Percy watched, feeling slightly breathless, as Oliver Wood wove his way through the crowd towards him. Penny and some of the other former prefects continued their conversation around him, but he know longer heard a word of it. Oliver stopped in front of him and held out a hand in silent invitation. He flashed Percy a grin, his only indication of nervousness being how tightly he gripped Percy's hand when Percy accepted.

The two of them walked silently out onto the crowded dance floor, and settled into place, dancing gracefully. Percy was aware of the room getting quieter as people began to notice them. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea? It had seemed like a good idea when they'd discussed it several weeks ago.

"Don't panic, Percy" Oliver murmured into his ear. "Half of them are already starting to smile, take a look"

Percy risked raising his eyes from Oliver's shoulders to glance at people as they spun by. There was his ex-girlfriend, Penny, looking vaguely smug, since she'd know about the two of them for months. Fred and George were standing by the edge of the dance floor with identical gapes of utter astonishment. Percy hid his smile on Oliver's shoulder and felt him relax.

"Do you see my parents anywhere?" Percy asked him, a little breathless still.

"Umm..." Oliver scanned the room as they spun through the thinning crowd of dancers. "Yeah, there they are up by the stage with Ginny."

"They don't look upset?"

Oliver snickered. "Your mother is laughing so hard Ginny had to go get her a chair."

Percy breathed a sigh of relief. The entire family, in the end would accept what his mother accepted. "Dad?"

"Shaking his head. He's smiling though. Come on Percy, look for yourself."

He did and found them watching him with great amusement.

"Now think you can focus on the important thing here?" asked Oliver.

"I thought the whole point was to break the news to my family... and half the Wizarding world while we’re at it..." Percy smiled up at him.

"I'm hurt! You don't want to dance with me just for the sake of dancing with me?" Oliver feigned grief, but only until Percy leaned in and kissed him chastely. They finished the dance without even noticing the other dancers abandoning the floor. When they came to a halt there was spontaneous applause coming from some of the students. George and Fred were still standing flabbergasted where Percy had last seen them.

"The twins are in shock," observed Oliver.

"Serves them right for what they did at MY graduation" replied Percy, without much true indignation. He was just too happy at that moment to let much of anything bother him, even the memory of the twins presenting him with a wreath made of Hogwarts toilet seats. "We'd better go say hi to Mum and Dad now..."

He couldn't help feeling a bit of trepidation as they approached, but his mother was reaching out to hug him before he even got there. "Something you wanted to tell us Percy?"

Percy flinched, "Err. I was hoping to have avoided the telling part," he said sheepishly.

Molly Weasley laughed, content to see her normally solemn son so happy. "Well, you will have to answer some questions eventually, young man, but if you're happy, I'm happy."

Ordeal over with, Percy settled comfortably in his chair, with a smile for Oliver, who was already answering Ginny's questions about playing professional Quidditch. Life was good.