, but Oliver wasn't exactly the brightest. "Too many ol' bludgers to the 'eed" his uncle used to say in a joking manner, but even Oliver wasn't that stupid as so many bludgers would probably make a person.
Percy snorted even more offended and closed his book that had been resting in his lap.
"Not that it's any of your business but yes, I never said we were very rich now did I!" he put the book down on his bedside table and proceeded to pull out his pyjamas from his worn old trunk. Oliver even managed to look ashamed.
"Hey, I'm sorry… I really am! What's your name by the way?" Oliver dangled his feet a bit more.
"It's Percy Weasley…" Percy proceeded to put his pyjamas on and then sat down on his bed "and we should go to bed because we start our academic studies tomorrow and it's very important that we make a good first impression on all the teachers"
"We'll be starting our wah'?" Oliver found himself ask dumbfounded
"Lessons, you know… the reason we are here" Percy said with a sight, removed his glasses to put them on his bedside table and crawled into bed.
"Right!" Oliver shot out of the bed and nearly stumbled over his trunk as he pulled out his pyjamas, messing up everything his mother had folded in the process. He couldn't be bothered; he was just an eleven-year old boy after all.
He changed rather ungracefully and almost fell into his own bed and crawled under the sheets.
"Hey, Percy…" he whispered even though there really was no need since there where no one there he could possibly wake up.
"Yes?" Percy asked slowly turning towards Oliver's bed.
"Were you surprised to be sorted into Gryffindor?" he asked thoughtfully staring up to the roof of his new home.
"No, a bit disappointed maybe…" he said slowly, mimicking the other boy's position, staring up to the roof "My whole family has been in Gryffindor since as long as anyone can remember… I sort of wished I'd be in Ravenclaw though"
"Yeah, I thought so… you look really clever" Oliver smiled half a smile to the roof "I sometimes wish I was clever… you're so lucky"
There was a pause between them before Percy broke it, he had clearly been in deep thought for a while because he did a sort of humming sound that Oliver only guessed could be a sound of summarizing what he had just though about.
"You really think so?" he asked suddenly and Oliver nodded.
Realizing Percy probably didn't see it in the dark he whispered a low confirming yes and turned his head towards Percy, only to find two glimmering eyes turned his way.
"Thanks then… You know you're not as bad as I though you would be Wood"
Oliver simply laughed at that.
"Thank you… I suppose. But please call me Oliver! You don't have to be so formal with me, we're friends!" Oliver said and absolutely beamed at how well everything was going.
"W-we are?" a nervous stutter came from the other bed.
"Of course! Wouldn't like to spend the next seven years with an enemy now would I?"
Percy gave a short giggle and shifted in his bed.
"I suppose… friends then" and they both fell silent. After a few minutes they were both sound asleep, rather content with their first day at their new school.
