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Disclaimer: Ok, this is FANfiction... You shouldn't even need to write one of these…right? Anyway…I don't own Harry Potter or any Harry Potter Characters…I'm just borrowing them.

Summary: When the gang returns to school after the summer holidays, they've changed. Oliver and Fred are finding themselves strangely drawn to Angelina…but she can't be more than a friend…to either of them…right?

Rating: PG.

Note: The character's thoughts will appear in Italics, except for the "flashback", where Oliver's thoughts are in Normal font. Sorry if it's confusing. Happy reading!

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Closest Thing to Heaven

© Angelface04

July 29, 2004

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First Day

It was the first day back from the Summer Holidays, and Oliver Wood was late.

It wasn't his fault. His dorm mates had failed to wake him, and it was clear past breakfast by the time he woke himself. He'd lost his tie and his sock and had misplaced his bag twice as he rushed around the dormitory, cursing and mumbling under his breath. He was never late…why was this happening to him?

Oh yeah…

He remembered now…

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The Previous Day at Kings-Cross Station

"Oi! Oliver!" Oliver swiveled around to see Fred and George Weasley scurrying over.

"Hey!" Oliver grinned, clasping hands with each of them. Fred moved away, greeting Lee Jordan and Alicia Spinnet. "So, how've ya' been?" He asked Fred.

"Alright, I s'pose. Bill and Charlie both visited – we had loads of fun. We even got in some Quidditch practice." Fred winked at Oliver. "We were thinking of you the whole time mate." They joined in laughter, and Oliver was glad to see that though Fred had grown taller and leaner over the summer, he hadn't lost his humor.

"Fred! Ollie! Hey!" Katie Bell was upon them before they even had a chance to call for help. She had nearly tackled them both when she ran up to them, slinging her arms around both the boys.

"Ow! Kate! That's my windpipe!" Fred coughed in a raspy, gasping voice.

"Oh, sorry Fred." Katie let go of them, looking sheepish, but happy. "It's just so great to see you all!" Fred had led Lee and Alicia over to the other three, leaving only one person missing…

"Where's…" Alicia began.

"Angelina!" Katie sprinted off across the station and was squeezing the coca-colored girl to death before anyone could blink.

"Bloody hell, she's fast." George commented. They all laughed, making their way over to the two girls, who were squealing and giggling, their faces lit-up and excited.

"Ange!" Alicia squeezed the black girl, talking so fast that Oliver was sure neither of her friends knew what she was saying. All he could make out was. "…sooooo much" and a "….can you believe it?!" The four boys laughed good-naturedly, but Oliver couldn't keep his eyes of Angelina. She had definitely changed over the summer…that was for sure…and she wasn't just taller. She was breathtaking…and he wasn't the only one to notice.

Fred Weasley's jaw was slack.

"Hi Oliver," Angelina waved. Oliver smiled at her shy-fullness.

"Hey," He replied, still watching her as she grabbed Alicia's hands and began whispering in her ear. Alicia laughed, whispering something back. Oliver surveyed her silently for the next few minutes as they made their way over to the train. Suddenly, he saw Fred move next to her, and the next thing he knew they were hugging fiercely. He tore his eyes away; suddenly realizing the Katie was talking to him.

"Huh? Wha-" He muttered. Katie sighed, rolling her eyes.

"It's no wonder you weren't listening! Can't take your mind off of Quidditch for one minute, can you?" She laughed all the same, launching herself after George and Alicia.

But I wasn't thinking about Quidditch…

Angelina had hugged Fred…big deal…people do that when they haven't seen each other all summer. But…then…why hadn't Angelina hugged him? Why was he thinking about this anyway? Ange and Fred were just friends, and it was just a hug. He hugged tons of girls…he'd hugged Katie…and Alicia for that matter, why should it bother him?

…………………

But it had been bothering him. All that night…literally. He finally dropped off to sleep at around two in the morning, and now he was late.

"Bloody great job, Wood. You're very first day…" He told himself as he tore down the steps from the Gryffindor tower. He didn't even know what his schedule was! He spotted Yasmin Lane in the nearly deserted hallway, a fellow Gryffindor who was in his year and he peeked at her schedule, hoping that he was headed to the right class.

When he slid into Transfiguration Professor McGonagall glared at him.

"So, Mr. Wood. You decided to join us?" Wood nodded, taking the only un-occupied seat behind a Hufflepuff girl. "See me after class." She added curtly. Oliver moaned inwardly as she announced: "Turn to page 25 in your Art of Transfiguration books." The classroom was soon filled with the flipping of pages, and the scratch of chalk against the board.

………………………

By the time the final bell rang and it was time for dinner, Angelina was exhausted. She wearily latched onto Katie's arm as they headed to the Great Hall.

"Oh Kate! Snape's a real git, you know?"

"Don't I?!" Katie growled, obviously still fuming. "As if starting class with a quiz isn't bad enough, homework! On the first night? I could just-"

"Hey you two! Did you hear? Oliver's got detention!" Alicia linked onto Angelina's other arm.

"Ollie?" Katie's mouth dropped. "From who? Why?"

"McGonnagall." Alicia was grinning wickedly. "He was late to class."

"On the very first day? She gave him detention?" Angelina was stunned. "But – that's not like McGonagall."

"I know! Isn't it great? He's real burned up."

"With reason!" Katie exclaimed. "If McGonagall gave me a detention on the first day I'd pummel her."

"Oh no you wouldn't." Angelina laughed. "I'll bet Oliver's just upset because he can't start Quidditch practice right away." The trio giggled and talked all the way to the Great Hall, where they found a space next to Fred and George at the Gryffindor table. Fred looked at Angelina and smiled.

"What's the matter?"

"What do you mean, I'm perfectly fine!" Angelina replied, her face bright and happy. Fred pulled a serious face.

"Yeah…that's what I mean…I'm worried about you Angelina…no one should be this happy coming back to school." She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. He smiled too, unable to keep a straight face for long.

"Very funny." She laughed.

"I try." He grinned, catching her eye.

"Do you...?" She barely whispered.

"Yeah…" He breathed back.

"So, Fred, you hear about Oli's detention?" Fred looked away from Angelina, who looked down at her plate.

I've never noticed how blue his eyes were…

"Oliver? Detention?" Fred let out a peal of laughter. "That's bloody brilliant."

"Oh shut up you git." Oliver was practically steaming he was so angry.

"It's alright Oli, don't get your knickers in a twist." George replied, stuffing his face with treacle tarts. "We're just havin' a bit of fun." Oliver didn't reply, he just scowled and picked at his food.

"How long do you have detention for?" Angelina asked gently. He looked up at her, and seemed to calm down.

"She didn't say." He chewed his bottom lip, looking flustered, and, by Angelina's standards, pretty cute. "I hope not too long…we need to get started on Quidditch as soon as possible."

"Yeah…"

"OI! GEORGE! DON'T – NOT IN HERE!" Fred's voice startled the entire Gryffindor table.

"Don't what?" George asked in a falsely innocent voice. He was obviously aware that everyone was looking at him, and by the way his hands were shoved awkwardly underneath the table Angelina had a feeling that he was hiding whatever it was. "Oww!" He hissed, removing one hand from underneath the table. "It's hot Fred – it's bloody burning me!"

"Well I told you not to let 'em off in - " There was a whiz and a crack and a whole load of Fillibuster Fireworks shot out from underneath the table. Fred put his head in his hands, moaning, slowly shaking his head. George was watching them proudly though, a smile on his face as girls shrieked and ducked.

"I cannot believe you!" Alicia voiced from across the table. "Do you know what's going to happen to you?"
"Nothing better happen to me! I had nothing to do with it!" Fred exclaimed. Katie rolled her eyes.

"Like anyone's going to believe that!"

"Snape's going to have your head!" Lee laughed.

"Speak of the devil…" Oliver whispered, hanging his head so as to hide his grin.

"So…" Snape's greasy hair fell forward as he leaned on the table between Fred and George. "Someone thought that a fireworks display would be lovely did they?" He growled.

"Apparently." George mumbled, covering it up with a fake cough as Snape turned his menacing glare on him.

"Who was it?" He snarled, looking around the group. No one uttered a word. "If you don't tell me who it was I-"

"What is the problem here, Severus?" It was McGonagall. Oliver groaned audibly. Snape straightened up, smoothing his hair back from his face.

"One of your students set off several fireworks, Minerva." Snape's cool voice retorted. "But they refuse to admit which one it was." He swept over the group once again with his ice-cold glare. "Which leads us to believe that they all had a part in it."

"Don't be ridiculous, Professor." Professor McGonagall replied sharply. "I'm sure the responsible one will admit it." There was now quite a crowd attracted to the group, and Angelina saw Marcus Flint looking her direction and smirking. Alicia was glaring at Fred, but her mouth was in a firm thin line. She wouldn't tell…none of them would…except maybe Oliver…he was upset with George already, plus he already had one detention…what if…Angelina's eyes raised to meet Oliver's. She knew that look he had on. He was definitely contemplating whether or not to tell. She gave a slight shake of her head, and he closed his eyes, sighing. He wouldn't tell.

"No one?" McGonagall looked extremely disappointed. Snape looked as if he'd been awarded a medal for achievement, and Angelina almost wanted to tell on George, just to wipe that smug grin off of his face. "Lee? Miss Bell? Mr. Weasley? Oliver?" She emphasized his name and he cringed. "Alright then. All of you, come to my office." She turned briskly, and, as the crowed parted to make her way, snickering as the group of seven silently followed the Professor to her office. They all managed to squeeze in, but it was tight. She stood behind her desk, the silence in the room far worse than any words that she could possibly have shouted. She closed her eyes and sat in her chair, folding her hands in her lap. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, she spoke.

"I am greatly disturbed that seven of my students would do such a thing, and then refuse authority as you have." She paused, finally opening her eyes. "Especially seven upper classmen, and several of you with higher authority." Her eyes bored into Oliver as she spoke. "It is simply too early in the year for you all to begin creating havoc. You may be comfortable at this school, but that does not mean that you may simply push away any regard for rules that you may have once possessed." Her calmness was maddening. She stood up, pushing back her chair.

"With that said, you may all appear tonight at 8:00 for detentions."

"But Professor I - " George stepped forward.

"Mr. Weasley…" Professor McGonagall cut him off. "Nothing you say or do can change my mind now.

"But I did it! I set off the fireworks, they have no reason to be punished!" George was serious – a rarity in either Weasley twin. Angelina could have sworn that she saw a flicker of a smile cross McGonagall's lips, but it was gone just as quickly as it had come.

"A tad late, Mr. Weasley." She said, and with a wave of her hand she dismissed them. "And remember. 8:00 – not one minute later."

"Yes Professor McGonagall…" The group said, almost in unison. They filed out of her office one-by-one, and when they reached the corner, Oliver lunged at George.

"Why the bloody hell did you let off fireworks in the Great Hall?" He had George by the collar and slammed up against the wall.

"Ollie!" Katie gasped, putting her hand to her mouth.

"Because I bloody wanted to, that's why!" George shouted back, shoving Oliver away from them. "D'you got a problem with that?"

Lee and Fred were already between the two, Fred pushing away his brother and Lee struggling to hold Oliver.

"Yeah, I do!" Oliver shouted. "You've got no right to do that!" He broke free of Lee's grasp, but didn't go after George. He could feel Angelina's eyes on him. "It's the bloody first night George, what are you playing at? I know you always like to be the center of attention, but did it occur to you that - "

"Shut it, Wood." The look in George's eyes was capable of melting ice.

"Make me." Angelina gaped at Oliver - this was so unlike him. He was always the peacemaker in the group.

"You bloody git!" George lurched at Oliver, when suddenly he stopped. Angelina had moved in-between the two fighting boys. "Ange - move!" The mocha-colored girl crossed her arms, a fire in her eyes.

"No George."

"George, back off." Fred's voice was firm.

"Angelina, seriously. I don't want you to get hurt." Oliver's hazel eyes were hard as well. She shook her head fiercely.

"You both need to grow up!" She exclaimed.

"What makes him think that he's so much better than everybody else, huh? Just cause he's a spoiled little prat with tons of money, and Mummy and Daddy are always there to give him whatever he wants!" Oliver shot forward, past Lee, but stopped when he came face-to-face with Angelina. He tried to go around, but she moved with him.

"Angelina, move!" He hissed angrily. She jutted out her chin and shook her head. "He just had a go at my Mum, Ange!" He seethed, trying to go around her again. She put her hands on his chest to stop him.

"Merlin, Oliver, it isn't worth it!" She said. "He's just upset, and so are you. You'll only regret this whole thing later." Oliver's eyes were stormy and he was glaring at George over Angelina, but he backed away and, fuming, marched down the hall. Alicia sighed, and until then Angelina hadn't even noticed that both Alicia and Katie had joined her in-between the two boys. George was furious as well, pushing Fred's hands off him and walking in the opposite way that Oliver did.

"Brilliant." Lee exclaimed sarcastically. "Just what we need. And it's the bloody first day." Katie sighed, rubbing her forehead.

"Is it really only the first day?" She moaned. "Could have fooled me."

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I've written a lot more, but I didn't want to make the first chapter too long. If you want me to continue, you'll have to review, because I'm not going to keep going if you don't!