Making Up… Again
Later that night Sam rushed through supper and then ran back to her dorm to quickly change. Finn couldn't make it to the practice room that night, so she would be on her own. But she could get in a good hour and a half to two hours before curfew. Also, she wanted to clear her head before she spoke with Oliver. Ever since her talk with Adrian that afternoon, all she had thought about was what he said about how lucky she was to have someone like him in her life. And he was right.
She threw her toe shoes in a bag and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie over her leotard before slipping into some shoes. Making sure she had everything, she quickly made her way back down the stairs.
"Hold on, miss. Where were you after lunch?" Alicia asked, her hands on her hips and a frown on her face. Sam sighed and tried to move around her, but the chaser was too quick and blocked her path.
"I was out with… well, you know," she said, trying to get around her again. "It wasn't anything major."
"Nothing major?" Alicia nearly shouted, scaring a group of first years doing their homework.
"Yea, it's not like we were snogging or anything. Just talking," Sam said, dropping her voice. "Would you please let me get to the practice room? I've got to get in before curfew!" Alicia crossed her arms in front of her and narrowed her eyes at Sam.
"Fine, but we're talking about this when you get back," she said.
"Okay, but only after I talk to Oliver," Sam called over her shoulder as she ran towards the portrait hole.
Once she was in the room, she let out the breath she had been holding. She didn't understand why her friends were so upset about her dating Adrian. She knew that once they got to know him, they would see that he was a good bloke. More than that, Sam was convinced that he needed a solid group of friends that were not in Slytherin. Especially with the plans he had for the winter break.
Sam quickly pulled off her pants and hoodie, hiking up her leg warmers, and then sat down to stretch before she put her toe shoes on. Once that was situated, she stood and cautiously went up on her toes. She then did a few pirouettes, making sure her ankle was still holding up, before walking over and grabbing her wand. Classical music filled the room as she tossed her wand aside and stepped up to the bar, starting to work through her warm-up.
The repetitive movement helped calm her as she cleared her head.
"One, two, three, four…" she counted softly, making her way through the eight count. She had done this so many times that she could do it in her sleep.
As she zoned out, she found her thoughts wandering to Oliver. Adrian had a point. She had been planning to tell Percy, so it wasn't like it was a major crisis that Oliver had told him. In fact, she probably should have expected it. She had overreacted, which now made the twins a slight problem.
"You're a daft one, Sam Abbott," she thought.
She heard a noise from the door and stopped. Looking over, she saw a sheepish Oliver trying to shut the door quietly. She chuckled softly, waiting for him to turn around.
"Hope you realize you're shite at sneaking around," she said. He turned to face her, his face red.
"Sorry… I was hoping you wouldn't mind… Just… needed to get away from the common room to do some homework," he said. Sam nodded and motioned over towards the corner.
"Just stay out of my way," she said, returning to her bar work. Oliver nodded and sat in the corner, pulling books and parchment out of his bag. He glanced up, taking it as a good sign that she let him in. He usually would do his work in there or work on plays when she wasn't rehearsing with Finn.
Sam stepped away from the bar and began doing turns across the floor, rising up on her toes as she kept eyes fixed on the wall. For the next hour, the only sounds were the music, the scratching of Oliver's quill and Sam's footfalls as she danced, usually doing the first thing that came to her mind. She preferred contemporary when she worked on her own, but she knew that Madame Bernard would start working with her on her solo, which would undoubtedly be ballet. So, it was best to get as much practice in her toe shoes as possible before their first lesson.
Afterwards, she walked over and turned the music off before returning to her bag to pull out a towel and wipe the sweat off. She glanced over, seeing Oliver start to pack up his bag. His eyes met hers and he sighed.
"Look, Sam-"
"I know, I'm being ridiculous," she said at the same time, cutting him off. "I should have believed you rather than assuming you had told the twins or they had overheard you. And I had been planning on telling Perce anyway."
"I swear I haven't said anything to them. They were just teasing," he said. "And well, you know how Percy is. But I am sorry I said anything. It's your decision if he knows, not mine." Sam smiled.
"I appreciate it. And yes, the twins can be a bit bothersome with that sort of thing," she said, taking her shoes off and then unwrapping her toes. She flexed them a bit before starting to pack up everything in her bag.
"Still don't know how it is you do that and not lose your bloody toes," he said, watching her.
"Years of experience," she said, standing and pulling her sweatpants on, then stepping into her shoes. She was too warm to put the hoodie on, instead draping in over her arm. It wouldn't be the first time Gryffindor Tower had seen her in dancewear.
"So where did you get off to today?" he asked as they walked towards the portrait.
"Met up with Adrian," she said, glancing at him. Oliver nodded slowly.
"Good chat?" he asked. Sam chuckled.
"Yes, actually," she replied, seeing he appeared surprised. "Really, Oliver. It's not like we sit around and snog all the time."
"I wasn't saying you did," he said quickly. Sam chuckled.
"Your face did," she replied. "We talked about you a bit." Oliver did appear surprised by that.
"Why me?" he asked. Sam shrugged, looking down at the ground.
"I told him about the accident," she said softly. "And how you and your family were always there supporting me and Dad after."
"Oh," Oliver said, feeling his stomach squirm slightly. Sam didn't tell that story to just anyone.
"He said I was lucky to have such a good friend," Sam said, smiling. Oliver looked down at her, not quite believing her.
"Really?" he asked. Sam nodded.
"Seems there are decent blokes in Slytherin after all," she said, continuing to walk. Oliver took a deep breath and started walking again. Sam began humming softly as she casually swung her arm at her side. He stopped for a moment and watched her. She always did that when she was really happy about something – usually tunes she heard on the radio. He didn't recognize this one.
Maybe he really was going to have to accept that Pucey was sticking around.
Sam and Oliver stepped through the portrait and into the common room where Sam was immediately surrounded by the twins, the two throwing an arm around her shoulders.
"Where have you been, Sam?" George asked.
"Secret rendezvous with Wood in a broom closet?" Fred asked. Sam pushed them away.
"I was practicing, you idiots," she said, though she was smiling slightly. "Go find someone else to bother."
"Think you two have done enough," Oliver said, following Sam over to the sofas.
"But we're just getting started!" George shouted after them. Sam sat down and glanced over at Alicia, who was giving her a look that clearly said, "Speak now." She sighed slightly and looked around, making sure no one was near enough to overhear them.
"We were just talking… most of the time," Sam said, smiling slightly. Oliver shifted in his chair and started looking around for someone – anyone – else he could talk to. He really did not want to hear about Sam snogging Pucey.
"And no one saw you?" Alicia asked. Sam rolled her eyes.
"Of course not," she retorted. "Seriously, I don't understand why you can't get on board with this. It's happening."
"If you're trying to make a point about dating outside your type, we get it," Alicia said. Sam frowned at her.
"Why would you think I'm trying to make a point? I do genuinely like him," she said. "And I think you would too if you gave him a chance." She looked over at Oliver. "Both of you." Alicia sighed.
"We're just trying to look out for you, Sam," she said.
"I know. And I'm telling you I'm perfectly fine," Sam replied. "I'm a big girl. I can make my own decisions and look out for myself."
"Of course, Sam's a big girl. But what decisions are we talking about?" Aiden said, hopping over the sofa and sitting on Sam's other side. Alicia groaned at the interruption.
"Nothing that concerns you," Sam said lightly. Aiden chuckled and swung an arm around her.
"Since you turned down that Ravenclaw, what do you say about going to Hogsmeade with me?" he asked, grinning at her. Sam laughed and pushed him away.
"No thanks," she replied. Aiden started pouting as he leaned closer towards her.
"But it would make me very happy," he said, fluttering his eyelashes. Sam snorted.
"I'm sure it would, but it'd drive me barmy," she replied. Aiden clutched his chest.
"That hurt… deep," he said.
"I'm sure it did. Why don't you go ask Marley. She's been looking lonely lately," she said.
"Nah, she's only got eyes for Wood," he said. Sam looked over at Oliver, who was rolling his eyes.
"You going to ask her?" she asked, smirking.
"Merlin, no," he said. "Told you I wasn't interested."
"Who are you interested in, Wood?" Aiden asked. "Obviously not Marley. And for whatever reason unknown, not dear Sam here." Oliver's face started going red.
"Not really interested in anyone, mate. Got the Cup to focus on," he said. Sam's eyes widened as she started grinning.
"Yes, you are, Oliver Michael Wood. I know that look. You have a crush!" she declared loudly.
"Shut it! Do not," he shot back, looking around to make sure no one heard. Sam cackled loudly.
"Yes, you do. You forget how well I know you. You fancy someone. Who is she? Someone in Gryffindor? Or another house? Is it Fiona from Ravenclaw? Oo, I bet it's her. You had a bit of a crush on her last year," Sam said, leaning towards him.
"No, it's not. I don't fancy anyone," Oliver proclaimed loudly.
"What's this ruckus?" Percy asked, walking up to them. Sam looked up at him, still grinning.
"Woodsie fancies someone and he won't say," she said. Percy just rolled his eyes.
"Keep it down. There are people trying to do their homework," he said boredly.
"Oh, we know who it is," George said, walking up with Fred.
"I've heard your theories and they're bollocks," Alicia said.
"Agreed," Sam said.
"What theories?" Aiden asked, looking at the twins.
"They think that Woodsie and I are having a secret affair," Sam explained. "Which is impossible and unreasonable." She turned to them. "Just why would we have a secret affair? If we were dating, wouldn't we just do it out in the open?" George shrugged.
"Maybe because it's more exciting," he suggested. "It's your secret affair. Why don't you tell us?"
Sam started another back and forth with the twins while Oliver grew more and more uncomfortable in his chair. Percy kept glancing down at him, his theory becoming more and more plausible as the twins began planning his and Sam's wedding, with Sam chiming in with equally ridiculous suggestions. Alicia had been laughing at the exchange, but something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She looked over at Wood, taking in his red face that he was frantically trying to hide behind his hands in the guise of massaging his temples.
That was odd.
"Oooh! Our colors should red and gold! For Gryffindor!" Sam shouted in glee.
"See, told you they were having a secret affair," Fred said, grinning.
"Sorry to break your hearts, loves. But I'm not dating Oliver," Sam said, standing. She walked over and kissed first Fred's cheek and then George's. "But nice try." She then started for the stairs. "I'm off to finish some work and go to bed." She waved without looking back.
"Lucky bastards," Aiden said, frowning at the twins. "You annoy the living daylights out of her and yet, you get kisses."
"It's our charm," Fred said grinning. Alicia snorted.
"Right, and you probably think she's going to date one of you now," she said. George shrugged.
"Stranger things have happened," he said before they walked off.
"Seriously, though. How is it they get away with all sorts of bollocks around Sam?" Aiden whined when it was just the four of them.
"It's because of her brother," Oliver said, speaking for the first time in so long, Aiden had nearly forgotten he was there.
"Come again?" Aiden said. Oliver looked over at him, finally getting his face under control.
"Sam's a twin. Or rather was. He died when we were kids in a car accident with her mum," he said. "She likes the twins because they remind her of him." The smile immediately disappeared from Aiden's face.
"Oh… right, forgot about that," he said, looking down at his hands.
"She doesn't talk about him much," Oliver said. "And he was five, so it's not like many here knew him."
"I did, for a bit," Alicia chimed in. "But I don't remember much about Zach."
The atmosphere turned a bit awkward as Aiden made a lame excuse and hopped up, running off to Trevor and a few other seventh years.
"Seems you're on par with sharing Sam's private life," Alicia said, looking over at Oliver. He frowned.
"That's not a secret. She doesn't mind if people know… just doesn't like to bring it up much. Doesn't like the looks of pity and all," he said, seeming to be lost in his thoughts a bit. Percy sighed and shook his head.
"I think most people know," he said, drawing both Oliver and Alicia's attention. "Just they forget. As Oliver said, she doesn't talk about it much."
"Except with Oliver," Alicia said.
"And now Pucey," Oliver said glumly. Both Alicia and Percy looked at him. "Said she told him about the accident today."
"Why are you so upset about that?" Alicia asked.
"Means they're getting serious," he said with a heavy sigh. Alicia snorted.
"And now you're not the only one she shares things with," she replied. Oliver shot her a look.
"She was humming earlier," he said. Alicia stopped laughing and stared at him.
"No," she said.
"What does humming have to do with anything?" Percy asked, confused.
"Sam only does that when she's really happy," Alicia replied. "In this case, possibly because of him."
"I think we should… Think this means we're going to have to accept this," Oliver said, looking at them.
"Maybe she just had a good day! Doesn't necessarily mean it was him," Alicia said. Oliver just gave her a look.
"Time to give up the scheming," he said, standing. "See you in the morning." He then walked over to the stairs to the dorm.
"Go talk sense in him!" Alicia shouted at Percy, who rolled his eyes again. Though he was already thinking he was going to talk to Oliver. But he made a show of reluctantly following Wood to his dorm.
"Perce, I'm tired. Let me go to bed," Oliver groaned as the redhead followed him into his empty dorm.
"Just how long have you been in love with Sam?" he asked pointedly. Oliver swung around to look at him.
"I told you, I'm not," he said before going to his trunk and digging out his pajama pants even though there was a pair lying on top of his bed.
"You are," Percy said evenly. "I know when you're lying."
"Bloody human lie detector as a best friend," Oliver muttered.
"What's a lie detector?" Percy asked, confused.
"Nothing. Muggle thing," Oliver responded.
"So… how long?" Percy pushed, determined not to be distracted.
"Dunno… all summer? Before? I just started realizing it this summer, though. I was actually going to tell her on the beach when she dropped the bomb about Pucey," Oliver said, sitting on his bed and looking up at Percy.
"And what do you intend to do?" Percy asked. Oliver stared at him in shock.
"Nothing," he said. "Thought that was obvious."
"But if you love her, you should tell her," Percy said, frowning. It made sense to him. Oliver laughed haggardly.
"You saw her. She's half in love with Pucey. And they're dating. What good is it if I tell her?" Oliver asked. Percy thought a moment. "You think that if I tell her, she's going to drop Pucey and come running into my arms?"
"Well… no… but I thought perhaps if she saw she had options – much more suited options – she might be persuaded to break up with Pucey," Percy said. Oliver sighed and shook his head.
"How you got a girlfriend, I'll never know," he muttered. Percy frowned.
"I fail to see how Penny fits into all this," he said.
"The point is, Perce, Sam is happy. With Pucey. And as her best friend – and someone who loves her – all I want is her to be happy. Which means if she's happy with Pucey, then I have to let her go in the romantic sense," Wood said. "Especially if I want to keep her in my life." Percy just stared at Oliver.
"But she would be happier with you," he stated as though it was fact.
"You don't know that, Percy," Oliver said.
"But, shouldn't you at least fight for her? The Oliver Wood I know doesn't give in so easily," Percy replied.
"This isn't a quidditch match!" Oliver shouted, causing Percy to jump slightly. "Sam isn't some prize you can win. She's Sam! The best thing for me to do is let her be."
"Well, if that's what you want to do, then… I guess there's nothing more I can say on the matter," Percy said. "Goodnight, Wood." He then turned and left the room. Oliver rubbed his face.
"Christ, this is a mess."
And the plot thickens...
cjconner326 - There is more to everything. ^_^ And happy to hear someone might be interested in the sequel. Honestly, I'm likely to write it regardless...
Thanks everyone for reading!