Hi, right another chapter. So excited for the Deathly Hallows part 2 =] I'm guessing everyone else is as well. Thanks for reading!
I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 9
Oliver had one less thing to worry about now that he'd got into Puddlemere's reserve squad. I don't even think he was that bothered about his NEWT's I on the other hand was a nervous wreck. My interview was on Monday morning at nine which left with Sunday to cram in all my last minute work and reading following Gryffindor's triumphant win. Whilst everyone was lying in bed or making the most of the April sunshine I was sat in the library virtually alone hidden beneath a mountain of parchment and tower of books whilst everyone was enjoying their Sunday night. Groaning I let my head fall to the table there was no way I was ready for the interview. I couldn't even remember the name of the potion for fixing bones how was I ever going to make it as a healer?
"Thought I'd find you here," I looked up as I head Oliver's voice. I grunted as way of response. Very ladylike. "I bring supplies," Oliver produced several chocolate frogs from his pocket.
"Oliver you know there's no food aloud in here," I whispered as he sat down next to me, "Madam Pince will..." She had given him a snooty look for opening the squeaky door to the library; it wouldn't take much for her to throw him out.
"Bah sod Madam Pince," Oliver recklessly opened one of the frogs and held it out for me. Chocolate was my weakness so I grabbed the frog before it could jump and bit off its head relishing the smooth chocolate.
I munched on the frog as I began to scribble away with my Quill again. "Don't you think you should call it a night?" Oliver suggested. I shook my head as I flicked the page of the tatty book. "I don't know what more you need. This looks more than a year's worth of potions work," he picked up one of my stacks of paper. I didn't reply I was too busy writing up the antidote for a poison I'd never even heard of. "Come on Ellie. Take a break. Relax. Clear your mind," it was easy for him to say, he had his future sorted.
"Don't you think you should shut up?" I snapped annoyed at myself more than him. Oliver looked across at me with hurt in his eyes. Immediately I regretted the words but couldn't he see this was important to me? And why can't I remember the name of that potion? Oliver did shut up as I riffled through pages. Occasionally he would lean over and pick up sheets that fell off. "You stupid book!" I slammed it shut more than fed up with myself. It was not the first time in the last two weeks that I'd snapped at a defenceless book or indeed at Oliver. I could tell he was getting fed up with it but couldn't help myself. On top of essays and homework I had to start my NEWT revision and prepare for the interview. It was all starting to get a bit too much.
"Hey," Oliver took my hands, "relax. I think you've had enough for tonight. Get a decent night's sleep before your interview."
"What use is that going to be? I can't even remember the name of the ridiculous potion that fixes bones," I had my head in my hands now as I seriously began to rethink my career as a healer.
"Skelegrow?" I twisted my head to look at Oliver.
"How did you know that?" he was right.
Oliver grinned, "Quidditch. I've broken a few bones."
"I bloody love Quidditch," and for once I wasn't joking. Who'd have thought Quidditch would save the day. I shuffled all my papers in some kind of order and dropped them along with the books into my school bag more willing to follow Oliver's insistence that I get a good night's rest now I'd solved that particular mystery.
Oliver and I slowly walked back to the common just before curfew. The last thing I needed was to get in trouble with Filch and knowing our luck it would be Snape who'd dish out the punishment. I could really do without out a weeks' worth of detentions in the dungeons.
"Now go, sleep and stop worrying. You'll do fine in the interview," Oliver and I said our goodnights and both disappeared up to our dorms.
The following morning I was a bag of nerves. I allowed Amy and Lauren to drag me down to breakfast but couldn't eat anything instead I rifled through my various sheets of paper. Oliver tried to get me to eat half a slice of toast but I just couldn't. If I ate anything it would end up back on that plate quicker than you could say Alohomora. I swallowed a glass of juice to shut everyone up. Percy kept trying to give me interview tips which only made matters worse, Oliver had to tell him to shut up. If he didn't I was going to punch him square in the face, head boy or no head boy. I wouldn't even care that we were in full view of the professors.
The interview was to take place in a classroom on the second floor. On my way up Professor McGonagall passed me and wished me good luck. My throat was too dry from nerves so I nodded my head and continued on. As I approached the classroom I noticed a girl from Hufflepuff, Pamela, and a lanky Ravenclaw by the name of Owen waiting outside on rickety wooden chairs. Oh great, against a Ravenclaw I didn't stand a chance.
Nervously I perched on one of the rickety chairs and took to steadying my breathing. I was going to go in there and get the position if I didn't well I'd cross that bridge when it came to it. Pamela went in first; I wished her luck as she closed the door behind her. When Pamela left the room I was called in. I stood up and straightened my school uniform; at least I'd made an effort to wear my best school robes. The ones without the burn in the arm.
"Hello, Miss Newham I presume," a balding middle aged man looked up from his paper. His used a stubby finger to push his glasses back up his nose and held a sweaty hand for me to shake. The man was barely taller than I was, "Frank Murphy but Frank will do." He gestured for me to sit signalling the start of the interview.
The nerves soon disappeared as I found I could answer most of his question. He seemed to be very pleased that I was prefect, not that I put much effort into my duties. I left the interview with a happy smile pleased with how the interview went but as I saw Owen the Ravenclaw still sat waiting my hopes fell. I guess I just had to wait and see.
I checked my watch; Herbology would be over in fifteen minutes it would be no use going to the lesson so I headed back to the common room where Oliver was engrossed in a book about the history of Puddlemere. No doubt he'd read that several times before he started training with the team over the summer. He didn't notice me creep up. It wasn't until I put my hands over his eyes that he realised.
"Hey beautiful, how was the interview?" he asked immediately.
"Alright, at least I think I did alright. Owen that skinny Ravenclaw was after me," I explained.
"That wimp? Don't worry El's the position is yours," Oliver pulled me down onto his lap. With everyone in class or in the library we had the whole common room to ourselves.
"Don't call Owen a wimp," I tried to defend.
"Ellie I love that you see good in everyone but really? The bloke couldn't catch a Quaffle if his life depended on it," Oliver began to absentmindedly rub circles on the back of my hand with his thumb.
I had to supress a laugh, "Oliver not everyone can play Quidditch."
"Flint is fuming that I got in to Puddlemere," I'd done it know. I'd mentioned the Q word and now I wouldn't hear the end of it for a long while or at least until the bell rang signalling the start of Charms.
"Flint is a git," I really hated the guy and I had good reason to with the amount of times he tried to hex me.
"I second that. Slytherin's in general…"
"Oliver, we all now you'd finish the Slytherin's off if you had the chance but just so you know the Quidditch is finished," I had to roll my eyes at him as I said this. He mumbled something unintelligible in response although I did catch the words Slytherin and Quidditch maybe even Flint.
I checked my watch, "we should get going soon. The bell will ring."
"Just stay a minute longer," Oliver pleaded.
"Why?" he didn't explain why but instead used his free hand to tilt my chin and place a kiss on my lips. Okay so I could stay a while longer. Flitwick wouldn't mind.
Owl post became my number one priority over the next week as I waited for the result of my interview. With each passing day I became more and more agitated. "Why isn't it here yet?" I exclaimed taking my anger out on a piece of bacon I'd skewered with my shiny silver fork.
"Be patient," Lauren mumbled as she sipped her cup of tea.
"I am patient," I protested.
"Who are you trying to convince?" she raised an eyebrow. After seven years together she knew me all too well. I didn't have an answer but instead glared at the owls as they left the hall through the windows. Bloody owls.
The following morning, a week and two days after my interview, I was once again watching out for owls and was surprised when a large barn owl fluttered down and perched itself between the toast and the sausages. I looked at it apprehensively. Oh no! This has to be the letter I was desperately dreading. With shaky hands I fumbled with the letter no sooner had I done this then it flapped its wings and was gone again. Offended that I had kept it waiting.
I was vaguely aware of my friends watching me, I think even William hollered a good luck from the other end of the table. If I don't get the position what do I do?
Dear Miss Newham,
We wish to congratulate you on your successful admission into our training scheme following your acquisition of the following grades:
Potions-O
Charms- O
Transfiguration- O
Herbology- O
Defence Against The Dark Arts- E
If you any further questions please don't hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Frank Murphy
"Bloody hell, they don't ask for much," Oliver had read the letter over my shoulder.
"You're telling me. Do you know how much work I'll have to put into this," I complained although I knew it would be worth it.
"Hmm," Oliver didn't make much of a reply.
For the remainder of breakfast I was bombarded by congratulations from my fellow seventh years along with William who tried to convince me that if I was that clever I should do his transfiguration work for him. I gave him a rather colourful response.
Percy's congratulation was the worst, "Marvellous Eleanor. I knew you would do it. Now, if you want to study I am more than capable of being a suitable study partner." This seemed to be directed more at Oliver than myself. Oliver was a great study partner most of the time so long as there wasn't an upcoming Quidditch game or a last minute piece of work. Unfortunately I couldn't tell Percy to sod off although I was mighty tempted.
By the end of the week I was worn out, it had been two very tiring weeks. The end of April was approaching which would mean one whole month before exams started. It was sad that it was all coming to an end. Hogwarts had been my home for the last seven years. There would be no more feasts in the Great Hall or late night chats huddled around the fire in the common room. I certainly would be glad to see the back of potions but that would be about the only thing. I'd even miss trudging out into the ground on a stormy February afternoon to watch Gryffindor play Quidditch. No doubt I would get to see plenty more Quidditch, not that it was my favourite thing, with Oliver becoming part of Puddlemere United.
"My money is on Lauren!" I called over the noise. We were engaged in a rather competitive exploding snap tournament. Lauren had so far beaten three first years, a fourth year, two fifth years and by looks of the current game Phillip. It was Friday night in the common room and everyone was in need of some excitement away from the pressures of the upcoming exams.
"Ellie?" I spun round to come face to face with Oliver.
"Ollie!" I flung my arms around him causing him to stumble. He hesitated which confused me.
"Something wrong?" I asked.
Again he hesitated and frowned slightly, "Can we talk?" This didn't sound good. Hopefully it wasn't too serious.
I followed him up to the boys' dorm. The room was full of clutter and abandoned clothes with scraps of parchment littering the floor. Besides Percy's immaculate bed Oliver's was the only one remotely near tidy. I guess that had something to do with his OCD over Quidditch. His Quidditch things were always in neat order.
"Ellie I'm sorry," he began.
I cut him off before he could say anymore, I didn't like being in the dark about something, "For what?"
"We can't be together any more. You need to concentrate on exams and I need to concentrate on my preparations for Puddlemere," he was avoiding eye contact and instead was looking at everything else in the room.
I was in complete denial, "this is a joke, right?"
He shook his head, "We both know how stressed you were over the interview. It's better if we split up so that you can concentrate on your exams with one less pressure."
"Maybe I want the pressure," I protested angrily. The tears were threatening and I couldn't do much to stop them falling. "I can cope," I tried to fight for us but it came out as a hoarse whisper.
"Then what? Come the summer I'll be with Puddlemere. I need to concentrate on that," that struck a nerve.
"So is that it? If you didn't break up with me now it would be at the start of the summer so that you could swan off into the sunset with your beloved Quidditch!"
I'd gone from tearful to angry. This was all the fault of bloody Quidditch. "Ellie Quidditch is my life," he tried to make me see reason but I wasn't having any of it.
"Oliver there is more to life than Quidditch," I can safely say I now despise Quidditch.
Oliver paced backwards and forwards as I watched him from my position near the door, he looked at me with eyes filled with passion, "not to me there isn't."
"Oh well that's just brilliant. Thank you very much for clearing that up for me. I'll just get out of your hair," I was fuming. Angrily I swung open the heavy wooden door and fled down the stone steps with Oliver calling after me. "Sod off Wood!" I yelled from the bottom of the stairs. It was not one of my finer moments and I received several strange looks as I dashed across the common room to the girls stairs. Luckily Oliver couldn't follow me.
Quietly I closed the door behind me and leant against with my eyes closed and chest panting after my run up the stairs. I pushed myself away from the door and fell face first onto my bed. I'd never felt so alone as I sobbed into my pillow.
After a shot while the door creaked open and Lauren entered, "Ellie. What's the matter?" I let my head fall back onto the pillow and waited for the sag of the bed indicating Lauren taking a seat.
"Ol-Oliver broke u-up with me," I took a deep breath in the hope of continuing with steadier nerves, "Apparently Quidditch is more important." I was definitely bitter about that.
"That complete bastard!" Lauren was outraged.
"That's a bit harsh, I mean we all know how much his place on Puddlemere means to him," I tried to defend Oliver.
Lauren stood up and rummaged in her trunk I sat up so I could talk to her easier. One thing was certain I clearly wasn't looking my best with dishevelled hair, red swollen eyes and a runny nose. "Ellie that's so like you. The guy has been a complete arse and you are still willing to see good in him. Now here," she chucked something at me, "we are going to devour this entire bar of Honeydukes chocolate and maybe the second one I have hidden from Amy, don't tell her."
"I won't," I replied having already tucked into a very large trunk. I then told Lauren the whole story from start to finish. At least I still had my friends.
I spent most of the weekend hiding away in the dorm or walking in the grounds with Lauren and Amy. We would usually walk away from the Quidditch pitch to avoid any chance of bumping into Wood. He had now become Wood not Oliver to me. Everyone else referred to him by his second name so why shouldn't I. The only time I saw him was over meal times. Although even then we would go in early to avoid him. On the Sunday night Oliver, I mean Wood, walked in with a viscous looking black eye. I was certainly curious but then a glance to the other end of the table told me why. William was glaring at Oliver or rather Wood over the pea and ham soup. I put two and two together. William did tend to have a temper, well good for him. Wood deserved it.
Come Monday morning I would have to see Wood in classes. How could he possibly think this wouldn't stress me out before my exams? In Charms I walked right past Wood who lingered in the doorway and sat myself between Lauren and Amy. From the moment I awoke that morning I was determined that nothing should be different. So far I was succeeding.
Two weeks before the exams I was waiting outside transfiguration with Lauren, Amy and Matt. "Well if it isn't Ellie Newham," it was Flint.
"Sod off Flint," I didn't bother turning around.
"Oh what not that you aren't flanked by that useless keeper you are too scared to face me," he taunted. I rolled my eyes at Lauren and continued talking, "Oi mudblood I was talking to you." Again I ignored him.
"Flint she said sod off!" Wood had just walked up. Great, just great.
"Awww, little Ellie still needs a thick brut like you defending her," Flint really had a death wish. I spun around furious with him and saw Wood grab him by the collar of his robes.
"Stop it!" I yanked Wood away, "I don't need you to watch out for me," he opened his mouth to protest but by this time I'd rounded on Flint, "and you, you don't scare me so just sod off." Having finished my outburst I turned away returning to my conversation.
"Someone's a bit touchy. What's the matter Wood? Was she no good in bed?" Flint continued anyway. Angrily I swung around and landed a punch square on Flint's already crooked nose. It felt good and by the sounds of the cheers from my fellow Gryffindor's they were in agreement with me. So much for being role model as a prefect. I wouldn't be surprised if I lost it for this but really that was the least of my worries at the moment.
"Ahh," Flint grabbed his bleeding nose with one hand and withdrew his wand his Slytherin friends fussing over him.
Professor McGonagall chose this point to open the door to her classroom which quietened everyone down, "what on earth is going on?"
"Newham hit me," Flint jumped straight in.
"I punched Flint," Wood also leapt right in. I remained quiet as I cradled my sore hand. What was flint's head made of? Rocks? Although that would explain why he was so thick.
"Eleanor?" she prompted.
"Ellie had nothing to do with this," Oliver cut in before I had a chance to reply so as to take the blame.
"Please Professor," It was Percy, we were so screwed. "Eleanor punched Flint who was being very offensive. Oliver is lying."
"Detention. All three of you. My office seven o'clock tonight," we tried to protest but Professor McGonagall had already stalked off to the front of the class. This lesson was going to be torture.
Seven o'clock sharp the three of us were sat in McGonagall's classroom writing lines over and over again after receiving a lecture first. It was the first time I'd had a detention up until now I'd always managed to avoid them. This was all Oliver bloody Wood's fault! At least Wood and I shared a common dislike for Percy at this present moment in time.
Once the detention was over Flint skulked off to the Slytherin house whilst Wood and I made our way back to Gryffindor Tower. I tried to walk quickly so that I spent as little time as possible with Wood. "Wood I can take care of myself there was no need for you to take the blame," I was fuming. I really didn't need protecting.
He raised his eyebrows, "Didn't look that way to me."
"What would you care anyway?" I wasn't Quidditch so why was he even bothering now we weren't together anymore.
"Just because we've split up doesn't mean I don't care Ellie, I still want to be friends," I kept my head down and carried on walking if I looked at him I'd forgive him.
I scoffed, "spare me."
"Why are you so angry?" he asked. Was he bloody serious?
"Wood you broke up with me; I have a right to be pissed."
"My name's Oliver," he mumbled. That gave me all the more reason to continue calling him Wood as a form of payback.
Once we entered the portrait hole I stormed upstairs to finish my homework there before going to bed. All the while ranting away to myself and Lauren about the annoying git that was the world's great gift to Quidditch.
