I don't own Harry Potter and gang, but I do… well if you haven't figured out who I own by now, you're really dense…
-----
This letter explains everything
The content it is the truth
Each word could cut like daggers
If I decided to finally give it to you
I've rewrote and rechecked a thousand times
Licked it shut and said my good-byes
The lines are perfectly written to break wide open
This conclusion
And it feels like I've already been here
Sounds like I'm preaching the choir
If it looks like it won't work out
I'm the one full of doubt
"Doubt Full" New Found Glory
-----
Rachel sighed for the umpteenth time, throwing a pair of pants down on her bed. Hermione rolled her eyes, setting down her Potion's text and looking up, "What is it now Rachel?"
"I can't find my goddamned baggy khaki's or my low rise flares!" Rachel groaned thinking, "maybe I lent them to Sarah," she thought tapping her chin.
Hermione shook her head and replied, "No, check in the left side of your truck," she suggested and picked up the text again.
Rachel growled digging through the entire left side of her trunk, and they were her baggy khaki's and low rise flares, she looked up at Hermione, "Are you sure you're not psychic? Wait on seconded thought, I hope we're not related," Rachel said giving her a worried look.
Hermione glanced up, confusion filling her face, "What?"
Rachel shook her head smiling, "Nothing, just something between Draco and I," she laughed.
Hermione shrugged and continued studying.
Lavender walked into the girls' dorm's to see Rachel packing, and her face slightly lit up, "Oh leaving so soon Rachel? Such a shame, I really enjoyed our time together," she said hastily grabbing her hand and shaking it.
Rachel looked at her oddly, "Umm.. Lav, I'm only going home for a week… I have to help take care of my two year old sister while my parents are away," Rachel lied.
Lavender gave her a snooty look and shook her head, "Oh, well enjoy you're vacation! Stay there as long as you like!" she rushed out of the dorms.
Rachel turned to Hermione giggling to see Hermione stifling a laugh herself. "What was that all about?" Rachel laughed thumbing towards the door behind her then doubling over with laughter.
Hermione shook her head sitting up on her bed, "Lavender's still got a thing for Ron, and seeing as how she can't take a clue, she thinks you and Ron are, well.." Hermione giggled again.
"Ron and I are what? Dating?" Rachel shrieked with laughter. "Oh that's rich. Who the hell put that thought in her brain," Rachel asked knocking on her own skull before bending over to put some clothes into her duffel.
"Well, in fifth year, when Ron was Gryffindor's Keeper, the Slytherin's made up this song, 'Weasley is our King' it was rude, and embarrassing and derogatory," Hermione huffed remembering. "And then when you came at Christmas, the Sorting Hat said, 'The Quidditch Queen is here and her King isn't far behind'," Hermione pointed out, no longer laughing. "Come to think of it I'm sure I heard some Ravenclaw seventh's singing something similar to it once or twice."
Rachel rolled her eyes, "Twenty bucks it was BV and her bitchy friends," Rachel laughed as Hermione looked confused at the term 'bucks' but continued anyway. "So Lav thinks what the Sorting Hat said about me and Oliver was really about me and Ron?" Rachel paused. "That has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I'm pretty sure, I'm ten percent stupider for having to have this conversation," Rachel giggled and continued packing.
"So what about you and Oliver?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione Ann Granger! I never knew you to be one of gossip!" Rachel pointed.
"I am not gossiping! I just want to know why you two act so childish around each other," Hermione added defensively.
"Obviously you parent's never taught you that if a boy picked on you it means that he likes you," Rachel shook her head.
"No I've heard of it, I'm just thankful that some others have not because that would mean that Malfoy has been fancying me since first year," Hermione shuttered disgustedly.
"Oh come on Hermione, I'm his cousin and I can't even deny how fine he is.. It also might be because of the veela on his dad's side, but still," Rachel shrugged.
"Well, I can say that he is very nice to look at," Hermione said gazing off. "If his attitude wasn't such a foul rotting prick," Hermione huffed putting her scrolls back into her bag.
Rachel paused zipping up her bag, "Ah 'his attitude wasn't such a foul rotting prick', eh?" Rachel grinned.
"What?" Hermione looked up honestly.
"Dude, you've…." Cough, cough, "got it bad," cough. Rachel said picking up her duffel and heading down the stairs to meet up with Ron, Harry and Oliver.
"Geez, you girls take forever to get ready," Ron said standing by the fireplace with his hands in his pockets. Harry sat on the couch writing a Charms essay while Oliver was glancing through a quidditch magazine.
Rachel walked up behind Oliver as Harry was putting his scroll out flat in between some of his books, Rachel snatched the magazine out from under his nose, "HEY!! What the!?! RIVERS!!" Oliver screamed as Rachel ran away laughing while Oliver jumped over the couch to chase her, "Give it back!"
The trio continued watching them run throughout the commons, stop and the run around the furniture again. Ron turned to Hermione, "She's letting him chase her right?"
"I'm not entirely sure Ron, Oliver is faster than her," Harry observed as Oliver tackled Rachel to the ground near the fireplace landing on top of her, both raging with laughter.
Hermione shook her head, "She let him catch her."
The trio shook their heads and helped their friends climb off of the floor and each other and head back to Dumbledore's office.
-----
Inside Dumbledore's office, the headmaster, BV Reinheart and Draco Malfoy sat waiting for the five Gryffindors to return with their luggage. Laughter was heard on the stairwell and all three looked towards the door, it opened and Ron and Hermione entered with a laughing Oliver behind them while Harry came in carrying Rachel over his shoulders.
Draco rolled his eyes, "What did you do to my cousin Potter?" slightly annoyed.
"I did nothing Malfoy, Oliver nearly tickled her to death," Harry declared and sat a red faced Rachel down in a vacant chair.
"It's all your fault you stupid pig!" Rachel yelled angrily at Oliver pointing her finger.
"I don't know what you're complaining about Rivers, Oliver isn't horrid looking at all," BV mused staring at Oliver happily, while Harry glared.
At this Rachel shot up in her seat and pointed at BV angrily, "Hey! Half-breed! Off! Wood is all mine!! Not yours, mine! So get you dirty mix breed hands away from him!" Rachel growled.
Ron whispered to Hermione, "You can tell she's a Malfoy."
"Technically, she's a Black, not a Malfoy," Hermione pointed out.
Ron huffed angrily and turned away from their conversation.
"Ms. Rivers, do you know how to apperate?" Dumbledore asked after her outbreak.
"Uh, no?" Rachel looked over, "you can't get your license until you're seventeen anyway, well at least in the States," Rachel said rolling her head.
"Ah well then, you and Oliver will just have to hold on tight," Dumbledore grinned.
"Huh?" the confused couple asked.
-----
POP!
Resounded through the living room of the Rivers' Mansion.
"This is your house?" Oliver asked surprised as Rachel began walking ahead.
"Yeah," Rachel smiled and walked through an archway into the next room.
Oliver dropped his bags and jogged to catch up with Rachel.
Rachel led him into a large white, high ceiling kitchen with a petite brunette cooking over a stove.
"Aunt Carrie!" Rachel called running around the island to envelop the shorter woman in a hug.
"Rachel? What are you doing home sweetie?" Carrie asked releasing her niece and stepdaughter.
"Um, there's this foreign exchange program at Hogwarts and I sighed up when I got there, so, Aunt Carrie, this is Oliver, he'll be staying with us for the week," Rachel stepped aside.
Oliver stepped forward and shook Carrie's hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Rivers," he grinned his quidditch smile.
"Please Oliver, all me Carrie," she smiled. "Now what grade are you in?"
"Seventh year, ma'am," Oliver smiled lying through his teeth.
Carrie smiled wider and nudged Rachel, "so polite," she smiled.
"Aunt Carrie," Rachel groaned. "I have a boyfriend," she growled, "remember?"
"Oh, speaking of Jed, he called five times since you left for England. He was wondering why you never returned his emails."
"No electronics at Hogwarts," Rachel smiled triumphantly.
"He said he sent you a few owls too. He told me to ask you 'Since when does the old bird have priority over the flame?'" Carrie asked confused. "You kids and your lingo, I'll never understand," Carrie shook her head and went back to her cooking.
Rachel stiffened up, "I never got any owls," she mumbled and turned towards her wing.
"Rachel, why don't you show your friend Oliver around?" Carrie called to her retreating niece's back.
Rachel cringed as Oliver followed her.
"Who's Jed?" was the first question out of Oliver's mouth.
Rachel sighed annoyed. "He's my boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?! I never knew you had a boyfriend!"
"Well you don't seem to know much when you think with your dick," Rachel said as she entered a room with many comfy chairs, couches and beans bags along with a few book shelves full of novels. "He's soon to be my ex anyway."
"And why is that? Too controlling? Too egotistical?" He paused thinking then smirked, adding, "Too boring?"
Rachel glared over her shoulder as she started up a set of spiral stairs, "Why don't we add 'Too quidditch-obsessed' and put you on it?"
"Ha-ha! But you just described yourself perfectly Rivers!" Oliver said as he followed her.
"Oh bite me Wood," Rachel spat.
"I can't, you're walking too fast," he laughed. "So why the soon-to-be?"
"Because he cheated on me, had sex with another girl, one that I despise in fact, and got her pregnant. Merlin knows what he probably did while I was away!" Rachel screamed as they reached a first landing and continued up another set of spiral stairs. Reaching the third floor, she strode out and into a room on their left, Oliver following slowly.
They entered Rachel's bedroom and her face instantly light up as she spotted a familiar figure on her bed. "Rocky!" she called and skipped over to the black lab that was sprawled across her bed.
"That you dog?" Oliver asked smiling at her.
"This is my puppy, Rocky," she cooed affectionately scratching his ears.
Oliver raised an eyebrow at the dog, "Puppy?"
"What? He's only two," said then stood up looking around then inhaling. "I guess I should give you the 'grand tour' then, eh?"
"That could help," Oliver shrugged looking around her large room then back to her.
Rachel walked over to a door on the other side of the room and opened it up, "This is the bathroom," she pointed to another door through the bathroom, "that's one of the guest rooms."
"There's more?"
"Yeah, two across the hall from here, they share a bathroom too," Rachel explained.
"So which one do I get?" Oliver asked excitedly.
"You don't."
"Wait, where am I?" Oliver trailed off smiling. "Are you trying to seduce me?"
Rachel gave him a once over slightly disgusted, "No, Dumbledore said I have to watch over you, so, we're bringing a spare couch in here."
"Won't your parents care?"
"No, they're never over on this wing away."
"This is a wing?" Oliver asked surprised.
"Yeah, this wing on the house is for me. The central wing is my parent's and the lower wing is my brother and sister's," Rachel explained.
"Wow, that's brilliant."
"Okay, so upstairs, there's the-"
"You have four floors!"
"Yeah!" Rachel exclaimed annoyed at being interrupted. "Upstairs to the left there's the weight room and storage. Down on the second floor is the game room and AV room, as Rayden calls it, or the TV room," Rachel smiled.
"And Rayden is?" Oliver asked confused.
"Oh, my little brother," Rachel smiled. "You already saw the library and from there you can both go out the deck and down to the beach or out the left door and head towards the indoor pool."
"Brilliant," Oliver smiled, nodding his head impressed.
Rachel nodded her head in acknowledgment and shut the bathroom door.
"That is so my board! Give it back!" a female voice shouted from outside.
"No it's not! Yours is the white and blue one!" a male voice yelled back.
Oliver raised an eyebrow and Rachel as she sighed and rolled her eyes striding over to her window, throwing it open and sticking her upper half outside, "Do you two ever quite arguing!"
The two looked up angrily to see their older sister hanging out of her window. "Rachel!" they exclaimed together and dropped the surfboard between then running towards the house.
Rachel smiled pulling herself back into her room and shutting the window.
Oliver looked at her confused.
"That was my brother and sister," she replied reading his mind.
"Ah, right," he said nodding.
Rachel exhibited a small laugh and a nod before they heard pounding on the metal staircase and a boy and girl run into Rachel's room tackling her to the ground near her dresser. "Oomph!"
"Rachel!" they exclaimed.
"Rayden, Rayne," she coughed smiling trying to push the twins off of her.
"Oh my gods, we missed you so much!" light sandy blonde-haired, Rayden said pushing himself up.
"How was Hogwarts? Any cute boys?" a raven haired, Rayne asked sitting up as well.
Rachel looked back and forth between the two slightly afraid, "Okay, that's really freaky," she said propping herself up on her elbows. "Oh, and by the way this is Oliver," she said pointing behind the twins to Oliver who stood smiling with his hands in his pockets, staring at the small reunion.
Rayden looked over his shoulder and his jaw dropped, "Oliver… as in Oliver Wood the professional quidditch player?!" he exclaimed jumping up to meet him.
Rayne looked back amazed, star struck by the quidditch keeper's smile; she turned back to her older sister, "What's this hunk doing in our house?"
Rachel rolled her eyes, "I'm baby-sitting a bored little toddler," she exclaimed standing up and brushing the sand from her clothes.
Rayne looked at her older sister shocked then playfully hit her arm, "Rachel!"
Rachel smiled and laughed, "What?"
Rayden was busy telling Oliver about the Fitchburg Finches, and their seeker (copyright of the Harry Potter Lexicon 2001), when Rayne turned to Oliver. "Oliver, do you know how to surf?"
"Do you mind Ray, I'm having a very important conversation here," Rayden scolded.
"No, I don't," Oliver replied smiling.
Rayne was reduced to a puddle on Rachel's bedroom carpet. Sighing aggravated and sidestepping her lustful sister she turned to Oliver. "Well do you want to learn how to or not?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"I didn't bring a bathing suit," Oliver shrugged.
"You can borrow one of my dad's, he rarely surfs anymore," Rachel said leaving her room to get Oliver some trunks.
"So Oliver," Rayne said regaining herself. "Where are you gunna stay?"
"Here," Oliver pointed to Rachel's room.
"You mean in here?" Rayne asked slightly disappointed.
"Yeah, Rachel said something about bringing a spare couch in here?" Oliver questioned.
"Oh, I got it!" Rayden said removing his wand from his trunks and walking out into the hallway, returning into the room with a large fluffy couch and pillows and blankets, setting it down near Rachel's bed.
"Rayden! You know you're not supposed to do magic outside out school!" Rayne scolded.
"Well Professor McLowery told us to practice Wingardium Leviosa on something at home!" Rayden defended.
"Don't you two stay at school?" Oliver asked the twins.
"No, our parent's aren't home a lot, so they need us to watch over our baby sister Raya, she's only two," Rayden explained.
"Ah," Oliver nodded as Rachel re-entered with a pair of navy blue trunks.
"They're not much, but they're something. Now you two get out of here so we can change," Rachel said shooing her siblings towards the door.
"You two aren't changing in here together are you?!" Rayne panicked.
"No! I'm going in the bathroom," Rachel countered and threw them out the door, locking it behind them. "There," Rachel said dusting off her hands and walking to her drawer to get out her bikini.
-----
Outside the three Californian natives basked in the warm afternoon sun, tossing a quaffle back and forth while the Scot sat off to the side watching.
"Why don't we go into the water?" Rayne suggested.
"Cause I don't think Oliver's gunna like it," Rachel said. "It's too cold," she reasoned.
"Aw come on Rach? How are you sure what he likes and doesn't like?" Rayden asked.
Rachel sighed throwing the quaffle to Rayne, "Fine, you can try, but he's gunna say no."
"Hey Oliver! Wanna try surfing?!" Rayden called over.
"Um… is the water cold?" he asked back.
"Very much so!" Rachel replied before either could answer.
"Um… tomorrow morning sound good?" Oliver asked as he watching a tall blond boy glide by on the waves the pull out behind it, lowering himself.
Rachel caught the quaffle and eyed the guy suspiciously.
Jed looked up and smiled waving at Rachel, "Hey baby!" he called from the ocean.
Rachel's eyes bulged as she motioned for Rayden to get Oliver. "Uh… Hi Jed!" she yelled back and scrambled into the house with everyone else.
Once behind closed doors, Rachel slide down to the ground, reaching up and double-checking the lock on the doorknob. "What was that all about?" Oliver asked glaring at her.
"That was Jed," Rachel replied solemnly.
-----
Rachel tossed and turned all night, not being able to shake his image from her head. She rolled onto her back and looked over at Oliver who lay peacefully sleeping on his stomach, his arm hanging over the side of the couch. She rolled to face him, "what am I going to do, Ollie?" she sighed.
He mumbled something in his sleep and reached up to wipe the drool from his mouth.
Rachel snorted, "Like you could help me anyway." Rolling back onto her side she stared at the rotating ceiling fan blades. Sighing again she mumbled, "I'd kill to go to sleep and not dream."
-----
The sun rose over the front of the Rivers' Mansion, it crept over the roof and shone onto the beach and ocean, reflecting up into the back windows. Rachel blinked her dry eyes as she looked out onto the reseeding water line. Looking around at her surroundings and the empty couch on her left she threw off her covers and shuffled into the bathroom, "Another sunny day in Cal-a-forn-I-a," she groaned.
Washing her face and throwing up her hair she re-opened the door and head down the stairs and into the kitchen of the main wing. Looking around her spotted Oliver reading the news paper with a stack of pancakes in front of him, Rayden and Rayne who were not fighting over the syrup and baby Raya sitting in her chair happily biting tiny bits of pancakes. She smiled at her sister, "Ray-chaw!" the infant grinned.
Oliver looked up and smiled as well, pulling out the seat next to him as Carrie set and stack down at that place, "Sleep well dear?" her aunt asked placing the butter and syrup in front of her.
"Yeah," she lied smiling. "Had a wonderful dream about surfing."
Rayden looked up from his food, "You sound so British," he laughed.
"Oh bite me," Rachel scowled shoving her food around on her plate.
"Rachel," Carrie scolded.
"What!" she shot up in her seat and looked around defensively.
"Watch your mouth young lady!"
"Now that sounds like our Rachel," Rayne whispered to Rayden and she slouched again and stuffed food angrily in her mouth.
Nathaniel walked into the kitchen to see his family sitting around the table eating breakfast, "Good morning everyone," he greeted happily.
"Morning dad," the twins greeted.
"Moanin' dada," Raya greeted trying to stab a small piece of food.
"Father," Rachel greeted sourly.
"Mornin' dear," Carrie greeted placing a steaming coffee and a muffin in front of her husband, kissing him on the cheek.
"So Rachel, how is school in England?" he asked, sipping his coffee.
"Its fine," Rachel punctuated plowing her pancake through some syrup.
"Great," he smiled then noticed Oliver. "Who's this?" he smiled trying to be polite.
"Oh, dad, you won't believe it, this is Oliver Wo-" Rayden started before Rachel kicked his shins and eyed him to shut up.
"Oliver William Kenly," Rachel finished.
"He's in a foreign exchange student program at Hogwarts," Carrie explained putting the pans into the sink.
"Aren't you a bit old to be a seventh year?" Nathaniel asked raising an eyebrow.
Rachel smirked and quickly answered, "He's been held back a few years," she grinned and earned a glare from Oliver.
"Okay then," Nathaniel said giving Oliver a once over again before standing up to leave, "off to work then. Do you two need a ride to school?"
"Sure!" Rayne said jumping up as Rayden looked at his sister insanely.
"Rayne, it's Saturday, sit down," he said grabbing his sister by her shirt and pulling her back down.
Rachel rolled her eyes at the twins as Oliver grinned trying to suppress a laugh.
Nathaniel gave a final nod to Oliver and a stern look at Rachel before leaving for work.
"So Rachel, you ready to give Oliver his first surfing lesson, today, or what?" Rayden asked looking up at his sister.
"Sure, why the hell not," she mumbled.
"Rachel! Language!" Carrie scolded as the twins and Oliver held in their laughs.
-----
Rachel smiled happily and sighed gliding across the waves peacefully. It was around noon and she could still spot Rayden teaching Oliver how to do a pop up from the beach. She grinned to herself and turned her board, riding it to the shore. Stepping off her sinking board, she bent over and grabbed it on either side and lifted it, tucking it under her arm.
"Heya Rachel," Rayden greeted his sister from where he was sitting between his board and Oliver.
"Hey boys," Rachel grinned and bent down to Oliver's level where he lay on his stomach in the sand. "How's it goin' down there?"
"Fantastic," Oliver replied with a slight grimace. "I can just feel the sand oozing into my pores."
Rachel laughed, "Yeah, you'll get that. So you ready to go out there or not?"
"Do I have a choice?"
Rachel pondered this for a moment and then grinned and stuck her hand out for him to grab, "Nope, you're gunna learn how to surf, or at least try, can't guarantee that you'll be good at it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Oliver said looked over at Rachel sideways as Rayden trailed carrying his board for Oliver to use.
Rachel chuckled, "It's like riding a motorcycle, just because you can do it, doesn't mean you look good on it," she said looking towards Oliver.
"You've been on a motorcycle," Oliver said skeptically looking her over once or twice, then snapped his head forward, 'Damn that wet suit,' he mentally growled.
Rachel hid a smile, "Maybe," and dove into the surf, pulling out her board from her side and floating on it, paddling out further.
Oliver shook his head and took the board that Rayden hand handed to him and set it down on the water and laid on it paddling up and over the waves.
Once they had cleared most of the breaking waves, Rachel turned as straddled her board, keeping her eyes on both the in coming waves and on the shore. She grinned to herself watching Rayden instruct Oliver, who was trying horribly to straddle the board, as Rayden was throwing advice at him. The only reason she was grinning was because it was the exact same way that she taught the twins.
Her smile quickly vanished as a blonde surfer boy came down their way, riding the waves, or paddling towards them.
"Rayden take Oliver in," Rachel commanded not breaking her glare on Jed.
"What?! Come on Rach! He hasn't ever caught a wave yet!" Rayden complained splashing water at her.
Whipping her head quickly, she glared at her younger brother, "Just shut up and do as I say!" she barked ignoring them once again to glare at Jed as he approached them.
Oliver took one last look over her shoulder at her as Rayden pulled the board ahead and he turned his head forward once again to the shore.
Jed was coming at Rachel full speed on the wave and he dove off, his leash unattached. The board hurtled itself at Rachel and she reached out knocking the oncoming board away from her body.
He resurfaced and shook out his soaking blond hair. Rachel was just slightly unnerved at how it stood up on end like it did. It was flat out creepy. Why the hell did she ever like this guy anyway? She silently questioned to herself, trying and failing miserably to ignore the stinging pain on her palms from deflecting the surf board.
"Hey baby," he grinned taking the board under his hands in the water and swinging a leg over it, regaining his balance quickly. "Come here," he requested with a simple smile.
Rachel rose an eye brow looking at him in a confused manner, "for what?" she asked paddling over all the while.
"What? I just wanted to welcome you home," Jed smiled slyly.
"This is a good distance," Rachel said folding her arms over her wet suit kicking her legs a little to stop her forward movement.
"Aw, come here babe," Jed said reaching for the tip of her board and pulling it forward, next to his. He reached up and put a cold hand parallel to her jaw and leaned in.
Rachel's breath quickened as she panicked, 'This isn't right,' she thought. 'Sure he's your boyfriend, but, what about Oliver?'
'What about Oliver?' her conscious asked back. 'He's just a silly little boy on a broom, Jed here is the one for you.'
'But Jed is just a manipulating little boy on a board,' she argued back. "Jed," she whimpered trying to free her self from him as he firmly grabbed her arm to keep her from going anywhere.
He silenced her by roughly pressing his lips against hers. She pulled back, but his hold on her was strong, her hand was beginning to go numb, but that could've been from the water also. She whimpered and whined in protest, but he bite her lip hard causing her to gasp, which he then gained access to her mouth.
Pushing his tongue into her mouth, he rub it quickly of hers and then flicked it back. Rachel growled deep in her throat and Jed raised his eyebrow's in appreciation, so he then moved his right hand, which was on Rachel's jaw, down her neck and shoulder to grope her boob.
Rachel rolled her eyes in her head, 'always the left one huh?'
When she wouldn't kiss him back, Jed squeezed hard on her tit and bit at her tongue.
'Oh god,' Rachel thought shutting her eyes tightly in pain as she rolled her tongue under his before trying to push it from her mouth.
"SHARK!" a panicking voice called from down the beach. "Shark in the water!"
Rachel took the opportunity and ripped herself from Jed's vice grip to turn and look for the shark and seeing the fin submerge she lowered herself and began paddling madly for shore. Only slightly recognizing who had warned them.
"Rachel!" Jed called out, "Rachel come back here!"
"Jed are you dense?! There's a fucking shark out here!" she shouted and slid off the side of her board, flipping the white side up and allowing the blue and yellow split top to ride underwater. She kicked along side, her leash not allowing her much distance from it.
"Rachel!" Rayden called from shore, waving his hands about. "Hurry!"
"I'm trying," she sputtered, spitting the salty water from her mouth.
"Rachel," Jed taunted, "why are you running? We're sixth years! We can take on anything!" Jed the turned to the on coming shark and waved his hands in front of it and a blue light emitted from his hands, "Evanesco!" The light surrounded the shark and it disappeared without a trace.
Rachel reached a point where she could get her footing and she hastily grabbed her board and began running clumsily towards shore. Oliver tried to meet her halfway as she lost her balance and splashed into the ocean, trying to keep above water all the while. Oliver held one hand on the board and his other gripping Rachel's arm, steadying her as she unfastened her leash, grabbing her board and rushing to the shore with Oliver's help.
Jed looked to them with a smirking glare on his face. "Pathetic," he sneered.
Rachel was heaving, bent over, spitting water from her system and taking large gulps of air. She grabbed hold of her board and planted it in the sand leaning on it for support.
Oliver touched her arm gently, "You alright?" he asked concerned as Rayden patted her back.
She waved them off and stood as up right as she could.
Oliver stood up and glared out into the ocean at Jed, seething with anger.
Jed only smirked in return and disappeared with a POP.
Rachel looked up in slight surprise, more at the shock of the realization of what had just happened. She hasn't seen the shark coming. She swam away like a muggle, but she didn't see it coming, at least Reinheart's potions were good for something other than making her gag. She grinned despite all that had happened and moved to put her board in the shed when Rayden suggested that they should head back inside.
Oliver agreed immediately and followed Rachel, returning Rayden's board. He followed the little bleached blonde haired boy into the house where Carrie was waiting for them with a plateful of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches Short A/N: Anybody just get "peanut butter jelly time" in there head too?? and tall glasses of milk. "Wet suits off everyone, you know my rule about those being on in the house, they track sand and water everywhere!" Carrie scolded pointing at the three.
Rachel and Rayden nodded their heads "Yeah, yeah, we know, we know!" they responded and headed back outside with Oliver to remove their wet suits.
"Ya know Rachel, it's not like she even really cares," Rayden said, pulling his over his waist, revealing his orange and blue swim short clinging to his scrawny legs.
"Ya Ray, she's gunna clean after we eat any, so what's the matter with a few more spots of sand on the floor, I mean it's not like we roll around in the sand all day," Rachel laughed stepping out of the wet suit that lay at her ankles.
"Speak for yourself," Oliver said looking at her in shock.
Rachel looked at Oliver who had a smear of sand down his cheek, with his neck completely covered, and then looked to Rayden and snorted trying to hold in her laughter, but Rayden just cracked up, laughing at his quidditch idol.
The group, now wet suit free, headed back into the kitchen to get their lunch.
Raya was sitting in her highchair, picking up Cheerios and trying to fit four or five in her tiny mouth before trying to chew and swallow.
Rachel walked over and grabbed a sandwich and a glass of milk from her aunt, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before stuffing the sandwich in her mouth and ruffling Rayden's hair, taking it out and chewing while kissing baby Raya's head, and taking another bite while messing up her little sister Rayne's 'do.. or don't.
"Hey!" Rayne protested jumping up to swat at Rachel.
"Play nice," Oliver commanded playfully, laughing at the sibling's antics.
Rayne snapped her head forward in attention at Oliver and blushed deeply, slowly sitting down again.
Oliver grinned at the flustered Rayne and grabbed a sandwich.
"Come on," Rachel beckoned taking a bite of her sandwich.
"Coming!" Oliver replied to Rachel over his shoulder before going through her routine. He kissed Carrie on the cheek, ruffed Rayden's shaggy near white hair, delicately kissed the top of Raya's head and gave Rayne two pats on her head, moving to catch up with Rachel.
"Ahh," Rayne sighed dreamily melting into a puddle on the kitchen floor.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Let's g Ollie, I've got to show you something," she grinned putting her empty glass into the sink and then jogging towards her spiral staircase.
"Urgh, don't call me 'Ollie'," Oliver commanded gruffly.
Rachel giggled, then responded, "Make me," she looked over her shoulder almost halfway up the stairs to the second floor, "Ollie," she grinned wickedly.
"That's it Rivers, your mine!" he shouted chasing up the stairs.
"Ahh!" Rachel screamed as she spun off at the second floor and bolted towards a light blue door throwing herself at it, only to have the door fall open easily and be tackled by Oliver. "Ooo, " she grunted and looked up at Oliver lay straddling her legs with her arms pinned out at her sides.
Oliver laughed looking down at her trying to move her face out of the way of the sand falling from Oliver's face and hair.
"Hey," Rachel said spitting some sand off to the side, "you wouldn't like it if I was shaking sand in your face.
"Like you could get me on my back anyway," Oliver grinned laughing. "Oomph!" his eyes widen and he lay flat on his back. Rachel had wrapped her leg around his, and used it in helping to shift the weight.
Rachel now laughed as some of the sand that had mysteriously found its way into her suit fell onto him from her shoulders. "You know you look really hot when you're wet," Rachel grinned, using her higher position to give him a good look over.
"Yeah," Oliver mused looking at her from his position, almost tempted to place his hands behind his head lazily.
"This could be really romantic, ya know?" Rachel said slightly grinding on him.
"Yeah, minus the sand," Oliver grinned trying to hold in his laughter.
But Rachel began laughing anyway and soon they were both lying on their back next to each other laughing. Oliver sighed contently looking over at Rachel who was giggling. Oliver continued to gaze at her when she looked over.
"What?" she asked confused.
Oliver shook his head at her. "Nothing," he smiled.
Rachel smiled back, but then looked at him worried, "Oh, uh Oliver, watch out-"
Oliver was then tackled by a big yellow rug, "Whoa!" he cry as Rayden's stupid golden retriever sat on his chest.
"Snitch! Get off Oliver now!" Rachel yelled and the dog snot up barking and ran out the door and down the hall, the sound of his paws on the metal stairs padded off in the distance. Rachel turned back to Oliver, "Sorry, that's Rayden's dog, he's so stupid," Rachel smiled shaking her head.
"He's wicked fast though," Oliver said sitting up and looking out the door where the dog had disappeared. "So what'd you wanna show me?" Oliver said standing up and offering a hand down to Rachel.
"Oh, thanks for reminding me," she said heading over to the door and flipping on the light switch to reveal a room with a large white screen at one end, with about eight chairs facing it with little tables and such by them. On the back side of the wall there was a stereo with a large sound system and then two computers, one standard set up and then a laptop plugged into an outlet in the wall.
Oliver looked around confused especially at the stereo, "What's that?" Oliver said walking towards it, turning one of the knobs and reaching to touch a button.
Rachel who had seated herself at the computer turned to Oliver and grabbed his arm before he hit the power button, "Don't touch anything," she commanded turning the knob back to where she had it set before. Turning back to the computer she reached down and turned on the tower and the monitor waiting for the computer to start up. "You never took Muggle Studies, did you?" she asked over her shoulder, leaning back in the chair.
Oliver shook his head, "No, it was an elective when I was back at Hogwarts, why?"
"Well it was a requirement at Santa Barbara, and let me tell you something," she turned in her chair to look at him, "It is a very useful course," she said turning back as a loud sound emitted from the computer.
Oliver jumped back as the screen turned blue. "Whoa!" he said and Rachel turned to look at him, only to go back to the screen and chuckle as she selected her name from a list of them with icons next to them. "I don't like that," Oliver stated.
"Oliver Wood, it's a computer, the most useful tool of muggle society," Rachel explained and hit a little black box and green lights started flashing.
"What's that?" Oliver asked gripping onto the back of Rachel's chair.
"It's a bomb," she answered flatly.
"Isn't that one of those muggle things that goes 'boom'?" Oliver asked ducking slightly.
Rachel nodded her head, but then laughed, "Oliver it's a cable box, it lets me connect to the internet," she explained, waving towards the box.
"Oh," Oliver relaxed, standing up and then leaning over Rachel's shoulder to see what she was doing.
"You do know what the internet is, right?" she turned her head to the side slightly seeing him leaning over her.
"Uhh, yeah, it's that thing, that let's you connect with the thing?" Oliver tried failing miserably.
Rachel shook her head, pulling up an explorer page, "No, it let's you connect with people throughout the world, Hermione probably has a computer back at home, when she's on the internet, no matter what the time is, if I'm on and I have her screen name, then I can talk with her," Rachel explained.
"You're losing me," Oliver sighed running a hand through his hair, effectively spraying Rachel with sand.
"Ew! Oliver! Not near the computer," she growled, brushing her arms off, "Go take a shower," she waved off.
Oliver grinned widely and leaned down close to her ear again, "You wanna show me how to work it?"
Rachel blushed and took a deep breath, "left knob it hot, right knob is cold, middle knob is the shower head," she explained quickly and went to check her email.
"Fine," Oliver said flatly and headed off to the third floor for a cold shower.
Rachel sighed deeply and leaned forward, resting the top of her head in her hand as the page loafed quickly, she looked up and low and behold, the screen read: Welcome, Rachel! You have 16 unread messages. "Sixteen?" she asked herself confused and clicked on the bold link. "I've only been gone for a month and a half," she silently mused.
The emails where set up from most recent to oldest, so she scrolled down to the bottom and opened the first email from: flaraskij(at) sba .edu. (spaces b/c last time I didn't it didn't show up).
Rachel, where'd you go? I miss you already. Call me.
Jed
The second was also from Jed:
Hey Rach, what's up? Heard they shipped you off to England to go to school there. Too bad, I hope you're having fun sweetie.
Jed
The third was from undyingwings(at)yahoo .com.
Heya Rachel, it's Phoenix, I got you're owl? How ancient is that? I guess they don't have computers at your school, then I guess you won't get this until you come back, oh well.. But I can't help you hook up Oliver Wood with Angelina anymore. She's engaged! I know, I was totally stoked when I head too, but you'll gag when you find out by who…
"Viktor Krum!" Rachel exclaimed almost falling out of her seat. "That's, um, interesting, Oliver's not going to be happy about that one," she shook her head and continued on to the emails.
The fourth was from Jed again.
Rachel, why the hell aren't you returning my emails or my calls! I have half a mind to just go over to your house and rape your mother and your sister just because you won't answer me! God damnit.
--- next email---
Rachel, I'm sorry for yelling baby, for give me?
---next---
Rachel, I can see you.
---next---
Stay away from him, nothing bad will happen to you if you just stay away.
---next---
I have something to show you, why don't you email me back…
---next---
You fucking bitch! You're a little whore! First with that quidditch reject, then with the Boy Who Wouldn't Die!
---next---
You're going to die, he's going to die Rachel. I'm going to kill Wood, right before your eyes so you can see it happen. So he can hear your screaming.
---next---
Have any good nightmares lately?
---next---
Oooo.. I bet you're thinking you're real big and bad now. You just saved your little boyfriend, I hope you feel good about yourself, because we're going to get him back anyway. You'll pay.
---next---
Rachel, he has me now and I've never felt more powerful. You have no idea what it's like. The power it's amazing!
Rachel looked over the words confused, "What the hell?" She scrolled down to the bottom of the email to wear a picture displayed a faded image. It was Jed's forearm and a white scar like image of the Dark Mark, a skull with a snake coming out of the mouth. "Oh, my, god," Rachel said moving her chair back from the computer. "Holy shit!"
---next—
Join us. Join me. You thought quidditch was a rush. Heh, you're gunna love this.
---next—
Glad to see you're back home, unfortunately you brought the dog with you. You better not get any fleas. I'll dispose of him for you soon enough.
---next—
Hmm… Rachel, honey, are you sure that that was your best ides? Sending Wood off alone? Aren't you supposed to be protecting him?
Rachel stare at the screen wide eyed, before quickly throwing her chair back and fleeing the room gripping onto the spiral staircase rail and flying up the stairs.
A new email flashed across the screen and opened itself.
Wow Rivers. Paranoid much?
-----
"Oliver!" Rachel yelled as she reached her landing and threw open her bedroom door and sprinted to the bathroom door throwing it open, revealing Oliver wrapped in a towel brushing his teeth in front of the mirror.
"Huh?" Oliver turned to her and looked at her confused before spitting into the sink. "What's wrong?"
Rachel glared at the floor, "Nothing," she said pushing him back into the sink, "You're staying in here until I'm done," she commanded and set a clean towel on the rail by the shower. She pulled back the curtain and stepped in, shutting it behind her.
Oliver looked around the bathroom, and spotted a small glittery pink radio, he looked over to the shower curtain as Rachel turned the water on inside, and reached to grab it.
"Don't touch it," Rachel commanded.
Oliver jumped back, "I thought you were taking those potions," he cursed folding his arms across his chest as he stare at the curtain.
"I am," Rachel replied sounding strained. "But all boys are the same, they see something shiny and they want to touch it." SNAP! "Ow!" Rachel growled.
Oliver raised an eyebrow and smirked, "You need any help?"
"Yeah," Rachel said drawing back the shower curtain with one hand, while the other held her top up, "Can you get this top unhooked, I can't get it," she whined.
"Sure," Oliver grinned and stepped forward, running his hand up her spine, sending shivers down her at his touch. He reached up and unlooped the clasp before unhooking it, letting the side strings fall down her back.
Rachel turned slowly, "Thanks," she breathed as Oliver leaned slowly closer to her. Inhaling quickly she back towards the wall, grabbing the shower curtain, "I gotta wash up," she said quickly and drew the curtain shut, hoping to hide her blush, and letting her top fall to the ground and shaking off her bottoms, letting the clean water rinse out the sand.
-----
Oliver ran. He was running as fast as he could, he had to. He had to get his mind off of her. Damn her for making him stay in there with her. Was she afraid? Did it have something to do with that computer? Or the internet? Maybe that boy out in the water, Jed, that was his name, maybe he had something to do with it.
All that Oliver knew was that Rachel was pretty pissed when she came upstairs. But before she was pissed, when she first threw that door open, there was another look on her face. Was is fear? Was she panicking?
Oliver really didn't get the chance to think about it anymore because he stepped on his shoe lace and tripped himself, landing him face first on the tread mill, which stopped when he stopped, but he still slid back down and rolled off the back in a heap. "Damn," he cursed, feeling the inside of his lips with his tongue before bringing his hand up to smear a few drops of blood on his fingers. "Shit," he sat up and pulled him self to his feet, grabbing one of the towels by the door and wiping his lower lip with it, sucking on it for a second.
The door opened and Rayden walked in wearing some basketball shorts and a tank with tennis shoes, "Hey Oliver," he greeted. "What'cha doin'?" the younger boy asked.
"Oh, just takin' a run, gotta stay in shape for when I go back to Puddlemere," Oliver responded dabbing his lip again.
"When are you goin' back?" Rayden questioned raising an eyebrow.
Oliver thought for a second, "I don't know, probably after," he paused.
"What?"
"You know about you sister's, umm, powers?"
Rayden nodded his head, "Oh, yeah, they're awesome, we always make fun of people when we went out," Rayden laughed.
"Oh, well then you know about Voldemort?" Oliver asked again.
Rayden nodded his head again, this time slower, "Yeah, dad says that's why she had to go to Hogwarts. The headmaster there could help her control her powers so Voldemort couldn't use them," Rayden explained.
Oliver nodded his head, "Yeah, I'll probably go back to Puddlemere after Voldemort is destroyed. I know a lot of useful information that could be used against the good guys," Oliver explained.
Rayden only nodded his head, "Okay then.. So up for a quick game of quidditch?" Rayden questioned.
Oliver thought then pursed his lips, "I don't know, I've got to ask Rachel," he said heading past Rayden to the door.
"Why do you have to ask Rachel?" Rayden responded.
"Because your sister is the one protecting me," Oliver grinned and headed out the door with the towel and down the three flights of spinning stairs to the lounge and out the side door into the indoor pool.
The room stank of chlorine, but Oliver looked around surprised, as Rachel rounded another lap. He watched mesmerized as she went under her arms still sweeping upward above the water, then rolling down to her kick, surfacing for air while stroking with her arms, and decent formation of butterfly.
Spotting Oliver on her kick turn, she turned to freestyle, her faster stroke and swam over to him, gripping the edge of the pool she squinted looking up, "What's up?"
"Uh, Rayden wanted to know if I wanted to play a quick game of quidditch," Oliver asked slowly.
"And?" Rachel asked lifting herself from the water and grabbing a towel from nearby lounge chair.
"I said that I had to ask you first."
Rachel grinned into the towel as she began drying herself off, "Well at least you're catching on," she said bringing the towel down and wrapping it around herself. "I don't think that it's such a good idea," she replied looking out through the tinted windows to see a storm rolling around outside and some lightning flashing in the distance. "Otherwise, I'd be playing too anyway, but with the storm," she shook her head. "I don't think so."
Oliver looked out to the ocean, "Come on Rachel, you act like I've never played in a little rain before!" he said waving his hand towards the window.
"It's not only the storm Oliver, it's the fact that there could be Death Eaters out there!"
"Where? I don't see anybody out on that beach!"
"Jed for one!" Rachel hollered. "He's a Death Eater," she said in a more hushed voice.
"Anyone else that you know of," he asked glaring at her.
"No, but if Jed is one then I know his friends' are too. And Jed has a lot of friends," Rachel explained chucking her towel towards the chair and folding her arms looking at him angrily. "And don't think that this is all about you Wood. If my little brother is out there and they see you two together, he becomes a target too," Rachel reasoned.
"Then you both already are," Oliver countered. "That Jed guys must have seen us all together, then you and you're brother are both targets."
"I've always been a target, I don't want my brother dead, so no body is going outside, you understand?" she growled.
Rayne opened the door slowly and peeked her head in, "Hey, dinners going to be ready in forty five minutes if you two wanna go get cleaned up," she smiled and then headed out.
"I need a shower," Rachel said brushing past him grabbing her towel on the way. "You go shower in the bathroom in my room, I'll be across the hall if you need me," Rachel responded exiting the pool area.
-----
Oliver lay sprawled on Rachel's bed in a pair of jeans and a quidditch shirt with Rocky when Rachel walked back into her bedroom in a towel. Oliver looked up and spotted her and grinned, "What happened to you?" he asked noticing the hang shaped bruise on her arm, then sit up realizing who could've done it.
"I forgot my clothes," she responded ignoring him and grabbing long shorts and a motorcycle tee with some underwear and a bra she headed into the bathroom to get changed.
Oliver sat up in bed and checked her out and Rocky growled lowly at him. Oliver put his hands up in the air, "Hey, I didn't touch her," he explained to the dog and he put his head back down on his paws.
Rachel exited the bathroom and bent over throwing her hair up in a messy bun.
Oliver shot a look to Rocky who was watching him and raised an eyebrow, turning back to Rachel. "Hey," he stood up and walked over to her, touching her bruise lightly.
She jumped back and pulled away. "I'm fine Oliver, it's nothing I can't deal with," she stated and went over to her bed.
The distant cried of the twins fighting over a game in the AV room below Rachel and Oliver floated up to them.
"Keep it down!" Rachel shouted and pounded her shoe on the floor a few times, silencing the twins.
Oliver chuckled, "What's with them though, they don't even look like twins. Rayden is a blonde haired blue gray eyes and Rayne has black red hair with golden brown eyes, does she dye her hair?" Oliver seemed completely confused as he sat down on Rachel's bed yet again and Rocky got up, leaving the two alone.
"No," Rachel chuckled shaking her head, "They're elementals," she said sitting down on her bed near Oliver.
"What?" Oliver asked even more perplexed.
"Well, not your normal, earth, air, fire, water, but the elements with counters? Lightning, Ice, Fire and Water. They're apposed. The twins are Lightning and Ice. Rayden, with his lighter hair and lighter eyes, is Ice. While Rayne, with her dark hair and light eyes is Lightning. It's all really confusing"
"You can say that again," Oliver said rolling his eyes.
"It's all real-"
"No, I was kidding," Oliver said placing a hand on top of hers. "So what about Raya?"
"Raya would be Fire, she has like, this really reddish brown fuzz. It's not hair yet, so it has to be fuzz," Rachel laughed. "Yeah but she always throws a fit whenever Rayden tries to handle her, and Rayden hates doing it, so it makes sense," Rachel nodded her head.
"Well what about you?" Oliver inquired.
"Well following the tread, I would be Water, because Rayne and I get along famously, don't we!" Rachel said the last bit dripping with sarcasm.
"No, but really, are you?"
"I don't think so, it's just a theory that my uncle came up with when he spent the summer with us last year. But it's not like we can control the elements, because we can't. It's, well, I guess you can say it's just a metaphor. Raya and Rayden get along like Fire and Ice. Rayne and Myself get along like Water and Lightning, ya know?"
Oliver nodded his head finally understanding. "I get it, but that confused the hell out of me for a bit there."
"Ya? It does to a lot of people," Rachel said nodding her head, falling into that awkward silence that everybody just loves. "But Rayne does dye her hair," Rachel said bouncing a bit when she turned to Oliver then stopped a little while after she turned back.
"Yeah," Oliver nodded running a hand through his hair. "You hungry?" he asked standing up and heading towards the door.
"Yeah," Rachel said standing up and heading out after him.
-----
A/N: AAAAAAAHHHH!!! Chapter 12 is FINALLY done! You don't know how long it took me to write that! Well yeah you do cause you've been waiting for it! Sorry it took soooo long!
Thanks to:
Slit-my-throat and Serenity Rain- rock on for the cookies! m/
Guardian of Balance
1. it's a tank top
2. tight tank top or tee shirt
3. libidinous means sexy
4. I think it's a pastry. I really don't know because I don't eat them!
FSl, slytherine-qt, beezey12-06, dreamingmaggie, B1anca, and Soccer-Bitch – Thank you guys soo much, I'm sorry that I made you guys wait this long, it just took a while to write this all, but no writer's block,, just a cause of lack of motivation…
And last but not least : DisappearedCat – I know, after re-reading it I though it did seem a bit cheesy, sorry! I hope nothing's like that in this chapter, sorry in advance if it is! – I'm only human! And it doesn't help that the BV and Rachel rape discussion scene was written over the phone, and it doesn't help that in real life BV and Rachel are like buds… don't kill me for stealing Jed BV! You can have the rapist back! I got Ollie! But thanks all the same!