A/n: I've just been informed it is snowing out. I was under the impression that a) it's spring (late spring, in fact) and b) I did not live in the Arctic. The only consolation to this is that it's warm enough out that it's melting on contact. Excuse the snow related rant and please enjoy the next chapter. ;P
Chapter 10 - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
As the days went by, Oliver continued to feel badly about the way he'd acted towards Audrey and the things he'd said. He had no idea how to go into his next Potions class, knowing he had to be her partner and knowing the hurt he'd visibly caused her. Whether she was horrible or not, he never should have said those things about her and her family.
He decided he would simply have to try and be civil, and duck if she came running at him with a wand.
He went into Potions the following the week with serious trepidation. He didn't really know what to expect from Audrey – was she going to curse him to high heaven and screw the consequences? Would she verbally assault him? Would she ignore him and do nothing at all?
He'd been seated a few moments when she arrived, stiffly taking her place beside him. He felt the words of apology bubbling up but something stopped him from speaking them and they died on his lips. He didn't know what was holding him back from just saying he was sorry for the words that had hurt her.
She didn't look at him but started getting herself ready to take notes. He followed her lead.
The class turned out to be strictly note-taking and lecture with no practical lesson, so Oliver was spared from the awkwardness of trying to work with her on a Potion without speaking. He decided he would just say he was sorry as soon as class was over and that'd be it, and it'd be over. When the bell rang however, he turned to her, hesitated too long and she hurried away.
In the next Potions class, it went quite similar. He wanted to apologize and didn't understand why it was so hard, why he couldn't seem to bring himself to do it. It wasn't that he was angry with her anymore, but yet he still resented the misery she'd brought upon on him the first month or so of term. He hadn't thought he was one to hold a grudge, but here he was, choking on the word "sorry" because of some lost House points and several sets of ruined robes.
As class progressed, they spoke in neutral tones, only when absolutely necessary and became good at understanding each other's gestures or nods in order to avoid speaking. They handed in their project at the end of class and went their separate ways without another word.
For the rest of the month of October, Oliver did his best to focus on Quidditch and only Quidditch. He worked his team well in practices and continued his own early morning ones on the weekends. Gossip about Sirius Black was everywhere daily, though as far as Oliver knew, nothing new had actually happened with the fugitive.
Potions began to go smoother with himself and Audrey not speaking. In a very, very strange way, all the mess with Audrey seemed to be working out for both of them. He was by no means getting better at Potions – he doubted he ever would – but she would stop him from making his usual mistakes and he helped her away from hers. It was an odd alliance almost, where he continually felt guilty about their blow-up but almost appreciated that it had happened. She was no longer tormenting him and though she certainly seemed just as rude or arrogant when he saw her in the corridors with her friends, she was completely neutral to him during Potions.
He couldn't help feeling like she wanted to cry when they accidentally looked at other, though, which usually made him feel worse and bring that apology to his throat again. One time, he finally almost managed to force it past his lips.
She glanced his way as she handed him some chopped up Flitterbloom roots, her eyes glistening.
"Audrey, look," he began.
She met his eyes unsteadily as if she would crumble if he used the wrong word. He instantly felt startled – this was not the tough, angry girl he'd met earlier this year. Then abruptly her features steeled over as if she realized he could see her hurting and she even smiled a touch. His mind jumped to the moment in the hallway and the anger that had welled up inside him so quickly at her words.
"Uh… can you pass me the measuring spoon?" he copped out and dropped his gaze.
She complied without a word and went back to reviewing the lesson's instructions.
On Halloween morning, Oliver was in remedial History of Magic which was a class he'd mostly taken so he, Fred and George wouldn't have to suffer alone in the sixth/seventh year split class. He was leaning on his hand, completely zoning out as his mind ran through a Quidditch game he'd seen film of recently.
Fred gently poked him with his quill. "Your eyes have been glassy for quite some time, my friend," he said.
Oliver blinked and realized there was cramp in his shoulder from staying in that position too long. "Oh, thanks."
"Remind me why we fools voluntarily opted to take this class again?" Fred sighed.
Oliver chuckled. "I don't remember. Something about having our options open and filling our schedules."
"Right. Because McGongall wouldn't let us have two spare blocks in our schedule."
"And all the other less ridiculous classes were full."
"Right."
Oliver and Fred sighed heavily at the same time and then snickered. After several more minutes of vainly trying to focus on the droning Binns, Fred gave up first, followed quickly by Oliver.
"You know, you've seemed a bit out of sorts lately. I've got just the cure."
"I'm not trying anything you give me." Oliver said warningly.
The red-head laughed and waved his friend's comment off. "No, no, nothing like that," he said. "It's an activity."
"Go on," Oliver cautiously encouraged his friend.
"Well, see the Hogsmeade trip is tomorrow. Lee is going with Vicki Glover – that Ravenclaw, remember? And George is going with Kelsey Underhill, her friend. I'm going with Stephanie Peterson."
"I'm trying and failing to see how this information is supposed to make me feel better."
"Be patient, I'm getting there. See, the thing is, Lauren Palmer is another friend and she's left with no one to go with." He raised his eyebrows much too innocently at Oliver.
So apparently a blind date to Hogsmeade was supposed to make him feel better according to Fred. He rolled his eyes.
"I'm not going on your… quadruple date."
"Oh c'mon, why not?"
"Because I don't do blind dates."
"You don't any dates if you want me to call up the number of serious girlfriends you've had in the past year. Goose egg, my friend. Donut holes – "
"Hey, I've been a date or two!" Oliver protested.
"Serious, I said. Which would be – "
"Zero, alright, I get it." He shook his head. "I'm still not coming."
"But you would disappoint Lauren!" Fred wheedled.
"I don't even know Lauren. I was going to hang out with Katie and Denise."
"And be completely boring. Look, you are coming. I already told her you were."
"Oh thanks a lot." Oliver rolled his eyes again. "So asking me if I wanted to go was just a formality or what?"
Fred grinned. "Precisely."
As class ended, Oliver followed his friend out, already deciding to make the date as short as possible. The quicker he got it over with, the sooner he would be able to hang out with Katie and Denise as he'd intended.
Oliver met the twins, Lee and the four Ravenclaw girls at the gate the following day. George swiftly went about the introductions so everyone knew everyone else. Lee was with Vicki Glover, a girl with sharp dark eyes and long black hair, who was a few inches shorter than Lee. George's date was Kelsey Underhill, who was a dirty blonde with blue eyes and fair skin. Fred was to be accompanying Stephanie Peterson, a girl who had curly brown hair to her shoulders, very tan skin and a wide smile. Oliver's date was Lauren Palmer as promised, with golden hair to her shoulder blades, hazel eyes and only just a bit shorter than Oliver.
"Nice to meet you," he awkwardly held out his hand and shook hers with a bit of a strained smile on his face.
"You too," she replied, beaming prettily.
As the group began walking, Oliver did his best to be civil and tried to cut Lauren some slack. It was possible she didn't really want to be on a blind date either. All the way to Hogsmeade, the twins, Lee and their dates were all talking animatedly about nearly everything as if they were old friends, making things feel even more awkward for Oliver, who wasn't good at small talk and least of all with a pretty girl on a blind date.
They were nearly there when a snatch of the conversation going on up ahead of him floated back and made him feel slightly panicked.
"I love Puddifoot's," said Stephanie, her arm linked with Fred's. "She always decorates it differently."
Oliver swallowed thickly. It was a pretty well-known fact that Madame Puddifoot's was the go-to place for couples, especially for a snog. He desperately hoped Lauren wasn't going to be expecting a kiss from him and he silently cursed Lee and the twins for taking them all there.
Fred happened to turn his head back and caught his friend's look of fear. He laughed heartily. "Oh Oliver, don't look so frightened. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself."
Oliver's cheeks flushed a bit and he glanced nervously at Lauren who smiled encouragingly.
Oh Merlin, what have I gotten myself into?
A/n: Good luck, Oliver, you're going to need it. ;) Thanks for reading!