Disclaimer: Characters and concepts are the sole intellectual property of J.K. Rowling and appear here without her knowledge or consent...so let's keep it just between us. No profit is being made, so no harm no foul.

 Ahem. This is slash - for the uninitiated, that means it contains a romantic/sexual relationship between two characters of the same gender. It's got a bit of innuendo, but nothing that should scar anybody for life. If this offends you, please just skip the story instead of reading it and then complaining.

Percy Weasley did not shoot awake on Christmas morning. Not only was he much too mature to be excited by another winter holiday, this was the only day out of the year that he did not have a single responsibility. As a seventh year student at Hogwarts and Head Boy, he had more than his share of duties. Beyond the advance studies he was taking, he had to worry about his graduation tests and supervise the boys of Hogwarts. Nothing could be allowed to slip; he was determined to get a job at the Ministry of Magic, and his scores were key to that goal.

 This morning, though, was his. Even his over-achieving nature allowed him that much. Later there would be Christmas dinner; a sumptuous feast unrivaled anywhere in the world. His parents, bless them though he did, were not overly prosperous. Hard-working, honest, yes...but not prosperous. There was always enough food, but only just so.

 Just thinking of the sausages, pastries, roast goose and all the other delicacies made his mouth water. He really was rather hungry. That was for more motivation for him to get out of bed than presents...but he was not ready just yet. A few more minutes, warm and snug in his four-poster bed, watching the sleeping face of his best friend.

 Oliver Wood, Gryffindor Quidditch team Keeper and Captain, was snoring slightly next to him, his head nestled in the crook of Percy's arm. A solidly built young man the same age as Percy, he was the most familiar thing in all of Hogwarts. Since they had started school together almost seven years ago, they had been inseparable. As driven to succeed in Quidditch as Percy was to excel in school, Oliver Wood had always been the one to understand him.

 In seven years, though, his poor beloved friend had not yet won the Quidditch Cup. Not for lack of trying; Oliver had played so hard and withstood so many horrendous injuries...Percy had still not gotten over the sight of his friend in the infirmary with his arm broken in five places.

Bad luck - and treacherous playing by the Slytherin team - had blocked Oliver from the goal he had obsessed over. Percy knew why it was so important, but that was because he knew Oliver as well as his friend knew him. They were like two sides of one coin.

 Oliver yawned and blinked his eyes open. Smiling sleepily, he asked, "What time is it?"

 "Some time after nine, I think," Percy replied.

 Oliver nodded, not showing any desire to move. "I can't believe I slept so late."

 Percy snorted laughter. "You didn't, at least not all the way through."

 His friend gave him a guilty look. "What do you mean?" Oliver was a terrible liar. It was part of having such a dreadfully sincere nature.

 "I heard you leave before dawn. Honestly, Mr. Wood...practicing on Christmas morning?"

 Oliver looked even more guilty. "I, uh, was curious about something. Had an idea for a maneuver..." He trailed off because Percy was laughing at him. Oliver hit him with a pillow. "Jerk."

 "You're the only Quidditch player I know who'd practice all alone." Percy paused and gave him a suspicious look. "You didn't wake up Harry or my brothers, did you?"

 "No, of course not...but mainly because Fred and George would probably put one of their Red Hot Jumping Beans down my pants and Harry...well, even I'm not cold enough to wake him up at dawn on Christmas, knowing what you've told me about him."

 "Good," Percy told him. "I'm glad you decided to stay with me this year."

 Oliver blushed endearingly. "Well...this is our last year...and I figure it won't be too long before Penelope has taken my spot in here."

 "Oh yeah, like you haven't been making moon-eyes at Alicia," Percy shot back.

 Oliver smirked at him. "Her parents still can't stand me. I can't wait to shove that Quidditch Cup in their faces."

 Percy snickered. "Well, they don't want you pissing in their well. They were already embarrassed enough that their daughter went to our house instead of Slytherin. Imagine if she marries another Gryffindor? They might never get their slime coats back on."

 "What a dreadful thing for the Head Boy to say. You're supposed to be above inter-house politics."

 "I still want you to kick the butts of those Slytherin losers," Percy said with fire in his eyes. "Be a great triumph for your final year."

 Oliver gave him a cocky look. "We've got the best team. No one can fly like we do."

 Percy gave him a smoldering look. "I can't disagree. You're amazing with a stick between your legs."

 Oliver giggled. "Oh really?" he asked and launched Tickle Attack #3.

 The two wrestled back and forth, laughing and muttering innocent cantrips at each other. With a loud crash, they rolled onto the floor, hopelessly tangled in the bedsheets. Oliver was above him, his handsome face split in a huge grin. "I'm gonna miss waking up with you."

 "We got another six months," Percy consoled him. "And I expect you to visit me at my estate..."

 Oliver chortled. "Flat is more like it."

 "... with a view of Loch Etive ..."

 "A bucket full of rain water."

 "... and my exquisitely appointed bedroom ..."

 "A pile of old sheets on a rotten wooded floor."

 Percy poked him in the ribs. "I'm gonna have Fudge's job one day."

 "And I'm gonna win the Quidditch World Cup," Oliver said with equal fervor.

 Percy nodded, not doubting it in the slightest. "Wanna unwrap presents?"

 "Okay," Oliver replied excitedly and started tugging at the sheet.

 "Hey!" Percy protested. "Later."

 Oliver sighed in mock-misery. "Oh fine ..."

 They wrapped themselves in blankets and settled before the moderate stash of gaily wrapped packages. Oliver picked one up, read the card and handed it over to his friend. Percy took one look at it and sighed. "My new sweater ... thanks Mum ..."

 "This one's from Harry," Oliver murmured in surprise. He had a small box wrapped in shiny gold paper in his hand. Inside was a stick of pale blue chalk. "Hey, an Air Marker. I've been needing one of these since my last one broke." He muttered a command word and the piece of chalk floated into the air. He whispered to it and it traced letters into the air, which floated between him and Percy.

 His friend blushed. "Um, thanks ..."

 Oliver smiled wickedly. "It's true," he insisted, passing his hand through the words to make them dissipate. "This one is from your brothers."

 Percy stared at the small square box as if it might turn into a snake - which with his brothers was not out of the question. He took the present gingerly, careful not to jar it, and set it aside. "I'll save that one for later."

 Oliver laughed. From all accounts, presents from George and Fred Weasley had to be treated with a great deal of caution. He picked up another box with his name off it and ripped off the wrapping. "Mmmm, Pepper Imps."

 "Don't expect me to kiss you after you eat one of those," Percy warned. "Last time I couldn't feel my tongue for a week."

 "I could do other things ..."

 Percy crossed his legs. "No thanks."

 Oliver laughed again and handed him a very small square box. "This one's from me."

 His friend looked a little misty. "Thank you," he murmured, popping the lid off the box.

 Red ribbon exploded forth like rockets. Percy "ooofed" and toppled backwards, muttering and cursing as Oliver laughed. In moment, Hogwart's Head Boy was bound hand to foot by bright, cheery red ribbon. There was even a bow adhered to Percy's bare chest.

 "Thanks boys," Oliver called.

 "Welcome," George returned from just on the other side of the door.

 "Glad it worked!" Fred added.

 Blushing and trying not to laugh, Percy muttered spell after spell, not that it was any good without a wand in his hand. Oliver scooped him up and tossed him onto the four poster. The ribbons happily adjusted to bind their victims spread-eagled.

 "I guess this is more a Christmas present to me," the Quidditch team captain confessed.

 Percy let himself laugh at that point, astounded by his friend's treachery. "There is a way out of these thing, right? My brothers might not have thought of that."

 Oliver grinned and nodded, whispering into his ear how the bonds had to be broken. Percy went as red as his hair, speechless for once. They kissed lightly, Oliver getting comfortable atop him.

"Merry Christmas," he breathed to Percy.

 "And to you ..."