I dont own HP

I'm getting a better feel for who i want Wood to be. Hopefully, you can recognize his personality coming out.


After a moment of both of them staring at the spot Molly had disappeared from Wood asked, "What do you reckon' we do now?"

Ginny didn't want to be stuck in a house with the Puddlemere keeper. She wanted to be helping…She was so bloody sick of being underestimated. Harry had been four years younger than her when he'd first taken on Voldemort! And yet, the Order thought she wasn't mature enough to even have an inkling of their plans! She continued to fume silently.

"Listen, I'm sure you're a bit miff-"

"I'm more than worried, I'm bloody livid!"

"Well, don't belt me! I wasn't the one to leave you behind."

"Well, you might as well have been! She was going to let me go until you walked in."

"I thought we'd already decided, she'd planned this."

Ginny knew her frusteration towards him was unwarranted. Instead of yelling further, she took a deep breath.

"You're right...I'm... I'm sorry. I shouldn't flog you for their mistake."

"S'okay..." ... "Let's dodder, try to focus on something else."

She looked toward the older version of the boy she'd once known. Despite being four years older, he seemed almost the same and yet, he looked so different from how she remembered him. He was half a foot taller than her and nicely filled out. Ginny noticed small freckles on the bridge of his nose and sandy stubble on his cheeks and chin. His eyes looked deeply chocolate this morning. Much to Ginny's dismay, she realized he was a very attractive bloke.

Oliver seemed to be mostly a no-nonsense type of fellow, and yet here he was in her kitchen, wearing a smile, asking her to escape reality with him. For no absolute reason, Ginny felt overwhelmingly happy he was here with her.

"Sit down," she told him, "I'll make us some cocoa."

His nodd drew Ginny's attention toward the thick adams-apple in the center of his neck. For a moment, she let her eyes wander over the light gray jumper and frayed jeans he wore. They laid nicely on his body and Ginny could tell that professional training had kept him in shape. He smiled quizzically, "is something wrong?"

She shook her head and offered a small smile before grabbing two mugs and some brew. He took a seat on a stool near the stone counter. As the chocolate heated, she wondered about her change toward him. Why had she just now realized he was handsome?

"How's your holiday been?"

She turned around, "I'd say I've had better. What about you?"

"It's been grand… We're headed to the world cup soon."

"I heard... That's brilliant, Oliver!"

He made a funny face but cleared it and replied, "Thanks. The team is ecstatic. they've all worked so hard for it."

Ginny smiled at his new expression. Every time Oliver spoke quidditch she saw a light in his eyes. She wondered if there was anything else in his life that made him as happy. "How is everything else?"

He shrugged, "What else is there?"

She laughed, "Merlin, you really are quidditch obsessed… what about friends, family?'

"My teammates are my friends, mostly…And my parents passed some time ago. I'm an only Child."

"...I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's been donkeys years."

Ginny wondered if it truly didn't matter to him. If she ever lost her parents….The thought made her stomach burn as she remembered how easily it could come true tonight. Wanting to change the subject she asked him about the incident with the Wimborne Wasp.

"Oh, it was nothing. Just some duffer giving cheek."

"Really? I heard otherwise."

He looked surprised. "Angus at Quality Quidditch and I had a chat about it."

He debated for a moment before nodding. "Yea, well it was bucketing out and the header nearly knocked my chaser, Mara, off her broom.." The last part was said with disgust.

"…I saw him muttering and just sort of lost it. She could have died."

"I would have done the same."

He looked surprised.

"The prat deserved a nice bludger to the head."

Oliver chuckled, "I went about it a bit arseways…but when I'm on the pitch I tend to loose all logic. I should have just told the ref."

"Where's the fun in that, though?"

He smiled at her, "Precisely."

The kettle blew and Ginny scrambled to pour the warm contents into the mugs. When she handed his to him, he fingered it for a moment before brining it up to his lips. Ginny watched as he closed his eyes and tipped the cup back. The moment of silence stretched between them.

Not wanting to think any further on his lips, Ginny searched for a topic of distraction. Before she could find one, he beat her to it..."So…" "Gwenog Jones, huh?"

Ginny couldn't recall telling him about her favorite player. "How did you…?"

"Last week George and Fred tricked me into your room. They locked me in for a full five minutes."

When she got her hands on those two…

"I didn't snoop or anything, I just noticed the posters."

"Right… well, Yes. Gwenog is my favorite."

"Because she's a bird?"

Ginny scowled, "no, because she's the best."

"Rubbish,."

"She is! No one in the league is as good."

"Rathbone is bloody brilliant."

"You're joking right?"

"No, i'm not... He's the top-payed in the league!"

"Rathbone! That duffer couldn't fly his way out of a broom closet!"

Oliver scoffed, "He's outflown Jones in every match…she can't even master a wronskei faint."

"That's bollicks. She just prefers a more stable style. Unlike Rathbone she doenst feel the need to crash into hard surfaces three times a match."

"Well, at least he takes risks. Jones flies about as fast as my gran."

"That's just prepostorous. Besides, i doubt you're gran can do a hand stand on a broom."

He cracked a smile, "No. But with that image, i'd love to see her try!"

They both laughed for a moment, imagining such a feat. The conversation had energized Ginny. It was rare to find someone actually knowledgeable to argue with Quidditch about. She enjoyed seeing that light in his eyes as he spoke of his favorite game. Ginny was reluctant to give that up so instead she asked him more about himself.

"Has quidditch always been your life, then?"

Oliver smiled, lost in some memory. "Ever since I was a boyo… My da put me on a broom when i was five... he used to say I never really got off…"

He smiled fondly. "What about you? With loads of brothers im sure you grew up in it?"

"It was quite the opposite actually."

Wood was surprised.

"They never let me play… I used to beg and cry but they'd always say I wasn't tough enough…that it was only for the blokes."

"Molly let them get away with that?"

"Mum somewhat agreed. She didn't want me getting hurt."

"How'd you start up then?"

Ginny laughed, remembering how nervous she'd first been. The doors and floorboards had never creaked louder than they did that night. She was sure Molly would be around every corner, waiting to scold her back into bed. "When I was six, I started sneaking out at night. I'd tiptoe out to the shed and use their brooms…Sometimes I'd fly until dawn."

Oliver looked impressed and his laugh was genuine, "No one caught you!"

She shook her head, "No, actually… I've never really told anyone that."

"How do they think you learned?"

"From one of my old boyfriends or from watching, I guess… I just never felt the need to correct them."

Oliver starred at her for a long moment, "Jaysus, you're brilliant."

They both were extremely surprised at that statement. Oliver's cheeks tinged red.

He cleared his throat and looked around wildly. "Err… right. When were the portkeys supposed to return, again?"

Ginny had enjoyed the conversation so thoroughly that she had actually forgotten her family and Harry were in danger. For the first time in an hour, she glanced nervously at the clock. "First one is due at eight… Tonks and Ron are first, then harry, and Hagrid." She divulged, (one of the only details she had been willingly told.)

He checked his watch and smiled sheepishly, "we've still got an hour...sorry for reminding you."

"it's fine, let's just keep talking. I can't think about it."

"Because you're scared?" Oliver implored.

"Partly," she replied quietly, "And partly because I'm livid that I'm not there… I could have been useful. I just feel so helpless."

Ginny saw he understood. "That's why I joined the order."

"I wondered about that…Why now?"

"Quidditch has been my whole life for so long that I-… I didn't realize how bad things have gotten."

She waited for him to continue. "A friend of mine died a few months back. He was murdered when they collapsed that bridge in London."

Ginny gasped, "I'm so sorry."

Oliver smiled at her and despite the morbid topic Ginny found his smile extremley charming. "I ran inta the twins not long after… the rest is history."

She sipped on her cocoa. "I know the twins are happy you're around."

"I've missed them."

"I think it's mutual. They've always talked about you…except I guess, i've heard more about your captain tactics than your friendship."

Oliver chuckled and drank, "Jaysus, those plonkers were incorrigible back then… I learned new respect for Molly after being Captain."

She laughed and settled deeper into the seat across from him and they began to share their favorite twins stories.


Eventually, the couple decided to make their way out into the lawn to wait for the member's arrival. Ginny had been so busy worrying about her family(the past few days) and busy laughing with Oliver (within the last hour) that she had barely put thought to the fact that she was about to face Harry. It would be the first time in weeks since she'd see him. The first time since he'd ended it. She felt...older, more resigned that they were splitting for more than just the reasons he was she supposed to act around him? Would he seek her out? She felt slightly panicky. Ginny didn't feel like the same girl who'd stood next to the lake and accepted his breakup.

"-going to be a wedding out here." She shook herself from her thoughts to turn toward Oliver. Idly, she noticed his hair seemed blue from the moons reflection. She liked the the spikes stood up in only certain areas.

"What did you say?"

He didn't scold her for not listening or lecture her for worrying. He just repeated, "I can't believe there's going to be a wedding out here… only a few days time, now."

"Oh, good. You're coming?"

Words Fluer had whispered to her the morning before played through Ginny's mind as he nodded.

"Geeny, do not forget our bargeen."

Ginny needed a date and if the last two hours had proved anything, it was that she enjoyed Oliver's company. She glanced nervously up at him.

"Feel free to decline, but…Fluer insists I bring a date and well, if you'd want to then…I don't know, it could be fun."

Wood eyed her warming cheeks and she could tell he was surprised. "..As friends, of course." she amended quickly.

He chuckled, "Of course…" but didn't answer further.

This was daft, he wasn't some bloke from school, he was a quidditch star! Ginny realized she hadn't even asked if he'd already had a date…or a girlfriend…fuck.

When Oliver shrugged and replied, "I'd love to," Ginny loudly exhaled causing both of them to laugh.

Their giggles cut short when the ancient sneaker thumped to the ground. Ginny had expected Ron and Tonks to be attached to the object. However, neither were present. Her stomach dropped and she found herself unable to look away from the lonely shoe.

Two hands grabbed each of her arms as Oliver turned her to face him. "Ginny, it's fine. They just missed it, is all."

In a daze, she searched his face. Oliver looked calm and sure, despite his tight grip on her arms.

"They're going to be fine," he repeated.

His conviction gave her courage. They're fine... Just tardy! She focused on those words. The next crack sounded followed by a thump. Oliver and her searched the lawn for the second pair and portkey.

The rusty can sat thirty feet from the shoe, empty and untouched. Ginny's knees threatened to give out.

Together, they stared at the two unused objects. Ginny didn't notice the arm Oliver had slung around her shoulders, or the circles he was rubbing into her arm. All she felt was dread.

Again, he whispered with conviction. "Something must have happened. But they'll be fine Ginny. They're all brilliant witches and wizards... We've got to-"

Ginny thought of her brothers, each who she loved so serverly she couldn't imagine living without; her father, who was perhaps the best man she'd ever known; Tonks, who had become like a sister to her; and she even thought of Fluer, who despite not caring for at first, she had grown to love. She couldn't imagine loosing them. She didn't even care to try. All that kept her up was Olivers arm. She focused on that warmth. Focused on the words he'd been whispering to her.

"- too strong for him. Just keep it together."

She nodded but nearly jumped a foot when another crack sounded. Remus stood in the middle of the yard supporting a nearly unconscious George. His entire face and neck were covered in a thick red substance that could be none other than his own blood.

"GEORGE!"


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