I've lost count of how many times I've sat down to work on this chapter, sadly my excuses aren't good enough. So as usual thank you for reading and what not.
I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 14
I stayed as long as possible at Hogwarts ignoring my own aches and pains and helping others. William had to drag me away from the wreckage that was Hogwarts and apparated us home. Immediately the stale smell of damp and dust filled my nose. The house had been uninhabited since we fled in August. I mumbled something about cleaning myself up as William went to bring our parents' home. There was a lot for us to wrap our heads around and right then I wanted to be as far away from everyone as possible. The questions were just too much.
With my torn sleeve I wiped away dust from the bathroom mirror and caught a glimpse of myself. Dirt, dust and blood covered nearly every inch of my body. The water was scalding hot and even after twenty minutes I still didn't feel clean. I could still imagine the feel of the dried blood and mud on my skin. When I finally emerged from the steamy bathroom I was all but tackled by my parents who both flung their arms around me in a comforting hug. I broke down in tears and with William's help spent several hours explaining everything. I left out the detail about Oliver saving my life. Who needed to know that?
That night we all went to bed early from exhaustion, even William was somewhat subdued. I tried to sleep but couldn't. Everything was too fresh in my mind. The image of a lifeless Lauren, the decapitated house elf I tripped over in the grounds and the excruciating pain of the cruciatous curse. I wanted to forget everything but that wasn't to be. When I finally let sleep take over I was plagued by bad dreams and vivid flashes of the battle. More than once I awoke with a start and was briefly unaware of my surroundings. Not even my old childhood bedroom in the attic was comforting. On my walls were pictures of my friends, most of them of Lauren, it didn't seem possible that she was dead.
As dawn began to peak through the curtains I gave up on sleep and got ready for work. I would certainly be needed at St. Mungo's today. Hopefully it would be the distraction I needed. By the time I was dressed I still had two hours to fill before work so I started scrubbing down the surfaces and clearing away cobwebs the normal muggle way, it helped to keep my mind of everything. When I heard the rest of my family begin to stir I made a bee line for the door and apparated to St. Mungo's. Immediately I was welcomed back and thrown into the fray. It was exactly what I needed.
Several patients had been moved from Hogwarts which immediately struck close to home. I picked up my first clip board of the day after a long briefing session; it had been floating beside me for a few minutes waiting for someone to take up the patient. It was someone with minor injuries from the battle. With a deep breath I prepared myself to go in there and face it head on.
I couldn't do it. My hand was paused over the door handle. If I went in there it would bring up everything I was trying so hard to forget. "Earth to Ellie," a hand waved in front of me, "everything okay?" It was Felicity.
"I-I can't go in there, sorry. You do it, please," I didn't give her chance to answer before I turned on my heel and fled to the staff room taking the coward's way out. Panicking I closed the door and leant against it as I tried to regain my composure. There was a knock on the staff room door. I kept silent and hoped whoever it was would go away. They knocked again. I knew I couldn't stay barricaded in the staff room forever even if every part of me wanted to.
"Ellie dear, it's Margaret, Felicity said you were upset," if it was just Margaret then I could face her. Hastily I wiped the tears on the sleeve of my healer's robes and opened the door.
"I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I just couldn't go in there," I couldn't look her in the eye I was that ashamed of myself as I babbled an explanation. Ashamed and angry. All that suffering and I was putting myself first. I was no better than Ross. I was a filthy hypocrite.
Margret sighed and led me over to one of the arm chairs covered in a scratchy material, "go home and rest up. From what I hear you were remarkable in the battle. Come back with a fresh state of mind tomorrow." I couldn't go home I would be a failure. Instead I rambled aimlessly through the Hampshire countryside trying to clear my head. As I apparated home at the end of the day I'd come to a conclusion. I would leave my job as a healer. The same thing could happen tomorrow or the day after that. I couldn't risk it, not when a patient needed me. I could get a job in the ministry instead. A nice safe easy job.
Over the next few weeks I began to realise how hard it was to find a job. Now everyone had come out of hiding jobs were being snapped up left right and centre. I only had experience at St. Mungo's and didn't know the first thing about the day to day running of the ministry. William wasn't much help. He'd returned to his old job at the ministry and just kept telling me something would turn up. St. Mungo's asked me to reconsider. I told them I'd think about it. Maybe I just needed time sort myself out. In the meantime I was living from one day to the next with the same routine of hiding away from the world in my room.
Nightmares plagued my sleep and during the day I was constantly reminded of Lauren. I'd clean my room and find a letter she had sent me before we went into hiding or find a top she had given me for Christmas two years ago in my draw. Only time would heal the void left by the loss of my best friend.
One afternoon there was a knock on the front door. I was the only one in my parents being out. Reluctantly I heaved myself up from the sofa and trudged down the hall to the front door. I was caught off guard by the person stood on the doorstep. What was Oliver Wood doing here?
"Sorry, Will said to come over he's worried about you," Oliver shuffled his feet. William, of course he would have something to do with this. What right did he have to interfere?
"Well I'm fine," I replied sharply. Not exactly true but I wasn't about to let Oliver know anytime soon. The truth was I was a shadow of my former self. I just seemed to be living from one day to the next, the same routine full of menial muggle housework and hours lying on the sofa.
"You sure? It's just-" I never heard what he had to say before I blew up. The night before had been sleepless so he stood no chance, no one did.
"Just what? Everyone's worried? Please spare me. I don't care if William put you up to this for the last bloody time I'm fine, absolutely peachy," I turned away from him.
"Ellie," he reached out for my shoulder but I shrugged his hand off, "I just want to help."
"Help! I don't need yours, William's or anyone's help for that matter. I don't need babysitting; I'm fine and always will be. My life is going to carry on as before, just like everyone else's. In a few years everyone who died will be forgotten, if they haven't been already and I should be one of them not Lauren," my eyes brimming with tears I stormed past him on the doorstep. If Oliver hadn't have forced me to the ground I'd be rotting in the ground instead of cheating death.
"Where are you going?" he called down the front path. Ignoring him I apparated to the first place that sprung to mind. I didn't return home until I'd settled down into reasonable state.
One balmy July evening William returned home from work and apparated straight into my bedroom with a wicked grin on his face. He startled me causing me to drop the book I'd been reading. "Bloody hell William, whatever happened to knocking?" I frowned. Lately I seem to have thrown my temper and patience out of the window. I put it down to the lack of sleep oh and the lack of employment leaving me with dark thoughts.
He ignored me and sat the on my swivel desk chair with his legs either side of the back. William spun it around and ignored my outburst. He stopped the chair, "How brilliant am I?"
"Go away," I lay back on my bed and tried my best to ignore him.
"Cheer up you miserable git," he spun the chair again.
"Sod off you annoying git," I replied. In a minute I'd throw my book at him. He had till the count of three to leave. One. Two.
"Now now be nice, I bring employment," now he had my attention although I was doubtful. The last time he said this it was a job cleaning out a dragon enclosure in at a reserve in Norway. I decided to hear him out anyway. It gave me time to think up a witty insult that would get rid of him. "You can use your healing skills," he explained.
"I can't," everyone soon knew why I left. Being home every day and not having an excuse led me to an embarrassing explanation to my family. Thankfully they were very understanding.
"Yes you can. What if I was to say there's an opening for a healer on the Quidditch circuit?" Bloody Quidditch again but beggars can't be choosers. I may as well go for the interview. What's the worst that could happen? There was always that dragon reserve.
On the morning of the interview I realised that I didn't know which team it was for. Every time I asked William he would say they didn't know yet. I made the mistake of trusting him. After breakfast I grabbed my bag and picked up the port key sitting on the kitchen table that William had arranged. The perks of a brother in the ministry.
Arriving at my destination I gathered my bearings and looked up at the Quidditch stadium. Puddlemere United was written across the entrance in gold writing. I already felt out of my depth. William was in so much trouble when I got home. No wonder he didn't tell me who the team were. They were Oliver's team. I just had to hope he'd moved team. The Montrose Magpies had always been his favourite so hopefully he'd ended up there.
It was too late to back out so I walked through doors and was greeted by a round curly haired woman with orange glasses. She told me take a seat and wait. There is nothing worse than waiting when nervous. I hoped that familiarising myself with my surroundings would help to quell my nerves. The reception area was very fancy, Puddlemere blue covered nearly every surface and several cabinets contained sparkling trophy's dating back years. An old tatty broom was fixed to wall above a pair of heavy wooden doors with a tarnished bronze plaque beneath.
I waited for what felt like an eternity until my name was called by a short man with a balding head. It turned out he was the assistant coach. I shook hands with him and the head coach Philbert Deverill. The interview went smoothly and as I was led back to the reception I felt very confident. It would do as a job until I could find something more suitable. Of course they had to offer me the job first. William had gotten me the interview but couldn't guarantee me a job.
As I said goodbye to the two coaches a figure walking down the corridor caught my eye. Oh no. "Ellie?" it was a very sweaty Oliver with a broom slung over his shoulder. I hadn't seen him since I'd thrown reasoning out of the window and yelled at him on my front door step.
The head coach had been about to introduce us when he realised we knew each other. "You've already met Oliver; he's going to break a recent losing streak."
Oliver laughed, "yeah, we've been training harder than ever," he said to me and then turned to his coach," Ellie and are friends from Hogwarts." Just friends? We dated for nearly a year guess it really didn't mean that much. "She's patched me up several times," Oliver grinned.
"In that case congratulations Eleanor the position is yours, Oliver can see you out and we will owl you all the details," I couldn't believe my luck although I think it was more to do with the fact I knew Oliver. He was clearly very highly respected amongst the whole team, the coaches included.
"Congrats Ellie," Oliver walked with me out into the reception.
"Thanks," I fell into step with Oliver as if we were back in school again; the only difference was we weren't holding hands. I remained silent, I probably should apologise to him after all he was only looking out for me but did I really want to open that can of worms again?
Oliver broke the silence by asking something I really didn't want to be asked, "How are you holding up? I thought you would go back to St. Mungo's." He was very tentative in his question obviously our last encounter was still fresh in his mind.
"I'm fine just fancied a change of career," there was no way on earth I was telling him I was too much a coward to face the results of the Hogwarts battle.
"But you hate Quidditch."
"I don't hate it," I answered. It was true I didn't mind it in moderation the problem was I constantly surrounded by it in school with Oliver and at home by William.
"If you say so," he replied sceptically.
"I do. Anyways I should really get going but before I do I just want to apologise for acting so irrational. You were only trying to help," I still didn't understand why he wanted to help. We'd agreed to be friends but that had been going too far. What I do is none of his business anymore.
When I got home William was still at work so spent the day reading up on Quidditch injuries from a book I bought on my way home in Flourish and Blotts. It was certainly graphic but luckily most injuries were broken bones and the occasional curse from a vindictive player on a rival team. Nothing I couldn't handle. William walked through the door just as dinner was being put on the table I have a feeling that was a deliberate move on his part. He'd know that I was out for blood.
I glared at him over the steaming bowl of minted peas biding my time. He'd get what for eventually. "Ellie got herself a new job today," William announced near the end of dinner. When I catch up him not only am I going to kill him I'm going to dig him up and do it again. I'd wanted to keep it a secret for as long as possible if my parents knew Oliver was involved then I'd never hear the end of it and the last thing I wanted was a fuss.
"Oh really, that's excellent news. Eleanor you can help me clear away the plates and tell me about it over the washing up," my mum decided. Digging William up now wasn't enough, if I was helping my mum there'd be no magic involved in washing dishes. She never allowed it.
After washing dishes I went upstairs to send an owl to Lauren to share my good news. I got halfway through when I realised there was no longer any Lauren to send a letter to. I shredded the letter to bits and dropped it into the waste paper bin out of sight. Instead I wrote a letter to Amy although she and I were close she was no Lauren.
Two days later I had to go to department of magical games and sports to register with the governing body. William wanted me to drop in with some lunch on my way to the office. I agreed despite my current annoyance with him maybe I'd put slugs in his sandwich. On my way up I bumped into Percy Weasley, who I'd worked as a prefect with. He insisted on showing me to the office even though I was capable of reading the signs. Needless to say I was glad to be free of his company when I got to department door if I heard any more about the accuracy of scales I would throw myself down in front of the Hogwarts express. He said his goodbyes but I called him to a stop an idea having come to mind. Percy followed me inside where William looked up from his desk and waved me over. I handed him the lunch and took the paperwork from him and said a short distance away to fill it in.
"So William, Eleanor tells me you are very passionate about the accuracy of measuring scales," the look on William's face was priceless. I smiled innocently and looked down at the papers to hide my laugh.
The big day had arrived. My first day. All morning my mum had fussed and made me a lunch and bacon sandwich to start the day. Not that a decent breakfast would make a difference. It wouldn't stop me from screwing up at the first chance. After breakfast I apparated to the ground with my frayed nerves following me like a shadow just waiting for me to slip up. They didn't have to wait long either. As I walked up to the receptionist with a smile I'd already forgotten the name of who I was supposed to ask for. Luckily she knew who I was and who I needed to ask for.
I spent the morning acquainting myself with my office and meeting the staff and players. Every time I learnt a new name I'd forget the last one. At least I shared some kind of familiarity with Oliver who took pity on me. He had decided he would be my official tour guide. It had gotten to the point that if I heard 'do you need anything' one more time I'd punch him. Honestly wasn't he supposed to be prancing about on his broom several feet in the air? In the end I snapped at him and told him to go away. I really couldn't concentrate with him hovering. He looked hurt and stalked out of my office immediately making me feel guilty.
Near the end of the day I went to go and look for him. I thought he might be in the gym as was written on the schedule but I didn't quite make it to the gym. Instead I'd taken a wrong turn and ended up opening the door to the male changing room where I collided with a bare chest belonging to one of the rather stunning chasers as I stepped over the threshold. Blushing darker than a red rose I apologised and skulked back to my office. I'd catch up with Oliver later.
At the end of the day I picked up my bag and headed for home. Oliver was loitering in the reception area. At first he didn't see me so I stopped for a moment to observe just how much he had changed. He was still as gorgeous as ever but that didn't matter. What mattered to me was that he was still the Quidditch obsessed person I'd known back in Hogwarts. Fame hadn't changed him. When he noticed me he smiled a goofy smile and waved me over.
"Look Oliver, I'm sorry I snapped it's just you were a bit," I paused he hadn't been just a bit but very suffocating. Luckily I was spared the embarrassment of explaining he knew himself he'd been a royal pain the ass.
"Sorry Ellie, I'll leave you alone tomorrow," he scratched the back of his head and looked like he'd just been scolded by his mother.
"Unless you break something."
"I'm not promising anything," he laughed.