Pairing: Percy/Harry.
Rating: PG.
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Characters owned by J.K. Rowling.
Summary:
Sequel to 'Skinny Dipping'.
The Weasley family home sparkled with Christmas decorations. Harry, Ron, Fred
and Percy sprawled out on the couch, too full (or in Fred's case, tone deaf) to
join the rest of the family caroling. A couple last Christmas presents were
brought out from under the tree.
"You open yours first, Percy." Harry nodded, handing him a rather
heavy, paper-wrapped box.
Percy struggled with the Muggle wrapping paper for several minutes.
"I give up. How does it open?"
"It's taped. You just rip the paper," Harry explained.
"Ah." Percy meticulously tore the paper. "Though I don't see how
they can reuse the paper if it's ripped."
"You don't." Harry shrugged, and watched Percy eye the box with a
slight puzzled frown.
"Tsk-tsk," Percy shook his head, "wasteful."
Fred snickered. "And to think Dad's missing this..."
Ron craned his neck to see without actually getting up. "What is it?"
A slightly embarrassed smile lit Percy's face as he read: "'A desktop lily
pond... soothing sounds for the busy office...' Thank you." His eyes met
Harry's briefly, and the smile threatened to break into a grin. "Now open
mine."
Harry already had Percy's gift in hand. He flicked the magical wrapping points
and then tore the paper off the tiny box. It was the sort of velvet box you got
from a jeweler. "Oh no..."
"Now, now, don't jump to conclusions," Percy admonished. But he looked
smug.
Inside the box was a pair of silver cufflinks. Set with an embossed image of
water lilies. Harry blushed and grinned, and then shook his head. "They're
nice."
His eyebrows flicked up at Percy, and they both struggled not to laugh. Percy's
ears turned pink with the effort, while Harry beamed.
Fred glanced suspiciously from one to the other. "Since when do you two
exchange presents?"
Ron shook his head, though he still refused to move from his comfortable slouch.
"All right. That's three years in a row now. What is up with all the water
lilies?"
"It's an inside joke, Ron," Percy said smoothly. He set the miniature
lily pond gently on the floor.
"Yeah. You, er, had to be there," Harry added. Though he looked rather
sheepish as he slipped the box into his pocket.