Mid-August
Oliver Wood sighed heavily, then inhaled the crisp summer air. He loved the smell the rain left; it was a welcome highlight to his day. He undid the top two buttons and loosely untucked his white dress shirt from his tan slacks. The drizzle left his hair a little wet and he simply ran his hands through, trying to keep his look neatly unkempt as he entered the Daily Prophet. He made his rounds, sending hellos and avoiding the roaming eyes of whispering females as he looked to find his friends.
"Hello beautiful." He said smiling as he leaned on one of the few well kept desks on the buzzing first floor reserved for interns and copyboys—those many at the company would consider bottom dwellers.
"Hey yourself!" Alicia Spinnett answered back, jumping out of her chair and wrapping her arms around him. "You look….It's great to see you. Wow, you work fast."
"Yeah, it's great to be back! I just got in last night." He answered; his eyes began to roam the room and the sparkling smile faded from her face.
"She's not here, Oliver." She answered his unasked question.
"No? Where is she?"He inquired, absentmindedly putting his hands in his pocket to stroke the last letter she wrote him. He desperately wanted to discuss its content with Angelina; in fact, it was his major motivation to finish his assignment early.
"Don't know, she's been disappearing a lot here lately. You know she stays in the loft above our garage, she hardly pops over for supper nowadays so now I rarely see her at home or work .If she wasn't such a bloody fantastic assistant someone would have probably complained by now."
Wood furrowed his brow, "That's not like her, she loves challenges and working."
"I know. Don't get me wrong, I mean what I said she is amazing at what she does. She just isn't here in the mean time to really get a hold of what this is all about. " She paused, "Want me to tell her you stopped by?"
"Eh, no. I want to surprise her." He pulled up a chair and sat it on the side of the desk, "She isn't the only reason I am here."
"Is that so?" Alicia asked, trying to control the tone in her voice. She still had the tendency to get a little flustered by Wood, even though they had been working together for quite some time.
"How are…things? I am not going to pretend that Angelina hasn't filled me in on a bit. On top of checking in on her, I wanted to see you."
Alicia was caught off guard and slightly grateful at his words, "I am good. I am fine. Taking it day by day. We have too much work to do for me to be worried about, things like that."
"I disagree. We cannot simply live for the job, Spinnett. I mean, breakups are hard. I for one know that. Have you spoken to Bell lately?"
"Ugh, no. I owled her saying I understood and it was okay but I just didn't want to see either of'em and talk about it yet—it's still too much. I know Ange went down a few weeks ago to visit and had lunch with the gang. I really wanted to go, I just couldn't."
"Yeah, she said it wasn't the same without you. Katie is a mess, she is so upset."
"Is there nothing that girl won't tell you?!" Alicia said raising her voice slightly, a tad aggravated that her breakup with George and his new relationship with Katie was a topic of common interest.
"Alicia, if I am bothering you I will let it go. I just wanted to hear it from you and you from me that if you want to talk about it, not talk about it, or just go and forget about it I am back and will be here for all of it. Angelina or no Angelina." Wood said taking her hand in his.
"Oh bugger, you are good." Alicia said trying not to stare into his eyes. "I just—thank you. Thank you so much. Now that my best friend is constantly M.I.A. , I will take you up on that offer so I hope you weren't just razzing me."
"Anytime." Wood said, winking at her and patting her hand as leaned back in his chair. "So on to more pressing matters. We got back last night, I bloody love my job. Despite what Padfoot and Moony might have warned, we were fine. I think they are testing us—we questioned the whole community to see if anyone could recall anything out of place on the night in question and staked out the locations looking for unsavory characters. My partner was right, Dorgan was there he seemed to be doing exactly what we were, put in reverse. Making sure no one was speaking up on any suspicions."
Alicia mockingly gasped and placed a hand on her cheek, "My , My did you just call this mysterious source your 'partner'? Careful, Wood, I think you are going to give this person's identity away."
"Keep your lips tight, gumshoe, I am sure even someone of your investigatory level won't go against orders. His identity will be reveled in due time. I will tell you this, I pegged him differently and wasn't keen on having him on board this time in June, but I now think he is on the up and up. I wish we could socialize outside of mission work. That is far too dangerous though."
"Ah, so he is someone in which you cannot be seen with… interesting."
"Alicia." He chuckled, "Stop it. You will meet him soon enough and all of your questions will be answered."
"Ooh! How soon?" She exclaimed.
"Next meeting. He is coming this weekend." Oliver answered quietly, "All members are required to attend and he is no longer an exception." He stopped to smile as if honored and proud of the fact, "He'll have ever right and privilege as the two of us—which isn't much, but a heck of a lot more than what he has now."
"I am excited. It seems we are getting somewhere. Can you tell me this, was he chosen? He is like us?"
"No I cannot, thank you for asking though."Oliver winked at her, then looked down at his timepiece. "No more Order talk. I'm home, and early at that. I want to go to my flat relax, take my dog out to the park, relax again."
"Sounds like the life." Alicia interrupted him looking down at her pile of work.
"Then take me up on my offer. Come by tonight, I will make dinner. We picked up some Mead while on duty—kind of our version of patting ourselves on the back, obviously he won't be there but I would love it if you were."
Alicia's heart skipped a beat, "Are you serious? Oliver, I would love to. Umm, I will just tell my parents I have to work late or something."
"Nonsense, now that I have company coming I will just stop by their bakery and pick something up. I'll tell your mother so she won't get upset, she'll be pleased you are going out again—I think she likes me." Wood insisted, getting up and returning his chair.
"I think you might have that effect on every female." Alicia let slip out before she realized, her eyes widened as she couldn't believe what she just said aloud.
Wood laughed in response, "Simply untrue, Madame. I will get out of here now before I cause any more trouble though. Till tonight, Spinnett."
"Later Wood." She responded trying to keep her cheeks from blushing anymore than they already were.
Wood turned back around and made his way back to her, "Actually. I lied. Tell her for me? In fact, if you want to, bring her with you tonight. I do want to see her, I don't care whether on my terms or hers."
"Mr. Montague?" the annoyed voice of the floor's assistant, Gloria, rang from the tiny speaker on his desk.
" Ugh, yes?" He answered, pressing the intercom button and leaning in from his leather bound chair. He was watching the storm clouds roll out and didn't enjoy his concentration being broken, he had a very important decision weighing on his mind.
"You have a visitor." She stated coldly, clearly reading the aggravation in his response.
"Send her in." He said, trying to keep an even tone in his voice but not being able to hold back a small smile.
Moments later, Angelina Johnson strutted into his small, but eloquent personal office. It was immaculate in its upkeep and looked as if he had been there for years, gradually acquiring his possessions. She avoided eye contact with the man that stood before her as she took her seat and he did the same.
"May I help you, Miss Johnson." Montague asked, as he leaned back in his chair, adjusting his hunter green tie then lacing his fingers together while focusing on her expression. He was slightly taken aback by her approach.
"I would be pleased if you would." Angelina answered rearranging herself in the seat so she could cross her legs and slip out of her light cardigan that covered her dark silk wrap dress,
"Do you mind if any of this goes on the record, Mr. Montague?" She asked as she pulled out her Daily Prophet standard issued self-inking quill and parchment.
"Not at all." He answered, clearing his throat.
"Thank you." She said, flashing him her Press pass and continuing her questioning, still avoiding the locked gaze of his green eyes but feeling them flood over her body.
"Mr. Montague, how long have you been interning for the Ministry and what do you plan to do within the organization upon your graduating from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"
"I have been with the Ministry since the end of the last term and plan on staying through the duration of the summer, the Ministry's program is a great opportunity and learning experience for all of us fortunate enough to be able to participate."
"So about three months. Right, so on that topic, are there many interns like you and what position here are they training for?"
"There are several in the program such as me that feel that the Ministry has provided a stepping stone to becoming prominent members of the wizarding world in the future."
"I understand that you were chosen to play a part here at the Ministry, and at your age that is no small feat. Inquiring minds want to know what exactly you are involved in."
Montague cocked his head to the side at this question and pushed his lips out slightly, Angelina continued unfazed by his apparent contempt for the subject.
"What kind of interns get their own offices, basically a whole floor in the ministry, and an assistant?"
"Inquiring minds?" Montague scoffed, raising his eyebrow.
"Yes, I am here getting the answers people want to hear from the ones they don't have access to."
"The answers people want to know or what you want to hear, Miss Johnson?"
"Well, if I am lucky maybe you can make it a little bit of both..."
"As much as I hate to disappoint, I feel as though the line of questioning that has presented itself isn't one that I am qualified to provide sufficient answers to. If you would like to speak to the head of the Department of Assignment and Placement I suggest you make an appointment, is there anything else I can do for you, Miss Johnson?" Montague answered, making his way from behind the desk to sitting on the front it directly in front of her, arms crossed.
"Your advice, in the matter is greatly appreciated. I will look into getting in contact with said member of personnel." She sighed, finally letting her eyes meet his as her shoulders relaxed. "Off the record?"
"Yes?" He permitted, covering his mouth with his fist as he cleared his throat again, brows still slightly furrowed.
"You look absolutely smashing in those slacks, even better if they were crumbled up on your floor." She declared firmly, reaching out for his tie and pulling herself up to him by it, barely letting her lips brush his.
"I'll smash you." He murmured under his breath, uncrossing his arms to take her in roughly by the hips, as she kissed him eagerly, exhaling.
"You better." She said out of the side of her mouth before wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning even further in.
"What was with the third degree, Johnson? I enjoy role play just as much as the next, but last time I checked you were doing your work on squibs or some shit, not my job."
"Well, I wanted to get into investigative reporting or something, I mean, Alicia's right I should want to have a backup to quidditch and this is it. But they aren't going to recognize me from any other of the newbies if I keep bringing in fluff pieces and just stomp about with press releases, some interns don't get treated like royalty and get to work for…"
" Yeah, yeah, I get it….you're jealous. You don't wear envy well." He shrugged, grinning crookedly at her
"Humph, I just thought it would be a good spotlight piece."
"Well, it's not. Forget you even thought of it, think of something else."
"I don't wanna." She grumbled playfully.
Montague seemed less than amused. "This is my job, Angelina. I will not have you nosing around here and getting yourself into trouble, which you will. Do what I say. "
He could read her distaste for the last words out of his mouth, but didn't care. He knew he was protecting her no matter how much of dick it made him sound.
"Consider it an early birthday present." He continued.
"I already got your present." She said kissing him again, deeper this time, while straddling his leg with one of hers. Placing her hands on the small of his back and aggressively pressing him into her hips as she gently tugged at his bottom lip with her teeth, she made her intentions clear.
"Oh, but I already unwrapped that one. Plenty of times actually." He said breaking away momentarily before leaning back in.
"Hey!" She scoffed, pretending to take offence.
"Many, many times." He continued ignoring the faux hurt look on her face, and tracing her collarbone with small kisses.
"Remember what I said, forget what you think you want to know. I mean it." He added sternly. "What time will you be to over tonight?"
"Well, I don't know." She began, sighing outwardly.
"Sure you do. This is Marcus's last night back home, you must stay the whole night."
"I can't! I really should be there for Alicia. She is getting suspicious; it's not even the weekend. We have the work event on friday, I cannot say I'm going to visit mother. An overnight might--"
"I don't care. Stay with me."
"We went from once a week to…this will be the third time this week, I can't"
"You must."
"I--" She began as he slipped his hands up her dress, burying his head into the crook of her neck. "I----", she tried again.
"You'll be there." he finished for her, his command barely audible as his lips never left her skin.
"I'll be there." She sighed, giving in.
The walk to Oliver Wood's flat seemed to be the equivalent to the road to El Dorado in Alicia's eyes. She had no idea how much she needed tonight until he asked her. She had been over committing herself to the Order as well as the Prophet in attempts to cover up her personal realization that maybe, just maybe she was terribly upset and alone. She knew Katie and George meant no harm, and even though they weren't a smart match—they had to explore their feelings, just so they would know. It still hurt though. Angelina, she loved like a sister, but Angelina simply wasn't there-she never even returned back to the office that day. Alicia had never been the clingy type, but now more than ever she just wanted someone there—really THERE. She was fighting a fight bigger than herself right now, and she knew she was where she needed to be. It was just so damn lonely.
When she reached the stoop of his not–so-humble abode she gasped, it was so Wood. Or maybe not, she glanced back down to check the address. She knocked on the white and red door loudly,
"It's open!" his voice bellowed from the other side.
She took a deep breath and let herself in, it was SO Wood. Simple in its decor, very open spaces with light hardwood floors and large white and black furniture, large glass French doors opened to his huge balcony with a view of downtown. She just stood there in the foyer marveling, no wonder he missed his place so much—she would only be there a few hours and she already missed it!
"Oy Chester!" She heard someone yell from outside as a white gold Labrador bound his way around the terrace and through the doors toward her. She gasped.
"Down boy!" She heard Wood command making his way from the kitchen between the two and taking Chester by the collar. "He's just excited, he loves having guests. Chester, down" the dog panted in response finally calming.
"If you are in here, who's out there?" Alicia asked
Wood just grimaced in response, "I lied again, I couldn't wait till the week's end. He is here."
"HE?!?!?" Alicia smiled excitedly
"Just out there," He said letting go of the dog to lock the front door behind her, "I guess it's a good thing you didn't bring Johnson with you, I bet you have a ton of questions. I thought letting you in on this before the meeting might make you feel better."
Alicia just chuckled in response, he was far too considerate. "The rules. You didn't have to--"
"Button it up, Spinnett, I wanted to. Besides, some rules are dumb and are in need of being broken. Oy mate, come on already!"
Alicia turned toward Wood, she wanted to be surprised at whoever entered the room. She heard the doors from across the room close.
" 'ello Spinnett."
She recognized the voice immediately, "NO WAY!" she gasped shocked, slowly turning back around.
"Surprise." Marcus Flint said coyly.
Angelina laid close to her Montague after what she could only describe as another perfect evening with an unimaginably wonderful man. She tried to lay as still as possible on his chest while he read out of his ledger, as he usually did at night. Although she could keep her movements to a minimum so that he could complete any work he needed to do for the next day without getting out of bed, she failed to stop her mind from racing. She couldn't for the life of her figure what she ever did to deserve such a relationship or how realistic it was to let herself get caught up in it. Eventually something was going to give, she just didn't know what or when.
She couldn't deny how rushed and intense the two started and she didn't want them to end the same way, she was terrified at the idea of life without him. She never foreseen developing such a strong connection with the man everyone else knew as a monster and she certainly knew he never entertained the idea of being tied to any girl, so sooner rather than later he would see that too. She stared at the perfect olive skin of his chest and gently traced a finger down the center from sternum to stomach, trickling her other fingers across his abs, stopping at his silk pajama bottoms, and working her way back up. She exhaled softly, as she tried to make a memory of the sensation that being so close to him brought. She wrapped her leg tighter around his and welded her body to his side instinctual. She laid there completely enthralled by the rhythm of his breathing, letting his scent of sandalwood intoxicate her.
"Okay." He declared, laying his ledger, face down on the nightstand next to them and removing his night glasses. "You got my attention. What?"
"Huh?" She questioned, barely shifting her eyes from his chest to his face without moving her head from the place she made for herself against him.
"Don't. Something is going on in that head of yours, so what is it?"
"Nothing, Mont. I am just....taking it all in is all." She said sighing.
"All what in?" He said, raising an eyebrow, as he glanced around his bedroom.
"This." She said lifting her hand from his body and waving it from side to side." Us. It all happened so fast. I just cannot fathom anything being comparable. "
Montague smirked to himself and kissed the top of her head, "Why would you want to? Have you not enjoyed the summer holiday with me"
She paused a moment, then reluctantly raised herself to face him.
"Oh, I have. More than you know and more than you have known."
"What do you mean? You aren't making sense."
She stopped to laugh outwardly at such an outlandish idea of him truly not knowing."Alexander, I love you."
The words seemed to trickle out of her mouth naturally and full of raw emotion, without thought or care she accomplished what she had been failing to do for months. She said the words she hadn't since their first time together. His body tensed under the grasp at the proclamation, he had enjoyed seeing her squirm the past few weeks trying to find a way to express her feelings for him in a form that wasn't purely physical and now she had. He didn't know how to tell her or if he wanted to tell her he felt the same way. Luckily, he didn't have to. She continued.
"You are right, I am just like any one of those girls before me. Let me pick up my clothes, not see you till Hogwarts. I won't speak to you or hear a damned thing about you, I mean, afterall I am just another ghost from your bed and you mine." She squinted her eyes and reached up to run her fingers through his wavy locks, "Next time, I will be this close to a man, it will be another. His hair red, dreads, blonde, brown perhaps--but whatever it won't be yours. We will never be nothing more or anything again."
"Stop it." He said quietly closing his eyes, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tight. The imagery she was suggesting was far more troublesome then he liked. She was right.
"I just. I don't know how to want anything else but you. There is nothing you don't know about me and I know there is nothing that you won't tell me when the time is right. I could careless that there are some things that you aren't ready to share yet. Fuck your job. None of those things are worth costing me you." She closed her eyes and buried her head into his chest, she grimaced against his skin. She couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth or how emotional she was getting but if she backed down now, she'd never be able to say it again.
"I am giving you an out. We have a few weeks until Hogwarts. If this isn't--if I am not something that you can want, let me know. I told you that day in the rain I would never leave you and it's still true. If you need to cut me lose, do it now because I am falling way too fast. I didn't think it was possible, but I am more yours than I am my own now."
He swallowed hard at hearing this, if she only knew what all he was keeping from her, he was sure she'd get up and leave. He enjoyed having her over so much that week—but it was two-fold. Danger was rising and rising fast, and if she was with him, he knew she was safe. She thought that was enough sharing what was on her mind for the night and she leaned up and kissed him sweetly, then turned her back to him scooting in close as he wrapped his leg around hers and locked an arm around her waist and another across her chest, spooning her.
She was right, this is not the life either one of the fiercely independent individuals had seen for themselves. He always saw himself finally getting out of that God forsaken school and moving to a place much like the one he and Flint had now. He would be able to further his appreciation of Russian history and literature by rewarding himself with a townhouse in the country for holiday breaks. A few years of traveling and researching in his cherished solitude and all these years wasted surrounded by peons would all be just a distant nightmare. Angelina Johnson was never an equation in this, now-a-days he didn't want to plan an evening without reserving hours dedicated to her form. No, not just her form, he corrected himself; her fire, her mind, her courage. Sure she was beautiful and every person with eyes could see it, but she was so much more. More than he bargained for and nothing he would ever live to regret. If he wouldn't have said 'yes' to her and drop all that angry he held months ago, he didn't even want to imagine how different things would have been. The most important person in his life was no longer himself, and that didn't bother him half as much as he thought it should.